Following the guidance of the Celestial Book’s "Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil" ability, Chen Sheng wasted no time. He went straight to the pond near the attic and successfully fished out the Jade Puppet.

Upon careful inspection, Chen Sheng was almost certain the Jade Puppet had either been a gift from someone close to Sun Yuzhi, or she had carved it herself. The Celestial Book, however, gave no reason for why it had been discarded.

But that was no longer important.

’As long as I can borrow the Profound Spirit Treasure Pearl, who cares what the reason is.’

Chen Sheng immediately hung the Jade Puppet prominently from his waist, straightened his robes, and went at once to request an audience with Sun Yuzhi.

After being announced by the guards, Chen Sheng once again stepped into the Government Office.

Unlike the fleeting glimpse of the sky-blue dress from yesterday, Sun Yuzhi had reverted to her usual attire. The official robes of a Junior Fifth Grade Governor accentuated her upright posture, and her face was cold and imposing, radiating a natural authority—as if yesterday’s brief moment of softness had been a mere illusion.

"Greetings, Governor Sun."

Chen Sheng collected himself, not daring to study her as closely as he had the day before. He bowed respectfully with his hands clasped.

"What is it?"

Sun Yuzhi slowly raised her head, her calm gaze sweeping over Chen Sheng. But when her eyes happened to fall upon the familiar Jade Puppet at his waist, a flicker of undisguisable surprise flashed in their depths. The fingers she had wrapped around a scroll paused instinctively.

Chen Sheng didn’t get straight to the point and ask to borrow the Profound Spirit Treasure Pearl. That would be too abrupt and would easily arouse suspicion. Thus, he chose a more circuitous approach.

"Governor Sun, I was hoping to ask... where has Envoy Nie been recently? When is he expected to return?"

Sun Yuzhi’s brow furrowed slightly, as if she detested the very mention of the name. Her eyes shifted away from the Jade Puppet, her voice becoming cold and distant.

"Envoy Nie outranks me. How would I be privy to his movements?"

A look of perfectly calibrated disappointment appeared on Chen Sheng’s face. He nodded slightly, his voice tinged with resignation.

"I see. My apologies for the intrusion."

With that, he bowed, making to take his leave.

"Wait."

Seeing how readily he was about to depart, Sun Yuzhi’s curiosity was finally piqued. She called out to stop him.

"Why are you looking for Envoy Nie?"

A flicker of hesitation crossed Chen Sheng’s face. After a moment’s deliberation, he said:

"To be frank, Governor, I am preparing to enter seclusion for Condensing Evil, but I lack certain Spiritual Objects to aid the process. That’s why I wished to ask for Envoy Nie’s assistance."

"The Jingwu Bureau storehouse has its own reserve of Spiritual Objects to aid Condensing Evil. With all the merits you’ve earned, are you still unable to exchange for what you need?"

Sun Yuzhi found this surprising.

"My... the Evil Qi I am condensing is rather unique. Common Spiritual Objects are not effective enough."

Chen Sheng sighed softly.

Realization dawned on Sun Yuzhi. She recalled that Chen Sheng possessed the ’Red Lotus Evil Qi,’ which was ranked among the lower-grade Earth Fiends. It was indeed far from ordinary, so it stood to reason that it would require higher-quality Spiritual Objects.

She mulled it over for a moment before saying, "Spiritual Objects for Condensing Evil are inherently rare. The items in the Jingwu Bureau’s collection are already exceptional. Even if Envoy Nie were here, I doubt he could help you."

"I understand."

Chen Sheng managed a strained ’smile,’ his eyes betraying a hint of frustration mixed with helplessness.

Sun Yuzhi glanced down, her eyes falling on the Profound Spirit Treasure Pearl hanging from her neck. A flicker of hesitation crossed her gaze.

’If it were an ordinary Spiritual Object,’ she thought, ’I would have simply rewarded it to him, considering how capable he is and how favorable an impression he’s made on me.’

’But the Profound Spirit Treasure Pearl is different. Not only can it nourish one’s Divine Soul and aid cultivation, but it is especially crucial for me to stabilize my current realm and quell the mental fluctuations caused by my Cultivation Technique and recent events. Besides, it’s a personal treasure I always keep with me—practically an intimate object.’

’Lending it to Chen Sheng would be... inappropriate.’

"I’ll try to find another way. With your permission, I’ll take my leave."

Seeing this, Chen Sheng said no more and prepared to leave.

"That Jade Puppet at your waist—where did you get it?"

Just as Chen Sheng turned to leave, Sun Yuzhi finally gave in, her gaze fixed upon the Jade Puppet.

At her words, Chen Sheng quickly unfastened the Jade Puppet and explained:

"To answer your question, Governor, yesterday I saw you fiddling with a Jade Puppet of a rather unique design. As it happens, I was walking by the pond in the Government Office’s rear garden today and happened to spot this at the bottom. It looked remarkably similar to yours, so I fished it out, thinking I might toy with it in my leisure.

"If you like it, Governor, I will gladly offer it to you."

Sun Yuzhi’s eyes flickered as she stared at the achingly familiar Jade Puppet, a storm of emotions brewing within her.

’She couldn’t figure it out. Had Chen Sheng truly not recognized it as the object she’d thrown away yesterday, or was he deliberately using it to test her...’

The Jade Puppet was tied to an old custom from her hometown.

A young woman, smitten with her first love, would carve a Jade Puppet by hand, pouring her affections into it. On her wedding day, she would present it to her future husband as a token of her love.

However, not long after her own betrothal had been arranged, her fiancé had died a gruesome death because of the Jing’an affair.

She had treasured the Jade Puppet and kept it by her side ever since. It was only yesterday, after personally finishing Jing’an, that she had resolved to sever all mortal attachments and decisively cast it away.

She had never imagined that, by such a sheer coincidence, it would be found by Chen Sheng.

For a moment, a thousand complex emotions surged through her, leaving Sun Siniang lost in a stunned trance.

"Governor?"

Seeing her remain silent for a long moment, lost in thought, Chen Sheng prompted her softly.

Sun Yuzhi snapped back to her senses. Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, she restored the coldness to her voice, though it now carried an unusual tone she herself didn’t notice.

"There’s no need. Since you... like it, just keep it to toy with."

"Yes."

Chen Sheng nodded. He readily complied, hooking the Jade Puppet back onto his waist with a natural, fluid motion.