Volume One, Chapter 48: You Don't Believe Me?

The Empress Dowager was unaware that the Mei Concubine of today was no longer the same as before. After the emperor fell gravely ill, she began to strategize for the future. Though the phrase "a mother’s strength" hardly suited her, the sentiment was fitting.

Lady Song felt a twinge of irritation upon hearing this. She wasn’t inherently malicious; these days, she had even started to resemble a proper stepmother in her interactions with Xi Fuwei, occasionally expressing concern for her well-being. Previously, when Xu Jingchang sent someone to escort Xi Fuwei to the Duke of Dingguo’s mansion at the palace gates, Song Jianiang had accompanied her.

However, due to an earlier agreement with Song Li to travel north together—for the sake of safety, as Third Brother from the Jining Guard had pointed out—Xing Fanggui, though supported by many nobles in Yingtian Prefecture, was still a courtesan, a status considered lowly.

“Leave now,” Emperor Jingming said. At this moment, he no longer could bear to scold Chu Zhengchu harshly. Compared to Zhang Jin, His Majesty found Chu more agreeable.

Chen Qi frowned, sensing a tremendous energy radiating from the armored figure nearby. It had surpassed level A and even reached the intensity of level S.

The expression on the alien beast Xinbei suddenly darkened. It knew well that the death of an ordinary SSS-level beast would not stir a reaction in a transcendent SSS-level creature.

When that day came, Bai Muxue, now grown, would have the right to choose her own path. It was then that true trouble might begin.

For some reason, the thought that Lin Feng had achieved a score astonishing to the entire class secretly delighted her heart. As for how well she herself would do, she paid it little mind.

Yet before anger, all obstacles and differences would be shattered, turning into a force that struck true—[The Vampire Duke].

Yun Chi resolutely spoke these three words and then firmly pressed his lips against his, leaving a mark.

“Of course I know. I said I want to pursue you, to make you love me again and never leave. So if you already have someone else, it’s best you deal with them cleanly.” A cold gleam flashed across Lu Zhensen’s face. Shen Qingyou could only laugh and cry, utterly baffled by what he was saying.

All eyes turned to Lu Zhensen. When Shen Qingyou saw him, her emotions remained steady; she had long been prepared, knowing that Lu Zhensen was here for Zhang Rui.

With the experience of refining pills last time, he now approached crafting the Spirit Concentration Pill with greater ease, even daring to attempt refining two simultaneously.

Pan Jianlong was an assassin by nature. When the dagger appeared, it flickered before Luo Long’s eyes in an instant.

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Fang Xiqiao led her to an empty seat. Before they could exchange a word, they were both surrounded—Zhang Ming and some men chattered while questioning Fang Xiqiao. Yan Yue’s side was quiet, save for concerns from Hui and Bai Zheng, since Chen Yu had long been informed.

Recalling Chen Yu’s words just then, a chill rose in her heart. She prayed it wasn’t serious, hoping only to endure the game’s beta test before seeking proper treatment.

The translator device brought by the Earth Alliance had no function to translate songs. Xi Luo could only comprehend a few scattered words like “soul” and “favor.”

This place lay at the rear of the city lord’s mansion, bypassing the tall tower, but Fang Yuan’s primary target was there. Using his Boundary-Breaking evil eye, his vision swept from afar to near, focusing on the tower. Unexpectedly, even with the power of his evil eye, he could not see through the tower’s body.

“Sorry, I have neither time nor mood!” Shen Wei said firmly, trying to avoid the other party, only to be blocked.

While she lay drowsy in the bathtub, she faintly heard someone calling her. But there was no sound from the concentration spirit. Frowning, she thought it over, decided not to soak longer, and when she rose, realized she had forgotten her bathrobe.

The bar remained calm. Li Bai held Chen Chen’s hand and went to find Leng Rubing.

Unaware that Lu Li had returned home, upon arriving at the swordsmanship hall, she was disheartened, barely exchanged a few words with companions, and prepared to leave—only for Lu Li and Asano Toyohiro to walk in.

By then, Mo Xuan had reached the medicinal herb fields outside, where an old man at the spirit sea was sounding fervent, as if pumped with adrenaline.

Though a sharp metal weapon, it melted upon contact, reaching the dantian where it was enveloped by spiritual energy. The sword’s innate blood essence gradually fused with the blood sword’s killing aura.

Li Dan Gou, who had just been selling pills, brightened upon learning Yu Cuiman was wealthy.

Mo Xuan already had countermeasures; the other’s struggles were utterly futile.

Perhaps due to adulthood and prolonged absence, their reunion felt tinged with awkwardness and shyness.

Two days later, Song Ming asked Zhao Yi to act as matchmaker to help arrange a marriage. Zhao Yi first visited Lord Ding’s office to brief him. Overjoyed, Lord Ding readily agreed and awaited Zhao Yi’s visit the next day for the proposal.

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Too many people crowded the hotel entrance, making taxis hard to catch and parking difficult. Lian Jue glanced at the map and called a car to wait at the alley behind.

This year’s harvest was poor, and with the locust disaster, taxes might not be paid, let alone meals afforded.

Without constant reminders, she could hardly remember her father was a bank president.

Zhou Yunmeng beamed with joy when the “ghost elder” agreed, lifting her delicate face in a subtle show of defiance toward Lin Shuyu.

Lian Jue silently exited WeChat, feeling that continuing to chat with Brother Quan might lower her intelligence.

Teaching driving was manageable for a day or two, but over time, students still struggled to drive, making instructors’ tempers worsen involuntarily.

Shen Yichu had just returned home when she received a call from Han Linjun’s mother, urging her to come over the day after tomorrow.

Had she known her initial portrait was ruined by Jiang Jinping, she would have thrown Jiang out, even if her temper was better.

Though He Yang suspected Ma was in trouble, he thought it was theft at worst; only upon leaving did he realize the gravity of the situation.

When he first noticed the contract was missing, he was puzzled and searched thoroughly, even the servants’ quarters.

Yet, during the twenty years Song Qiuli tended his vegetables, he not only failed to unravel the mystery in his heart but deepened his doubts.

Though she handled matters decisively and cleanly, decisiveness did not mean she was without sorrow.