Chapter 164: A Light Gift, Heavy Heart

Hearing this, Lin Waner finally understood why Fan Xian had arranged to meet these six in private.

Her cheeks flushed red, she hesitated for a moment, then gathered her courage, rose to her feet, and bowed gracefully.

“Ordinary woman Lin Waner, pays homage to all True Lords!”

…True Lords?

Just how did you explain this to your sister-in-law?

Xiang Yunye’s expression turned peculiar, unable to resist glancing at Fan Xian.

Fan Xian’s face remained unchanged, only smiling warmly at them, as if to say: My Waner has shown such respect—how can you, as good brothers, not show some token of appreciation?

Xiang Yunye and Su Haoming instantly grasped Fan Xian’s meaning; they immediately averted their eyes from Lin Waner and gave him a side-eye.

Lin Yu paid no mind, smiling gently and saying: “Sister-in-law, no need for such formality—we are peers with Fan Xian, and I share your surname, so we are kin. If you don’t mind, just call me elder brother.”

At these words, Lin Waner froze, then felt deeply honored.

Fan Xian took her hand and whispered with a smile: “Courtesy is best met with compliance—Lin Elder Brother has said so plainly. What’s there to be shy about? Just claim this kinship!”

…That would be too presumptuous!

Waner blushed and shot him a glare, then turned away, embarrassed: “Then… I shall be bold.”

“Not bold at all!”

Su Haoming chuckled: “Just as your husband said, the guests outside are mere formalities—those here are your true family…”

“Cut the fluff!”

Fan Xian shot him a sharp look: “Did you bring your gift?”

Su Haoming rolled his eyes, grumbling: “Relax, I’ve had it ready… Shall I go first?”

Lin Yu stepped forward, smiling: “Let me go first—”

“No, no, no!”

Everyone quickly intervened, smiling wryly: “Big Brother, you save your gift for last!”

“If you go first, the rest of us won’t dare show anything!”

Lin Yu blinked, thought for a moment, and nodded: “Then you go ahead.”

The “poorest” Li Shimin hurried to say: “I’ll go first!”

Everyone exchanged glances, nodded in agreement, and stepped aside.

Facing Lin Waner and Fan Xian’s gazes, Li Shimin said apologetically: “The matter arose suddenly, and I was short on funds—so I could only prepare humble gifts. I hope Sister-in-law and Brother Fan won’t disdain them!”

Fan Xian laughed: “Brother Li, what nonsense—you’re just sharing good fortune. Do you think I actually care about your wealth?”

He quickly added: “Of course, Big Brother and Old Su are exceptions!”

Su Haoming froze, then scowled: “What’s this got to do with me?”

Fan Xian declared firmly: “You’ve been mooching off Big Brother’s Dao hall for ages—you’ve surely drained him dry!”

Su Haoming stared, incredulous:

“That’s my hard-earned pay for being his babysitter—now you’re jealous?”

“Of course I am!”

Fan Xian said bluntly: “Hand it over, or I’ll take it—everyone here gets a share!”

Watching this “friendly exchange,” Lin Waner pondered, realizing Su’s bond with her husband was closer than the others’…

Of course, “closer” was relative.

In truth, all group members got along well.

This was thanks to the group’s mechanism—members had to log in daily, at least to meet activity quotas.

With such daily high-intensity chatting, it was impossible for relationships to stay cold…

Back to the matter: after bantering a few more times, Fan Xian and Su Haoming fell silent, turning to Li Shimin.

“Then, I shall present my humble offering!”

Li Shimin swept his sleeve—the floor of the bridal chamber suddenly bore five small mountains.

The first two were towering piles of gold ingots and silver ingots.

The third was a heap of natural jades: pendants, bi discs, ruyi scepters—all precious.

The fourth was a mound of coral, agate, and emerald, arranged with exquisite artistry—clearly designed by a master, breathtaking at a glance.

The fifth was the famed economic currency of the Three Kingdoms world—Shu brocade!

These five mountains were so massive their peaks brushed the ceiling.

Gold, silver, and jewels glowed under the bridal candles, their brilliance so intense even Lin Waner, raised as a princess amid luxury, gasped in awe.

No wonder Fan Xian said to ignore the worldly gifts—True Lords’ presents were non-negotiable!

This was too extravagant!

Leaving aside the other four, just that gold mountain alone surpassed all the day’s imperial rewards—it could fund a full-scale war between Southern Qing and Northern Qi!

Can we even accept this?

Lin Waner, flustered, glanced at Fan Xian beside her.

Before Fan Xian could react, Li Shimin apologized: “The gift is modest, so I’ve prepared additional tokens—I hope Brother Fan and Sister-in-law won’t refuse…”

Refuse?!

Who could refuse this?

Lin Waner’s eyes widened, staring at Li Shimin as if her entire worldview had shattered.

Yet Li Shimin himself truly believed his gift was insignificant—he reached into his sleeve and pulled out a fine brocade box, handing it to Fan Xian.

“What’s this?”

Fan Xian took it curiously.

Li Shimin hesitated, as if wanting to speak but holding back.

Lin Yu glanced at the box’s contents and smiled: “This is Old Li’s imperial decree naming your first child heir, and the jade token confirming their status as prince or princess.”

So this was it!

Fan Xian’s eyes widened, then he carefully tucked it away.

Lin Waner, confused, asked: “Imperial decree?”

Fan Xian explained: “Wife, you forget—Brother Li is Emperor in the mortal world. His Han dynasty exists in another world—the Three Thousand Worlds theory, you recall?”

“I see!”

Lin Waner’s face lit up; she rose and, with Fan Xian, bowed deeply to Li Shimin in thanks.

Seeing this, Li Shimin smiled, recited the wedding blessing he’d had Zhuge Liang write, then stepped back into the group behind Lin Yu.

Su Haoming watched Fan Xian storing the gold and silver mountains, clucking: “Old Li, you really went all out—did you empty the imperial treasury?”

“You underestimate Brother Li!”

He Jing smiled: “Don’t forget—he’s been trading with me for nearly a month, already made a fortune. This is nothing.”

Li Shimin nodded: “He Jing is right.”

For the past month, he’d been a cross-world trader, exchanging Three Kingdoms-era jade, antiques, and artifacts for He Jing’s firearms, grain, and cheap modern glassware.

The former now filled granaries and armories—enough to feed the people three meals a day even through three years of famine.

The latter replaced gold and jade as symbols of luxury, and with near-zero cost, he’d plundered vast wealth from trade with Wei and Wu.

In truth, Shu Han’s wealth now far surpassed Su Haoming’s imagination.

Still, Li Shimin wouldn’t risk the state treasury for mere face.

These five mountains were his personal wealth.

Sichuan’s geology was complex, its mineral resources abundant.

Thanks to He Jing, he obtained a map of China’s mineral deposits and immediately set out, personally discovering untapped veins in Shu.

Even better—he possessed dual Fire and Earth spiritual roots, able to extract ore with Earth spells and smelt it directly with Fire spells.

After the full process, raw ore became wealth in his storage pouch.

The gold mountain he just gave was merely a fraction of what he held.

That’s why Li Shimin considered gold and silver the least valuable gifts.

After all, any group member could do the same—only the will to do it differed!

Lin Waner couldn’t possibly understand Li Shimin and the group’s mindset.

To her, these jewels were already staggering—what could the other True Lords have prepared to make such a wealthy man call himself “poor”?

Thinking this, Lin Waner hesitated, feeling the brothers needn’t have spent so much.

But the group members didn’t care—they prepared to present their gifts.

Xiang Yunye sighed: “Old Li’s opening was so grand, I’m embarrassed to show mine…”

He pulled from his sleeve a bracelet of Lantian jade and handed it to Lin Waner.

“This is my recent masterpiece—wear it, and it repels water and dust, nurtures your body, prolongs life.”

At these words, Lin Waner’s eyes widened in shock.

But this time, not only her—the entire group was stunned.

Fan Xian asked in the group chat: “When did you learn artifact forging?”

Xiang Yunye smirked: “Not forging—it’s talisman crafting!”

(End of Chapter)