Chapter Forty-Four: The Treasure Hunter’s Secret

The Hall of Gathering Jade was the residence of Consort Li Hui, while the Hall of Encased Ice belonged to Lady Zheng. One had served His Majesty for over twenty years and borne him two princesses, making her the foremost among all concubines in the inner palace; the other had given birth to a prince and was ranked among the nine favored consorts. Though both women were circumspect and never sought to meddle or stir up trouble, no one dared cross them.

“...Why did you smile at her? I don’t like you smiling at her!” The scolding had not yet ceased, but already the man's gaze was fixed upon her slightly open collar.

The result of compromise was that hundreds of vassal prefectures, counties, and commanderies in the northwest appeared willing to fight desperately for the Protectorate of Anxi, but in truth, at least half of them were mere opportunists. They sided with the Great Xia only because of its strength; should the Turks display power, they would waver—or even turn traitor outright.

For Griggs, it was as if a shackle, forged by the laws of heaven and earth, had suddenly fallen away.

“Isn’t he being strongly cultivated by you? Didn’t you even teach him the Spiral Sphere?” Tsunade asked.

Everyone ate a simple breakfast in the carriage. As soon as the carriage stopped, Meng Cangyun, unable to contain her excitement, lifted the curtain and leapt out.

Tuoba Liancheng spun and struck her at a vital point on her back, mercilessly sealing her major acupoint and knocking her to the ground with a single blow.

“Because, although Osborn Industries is a private enterprise, it works closely with the military. Every move it makes is under intense national scrutiny and control. Boss, even though you once stormed the White House and threatened the president, Osborn’s contracts with the government have never ceased. We still manufacture weapons for the state.”

Torn between saving her mother and not, the child might provide Xue Zheng a reasonable, sufficient excuse that would allow him to forgive his own lack of filial piety.

The man fixed his eyes on her, their depths cold and unfathomable, his aura sharp and biting.

She opened her mouth at these words, her body—so hard to calm just moments before—suddenly regaining composure.

If she left home and forgot her umbrella, and her husband didn’t remind her, it wasn’t because he hadn’t thought of it, but because he wanted to pick her up himself.

Spectators around the tea banquet craned their necks, eager to read Ye Zhen’s expression as she tasted the tea, hoping to guess the flavor from the look on her face.

Even if they pressed the issue to the bitter end, it would not help uncover the true mastermind behind the Zhongliang Bridge incident and would only waste time and money.

During the exchange, Ning Xue took advantage of a break to work part-time in the hotel restaurant, where Li Zhi happened to be attending a meeting.

Li Zhi seemed as though his soul had been stolen by a spirit, gazing in a daze at the faint smile on Tan Jiuzhou’s lips, his fingers tracing over muscles honed by constant training—just as effective as he had claimed.

A viewer from Luoxi Village enthusiastically provided his local social network in the livestream chat. Xia Meng, always attentive to the comments, thanked the viewer repeatedly backstage and sent a large snack gift pack in return.

Yang Guomin was not only sued by the company but also publicly denounced in the industry as a traitor, becoming a pariah in Jianfeng, shunned by all.

Chu Yunjin’s eyes flashed coldly. With a wave of his hand, soldiers on both sides slipped out of formation, ready to encircle the Beiming army and trap them like turtles in a jar.

He spun around in excitement, blood surging with heat. He loosened his collar, revealing his furry chest, and scratched at it with his hand.

After speaking, Zhou Zekai intended to leave, but as he brushed past Xie Ziyan, he added another remark.

He then found a pack left on the outskirts and took out a dead Blazing Bird—a common marshland fowl, prized by the fishfolk as a favorite delicacy.

Changfeng Bingyan was right: ever since he slaughtered many high-ranking star forgers and emerged from the Galaxy Manor, he had sensed this transformation.

It was a modern painting—carbon-14 dating placed it at barely a century old—yet Wei Xiu felt an inexpressible shock. It was a feeling words could scarcely convey, as if a weary traveler, lost on his way, suddenly discovered someone who understood the hardship and loneliness of his wandering—a profound resonance of emotion.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Gao Lingxi offered a shy smile, not daring to utter another word. She could not fathom why the Empress Dowager insisted on this sudden display, making her, someone barely acquainted, stay at her side. Lady Ulanara, by contrast, had seen the Empress Dowager more often and heard from others in the household that she was much favored. Why the abrupt change?

The crowd surged as one, flocking to the gambling area to pick through the rough stones. Yet this time, the selection was puzzling; usually, they avoided stones with flaws, cracks, or blemishes, but now they deliberately sought them out, searching for defects.

In a flash, two sword energies shot skyward. Though they were immediately withdrawn, they stirred a resonance in Feng Lingxi’s true intent, and his inner power almost responded in kind.

Lingyin Temple used to donate its surplus silver to relieve the poor and needy. Now that its income had fallen, the destitute still found aid, but the monks no longer had to frequently leave the temple and could devote themselves to their prayers. Still, when disaster struck or refugees arrived, the abbot would send monks down the mountain to help.