Their gazes met for a brief moment before parting.

Qin Xiao then focused on everyone present.

Jian Hongzhuo, whose brow remained perpetually furrowed, found an opportunity to interject and said: “My Lord, please reconsider. His Majesty is still young, and the court requires your continued guidance. Perhaps it would be better to send someone else to conduct the peace negotiations.”

The journey ahead was fraught with danger, and there were those who would try every means possible to kill Qin Xiao. 

Jian Hongzhuo didn’t want him to take that risk.

“The enemy specifically requested this lord’s presence, and it would be useless for anyone else to go. No further discussion is necessary.” Qin Xiao then said to everyone, “This lord has already instructed Commander An to inform everyone of the necessary preparations for the expedition. If any of you have anything to add, or if you wish to send someone to assist, please make the appropriate arrangements.” 

With 50,000 soldiers assigned to the expedition on short notice, it was impossible for Qin Xiao to only recruit former Qin family subordinates; there would definitely be people from other factions among the ranks.

But there was nothing he could do. The situation had arisen so suddenly, and he could only blame himself for having too few informants in the Northwest, and therefore limited access to information.

The most important thing at present was to set off as soon as possible in order to reach the Northwest in less than a month and prevent a massacre.

When they heard Qin Xiao ask them to recommend people to assist him, although they didn’t show any reaction outwardly, they all felt a little awkward.

Jian Hongzhuo knew that dissuading him was a useless endeavor, and could only glance toward Chu Jiubian.

He had witnessed the methods of Grand Tutor Chu back in Hexi Prefecture.

He possessed medical skills, could conjure up vast amounts of food out of thin air, and held a position in the Imperial Court. He was also eloquent and sharp-witted, and his extensive abilities were undeniable. He was the perfect person to assist in governing.

Therefore, with Qin Xiao leaving, there was no need to worry about matters in the capital.

On the contrary, the Northwest was where the real danger lay.

Everyone did indeed have things to prepare back home, so when Qin Xiao dismissed them, they all left the palace.

Once these scheming ministers left Yangxin Hall, only Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao remained, along with Bai Lihong, who was still holding back tears.

Now that everyone else was gone, the child could no longer suppress his emotions, and tears rolled down his cheeks in long, continuous streams.

But he didn’t cry out loud. He cried silent tears, staring up at his uncle who was standing beside him.

Jiujiu was so tall that he could only see his jawline.

Bai Lihong was no longer the little boy who had just lost his mother. He understood that his uncle had to go to war this time in order to save many people.

So no matter how scared or upset he was, Bai Lihong knew that he couldn’t speak up and stop him.

Yet he couldn’t help but carefully grasp his uncle’s robes with a tiny hand and hold on tight.

Qin Xiao lowered his gaze to the child’s tearstained face.

Then he bent down and picked him up.

The child buried his face in his uncle’s shoulder, wrapped his short arms around his neck, and finally began to sob.

Qin Xiao gently rubbed his back and took slow steps toward the seat next to Chu Jiubian, where he sat down.

Chu Jiubian’s eyes had been lowered the entire time, and only when the child’s cries gradually subsided did he turn his head to look.

Due to Chu Jiubian mentioning it before, Qin Xiao no longer carelessly wiped the child’s face with his clothes. Instead, he took a handkerchief from his breast pocket – but unexpectedly, another handkerchief came out with it.

The handkerchief he held in his hand was pure white and lacked embellishments, but the one he pulled out with it had jasmine flowers embroidered in silver thread in the corners.

But Chu Jiubian distinctly remembered that the other party only used unmarked handkerchiefs.

Qin Xiao also discovered the extra handkerchief, and neatly folded it before placing it back into his pocket.

He didn’t behave as if anything was out of the ordinary.

Chu Jiubian stared at him intently, a sudden tightness welling up in his chest.

“Jiujiu, Miaomiao will miss you.” Bai Lihong regarded Qin Xiao with a pitiful expression, tears flowing endlessly down his face.

Qin Xiao said nothing, and simply wiped away his tears.

Children this age were typically self-centered and eager to express themselves, but Bai Lihong, having experienced so much at such a young age, was more mature than other children of his generation.

Therefore, he was able to use reason to control his thoughts.

He said not a single word to stop him, but only whispered: “Come back, Jiujiu.”

Qin Xiao gently patted his little head, smiling very tenderly despite keeping silent.

Chu Jiubian stared at his profile, then averted his gaze when the other looked in his direction.

*

*

Both Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian were exceptionally busy over the next two days.

Qin Xiao was nowhere to be seen all day long, and didn’t even return for meals. Chu Jiubian and Bai Lihong were left to eat alone without him.

Bai Lihong also seemed to have composed himself, and was as well-behaved and sensible as always. He would only occasionally glance toward the palace gates, then casually avert his gaze.

But Chu Jiubian could clearly recognize the child’s sadness and inner turmoil.

On the evening of the twelfth, Bai Lihong stayed up late, washing up before playing with the nine-link rings Chu Jiubian had given him the day before.

Hong Fu’s heart broke at the sight, and he instructed Xiao Yuzi to go find Qin Xiao.

But Qin Xiao hadn’t returned to the palace yet, as he was leaving for battle tomorrow and was still making the final preparations.

Xiao Yuzi then went to find Chu Jiubian.

The Grand Tutor usually wasn’t one to go to bed late, but it was already almost the third watch, and when he went to look for him, he found Chu Jiubian sitting in the courtyard.

When he heard that Bai Lihong wasn’t sleeping, Chu Jiubian realized that the child was waiting up for Qin Xiao to return.

Thus, he got up and went with Xiao Yuzi to Yangxin Hall.

Upon entering the bedroom, he found the small child wrapped up in a blanket, engrossed in fiddling with a set of nine interlocking rings. 

When he heard a noise, Bai Lihong turned his head to look.

Seeing that it was Chu Jiubian, a distinct look of disappointment flashed through his bright eyes, but he quickly hid his emotions and donned a sweet, innocent smile.

Chu Jiubian’s heart softened, and he went over to him.

Hong Fu brought him a chair and placed it at the bedside, then left the room.

Chu Jiubian sat down.

“Xiansheng,” Bai Lihong said obediently in his sweet, childish voice.

No matter how fond the child was of Chu Jiubian, it couldn’t compare to the blood ties he shared with Qin Xiao.

When Qin Xiao was present before, the child felt that he had someone to rely on and a strong support system, which made it easier for him to lower his guard and accept other people.

But when Qin Xiao left, Bai Lihong surrounded himself with a protective shell and withdrew into it.

Even with Chu Jiubian, Bai Lihong didn’t feel as comfortable acting spoiled or playful around him, for fear that he wouldn’t be as understanding and tolerant as his uncle.

It was precisely because Chu Jiubian understood the child’s thoughts that he could discern his cautious behavior.

 But he was only a little over three years old, ah.

Rather than speaking any words of comfort, Chu Jiubian simply opened his arms to him and said gently: “Would you like Xiansheng to hug you?”

Bai Lihong’s little mouth trembled, and he immediately tucked the nine-ring puzzle back into his pocket.

The child was a small, soft bundle as Chu Jiubian hugged him tightly through his blanket.

“Xiansheng.” Bai Lihong’s voice was choked with emotion. “Miaomiao is scared.”

“What are you scared of?” Chu Jiubian’s voice was soft and tender.

Tears streamed down Bai Lihong’s little face, soaking Chu Jiubian’s shoulder.

“Miaomiao is afraid Xiansheng won’t like me.” He was no longer using “this emperor” to refer to himself.

Chu Jiubian gently rubbed his back, just like Qin Xiao had. He said softly: “Don’t be afraid. Xiansheng will always like you, just like your uncle, and will always be by your side.”

The child pulled back from his embrace slightly, his face contorted into a pitiful expression as he asked: “Really?”

Chu Jiubian wiped the tears from his face: “Really.”

Bai Lihong then snuggled back into his arms. After a while, he whispered softly: “Xiansheng, Jiujiu will come back safe and sound, won’t he?”

“Yes,” Chu Jiubian said. “He will come back alive.”

He didn’t say “safe and sound,” because he knew that Qin Xiao would be seriously injured to the point that he was clinging to life.

Only now did Bai Lihong feel more at ease.

Xiansheng was a god – if he said that Jiujiu would come back alive, then he definitely would!

The child had been troubled the past few days, but now that he knew that Xiansheng would stay by his side and Jiujiu would return, a great weight was lifted from his heart.

Then, the long-lost drowsiness set in, and before long, he nestled into Chu Jiubian’s warm embrace and fell into a deep sleep.

Chu Jiubian carefully placed him on the bed and covered him with a blanket, then got up and left the room.

Hong Fu and Xiao Yuzi were both waiting outside, and when they saw Chu Jiubian come out, they bowed in greeting.

This was where Hong Fu’s cleverness lay; even though he was so familiar with Chu Jiubian, and was now the head eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, which was equivalent to a second or third-rank official in the Imperial Court, he remained humble and never displayed the slightest hint of overstepping his bounds.

He treated Qin Xiao the same way.

Chu Jiubian said in a low voice: “The Emperor is asleep. I’m going for a walk.”

“Yes.”

Stepping out of the main hall, Chu Jiubian stood in the courtyard and gazed up at the sky.

The bright moon hung high, and the starlight was faint.

After some time, he sensed something and turned his gaze toward the courtyard gate, where a tall, imposing figure was stepping through.

The other person had clearly spotted Chu Jiubian as well. They paused briefly, then continued forward before stopping just a couple of steps away from him.

“Has everything been taken care of?” Chu Jiubian asked.

There was no sign of fatigue on Qin Xiao’s face, but the angles of his jawline were more defined, as if he had lost weight.

“En.” Qin Xiao glanced toward the palace behind him. “Is His Majesty asleep?”

Chu Jiubian nodded.

Qin Xiao smiled: “Then shall we walk together?”

Chu Jiubian had already planned to ask him if he wanted to take a break, and nodded again.

The moonlight was like a veil, illuminating the streets and alleys inside and outside the Imperial City.

While the common people were fast asleep, the elite were awake all through the night. They all knew that at dawn, Lord Ning-wang, the most powerful figure in the capital, would lead his army into battle.

Whether or not he would manage to return depended on the actions of others.

Outside the Imperial City, 50,000 soldiers were also ready to depart.

Qin Chaoyang meticulously double-checked the headcount, as well as the military rations for the expedition.

An Wuji was also exceptionally busy with the Imperial Guard, and his nerves were stretched to the breaking point.

Qin Xiao wasn’t even bringing Qin Chaoyang with him on this expedition, and would instead leave him behind in the palace to assist Chu Jiubian with miscellaneous tasks.

Even in less noticeable ways, Qin Xiao revealed much.

He was setting out on this expedition with the expectation that he would not return alive.

*

*

Inside the palace, Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao wandered unknowingly to the western courtyard.

This was Qin Xiao’s residence. Previously, the courtyard had been absent of any notable features, and lacked the lively atmosphere of the main hall and the eastern courtyard.

But at present, Chu Jiubian saw that the entire courtyard was overflowing with jasmine flowers.

Someone had planted them.

The flowering season was nearly over. “Are you fond of jasmine?” Chu Jiubian inquired.

Qin Xiao gazed at the swaying, pure white flower branches and said: “They are significant to me.”

“Significant how?”

Qin Xiao smiled, but didn’t explain.

The air was slightly cool at night, and a delicate fragrance clung to their robes.

They should have had much to speak about, but they understood each other without the need for words.

For a long while, they walked silently and unhurriedly through the courtyard, their steps perfectly synchronized.

Neither of them mentioned parting ways.

Eventually, Qin Chaoyang returned from outside the palace and stood at the courtyard gate, watching the two of them strolling side by side. He said in a deep voice: “My Lord, it is time to prepare for departure.”

Having said this, he retreated to a greater distance so as not to disturb them further.

Chu Jiubian stopped in place.

Qin Xiao, however, walked to the edge of one of the flowerbeds and gently stroked the petals of a flower.

Chu Jiubian observed him in silence.

After several moments, Qin Xiao turned around and met his gaze from only a few steps away.

Pale moonlight shone down at an angle above him, and behind him stretched a sea of overlapping white flowers. Dressed in black, the man stood out strikingly against this backdrop.

Qin Xiao said with a smile in his eyes: “Would you like to make another wager with me?”

“What are we betting on?” Chu Jiubian asked.

Qin Xiao replied: “I’ll tell you when I get back.” 

Chu Jiubian smiled as well, saying: “Then His Majesty and I will await your return.”

The young man’s eyes held a gentle smile. Dressed in white, he was as pure as snow and as distant as the moon. 

Qin Xiao gave him a long, searching look, and then turned and walked out of the courtyard.

“Go and rest.” The man’s deep, low voice drifted through the air, accompanied by the light scent of flowers.

Chu Jiubian watched his retreating figure until he was out of sight, then looked away and left the courtyard as well.

However, after taking two steps, he stopped once more.

Soon after, he finally exited the courtyard gate with a pure white jasmine flower in his hand, one of its petals slightly bent.

In his bedroom back in Yangxin Hall, Bai Lihong was curled up in a ball with his back to the door.

Only when the footsteps that had lingered for a long time at the door had faded away did the child snuggle deeper into the blankets, tears rolling silently down his cheeks.

Jiujiu would return safely. Xiansheng had told him so.

*

*

Everything seemed to change after Qin Xiao left. The tense atmosphere in the capital, which had been on the verge of boiling over, miraculously calmed down.

Even during morning court, the matters discussed were mostly trivial.

But Chu Jiubian knew that this was just the calm before the storm. Everyone was waiting for the final outcome of the situation in the Northwest.

He observed all of this with a detached gaze, while meticulously handling the tasks at hand without slacking in the slightest.

The list of candidates for the Imperial Examinations had been finalized, and examination halls had been constructed in various regions.

Chu Jiubian had told Qin Chuan to send people to conduct secret investigations in those locales, and those with problems had already been ordered to make corrections.

Those government offices that had been carelessly neglecting their duties due to their remoteness from the capital were terrified when they received a reprimand from the Imperial Court, and dared not continue to be negligent.

During the previous investigation into candidates for the waterway transport system, Chu Jiubian had witnessed Qin Chuan’s methods and the usefulness of the [Connections] keyword.

Upon hearing about the matter of the examination halls, Qin Chuan immediately suspected that they were Chu Jiubian’s doing. But while he harbored suspicions about Chu Jiubian’s relationship with the High Priest, he diligently carried out his duties.

The Imperial Examination system benefitted both the common people and the Imperial Court, so Qin Chuan had no reason or justification to refuse this task.

He once again requested another life-saving chance as his reward for this mission, but the High Priest ruthlessly refused and instead bestowed upon him a handheld repeating crossbow.

Upon receiving it, Qin Chuan was so delighted by the crossbow that it would be an understatement to say that he couldn’t put it down. He even requested additional tasks from the High Priest so that he could acquire multiple different weapons.

Chu Jiubian hadn’t expected him to be so enthusiastic about weapons, and wondered if he would go insane with joy if he were handed a machine gun one day.

He considered sending Qin Chuan to protect Lu Yao right away, but Qin Chuan hesitated, saying: “Can it be done a little later?”

“Why?” asked the High Priest.

Qin Chuan knew he had no chance of keeping it a secret, so he said frankly: “I want to go to the Northwest.”

Chu Jiubian looked at the repeating crossbow in his hand, and said after a moment of silence: “You may go and find Lu Yao later. First, I will bestow a reward upon you.”

He bought penicillin from the System Mall, repackaged it, and then gave it to him: “This medication is taken orally, one tablet at a time, three times a day, and can reduce the likelihood of wounds festering. However, you should try a small amount first and only use it again if there are no adverse reactions.”

It was rare for the High Priest to say so much at one time, but Qin Chuan was too preoccupied to make note of this.

His heart sank when he heard the words “reduce the likelihood of wounds festering.”

The High Priest must have guessed that he was going to find Qin Xiao, but why had he given him this kind of medicine?

If it was meant for all of the soldiers, then the quantity was insufficient.

Did this mean that Qin Xiao was going to be injured?

And the injury might be so severe that the wound festered?

At this thought, Qin Chuan was unable to remain any longer. He stood up, bowed, and prepared to leave.

The High Priest had said that the medicine needed to be tested in advance, and could only be taken if there were no adverse reactions. Therefore, it must be tested while Qin Xiao was still healthy, or it would be too late when he was seriously injured.

However, before that, he needed to have someone test the drug to ensure that it was truly effective and non-toxic, just to be on the safe side.

Chu Jiubian instructed the System to send this person away.

Then, he fell silent.

A box of penicillin only cost two points, but Chu Jiubian had never expected that he would actually buy it, and only did so when he suspected that Qin Chuan was going to bring the repeating crossbow to Qin Xiao.

Chu Jiubian sat alone in the Divine Realm for a long time, and finally let out a laugh.

Lord Ning-wang was incredibly cunning; he posed a wager with him, but deliberately withheld the terms of the bet, which was surely for the purpose of keeping him guessing.

Chu Jiubian left the Divine Realm and chose not to dwell on it.

The next day was the tenth day since Qin Xiao’s departure.

Chu Jiubian handed over the first batch of test questions to Qin Chaoyang, instructing him to send the trained examiners to depart together with secret guards. They should arrive by the 29th at the latest, and the Imperial Examinations would officially begin on the 30th of the ninth month.

In addition, all of the merchant caravans transporting fine salt had returned today.

The profits from the first batch of fine salt were incredibly substantial, accounting for almost half of the caravans’ total earnings for the expedition. Everyone was eager to continue such a profitable business. 

So when Chu Jiubian released the news that he had the same quantity of fine salt waiting to be sold, each family made sure to “express their loyalty.”

Not only did the Wang, Lu, and Xiao families refrain from any dishonest practices (since they couldn’t possibly falsify their accounts anyway), even the Qiu family set aside their ulterior motives and paid Chu Jiubian much more than they had originally planned.

Chu Jiubian had no time to enjoy the money he received before he allocated thousands of taels to be used for military provisions. He ordered Kou Qiao, a secretary in the Ministry of War, along with Deputy Minister of Revenue Wang Pengyi, to lead three thousand soldiers and quickly catch up with the supply convoy that had departed several days earlier.

Kou Qiao had been part of the Qin Family Army, and was one of Qin Xiao’s men. He had previously been an assistant secretary in the Ministry of War, and it was his meritorious service in the Hexi Prefecture disaster relief efforts that led to his promotion to Secretary.

Putting him in charge of escorting military supplies was the most suitable option.

As for Deputy Minister of Revenue Wang Pengyi, he himself had never expected to be summoned specifically by Chu Jiubian in the name of the Emperor.

He had also never imagined that the other party would entrust him with the task of transporting thousands of taels of silver. Even after arriving at the doorstep of the palace, he still couldn’t wrap his mind around it.

Could it be that Chu Jiubian thought that due to the Wang family’s prestige, he wouldn’t have to worry about anyone snatching the job away from him?

Or perhaps Chu Jiubian believed that given the Wang family’s emphasis on reputation and their inherent pride, they would surely side with the Imperial Court on matters of great importance, and that was why he was allowing this member of the Wang family to escort the military provisions?

Unable to comprehend the situation on his own, he went straight to his grandfather, Minister of Rites Wang Zhiyuan, and recounted the conversation he’d had with Chu Jiubian inside the palace.

Wang Zhiyuan remained silent for some time after hearing this.

When Wang Pengyi was summoned to the palace, Wang Zhiyuan had already heard the news and speculated that it was likely related to the military provisions. He thought that Chu Jiubian might want Wang Pengyi to suggest some suitable escorts, or perhaps wanted him to take a careful account of the funds.

But he had never imagined that Chu Jiubian would actually want Wang Pengyi to personally escort the military supplies.

How important was this task?

A delay of a few days could mean the 50,000 soldiers led by Qin Xiao going hungry and being overwhelmed by enemy forces.

It was absolutely impossible for Chu Jiubian to allow anyone from various factions to meddle in this situation, and the most appropriate course of action would be to have Qin Chaoyang act as the escort.

It would merely be a temporary, minor official position given to him through special arrangements, so others couldn’t really complain.

But now, not only had Chu Jiubian employed someone from one of the great families, he had selected a high-ranking official like Wang Pengyi!

Wang Zhiyuan abruptly burst into delighted, hearty laughter.

He stood and walked over to Wang Pengyi, patting him on the shoulder as he said: “You must handle this task properly! No mistakes are allowed.”

“This grandson understands.” Wang Pengyi didn’t intend to fool around.

He understood very well that the events in the Northwest were a conspiracy aimed at Qin Xiao. A great many people wanted him dead, and delaying the military supplies and provisions would definitely be a good method to drive him into a desperate situation.

But Wang Pengyi wouldn’t do such a thing.

No matter how much they might fight amongst themselves, colluding with foreign enemies was treason!

It was impossible for any member of their Wang family to be a traitor to the country.

When Wang Zhiyuan looked at him, his eyes were full of admiration and helplessness, but mostly a sense of relief.

“Go ahead,” he said. “The rest of us are getting old, after all, and can’t compare to you young people.”

Nor could they possibly compare to the magnanimity of a deity, ah…..

It must be said that when Wang Zhiyuan instructed him to do a good job, Wang Pengyi actually felt a sense of relief.

Before, he had worried that his family would want him to delay the military supplies, but now it seemed that there were good reasons why his grandfather was able to maintain his position in the Imperial Court for three generations, and why the Wang family’s reputation had remained consistent for so long.

Upon returning to his courtyard, Wang Pengyi was surprised to find his cousin Wang Qichen there, whom he had rarely seen in recent days.

The young man still bore the same disheveled, carefree appearance, but he now appeared even more confident and spirited.

“Cousin, it’s been a long time,” Wang Qichen said with a smile as he stepped forward.

Wang Pengyi chuckled and said: “Have you been busy with important matters lately?”

“Definitely! I was just thinking of showing you the results of my recent hard work.”

“Now isn’t a good time,” said Wang Pengyi.

“You have something to do?” Wang Qichen asked. “Are you going out?”

“I’m going on a long journey.” Wang Pengyi then explained how he was going to escort the military supplies, since it wasn’t exactly a secret anyway.

“I just don’t understand why Lord Chu would send me,” he said absently.

Wang Qichen’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, and he softly tapped the palm of his hand with his folding fan.

Before, when the High Priest asked him about the relationship between Deputy Minister of Works Liu Junqi and Wang Zhiyuan, he had mentioned Wang Pengyi. He told the High Priest that his cousin was kind-hearted and compassionate, a man of great talent with his own aspirations, but was constrained by his family background. If he were given the right opportunity, he would surely be able to realize his ambitions.

Although the High Priest hadn’t said anything at the time, he had certainly taken it to heart.

The High Priest had instructed him not to reveal the existence of the “High Priest” to Chu Jiubian, and Wang Qichen had agreed. 

However, he then thought that the High Priest’s name had already spread through the Northern Desert, so Chu Jiubian couldn’t possibly be unaware of it – unless “High Priest” was a pseudonym, and his real name was something else.

However, a figure like Chu Jiubian who was capable of stirring up trouble in the Imperial Court must have guessed that the High Priest was an old acquaintance of his, and it was possible that these two divine beings had already recognized each other.

Therefore, Chu Jiubian must have received word from the High Priest that Wang Pengyi was a reliable person, and subsequently entrusted him with the vital task of escorting the military supplies.

At this thought, Wang Qichen couldn’t help but carefully examine Wang Pengyi.

His cousin was excellent in every respect, except for one thing: he was simply too tightly bound by family obligations.

What if he made a mistake for the sake of their family and harmed Chu Jiubian’s interests? Then wouldn’t Wang Qichen, who had recommended him, have caused trouble for the High Priest?

A flurry of thoughts raced through Wang Qichen’s mind.

The High Priest and Chu Jiubian were on such good terms, and were possibly even partners – if a misunderstanding arose because of someone he recommended, he couldn’t even imagine the amount of trouble he would have caused. 

He would have offended two gods!

The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became. The smile on his face remained, but his expression grew more serious.

“Cousin,” he said, his tone as flippant as ever, “could it be that Grand Tutor Chu saw that you’re an upright and capable person, and simply asked you to deliver the military supplies because he trusts you on a personal level?”

Wang Pengyi was taken aback.

Chu Jiubian actually trusted him? How was that possible?

But he couldn’t help but recall his grandfather’s attitude earlier, as well as the somewhat wistful remark he had made.

Could it be that his grandfather recognized Chu Jiubian’s ability to discern and utilize talent, and thus developed a level of respect for him, which was why he instructed him to be sure to carry out the task well?

Seeing the expression on his face, Wang Qichen knew that he had taken his words to heart and would definitely do his work diligently.

This was good. With Wang Pengyi’s talent and abilities, if he was determined to protect the military funds, there would be absolutely no problems.

Feeling quite pleased, Wang Qichen opened his folding fan.

But the next time he entered the Divine Realm, he would have to ask the High Priest if he had already reunited with Chu Jiubian.

Also, his paper-making workshop had already achieved mass production, and he had come to see Wang Pengyi today precisely to show him around.

This paper was far superior to “Langya Gold Paper,” and was now ready for sale. Perhaps he should pay a visit to the High Priest tonight to report his progress and ask him to give this new paper a beautiful name.

*

*

Meanwhile, in a dye workshop in Nanjiang, Situ Zhaoling was touching the soft, smooth fabric in her hands with admiration. It was her favorite color – light purple.

When she looked up again, the bolts of brightly-colored silk on nearby wooden racks seemed to shimmer under the sunlight.

No, they were actually shimmering!

The weavers had incorporated silver thread into the colorful silk while weaving it, and the interplay of these different threads caused a lustrous effect.

These fabrics, when made into clothes and embroidered with unique and novel patterns, would be stunningly beautiful!

Situ Zhaoling was of the opinion that she should meet with the High Priest tonight to show off her achievements. It would be even better if she received some praise.

She had entrusted the cotton the High Priest had asked her to plant to several elders who were skilled at farming, and just this morning, those elders had sent someone over to report that the cotton plants had already bloomed.

She would take some cotton with her to show the High Priest as well.

*

*

That night, the instant Chu Jiubian settled into the bathtub, he heard a notification from the System: [Host, Believers Situ Zhaoling and Wang Qichen are requesting entry into the Divine Realm.]

---

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Chapter 60 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 62