My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

On the 26th day of the first lunar month, at the Zhen residence in Wuji County.

Unlike the undercurrents in the Luoyang court and the cutthroat officialdom in Zhuojun, the mansion of this wealthy merchant from Jizhou was immersed in a solemn and gentle atmosphere.

Today is the ninth birthday of Zhen Mi, the fifth young lady of the Zhen family.

At dawn, at the ancestral hall.

The smoke from the incense wafted out, and the ancestral tablets gleamed solemnly in the candlelight.

Zhen Mi wore a brand-new lotus-colored deep robe, with a plain gauze outer garment, and her hair was styled into a double bun, adorned with two small jade hairpins.

She stood before her mother's memorial tablet, with her eldest sister Zhen Jiang, second sister Zhen Tuo, third sister Zhen Dao, fourth sister Zhen Rong, as well as her father Zhen Yi and elder brother Zhen Yan standing behind her.

"Kneel—" the old steward of the master of ceremonies said in a low voice.

Zhen Mi slowly knelt down, placed her hands together in front of her forehead, and performed the kowtow. Her movements were standard and steady, not at all like a nine-year-old child.

"I hereby inform my late mother that I have a daughter named Mi. I am blessed by our ancestors and raised by my parents. I am now nine years old. I will never forget the kindness of giving me life and raising me. I only wish to carry on the family tradition, carefully observe the precepts of a young lady, and not bring shame to our family." Her words were clear and distinct.

Zhen Yi looked at the little girl's straight back, a complex look flashing in his eyes. Mi'er had been calm and precocious since childhood, and this composure beyond her years often made him feel both gratified and secretly heartbroken.

After the worship ceremony, Zhen Mi turned to her father and knelt down again: "Your daughter kowtows to thank Father for raising you and giving you life; I will never forget it."

Zhen Yi stepped forward to help her up, and said gently, "Mi'er, get up. May you be safe and healthy, sensible and knowledgeable, and in the future..."

He paused, then swallowed the rest of the sentence, "to find a good match and bring glory to the family."

For some reason, the image of the sickly yet exceptionally handsome Prefect of Zhuojun suddenly appeared in my mind.

At noon, a family banquet was held in the inner hall.

The banquet was held in the inner hall, with only the Zhen family's immediate family members present. The dishes were much more abundant than usual: roasted venison, steamed bream, pickled vegetables, glutinous rice, and a pot of steaming hot "soup noodles," with thin noodles floating in the thick soup, symbolizing longevity.

As the eldest brother, Zhen Yan presented Zhen Mi with a fine piece of pine soot ink and a roll of Cai Hou paper, saying, "May your talent flow like ink, and may your writing blossom with beauty."

Zhen Yao presented him with a fine Taohe inkstone.

Zhen Jiang gave him a sachet she had embroidered herself, with fine stitches and auspicious cloud patterns.

Zhen Tuo presented a pair of jade earrings. Zhen Dao and Zhen Rong jointly presented a box of fashionable rouge and black ink.

Zhen Yi's gift was the most valuable: a complete silk manuscript copy of the Book of Songs and a jade hairpin inlaid with pearls.

"Mi'er loves reading. This scroll was purchased from Luoyang by your father through a friend. I hope you will study diligently without ceasing."

Zhen Mi accepted them one by one, bowed and thanked them, her small face still showing that calm and undisturbed expression, only her fingertips lingered slightly when she stroked the scroll of the Book of Songs.

As the banquet was drawing to a close, the steward suddenly rushed in, his face showing some surprise and doubt. He bowed and reported, "Master, there are people from Zhuojun outside the door. They claim to be here on the orders of their governor to celebrate the Fifth Miss's birthday and to present her with gifts."

The inner room fell silent instantly.

Zhen Yi and Zhen Yan exchanged a glance, both seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.

Ji Xuanyuan?

He actually remembered Mi'er's birthday?

They even specially sent someone from afar to deliver gifts?

Zhen Mi's lowered eyelashes suddenly lifted, and her calm, deep eyes seemed to have been rippled as if a pebble had been thrown in.

"Please come quickly," Zhen Yi ordered, suppressing his doubts.

Before long, four capable guards carried two wooden boxes covered with brocade into the inner hall.

The leader was a scholar in his thirties who introduced himself as the chief clerk of the prefect's office, surnamed Chen. He was well-mannered and bowed to Zhen Yi and Zhen Mi before gesturing for the wooden box to be opened.

The moment the brocade was lifted from the first wooden box, the air in the inner room seemed to freeze.

Inside the box, on a red silk lining, stood a sculpture quietly.

The sculpture was about a foot tall, crystal clear and without any blemishes. In the afternoon sunlight, it shimmered with a warm yet cool luster, like solidified ice or frozen autumn water.

The purity of the material is already astonishing.

What is even more shocking is the form of the sculpture, which is a standing statue of a little girl with beautiful features, a silent expression, wearing a deep robe and with her hair in double buns. It is none other than Zhen Mi!

"This...this is..." Zhen Yan stood up in shock, leaned closer, and his voice trembled slightly.

The craftsmanship of the "crystal glass" sculpture was exquisite. The folds of the clothes, the texture of the hair, and even the faint trace of melancholy in the calm eyes were all sculpted with lifelike detail.

Light and shadow refract through the pure material, creating a mesmerizing halo inside the sculpture, making the small "Zhen Mi" seem to be shrouded in a hazy fairy aura.

"Glass... such pure and flawless glass..." Zhen Yi was also stunned. He had traveled all over the country and had seen countless rare treasures. He had also seen many glass artifacts from the Western Regions, but most of them were colorful and contained bubbles and impurities.

The statue before me is as transparent as water, without any flaws. Its size and exquisite form are simply unheard of and unseen!

The Discourses on Salt and Iron states: "Jade, coral, and glass are all national treasures."

The material itself of this glass sculpture is already a national treasure!

If taken to Luoyang, it would be worth far more than ten thousand gold pieces.

I'm afraid I can really get a nominal title of one of the Three Dukes from Emperor Ling to "play around with"!

Ji Xuanyuan actually carved it into the likeness of Mi'er and sent it as a birthday gift.

Zhen Mi herself stared blankly at the glass statue.

She saw "herself," yet through this cold material, she seemed to see the pale, sickly general far away in Zhuojun, instructing craftsmen to sculpt this unparalleled treasure into her likeness, referring to a portrait that came from nowhere (actually drawn by Zhang Fei from memory).

She reached out her small hand, wanting to touch it, but stopped just before she touched it, only using her fingertips to gently trace the outline of the glass statue through the air.

At this point, the second wooden crate was opened.

This time, even the sound of breathing almost disappeared.

Inside the box was a huge "mirror" with gilded bronze edges.

However, it is not a common bronze mirror.

The mirror was incredibly smooth and clear, reflecting the entire interior scene in perfect detail!

Zhen Yi subconsciously walked to the mirror.

Then, he froze completely.

The man in the mirror was a middle-aged man with a ruddy complexion, sharp eyes, a short beard, and impeccable attire.

Every detail, every wrinkle, even the lingering shock in his eyes, was terrifyingly clear.

He raised his hand, and the person in the mirror raised his hand too; he blinked, and the person in the mirror blinked too.

"This...this is me?" Zhen Yi murmured, his voice hoarse.

He lived for over forty years and used countless bronze mirrors, but bronze mirrors always reflected a blurry image, and due to the alloy ratio and polishing process, the image was often somewhat distorted.

He had never seen himself so clearly and truly as he did at this moment!

Zhen Yan also came over, and was equally stunned speechless by the crystal-clear reflection of himself in the mirror.

The father and son looked at each other, both seeing the same turbulent waves in each other's eyes.

"Father...brother...so this is what we look like?" Zhen Dao and Zhen Rong, unable to contain their curiosity any longer, squeezed in front of the mirror and let out a low gasp.

They saw that the girl in the mirror had clear features and a radiant complexion, and was many times more beautiful than the blurry reflection in the bronze mirror.

Girls are most sensitive to their appearance, and this magical mirror instantly captivated their entire being.

"A masterpiece of nature... This is a work of nature!" Zhen Yi finally found his voice, but it was still trembling.

"If this mirror were presented to His Majesty, not only would he be able to appoint officials in the capital, but he would also find it easy to be granted titles and high-ranking positions!"

He suddenly looked at the registrar Chen: "General Ji... do you really intend to give these two items to my daughter as a birthday gift?"

Registrar Chen smiled and nodded: "It is absolutely true. My master said that the Fifth Miss is intelligent and kind-hearted, and deserves this gift. My master also specifically instructed that this glass mirror may be startling at first glance because it is too clear. He hopes that the Fifth Miss and Lord Zhen will not be frightened and will get used to it."

The five Zhen sisters each had their own thoughts at this moment.

As the eldest sister, Zhen Jiang had already experienced marriage and worldly affairs. She was impressed by Ji Xuanyuan's generosity and the depth of his regard for her younger sister, but she also had a vague worry that there might be a deeper meaning behind this "attention".

Zhen Tuo had already pledged her love to Zhao Yun and held Ji Xuanyuan in high esteem. At this moment, she felt that her future husband's elder brother was indeed incredibly powerful and extraordinary.

Zhen Dao and Zhen Rong, however, had a completely different state of mind.

The two girls huddled together, their eyes practically glued to the glass statue and the precious mirror. They whispered amongst themselves, their voices filled with incredulous envy and a touch of bitter longing.

"Third sister, look at that statue, it looks just like my little sister! It's so crystal clear, it must be so precious!" Zhen Rong tugged at Zhen Dao's sleeve.

"It's not just the statue, that mirror is the real treasure! If I had one, I would look at myself every day!" Zhen Dao also stared intently.

"If only I had known... if only I had known that my little sister had gone to Zhuojun, I would have gone with her! Maybe General Ji would have remembered my birthday and given me such a gift!" Zhen Rong said, half-jokingly, half-reproachfully.

"Exactly! General Ji is such a person, with divine looks, unparalleled poetic talent, and he can even create such rare treasures... If only..." Zhen Dao blushed slightly and didn't continue, but the admiration in his eyes was almost overflowing.

"Dao'er! Rong'er!"

Hearing his two daughters muttering, Zhen Yi frowned and scolded them in a low voice, "What nonsense are you spouting in front of our distinguished guests! Get out of here!"

Zhen Dao and Zhen Rong stuck out their tongues and retreated behind their sisters, but their eyes lingered on the two gifts.

As if ignoring these minor incidents, Registrar Chen took out two sealed letters from his bosom and respectfully presented them: "These are letters written by my master himself, one addressed to the Fifth Miss and the other to Lord Zhen."

Zhen Mi took the letter that had been given to her. The letter was on plain white paper, the handwriting elegant and refined, strong and clear—it was indeed Ji Xuanyuan's handwriting.

"On the auspicious day of Mi'er's birthday, I offer this humble gift as a congratulatory gift. Though the glass is fragile, I hope it reflects your icy beauty; though the mirror is small, I hope it illuminates your intelligent heart. I am very pleased to hear that you are diligent in your studies. The newly established official school in Zhuojun has a growing collection of books. If you have time in the future, you may come to read the books again. The spring is still chilly, so please take good care of yourself. Sincerely, Xuanyuan."

His words were concise, yet deeply caring.

Without flowery words, it made Zhen Mi's heart tremble more than any precious treasure.

She gently folded the letter, pressed it close to her heart, lowered her eyes, and her long eyelashes cast a faint shadow on her fair cheeks.

Zhen Yi also opened the letter to himself.

The letter was much more pragmatic, beginning with polite greetings and thanks to the Zhen family for their previous cooperation in the salt industry, before shifting its tone:

"...Recently, the workshop was fortunate enough to acquire some crystal and glass. Although it is not as pure as the one given to Mi'er, its clarity and luster far surpass ordinary items. I humbly suggest that we, together with Lord Zhen, use this new piece to sell throughout the land, sharing the profits. However, this item is of great importance, and Youzhou has been turbulent lately, so I cannot elaborate further. If Lord Zhen is interested, you may send a trusted confidant to Zhuozhou for a face-to-face discussion. I, Xuanyuan, will be eagerly awaiting your arrival..."

After reading it, Zhen Yi's heart was once again stirred.

Ji Xuanyuan actually had even more glass artifacts in his hands!

Judging from its meaning, although it is not as good as these two gifts, it is definitely a rare and exquisite item that has never been seen on the market before!

This is no longer a simple collaboration, but a huge boon that could be even more terrifying than the profits from refined salt, and could be enough to overturn the luxury goods industry!

However, the letter also pointed out that "the matter is of great importance" and "it is inconvenient in wind and rain," which was a reminder that the matter was confidential and risky. At the same time, it implied that Zhuojun had been turbulent recently. Zhen Yi naturally knew about the assassinations and infighting in the officialdom, and that a face-to-face private meeting was indeed necessary.

Zhen Yi took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, and solemnly said to Chen, the registrar, "Please tell General Ji that I am deeply grateful for the generous gifts. I will carefully consider the matter of cooperation and will send someone to Zhuojun to pay a visit soon."

"You're too kind, Lord Zhen. I will certainly pass on your message." Having completed his task, Registrar Chen took his leave.

The gifts were carefully placed.

The glass statue was placed in the most conspicuous position in Zhen Mi's boudoir, and the glass mirror was also placed in Zhen Mi's room. Zhen Dao and Zhen Rong often went to Zhen Mi's room to look in the mirror and play.

As night fell, the Zhen residence returned to peace, but in everyone's heart, the two gifts from Zhuojun stirred up waves that were hard to quell.

Zhen Mi sat alone by the window, unfolding the letter again by candlelight. Her fingertips brushed over the four characters "Xuanyuan's Handwritten Letter." The moonlight outside the window was like water, reflecting her serene profile and the increasingly deep and unfathomable light in her eyes.

Zhen Yi paced back and forth in his study until late at night.

He laid out Ji Xuanyuan's letter before him, weighing the benefits and risks repeatedly in his mind, before finally turning his gaze northward.

"Ji Wenlie... just how many more surprises, no, earth-shattering treasures, do you have hidden in Zhuojun?"

He knew that the bond between the Zhen family and Ji Xuanyuan was becoming increasingly deep and difficult to reverse.

In these chaotic times, wealth and opportunities are often accompanied by equal or even greater risks.

But Zhen Yi, a tycoon who has spent half his life navigating the ups and downs of the business world, has decided to take another big gamble.