Chapter 7 Li Yuanji Breaks the Situation
After taking the "Qingxin Zhentong San" provided by Wang Yi for the second time, Li Jiancheng experienced significant and sustained relief from his headaches. Although it was not completely cured, it no longer occurred as frequently and severely as before, allowing him to remain alert while handling official business and sleep soundly for several hours at night. For him, this was like rain after a long drought.
His attitude towards Wang Yi also underwent a subtle but significant change. Although his doubts were not completely eliminated, the tangible effects of the "medicine" overwhelmed some of his suspicions. He began to visit the villa more frequently, no longer just to test her, but with obvious intentions of winning her over and showing goodwill. The gifts he sent became increasingly precious and exquisite, and his words carried a deliberate gentleness and respect. He would even occasionally discuss trivial anecdotes about the court and the countryside with her, attempting to create the illusion of a close friendship or at least a pleasant atmosphere between host and guest.
Wang Yi accepted all the gifts, but always maintained a perfectly appropriate distance. She accepted the gifts, thanked him, and then set them aside; she listened to Li Jiancheng's words, occasionally responding, but never inquired about politics, nor did she show any intention of siding with or depending on him. She simply "coincidentally" "refined" a small amount of "heart-clearing and pain-relieving powder" and presented it to him at the opportune moment when Li Jiancheng's headache seemed to be recurring. This attitude of being neither too close nor too distant, controlling what the other desperately needed but not using it to blackmail him, made Li Jiancheng even more hesitant to act rashly, and he could only "treat" her even better, keeping her like a fragile treasure in his separate courtyard.
The spies from the Prince of Qin's residence continuously sent back all these details.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince treats Wang Yi with great courtesy, visiting the villa almost daily and staying for increasingly longer periods. Wang Yi seems to be specifically preparing medicine to relieve the Crown Prince's headaches, and after taking the medicine, the Crown Prince's condition has greatly improved. In their interactions, the Crown Prince seems to be trying to win Wang Yi over, while Wang Yi's reaction is indifferent, showing no signs of overstepping boundaries or plotting anything. The Eastern Palace's security around the villa is outwardly loose but inwardly tight, making it difficult to access the core area."
Li Shimin listened to the report, his finger slowly moving across the map, his eyes deep and thoughtful. Wang Yi, though under the Crown Prince's control, hadn't been tortured or abused; instead, she was treated as an honored guest. The reason? She could cure the Crown Prince's headaches? This was quite unexpected. Could that "Penglai Elixir" really be so miraculous?
“Continue to monitor, paying close attention to the Crown Prince’s condition after taking the medicine, and whether Wang Yi has any special requirements or unusual movements in refining the ‘elixir’,” Li Shimin pondered. “In addition, send more people to secretly search along the East China Sea coast for any legends, relics, or traces of hermits that may be related to ‘Penglai’ or ‘Laiwei Daoren’. Do not make a big fuss, but be meticulous.”
"Yes!" the guard acknowledged. Li Shimin decided to hold back for the time being. Wang Yi was in the Crown Prince's hands, and the Crown Prince was relying on his medicine. Making contact rashly would be too risky; it could easily alert Wang Yi, and he might even be betrayed. He needed more information to assess Wang Yi's true stance and capabilities. Investigating the truth of "Penglai" became his safer option at the moment.
Thus, a peculiar stalemate arose between the two brothers due to the sudden intervention of Wang Yi. Li Jiancheng was busy "cultivating health" and winning over the "fairy," while Li Shimin secretly investigated and accumulated power. The apparent conflict seemed to have subsided temporarily, but beneath the surface, the attention and scheming towards the woman who was under house arrest in the villa never ceased.
However, this fragile balance was soon broken by a third person—King Qi, Li Yuanji.
Li Yuanji was violent, arrogant, greedy, and lustful. He had long heard that his elder brother, the Crown Prince, had somehow acquired a "fairy from Penglai," a woman of unparalleled beauty who could concoct miraculous elixirs that had largely cured the Crown Prince's headaches. His heart was filled with a torment of curiosity and desire. He inquired with Li Jiancheng several times, but Li Jiancheng always brushed him off with excuses such as "she is a recluse, not to be presumptuous" and "she needs to concentrate on concocting the elixir." This only fueled Li Yuanji's interest further.
That day, Li Jiancheng was summoned to the palace by Li Yuan for a meeting and would not return for a while. Li Yuanji felt that his opportunity had come. He was a fearless person by nature, and relying on the fact that Li Jiancheng usually gave him some leeway, he took a few close guards and went straight to the villa where Wang Yi was being held under house arrest.
The guards of the Eastern Palace, seeing that it was Prince Qi, dared not stop him. They could only send someone to the palace to report the news while trying to dissuade him: "Your Highness Prince Qi, the Crown Prince has ordered that this is a place of quiet cultivation, and no one is allowed to enter without permission, so as not to disturb the noble people inside."
"A distinguished guest? What distinguished guest is there that I cannot see?" Li Yuanji shoved aside the guards blocking his way and strode inside. "I just heard that a fairy has arrived, so I came to pay her a visit! Does my elder brother, the Crown Prince, not want his younger brother to even catch a glimpse of her?"
The guards looked at each other, ultimately not daring to use force against the prince, and could only watch as Li Yuanji broke into the inner courtyard.
Wang Yi was gazing into the distance from the pavilion in the courtyard (actually recalling modern information in her mind) when she heard the commotion outside and frowned slightly. In the blink of an eye, a young man dressed in brocade robes, with a burly build and an air of arrogance and ferocity in his eyes, barged in. His gaze, like a searchlight, landed on her without restraint, and suddenly became startlingly bright.
"Tsk tsk tsk! Truly a beauty of unparalleled grace, no wonder the Crown Prince has kept her hidden!" Li Yuanji's eyes gleamed with undisguised lust as he saw Wang Yi's face. He had long heard of her beauty, but seeing her in person still left him utterly astonished. Her aloof and ethereal aura only fueled his possessive desire. He glanced around and, seeing only two trembling servants, grew even bolder.
"So you're Wang Yi from Penglai?" Li Yuanji stepped forward, his tone flippant. "I've heard you're quite capable, able to cure the Crown Prince's illness? I've come today to ask you to take a look and see if you have any miraculous elixirs that can make me... stronger." As he spoke, his gaze lingered on Wang Yi more blatantly.
Wang Yi's alarm bells rang, and she immediately understood the newcomer's identity and intentions. Li Yuanji! This Prince Qi, known in history for his cruelty and lust! She forced herself to remain calm, maintaining her indifference, and took a half step back, nodding slightly: "Blessed are you. So it is His Highness Prince Qi. This humble Taoist is merely sparsely versed in medicine, and His Highness the Crown Prince's ailment just happens to be treated. His Highness Prince Qi is in good health, so there is no need for this humble Taoist to elaborate."
"No need?" Li Yuanji chuckled, taking another step closer. "If I say it's needed, then it's needed. Since you have elixirs, why not bestow a few upon me? Or..." His eyes suddenly turned dangerous, "...would you come back to the Qi Prince's residence with me and 'refine' them slowly? I'm sure I understand how to cherish women better than my elder brother, the Crown Prince!"
Before he could finish speaking, he actually reached out and grabbed Wang Yi's wrist!
Wang Yi was prepared. The instant he reached out, she nimbly dodged to the side and back, simultaneously drawing her right hand from her sleeve—holding a short, black, simple-designed metal baton about twenty centimeters long (a high-performance stun gun for self-defense). Without hesitation, she aimed the stun head at Li Yuanji's outstretched arm and slammed the switch on!
"Sizzle—!" A soft, yet teeth-grinding, crackling sound of electricity!
"Ah—!" Caught off guard, Li Yuanji felt a sharp pain and numbness in his arm, which instantly spread to half of his body. He felt as if he had been hit by an invisible hammer. He shuddered violently, screamed, and fell to the ground with a thud. His limbs twitched, and white foam even spilled from the corners of his mouth. He couldn't get up for a moment!
All of this happened too fast! The guards who rushed in with Li Yuanji were stunned. They didn't even see what kind of "hidden weapon" Wang Yi used. They only saw the Prince of Qi reach out to grab it, and a black light flashed from the woman's sleeve. The Prince of Qi screamed and fell to the ground convulsing!
"Witch! What have you done to His Highness?!" The attendants were shocked and furious, and drew their swords to rush forward.
Wang Yi quickly retreated, holding the stun gun horizontally in front of him. His eyes were cold, but his voice was clear and calm: "His Highness Prince Qi's sudden illness is due to his own ailment. What does it have to do with me? If you dare to step forward again and disturb me from refining the life-saving elixir for His Highness the Crown Prince, causing all my previous efforts to be wasted, can you bear the consequences if His Highness the Crown Prince blames you?!"
Her words carried weight, especially the mention of the Crown Prince and the "life-saving elixir," which made the guards hesitate to actually strike the "alchemist" whom the Crown Prince valued so highly. They looked at Li Yuanji, who was still twitching slightly and delirious on the ground, and then at Wang Yi, who was holding that strange black "short stick" and had a sharp look in his eyes. They were caught in a dilemma.
Just then, hurried footsteps and shouts came from outside the courtyard: "Your Highness the Crown Prince is returning! All bystanders, please leave!"
Upon receiving the urgent report, Li Jiancheng rushed back from the palace, his face ashen. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw Li Yuanji lying on the ground in a disheveled state, Wang Yi standing with a "stick" in hand and a frosty expression, and the several bewildered guards of the Prince of Qi's residence.
"Fourth Brother! What are you doing?!" Li Jiancheng shouted angrily, both surprised and furious. He strode forward, glancing at Wang Yi first. Seeing that she was dressed neatly, though her face was cold, and that she seemed to have escaped unscathed, he felt slightly relieved. Then he glared at Li Yuanji and the guards on the ground: "Who allowed you to barge in?! You disturbed Fellow Daoist Wang's alchemy; what is your punishment?!"
The guards of Prince Qi's mansion were so frightened that they knelt on the ground. Li Yuanji, having recovered somewhat, struggled to sit up, staring at the black short stick in Wang Yi's hand with a mixture of shock, anger, and fear. He pointed at her and hissed, "Crown Prince! This witch... this witch knows sorcery! She used a demonic weapon to hurt me!"
Li Jiancheng's gaze shifted to the stun gun in Wang Yi's hand, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes. That thing had a peculiar design, clearly no ordinary weapon; it had just been able to instantly knock down his fourth brother, a man as strong as an ox…
Before Li Jiancheng could ask any questions, Wang Yi proactively put away the stun gun (actually turning off the power and carefully placing it in a hidden pocket in her sleeve), bowed to Li Jiancheng, and spoke calmly with a perfectly measured hint of grievance and lingering fear: "Your Highness, please understand. Prince Qi suddenly barged in, spoke rudely, and even attempted to force himself on me. To protect myself, I had no choice but to use the 'Awakening Pestle,' a self-defense item passed down from my sect. This item only has a numbing effect, which will subside in a moment, and there is no serious harm. It is my fault for disturbing Your Highness's peace." She cleverly explained the stun gun as a "self-defense weapon" and emphasized that it was "no serious harm," thus explaining Li Yuanji's miserable state and clearing herself of any suspicion of intentionally harming the prince.
Li Jiancheng glanced at Li Yuanji, who, though disheveled, did not appear to be seriously injured. Thinking of Wang Yi's miraculous elixirs and his own growing reliance on the "Heart-Clearing and Pain-Relieving Powder," his resolve instantly shifted. He glared fiercely at Li Yuanji: "Nonsense! Fellow Daoist Wang is a reclusive master; how dare you be so disrespectful?! Quickly apologize to Fellow Daoist Wang!"
Li Yuanji was so angry he almost vomited blood, but the numbness in his arm hadn't completely subsided, and he was still apprehensive about the "Awakening of Insects Pestle" in Wang Yi's hand. Seeing Li Jiancheng's clearly protective attitude, he knew he wouldn't get away with it today. He could only suppress his anger, stiffen his neck, and squeeze out a few words through gritted teeth: "It was...it was my recklessness..."
Li Jiancheng waved his hand, ordering his men to quickly help Li Yuanji, who was still sitting on the ground, up and take him away. He then coldly glanced at the guards of the Qi Prince's residence: "If even a single word of what happened today is leaked, you will be severely punished! Get out of here!"
After all the other people had left, only Li Jiancheng, Wang Yi, and a few trusted confidants of the Crown Prince remained in the courtyard, and the atmosphere remained heavy.
Li Jiancheng looked at Wang Yi, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "Fellow Daoist Wang, you've been frightened. My fourth brother is impulsive, please forgive him. But... what is the principle behind your 'Awakening of Insects Pestle'? How can it possess such power?" He finally asked.
Wang Yi remained calm: "It was merely a matter of using the clash of metal and stone to unleash a trace of thunderous energy, deterring the wicked. It's nothing serious, not worth mentioning. However, after this incident, it seems this place is no longer suitable for quiet cultivation of elixirs. His Highness the Crown Prince's elixirs have just been replenished in another batch recently." As she spoke, she took out another small porcelain bottle from her sleeve, "But in the future, if there are any more such 'disturbances,' I will be too uneasy to guarantee the refinement and effectiveness of the elixirs."
This was a tactful warning and a condition. Li Jiancheng's heart tightened. Li Yuanji's outburst had indeed exposed that the villa was not absolutely safe, and it also showed him that Wang Yi was not a weak woman without any means of resistance. Her mysterious "defense artifact" and crucial pharmaceutical abilities meant that he had to treat her with even greater caution.
"Rest assured, fellow Daoist," Li Jiancheng immediately assured him, "What happened today will never happen again! I will send more people to strictly prohibit anyone from breaking in and disturbing your cultivation! You only need to focus on...refining medicine for me." He took the medicine bottle, his tone softening considerably.
Wang Yi nodded slightly, said nothing more, and turned to go back inside. Closing the door, she leaned against it, letting out a soft sigh; her palms were slightly sweaty. The stun gun's battery was limited; she had just used almost the highest setting. If Li Yuanji's guards had recklessly rushed forward, or if Li Jiancheng's attitude had been ambiguous, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Fortunately, Li Jiancheng's reliance on the "Heart-Clearing and Pain-Relieving Powder," along with his fear of her "Penglai" background and "magical artifacts," allowed her to temporarily escape this predicament. However, Li Yuanji's covetousness is like a venomous snake; if he fails this time, he may resort to even more insidious methods next time. And how reliable can Li Jiancheng's guarantees be in the face of absolute interests and desires?
"It seems I can't stay here any longer." Wang Yi's eyes flickered. Li Yuanji's intrusion, though dangerous, broke the existing stalemate, making Li Jiancheng's need for her "protection" even more urgent and obvious. Perhaps... this is another opportunity for her to seek more room to maneuver, or even to pass on messages?
She needs to plan this carefully. Li Shimin should soon find out about today's farce, right? How will he interpret it? And Li Jiancheng, after this incident, will he control her even more tightly, or... will he try other methods to truly "subdue" her?
The eye of the storm seemed to be gathering even more fiercely towards her small villa.
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