I worked myself to the bone to become a saint, and survived on a deserted island with a stunning pri

"Prime Minister... Zhao Wanzhi..."

How did Zhao Wanzhi's things end up here?

Chu Nan rummaged through the books and bamboo slips in the box, and sure enough, Zhao Wanzhi's name was among them.

Some even bear traces of Zhao Wanzhi.

"This maritime disaster is indeed not so simple!" Chu Nan's eyes gleamed.

Chu Nan couldn't help but think of the tents, bows and arrows, and other supplies that Zhao Xingyu had prepared beforehand.

In addition, we now see the things left behind by Zhao Wanzhi.

"This is a conspiracy orchestrated by Zhao Wanzhi!"

"It seems like they're targeting Ji Menghan, but it might actually be related to the Great Zhou Dynasty on the mainland." Chu Nan rubbed his temples, drawing a conclusion based on the information he had gathered over this period.

After closing the box, Chu Nan turned his gaze back to the center of the stone chamber.

In the middle of the stone chamber was another chest, and this one was larger than any of the previous chests.

Moreover, the box was locked from the inside. Chu Nan stepped forward and knocked on it, confirming that it was an iron box.

The lock on the box was also large and sturdy.

Chu Nan found a stone and tapped it on the lock, but unfortunately the lock didn't budge. It seemed that it would be difficult to open without a key.

"Why isn't there a cutting machine? If we had a cutting machine, no lock would work." Chu Nan sighed helplessly.

The box can't be opened now, so we'll have to go back and figure something out.

"Perhaps the key is with Zhao Xingyu?"

Chu Nan blew out all the lamps and then walked out of the stone chamber.

The stone chamber door was very heavy. Chu Nan pulled it back with difficulty and managed to slowly close the door.

After looking around and making sure there was no one around, Chu Nan followed the stream outwards.

Having emerged from the narrow crevice in the valley, Chu Nan continued his search around the area.

The terrain in this seventh district is quite rugged, with potholes and jagged rocks all along the way.

Fortunately, Chu Nan had climbing skills, so he could almost climb as if it were flat ground.

At this moment, Chu Nan arrived at a bamboo forest.

The bamboo forest was not large, but it was extremely dense. Chu Nan even saw some bamboo shoots that had just sprouted inside the forest.

Bamboo shoots are edible, but they need to be boiled and processed.

So Chu Nan noted down the location, but didn't go to dig for bamboo shoots.

Even after circling around the seventh district, Chu Nan didn't find anything special.

It was already noon, and Chu Nan returned to the camp along the original route.

Miyamoto Musashi was dressed in animal skins, and there were seven or eight pheasants and wild ducks next to him.

There was also something that looked like a deer.

"Wow, that's great!" Chu Nan couldn't help but praise.

"Hi!" Miyamoto Musashi seemed to understand the compliment and was very pleased.

On the other side, the three sailors also cut down a lot of wood and bamboo and piled them all up in the open space.

After a tiring morning, Chu Nan ordered everyone to rest.

The pheasants and wild ducks aren't completely dead yet; they can still be kept for a while.

This deer-like creature could no longer be stored.

So Chu Nan took Miyamoto Musashi to the stream and skinned and dismembered the wild beast.

The beast's fur was quite nice, so Chu Nan skinned it completely, which could later be used to make a blanket for Ji Menghan and Ling Hanxue.

Since there were no pots or pans, the meat of these wild animals was still skewered on wooden sticks and roasted over a fire.

Just then, Ji Menghan and Ling Hanxue returned, each carrying a large pile of wild fruits.

There are oranges, sea buckthorn berries, and some things that look like dragon fruit.

"Chu Nan, quickly check if we can eat these things we found?" Ji Menghan asked.

Chu Nan took a look at them and recognized most of them; they were all edible.

However, some of them didn't look like they were edible, so Chu Nan simply threw them away.

Ji Menghan sat down and rested her head on Chu Nan's shoulder.

Chu Nan gently patted her head.

As the little princess of the Great Zhou royal family, she had never suffered so much before.

They were born into royalty, and everything they ate and used was the best of the entire Great Zhou Dynasty.

Now we not only have to work, but we also can't afford to eat anything good.

Seemingly sensing Chu Nan's thoughts, Ji Menghan raised her head, her beautiful eyes falling on Chu Nan's face.

"Chu Nan, what are you thinking about?"

"Do you feel that I'm different from before?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Nan couldn't help but be somewhat surprised.

Ji Menghan chuckled softly, reaching out her delicate hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, revealing a unique charm.

"You underestimate me."

"Although I was born into royalty, I am not a princess who only knows how to enjoy life."

"From the age of 3, my father arranged for the best teachers to teach me to read and write."

"Back then, we spent an entire day just reading and learning to read."

"It was very bitter..." Ji Menghan said with a smile, but her beautiful eyes were filled with memories.

Chu Nan sat cross-legged on the ground, tilting his head slightly as he listened quietly.

Even Ling Hanxue was holding Ji Menghan's arm, seemingly reminiscing about her own past.

Ji Menghan gazed leisurely: "When I was 7 years old, my father made me follow the commander of the Imperial Guard to learn martial arts, but I am not good at martial arts."

"So far, only regular horseback riding is still possible."

"Later, my father stopped forcing me to ride horses and instead took me with him when he handled state affairs every day."

"I'll just watch from the side, and if there's anything I don't understand, my father will tell me."

Chu Nan raised an eyebrow. What's wrong with this emperor making a princess study politics?

"Your eldest, second, and third brothers are all alright, so why did you choose to study politics?" Chu Nan asked.

Ji Menghan gently shook her head: "I don't know either, it was Father Emperor's request."

"Later, my father tried to let go and let me handle some political affairs."

"Over the years, I have been to villages, county governments, and even the frontier, covering almost half of the Great Zhou territory."

At this point, Ji Menghan gazed at Chu Nan.

What I'm trying to tell you is that I'm not afraid of hardship or fatigue.

"If you never leave me, I will stay with you through life and death." Ji Menghan's gaze was very earnest.

Chu Nan was startled. He grabbed Ji Menghan's hand and said nothing more.

Ling Hanxue glanced at her from the side, her expression slightly complicated.

By this time, the meat was cooked, and everyone began to fill their stomachs.

While eating the bland-tasting roasted meat, Chu Nan couldn't help but think of the method of extracting salt from seawater.

"Let's build the house first. After it's finished, I'll give you a surprise," Chu Nan said mysteriously.

"Okay, then we'll wait and see," Ji Menghan said with a smile.

After the meal, Chu Nan began directing everyone to build simple shelters.

They dug several pits, placed the large tree trunks brought by the three sailors inside as supporting main beams, and then buried and compacted them.

Then, using mortise and tenon joints, the bamboo was inlaid inside, fitting it in little by little.

Ji Menghan and Ling Hanxue assisted, while the main construction work was done by Ye Mu, the three sailors, and Miyamoto Musashi.

After a busy afternoon, a well-ventilated dwelling was completed.