"Yes."
Song Yun bowed in response, feeling an inevitable sense of loss.
The attitude of the elder Miss was clearly leaning toward Chu Zheng.
While Song Lingxue naturally wouldn't completely trust Chu Zheng's words, she also hadn't found any discrepancies; it was most likely very close to the truth.
The only thing that puzzled her was why Chu Zheng wanted only those few books.
This was really beyond common sense.
Unless the contents of those books were, for Chu Zheng, far more important than wealth or freedom.
What could that be...
......
......
The next morning arrived.
Chu Zheng got up early, had breakfast, picked a few items of interest from the Filth Room, and packed them along with those books.
He did not head directly to the mansion's treasury but first made his way to the account room.
The account room was not far from the main gate of Song Residence, comprising two side rooms where two accountants lived, one old and one young.
The older accountant had joined the Song Residence at the age of twelve and had been there for fifty-three years, spending his entire life in the residence.
The younger one, only fifteen this year, named Song Shui, was also born within the family, and had followed the older accountant for seven years.
The elder had lost his wife in his middle years and had no children, so he treated Song Shui as his own.
In the past few days, countless gift orders had been sent, keeping the account room exceedingly busy, constantly sorting incoming and outgoing items each day.
Chu Zheng waited for a long time before he could finally fetch the accountant, got an account note, wrote down the amount, and handed it back, "Record it."
Upon seeing the amount on the account note, the old accountant couldn't help but express surprise, "Wow, Chu Zheng, did you strike it rich?"
"Handled some matters, and the elder Miss rewarded me."
Chu Zheng didn't say much, casually threw out a comment, and left.
As he passed the main gate, suddenly thunderous noises filled his ears, the sound of horse hooves like thunder, and even the two-zhang-tall courtyard wall couldn't conceal the dust rising from outside.
After a moment's reflection, Chu Zheng quickened his pace toward the mansion's treasury.
His curiosity was quite intense, but sometimes it needed to be reserved; unnecessary curiosity would only invite trouble. It was wiser to ask fewer questions in such situations.
The treasury was deeply located in the back courtyard, and it took a while before Chu Zheng finally arrived at its main gate.
The treasury was heavily guarded, day and night by martial artists who had cultivated inner qi; at this moment, the door was wide open, and an inventory was being carried out.
The variety of gifts from various families was diverse and would require a long time to sort and organize.
Song Lingxue must have given prior notice, for as soon as Chu Zheng arrived, someone led him to start working, helping the treasury with categorization.
[Silver Bear Paw (Zeroth Order): Derived from a silver bear that lived for over twenty years, it is an excellent supplement, but the skill of extracting the bear paw was lacking, causing many essences to be lost, advised to be repaired before consumption.]
[Bone-Strengthening Pill (Zeroth Order): Made from a large quantity of herbs mixed with beast bone powder, strengthens muscles and bones when consumed; however, due to prolonged exposure, three-tenths of its medicinal strength has dissipated, recommended to be repaired before consumption.]
[Green Feather Bow (Zeroth Order): Created from hundred-year-old ironwood and thirty-year-old cow tendon, soaked in tung oil, the bow is heavy and powerful, capable of piercing armor from a hundred steps, it has been some time since anyone has drawn it, showing its strong tension.]
Listening to the continuous prompts in his mind, the gleam in Chu Zheng's eyes grew increasingly bright; indeed, the treasury was the place he truly needed to be.
Having been busy for a long while, an unexpected piece of news suddenly came from the front courtyard.
A fighting stage had been set up at the front, and Song Lingxue was about to have a martial arts duel.
......
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......
An hour earlier.
While Chu Zheng was getting acquainted with the Mansion's Treasury, a commotion arose at the front gate of the Song Residence.
Fwoosh—
Over a hundred iron-clad riders stood silently in front of the gate, the unsettled dust irritating the war horses, their snorting sounds ceaseless.
A 'Zhao' royal flag fluttered in the wind, rustling loudly.
Leading them, two men, neither in armor. One about forty, with a short beard and an air of nobility, wearing jade and gold, clad in a purple robe adorned with python patterns, his demeanor naturally commanding.
The other, slightly younger, around twenty, handsome, with a jade pin in his hair and wearing a green robe, embroidered with the auspicious green fox, radiating an elegance beyond ordinary people.
In Great Zhou, purple python robes are reserved for princes. In Wuyang County, such attire could belong to no other than King of Guangyun, Zhao Yunheng.
Song Tonghai stood at the gate waiting, his eyes briefly passing over the 'Zhao' royal flag, his expression revealing neither joy nor anger.
Behind King of Guangyun stood the Great Zhou Dynasty, with its vast realms and myriad martial experts, even blessed with the service of the Immortal Clan. Throughout history, the royal family has produced several Immortal Seedlings.
The reason the realm of Great Zhou belonged to the Zhao Family was not unconnected to this fact.
Even without mentioning Great Zhou, Zhao Yunheng himself ruled over several counties and had a Great Grandmaster stationed within his mansion; the Song Family also could not afford to offend him.
"Brother Song, my sudden visit must have disturbed you!"
With a smile on his face, Zhao Yunheng strode forward, gesturing with his hand, then turned to the young man beside him, "This is my son, Jichang."
"Jichang greets Uncle Song," said Zhao Jichang as he bowed.
"Prince, you flatter us. Your presence brings radiance to our humble home. How could it be a disturbance?"
Song Tonghai greeted him with a smile, though it did not reach his eyes, "The Princely Heir is most admirable, please, come inside for a chat."
The group filed into the hall, taking their seats in order of precedence, as the maids served tea.
Zhao Yunheng, seated at the head of the table, lifted his teacup and took a sip. His eyes lit up, "Excellent tea!"
"Through some fortune, I acquired some Dragon Blood Leaf recently. I'm glad it suits the prince's taste."
After some pleasantries, Song Tonghai got straight to the point, "I wonder why the prince has graced us with his unexpected visit today? Please speak frankly and dispel my confusion."
"This time, I come to boldly ask for your daughter's hand in marriage for my son. That Young Phoenix of yours, if she were to spread her wings, I fear even this minor royal might not catch your eye in the future," said Zhao Yunheng without beating around the bush, adding jokingly, "I must climb onto your high branches early."
"You flatter us, Prince. Marrying into the royal family is indeed soaring high for our family," replied Song Tonghai.
Song Tonghai frowned slightly, "However… Lingqing has now joined the Immortal Sect, and her marriage…"
Hearing this, Zhao Yunheng waved his hands dismissively, "Brother Song, you're too modest. My son's fortune is shallow; he seeks not the Young Phoenix, but your esteemed eldest daughter, Lingxue."
"Lingxue?" Song Tonghai blinked, slightly surprised, but then he understood.
"Indeed, I would like Jichang to marry her as his principal wife. When he inherits the throne in the future, Lingxue will be the queen," Zhao Yunheng nodded.
Now that Song Lingqing was a member of the Immortal Sect, Zhao Yunheng, no matter how confident, didn't think his son matched an Immortal. But marrying Song Lingxue was indeed an appropriate match.
Song Tonghai hesitated for a moment and then said, "Lingxue has grown into an adult. Why don't I call her over to ask for her own opinion on this matter?"
"That would be good," Zhao Yunheng nodded happily.
A moment later, Song Lingxue stepped into the hall. She had just finished training, still in her martial attire, the sharp aura around her eyebrows not yet dissipated.
After learning the full story, she glanced at Zhao Jichang, her tone firm:
"Defeat me first, then we can talk about marriage."
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