"Your Highness... Are you sure you won't eat? You've been tied up here for ten days..."
Qing'er held out a tray of food, offering it to Jia Ling'er.
The aroma of the meal instantly filled the air, so enticing it lingered at the tip of one's nose, utterly intoxicating.
Even Jia Ling'er couldn't help but swallow hard.
"Gurgle~~~"
Logically, once one reached the Shattering Heaven stage, they could abstain from food for months or even years without issue. After attaining Transcendence, one no longer needed worldly sustenance—eating, drinking, sleeping, and other mortal necessities became obsolete, with all energy devoted to cultivation.
Jia Ling'er, born of imperial blood, had been at the Foundation Establishment stage from birth and reached Shattering Heaven as soon as she was weaned. She had barely tasted ordinary food and should have been immune to such temptations.
Yet now... Jia Ling'er's stomach was growling?
"Your Highness, your stomach is rumbling. Just try a little... It's delicious..."
Though Qing'er wouldn't mind seeing the noble princess succumb to such earthly pleasures, she still held respect for her.
"I... I... Fine, just a bite."
After much hesitation, Jia Ling'er finally gave in to the temptation, gulping hard before accepting the tray.
Her delicate hands grabbed a pastry and shoved it into her mouth, completely disregarding any semblance of royal grace.
Not that she could be blamed—aside from mother's milk, Jia Ling'er had only ever consumed spirit fruits and elixirs. She had never tasted ordinary food, let alone knew how to use utensils, forcing her to eat with her hands.
"Mmm~~~ So good!"
Her mouth stuffed full, crumbs spilled from the corners of her lips, but she paid no mind.
How could something taste this amazing? She felt like her past life had been wasted, gnawing on bland spirit fruits and pills with no flavor at all.
"Hmph... Your Highness, Young Master Jiang put a lot of effort into preparing this meal for you!"
Xue'er pouted, her voice laced with jealousy.
Among the mermaids of the Jialan Clan, especially the females, once they found love, their dependence on their partner grew immensely. These mermaids had already become inseparable from Jiang Che.
"Urk—" Jia Ling'er, mid-bite, suddenly froze before gagging in disgust.
"Bleh! Bleh! I would never eat anything made by that disgusting worm!"
Her princess temper flared. "You... All of you, get out! I'd rather starve than eat anything from Jiang Che!"
Qing'er blinked. "Your Highness... Please don't throw it away. It's his sincere effort, and it really is delicious..."
"You too! Traitors, all of you!" Jia Ling'er snapped.
"Waaah... Your Highness..." Qing'er, scolded, teared up, her eyes glistening with hurt.
Just then, a large hand wrapped around Qing'er's slender waist, pulling her into a broad, comforting embrace.
Who else could it be but Jiang Che?
With one arm around Qing'er, Jiang Che leveled a cool gaze at Jia Ling'er.
"Apologize. To. Her."
His tone brooked no argument. Did she really think she was still a princess? A fallen princess was no princess at all.
"You—" Jia Ling'er's cheeks puffed in anger, her glare sharp enough to kill Jiang Che a thousand times over.
"Never!"
Jiang Che studied her stubborn face before chuckling—a laugh that sent chills down the spine.
"You... What are you planning?"
Jiang Che casually picked at his ear. "Relax, I’m not the type to force myself on anyone."
Had he wanted to, Jia Ling'er would have been turned into "cream-stuffed fish" a week ago.
"By the way, Jia Ling'er, isn’t your proudest asset your noble mermaid bloodline?"
The sudden question caught her off guard.
Yes, it was her bloodline!
She was the daughter of an emperor, her Jialan bloodline reaching ancestral purity—even surpassing her mother, the Jialan Empress. Ascending to immortality was practically guaranteed for her.
"What if... Just hypothetically, what if these five girls beside me all surpassed your bloodline? What would you do then?"
Jiang Che's smile deepened.
For a haughty prodigy like Jia Ling'er, the best way to break her was to crush the very thing she prided herself on.
Jia Ling'er paused before bursting into laughter. "Are you dreaming?"
"Our Jialan Clan descends from ancient divine bloodlines. The royal blood in my veins is a completely different existence from these common mermaids! The purity of our royal blood is a sacred taboo—it cannot be enhanced. That’s why successive queens have relied on parthenogenesis to maintain the purity of our lineage!"
She didn’t hold back her scorn. "Countless Jialan ancestors have reached immortality, yet not a single one could achieve what you’re suggesting. What makes you think you can?"
In the Jialan Clan, royal and common blood were worlds apart. The tears of a royal-blooded mermaid could enhance the purity of common bloodlines, but royal blood itself could never be improved. The idea of elevating a common-blooded mermaid to royal status was absurd!
Royal blood only diluted with each generation through mating, which was why the Jialan queens resorted to parthenogenesis to preserve its sanctity.
"Even immortals couldn’t accomplish this. What makes you, a lecherous good-for-nothing, think you can?"
"Jia Ling'er! Don’t you dare insult Young Master Jiang!" Qing'er clung tightly to Jiang Che’s waist, glaring at Jia Ling'er with teary eyes.
There was no doubt—this little mermaid’s heart had already been completely molded by Jiang Che.
"Tch... A mongrel like you wouldn’t even be fit to carry my shoes in the Jialan Clan. Just because you’ve been by my side for a few days, you think you’re my handmaiden now?"
Jia Ling'er’s words were razor-sharp.
Qing'er froze. She had once called her "Your Highness" with such reverence, believing the princess to be a kind and approachable elder sister who never looked down on them for their bloodline. But now...
"Waaah~~~ Sob!"
Qing'er burst into tears, burying her face in Jiang Che’s arm as she wept uncontrollably.
Jia Ling'er panicked. "N-No, don’t cry..." She had spoken in anger, but upon reflection, her words had been undeniably cruel.
Jiang Che frowned, lifting Qing'er into his arms and kissing away her tears.
In his harem, there was no hierarchy based on bloodline—whether empress or common girl, all were equal!
Besides, Qing'er was already his woman, while Jia Ling'er hadn’t even earned a glance from him. Naturally, Jiang Che sided with his little Qing'er.
"Heh... Jia Ling'er, didn’t you just say... that the Jialan Clan cannot refine their own bloodline?"
Jiang Che had seized the critical detail!
If what Jia Ling'er said was true—that the entire Jialan Clan was incapable of enhancing their blood purity—then he, Jiang Che, could do what even they couldn’t!
Jiang Che had complete faith in his system—what treasure couldn't be obtained from such an all-powerful system?
If he could find a way to enhance the purity of the royal bloodline of the Jia Lan Clan, then even the Jia Lan Empress might come begging at his doorstep.