The golden light from the lottery pool swept across Yun Shu’s face.
【Congratulations, Host! You have obtained the Myriad Tides Set—Tail Fin Component (7/8): Moonlit Mirage Tail.】
【Component Description: Once worn, the wearer’s legs will automatically transform into a shimmering merfolk tail, allowing movement underwater at three times the speed of sound. Scales scattered from the tail can calm even submarine earthquakes and turbid currents.】
【……】
【Congratulations, Host! You have obtained the Myriad Tides Set—Accessory Component (8/8): Tide-Song Shell Bell.】
【Component Description: When hung at the waist, it will produce a gentle, celestial tidal melody with every step.】
【……】
【Current Shock Points: 82,660,000】
Looking at the shock points she had left, Yun Shu thought for a moment, then spent 14,600,000 of them to raise the Myriad Tides Set from Level 0 to its maximum level before continuing to draw.
【Congratulations, Host! You have obtained the Fortune-Bringing Set—Bracelet Component (4/6): Wishful Ruyi Bracelet.】
【Component Description: Wearing this bracelet can turn a money-losing business into a profitable one. Cooldown: 48 hours.】
【……】
【Congratulations, Host! You have obtained the Dunhuang Flying Immortal Set—Robe Component (1/6): Scattering Flowers, Brushing the Moon.】
【Component Description: As light as cicada wings and as thin as morning mist. When draped over the body, moonlight and starlight will automatically circle the wearer, forming a dazzling halo of seven colors.】
【……】
【Current Shock Points: 67,760,000】
After indulging in another round of spending and expanding the collection of outfits in her wardrobe, Yun Shu finally closed the lottery pool.
She turned to the Little Fox. “System, bring up the surveillance feed from the boy emperor’s side. I want to take a look.”
The Little Fox sat cross-legged on the table in front of Yun Shu. It raised one fluffy paw and lightly tapped the air.
The next moment, a surveillance image appeared before Yun Shu’s eyes.
Inside the dimly lit cabin, an oil lamp swayed on the table, stretching the figures’ shadows from long to short.
The boy emperor was crouched before a low table, carefully lifting a bowl of medicinal soup. He turned and walked toward Marquis Ningyuan and his daughter.
The rim of the bowl was a little hot, so he used his sleeve as a cushion. His other hand hovered beneath the bowl, ready to support it, afraid that even a single drop might spill.
Earlier, General Wang had forced him to swallow poison, while Marquis Ningyuan and his daughter had fought with the soldiers. Marquis Ningyuan’s face was sallow as he leaned against the cabin wall, the wound on his shoulder having split open again. Blood had soaked through half his clothing.
Shen Ying was in no better condition. She lay curled up on a straw mat on the other side of the cabin, a strip of cloth wrapped around her forehead.
After feeding half a bowl of medicine to each of them, the boy emperor plopped down beside them, his thoughts running wild.
At the end of the day, Marquis Ningyuan and his daughter had been dragged into this because of him. If they had not been protecting a powerless and positionless emperor like him, they would never have suffered such serious injuries at the hands of General Wang and his men.
At that moment, he was not only worried about their wounds but also filled with uncertainty about his own future.
He did not dare imagine what he would do if Marquis Ningyuan and Shen Ying were too badly injured to survive until they reached Zhenbei Prefecture.
Putting himself in their place, he was merely the emperor of the mortal realm. If anyone dared brazenly declare that they wanted to marry him and become his wife, he would consider it the greatest humiliation. And yet, the person in question was a goddess.
No wonder that when the Grand Tutor first mentioned in court that someone should be sent to Zhenbei Prefecture to seek marriage with the Northern Goddess, Xu Nan and the others had come up with all sorts of absurd excuses to resign from office. They had acted as though allowing them to remain in the court would cost them their lives.
Thinking about it now, wouldn’t it?
Knowing that they were bound to offend a deity, anyone would pack their belongings overnight and flee as far away as possible.
“Your Majesty.”
Marquis Ningyuan’s voice suddenly came from beside him.
The boy emperor turned his head and saw that Marquis Ningyuan had somehow sat up. His back was pressed against the cabin wall, and a thin sheen of sweat covered his forehead. Clearly, he was forcing himself to endure the pain.
The boy emperor hurried over to help him lie back down. “Lord Shen, your injuries are so severe. Lie down properly and don’t move around.”
Marquis Ningyuan looked ashamed. “It is this old subject’s fault for being useless. I have not only forced Your Majesty to swallow your pride and ask that traitor Wang Qun for medicine, but also caused you to lower yourself to care for A-Ying and me.”
The boy emperor shook his head. “Lord Shen, don’t say that. If you and Third Miss Shen had not risked your lives to save me, I would have died on the island long ago. I would never have made it this far.”
“Your Majesty, A-Ying…” Marquis Ningyuan looked worriedly at his youngest daughter, who had yet to awaken.
“Third Miss Shen is fine. I already treated the wound on her head. She’ll be all right after resting for two days.”
Hearing this, Marquis Ningyuan withdrew his gaze from Shen Ying and turned to the boy emperor. “Your Majesty, you ordered General Wang to escort you to Zhenbei Prefecture. Do you have some plan in mind?”
The boy emperor remembered that his mother had warned him not to let anyone else know that she was secretly helping him. Thus, he could only reply vaguely, “Lord Shen, I don’t know whether going to Zhenbei Prefecture will bring fortune or disaster. I can only take things one step at a time.”
As he said this, a hint of envy appeared in his eyes as he looked at Marquis Ningyuan. Marquis Ningyuan truly had two excellent sons. He had heard that they were highly valued under the Divine Lady. Once Marquis Ningyuan reached Zhenbei Prefecture, he would most likely be able to enjoy a life of comfort.
Wait… come to think of it, if he established a relationship with Marquis Ningyuan, might he be able to benefit from it as well?
Third Miss Shen clearly did not like him, so marrying into her family was probably out of the question. That left him with only one option: he could take Marquis Ningyuan as his adoptive father!
Once he had made up his mind, the boy emperor began constantly displaying his loneliness and helplessness before Marquis Ningyuan. He played the victim, coaxed him, and pestered him until he successfully acknowledged Marquis Ningyuan as his adoptive father.
“A-Ying, I’ve brought hot water. You’re a girl, so you should use it first.”
The boy emperor awkwardly carried over a basin of water.
Shen Ying raised an eyebrow as she looked at him. “Why do I feel that you’ve been unusually attentive to my father and me lately?”
“Haha, have I?” The boy emperor played dumb.
Shen Ying said nothing more. She took the cloth and washed her face with the water from the basin in the boy emperor’s hands.
As the large ship sped onward, the boy emperor and the others soon reached the ferry crossing. Before long, they would enter the territory of Zhenbei Prefecture.
*
Yecheng Academy, Zhenbei Prefecture.
The sun had begun to slant westward. Flecks of golden light filtered through the branches and leaves of the peach trees by the roadside, scattering across the flagstone path.
Classes had just ended at the academy. Students streamed out in groups of two or three, books tucked under their arms, their laughter and conversation filling the air.
Shen Yu walked at the back of the crowd. In his hands was a book. After studying the volume on the future world bestowed by the Divine Lady, he had written down some of his own thoughts.
He had always remembered the words that had flashed across the wall of that strange room when the Divine Lady first visited Yecheng Academy and Madam Ye conversed with Mr. Xiaoming.
A strong youth makes a strong nation.
Those six words had moved him deeply. They were also the reason he had remained at Yecheng Academy to teach.
The future, after all, belonged to the young.
Just then, Shen Da came rushing over in a panic.
“Second Young Master, we’ve received word from Xindu City. The Yong Dynasty has sent another group of envoys to Zhenbei Prefecture.”
Shen Yu raised his eyes to look at him. “Another peace delegation?”
Shen Da swallowed, his gaze shifting uneasily.
“Second Young Master, I heard that they aren’t here to negotiate peace this time. They’ve come to seek marriage with the Divine Lady…”
“Outrageous!” Shen Yu could no longer suppress his fury.
