[{"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-613":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},596823,846,"Chapter 613: Crossing the River","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-613",613,"\u003Cp>The prosperity of the Earth City now surpasses even what it was during the first wave of celestial calamity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The close exchange between the Sky City and the Earth City is reflected in many aspects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from the colossal expenditure of manpower and resources to replicate the Sky City’s divine craftsmanship in architecture, even clothing styles take cues from the Celestial Race.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, recently, many people on the streets have been wearing bright red floral-patterned cotton jackets, their gaudy colors dazzling to the eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a transmigrator, Li Mo found it rather odd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the people of the Earth City called it a trend, and some of his peers even mocked him for having no taste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lantern market stretched like an ocean, the crowd dense as rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who knows when I’ll see such a lantern festival again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo felt a mix of nostalgia and reluctance in his heart, yet it was overshadowed by a stirring excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps this was the kind of emotion every young man felt when first venturing into the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he walked through the lantern market, before he could even cross it, he heard a vendor hawking nearby:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come take a look! Genuine goods here—blessings for favorable weather, ward off evil and misfortune!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vendor was selling masks, vibrant and distinct in design.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was probably the earliest form of idol merchandise...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sizable crowd had gathered around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This one depicts Emperor Jiang of the Celestial Race. Legend says he wielded a divine sword, born with double pupils that could perceive the finest details.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And this is the Windgrace Noble. She is the goddess of the winds, and the floral cotton jacket I’m wearing now is inspired by her preferred style.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about this one?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo stepped forward, pointing at the pristine white jade mask adorned with a crescent moon pattern at the top.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young master, you’ve got excellent taste! This is my proudest creation!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vendor puffed out his chest proudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the Frostmoon Immortal, the most enigmatic and noble among the Celestial Race.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s no such thing as a Frostmoon Immortal—isn’t that just a made-up tale?” someone scoffed, thinking the vendor was inflating the price with tall tales.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the vendor solemnly replied, “She exists. In my youth, I was a border guard. The day the southern gate was breached, had she not descended from the heavens, how could we be here today, drinking and celebrating?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s telling that story again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss, you’ve been saying this since I was a kid. Now my own child can fetch soy sauce, and you still haven’t sold that mask.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Probably just another scam. Too bad there’s no gullible fool with deep pockets to believe him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd laughed at him, the atmosphere lively and amused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But who would have thought? The gullible fool with deep pockets had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll take it. How much?” Li Mo asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When traveling the martial world, sometimes one had to act pragmatically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having a mask might come in handy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Well, it definitely wasn’t because he genuinely liked it and couldn’t leave without it. Little Li justified to himself, patting the two hundred taels of silver in his pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surely it wouldn’t cost that much?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vendor said, “One hundred taels for a chance to solve a riddle. Guess correctly, and the mask is yours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A hundred taels just for a chance, not even to buy it outright? No wonder it’s still here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss, you’ve raised the price—last year it was fifty. Are you trying to cheat a novice?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young hero, don’t mind him. There are plenty of mask sellers on this street.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone urged him not to fall for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after a moment’s hesitation, Li Mo handed over the silver—after all, he hadn’t seen another mask like this on his entire journey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excellent! Please pick a lantern, young master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vendor beamed as he took the money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo scanned the lanterns briefly when a sudden breeze caused one to sway slightly. He pointed at it on impulse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Mist scatters in disarray, emerald tangles around the cliffs.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vendor turned the lantern, revealing the riddle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the hundred-tael price tag, the crowd pondered intently, yet no one could crack it immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo wasn’t particularly skilled at riddles either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But strangely, perhaps because he had encountered a similar puzzle in his past life, the answer surfaced in his mind instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could speak, however, a voice suddenly whispered in his ear:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The character ‘Phoenix’s Huang.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice was clear and gentle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo blurted out, startled. It was the same answer he had thought of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned instinctively, but there was no trace of the speaker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even stranger, no one else around seemed to have heard the voice—they all remained oblivious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he been the only one to hear it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young master is truly brilliant to solve it so quickly. It seems this item was fated for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True to his word, the vendor handed over the mask without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah… thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the mask settled in his hands, Li Mo marveled at its smooth texture and exquisite craftsmanship—its value far exceeded a mere hundred taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he still couldn’t figure out who had whispered the answer to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lost in thought, he absentmindedly left the stall, heading toward the city gates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pondered—had he ever heard a voice like that before?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None came to mind. None were as pleasing to the ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he developed auditory hallucinations at such a young age?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After walking for a while, still no closer to an answer, he suddenly bumped into something cold yet resilient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A veil fluttered down with the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along with it came an intoxicating fragrance, lingering in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did I just bump into someone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo instinctively reached out, but the mischievous veil danced away on the breeze, swiftly landing in the river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My apologies—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That voice—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo looked up, then froze, speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The owner of the veil was a woman of ethereal grace, her demeanor cool and detached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wore an indigo-blue plain dress, standing in the night, yet even the simplest attire seemed transcendent on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oddly, a chubby doll hung at her waist, adding a touch of earthly charm to her otherworldly presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Li now understood what it meant to be tongue-tied. His gaze locked onto her jade-like features, his heartbeat erratic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it because her beauty was too breathtaking?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And why did his neck suddenly feel so itchy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hand, as if with a will of its own, twitched toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Frostmoon Immortal…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No—I meant this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo raised the mask in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I accidentally lost your veil. How about I give you this as compensation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes curved with amusement. “Very well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo watched as she donned the mask—it fit perfectly, revealing only the lower half of her face, her delicate crimson lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How do I look?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though I am a man of principle, I must say, the Frostmoon Immortal herself could be no more striking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gifting something so precious upon our first meeting, and with such sweet words…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The transcendent woman smiled, like moonlight breaking through clouds, shining for him alone:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you rehearse this before setting out, planning to charm every pretty maiden you meet on your travels?”\u003C\u002Fp>",1223,"2026-05-30T17:19:14.063Z","2026-06-01T04:31:46.889Z",1,"novelbin.me","3c18e68f3238ec523efdea64f9f2ebe45432bca44d1c00fc1e560b8921b53829","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-614","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-612",737,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Finvesting-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-cover.jpg"]