Why did it come to this?

Rong Xi was truly shocked by what the First Princess Consort said!

A single spiritual meal could be a matter of life and death; this is simply unimaginable.

"Fourth sister-in-law, you are living in bliss and have no idea how miserable we poor people are!"

The First Madam looked at Rong Xi with a sorrowful expression, "You and your fourth brother can even host a grand feast of spiritual food. But your sister-in-law and your eldest brother can't even afford the simplest spiritual grain meal."

"Can you imagine? A prince like him can't even afford a single meal of spirit grain!"

Hearing the First Princess Consort say this, Rong Xi also sighed.

She truly couldn't imagine that a prince of the Qing Dynasty couldn't even afford a single meal of spirit grain.

"Sister-in-law, what exactly happened to you and my brother? The Crown Prince ascended the throne, and although he couldn't stand seeing us enjoying ourselves in the capital, he exiled us to the frontier. But even with the stipends of a Prince of the First Rank and his wife, we shouldn't be so poor that we can't even afford a single meal of spirit grain!"

"Salary!"

Yiergenjueluo smiled bitterly, "There is a salary, of course. But in order to ensure the normal operation of the cultivator garrison in Mohe Town, our salaries are all converted into spirit stones."

"The town of Mohe is freezing cold, and only cultivators with fire-elemental roots can survive there. However, the spiritual energy there is lacking in ice-elemental elements, so the only way to improve one's cultivation is through spirit stones!"

The Irgen Gioro clan truly couldn't understand why the Crown Prince was targeting them so much. Even though the First Prince was Kangxi's eldest son, he truly posed no threat to the Crown Prince's throne.

"Fourth sister-in-law, I won't say anything more. Just tell me, is this spiritual meal enough to solve my problem?"

Irgen Gioro no longer spoke to Rong Xi, but instead brought the topic back to the main point.

Spiritual food!

She had only one purpose in coming here: to obtain a spiritual meal from Rong Xi that would be enough for an army of ten thousand.

"Sister-in-law, it's not that I'm unwilling to help. It's just that the quantity of spiritual food you requested is really difficult for me to provide!"

Although Rong Xi sympathized with the plight of the Irgen Gioro clan, no one would agree to provide food for an army of ten thousand.

This is another grand feast for the spirits of ten thousand people.

Moreover, what could she possibly gain from such a grand feast of spiritual food?

Most importantly, the First Princess Consort still hasn't explained why she wants such a sacred meal. Since arriving from the Irgen Gioro clan, she has mostly been playing the victim.

The Irgen Gioro clan's act of playing the victim is clearly an attempt to appeal to emotions.

An ordinary person might have been moved by Lady Irgen Gioro's plight. Unfortunately, Rong Xi was not such a person without principles. Although she also felt that Lady Irgen Gioro was pitiful, that her life was too miserable, she couldn't control how others lived their lives.

There's an old saying: "Give a man a hand in an emergency, but don't give him a hand in a poverty-stricken one."

The fact that Yiergenjueluo demanded such a large amount of spiritual food clearly showed that she was being taken advantage of, treated as a god who could help the couple escape poverty and become wealthy.

She can't help with that kind of thing.

I helped you once, what if there's a next time?

A small favor is appreciated, but a large one breeds resentment.

Rong Xi could only refuse to offer such help from the very beginning.

"Fourth sister-in-law, your sister-in-law really has no other choice!"

Suddenly, Lady Irgen Gioro stood up. "How about I kneel down for you, sister-in-law?"

"Sister-in-law, what are you doing?"

Rong Xi quickly got up and stopped the First Princess Consort.

"Fourth sister-in-law, if there were even the slightest possibility, I wouldn't have the audacity to come to you like this. The food for ten thousand people is priceless. I am currently unable to repay it, but I swear to God that in the future, my eldest brother and I will definitely repay this kindness!"

"May I be struck down by heaven and earth if I break this oath!"

Irgen Gioro looked at Rong Xi with unwavering conviction.

Rong Xi froze again, staring blankly at the First Princess Consort. From Irgen Gioro's words, she seemed to have gleaned some extraordinary information.

The spiritual food for ten thousand people—if measured in high-grade spirit stones, the value would be in the millions. Given the First Prince and First Princess's stipends, they would need to save for a hundred years without eating or drinking to cover it. But the problem is, they can't possibly go a hundred years without eating, drinking, or cultivating.

So, here's the problem!

How does the First Princess intend to repay this favor?

In Rong Xi's view, unless the eldest prince and his wife discover a rich vein of spirit stones, they only have one path to take.

That is, treason!

Rebellion, only rebellion!

If the eldest prince were to become emperor, he could mobilize the nation's wealth to repay this favor. And once the eldest prince becomes emperor, he could easily repay such a favor.

"Sister-in-law, I need to go and ask about this!"

Rong Xi looked at Yiergenjueluo Shi and slowly said, "You probably know that the ingredients for the spirit feast in Zichuan Town before all came from my demon beast battle pets. However, what you don't know is that my relationship with my demon beast battle pets is not the kind that I can order them around."

"Our relationship is more about exchange!"

Whether or not to help the First Princess and the First Prince to smoothly embark on their rebellion was a question Rong Xi couldn't answer for the time being.

At this moment, she was eager to discuss it with the Fourth Prince.

The problem is, where did the Fourth Prince go?

Who should we consult with?

Rong Xi couldn't figure it out, but she couldn't give an answer to this matter immediately.

Upon hearing Rong Xi's words, the First Princess Consort's expression became slightly anxious, but Rong Xi had already put it this way, so what else could she say? If she pressed too hard, what if Rong Xi simply refused? Wouldn't her trip have been in vain?

"Fourth sister-in-law, go and ask her. Your sister-in-law is waiting here!"

The First Princess Consort replied in a deep voice, "However, could Fourth Sister-in-law please give your sister-in-law an answer as soon as possible? It's extremely urgent in Mohe; we can't wait much longer!"

I'll try my best!

Rong Xi nodded, "However, these demonic beast battle pets have rather strong tempers, and I can't force them to do anything. If they completely turn against me, I'll suffer heavy losses!"

"I understand, I get it!"

The First Princess Consort had no doubts about this.

Battle pets and monsters are not unique to Rong Xi.

In the cultivation world, there are quite a few people who have battle pets or demonic beasts, and the Irgen Gioro clan knows a thing or two about the relationship between these people and their battle pets or demonic beasts.

In many cases, cultivators and their battle pets are equals. However, if a battle pet feels that its master is not good enough, it may choose to betray him.

Any cultivator who has a battle pet will inevitably suffer a significant drop in combat power once they lose their battle pet.