Su Muqing watched the boxes being carried in, her heart filled with joy. Her small hands, clasped behind her back, flashed a peace sign at the people behind her.
She hadn't expected this young prince to be so considerate in his etiquette, despite his young age. Seeing his attendant, Hark, with his face all creased with concern, she figured these gifts must be quite valuable.
Lu Yuzhi smiled indulgently. This little girl was particularly fond of gold and silver. She claimed the things she wanted to do were too expensive, and she had too many people to support. Currently, she was spending money every day without earning any back.
Therefore, she was thoroughly poor, and only when her little treasury was continuously replenished did she feel more secure.
In fact, Lu Yuzhi had already corresponded with Xu Fu, asking him to inventory all his private assets. Upon their return, he planned to give Su Muqing a surprise, entrusting her with the management of the estate and the wealth left by his mother.
Su Muqing concealed her inner delight, then calmly stepped forward, pretending to be indifferent as she lifted the lids. To her great disappointment, upon seeing the shimmering contents of the boxes, she exclaimed, "What is this nonsense, a box of glass marbles?"
Unwilling to give up, she opened the next box. Glass tableware? The next one, glass cups... and the one after that, glass ornaments... Was this prince a fake? Was he actually a wholesaler of glass from the Yiwu Small Commodity Market? Was this his grand gift?
Soon, Su Muqing dismissed her own thoughts. She couldn't be so hasty. What if she was ignorant and misjudged the value? So, she casually picked up a cup from a box and communicated with 217, asking it to help identify if these were unique treasures of this era.
The result from 217 was brutal. It stated that after scanning, these were simply flawed glass products with severely substandard filtering technology.
These items were only valuable at this time; in her space, they were worth nothing. It even "warned" Su Muqing that if she tried to pass them off as genuine in her space, she would be deemed fraudulent and would have a significant amount of gold and silver deducted, along with a high contribution point.
Su Muqing pouted. It wasn't that she was greedy. At first, she hadn't even considered a thank-you gift; the young prince had brought it up himself. But after opening them with great anticipation, she found only these "flawed products." She couldn't blame him; after all, these items were truly precious in this dynasty.
Lu Yuzhi, seeing these exquisite glazed items, felt a sense of unease. Why would the young prince send such valuable gifts? What was his intention?
He naturally noticed Su Muqing's disappointment. "Prince Kebina is too polite. If it were ordinary gold and silver jewelry, it would be one thing. But these thank-you gifts are too valuable, and carrying them would be inconvenient. Perhaps the Prince could take them back?"
Su Muqing glanced at Lu Yuzhi, unsure if his comment about their preciousness was genuine or held a hidden meaning. Thinking back on their time together, she realized she hadn't shown him any glass items.
Kebina chuckled with a hint of憨厚, "This is nothing. Benefactor, you need not refuse. You saved my life, and this is only fitting. How could Bína tarnish the Benefactor's purity with common gold and silver?"
If Su Muqing weren't rational, she would have shouted, "Quick, insult me with those common items! I don't care!" But she was very rational now, so she certainly wouldn't do that.
She slowly took out a exquisitely crafted glass cup from her sleeve pouch, so transparent that she could see the fine lines on the other person's face. She then pretended to compare it with the glass cups in the boxes, while her peripheral vision was fixed on the young prince and his attendant.
As expected, both of them were completely captivated by the glass cup in her hand, their eyes fixed on it, as if afraid Su Muqing might drop it.
Even Lu Yuzhi, seeing the cup, couldn't hide his astonishment. "Muqing actually possesses such an astonishing treasure? I've never seen her take it out before. It seems I understand her far too little."
In truth, Su Muqing didn't intentionally hide it. They always used stainless steel tableware for eating and drinking because it was sturdy and durable. Therefore, she had no idea these items were so valuable here.
Kebina, being naturally lively, displayed his emotions openly. He rushed directly in front of Su Muqing and smiled fawningly, "Benefactor, could you lend me this treasure to examine?"
Su Muqing raised an eyebrow. This boy was falling into her trap! She casually handed him the cup and placed another glazed item back into the box. Kebina held it with great care, while Hark stood beside him, hands spread below to catch it, as if afraid his young prince would impulsively throw the treasure away.
It was known that their Heavenly Radiance Kingdom was the origin of glazed ware, and the earliest piece of glazed ware was crafted by the people of the Heavenly Radiance Kingdom. To this day, only their kingdom among all others mastered the technology of glazing.
However, looking at the pile of glazed ware crafted by their kingdom in the box, and then comparing it with the treasure before them, the difference was stark. The gap between them was not just a little bit!
Their eyes widened, first admiring the crystal-clear quality, then touching its smooth, flat surface. This was definitely a peerless glazed treasure, unique in the world!
Kebina clutched the cup tightly, wishing he could obtain such a treasure. Although reluctant, he steeled himself and returned it to Su Muqing. A gentleman does not cov the possessions of others, especially when it belonged to his benefactor, so he certainly couldn't steal it away!
Hark also gazed at Kebina's outstretched hand with reluctance. If only they could present this treasure to the Queen Mother; then the prince would surely be more valued in the future.
Just as both of them were filled with reluctance, Su Muqing's voice drifted from ahead, "This one is for you. I'll give you the matching ones as well."
Lu Yuzhi didn't quite understand Su Muqing's intentions. He turned to look at her, his face displaying clear confusion. "What's gotten into this girl today? She's not someone who does unprofitable business. Why is she giving such precious treasures to this young prince?" Could it be...
Kebina was unaware of his conjecture. He only knew that Su Muqing's voice was the most beautiful in the world right now, lifting his spirits from the depths to full excitement.
He exchanged a glance with Hark beside him, their eyes filled with undisguised excitement and joy. "What did Benefactor just say? She's going to give this treasure to him?"
Kebina, disbelieving, asked again, "Benefactor, is what you said true?"
Hark quickly tugged at his sleeve. "Why confirm it again? What if Benefactor changes her mind later? You're making me worry so much!"
Su Muqing nodded without hesitation, then pointed to the boxes on the ground. "It's true! This is just one piece of a tea set. There are three more in our attendant's satchels. So, please take back your treasures; I really have no use for them."
Kebina incredulously extended five fingers and asked, "You mean, you have three more?"
"Yes, I'll give you the other three. Because in our Huaxia City customs, girls cannot give cups to boys, especially just one cup! So, I might as well give you the whole set!" Su Muqing said nonchalantly, then picked up her teacup and took a sip.
Although she appeared calm and composed on the surface, her mind was already buzzing with many little schemes.
(Ask me where this came from! Ask me where this technology comes from! Ask me if I can buy it with money! If not, we can cooperate and make money together... Such questions had been circling in her mind for a long time.)
To her surprise, after waiting for a long time, Kebina asked an unrelated question, "Why is it that in your country, girls cannot give boys a cup? And where is Huaxia City? I've never heard of it."
This was exactly the question Lu Yuzhi wanted to ask, so he also stared intently at Su Muqing. When did Huaxia City develop such a custom? He had no idea.
Su Muqing put down her teacup. "Because 'a cup' sounds like 'a lifetime' in our language, so girls in Huaxia City don't easily give cups to others."
Kebina's tanned face flushed slightly. "Then Benefactor's cup..."
Su Muqing suddenly raised her voice, putting on an expression of having just come up with a brilliant idea. "Ah! How about this! You take back these glazed treasures, and just give me some common gold and silver. Consider it as you buying it from me, so it won't count as me giving it to you. Isn't this a good idea?"
Hearing Su Muqing's words, Lu Yuzhi covered his slightly upturned lips with his fist. "I knew it! So the girl was leading the young prince on all along! But her one glazed cup is already valuable, let alone a whole set. How can this young prince estimate its value?"
Lu Yuzhi's thoughts were indeed what troubled Kebina. In fact, even if Su Muqing hadn't suggested it, he had intended to take back the glazed items he had given, as they were really not presentable enough.
Now, not only were the gifts for saving his life not given, but he had also received a treasure from his benefactor! So, how much gold and silver jewelry should he offer to not slight his benefactor?
"You don't need to feel troubled; just give whatever is convenient. Consider it as us befriending you. Actually, I have one more request. If you can agree to it, I'll only accept one ingot of gold for the cup, and I will also be opening a glaze factory in Huaxia City. If Prince Kebina is interested then, you are always welcome." Su Muqing had initially wanted to get more out of him, but then she thought of something, and changed her approach.
She had to get something out of this, but it shouldn't be a one-time thing. It would be better to establish a long-term common development goal and then continue to 'shear' the wool indefinitely!
"A glaze factory? Benefactor is willing to let me participate in such a glaze factory? May I ask what your request is?" Kebina wasn't afraid of Su Muqing demanding an exorbitant price, but rather worried that he might not be able to accomplish what she wanted.
"Fire Flame Sap! We traveled thousands of miles to the Heavenly Radiance Kingdom specifically to find it in Death Valley! But you just said the last Fire Flame Tree is gone, and only your royal residence has Fire Flame Sap. Therefore, I hope you can exchange it with me." Su Muqing didn't hide anything; she openly stated her purpose.
Her idea was simple. If both sides could exchange peacefully and friendly, she was willing to offer a suitable price. If the other party was unwilling to hand over the Fire Flame Sap, or intended to use it to threaten her, then she couldn't be blamed for becoming a stealthy thief. After all, this was a hurdle she had to overcome.
Hark made a mental calculation and then whispered a few words into Kebina's ear. The two then moved aside and discussed it seriously for a long time.
Finally, Kebina gave Su Muqing more than half of the gold and silver jewelry on the ship, stating it was a token of thanks for saving his life. As for the exchange of the glazed cup, they would have to return together to report to his father, the King, who would make the final decision.
Hearing this, Su Muqing didn't push further. This person was quite straightforward. He was honest and direct, without too many complicated thoughts, making him suitable for long-term interaction. Perhaps if an opportunity arose, they could cooperate deeply with the Heavenly Radiance Kingdom, and maybe even find a good ally for Huaxia City.
Su Muqing didn't say much about Huaxia City to him. This young prince was clearly pampered, lacking even a single cunning thought, making him too easily prone to being tricked. Therefore, she couldn't reveal too much before the matter was settled.
As for other cooperation matters and exchange conditions, she would have to discuss them with his elders. Otherwise, even if they reached an agreement, she would feel like she was taking advantage of someone.
After the few of them had roughly clarified things, Su Muqing and her companions proposed to take their leave. They agreed to meet the next morning at the city to replenish their supplies. They would also explore Wittes City together before heading to the Heavenly Radiance Kingdom.
Kebina offered to escort them back, but Su Muqing refused. He could have the gold and silver jewelry carried to the shore; her subordinates would pick it up later.
Seeing their insistence, Kebina no longer pressed. As Su Muqing instructed, he had people carry the gold and silver jewelry to the shore and waited by the shore for a while.
Midway, Su Muqing said she needed to relieve herself and returned to the ship. Then, she jumped out of the window, and when no one was around, released Leng Ren, Leng Feng, and a large horse-drawn carriage. Seeing that the little darling was sleeping soundly, she didn't take him out of the space.
When Su Muqing emerged from the ship again, Leng Ren and the others had arrived with the carriage. They loaded all the gold and silver jewelry onto the carriage, and she quickly put it into the space. Otherwise, a single horse pulling so much would have been quite a strain.
Before leaving, Su Muqing gave Kebina a heads-up that her group had a few special members and hoped he wouldn't be frightened by them tomorrow. Kebina quickly asked if they were very ugly.
Su Muqing shook her head and said meaningfully, "No! They all look quite good. It's just... they aren't human!"
Kebina and Hark exchanged a glance. He was unsure. Did Su Muqing mean that these members were truly not human, or was she calling them inhumane?
But before he could ask for clarification, Su Muqing and her group had already driven away in the carriage. They turned the street corner and disappeared shortly after.
Kebina marvelled at their speed. "Indeed, they are Benefactor's horses. With so much gold and silver jewelry, plus several adults, they can run so fast with just one horse."
It seemed that in the future, they would not only have to learn the art of glaze craftsmanship from them but also humbly seek guidance from their Huaxia City on horse breeding!
Su Muqing and her group got off the carriage at the corner. After storing the carriage in the space, she picked up the sleeping little darling and brought him out. To avoid causing a major commotion tomorrow, they planned to find an inn and rest for the night.
Wites City was indeed a large city, with countless people passing through the docks every day. Thus, inns were lined up one after another. It was already the middle of the night, so they found a clean and spacious-looking inn and entered.
Leng Feng walked over to the dozing innkeeper and tapped on the counter in front of him. The innkeeper groggily opened his eyes, wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, and rubbed his eyes. Upon seeing what was in front of him, his sleepiness vanished instantly, and he became alert!
"Are you guests looking for a room?"
"How much for an upper room? Arrange three upper rooms for us."
"Upper rooms are two hundred wen per room, so three rooms will be six hundred wen. There's hot water, and we can make supper..."
"No need, we've already eaten on the boat. We just want to rest."
"Yes, yes, yes, guests, please come this way."
After finishing with the innkeeper, Leng Feng placed an ingot of silver on the counter. The innkeeper accepted the money, took the keys, and led them to the second floor.
Conveniently, three upper rooms were located side-by-side, allowing them to look out for each other. Su Muqing and the little darling shared a room in the middle, Lu Yuzhi had his own room, and Leng Ren and Leng Feng shared a room.
These were indeed upper rooms costing two hundred wen each. The rooms were spacious, with a small living area outside. The bedroom inside was also not small, with a window on the side of the bedroom offering a boundless sea view. The environment was quite pleasant.
Su Muqing placed the sleeping little darling on the bed, then bolted the door from the inside. She also put away all the tables in the room. Looking at the empty space, she nodded in satisfaction. Then, she released Fei La, Hei Xiong, and Lao Ying.
As soon as Hei Xiong came out, it basically occupied the entire living room by itself. Coupled with Lao Ying, the other half of the bedroom also became crowded. Fei La, sleeping in the gap, with its once majestic figure squeezed between these two, was completely overshadowed.
Fortunately, its body didn't occupy half a room, otherwise, if they went out to travel again and only booked one room, it might not be enough for them to sleep!
Su Muqing went back to the space to take a bath. By the time she came out, only a few minutes had passed outside. They had all been sleeping in the space for the past few days. Due to the difference in the passage of time, their sleep schedules had become extremely irregular. Tonight, she could finally hug the little darling and rest well for a night.
Thus, all three rooms fell into a deep sleep. Su Muqing's room was the liveliest, with several different breathing sounds, and Hei Xiong even snored while sleeping.
Su Muqing was sleeping soundly when she heard a knock on the door. She frowned slightly in discomfort. When she opened her eyes, she realized the sun was already shining brightly outside.
The little darling was no longer on the bed. He was crawling all over Hei Xiong's belly, giggling.
Lu Yuzhi stood outside the door. Hearing the child's laughter from inside, he guessed that Su Muqing hadn't woken up yet. If she slept any longer, it would be afternoon. So, he called out again, "Muqing, are you awake? We still need to buy supplies later, and didn't you say you wanted to visit Wittes City?"
"Okay! I'll be there after I wash up." Replying to Lu Yuzhi, Su Muqing took her companions into the space, and she held the little darling to wash up. Afterward, she went to where Fei La and the others were staying and gave them a lot of food.
Su Muqing had surprisingly discovered that the three of them could communicate very well. Although she didn't know how they managed it, it didn't matter. In the future, if she had anything to say, she just needed to tell Fei La, and Fei La would convey it to the other two, which was incredibly convenient!
Since she couldn't take the three of them out today, Su Muqing briefly explained the upcoming itinerary and appeased them, saying that they could stay outside the space for a while after boarding the ship tonight.
After giving her instructions, she took the little darling out of the space. She unlatched the door and handed the washbag to Lu Yuzhi. Today, she was going shopping and restocking with Kebina and his group, so Su Muqing specially wore a very retro backpack, which even lacked a zipper, and had shell buttons.
Lu Yuzhi took the washbag, took out his toothpaste and toothbrush, and handed them to Leng Ren and Leng Feng. The three of them quickly returned to their rooms to wash up again, then checked out and headed to the dock to find Kebina and his group.
As they approached the dock, Kebina and Hark came out to greet them from the ship. They had been waiting all morning and had finally arrived.
Seeing them travel light, and Su Muqing holding a child? Kebina was somewhat confused. Did these people intend to bring a child to Death Valley earlier?
Kebina looked at them in shock. "I didn't expect Benefactor to be so young..."
Guessing what he was about to say, Su Muqing quickly interrupted him, "This is my younger brother!"
"Ah? Then, then is Benefactor's brother also planning to go to the Heavenly Radiance Kingdom?" Kebina felt a bit awkward after hearing Su Muqing's words. He almost said this was Benefactor's son.
Hearing him repeatedly calling her Benefactor, Su Muqing introduced herself and also introduced Lu Yuzhi and the others. "Yes, he's going with us. I'm Su Muqing, this is Lu Yuzhi, these two are Leng Ren and Leng Feng, and this is my younger brother, Su Muxuan. Don't call me Benefactor anymore. It makes our relationship distant and sounds rather awkward."
Kebina chuckled heartily. He also found it awkward, but he had forgotten to ask for their names in the middle of the night. "Yes! I'll remember that. Benefactor... Miss Su, you mentioned yesterday that you had a few members who weren't human. Why don't I see them?"
Su Muqing: "Oh! You mean them? One is called Xiong Taishan, one is called Ying Batian, and the other is called Su Feila. They will only come tonight."
"Yes, we'll see Miss Su's three mighty generals tonight." Kebina replied outwardly, but inwardly he couldn't help but mutter.
Miss Su gave him their names, but he might not recognize who was who. One was Xiong Taishan, the other Ying Batian. The names sounded quite imposing.
Couldn't it be that one looked like a bear and the other like an eagle? And what was the other one called? Feila? Feila? Fella? Who chose these names?