[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal":3,"chapter-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-22":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},596545,846,"Chapter 22: The Troubles of Ying Bing, The Legacy","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-22",22,"\u003Cp>Autumn Water Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aroma of cumin and sizzling fat permeated the small courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grilled meat skewers, five taels of silver each. Pretty ladies eat for free.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Here, you're a beauty—have one on the house~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo had dug out a charcoal brazier from winter supplies to use as a grill, skewering meat from the Rare Beast Peak and roasting it until it crackled with juices. As he grilled, he called out in a playful tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good disciple, were you a chef in your past life?\" Shang Wu took a bite, her almond-shaped eyes glazing over in delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She'd eaten grilled meat before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But why was her disciple's version so unbelievably delicious?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That unique fragrance, paired with the charred aroma of the meat, was simply divine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wow, another beauty! This black-horned lamb nourishes yin and replenishes blood—it's yours.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is quite good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing took a small, delicate bite, chewing slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the usually icy girl to offer a four-word evaluation meant the flavor truly impressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Phew... phew...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu, who loved spicy food, kept fanning her mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Ying Bing, who typically favored light meals, indulged freely this time. Between the grilling and eating, she lost count of how many skewers she'd had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Little Bing'er, you respect your elders best, so this grilled fish skewer should be mine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But you're not my master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You've eaten so much already. Girls who overeat get chubby.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm still growing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come on, you live with Li Mo every day—just ask him to make more next time!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu crossed her arms, pouting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite her wheedling, she couldn't pry a single skewer from the girl. How infuriating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing nibbled her fish, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, not bothering to hide her faint smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Memories surfaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the hazy recollections of her time in the Eastern Wasteland Domain, only a few important figures stood out vividly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu was one of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Qingyuan Sect fell, had it not been for Shang Wu, she might never have escaped Purple Sun Prefecture alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But still...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shook her head, dispelling the dark thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this life, those tragedies would not repeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine meat deserves fine wine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo finally joined them at the table, carrying a jade-white porcelain flask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he uncorked it, a sharp yet refreshing aroma filled the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he poured, the liquid separated distinctly into red and blue hues in the cup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What wine is this? It smells amazing!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu's delicate nose twitched as she inhaled, her almond eyes widening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Frostfire Wine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo smiled, sliding a cup toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He poured another for the \"ice block\"—Ying Bing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her crescent brows lifted slightly as she examined it, her mirror-like eyes reflecting the dual-toned liquor beautifully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wine came from Jade Spring Isle in the North Sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, a mystical hot-and-cold spring existed, renowned for tempering the body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A famed brewing family on the island used its waters exclusively, creating this very wine—hence its name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That family, though mere vintners, dwarfed even the Qingyuan Sect in influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every year, they sent hundreds of varieties as tribute to the Moon Palace, Frostfire Wine among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, she'd long outgrown its benefits, often gifting it to promising disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So how did Li Mo acquire it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sweet disciple, where did you get this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu, cheeks flushed from the wine, spoke softer than ever, her eyes shimmering like rippling water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo leaned back slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was hard to reconcile this delicate, tipsy woman with the one who could pulverize mountains bare-handed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Found it in a hidden realm. Only managed to grab a few jars.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spun the tale effortlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? No wonder you emerged unscathed from the Divine Edge Cave's third layer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu found nothing suspicious in his claim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing took a sip, understanding dawning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had a theory now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo must have stumbled upon some legacy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its treasures likely reshaped his physique, and this wine was left behind to further temper the inheritor's body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps... during those days in Purple Sun Prefecture when she was unlocking her meridians?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least this way, he stood a chance to inherit Shang Wu's teachings and rise as a Qingyuan Sect elder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For him, that alone was a monumental shift in fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mm, fine then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu drained her cup with a pout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are a few jars left. Master, why not take one?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No need. This wine tempers the body, but I've outgrown its use.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then next time I descend the mountain, I'll bring you better.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo, surprised, absentmindedly took a sip from a nearby cup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn't poured for himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was Ying Bing's cup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Little Bing, you okay?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu tilted her head, noticing the girl's sudden stillness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing frowned slightly, shaking her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then drink up! This wine's great for Qi-Blood Realm cultivation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu punctuated this by chugging from her own gourd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo coughed, handing Ying Bing a fresh cup before refilling it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mn.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing sipped quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, her usually placid heart had rippled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That... was unusual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her past, suitors had included geniuses of unparalleled talent, scions of terrifying influence, even one of the Nine Heavens—the Azure Heaven himself—who'd confessed admiration before her ascension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet she'd never spared them a thought, let alone reciprocated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In time, the world deemed the Moon Palace's empress as icy in heart as in demeanor, devoid of mortal desires.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truthfully, she'd simply prioritized the martial path above all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worldly attachments eroded greatness; love was but an obstacle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that fleeting sensation earlier... she hadn't disliked it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perhaps the wine's effect...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She finished the Frostfire Wine without savoring it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My current realm can't suppress intoxication.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Focusing inward, she guided the liquor's energy through her meridians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I should train seriously these coming days.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, and the sect's holding trials for new disciples soon. Don't embarrass me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu yawned after delivering this reminder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Trials?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu licked a stray drop of wine from her lip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They'll send you into the Qingyuan Mountain Range to gather herbs or hunt beasts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Challenging for Qi-Blood Realm disciples—some ninth-grade monsters are tricky.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You and Ying Bing can watch each other's backs.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo nodded. A classic trope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master, Ying Bing's the sect leader's disciple. She gets way better resources—why would she need my help?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumor has it that when the master first took him in, it seemed to be out of interest in Ying Bing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had barely met, yet he was already calling her \"Little Bing'er\" affectionately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing didn’t seem to mind either, as if the two had known each other for ages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who said I don’t care about you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu sniffed lightly and pulled out a small manual:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take this and practice. It’s a mid-tier martial art, perfectly suited for your current level—far better than the Six Harmonies Fist, at any rate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Written on the manual was:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blazing Prairie Swordplay Though it was only a mid-tier martial art, $2n the outside world, it would already be considered a treasured heirloom by many sects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless minor sects still treated low-tier or even unranked martial arts as priceless treasures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you, Master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmph, and here you were complaining about me earlier.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Shang Wu waved her hand, picked up her little gourd, and left the Autumn Water Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the table, Ying Bing set down her wine cup, her mind settling back into calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the sect’s trial, what she had to do was something no one could help her with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was going to claim an inheritance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she didn’t know whose legacy Li Mo had obtained, $2ompared to the one she was about to acquire, it would be as different as clouds and mud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, no true powerhouse would leave their inheritance in the barren Eastern Wasteland Domain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The legacy she was going to awaken was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t left behind by a ‘human’.\u003C\u002Fp>",1332,"2026-05-30T17:18:59.992Z","2026-06-01T04:31:46.286Z",1,"novelbin.me","88ea137faf40c11b0cccb512b6850b9bbd5b62fcd10eed8b36da3ec91ef7aa12","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-23","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-21",737,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Finvesting-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-cover.jpg"]