[{"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-250":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},596373,846,"Chapter 250: Lost Ice Block, Execution Ground","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-250",250,"\u003Cp>Gulp—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A little girl with her hair tied up with a straw rope stared at the sweet mooncake, drooling but only daring to suck on her fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't stare at the martial lord.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl’s mother was thin and withered, like a stalk of straw stuck in the field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze toward Ying Bing was timid and fearful, just like the other villagers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also why none of the villagers dared to approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A maiden as ethereal as a celestial being, traveling alone in the Southern Borderlands—she could either be a formidable martial artist, a divine attendant serving the Witch Spirits, or perhaps even a powerful shapeshifting demon beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing was familiar with this kind of gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, wherever she descended, the masses revered her as if she were a deity—no, even more so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So why did it now feel... so unfamiliar?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can have one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing summoned a wisp of cloud mist, gently carrying the mooncake into the little girl’s arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you, fairy sister!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl was overjoyed, but the surrounding villagers—especially the girl’s mother—suddenly turned pale with terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She dropped to her knees, kowtowing frantically:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord, she’s still young. Please spare her!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I beg you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her forehead split open with the first kowtow, blood, sweat, and tears mixing with dirt until they were indistinguishable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I mean no harm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A beam of moonlight descended in broad daylight, enveloping the woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Ying Bing not used her spiritual intent, the misunderstanding might never have been resolved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after the little girl licked the mooncake and exclaimed with blissful delight, \"It’s so sweet!\" did the woman finally believe the coldly elegant maiden bore no ill will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, aside from the little girl, no one else dared to approach her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sister, here’s the map you asked for.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing took the map, pausing briefly when she saw the little girl take a bite out of a chibi-style Li Mo figurine on the mooncake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, she lowered her head and examined the crude hunter’s map.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Celestial sister, who are you thinking of?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The little girl, Fu Yingzi, tucked the mooncake away and asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m looking at the map.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing smoothed out the parchment, her serene eyes pausing briefly before she shook her head lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But Mama looks like that when she misses Papa!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Yingzi tilted her head, pointing at a nearby mountain path:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then, sister, what’s that mountain called?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl’s gaze was pure and innocent, yet it left Ying Bing speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing’s jade-like face stiffened slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had just been studying the map—this mountain was so close to Baoping Town, she was certain she had seen its name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why couldn’t she recall it now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the maiden lowered her eyes to the map once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside was Li Mo Mountain, beside it flowed Li Mo River, along the riverbank stood Li Mo Forest, where the Li Mo Tribe lived...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing’s tranquil gaze froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is Baoping Town, so of course the mountain is called Baoping Mountain!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Yingzi suddenly felt this sister wasn’t so scary after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sunlight dimmed as if something had blotted it out, and the map filled with tiny Li Mo figures darkened abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A colossal roc, its wings spread like a stormcloud, descended with an overwhelming, ferocious aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its razor-sharp beak parted, and to everyone’s shock, it spoke in human tongue:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kekeke!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let this grandpa see if there are any kids to eat!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The villagers erupted into panic, scattering in all directions like frightened birds and beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The roc circled overhead, its keen eyes locking onto the little girl clutching the mooncake as she fled. With another eerie cackle, it swooped down like a black gale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fierce wind howled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Yingzi’s face turned deathly pale as the roc’s shadow engulfed her tiny frame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at that very moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A streak of moonlight flashed in broad daylight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The roc’s charge halted abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A frost-white sword now rested against its neck, its icy edge a hair’s breadth from slicing through flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword’s wielder was the celestial maiden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you know the way to the Qingluan Clan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was cool and detached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You dare—?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The roc rasped, trying to bluster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moonlight glinted as the sword flashed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feathers drifted down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The roc suddenly felt a chill atop its head—cold as the sword’s edge, cold as the maiden’s noble gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Qingluan Clan despises humans and all males...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without another word, the sword flashed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The roc grew balder, its once-ferocious eyes now brimming with indignation and grievance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can’t we talk this out?! Let’s be reasonable!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Birds relied on splendid plumage—especially their crests—to attract mates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>......\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three bronze horses pulled a carriage, their hooves flying—this was no mere figure of speech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage was truly skimming just above the ground, allowing it to traverse the Southern Borderlands’ ever-shifting terrain—twisting one moment, barren the next, muddy soon after—with effortless ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having left South Pass at the start of autumn, Li Mo and his companions were now, before autumn’s height, about to reach their first stop beyond the border: Baoping Town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the distance, the sprawling majesty of mountain ranges was already visible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This place doesn’t seem very lively.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo peered through the carriage window’s dark gauze, his attire now adjusted to Southern Borderlands fashion—a headscarf tied around his forehead, black robes embroidered with mythical beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the journey, he’d witnessed scenes where prosperity and decay coexisted, where life stubbornly persisted in the cracks between.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the settlements they’d passed, Baoping Town seemed particularly desolate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Donglai nodded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With mountains on three sides and few merchants passing through, it’s only natural the population is sparse.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But if you travel light and move fast, this is actually the best route to the territory of the Mingjiao Tribe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo glanced at the map, recalling Huang Donglai’s explanations over the past days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The closer to South Pass, the more docile the demon beasts became, and the thicker the garrisons of border troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the deeper one ventured into the Southern Borderlands, the weaker the Great Yu’s influence grew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, peace wasn’t kept by imperial soldiers, but by the ‘Witch Spirits’ worshipped by the common folk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Li, about that...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murong Xiao, having just finished his daily ritual to suppress his bloodline, spoke up awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ran out again?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo chuckled, producing a gold ingot which he deftly broke into smaller nuggets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah... I’ll definitely repay you once we return to Purple Sun Prefecture.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murong Xiao’s face burned with shame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What, trying to hoard all the merit for yourself?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo shook his head with a smile, then took out medicinal herbs and grains as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more chaotic the world, the cheaper human life became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True to his creed of ‘do good deeds without asking why,’ Murong Xiao had never turned away from suffering along their journey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without the need to suppress his bloodline, his compassionate nature would have driven him to act regardless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be fair, much of this could be considered Li Mo’s investment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps ‘investment’ wasn’t the right word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lately, whether due to his rising cultivation realm or some other reason, even saving ordinary lives barely registered any karmic feedback anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After preparing Murong Xiao’s alms, the carriage finally arrived at the town’s entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the archway bearing the words ‘Baoping’...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, as soon as they reached the entrance of the town, they saw a dense crowd of people gathered in the distance. The southern folk, dressed in strange attire, were all gathered there, their murmurs and discussions filling the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How could Fu Yingzi have colluded with the demonic beings?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She spoke a few words with that fairy maiden the other day—could that fairy have been a monster in disguise?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop the child's mother! Don’t let her clash with the officers.....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo raised an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze pierced through the crowd, landing on the frail little girl kneeling on the platform. She was pale with terror, her lips bloodless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bare-chested executioner, gulping down strong liquor, stood nearby, his executioner's blade thicker than the girl's waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glancing at the sky, the presiding official seated on the high platform announced loudly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The hour has come!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Carry out the execution!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We humbly ask for your support, dear audience—many thanks and much love~\u003C\u002Fp>",1406,"2026-05-30T17:19:00.270Z","2026-06-01T04:31:46.286Z",1,"novelbin.me","3521c46eecdf4e67cd852be8f494e5ee0d95218bdd2405cb75a1a59bd9c1de40","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-401","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-249",737,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Finvesting-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-cover.jpg"]