Chapter 166 - 118: Your Goal Is Emperor Xi’s Map!

Chapter 166: Chapter 118: Your Goal Is Emperor Xi’s Map!

As soon as this thought emerged, Zeng Anmin took a deep breath to suppress his racing heart.

He hadn’t been in the capital for long and lacked sufficient clues. He couldn’t conclude that the Eldest Princess’s goal was Emperor Xi’s Map based on this alone. He needed more evidence.

"Then how does Your Highness wish to cooperate with me?" Zeng Anmin asked, looking appreciatively at the breathtaking scenery before him.

The sky was growing dark. The row of Chime Bells stood beside the Eldest Princess. The wind blew, scattering peach blossoms.

The Eldest Princess tilted her head slightly, her waterfall of dark hair swaying. A half-smile flashed across her eyes as her rosy lips parted. "What do you want?"

Zeng Anmin’s eyes lit up slightly. He coughed and put on a solemn expression. "The rise and fall of the nation rests on everyone’s shoulders. Sweeping away the vermin in the royal court for the sake of the people is my duty. How could I ask for any benefits?"

As he spoke, he could barely suppress the Vast Righteous Qi swelling in his chest. His hair, tousled by the spring breeze, exuded a youthful vigor.

"Oh?" The Eldest Princess raised an elegant brow and looked at him. A smile bloomed on her peach-blossom-like face. In that instant, it was as if all the scenery in the world was reduced to a mere backdrop.

Zeng Anmin felt his throat go dry. Her utterly mature beauty held far more mystery and history than that of any sixteen-year-old girl. It made one want to pour their heart out to her and become her closest confidant.

"This woman! How is she like a siren? It’s one thing to be this beautiful, but even her figure is..." he thought.

Zeng Anmin sneaked a discreet glance. The curves tightly wrapped in her black dress were far too full. He even suspected that if someone were to kneel on the ground and look up, they might not even be able to see her face—their vision would be entirely blocked by those proud, towering peaks.

"A subject who speaks beautifully and handles matters efficiently—no one would dislike such a person." The Eldest Princess didn’t address his words directly, deftly steering the conversation elsewhere as her regal aura spilled into the courtyard. "However, as a master, one cannot play deaf and dumb."

She slowly raised her arm and gave a subtle flick of her slender fingers. The wide black sleeve slipped down, revealing a forearm as pale and smooth as jade.

At her gesture, Chi Bufan, standing nearby, bowed even more respectfully. He pulled two items from his robes and approached Zeng Anmin.

"This Token grants you free passage in and out of the Imperial Palace. You may visit Her Highness’s Yong’an Palace at any time."

After handing over the Token, Chi Bufan revealed the second object. A pained expression crossed his face, but he didn’t dare say much. He only explained, "As for this item... This Jade Pendant is called the Protective Jade.

"If worn, it can withstand a single full-powered strike from any Fourth Grade master, regardless of their cultivation system."

"A full-powered strike from a Fourth Grade master?!"

Zeng Anmin inhaled sharply. "This is absolutely a treasure! An artifact that could turn the tide in a life-or-death crisis!"

Clearly, he was incredibly tempted. But he also felt a bit awkward. After his grand speech just moments ago, wouldn’t taking it immediately ruin his righteous facade?

"I need to think of a way to cleverly accept it without breaking character," he mused, furrowing his brows together.

"Accept it," the Eldest Princess said, looking at him with a calm gaze. "Only then will a loyal subject’s heart not grow cold."

"What a good person!" Zeng Anmin thought. Just as he was agonizing over how to step down gracefully, the Eldest Princess had provided the perfect out!

He sighed deeply, taking the two items with a look of feigned reluctance. "If I refuse, it would seem ungrateful. I thank Your Highness."

"Mhm." The Eldest Princess chuckled softly. After looking him up and down, she asked with a smile in her eyes, "How old is Quan Fu now?"

Zeng Anmin coughed dryly. "Seventeen."

"Are you betrothed?"

"Uh..." Zeng Anmin blinked, looking up into her incredibly alluring eyes.

"No. I think you’re pretty great yourself," he thought.

Of course, he could only keep those words to himself. Instead, he put on a solemn face. "Until the Demon Race is vanquished, how can I even think of starting a family?"

Hearing this, the Eldest Princess chuckled and dropped the thought of playing matchmaker. She nodded slightly, her gaze turning serious. "Aside from uncovering the mastermind behind the scenes, I have one more matter for you to investigate."

"Hmm?" Zeng Anmin narrowed his eyes. "Here it comes. What her true goal is will depend entirely on her next words," he thought.

He looked up at the Eldest Princess with absolute focus.

"You don’t need to be so guarded." Seeing the look in his eyes, she laughed softly before her voice gentled. "Your cousin and I go way back. We shared a very close relationship in private.

"Speaking of which, you could even call me ’Sister.’"

"Oh?" Zeng Anmin’s eyes flickered.

"If we’re going by that logic, then I’m an entire generation senior to the Little Fatty Crown Prince! Wouldn’t he have to call me ’Uncle’?" he thought.

The Eldest Princess didn’t notice his wandering thoughts. She continued, "However, after the Earl of Zhongyuan’s estate was framed by Prince Qi and confiscated, your cousin left for the Daoist Sect. There has been no news of her since."

She sighed softly, as if mourning the departure of an old friend.

"For years, I have been secretly searching for evidence to overturn the unjust verdict against the Earl of Zhongyuan’s estate. I never expected you and your father to beat me to the punch."

A look of dawning realization slowly appeared in Zeng Anmin’s eyes. It turned out that the Eldest Princess had been watching his father and him since back then.