Conceptual melting pot, the fusion of all realms starting from the Qin Dynasty.

"Why do you seem completely unsurprised, Chen Hao?"

Yan Lingji looked at Chen Hao with some suspicion and asked in confusion, "Did something like this happen in Korea in the history of your world?"

“No!” Chen Hao shook his head, then smiled and said to Yan Lingji, “I’m not surprised because I already know who did it.”

"Besides, it would be easier for us to find Tianze's whereabouts if Xinzheng City were in chaos, wouldn't it?"

Yan Lingji nodded: "That's true!"

"but..."

Yan Lingji looked at Chen Hao with a strange expression. "You've been learning mechanical arts from Six-Fingered Black Knight all day, how come you could instantly deduce who did it just by hearing this news?"

"This world is somewhat strange, but Yan Lingji, have you ever heard of anything like ghost soldiers?"

Chen Hao countered with a question.

Yan Lingji thought about the rumors she had heard over the past twenty years, then shook her head: "Although there are all sorts of rumors, I have never personally witnessed any supernatural events."

"I don't believe this world could give birth to ghost soldiers!" Chen Hao said with a faint smile. "Besides, if ghost soldiers were seeking revenge, why didn't they take the lives of the soldiers escorting the military pay, instead of taking money that was of no use to them?"

"Clearly, this is someone using illusion magic to try and seize the 100,000 taels of military pay for themselves."

"Ji Wuye!?" Yan Lingji instantly thought of someone and realized, "In the entire Han state, only he has the courage and the means."

"Moreover, he runs a huge nightclub, which costs a considerable amount of money."

...

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Chapter 045 Purple Maiden's Invitation, The Treasure-Changing Banquet

Although Yan Lingji had figured out who was most likely to covet the 100,000 taels of military pay, she still had some doubts about how to move it away silently.

"One hundred thousand in military pay is no small sum. How did Ji Wuye's men manage to move it away silently and in full view of everyone?"

"Moreover, the soldiers who escorted the military pay all said that the gold slowly disappeared into thin air."

"There are hundreds or even thousands of soldiers present; surely they can't all be lying, right?"

Chen Hao wrapped his arms around Yan Lingji's slender waist and said calmly, "What you see is not always real; it may also be fake."

"You mean illusions?"

Yan Lingji frowned in confusion, trying to recall what kind of illusion could achieve such a level of skill.

However, neither illusions targeting the mind nor illusions targeting the eyes could possibly conceal the transport of military funds from so many people.

"No! I mean..."

Just as Chen Hao was about to reveal the answer, Zi Nu suddenly walked slowly in from the entrance of Qingpingzhai.

Tap tap tap~~~!

Zi Nu swayed her slender waist as she looked at Chen Hao and Yan Ling Ji embracing each other, her purple eyes filled with amusement: "Are you two already so eager to be intimate in broad daylight?"

"Sister Zi Nu!"

Chen Hao awkwardly and slowly released his arms from Yan Lingji.

Yan Lingji stood up gracefully and asked with a puzzled look, "Zi Nu, is there something you need to do at Qingpingzhai today?"

Zi Nu gracefully moved to Yan Ling Ji's side, raised her delicate chin at Chen Hao, and said, "I came here today to invite Chen Hao to go and see the world."

"There's a treasure exchange banquet hosted by the Farmhouse Qianlong Hall tonight, and Chen Hao might find something of interest there."

Zi Nu had noticed Chen Hao's continuous collection of treasures over the past few months, so she naturally thought of him when faced with this situation.

"The Yi Bao Banquet?!"

After a moment of surprise, Yan Lingji smiled at Zi Nu and said, "Then I'll leave Chen Hao in your care tonight, Zi Nu."

...

"Giddy up! Giddy up!"

Glug glug lulu~~~!

In a light and smooth carriage, Chen Hao and Zi Nu sat closely together on the soft seats in the carriage.

Yan Lingji did not come along, citing her need to continue studying.

Zi Nu sat next to Chen Hao in a side-legged sitting position, with her hands folded on her thighs, her posture elegant.

At this moment, she was amazed by the carriage's performance. "In just half a month, Xiao Chenhao, you've actually managed to use mechanical arts on this carriage, making it so light and stable?!"

As one of the elite individuals of this era, Zi Nu's carriages were custom-made by the best craftsmen.

However, aside from being a bit more luxurious, sitting in that carriage wasn't exactly a pleasant experience.

Driving on the smooth stone-paved roads within Xinzheng City is fine, but driving on the bumpy roads outside the city is simply torture; it can shake you to death.

"Ha ha!"

Chen Hao laughed smugly: "This carriage was made by me when I had nothing else to do while studying with Senior Six-Fingered Black Knight."

"I not only changed the structure of the axle and added a bearing to reduce the pressure on the horses pulling the carriage; I also added a structure to facilitate the steering of the four-wheeled carriage, making it easier for the carriage to turn."

"And to prevent my butt from suffering, I added some shock-absorbing structures between the carriage and the base."

"That's why you felt this carriage was different from the others, Sister Zi Nu."

Although this world possesses extraordinary mechanical arts, the horse-drawn carriages used daily still retain the most ancient form.

It seems that those skilled in mechanical arts never considered changing these things.

"Oh?!"

After a moment of surprise, Zi Nu's eyes lit up instantly. "Little Chen Hao, how about making a carriage like this for me too?"

As she spoke, Zi Nu gently pressed herself against Chen Hao, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Zi Nu, who has always kept her distance from men, couldn't help but want to get closer to Chen Hao after meeting him.

Looking at the purple eyes, the fair and delicate face, and the sweet red lips so close to his, Chen Hao couldn't help but nod: "Okay!"

Then came a moment of silence!

Hearing the sound of the carriage moving, Chen Hao, to avoid an awkward situation between the two, asked, "Sister Zi Nu, have you confirmed the matter of Nong Yu's background?"

"It's confirmed!" Zi Nu leaned on Chen Hao's shoulder and nodded. "Madam Hu is indeed Nong Yu's biological mother!"

"only..."

Zi Nu straightened up and sighed helplessly: "Just as I guessed that day, Liu Yi and Nong Yu have no relation whatsoever. Nong Yu's father was the former Zuo Sima Li."

"Madam Hu secretly met with Nongyu, but she firmly opposed letting Liu Yi know about it."

"Clearly there's something we don't know about here."

Just as Chen Hao was about to ask Zi Nu something, the carriage suddenly slowed down.

Glug glug~~!

After the carriage stopped, Chen Hao said to Zi Nu, "Miss Zi Nu, it seems we have arrived."

"Ok!"

Zi Nu lifted the curtain on the carriage window, looked outside to check, and then said, "We've arrived. Let's get off."

...

Farmhouse Hidden Dragon Hall!

Once all the distinguished guests attending the Yi Bao Banquet had arrived, Situ Wanli, the owner of the Nongjia Qianlongtang, went to the center of the hall, first politely cupping his hands in greeting to everyone, and then:

"Welcome to Qianlong Hall!"

"Today, everyone has brought their own treasures for exchange. Let's barter, exchange items, look after each other, and make friends."

After exchanging pleasantries, Situ Wanli walked to the tray placed in the center and lifted the golden silk covering it:

"This dragon-shaped cauldron was brought by a guest from Pavilion A, a pair of jade bracelets by a guest from Pavilion B, and three mystic crystal arrowheads by a guest from Pavilion C..."

While listening to Situ Wanli's introduction, Chen Hao sipped his drink and glanced at Zi Nu sitting far away next to him, unable to resist making a comment:

"I had hoped to spend some time alone with Zi Nu at the Yi Bao Banquet, but who would have thought I'd be isolated in a small cubicle?!"

Looking at the figures in the small cubicle opposite, Chen Hao couldn't help but exclaim in amazement:

"Touman, the Chanyu of the Northern Wolf Clan; Yan Dan, the Crown Prince of Yan; Lord Yanchun; Jing Ke; Han Fei..."

"How did these people, who come from all over the country, end up together?"

Just then, Situ Wanli introduced the treasure that Chen Hao had brought: "The guest from Gengzi Pavilion has brought a sword that is no less than any famous sword."

{[ Clang! }

As Situ Wanli drew his bronze sword, a clear sword light shone on the faces of everyone present.

This sword is considered one of the better bronze swords among the many that Chen Hao personally forged to test the smelting techniques he had collected.

...

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Chapter 046 Meeting Yanfei at Night