Chapter 843: Chapter 21: The Appearance of Emperor Longchang! Spirit Treasure Qianqiu Takes the Stage

Establishing family recognition and ties with the Daqian Wang Family is naturally an important part of Shouzhe’s grand plan moving forward.

However, he deeply understands "human nature"; if he were to offer it outright, even if Wang Liyao is a Great Celestial Pride, it would inadvertently lower her status, making it easy for others to look down on her. Only when the other side racks their brains to invite her back will they truly value and cherish her.

After Wang Anan suffered through a torturous duration that felt like a year and endured a full incense stick’s worth of punishment.

Wang Liyao finally returned gracefully and saluted Wang Yuchang, saying, "Ancestor, Liyao is ready."

Behind her, there was a follower, Mo Waoqiu, trailing closely.

Seeing that Wang Liyao was still planning to introduce Mo Waoqiu to the Patriarch, Wang Anan almost felt like dying.

Please, don’t introduce him now, don’t chat...

Immediately, he howled even more miserably and plaintively, meaning, Aunt Liyao, if you don’t save me now, I’m really going to die...

"Oh... still fighting?" Only then did Wang Liyao get distracted, turned to look at Wang Shida and his son, her eyes in shock, and then "hurriedly" persuaded, "Shida, even if the child made some mistakes, a few symbolic blows would suffice. There’s no need to be so harsh."

Wang Shida and his son both felt a pang in their hearts.

Aunt Liyao, don’t you feel guilty saying that? Had you spoken earlier, how could the beating have gone on for so long?

"Aunt Liyao is kind, but this little beast truly deserves a beating. I’ll beat you to death, you little beast." It was impossible for Wang Shida to stop with just one persuasion, and according to tradition, he started to hit even harder.

"Enough, enough, he’s ultimately a junior. Shida, take him home first, and we can teach him slowly later." Wang Liyao persuaded again, "Besides, the two families hadn’t recognized their relationship back then. Although Anan’s words were harsh, thinking it over carefully, they weren’t excessive. Now seeing the child beaten like this, it truly is heartbreaking."

Thinking it over carefully, not excessive?

Wang Anan’s tears flowed profusely, his eyes blurred as he gazed at the sky, his heart crying out in sorrow.

Aunt Liyao, thank you for your "heartfelt pain"~~~ 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

...

Meanwhile, as Wang Liyao was being invited back to Duke Dingguo’s Mansion, on the other side, there was another person also striving to fulfill his "promise."

At the very center of Gui Long City, where the top-grade spiritual vein converges, stands a magnificent and towering grand palace complex.

This palace complex is the Imperial City of Daqian.

Evidently, these palaces have existed for a very long time, as the glazed tiles still shimmer like new, but the palace walls are already tinged with mottled traces, marks left by the long accumulation of time, and etchings of the passage of time.

Yet, while time leaves marks of age, it does not make it feel old; instead, it endows it with profound depth, making it grow ever more majestic and imposing with time.

Just like this country.

It is ancient, yet also fresh.

It has a long history, yet also radiates a burgeoning life force.

The efforts of each generation become a profound foundation that makes it grow stronger and increasingly unshakable. It is precisely the relentless effort and sacrifice of generations that have forged its great and enduring walls, unmoved even when the heavens fall.

Deep within the palace complex.

There stands a palace that looks no different from the surrounding ones. On the plaque at the palace entrance are three ancient, powerful characters inscribed, "Zhuozheng Pavilion."

This is the library within the Imperial City, also where the Great Emperor routinely conducts official business and studies.

Inside the library.

Huge bookshelves line the walls, densely packed with books, adding a certain weight to the library.

Like the rest of the Imperial Palace, the decor here is understated yet luxurious. Even an inconspicuous curtain is woven from high-grade spiritual silkworm silk, with exquisite embroidery, lifelike and vivid.

On a tall side table in the corner, smoke meanders upwards from a red copper incense burner sculpted into the shape of an Azure Dragon, slowly diffusing as it rises.

Beside the high table stands a chair carved from the core of a millennium-old purple spirit sandalwood, its luster thick and bright, obviously an ancient artifact of countless years.

On this chair sits an old man dressed in a dark regular robe.

The long years have bestowed upon him a desolate maturity, and the human cells’ aging has reached its late stage. At this moment, his skin is loose, dull, and accompanied by some age spots, his half-open, half-closed cloudy old eyes seem drowsy, lacking luster.

Behind him, an equally aged eunuch in a gray robe stands with a duster in hand, slightly bent over. His gaze remains fixed on his toes, motionless, like a statue.

"Grandfather, Grandfather, it’s your turn to make the next move."

At this moment, a crisp girl’s voice breaks the silence.

She is a pretty and lovely girl, like a porcelain doll, ranked second among the current Capital City’s "Top Ten Outstanding Youth"—the Imperial Family’s Great Celestial Pride, Wu Xue Ning.

"Oh~ Little Xue’Er, you’ve already figured out how to break my deadly move so quickly?"

The old man stirred, waking from his half-sleep.

He looked drowsily at the chessboard and couldn’t help but laugh: "Marvelous, marvelous~ Little Xue’Er’s move has found a sliver of hope amidst a thousand threats. Truly, she resembles my younger self in her cleverness. Old Yao, don’t you think so?"

He slightly turned his body, laughing as he asked the eunuch behind him.