Chapter 456 - 300: Eastern Suburb Hunt

Two figures entered from outside the hall, one was General Lu Ji of Xuanren Hall, the other was a teenager draped in a white Snow Qilin Cloak.

"Your Highness, Attendant Reader Chu Ming has arrived." Lu Ji cupped his hands.

"Good, thank you for your trouble, General Lu."

"I take my leave."

"Crown Prince, Fifth Prince, Your Seventh Highness."

The teenager in the Snow Qilin Cloak cupped his hands in salute.

"No need for formalities, Attendant Reader Chu, when you come to my Xuanren Hall in the future, there’s no need for ceremony." The Crown Prince’s tone was gentle.

No need for ceremony when coming to Xuanren Hall in the future?

The Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince were even more puzzled; it was the first time they saw their elder brother treat a courtier with such courtesy.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Chu Ming still saluted, though he was somewhat surprised inside.

Housekeeper Fang actually appeared here.

"Someone, grant them a seat!"

The Crown Prince waved grandly, and several palace maids brought chairs covered in fur.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"Sit, sit."

Chu Ming and Fang Xiao took their seats and exchanged a glance.

Fang Xiao looked at the demeanor of his young master, feeling quite emotional inside.

He had never dared to imagine that in just four or five months, his master could grow from a young man recovering from a severe illness, with severely damaged foundations, to someone who stood in the Imperial City of the Qin Dynasty.

"Attendant Reader Chu, I summoned you today for two matters." The Crown Prince smiled softly at Chu Ming, "The first matter concerns Commander Fang Xiao."

"Seventh Brother mentioned to me before that Attendant Reader Chu wanted to meet Commander Fang, and I have been mindful of this."

"Commander Fang." The Crown Prince looked at Fang Xiao, "You were the Commander of the Seventh Tiger Camp of the Tiger Armor Army, a personal attendant to Commander Xiang Yue, detained at Xiang Mansion these days, you have been wronged."

"..." Fang Xiao’s heart stirred slightly, and he quickly stood, "I have no grievances."

"Haha," the Crown Prince laughed again, "I have explained your situation to the Emperor. From today onward, you do not need to return to the Xiang Mansion."

No need to return to the Xiang Mansion?

What does this mean?

Isn’t it just a meeting?

The Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince raised their eyebrows, their expressions varied.

Fang Xiao was shaken, and bowed again, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Chu Ming, after a brief moment of surprise, guessed something.

Such a change in the Crown Prince’s attitude overnight had only one reason—what happened last night.

Last night, he instantly killed two late-stage Meridian Unlocking experts of the Blood Evil Sect. It must have been known to him.

Two lower Meridian Unlocking experts being silently slain in a short time, the Crown Prince must have believed that the mysterious expert behind him was a Bone Marrow Cleansing realm powerhouse!

Within the Qin Dynasty, without the appearance of the two National Guardian realm experts, the Bone Marrow Cleansing realm is the highest existence.

And in the Qin Dynasty, those in the Bone Marrow Cleansing realm are mostly in the Astronomical Bureau, which only obeys the one on the Dragon Throne.

Therefore, it seems that the Crown Prince is releasing Fang Xiao to show goodwill towards him, but in reality, he desires to befriend the Bone Marrow Cleansing expert.

This aligns with last night’s plan.

"Someone." The Crown Prince waved again, and three palace maids carried something onto the hall, covered by a bright red silk cloth, jewels peeking through.

Unveiling the red silk, a dazzling set of armor appeared in the hall.

"This armor is called the Thunder God Battle Armor, it communicates through Qi Blood and possesses the power of thunder. It would be wasted here, so it is bestowed upon Commander Fang."

Communicates through Qi Blood, power of thunder?

Not all treasures can communicate through Qi Blood, and not all martial artists can communicate their Qi Blood with a treasure.

According to Grandmaster Ji Wujiang’s classification, treasures that can communicate through Qi Blood are considered Flowing Profound Treasures.

In other words, the Crown Prince bestowed on Fang Xiao a set of armor that only those in the Meridian Unlocking realm can use.

Such a treasure is nothing to Chu Ming, as he has given Fang Xiao many treasures of this level, but without Chu Ming in consideration, such a treasure in the outside world would definitely be a sect’s treasure.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Fang Xiao cupped his hands in gratitude.

The Crown Prince nodded slightly and looked at the next palace maid, uncovering the red silk to reveal ten white porcelain bottles.

"Dragon Blood Pills, crafted from the blood of Exotic Beast Earth Dragon, very beneficial for refining Qi Blood."

Exotic Beast Earth Dragons reach the Fourth Tier upon maturity. Despite having only a trace of dragon blood, it remains a top-grade Treasure Medicine for refining Qi Blood Elixirs.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Fang Xiao cupped his hands.

"Also take this gold token of the Outer Hall’s trusted aide." The Crown Prince glanced at the last item the palace maid held.

A golden token, with ’Xuanren’ engraved on the front, and ’trusted aide’ on the back.

Being a trusted aide of the Outer Hall means being a guard of Xuanren Hall, not a military rank, but enjoying the privileges of one.

Much like Chu Ming’s position as Palace Attendant, typically sons of noble families assume these roles, growing alongside the Prince or Crown Prince, thus forging close connections.

"With this token, you can freely access most areas of the Eastern Palace." The Crown Prince continued.

"However, because the investigation around Commander Xiang is not complete, Trusted Aide Fang must temporarily remain in the Qin Capital. Since Trusted Aide Fang is family to Attendant Reader Chu, perhaps he could act as your personal guard."

At these words, the Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince suddenly understood what not needing to return to Xiang Mansion meant.

It wasn’t just a meeting between Fang Xiao and Chu Ming; the elder brother had saved Fang Xiao directly, showered him with a plethora of treasures and a position as an outer hall trusted aide...

Intriguing, very intriguing.

The Fifth Prince, initially not very interested in Chu Ming, now watched him with a fiery gaze.

The Seventh Prince transitioned from surprise to a mix of joy and concern; happy that Chu Ming received the Crown Prince’s attention, yet worried about how much attention it was, fearing it wasn’t quite right.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

This time, Chu Ming and Fang Xiao both cupped their hands in gratitude.

The Crown Prince nodded satisfactorily and said, "Attendant Reader Chu, I’ve heard from Seventh Brother that you’ve already deciphered twenty to thirty pages of the Sea Scripture?"

"Replying to Your Highness, I have presently deciphered up to twenty-seven pages," Chu Ming stated.