Volume 1, Chapter 25: The Misplaced Gift

Zhu Xiaozhi had long anticipated that the other party would use their parents as a shield, and she immediately raised her eyebrows with a smile, brimming with smug satisfaction.

Ge Chao nodded upon hearing this. He had witnessed Wang Feng’s capabilities, both in the first round of assembling the firearm and the second round of hand-to-hand combat.

Later, Dongfang Yue casually asked Dongfang Yu if he could help her secure VIP tickets for Xia Tian’s concert.

The Abysno-class is a sub-top-tier warship specifically equipped for vice admirals by the Naval Headquarters. Above it rank only the three Sistro-class ships reserved for admirals, and the solitary Annotado-class vessel used by the fleet admiral.

Xiang Yangguang withdrew the hand she had used to knock Long Aodi unconscious, sighed softly, and then untied the steel cables binding him before turning to leave.

As it turned out, Craig was searching the contract for the loan shark's address. He reasoned that since the contract was drafted so professionally, the other party likely operated a legitimate company and would therefore have a listed address.

A fully loaded large merchant ship has a maximum capacity of only about ten tons. Once supplies and crew are factored in, that number drops significantly.

She had been intentional from the start, deliberately addressing Ji Zhenchuan that way in front of Lin Yaru, never expecting it would truly strike a nerve.

The mortals all stared intently at the old monk sitting in the Buddhist hall, their eyes filled with hunger and yearning.

Even on the day after their wedding night, when she felt somewhat unwell, he had not spoken so many words to her.

The crowd stared in utter bewilderment at this sudden display of raw emotion from someone they knew. They never imagined that the colleague who usually joked and laughed with them could have such a true face. Was their nickname for Qing Lan—"Qing-Qing"—not just a joke after all? How could this be?

Ever since their relationship had taken a sudden leap forward that day, reaching home base, they had not tasted sweet nectar again.

Moreover, she had her own money and her own income, so she was not worried about any gossip from the court; the land and shops alone were more than enough.

She did not dare pause in her steps, yet her expression flickered between sorrow and anger. She understood Li Qing and Zhou Yuan’s actions perfectly well in her heart, but understanding did not mean she was not in pain.

"Who can say for sure? After all, the title of Noble Consort Xiang was bestowed by the Empress Dowager; the Emperor hasn't even met her."

Fresh air greeted her as Murong Qingran exercised in the courtyard. Suddenly, with a "thud," a parcel rolled over the wall. She approached with caution, and after a long silence yielded no movement, she picked up the parcel and darted into her room.

Although there were not many people in the lobby at that moment, the reception staff and a few passersby all had their gazes instantly drawn to the entrance, where a man in a suit was being blocked by security.

Zhou Jun pondered in silence, while those present, especially the Fourth Prince, Lu Ming, and Li Qing, all wore expressions of intense anxiety.

The moment the sound rang out, a roar of noise erupted. Accompanied by the clamor were excited whispers and restless movements. The once-orderly ranks were like a stone tossed into a pool, causing a thousand ripples, and in an instant, the scene turned chaotic.

She kept her head down, focused only on moving forward, and did not know how much time had passed. When she finally looked up, she realized the sky had darkened and she was halfway up a steep mountain peak.

Xu Haifeng watched as Fang Lingchen shed his previous image of impartial sternness to patiently coax Fang Yingying, showing no hint of elder-like airs. He exchanged a helpless, wry smile with Fang Xiangming.

Xu Junying looked outside, his thoughts returning to reality: With the Empress Dowager guarding the Kun-Ning Palace in person, how could she let the Emperor get close?