Jing Hengbo stopped in her tracks and tilted her head.

Diagonally across from her, a Yu Kingdom fat person was smiling at her with complete malice.

That mountain-like body, stretched cheeks, and even the hoarse, muddy voice that came with obesity made her stare for a long time, completely unable to determine whether this person was male or female.

“Won’t sell to me.” She suddenly smiled, pointing at the other party. “Reason?”

A group of Yu Kingdom fat people were all laughing, making one feel the entire ground was shaking. “No reason needed. Or perhaps, finding you an eyesore is reason enough.”

Jing Hengbo stared at this group of fat people for a while, then smiled.

She didn’t continue to pay attention to them, but instead looked toward the Shang Kingdom ceremonial official. “May I ask, does this follow the rules?”

The Shang Kingdom ceremonial official in charge of the auction showed a troubled expression. Not taking money when it was offered—he’d never encountered such a thing before.

He couldn’t afford to offend either side. After hemming and hawing for a long time, he said hesitantly: “According to the rules, after an item is successfully sold, the owner cannot retract…”

The Yu Kingdom fat people’s faces changed, glaring fiercely at the ceremonial official.

The official wiped his sweat and quickly added the next sentence: “However, the owner can propose new terms to the buyer, or other requirements, which in principle cannot exceed the original price.”

After speaking, he retreated three steps and lowered his eyes, indicating that they should resolve this dispute themselves.

Jing Hengbo chuckled—what a slippery character. Having the Yu Kingdom fat people propose new terms—what if they demanded she run naked?

Sure enough, a Yu Kingdom fat person sneered: “Then please, Your Majesty the Queen, remove your face mask and shout three times ‘I am very ugly!'”

Mocking laughter arose, though mostly from the Yu Kingdom and Yelu family sides. Few others responded, and most people frowned—nobles had their dignity, and publicly insulting someone’s defects like this was always considered low-class and ill-bred behavior.

Pei Shu sat in his chair playing with a small knife. Suddenly he raised his hand, and a gust of wind whooshed out, shooting straight toward the group of Yu Kingdom fat people. The fat people had been watching his movements and leaped up with strange cries. Though large in body, they moved quite nimbly. Just as they saw the knife pass by them and were breathing a sigh of relief, the knife had already struck the tree behind them with a clang, bounced back, and passed through one fat person’s crotch even faster than before. The man jumped up with a “roar,” and everyone felt like a mountain had taken flight. They all looked up in amazement, then saw tufts of hair floating down gracefully from his crotch.

The fat man crashed to the ground with a thunderous sound, covering his crotch in shame and anger, grabbing a companion’s cloak to wrap around his waist.

The other fat people hastily struck out with palm wind, trying to blow away those embarrassing things. Jing Hengbo laughed delicately and flicked her fingers.

Everyone stared dumbfounded as those tufts of hair weren’t blown away by the palm wind, but instead scattered in mid-air, swirled around, and forcibly formed a character.

“Ugly!”

Everyone burst into laughter. The Yu Kingdom fat people’s postures as they lunged to catch the hair made it even more irresistible. The nobles couldn’t help but smile, young ladies covered their faces with red cheeks, and young women giggled. Amid the laughter, Pei Shu beckoned and retrieved his small knife, flicking his fingers casually: “Whoever makes her call herself ugly, I’ll make even uglier. That was just hair—next time it’ll be flesh. Want to lose weight quickly? Feel free to try.”

The group of Yu Kingdom fat people’s faces alternated between blue and red. Jing Hengbo chuckled as she walked back, thinking that with such a commotion, the Fire Heart Armor was truly hopeless, so she might as well forget it.

Having someone defend her was already very moving—she felt no regret, only satisfaction and joy.

Well, she’d just steal it later, making sure to leave them without even their pants.

Behind her, the group of Yu Kingdom fat people who had finally changed their pants behind the cloak suddenly said ominously: “What, is the Queen afraid to take the Fire Heart Armor?”

Jing Hengbo stopped and frowned.

Were these people never going to stop!

Did they really enjoy being slapped in the face publicly?

She turned around and raised an eyebrow: “Oh? Still planning to sell it to me? Then name your price.”

The Yu Kingdom fat person smiled with particular malice.

“Using gold to value priceless treasures is too vulgar,” the Yu Kingdom fat person said. “But truly good things can only have their value accurately measured with money. Of course, besides money, talent and resources are also very important. So we want to give our treasure to the strongest person. For this, even giving it away would be acceptable.”

“Can you speak directly?” Jing Hengbo was quite impolite. What were these people beating around the bush for?

The fat person said slowly: “Just now we saw Young Marshal Pei sell his looks to raise funds for Your Majesty the Queen. So we’re very curious—if Your Majesty the Queen really wants something, what’s the maximum amount of funds you could raise?”

“Hmm?” Jing Hengbo raised her eyebrows.

“One hundred thousand taels of gold.” The fat person held up a carrot-like finger. “We don’t want this money—we just want to see if the Queen has this kind of charm. No matter what method you use, if the Queen can raise this amount of gold in this venue within half an hour, relying not on relationships but purely on personal ability, we’ll present the Fire Heart Armor without asking for a single coin. If you can’t do it, we won’t make things difficult for you either—just kowtow and apologize to us publicly as compensation for your earlier insult to our country. Of course,” he smiled maliciously again, “Young Marshal Pei has already sold once and can’t sell again. The Queen’s auction items also can’t be sold. However, if Your Majesty the Queen wants to sell herself, we’d be delighted to see it.”

Murmuring arose in the venue. Most people frowned, feeling this demand was quite harsh. One hundred thousand taels of gold wasn’t a small sum. Although nobles had gathered here to buy things, they really only had their eyes on one or two items, preparing at most fifty thousand in gold notes. Most people present had no relationship with the Jade Queen, and even if they did, directly handing over money like this would be tantamount to openly opposing Yu Kingdom. For political figures, making a friend who might not be useful versus making an enemy who would definitely become hostile—they’d certainly not choose the former.

Pei Shu also couldn’t sell his looks again. The idea of the Jade Queen selling herself was purely Yu Kingdom insulting her again—an absolutely impossible thing. So where would this money come from?

Jing Hengbo was also frowning. She looked around the venue—Ji Wen, with whom she had some relationship, wasn’t there, nor was Yelu Qi. Xiang Kingdom and Wan hadn’t come tonight, and even if they had, she couldn’t use them since she was now the Jade Queen. Even if these people were here, borrowing money publicly would be losing face. Yu Kingdom’s move was really quite vicious. But there was nothing to say—they weren’t even asking for money, just wanting to give the item to a strong person. What more could be said?

Pei Shu snorted coldly beside her: “More and more dirty tricks. Why say so much? Just beat them up good!”

Jing Hengbo shook her head. She was thinking about whether she should trade her special abilities for money, and in what way she could demonstrate them to exchange money without revealing anything. Suddenly her gaze fixed on several sneaky faces poking around in the crowd of guards from various countries nearby.

Her heart immediately settled. She smiled and stood in the center of the venue, saying loudly: “About me selling myself—let’s not mention that. There really isn’t much of a market for it. Not to mention anything else, it definitely wouldn’t be worth as much as the… hair of the distinguished guests from Yu Kingdom.”

The venue erupted with “pff” sounds as drinks sprayed everywhere. The Yu Kingdom fat people’s faces, which had just returned to normal, instantly turned purple again.

“However, I do have a few talents around me. Sometimes I feel they’re worth much more than I am. But my own opinion doesn’t count—today I’ll also hold an auction within an auction, selling my people to let them know their own value.” She smiled. “Please don’t worry about anything—just judge on merit and bid fairly according to your heart’s assessment.”

Everyone became interested, nodding and feeling that the Jade Queen really was quick-thinking. She immediately saw Yu Kingdom’s malice and the difficulties involved, so she simply held a public auction where everyone participated. This way there was no issue of who would be first to offend Yu Kingdom, and it gave everyone a chance to evaluate fairly in an open environment.

They just didn’t know what she could bring out that would catch everyone’s eye. Under normal circumstances, gathering one hundred thousand taels of gold would be very difficult.

“If I really succeed,” Jing Hengbo smiled, “I won’t ask for your Yu Kingdom to kowtow and apologize either. With all that flesh, I’m afraid you’d smother yourselves if you fell down. Just present the Fire Heart Armor and walk around me whenever you see me during your stay in Shang Kingdom.”

“It’s a deal!”

“It’s a deal.”

Pei Shu nudged Jing Hengbo’s arm and asked with a frown: “Hey, are you confident or not? If not, don’t force yourself—let’s just beat them up and be done with it.”

“Don’t solve everything with force,” Jing Hengbo smiled and pinched his face. “Using reversal to slap faces is much more satisfying.”

Pei Shu stared at her for a long time, then lay back down, muttering: “If there’s really no other way, I can consider selling my body.”

“That won’t work—Meng Potian would hunt me down.” Jing Hengbo shook her head repeatedly.

“Don’t mention her to me!” Pei Shu immediately frowned. Jing Hengbo looked at the uncertain expression on his face and thought, oh my, this boy’s emotions aren’t quite right—it seems Meng Potian doesn’t have no place at all in his heart.

She couldn’t worry about the young marshal’s romantic affairs right now. She patted him soothingly and walked to the center of the venue, first beckoning to Er Gouzi.

Er Gouzi’s eyes lit up and he immediately flew over: “Ah! Ah! Am I going first? Bobo, you have good taste!”

The Yu Kingdom fat people, seeing that what came out was actually that glib-tongued parrot, all burst into laughter.

“So this is Your Majesty the Queen’s secret weapon! We really underestimated you earlier!”

“Yes, yes, and it’s even a talking parrot! Truly talented! Are all the talents around the Queen so outstanding? At this rate, one hundred thousand gold should be easily obtainable!”

“Exactly, exactly! With just this divine bird alone, one hundred thousand taels of gold can be earned. We were really blind earlier!”

Everyone also smiled, but their looks at Jing Hengbo carried more sympathy—the Jade Queen seemed to really not have brought anything remarkable this time, otherwise why would she even bring out a bird to make up the numbers?

Only Jing Hengbo didn’t smile. As if she hadn’t heard those cold mockeries, she stroked Er Gouzi’s feather crest and said seriously: “Auction item number one: one literary master bird.”

Everyone’s eyes widened—literary master… bird? Could these two words really be used together?

Several country nobles frowned, vaguely feeling the term “literary master bird” sounded familiar, but couldn’t remember where they’d heard it.

When Jing Hengbo first entered Dai Mao, Er Gouzi’s poetic talent had amazed everyone at Qu River. Although rumors had spread, they were distant after all, and hearsay couldn’t convey everything. The royal families of various countries were only half-believing and hadn’t paid attention.

“Dog Master, show yourself!” Jing Hengbo patted Er Gouzi.

Er Gouzi strutted proudly on her shoulder, spread his wings, and began to recite.

“A pot of wine among flowers, drinking alone with no companion…”

As soon as the strange voice uttered the first line, the casual snickering and discussion in the venue abruptly stopped.

Many people straightened up with surprised expressions, staring at Er Gouzi.

Er Gouzi, thriving on attention, immediately found his sense of existence and flapped his wings, his voice growing louder.

“Yan grass like green silk, Qin mulberry with low green branches…”

“What is Mount Tai like? Qi and Lu’s green never ends…”

“Above the city, spring scenery and oriole songs in chaos, below the city, misty waves lap the spring shore…”

“Blue clouds in sky, yellow leaves on ground, autumn colors reach the waves, cold mist emerges green above the waves…”

“Falling leaves scatter on fragrant steps, night is silent, cold sounds break…”

“Jade trees quiet before the courtyard, precious flowers adorn the mirror’s edge, last year’s flowers haven’t aged, this year’s moon is round again…”

The bird’s voice became more and more invested, the venue grew quieter and quieter. Many people began to follow along in low voices, swaying their heads. Young ladies’ eyes sparkled as they looked at Er Gouzi like a divine bird. The Yu Kingdom fat people’s flesh trembled—they shuddered with each word Er Gouzi recited.

After Jing Hengbo had Er Gouzi recite a few poems, she had Yong Xue stuff fried rice into its mouth—afraid that if it continued, it would recite the adapted poems too.

Then she faced the stirring crowd with a smile.

“Everyone,” she said, “seeing is believing, right? Whether it’s a mule or a horse, you know once you take it for a walk. This bird is naturally gifted at composing poetry. Whether its poems are plagiarized or borrowed, you should all be able to tell. How about it—isn’t this bird a treasure?”

“Perhaps the Queen taught the bird to memorize her own usual poems?” someone raised an objection.

Jing Hengbo was waiting for this line. She immediately said: “Then we can have impromptu poetry composition on assigned topics.”

Impromptu composition on assigned topics wasn’t a problem for Er Gouzi either. After all, while Jing Hengbo couldn’t do anything else, she had memorized a bellyful of poems. She disdained to melodramatically deceive ancient people with poetic talent, but didn’t mind letting her bird do some deceiving. Her poetry repository had famous lines for all kinds of occasions.

Everyone asked a few questions, and Er Gouzi answered fluently. Royal nobles were most fond of cultural pretension, and could immediately tell these poems weren’t by contemporary famous writers. But each one was elegantly written with brilliant literary talent—simply beyond human capability. They couldn’t help looking at each other.

“Everyone,” Jing Hengbo’s witch-like tone returned, “you have noble status and no shortage of literary attendants around you, but where can you find such a bird pet that can compose good poetry? With such a bird in hand, how could you worry about not winning poetry contests, not succeeding at showing off, or failing to woo girls? This is the peerless pet most fitting for your noble status! It’s a show-off sacred object that can bring you countless worship and admiration. I’m tearfully selling it at a loss, honestly serving customers, starting at only one thousand taels of gold—consider it making friends with everyone. Come on! Come grab this poetry-composing bird! Every poem it recites will be your unique glory as its master!”

“Ah, pah…” Pei Shu muttered to himself, “Why doesn’t she become a crooked merchant instead of a queen?”

Undeniably, the suggestive tone had a powerful effect on group psychology. Someone immediately spoke up: “Eleven hundred taels!”

“Thirteen hundred taels!”

“Fifteen hundred!”

At first it was women who liked birds bidding, then later the royal families who loved cultural pretension. Among them, a high official from the Falling Cloud tribe competed especially fiercely. It was said the Falling Cloud tribe most loved elegant things, often held poetry gatherings, and used personal scholarly achievement as an important standard for promotion and recognition. Therefore, the importance of such a bird that could compose wonderful poetry to people in Falling Cloud tribe’s officialdom could be imagined.

Er Gouzi strutted with high spirits, radiant with pride. Having long suffered oppression from Feifei, it had found its sense of existence again.

Finally, the Falling Cloud tribe official snatched up the divine bird Er Gouzi for five thousand gold.

When Jing Hengbo brought Er Gouzi over, she quietly said: “You know how to fly back, right?”

“If the new master treats Er Gouzi well, Er Gouzi won’t come back,” Er Gouzi answered haughtily.

Jing Hengbo chuckled: “Fine!”

With its character, once it emptied its belly of poems, even if it wanted to stay, the new master would drive it back.

Not everyone could tolerate its neuroses and chatter. Besides, masochistic Er Gouzi—could it sleep without its official CP Feifei?

The Falling Cloud tribe official over there paid the money and took the bird, holding Er Gouzi lovingly and saying repeatedly: “How can the name Er Gouzi suit you? From today, change your name, okay?”

“Okay,” Er Gouzi obediently answered its new master. “How about Inu Jiro?”

“No good, call it Poetry Gatherer.”

“Okay,” Er Gouzi answered. “Poetry Gatherer Er Gouzi.”

“How about Chant Emerald?”

“Okay, Chant Emerald Inu Jiro.”

…

Jing Hengbo smiled as she returned to the center of the venue. No need to worry about Er Gouzi not coming back—it would be driven away very soon.

Selling one Er Gouzi for the high price of five thousand taels of gold surprised everyone. However, the Yu Kingdom fat people’s expressions had already recovered—five thousand taels for one bird was sky-high, but still far from one hundred thousand taels. Looking at Jing Hengbo’s surroundings, there didn’t seem to be any remarkable people or things that could sell for high prices.

Jing Hengbo looked at the reassured expressions of those fat people and sneered, asking Pei Shu: “There’s something I don’t understand. Although these fat people have a grudge against me, they sold me the Heavenly Silk Grass earlier. Why won’t they sell me the Fire Heart Armor no matter what?”

“I told you that you’re stupid, but you wouldn’t believe it.” Pei Shu spat out the apricot pit in his mouth. “Heavenly Silk Grass has no use besides beauty enhancement. But for those who can use it, the Fire Heart Armor is an absolute treasure. Moreover, this item can’t be used by ordinary people—only masters prone to qi deviation would need it. This shows you have a master around you who needs this item, and you’re so desperate to get it, which shows this person is very important to you. The enemy’s friend is an enemy—how could Yu Kingdom willingly hand over the Fire Heart Armor to you, heal your friend, and then have them oppose them?”

Jing Hengbo chuckled: “As if I wouldn’t oppose them if they don’t give it to me?”

“Since they’ve already offended you, they definitely can’t benefit you anymore,” Pei Shu concluded.

Jing Hengbo pouted. The Yu Kingdom fat prince across from them laughed loudly: “Still ninety-five thousand taels to go. I imagine the Queen has divine methods and a silver tongue, so you can gather it immediately.”

“Of course.” Jing Hengbo reached out and pulled out Feifei. “One divine beast Feifei, starting price: five thousand taels of gold!”

The fat person made a “pff” sound and laughed: “Just now it was a bird, now it’s a cat. Your Majesty, are these beasts all you can bring out?”

“That’s right.” Jing Hengbo said with a smile. “I’m kind-hearted and treat all beings equally. Whether fat people or beasts, I treat them fairly. Look, aren’t I talking to a beast right now?” She held Feifei but smiled at the fat prince. “My cat, why are you so fat? How do you look so much like that dead pig from Turtle Lane in our hometown’s Turtle Village?”

Everyone giggled, thinking that while Her Majesty the Queen was usually low-key, she really had a venomous tongue.

The Yu Kingdom fat person’s face turned iron-gray, but he couldn’t respond—responding would make him the beast. He could only snort coldly and remain silent.

A young man from the Yelu clan couldn’t help himself and said coldly: “The bird could recite poetry earlier. What can this cat do? Sing?”

“Cats can only meow, naturally.” Jing Hengbo said flatly. “Unlike some people who have human skin but don’t do human deeds—murdering and framing others, crying thief to catch the thief.”

The Yelu clan was defeated again.

“Actually, this isn’t a cat.” Jing Hengbo held Feifei with a smile. “As for what it is, that depends on everyone’s discernment. If your vision is insufficient, buying it would actually wrong it, so this beast will only be sold to destined people.”

“Does it have special abilities?” someone asked curiously.

Jing Hengbo’s gaze swept the entire venue. She didn’t want Feifei to display too many abilities to avoid putting herself in a passive position later. She only wanted it to appropriately demonstrate its beast-controlling ability, but there didn’t seem to be any animals nearby.

However, several ladies who hadn’t managed to get Er Gouzi earlier became interested in the more adorable Feifei. They were just hesitating about the price—those who came with elders were already pestering them to pay. Feifei’s big round eyes rolled around, fixing on the youngest lady with the largest chest from the Severed Feather tribe, constantly rubbing Jing Hengbo’s cheek with its big tail, indicating it would be very willing to sell itself to her.

Jing Hengbo was dissatisfied with the little beast’s betrayal for beauty. Suddenly someone shouted loudly: “Six thousand taels, I’ll take it!”

It was actually Ji Qiong. Tonight the three princesses of Ji Kingdom wore veils and had been very low-key, but now she suddenly spoke up.

A maid beside her anxiously tugged at her clothes, but Ji Qiong remained unmoved, saying in a low voice: “I heard the State Preceptor likes long-haired beasts and specifically keeps a camel sheep in Quiet Courtyard. He would probably like this beast too.”

Just as she finished speaking, the Fourth Princess Ji Yao suddenly said coquettishly: “Seven thousand taels!”

Ji Qiong glared angrily at Ji Yao, but Ji Yao didn’t look at her at all, staring at Feifei with great interest.

She didn’t particularly like Feifei or want to give it as a gift—she just suddenly remembered that day when Chasing Wind went mad and broke through the Jade Queen’s wall, it seemed this beast had rushed in, and then everything calmed down.

Although she hadn’t seen what happened inside clearly, she always felt this matter was probably related to this beast. She remembered the Jade Queen calling “Feifei!” at the time.

A cat that could subdue the fiercest alpaca? It would definitely be very useful to her.

Of course, being able to annoy her sister was also a very pleasant thing.

Seeing these two sisters, Jing Hengbo immediately smiled. Good, she didn’t need to waste effort demonstrating the little beast—with these two sisters tearing at each other like this, the price would automatically go up.

Indeed, once the Ji Kingdom princesses got into it, sparks immediately flew and the price soared.

“Eight thousand taels!”

“Nine thousand!”

“Ten thousand!”

“Ten thousand and one taels!”

“Eleven thousand!”

“Eleven thousand and one taels!”

“Fifteen thousand!” Ji Qiong was so angry smoke came from her seven orifices, her eyes rolling back.

Ji Yao was still smiling. “Fifteen thousand and one taels!”

Everyone laughed while moving their seats backward—in case a fight broke out, they needed to secure safe territory first.

The instigator Jing Hengbo was already sleeping embraced with Feifei—Feifei thought those two had too small chests and wasn’t interested.

After tearing at each other for a while, they finally heard Ji Qiong’s voice: “Twenty thousand taels!”

Ji Yao stopped pursuing, a triumphant smile playing at her lips as she glanced sideways at her sister—spending twenty thousand taels of gold to chase a man, and only buying a cat, when this matter spread back home, the Great King would definitely be angry, and her sister would definitely face impeachment from the ministers.

This way, even if she didn’t get this cat, she still profited.

When her sister lost her inheritance rights and was demoted, wouldn’t this cat still be hers then? And she’d save money too.

Ji Qiong wasn’t unaware of the stakes either. She seemed to win the bidding but actually suffered a major defeat, completely falling into her sister’s trap. But forced into a corner with no retreat, she could only throw away a fortune hoping for her beauty’s favor.

She gritted her teeth, thinking that as long as she gained the State Preceptor’s affection, all disadvantages would cease to exist. Ji Yao’s victory was only temporary.

Even so, her face was pale and her breathing rapid when she paid, making Ji Yao laugh even more happily.

Jing Hengbo was also happy. Feifei had done nothing yet sold for this price—she felt her luck was really good today. Thanks to those sisters who loved to tear each other apart.

When she brought Feifei over, Ji Qiong, full of regret and anger, glanced at her sideways and said viciously: “You benefited today, but someday I’ll make you pay!”

“Hey, this was willing buyer, willing seller. Why so angry?” Jing Hengbo smiled as she stroked Feifei’s long fur. “Treat it well—the little beast likes to eat meat.”

Ji Qiong suddenly smiled maliciously.

“I’ll give this cat to someone else. But since that person holds a high position and has high standards, whether they’ll definitely like this cat is uncertain. If you miss this cat in the future, perhaps I can have its new master let you in to see it once.” She chuckled and added: “But with your ugly face, whether its noble new master would be willing to let you step foot in his cat house, I can’t guarantee. I’ll help plead for you then.”

Jing Hengbo smiled as she looked at her, her gaze particularly lingering on her similarly veiled face, staring until Ji Qiong became angry with shame. Just as she was about to explode, Jing Hengbo had already casually changed the topic: “Who are you planning to give Feifei to?”

Ji Qiong was full of anger right now, determined to gain the upper hand and strike at others. She bit her teeth and sneered coldly: “To the most noble Right State Preceptor!”

Jing Hengbo’s hand stroking Feifei’s fur paused, and Feifei opened its eyes, glancing at Ji Qiong.

A moment later, Jing Hengbo laughed with a “pff” sound.

“What are you laughing at?” Ji Qiong said coldly. “Are you covering up your inner jealousy? That’s right—although you’re the Jade Queen, with your looks, you probably won’t have a chance to gain the State Preceptor’s attention in this lifetime.”

“Yes, yes.” Jing Hengbo held back her laughter and pushed Feifei toward her. “Hurry up and keep it safe, hurry up and send it to your male god, hurry up and gain his attention. I wish you success, mwah.”

“I will.” Ji Qiong took Feifei, bought for twenty thousand taels of gold, and answered coldly.

Jing Hengbo walked back holding in her laughter. She didn’t need to worry about how the little beast would return—it would be back in her hands very soon.

Everyone was now staring at her—both pets had been sold, but she was still far from one hundred thousand taels. It looked like she had nothing left to sell. Could that little girl be worth seventy-five thousand taels?

The Yu Kingdom prince whispered to his guard: “Go quietly tell the political leaders of countries friendly to us not to buy that little girl. Yu Kingdom will compensate them later.”

The guard left to carry out the order. The Yu Kingdom people all sneered coldly: “Let’s see what else you can sell!”

All eyes stared at Jing Hengbo—how would she gather the remaining seventy-five thousand taels?

…

Perhaps because spring was approaching, the sky above Di Ge had been particularly clear blue lately. A flock of white doves flew gracefully past the vermillion window frames, landing on wooden perches to fold their wings and replenish food and water.

A pair of pale, slender hands reached over and gently removed the small tube fastened to a bird’s leg.

Meng Hu, who had hurried to collect the message, saw Gong Yin’s back at the end of the long corridor and immediately turned to quietly withdraw—lately, his master had been intentionally or unintentionally looking out the window and passing by the bird room, receiving messages even faster than him.

Beneath the calm exterior was his master’s carefully concealed anxiety. He’d better not disturb his master’s time reading the letter.

Gong Yin didn’t immediately read the letter. He looked at the palace wall next to Quiet Courtyard, then at his study where the fake Gong Yin was receiving ministers.

After hurrying back to Di Ge, he hadn’t appeared directly, hadn’t received anyone, and hadn’t even appeared before the fake Gong Yin.

This was to allow a more natural transition between the real and fake State Preceptors, and also because he was waiting.

What he was waiting for, only he knew.

The tall figure turned through the long corridor, snow-white wide robes quietly trailing on the ground, at the ends of his flowing waterfall-like hair, a faint silver-white color could be seen.

In the secret chamber under lamplight, he unfolded the letter while slowly rotating an ice ball in his hand. The ice ball continuously expanded and contracted in his palm, changing shapes—it looked quite magical.

This was a unique cultivation method from the snow mountains, used to regulate qi and breath.

The Bee Stings’ letters, like their name, were very concise.

“Shang Kingdom’s Crown Prince seems smitten with the Queen and wishes to pursue her. Also: Ji Kingdom’s Third Princess seems to want to pursue the State Preceptor and has been punished by the Queen.”

He read expressionlessly, the ice ball rotating smoothly in his hand.

He automatically ignored the latter pursuit and dismissed the former.

In his view, perhaps Yelu Qi’s pursuit was worth worrying about, but as for this Shang Kingdom Crown Prince—taking him seriously would be an insult.

“Shang Kingdom’s Crown Prince has formally begun pursuing the Queen, sending gifts that fill the hall. The Queen opened the gifts, including a gorgeous dress, and showed surprise and delight.”

The ice ball suddenly spun a bit faster. He seemed to be pondering something. After a while, he pressed a mechanism on the desk, and moments later Yu Chun appeared before him.

“According to the Queen’s previous preferred clothing styles,” Gong Yin said slowly, “prepare sixteen sets of seasonal formal wear for her, ensuring she has new dresses to change into every day during her remaining time in Shang Kingdom.”

Yu Chun was dumbfounded: “This, this… Master, there’s no time!”

“Transfer from near Shang Kingdom and work through the night.” His tone brooked no argument.

The ice ball spun rapidly in his hand, ice flowers flaking off layer by layer, looking like something being forcefully peeled away.

Yu Chun ran off frantically to arrange the dresses, cursing the Bee Stings internally as he ran—what exactly did they tell the master! One storm after another—why did he suddenly think of sending dresses!

Before he’d gotten far, Gong Yin called him back. The State Preceptor, like a flower atop a snowy mountain peak, actually seemed to be hesitating. The ice ball in his hand crackled as it spun, scattering cold snowflakes. Amid the snow, his appearance became even more ethereally beautiful like snow, his black eyelashes hanging long, so noble and remote that one dared not profane him.

Yu Chun didn’t dare breathe loudly, waiting anxiously for his master’s next instruction. After a long while, he heard Gong Yin ask somewhat confusedly: “Tell me, what actions can please women, make them happy, and give them face?”

Yu Chun almost reached for his ears—had he heard wrong?

Such a vulgar question came from this State Preceptor who was untainted by worldly affairs?

“Uh… too many, women like too many things…” After a long pause, Yu Chun could only answer this way—was there anything in this world that women didn’t like?

“Then gather as much as possible and give the best.” Gong Yin waved his hand lightly. “From today, serve as advisor for this matter. Make sure everything around the Queen is complete, so she won’t look favorably on gifts from random cats and dogs.”

He frowned slightly, thinking that he’d only paid attention to Jing Hengbo’s safety but not her daily needs, causing her to have shallow standards—delighting over any broken clothes, following people for any tattered dress. This was his oversight and must be remedied.

Yu Chun, instantly demoted from chief commander to logistics manager, left with a bitter face—ah, Your Majesty the Queen, what exactly did you do to drive the master mad!

Inside the room, Gong Yin paid no attention to what Yu Chun thought. He unfolded the other secret letters again, and suddenly the ice ball in his hand stopped, his brow furrowing.