Volume 1, Chapter 54: Betrothal to the Minister's Legitimate Daughter

(1/3) The death of the Thirteenth Prince had already been registered with the Emperor. Having been tasked with the investigation, if he failed to uncover anything, not only would he lose his official hat, but his very life might also be in jeopardy.

At the end of July, the imperial procession departed the palace in grand style, marking almost the most magnificent imperial tour since the Emperor's ascension. While everyone else was jubilant, Lanqi calculated in her mind that the southern tour slated for the coming spring might prove even livelier than this one.

King Jiang and Lady Bu, dressed in black, quietly pushed open the door, stepped out from the inn, and gradually vanished into the night.

As for the reputation of the Su family... what kind of honor could a family specializing in poisons possibly possess? When the King elevated the Su family to nobility back then, it was nothing more than utilizing them.

If her second brother's dream were to demand his life as a price, then she would reshape this world so that no one could ever harm him.

Hesitating for a moment, I decided it was of no consequence, and drew the necklace out from the collar of my garments, revealing the sparkling ring.

Having finished speaking, he reclined on the soft couch inside the carriage, supporting his head with one hand, one leg bent upward, and closed his eyes to rest.

"His Majesty was merely hasty just now, and those words were not directed at you, Niangniang. Please do not take them to heart," Nanny Sumalala apologized to Lanqi on behalf of the Grand Empress Dowager.

Xu Chongbao's reaction was precisely as Duanmu Ming had anticipated. The more they crossed moves, the heavier his heart sank. How could this possibly be merely the strength of the early fifth stage of the Saint Realm?

In the days that followed, whenever he was overcome with passion and sought to kiss the red mole behind her left ear, she would refuse him just the same.

"So you are Boss Zhao, a pleasure to meet you." Upon seeing the business card, the clerk's attitude turned significantly more respectful, clearly recognizing that this Boss Zhao was a frequent visitor in the jade-gambling circle.

"Aunt Zhang, you and Uncle Jin should sit down and eat with us too! It will be much livelier with everyone together!" I said with a faint smile.

(1/3)

(2/3) Wang Haitao, however, wore a look of utter astonishment. His shock did not stem from the subterranean scenery, as he had not yet exited the elevator and had no inkling of what conditions lay below.

An Ran and Chaofeng also joined the ranks of those returning. Before parting, the two exchanged a knowing smile, as though庆幸ing (rejoicing) that Chaofeng had managed to transform in time to avert a disaster.

Naturally, it was also because those operators had been frightened out of their wits. Encountering something previously deemed utterly unimaginable all at once, they found it incredible and reacted with a hint of exaggerated psychology; in reality, it could hardly have been as violently warped as a psychological distortion.

Bai Hui trembled violently. As more and more information was transmitted, the shock and emotion in his eyes grew increasingly profound.

An Ran first set her internal energy into motion, allowing her vital qi to slowly complete thirty-six cycles of circulation within her body.

In the end, Xiao Jingxuan achieved his wish, sneaking off to a corner with a certain Xi to enjoy their own private world. More importantly, with so many people still "acting" for them in the great hall, it felt rather colorful and diverse.

From this it was evident just how sharp the eyes of the fans who could recognize Chu Luoxi truly were, and how familiar they were with their own idol.

"Then why not treat a dead horse as a live horse? I will go and negotiate terms with the one outside. Perhaps the situation is not yet so dire," she said lightly.

Unable to resist taking a couple of steps backward to broaden her field of vision, she leaned forward to peer into that compartment, only to see Ling Zheng and Su Yu sitting face-to-face, eating hot pot and chatting away, with Su Yu even thoughtfully topping up the tea in his cup.

Aixi suddenly realized that over the years, this man who had always silently guarded her had actually built an impregnable fortress within her heart. With him around, her heart could feel so secure.

The ball of light lingered only for a moment before finally dissipating. Yet when Ning Zhe cast his gaze forward, he found two purplish-golden imprints glowing in the palm of his hand. Vast celestial power was revolving rapidly within these two seals. At that instant, he sensed a power formidable enough to shatter heaven and earth.

Upon seeing the wretched state of Wang Shangqing at the entrance, this Junior Official of the Court of State Ceremonies of the Fourth Rank felt his legs turn to jelly. The Court of State Ceremonies was responsible for receiving out-of-town officials, arranging their lodging and board while in the capital, and managing communications for imperial audiences. During the recent reshuffling of prefectural and provincial officials across the realm by Emperor Chengwu, this fellow had lined his pockets handsomely.

(2/3)

(3/3) The rust-covered sickle was evidently far from sharp. By the time she finally managed to sever the wolf-tooth-shaped grass midway, Qin Yaoyao's hands were a vast expanse of red—partly due to prolonged exposure to freezing snow, and partly from gripping too forcefully.

Regnar's sudden move left many dumbfounded. Wasn't he supposed to be trapped in a blinded state? How could he possibly judge his surroundings with such precision? Did this fellow grow a third eye?

Now that the true master of the terrifying tornado—that white skull—had yet to appear, how could Xiaohu fail to understand? The tornado composed of white flames was merely a drop in the bucket of the skull's fire. Its intent was to exhaust his magic power through the magic-consuming white flames, leaving them completely unable to resist and sending them to utter destruction.

No sooner had his voice fallen than a grey-robed elder appeared at the door of the private box and lunged straight toward Ning Zhe.

Her hair was coiled into a neat bun atop her head, and she wore a massive pair of oversized frog-eyed sunglasses that concealed half her face.

Yan Luo groped for Yan Shuang's neck, but the cord that had originally hung around her neck was nowhere to be found. Panic gripping his heart, Yan Luo hastily blurted out, "Shuang'er, do not be afraid, Father is here. Where is your jade pendant? Why is it not hanging on your chest? Surely you couldn't have dropped it while coming down the mountain?"

Having little tolerance for alcohol in the first place, she had consumed so much, and so rapidly, that managing to endure for this long could hardly be considered a disgrace. At the very moment she collapsed, Banhia cried out in her heart: Do you know that I still love you?

Noble Consort Liu's footsteps stalled. She feigned a momentary daze, then slowly turned around to gaze at Emperor Yuande with an expression of astonishment.

Banhia hurriedly rose from the bed, came to Mishu's side, and squatted down to embrace her, gently stroking her neck for fear that she would bark loudly.

(3/3)