The quantity and quality of the treasures made Zi Linling's eyes sparkle, while her lips twitched uncontrollably.
The way they had "begged for autumn" this time was far beyond her expectations.
"You guys didn't possibly clear out the treasuries of those seven families, did you?"
Ye Lingyuan shook his head and said, "How could that be? I only picked the nine best from each family!"
Zi Guochang quickly chimed in, "Me too, me too. Forty-nine items in total, and I didn't take a single one more."
Situ Jinglei even more self-righteously declared, "These were all given to us willingly. I didn't force them."
Situ Yunfeng quickly agreed, "Exactly, exactly. Besides finding their first offerings unsatisfactory, I didn't say anything else!"
Xue Jing, standing nearby, his lips twitched as if he had suffered a stroke.
This wasn't "begging for autumn" at all; it was outright robbery! And the kind of robbery where they acted innocent after getting what they wanted!
Of course, these were just his inner thoughts.
Then, Xue Jing suddenly remembered that he hadn't prepared a gift for the Princess Consort yet!
Alright! To avoid being given the cold shoulder by the Prince, he decided to join the ranks of the big shots "begging for autumn."
"After I finish my report, I'll take the brothers to browse the treasure vault of the Azure Dragon Imperial Palace! Oh, and I'll prepare something for that kid Fanchou too!"
Xue Jing made a silent resolution in his heart.
How could the astute Zi Linling be fooled by the words of the four men?
She rubbed her nose and said, "You guys..."
The four men looked at her simultaneously, awaiting her next words.
Zi Linling chuckled and said, "You did a beautiful job! Even better than I imagined!"
"Hush..."
The four men breathed a sigh of relief, their faces immediately blooming into smiles.
Zi Linling waved her hand, and the mountain of treasures instantly disappeared from their sight.
Where did it go? Naturally, into the Nine Spirit Ring.
It had to be said, the Nine Spirit Ring had a vast space, making it an indispensable divine artifact for plundering and robbing at will!
After accepting everyone's gifts, Zi Linling took out eight porcelain bottles from her embrace and said, "Although I haven't yet concocted the antidote for 'One Smile in Bloom,' these enhanced universal antidote pills should temporarily resist the contagion of 'One Smile in Bloom.' Each of you take two bottles and keep them on you as a precaution." Sudangirl.com
Situ Yunfeng was the first to rush forward, snatching two bottles and clutching them tightly to his chest.
His comical appearance made everyone burst into laughter.
Situ Jinglei also quickly put away two bottles before scolding Situ Yunfeng, "You brat, that's enough! Stop fooling around. Don't you have a spatial storage pouch? Hurry and pack them away."
"Alas! Old man, can't you let me hold onto them for a little longer?"
Although Situ Yunfeng grumbled, his hands moved swiftly, handling the bottles with utmost care.
"Alright, alright! You guys handle the immediate need. I'll write down the formula for you later, and you can refine it yourself when you get back!" Zi Linling said, a hint of exasperation in her voice.
Situ Yunfeng and Situ Jinglei were both overjoyed and bantered back.
"Father, you should take two bottles too, just in case!"
Zi Linling looked at Zi Guochang and said with a smile.
Zi Guochang nodded, took two bottles, and tucked them into his embrace.
Zi Linling picked up the remaining two bottles and was about to hand them to Ye Lingyuan when she heard him say, "Give them to Xue Jing and Fanchou."
Zi Linling playfully stuffed the bottles into his hand and said, "Don't worry, I've refined quite a lot. I'll have Xue Jing distribute them to everyone later. As for the rest, have them sent to the brothers at each stronghold, including those in other countries!"
Ye Lingyuan smiled. With such a wife, what more could a man ask for?
Xue Jing had been a mere bystander until then.
When he saw the eight bottles of enhanced universal antidote pills, his eyes indeed lit up, but he dared not ask for any.
Therefore, when Ye Lingyuan spoke those seven words, Xue Jing was deeply touched.
He silently vowed in his heart to go through fire and water for the Prince from that day forward, without hesitation.
However, upon hearing Zi Linling's words, Xue Jing was not merely touched; he felt an overwhelming urge to repay her kindness in every way possible.
After all, Zi Linling had thought of everything!
Not only for the brothers in Dongfang City, but also for the brothers on missions in other countries!
This was not just acknowledgment; it was a complete embrace under her wing.
"On behalf of the brothers, I thank the Prince and the Princess Consort for their great kindness!"
Xue Jing knelt down, his kowtow willing and without the slightest hesitation.
Then, he respectfully kowtowed again, equally willing and without any reservation.
"Get up!"
Ye Lingyuan said calmly.
Although he was often taciturn, he never treated Xue Jing and his men as outsiders.
On the surface, he was the master, and they were his subordinates. But in Ye Lingyuan's heart, these men were his brothers.
Zi Linling personally walked over and helped Xue Jing up, saying, "A man's knees are made of gold! My Prince and I do not need your prostration, because we have never regarded you as mere subordinates. You are my and the Prince's sworn brothers!"
"Brothers?"
A further layer of emotion welled up in Xue Jing's eyes.
Zi Linling nodded and said, "Yes! Brothers by circumstance, why bother with blood ties? The moment you chose to follow the Prince, you became his brothers, don't you feel it? As for me, it's even simpler. The brothers of Ye Lingyuan are my brothers, Zi Linling!"
Xue Jing's heart was already overflowing with emotion, and even his eyes began to mist over.
"Thank you, Prince! Thank you, Princess Consort!"
These six words, though simple, were a vow heavier than Mount Tai.
If Xue Jing's loyalty before was willing to face death, then at this moment, his loyalty was willing to face death ten thousand times over, and ten thousand times ten thousand times over.
"Well said, 'Brothers by circumstance, why bother with blood ties!' Lin'er, you are truly adept at winning people's hearts!"
Ye Lingyuan's voice transmission echoed in Zi Linling's mind.
He was extremely pleased. From now on, Xue Jing and his men would be completely devoted to his Lin'er, a devotion that would last until their dying breath.
"I'm merely stating the truth, how is that winning hearts? Besides, isn't this also your true feeling?"
Zi Linling smiled charmingly at Ye Lingyuan and replied through voice transmission.
Ye Lingyuan smiled seductively and transmitted, "It seems Lin'er knows me very well. Are you interested in getting to know me more intimately?"
The words "get to know me more intimately" carried a peculiar tone, with a hint of deeper meaning.
Zi Linling playfully chided him through voice transmission, "What? Is the Prince about to transform into a beast?"
Ye Lingyuan scanned her from head to toe and transmitted with a smile, "Where did Lin'er's thoughts wander? I merely wanted to have a deeper conversation with Lin'er. How did that turn into a beast? Or perhaps, Lin'er desires to..."