Chapter 425: The Treasure Vault Has Been Found

Father and son looked at each other in silence.

After a few breaths, Xiao Moting spoke slowly.

"Father Emperor, now that I have ascended the throne, this is not what you wanted, is it?"

Emperor Xuanjing could not speak; he just glared, looking at Xiao Moting, clearly hating that this son had become emperor.

Xiao Moting did not mind, only smiling faintly.

"From childhood to adulthood, Father Emperor never liked me, this son. To pave the way for the Second Imperial Brother, you did not hesitate to send me, young as I was, to Beijiang, forcing me and my birth mother to be separated."

"At that time, I was only six years old. You gave me the title of 'Prince of Zhenbei' verbally, but never issued a formal decree to enfeoff me. Thus, my name was not justified and my position was not proper; my subordinates called me 'Prince', not daring to address me as a King."

"Once, I felt it was unfair—why, when we were all your sons, you could not treat us fairly? Later, I realized that born into an imperial family, brothers are not brothers, but rivals slaughtering one another."

"The thing they competed for was this throne, and you were always on guard against me seizing it. But have you ever thought that I never wanted to contend for the imperial throne, nor did I have any covetous heart? In Beijiang, I saw too much suffering of the common people; I only wanted Daliang to stop fighting, so the people could enjoy peace."

"Today I come to see you, not with the intent to hate you, nor do I want to do anything. I only want to tell you that from now on, I will make Daliang peaceful and tranquil, let the people recuperate, and I will do my utmost to make Daliang a prosperous age."

"You shall stay in this small courtyard and witness with your own eyes me creating a prosperous and peaceful Daliang."

"Your subject Xiao Moting, takes his leave."

Xiao Moting performed a salute, turned, and walked out.

He passed through long corridors, crossed layers of palace courtyards, and finally arrived before an exquisite and quiet palace courtyard.

Lamps and candles were lit in the palace, the candlelight casting the silhouette of a woman onto the paper window.

The woman was resting her chin on her hand, seemingly troubled.

Xiao Moting paused, then pushed the door open and walked in.

Inside the palace, the lamps and candles were bright.

Bai Wei was resting her chin on her hand, sitting by the window, her brows lightly furrowed.

She had already stayed in the Daliang Dynasty for nearly a month.

After the power of the Jade Pendant vanished, she could no longer sense the space, seemingly having become an ordinary person.

Although Xiao Moting treated her very well, Bai Wei was still unhappy.

Her Farm, her Trade Company, the Vegetable Base she had built with such difficulty, the winery...

She was an archaeologist, too! This was a tenured position that everyone fought tooth and nail to get!

All of it was in the modern era.

Xiao Moting's career was governing Daliang, while her career was establishing agricultural product bases, leading the whole village to prosperity, as well as promoting ancient Huaxia culture and carrying the archaeological cause to the end.

Hearing footsteps, Bai Wei looked up and saw Xiao Moting had arrived.

She stood up and performed a salute.

"Your Majesty, has the enthronement ceremony concluded?"

Xiao Moting's sword-like brows furrowed, and he immediately followed suit, bowing with solemn formality.

"Shennü Daren, this humble general has finished attending the enthronement ceremony and has come to await your instructions."

"Pfft!" Bai Wei couldn't help but laugh.

This blockhead, usually so stiff and formal, had actually learned to tease her.

"Xiao Moting, the ceremony's etiquette must be very tedious, hurry and sit down to rest."

Xiao Moting then smiled slightly and sat down on the couch.

"Seeing you weren't very happy just now, were you still thinking about Zhou Yanli?"

Mentioning the three words 'Zhou Yanli', Bai Wei's expression dimmed slightly, and she shook her head.

"Grandfather has already taken Yanli home. I was thinking about the Jade Pendant; without the Jade Pendant, I cannot return to the modern era."

"Do not worry about this matter," Xiao Moting said softly. "I have already issued orders for people to search for a way to help you return. If Daliang cannot find it, we will search abroad; if we still cannot find it, we will cross the ocean to even more distant places. In any case, we will certainly find it."

Bai Wei raised her eyes. "Xiao Moting, haven't you always wanted me to stay here? If I can't go back, why are you unhappy too?"

Xiao Moting smiled, his eyes filled with a bit more tenderness.

"Having you stay is indeed my wish. But to me, your wishes are more important."

"Bai Wei, I do not want you to have regrets. Your home is in the modern era; you ought to return. As long as you do not forget me, that is enough."

Bai Wei lowered her head and thought for a moment.

Actually, these past few days, she had thought a lot.

Grandfather had already decided to stay in Daliang; if she truly could not return, she would be like Grandfather and stay to help the ancients.

"Xiao Moting, if I stay... I can learn to adapt to this place."

Xiao Moting held his breath, a flash of light appearing in his eyes.

"You are truly willing to stay?"

Bai Wei nodded earnestly.

"Although Daliang is no longer in the midst of war, the people still do not have enough to eat because the ancient methods of planting, water irrigation, and animal husbandry are too backward. Furthermore, natural disasters also affect farming; if crops cannot grow in the fields, countless people will starve to death."

"If I stay here, I will teach the ancients knowledge, use modern science to teach them how to farm, help them escape poverty, and ensure no one in Daliang starves to death anymore."

It was just that she no longer had the space, nor could she use modern items anymore.

A flash of being moved crossed Xiao Moting's eyes.

He was quiet for a moment, then spoke solemnly.

"Bai Wei, thank you! The people of Daliang will also be grateful to you!"

Outside the door, a commotion suddenly arose.

A palace attendant reported in a low voice from outside the door.

"Your Majesty, Old Master Li has arrived, saying there is an urgent matter."

"Quickly let Old Master Li in." Xiao Moting paused. "Also, tell the Old Master he need not stand on ceremony."

Li Zongguang walked in from outside the door.

He glanced at Bai Wei, then his gaze swept toward Xiao Moting, who was wearing a Dragon Robe.

Li Zongguang hesitated for a moment, but still decided to follow protocol and salute Xiao Moting.

"This commoner greets..."

"Old Master, you don't need to salute me," Xiao Moting hurriedly stopped him, "I am still the same as before, and you should just be as you were before."

He was also startled; in front of Bai Wei, he never referred to himself as "Zhen," only as "I."

Xiao Moting was truly afraid that Old Master Li would kneel and kowtow three times to him in front of Bai Wei, shouting "Long live."

That would be awkward.

Seeing her grandfather return safely, Bai Wei finally set her anxious heart at ease.

She hurriedly stood up to support her grandfather.

"Grandfather, you've worked hard, sit down and rest. Are you hungry? I'll have someone prepare some food."

Li Zongguang walked to the side of a chair and sat down.

"Yanli has been buried, laid to rest with his clansmen. Don't let his pride fool you; in truth, he always missed his hometown and wanted to return to his roots. In this way, his wish can be considered fulfilled."

Bai Wei lowered her eyes, her nose feeling slightly sore.

Xiao Moting said, "In a few days, once the palace affairs are settled, I will accompany you to Wushan to pay respects to Yanli and his clansmen."

Bai Wei nodded.

Li Zongguang took a sip of tea, "The Treasure Vault has been found."

Bai Wei held her breath, "Found?"

She could not return to the modern era, so the resources her grandmother had stored in the Treasure Vault could be put to use.

Li Zongguang said, "There are many things in the Treasure Vault; I only took one item, then had people seal the cave."

"Why?" Bai Wei asked in surprise, "If the cave is sealed, won't the things inside be impossible to retrieve?"