“System, open Su Yuyao’s Binding Gift Pack.”
[Ding! Congratulations to the host: You have obtained the ‘Bone-Cleaving Knife’ (Heaven Grade), and the ‘Butcher Knife’ (Heaven Grade).]
That’s… it?
Xiao Jing stared at the two new knives in his inventory slot.
The butcher knife was longer, with a thick spine and wide blade, gleaming coldly at the edge. The bone-cleaving knife resembled a kitchen cleaver, but its back was thick and heavy, giving it a solid, weighted feel.
Both knives were quite hefty.
The system really did tailor rewards to people.
A pure and elegant chef’s welcome gift… was actually two butcher’s knives?
Xiao Jing was speechless. He had no idea how to gift these without causing misunderstanding.
To someone you barely know, gifting something so valuable—regardless of gender—would definitely raise suspicion.
Back in his original world, maybe some gold-digging women might accept gifts worth hundreds of thousands, but most normal people wouldn’t.
Su the shopkeeper clearly had her own backing and held herself with integrity. She probably wouldn’t accept such expensive gifts from a man without reason.
Especially not… two knives.
What would she think?
There would be time in the future. Cultivation Targets were meant to be cultivated. Only when goodwill reached a certain level could he use gifts to stabilize the relationship. After that, he could start gaining Spirit Stones and Cultivation Points from her.
Of course, Mu Lanchu was an exception.
She had already completed the Completed Wedding Ritual and entered the Bridal Chamber with him. As his official wife, they were the closest of partners. He could freely splurge with her.
As for other Binding Targets, he couldn’t rush things.
He decided to keep the knives for now, just like the gift for the martial book servant girl Liu Lingxue back at the residence. No hurry to give them out.
They’d be coming here often anyway!
…
After finishing another lavish meal, Mu Lanchu’s Realm advanced to the 9th stage Body Refining Realm.
She was now only a step away from completing Body Refining and breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
“Later, we’ll buy some pills. Before tonight’s imperial banquet, we must get you to Foundation Establishment!” Xiao Jing said.
“Mm!” Mu Lanchu nodded firmly, eyes brimming with anticipation.
These past few years, she’d been restrained too long. Now it felt like a bird freed from its cage. With each breath of freedom, power was awakening inside her—she wanted to soar!
At that moment…
Bi Rui, his face still streaked with blood and tears, rushed into the Yan Empress’s palace.
The Yan Empress, Leng Qiaoyue, was behind closed doors with Crown Prince Bi Hao and Third Princess Huaiwei. All three wore grave expressions as they held a secret discussion.
“This time… it seems we’ve miscalculated.”
“I didn’t expect that Xiao Jing from the Liang Empire wasn’t some soft target.”
“He actually dared to strike the steward I planted next to the puppet Yuhe!”
“The plan was well-crafted. Your imperial father wanted a reason to pick a fight with the Liang Empire, so I used that chance to persuade him to marry the Political Hostage to the Fifth Princess. Once they married, I would find a chance to kill the fake Yuhe and pin the blame on the hostage. That way, we’d permanently remove our greatest threat.”
“The world would no longer question what really happened four years ago—about Hao’er stealing her bloodline.”
“But judging by how things are developing, we may have backfired… inviting a wolf into our midst.”
“That puppet used to be as obedient as a lifeless shell. Tell her to kneel, and she wouldn’t dare sit. How did she suddenly change overnight?”
“Could it be… last night, in the Bridal Chamber… did the puppet Yuhe submit to the Political Hostage? Are they conspiring together now?”
“Mother, I heard from some servants who were driven out that the two spoke last night—though the details weren’t clear. But the noises weren’t small… There were at least three rounds, and one of them lasted nearly an hour,” the Crown Prince casually said.
Hearing this, both the Yan Empress and Huaiwei revealed strange expressions.
“An hour?”
“Could it be… that Xiao Jing from the Liang Empire is one of those legendary men with… endless stamina?”
“Ahem!” The Yan Empress coughed dryly and shot a glare at Huaiwei to bring the topic back. “Don’t talk nonsense! The priority is eliminating those two as soon as possible!”
Just then, Bi Rui barged in, stumbling in.
Seeing the Yan Empress, he grabbed her leg and wailed loudly, “Mother, you must stand up for me! That Xiao Jing from the Liang Empire bullied me—twice! Look what he did to me!”
“What!” The Yan Empress was shocked. “Who? Who dared to lay a hand on my precious Rui’er?!”
“Xiao Jing from the Liang Empire!”
The Yan Empress ground her teeth in fury. “That damn Political Hostage! How dare he bully my Rui’er! I’ll make sure he doesn’t survive the night!”
“Mother, you have to back me up!”
“Don’t worry, Rui’er. As long as I’m here—and your siblings too—no one can bully my sweet Rui’er.” Her tone turned doting and gentle as she caressed her youngest son.
“And there’s more. That Su the shopkeeper I’ve taken a liking to—today she was exchanging glances with Xiao Jing and even defended him! I’m so angry! Mother, can you get rid of Xiao Jing and make Su the shopkeeper mine too?”
“Of course, anything my Rui’er wants, I’ll get it for you~. No matter the shopkeeper, she’ll be tied up and sent to your manor~.”
Only then did Bi Rui stop his fake crying. Then he suddenly remembered something. “Oh right, that useless Yuhe—she said in public that her bloodline had recovered, and then golden light burst from her entire body! It was golden red! A lot of people were watching and started saying she was qualified to inherit the throne! Crown Prince brother, you better be careful and get rid of them quickly!” New chapters come out on g.com first.
“What did you say?!” Bi Hao shuddered and stood up. “Her bloodline recovered? And it was gold?”
“I saw it with my own eyes! But… I was being stomped on by Xiao Jing, and my nosebleed blurred my vision… I couldn’t see clearly… Crown Prince brother, look how badly I was beaten! Don’t let him die too easily…”
“Impossible. That’s impossible! They’re pulling tricks! That puppet can’t possibly be part of the Bi bloodline. How could she have the Gold Crow Bloodline?! And showing off in the bustling Chongyang District… they just want the whole city to believe it?!”
“Puppet? What puppet?” Bi Rui blinked blankly.
He clearly didn’t know about the Crown Prince’s theft of her bloodline.
The Yan Empress calmed down, but a chilling gleam flickered in her eyes.
“Xiao Jing… must be eliminated immediately, to prevent future trouble.”
She gently stroked Bi Rui’s head and said softly, “Rui’er, your face is so dirty. Let one of the beautiful maids bathe you. Leave the rest to me, your brother, and your third sister. You just wait for the good news.”
She then summoned two maids and ordered them to help the Sixth Prince bathe and change, and also… to soothe his mind and body.
Seeing the beautiful, scantily dressed maids, Bi Rui’s mood instantly brightened. But he didn’t forget to mutter, “Mother, don’t forget about Su the shopkeeper. Make sure to bring her to my manor soon.”
“Don’t worry. Go bathe now.”
The two maids supported Bi Rui out.
Behind them, Crown Prince Bi Hao shook his head. “Mother, you spoil the Sixth Prince too much. He doesn’t understand the severity of our situation. We’re under immense pressure here, yet all he cares about is Su the shopkeeper?”
The Yan Empress said gently, “Hao’er, you were born the Crown Prince. Your sixth brother never competed with you for power. Shouldn’t you take care of him?”
“Besides, all these years, your sixth brother has always thought of you. Whenever he gets anything good, he always brings some for you and your sister. Just for that filial piety and sibling love, is it wrong to spoil him a little?”
“If one could live with such a simple heart for a lifetime, wouldn’t that be wonderful? With you as his older brother, wouldn’t it be fine to let your little brother live carefree forever?”
“…Yes, Mother. Your words are right,” Bi Hao lowered his head.
He remembered that while the Sixth Prince often acted like a scoundrel in public, deep down, he always cared for him as an elder brother.
If he had a pastry, he’d split it three ways—one for the Crown Prince brother, one for the Third Princess, and one for himself.
He had always been like that.
Just for that, as his older brother, Bi Hao couldn’t bring himself to treat him unfairly.
The three resumed their secret discussion.
“Tonight, we must find an opportunity to persuade your imperial father to consider executing the Political Hostage.”
“Yes, make him start suspecting… then truly want him dead!”
“We must eliminate the Political Hostage and the puppet Yuhe as soon as possible!”
…