Chapter 168

Cheng Ru'an left and returned, his steps unhurried.

In her hand, there suddenly appeared a narrow small wooden box.

After bowing to the Emperor, she went straight back to her seat and gently placed the narrow wooden box in front of Tuan Tuan.

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up; she stretched out her little hand and patted the wooden box, looking up at Eunuch Cheng: "Grandpa! Quickly hand me that iron lump!"

That cry of "iron lump" made everyone in the Da Xia envoy twitch the corners of their mouths.

The supreme treasure they revered as a divine object, which they had exhausted national strength for hundreds of years without being able to decipher, was called an "iron lump" by this little princess?

Jifeng almost spat out the wine in his mouth; after looking closely at Tuan Tuan, he thought this little girl actually thinks just like me—interesting.

Eunuch Cheng instinctively glanced at the Emperor; Xiao Jieyun nodded.

Eunuch Cheng walked up to Tuan Tuan and placed the tray on the table.

Gongsun Hong's hand gripping the wine cup tightened slightly; Simadongchen frowned; Jifeng also set down his wine cup, leaning forward slightly; everyone stared intently at Tuan Tuan, afraid to miss any detail.

Tuan Tuan first opened the wooden box.

She took out the inconspicuous wooden wedge inside, felt the mechanism with her little hand, and pressed hard.

Everyone watched in astonishment as the wooden wedge unfolded, layer by layer rolling out, revealing clean, warm wood; a fresh, elegant scent that seemed to be there and not there slowly diffused.

Xiao Yuanhang's heart jumped; this isn't it? The celestial ruler the young lady brought back from the Grand Princess's appreciation gathering!

Tuan Tuan leaned close to the dim "Chaos", sniffed hard again, then leaned over to the celestial ruler and smelled it just as carefully.

She looked at Gongsun Hong, wearing a triumphant expression, and said: "See? I told you I had smelled this scent before!"

"My ruler and your lump are clearly a set!"

"Nonsense!" Gongsun Hong's face turned ashen; "How could our Da Xia national treasure be a set with your meaningless wooden ruler? Utterly absurd!"

Simadongchen also said in a deep voice: "Little Princess, you may eat food randomly, but you must not speak nonsense."

"This object is forged from extraterrestrial meteoric iron; its material and appearance are utterly different from your wooden ruler—how could they be a set?"

Tuan Tuan completely ignored them.

She lowered her head, one hand holding the celestial ruler, the other pressing on "Chaos", as if playing with an interesting toy.

She extended her little finger and lightly traced the incredibly complex surface of "Chaos", feeling its uneven grooves.

The hall was silent; everyone's gaze focused on her.

Suddenly, her finger stopped at a seemingly irregular depression on "Chaos".

"Found it!"

Tuan Tuan let out a cheerful cry, no longer hesitating; she picked up one end of the celestial ruler, aimed at the spot, as if placing the final puzzle piece where it belonged, and gently inserted the celestial ruler precisely into that depression of "Chaos"!

"Click."

A crisp sound of the mechanism engaging rang out.

Immediately after, a hum—!

The "Chaos" that had lain silent for hundreds of years suddenly emitted a low, resonant hum!

With the point where the celestial ruler was inserted as the source, "Chaos" seemed to be infused with life; golden ripples instantly spread across its entire surface!

Countless fine, intricate grooves and protrusions, under the flowing golden light, revealed their true appearance.

That integrally unified structure, like a sleeping lotus finally awaiting its moment to bloom, continuously rotated and unfolded layer by layer.

Each layer's unfolding was accompanied by ever more brilliant light and ever more profound runes circulating around; the halo grew stronger, gradually enveloping the entire Taiji Hall.

The officials of Lie State were exhilarated; Jifeng widened his eyes, staring without blinking.

The color drained instantly from the faces of Gongsun Hong and Simadongchen.

The "Chaos" was actually cracked by the people of Lie State!

When the final radiance faded, the "Chaos" had completely changed its appearance.

It unfolded into an exquisitely intricate structure, with a three‑dimensional instrument dial surrounded by orbiting stars.

The celestial ruler was fitted snugly into the core base of the instrument dial; the golden threads on its body perfectly linked with the star tracks on the dial, shining together as if they were born as one.

Tuan Tuan curiously poked the slowly rotating star instrument dial; facing the ashen‑faced Gongsun Hong, she gave a sweet smile: "Look, it's open!"

The hall was utterly silent; only the faint hum emitted by the turning instrument dial softly echoed within.

Everyone's expression froze on their faces.

The Lie State officials were overjoyed; the Da Xia envoys looked ashen.

"Haha! Hahaha—good! Good! Good!"

Xiao Jieyun clapped and laughed heartily: "My immortal envoy has never disappointed me!"

He looked at Tuan Tuan, his eyes full of unreserved admiration and pride.

Cheng Ru'an swept his daughter into his arms, gently stroking her head: "My dear Tuan Tuan, you're amazing!"

Xiao Yuanhang patted Tuan Tuan's little shoulder, immensely proud.

Tuan Tuan shook her head and swayed, her happy tail almost pointing to the sky.

"May the Emperor be blessed! Heaven protects Great Lie!"

In an instant, all civil and military officials of Lie State shouted in unison, the sound shaking the heavens.

Sheng Zhan called out loudly to Simadongchen: "Your Highness, congratulations on your nation's treasure finally meeting its wise lord and seeing the light again."

"I don't know which three cities your state is presenting as a gift?"

He raised his hands in a salute, adopting a strictly official demeanor: "As the old minister who heads the Ministry of Works, it is my duty to promptly revise Lie State's territorial map, so as to incorporate these lands swiftly and settle them properly."

Everyone was taken aback; right! There's still this matter.

Gongsun Hong's face flushed red and pale: "This concerns national territory—how could it be child's play! The specific cities need me to return and report to the Father Emperor before we can decide!"

Sheng Zhan gave a slight nod: "Your Highness is quite right; major territorial affairs must naturally be handled with caution."

"In that case, the old minister will await good news."

I believe Da Xia is a land of rites and propriety, and Your Highness is weighty in words; you will surely act on what you say. You will never go back on your word and grow fat, causing the world to ridicule.

"You……!" Gongsun Hong's chest heaved violently, a breath of stagnant qi blocked his chest, almost making him spit blood.

The Chief Historian of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau rose and walked to the steps below the throne, pointing at the instrument plate: "Your Majesty! Please allow this subject to come closer for a look!"

Xiao Jieyun was in high spirits, waving his hand: "Approved!"

The Chief Historian staggered forward, lunging to the star instrument plate, leaning in to stare fixedly at the flowing starlight and the earth's meridian tracks.

After a moment, his body trembled slightly; he suddenly turned around and faced the Emperor.

"Your Majesty! Heaven blesses the Great Lie! Heaven blesses Your Majesty! This object is no mere mortal craft; it can scrutinize heaven and earth!"

He was so excited he almost spoke incoherently: "Observing celestial phenomena reveals the seasons; examining the earth's meridians clarifies geography! Whoever obtains this object can determine a nation's fate, ensuring favorable winds and rains, and a long-lasting reign!"

"This is truly a national guardian artifact! Your Majesty!"

Overjoyed and at a loss, he bowed deeply to the people of Da Xia: "Thank you all! Thank you all! Please send this kingdom's supreme treasure to my Lie Kingdom!"

Gongsun Hong's face turned from white to gold, and a mouthful of blood could no longer be contained—"puff!" it spurted out, his body swayed, and Jiang Cheng rushed forward a step, gripping him tightly.

Sima Dongchen closed his eyes, as if instantly aging twenty years.

They had plotted carefully, yet they not only lost the treasure and the city, but personally handed over a divine artifact capable of scrutinizing a nation's fate to the Lie Kingdom!

Jifeng looked at the blood‑vomiting Gongsun Hong and the despair‑filled Sima Dongchen, then at the instrument plate still turning nonstop, gulped a large mouthful of wine, and muttered to himself:

"Good fellow! Now the tripartite balance of the three kingdoms is likely to change."

"Cough cough, the Da Xia heir has over‑indulged in joy and cannot hold his liquor," Xiao Jieyun cleared his throat and announced loudly, "Attendants, quickly take the Highness back to rest and summon the imperial physician for treatment."

"Yes!"