Chapter 213: Fei Yuan's Old Flame
Sang Luo scrutinized him with a critical eye, shaking her head in refusal. "Too bad, my standards for a beastman mate are rather high when it comes to looks."
"What do you mean? You think I'm ugly!" Ji Li Jun, who had been all smiles, instantly flew into a rage, "I am a renowned beauty in the sea region!"
Lou Xian Yue frowned, "Enough nonsense. Does anyone know why the old Beast Emperor is in seclusion? I remember he was quite robust a few years ago. Could it be to break through to a higher realm?"
"Besides that, what else could it be? It's just that the old man's lifespan is nearing its end, and he wants to enter a death seclusion to break through and extend his life," Ji Li Jun shrugged.
Sang Luo's eyes lit up. "I happen to have a valuable gift that can be used as an exchange with the North Sea Old Beast Emperor. He will definitely need a Reincarnation Pill."
"Reincarnation Pill?" Ji Li Jun stammered, "You actually have such a thing!"
Afraid he wouldn't believe her, Sang Luo even took out the Reincarnation Pill. Anyone with a discerning eye would know whether it was genuine or not.
Ji Li Jun was so shocked that he stuttered, "You, you… where did you get this from?"
"Where it came from is not something the North Sea Beast Emperor needs to worry about. In any case, it definitely came through legitimate channels. I wonder if using this Reincarnation Pill as an exchange would be acceptable?"
"Of course, it would be," Ji Li Jun forced himself to appear calm, but his slightly trembling hands betrayed the turbulent emotions within.
Sang Luo had heard from Lou Xian Yue that he almost lost half his life the last time he tried a Reincarnation Pill.
Fei Yuan's craftsmanship wasn't very stable.
The new generation of Reincarnation Pills had divine patterns, so there shouldn't be a problem nine times out of ten, but no one had tested it yet… Sang Luo was still a little worried and thought it best to find someone else to test the medicine.
Just in case, she used the communication jade slip to inquire with Fei Yuan whether he could make another Reincarnation Pill.
After a while, he replied unhurriedly.
"I can. With the recipe, refining the pill is not a problem, but finding the materials will take some time. I can still refine one more before you give birth to this child."
That put her at ease.
"Grand Ancestor will definitely agree, but this is a major matter, so I must first return to report. I will be able to give you a reply soon," Ji Li Jun said anxiously before leaving.
"Wait," Lou Xian Yue called out to him, "Please have the North Sea Beast Emperor swear an oath to the heavens and earth that this matter shall not be told to outsiders. Also, please keep our identities a secret from the Old Beast Emperor for now. If he agrees to the deal, use this to contact us."
Lou Xian Yue gave him a communication conch, which could only be used by specific people on both sides to communicate.
"Alright," Ji Li Jun readily accepted, swore an oath to the heavens and earth, and then left.
Sang Luo returned to Phoenix Palace in the Eastern Continent after staying in the Sea Emperor Palace for half a month. Fei Yuan had been acting strangely these past few days. He didn't even come to find her after learning of her return, she wondered what he was busy with again.
Unfortunately, the only thing he left on her was a tracking mark, which could only be used by him to track her. She had no idea where he was or what he was doing.
Sang Luo sat in the gazebo of the Royal Garden, eating spiritual fruits to relieve her boredom.
Loud shouts came from not far ahead.
"You bunch of insubordinate servants, get out of my way! Don't stop me!"
"Esteemed Consort Ran Ying, you really can't go in!"
"Why can't I go in? I don't know how many times I've been to the palace, and I often stroll through this Royal Garden. Why aren't you letting me in now? There's no reason for this!"
"His Majesty has specifically ordered that the Royal Garden is exclusively for that esteemed consort to stroll and relax in, and no outsiders are allowed to disturb her."
"Yes, that esteemed consort is carrying His Majesty's phoenix heir, so her body is very precious and absolutely no accidents can happen. This servant saw her go to the gazebo in the garden to rest just now. If esteemed consort really wants to go, please wait until that esteemed consort leaves before you come to the garden. Please don't make things difficult for us."
"Hmph! Just a pregnant female! This Royal Garden isn't hers! How domineering and unreasonable! How could His Majesty like such a female!"
Sang Luo's head ached from the noise and she asked the attendant beside her, "Who is making such a ruckus outside?"
"Reporting to esteemed consort, it is an esteemed consort from the Qingluan tribe, named Ran Ying."
The attendant explained, "The Qingluan tribe is an ancient native noble family, considered a distant collateral line of the Phoenix Clan. They are honored guests in all tribes."
"This esteemed consort Ran Ying has always been arrogant and domineering. I will chase her away immediately!"
Sang Luo, "She is still a member of the imperial family, so it's not good to chase her away. Isn't she just wanting to stroll through the garden? Let her in."
Soon, several servants were seen escorting a young female in a goose-yellow dress inside.
Ran Ying strode to the front of the gazebo, crossed her arms, and was extremely arrogant. "You are the female who is pregnant with the phoenix heir?"
"…" So she was coming for her.
If she had known, she might as well have chased her away directly.
Sang Luo sat up straight and replied, "Indeed. I don't know what esteemed consort wants from me. We shouldn't have met before, right?"
Ran Ying scrutinized her critically, looking extremely disdainful. "So it's you. I thought you were some kind of marvel. You don't even look like Sister Mei Ji…"
She probably wanted to compare Sang Luo's appearance unfavorably, but looking at her face, she really couldn't bring herself to say the second half of her sentence. Then, she changed the subject and looked at her flat stomach, scoffing lightly, "His Majesty Phoenix Emperor hasn't had any offspring for hundreds of years. How could you have gotten pregnant so quickly? Maybe it's a bastard from who knows where."
"Esteemed Consort Ran Ying, you can't say such things!" The servant she brought quickly tried to stop her.
Ran Ying didn't care at all, flicking her fingers. "I'm not saying anything randomly. There have been precedents like this in the past. Wanting to gain status through a child, using a bastard born from a guard or lover beastman to impersonate the imperial heir. Once discovered, their lives would be gone."
Sang Luo turned her head and looked at the attendant beside her, "Have you recorded everything?"
The attendant took out a recording stone, "Every word Ran Ying said has been recorded."
Ran Ying's face changed drastically, "You! What do you mean!"
Sang Luo stood up and walked down the steps, questioning her condescendingly, "Whether the child in my belly is His Majesty's own child, His Majesty knows better than anyone. You, an outsider who came from who knows where, are slandering the noble imperial heir without any evidence. This is, great disrespect."
She looked at Ran Ying's pale face, gently stroked her abdomen, and suddenly smiled, "If His Majesty knows that you are desecrating his own flesh and blood…"
The attendant beside her was quick to respond, "Anyone who dares to slander the imperial heir will be beheaded according to national law, even if it is a female, all possessions will be confiscated and exiled to the frontier, never to return to the city."
Ran Ying was so frightened that she was almost paralyzed, "No, I didn't mean that. I was just saying it casually…"
Sang Luo waved her hand, and the guards dragged her away, throwing her out of the palace, never to enter again.
Sang Luo's good mood for the whole day was gone. Thinking of something, she asked Fang嬷嬷, the serving attendant, "Who is this Mei Ji that Ran Ying was talking about?"
Old嬷嬷 Fang seemed a little hesitant, but still said, "Esteemed Consort Mei Ji's original name is Le Xia. She is a pure-blooded royal beast female from the Qingluan tribe, a True King rank. Because she admired His Majesty, she voluntarily gave up her honors and entered the palace as a consort."
"Oh, Fei Yuan's consort?"
"She's not just an ordinary consort. It is said that she was by His Majesty's side when he was young and had not yet ascended the throne. She was His Majesty's most beloved female at the time, surpassing all others in the harem and enjoying unlimited glory."
