A month had passed since Yang Hong's assassination attempt, and as he had predicted, the matter had quietly faded away.
Instead, the Second Prince, Yang Guang, and the Third Prince, Yang Hao, had joined forces to challenge Yang Yong in court, questioning his ability to govern. However, without Yang Jian emerging from his seclusion, their efforts were limited to mere verbal sparring.
Ultimately, it was said that the Grand Emperor, who had long since retired from worldly affairs, stepped in and unleashed a torrent of fury, causing the three princes to finally quiet down. The Great Sui imperial court fell silent.
Yet, everyone knew that it wouldn't be long before many people would face misfortune once Yang Jian emerged from his seclusion.
As for who would fall out of favor, that was no longer Yang Hong's concern. He had returned to being a carefree little farmer.
Because Yang Guang was preoccupied, Yang Yong had even less opportunity to trouble Yang Hong, leaving him with no time to spare for a prince confined to the cold palace.
Although his entire vegetable garden had been ransacked, Yang Hong didn't mind. As long as those three grapevines were unharmed, and the other plants, apart from a few cucumber plants that were rank 8 or 9, were ordinary, it didn't matter if they were overturned. He could simply replant them. Furthermore, he could use this opportunity to plant some new varieties.
"Your Highness, your old servant has bought the seeds for broad beans, peas, watermelons, and pumpkins that you requested. However, I couldn't find the Luo Han Guo seeds you mentioned. It might require leaving the palace to find them."
One day, just as Yang Hong finished channeling energy into the nine grapevines, Zhou Neng approached him with four small cloth bags.
"These four types of seeds are sufficient for now."
Yang Hong wasn't picky about new seeds; any vining plant would do.
"Your Highness, I heard the Grand Emperor has emerged."
Zhou Neng took the cloth bags and, without leaving, spoke in a hushed tone.
"It's not surprising. The Crown Prince and Yang Guang and Yang Hao caused too much of a stir. It's normal for the Grand Emperor to intervene."
Yang Hong hadn't seen this Grand Emperor since he transmigrated, so he had no impression of him.
"Your Highness, the Grand Emperor's emergence is not strange, but his cultivation level has dropped to only that of a first-rate martial artist, which is odd."
"Hmm? First-rate? That's a bit low."
Yang Hong was now a little surprised. In his memory, this Grand Emperor, Yang Mu, was a Grandmaster-level expert. His current decline to first-rate martial artist was not a good omen.
"Uncle Neng, how old is my grandfather this year?"
"The Grand Emperor is exactly 70 years old. He just celebrated his 70th birthday at the beginning of the year."
"Hmm~ 70 years old, first-rate martial artist. I understand."
Yang Hong acknowledged with a response and didn't wish to continue the topic. Normally, the Grand Emperor would have at most a decade or so of lifespan left. While an ordinary martial artist could live to 100, his lifespan would be significantly reduced after falling from the Grandmaster realm.
"Your Highness, perhaps we should send some fruits and vegetables to the Grand Emperor?"
Zhou Neng spoke again, trying to persuade him. He hoped Yang Hong could leave the cold palace through the Grand Emperor.
"We'll see about that later."
Yang Hong remained noncommittal. He had more important goals now and didn't want to get involved in palace intrigues.
"By the way, Your Highness, Zhang Rang has an errand to run outside the palace tomorrow. What are your thoughts?"
"Then don't let him return."
Upon hearing Zhang Rang's name, a trace of hatred flashed in Yang Hong's eyes. This detestable eunuch had lived long enough; it was time for him to die.
"This old servant understands."
The two fell silent and continued to level the fields in the vegetable garden.
After lunch, Yang Hong returned to the nine grapevines to begin his daily channeling.
"Ding~ You channeled 9 days of True Qi into the grapevines, gaining a 9-fold return, rewarding you with 81 days of True Qi cultivation."
"Ding~ The ordinary grapevines have been refined by True Qi and have begun to evolve~ Evolution successful, congratulations to the host for obtaining a Grade 1 Lower Rank spiritual plant, the Green Jade Grape."
"Ding~ You channeled 9 days of True Qi into the grapevines, gaining a 5-fold return, rewarding you with 45 days of True Qi cultivation."
"Ding~ Ordinary grapevines..."
After a month of effort, Yang Hong had finally managed to channel energy into all nine grapevines, causing them to evolve.
The nine grapevines could be divided into three tiers. The first tier was the one vine that evolved immediately after a single 33-day channeling session. This vine was of the best quality, and after evolution, it could accommodate Yang Hong's daily channeling of 30 days each time, yielding a large amount of cultivation return.
The second tier could be channeled once every three days, with each channeling lasting about 15 days. They evolved after a total of 50 days of True Qi channeling. After evolution, they could only be channeled for 20 days of True Qi every three days.
The last tier was the two vines that evolved today, which required a total of 60 days of True Qi channeling to complete their evolution.
"Finally, all nine grapevines have evolved."
"Now my cultivation can be further improved. It's just that leveling up my cultivation and martial arts is a bit of a pitfall now."
Yang Hong glanced at his stats with dissatisfaction.
[Yang Hong: Sixth Prince of the Great Sui Dynasty.
Daily Channeling Count: 1/3
Lifespan: 19/150
Cultivation: 21 years of True Qi (Martial Grandmaster, Ten Thousand Jin Strength)
Techniques: Basic Qi Circulation Technique Level 6, Basic Body Forging Technique Level 6
Special Abilities: Eidetic Memory, Proficient in Farming.]
In a month, Yang Hong had only accumulated a little over 21 years of True Qi, which was considered fast. The progression of his martial arts was very problematic. It required 2 years of True Qi to upgrade from level 1 to level 2, and this was an addition of 2 years of True Qi, not accumulated True Qi. Furthermore, each subsequent level required one more year. This meant that to upgrade from level 99 to level 100, an additional 100 years of cultivation would be needed on top of the level 99 cultivation. It might even be more.
Therefore, Yang Hong truly had no desire to stir up trouble now and just wanted to quietly farm and gain cultivation.
Grasping the first evolved Green Jade Grapevine, Yang Hong began his last channeling of the day.
"Ding~ You channeled 30 days of True Qi into the grapevines, gaining a hundred-fold return, rewarding you with 3000 days of True Qi cultivation."
"Ding~ Your cultivation has increased, Basic Qi Circulation Technique has advanced to Level 7, Basic Body Forging Technique has advanced to Level 7."
"Not bad. I was just complaining about slow upgrades, and now I've received over 8 years of return. That's really effective."
Just as Yang Hong finished complaining, he received a massive surge. With the addition of 8 years of True Qi cultivation, Yang Hong felt a surge of joy. After a simple test, the surprise on his face grew even larger.
"My strength has probably broken through 30,000 jin by now? This is the strongest recorded strength of any martial artist in the Great Sui. Of course, those with innate divine strength are not counted."
He now felt an urge to fight someone.
"Should I go beat up the Crown Prince right now?"
Yang Hong clenched his powerful fists, a flicker of desire crossing his mind.
"Better not. I'm no match for a mob, so I'll improve a bit more before teaching him a lesson."
Yang Hong considered the number of guards in the palace and ultimately decided to postpone the idea.
"However, Zhou Neng has already achieved Grandmaster status, so sneaking out of the palace shouldn't be a major problem. This time, when he goes to kill Zhang Rang, I'll have him find some martial arts manuals for me."
Although the "Unconcerned Pavilion" next door had not been removed, after the previous assassination attempt, the guards knew that Zhou Neng was a Grandmaster of the Innate realm, so they no longer dared to openly monitor Yang Hong. As long as he cultivated martial arts within his room, he was quite safe.