Zanxing looked up at Mimi on the bookshelf.

Mimi, sporting a chubby face, sat leisurely on the shelf, chewing its tail.

Zanxing collected her thoughts and brought the volume marked with the two characters “Shengning” to Gu Baiying, gesturing for him to look.

Gu Baiying was initially puzzled, but when he lowered his head to see the small characters, he froze for a moment, then took the volume from Zanxing’s hands.

This volume indeed records the life of Emperor Shengning, that is, the late ruler. It was quite impressive of the court historian—the late ruler died young, living only about twenty years, yet they still managed to write such a thick book. Who knows how much padding was added?

The two sat down on the ground with their backs against the bookshelf, looking at the volume in their hands.

The life of Li’er Kingdom’s late ruler, Emperor Shengning, appeared utterly unremarkable. One could sense that the person writing the volume had already tried very hard to flatter, but most of the records about the late ruler were superficial praise, such as being learned and talented, outstanding, noble in character, and having grand strategies. However, there wasn’t a single concrete example of how these qualities were demonstrated.

It was just that during the years when the late ruler was in power, Li’er Kingdom indeed hadn’t experienced any major events. For now, they could assume that the late ruler’s talents simply had no place to be displayed—it wasn’t his fault.

Emperor Shengning had been frail since birth, frequently bedridden. All the divine physicians in Li’er Kingdom had examined him—this was an ailment from the womb that couldn’t be cured, only managed.

However, the flowing stream of medicinal herbs in the palace didn’t improve Emperor Shengning’s health. In his childhood, he could still run and jump, but by his teenage years, he could no longer engage in strenuous activities. After turning twenty, he coughed up blood daily, appearing even more haggard than elderly people in their seventies.

Reading this, Zanxing leaned close to Gu Baiying and whispered: “That golden statue by the sea—isn’t it satirical?” That golden statue looked like it could take on ten opponents at once. Appropriate exaggeration was naturally fine, but exaggerating to this extent would probably make the late ruler blush and jump out of his grave.

The young woman’s warm breath fell on his ear. Gu Baiying frowned and moved away slightly, saying, “Don’t talk, keep reading.”

Zanxing continued reading.

Speaking of which, although Emperor Shengning was frail, this walking medicine jar still thought about taking a wife. On Emperor Shengning’s twenty-second birthday, he married Princess Lizhu from the Linshi Kingdom. Zanxing speculated this might have been for good luck, though the good luck charm seemed ineffective—Emperor Shengning didn’t die from illness but was killed by the demon shark.

After Emperor Shengning married Princess Lizhu, his health gradually improved slightly. Not long after, the demon shark incident occurred in Li’er Kingdom. The subsequent records were the same as those in the previous volumes—Emperor Shengning bravely fought the demon shark and sacrificed himself for the greater good. After that, there was nothing more.

Zanxing: “…That’s it?”

It wasn’t that she had prejudice against Emperor Shengning, but after reading this volume, she truly felt that the memorable things Emperor Shengning accomplished in his life were probably just marrying a wife and fighting the demon shark.

Just as she was thinking this, Gu Baiying flipped through several more pages. Seeing there were still words on those pages, Zanxing leaned over to look again.

This seemed to be a medical prescription attached to the back of the volume, clearly recording the medicinal herbs from the Imperial Medical Bureau that Emperor Shengning had used over the years. His childhood was relatively mild, using only some qi-replenishing and body-strengthening herbs. Later, ginseng, lingzhi, and such—all life-sustaining items. The medicinal herbs used each year also multiplied, and Emperor Shengning’s condition seemed to worsen progressively. However, this prescription list abruptly stopped halfway through. Looking at the recorded time, it seemed to be exactly half a year before Princess Lizhu married into Li’er Kingdom.

Zanxing couldn’t help but frown. Looking at Gu Baiying’s gaze, it also fell on that suddenly blank section of the prescription list and didn’t move away for a long time.

Suddenly stopping medication—unless Emperor Shengning’s illness had been cured, but according to the current ruler, Emperor Shengning’s illness hadn’t recovered. So, had he given up treatment? Thinking that since it couldn’t be cured anyway, he might as well marry first and have children so Li’er Kingdom wouldn’t be without an heir, and as for himself, leave it to fate.

Zanxing felt there was something inexplicably strange about this prescription list.

Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly heard voices from outside. Zanxing was startled and pulled Gu Baiying up, hiding in the innermost layer between the bookshelves.

The gap between the bookshelves here was very narrow, only allowing one person to pass through. With two people squeezed together, they could only face each other, and Zanxing’s head nearly hit Gu Baiying’s chest.

Caught off guard, Gu Baiying was pulled by Zanxing into the small corner. After steadying himself, he looked down furiously at the instigator and transmitted his voice directly into her ear: “What are you doing?”

“Someone came in.” Zanxing grabbed his clothing: “Be careful, we’re dead if we’re discovered.”

Gu Baiying took a deep breath, staring at her and speaking through gritted teeth: “Yang Zanxing, are you sick? Something that could be accomplished with an invisibility spell—what are you hiding for?”

Zanxing came to her senses: “…Oh right.”

Invisibility spells were very difficult to learn. Zanxing tried once and couldn’t even grasp the basics, so she simply gave up. Not many people in the Taiyan Sect had learned it either. Gu Baiying knew invisibility spells, but Zanxing always forgot this fact.

“However,” Zanxing looked at him and transmitted: “Master Uncle, can’t invisibility spells only be used once per day, lasting only half an incense stick’s time? We just spent more than half an incense stick’s time reading the volume.”

Gu Baiying froze for a moment, seemingly just realizing this, and said in embarrassed anger: “Shut up.”

Zanxing very tactfully closed her mouth.

The people outside were still talking: “You all go down. I’ll just take a casual look.”

“Yes.” This was followed by the sound of guards leaving.

Zanxing and Gu Baiying looked at each other. This voice… seemed to be Princess Lizhu?

The footsteps continued, already entering Tianlu Pavilion. Princess Lizhu showed no intention of leaving. Zanxing was somewhat nervous and asked: “Master Uncle, what if we’re discovered?”

“If we’re discovered, then we’re discovered.” Gu Baiying paused, unconcernedly saying: “What’s there to fear? Can she do anything to us?”

This person was as arrogant as always—someone who hadn’t been beaten down by society.

However, since they were on someone else’s territory, Zanxing still didn’t want to have conflicts with Li’er Kingdom’s royal family. Thinking of this, she shrank further inward, silently praying that Princess Lizhu wouldn’t come further in and would leave quickly.

Just as she was thinking this, there was suddenly a “thud” from above. Zanxing’s heart jumped as she saw a fluffy white tail swaying past overhead.

Oh no, she’d forgotten Mimi was still on the bookshelf!

This fat cat had no sense of its size whatsoever. With such a solid leap, all the volumes on the bookshelf came crashing down with a “clatter,” all falling toward Zanxing’s head. Gu Baiying was startled and instinctively reached out to protect her head. The gap between bookshelves was narrow, and Zanxing, caught off guard, fell and crashed heavily into Gu Baiying.