Chapter 60: Emperor Xue Ye's Worries, Xue Xing Apologizes_1

"Why doesn't Mr. Dugu grow them anymore?"

Emperor Xue Ye asked, puzzled.

"You think I don't want to?"

Mr. Dugu replied irritably, "Times have changed, as have the eras."

"Could it be that a natural disaster occurred and all the herbs were destroyed?"

"No, it was a man-made disaster."

Mr. Dugu said with heartache.

"A man-made disaster..."

The entire sleeping chamber suddenly fell silent.

Even Emperor Xue Ye fell silent.

The person who could harm the Poison Douluo mustn't be ordinary, and in this case, less knowledge was better.

"Mr. Dugu, how long can I hold on with medicinal materials worth five hundred thousand golden soul coins?"

Emperor Xue Ye asked again.

After thinking for a moment, Mr. Dugu said, "Seven days, I suppose."

"Only a mere seven days?"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Xue Ye raised his voice involuntarily.

Doesn't that mean that I need to spend a hundred thousand golden soul coins each day?

Inside the Tiandou Empire, how much tax from the citizens would amount to a hundred thousand golden soul coins...

If it's a hundred thousand a day, then at least three million a month, the annual treatment cost would be a staggering thirty to forty million...

"An annual cost of at least thirty to forty million golden soul coins, isn't that price a bit too high..."

Thinking of it, Emperor Xue Ye began to breathe heavily; he hadn't realized how expensive it was to stay alive.

"If only thirty to forty million golden soul coins could save your life."

Just then, Mr. Dugu shook his head, shattering Emperor Xue Ye's illusion.

"Are you saying that thirty to forty million golden soul coins are still not enough?"

Emperor Xue Ye asked in shock.

"Of course, that's not enough."

Mr. Dugu said, "After seven days, your body will develop drug resistance. The next dose will require an even greater amount of medicinal materials, the cost is not fixed, but increases by the day..."

"Alas, thinking about it now, I really was rich before."

Mr. Dugu calculated how much Spiritual Medicine he had taken from his manor for Emperor Xue Ye over the years.

Previously, he hadn't felt anything, but now that he thought about it, that was all money.

At the very least, it must have been several billion golden soul coins, right?

Compared to that, the benefits of being a guest elder at the Prince's mansion seemed pitiful indeed.

Damn it.

A total loss.

"If Your Majesty feels the medical expenses are high, I can write you a list, and you can send someone to purchase the materials yourself."

Seeing Emperor Xue Ye fall silent, Mr. Dugu spoke in a grave tone.

"You misunderstand, sir. It's not that I distrust you, but rather that I feel my life isn't worth the cost of such expensive treatment."

"Besides, the treatment won't cure me, it would merely keep me hanging on."

Emperor Xue Ye explained to Mr. Dugu with a helpless look on his face.

Mr. Dugu's gaze flickered slightly, but he said nothing more.

Because what Emperor Xue Ye said was the truth.

"Someone come, take Mr. Dugu down to receive his payment."

Emperor Xue Ye then had the guards escort Mr. Dugu away.

"Your Majesty, you should also rest a while, take a nap."

Someone caring spoke by Emperor Xue Ye's side.

"How can I sleep when a hundred thousand golden soul coins only buys me twelve shichen?"

Emperor Xue Ye's mouth curved into a bitter smile.

For now, the Tiandou Empire had extensive affairs and could afford the annual expenditure of several million.

But what if it went on like this?

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In the coming year, I might have to spend upwards of a hundred million golden soul coins on my treatment...

Perhaps even more.

No one dared to speak anymore.

"It's a pity, Qinghe is still young, his wings yet to fill out, and with Prince Xue Xing oppressing him in the shadows, otherwise what would it matter if I passed the throne to him?"

Emperor Xue Ye thought to himself.

He's been holding on for life with great difficulty, and he has his reasons.

In fact, he had long lost any desire for the throne of the Tiandou Empire, his only concern being for Xue Qinghe.

The influence of Prince Xue Xing in Tiandou could be called deep-rooted, and with a figure like Poison Douluo acting as a powerful guest elder in his residence, it further bolstered Prince Xue Xing's arrogance. Emperor Xue Ye feared that once he passed away, Prince Xue Xing would plot a rebellion.

"Regretfully, Sect Master Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is a bona fide merchant; even granting him the position of Crown Prince's teacher couldn't make him step in to confront Xue Xing."

"It won't do, I must help Qinghe one more time."

Emperor Xue Ye remembered the words of Dream Divine Machine: "That young Titled Douluo in Shrek Academy, who even Du Gu Bo is quite wary of, if he could serve as a guest elder for the Crown Prince's residence, there would be no need to worry about Xue Xing relying on Poison Douluo to use any underhanded tactics."

In that instant, Emperor Xue Ye thought of many things, and immediately said to a person by his side: "Go and call the Crown Prince here."

...

"Old, broken, and secluded, this must be the place," Qin Xiao thought as he eyed the dilapidated sign hanging outside the inn.

Even before he drew near, he could smell decay.

It came from the ancient wooden door.

Squeak.

He pushed the door open, and the wooden door groaned as if it were about to collapse, emitting a teeth-grinding noise.

Qin Xiao, who faced Titled Douluos without fear, felt sick listening to this sound.

Upon entering the hall, he saw some people gathered around a table, eating breakfast.

"It seems my guess wasn't wrong," he said to himself.

Without a doubt, these were the members of Shrek Academy.

As he stepped through the door, pairs of eyes turned to him, most showing delight.

"Your Highness, you've finally returned," Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Zhao Wuji said excitedly.

That's right, Zhao Wuji had intruded.

It was unavoidable; after witnessing Qin Xiao's bravery, he had come to idolize the youth decades his junior.

"Ugh, anyone else is fine, but Old Zhao, you really should control yourself," Qin Xiao said, then couldn't help but rub his temples to indicate his headache.

In contrast, Zhao Wuji wore an embarrassed face, "I couldn't help myself, I couldn't help myself."

"Your Highness, we didn't leave any message for you, so how did you find this place?" Zhao Wuji asked curiously. "Were you hiding in the shadows all along?"

"Of course not, I don't have such peculiar hobbies," Qin Xiao replied with a slight shake of his head and a chuckle: "Hehe, actually, it wasn't too troublesome. As long as it's in Tiandou City, wherever the inn is cheapest, it's not hard to find you. Isn't that right, Flander?"

Uh...

Upon hearing this, Flander's face crinkled with embarrassment. Qin Xiao's words were spot-on, capturing his character perfectly.

But for the sake of his dignity as the dean, he found himself an excuse, "Your Highness, you don't understand. It's not just about saving money, it's more important to temper the will of the children. We should nip any potential for decadence in the bud."

"Hehe, if you say so, I won't argue with you," Qin Xiao said with a laugh.

However.

Just then, a deep roar came from outside the inn: "When Prince His Highness travels, bystanders should keep away."

The prince?

Everyone was taken aback, putting down their bowls and chopsticks, and turned to look towards the entrance.

In no time,

the portly Prince Xue Xing, along with Avalanche, walked in.

Xue Xing was fine, with a smile on his face.

Avalanche was frowning, constantly waving his hand in front of his face with a look of disgust.

He thought to himself: Is this a place for humans to live?

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