"Hmph, she was once a Noble Consort, and I was too. Now she's a Consort, and so am I."
Consort He decided to pick a fight with Consort Zhuang—only by doing so could she prove her worth to the Empress.
In the Imperial Garden, Consort He deliberately let Consort Zhuang's senior palace maid bump into her and knock over her glazed lantern, then slapped the maid across the face.
Consort Zhuang rushed over upon hearing the commotion, and the two began shouting insults at each other on the spot.
When Yang Xi returned to the palace, she immediately heard her mother's familiar voice echoing through the garden.
For a moment, she froze.
In the Imperial Garden, her mother didn't look nearly as miserable as she had imagined. In fact, she didn't even look the least bit haggard.
Right now, her mother was still a beautiful woman—though a bit more fiery and outspoken than before, less mindful of elegance and composure, and currently yelling at another consort.
"Mother!"
Yang Xi couldn't hold back and called out, her throat choking up.
Consort He's body stiffened. She instantly forgot about Consort Zhuang and turned toward the voice.
The next moment, mother and daughter ran into each other's arms and burst into tears.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Consort Zhuang quietly slipped away. She didn't want to face Yang Cheng at all.
After a while, Consort He calmed down, wiped her tears, and bowed to Yang Cheng. "This concubine greets Your Highness, the Crown Prince."
"There's no need for formality, Consort He," Yang Cheng said gently. "I won't disturb you. You and your daughter must have plenty to talk about."
He waved his hand and left.
Watching his departing figure, Consort He's eyes flickered thoughtfully.
At that moment, she seemed to understand why Yun Liyue had allowed her to leave the Cold Palace.
After that, Consort He took Yang Xi back to the Western Warm Pavilion.
Seeing her mother's residence, Yang Xi felt relieved. Although it was far from the luxurious palace her mother once had, the place was still comfortable and well-kept.
"Mother, what's going on? How did you get out of the Cold Palace—and even become a Consort?" Yang Xi asked impatiently.
"Actually, I was released from the Cold Palace just five days ago," Consort He said. "But as you can see, I haven't suffered much these past years. Her Majesty the Empress has always treated me kindly."
Of course, this was a lie—but she had to say it.
She couldn't let Yang Xi harbor resentment toward the Empress. That would only harm her daughter in the long run.
Yang Xi studied her mother carefully.
Words could deceive, but a person's complexion could not.
Seeing her mother's skin still healthy and fair, Yang Xi finally believed her.
Inwardly, she felt ashamed. Perhaps she had misjudged the Empress, imagining her to be cruel and heartless.
If the Empress had allowed a defeated rival from the harem to live well instead of destroying her, that was an act of mercy.
"Xi'er, I saw earlier that you entered the palace together with the Crown Prince?" Consort He asked.
Yang Xi didn't hide anything and told her everything—how she met Yang Cheng, what they talked about, and how he treated her.
"It seems the Crown Prince values you greatly, my dear," Consort He said with a faint smile.
She truly lived up to her reputation as a former Noble Consort.
Although she didn't know that Yang Cheng's attention partly stemmed from his system's mission—and also from recognizing Yang Xi's great potential and upright character—Consort He still sensed his genuine respect and closeness toward her daughter.
"Why do you say that?" Yang Xi asked curiously.
"The Crown Prince always treats his royal brothers and sisters with the formality of an heir apparent," Consort He explained. "But with you, he calls you 'Elder Sister.' That alone speaks volumes."
Hearing that, Yang Xi couldn't help but feel warmth blossom in her heart.
So she really held a special place in Yang Cheng's mind?
"Xi'er," Consort He said softly, taking her hand, "you should stay in Great Zhou from now on—and keep close to the Crown Prince."
Consort He spoke calmly.
She felt that this was a rare chance for her daughter.
She knew well how her daughter had lived before—always hunting down criminals overseas. That wasn't the kind of life a young woman should have.
Now that the Crown Prince treated Yang Xi as his elder sister, staying in Great Zhou meant Yang Xi would have the name and the status of a true princess.
Consort He didn't know that in the future, Yang Xi would become the pillar of the Tanghe Empire.
In her eyes, Yang Xi gaining the Crown Prince's attention was already a huge blessing and opportunity. Naturally, she wanted her daughter to hold onto it.
Yang Xi paused for a while, then said softly, "Mother, I will."
Thinking of the future, she couldn't help but feel a quiet excitement rise within her.
At the same time—
"Cheng'er, you seem to think highly of that girl, Yang Xi?" Yun Liyue asked.
Yang Cheng replied, "She has outstanding character, especially her sense of justice. Her commitment to the law is almost extreme. Your son believes that someone like Yang Xi will be very important to Great Zhou's future."
Yun Liyue nodded slightly and didn't press further. Instead, she began asking whether he had suffered during the past year.
As a mother, what she cared about most wasn't his fame or power—it was whether he was healthy and safe, whether he had been hurt.
Ding!
Suddenly, a crisp sound echoed in Yang Cheng's mind. The system's text appeared before him.
[Yang Xi has met He Xianfei again. Under He Xianfei's persuasion, she has agreed to remain in Great Zhou.]
[He Xianfei has clearly been dead for 500 years, yet the host has somehow resurrected her. Perhaps it was this heaven-defying method that convinced her to help the host persuade Yang Xi.]
[To Yang Xi, He Xianfei is likely her greatest weakness. For her mother's sake, she's even willing to abandon the Tanghe Empire.]
[The host's means are beyond comprehension—truly the most powerful Late Bloomer in history.]
[Mission reward issued. Please claim it yourself.]
Yang Cheng felt a burst of joy. The reward had finally arrived.
In the following year, the situation across the lands remained stable.
After what had happened at Old Yin Mountain and Zhen'nan Pass in just one month, the shock Yang Cheng caused the world was far too great.
He had first slain Su Lingchen, and afterward, annihilated eight Martial Emperors.
No one dared provoke Yang Cheng easily now.
Even the great noble clans went into hiding, at least on the surface, acting obedient and low-key.
Yang Cheng spent most of his time between Fengtian City and Fire Dragon Mountain.
Without realizing it, his cultivation rose from the seventh-level Martial Saint to the ninth-level Martial Saint.
The higher one's realm, the harder it became to advance.
Reaching this level and still managing to rise two whole stages in a year—this was nothing short of monstrous.
But Yang Cheng had been preparing for something far greater all along.
One year earlier—
Cheng Junyi had taken Tang Xingyu to the Myriad Phenomena Dao Academy in the Horn Constellation Realm.
With his memories of the future, Yang Cheng knew that in three months, the Myriad Phenomena Dao Academy would relocate from the Horn Constellation Realm to the Wasteland Realm.
This event carried immense significance, with far-reaching consequences.
The Myriad Phenomena Dao Academy was founded by a powerful figure from the Grand Yan Dao Palace.
That person had been born in the Wasteland Realm and now sought to return there.
It could be said that wherever the Dao Academy settled, that land would become a sacred ground for martial cultivation.
In the future, all nations would fight fiercely over it.
And ultimately, Western Luo would win.
That was why, even with the Heaven's Mandate Emperor Yang Xiu leading the Eastern Wastes later, they still couldn't surpass Western Luo.
Western Luo was the strongest kingdom of the Western Wastes. After obtaining the Myriad Phenomena Dao Academy, they unified the entire Western Wastes.
Now, Yang Cheng fully intended to seize the Dao Academy for Great Zhou.
As he was contemplating this, Cheng Junyi came to the palace to visit him.
Yang Cheng personally went out to greet her.
"Your Majesty the Empress, Your Highness the Crown Prince," Cheng Junyi said. "I have received reliable news. The Myriad Phenomena Dao Academy is about to relocate to the Wasteland Realm. Mo Dao'an, Sect Master of the Wheel-Turning Sect of Western Luo, has already contacted the academy. There is a strong possibility that the Dao Academy will establish itself in Western Luo."