Chapter 001: Picking Up the Jade Pearl

Huo Chen casually released her chin and said, "I have said that as long as you find these twelve emerald beads by tonight, I will give you the key"

Now she lives on in place of Mu Wanqing

Mu Wanqing slowly raised her head; the person beside Huo Chen was Aunt Gui Xin, who was serving him. She pressed her lips tightly together, remaining silent, and continued to search with her head lowered

The mist rose gently, warm and humid, but when Mu Wanqing saw Huo Chen in the bath, his appearance was strikingly handsome. His pair of pitch-black eyes coldly fixed on her, making her feel an invisible pressure. Mu Wanqing also noticed that several concubines, all of exceptional beauty, were surrounding him.

The real Mu Wanqing has indeed died, and she is another Mu Wanqing

Huo Chen casually pulled Ying Ji over and said, "So, will you pick it up or not?"

Extremely kind to others

She was trembling all over; had it not been for that person being Zhi Ning, she would not have so humbly sought help from Huo Chen

Approaching the bath, a wave of heat envelops me, rising in thick white steam. The enormous square pool, surrounded by marble, features a stone lion perched at each corner. From the mouths of the lions, hot water flows continuously, filling the pool.

"Why not ask the prince for help, madam? The prince is merely acting out of pride; there is no need for you to be at odds with him," Gui Xin said with a frown, feeling that Mu Wanqing was being quite stubborn. "Moreover, the prince is usually very kind to others and would not make things too difficult for you."

What a delightful mandarin duck bath

"How pitiful, it's so cold that there's not even a hint of warmth." Huo Chen said expressionlessly, taking advantage of her moment of daze to sweep all the jade beads from her hand into the bath.

She was originally a doctor, but because she refused to perform surgery on a gangster boss, the gang orchestrated a car accident that buried her in a sea of fire

A person holding an umbrella walked up to her and softly said, "Madam, why not wait until the rain stops before picking it up"

As Mu Wanqing stepped into the bathroom, warmth enveloped her, and she finally felt a hint of comfort. However, she also heard bursts of laughter. Ahead, a screen adorned with flower hairpins separated her from the bath. She spoke aloud, "Your Highness, I have retrieved twelve jade beads."

Mu Wanqing rubbed her sore eyes. In the dim night, she could see nothing and could only rely on her hands to feel her way forward slowly. Bit by bit, she moved ahead until she finally touched a round bead. Picking it up, she saw that it was the jade bead she had been searching for.

Mu Wanqing could not believe how shameless he was. Anger welled up in her heart as she stared at Huo Chen: "What does His Highness mean by this?"

Then look again," Huo Chen said indifferently, "Search in the pond.

I have already brought her, but the prince has swept the jade pearl into the bath pool. Mu Wanqing suppressed her anger.

The bathroom remained as bright as day. Huo Chen glanced at the jade bead in her hand, then looked at her again. She slightly lowered her head, with some damp strands of hair falling beside her cheeks. Her face, with a slightly pointed chin, had a translucent whiteness, and her lips had turned purple. This stunningly beautiful face had unexpectedly become so disheveled.

But now, she is still alive

Mu Wanqing's clothes were still wet, with water dripping from her hair, and the hem of her skirt had already been soiled by mud. She approached slowly, crouched down gently, and extended the jade beads she held in her palms forward, softly saying: "Twelve jade beads, please count them, Your Highness."

"It is the ninth one," Mu Wanqing murmured, yet she had already been exploring in the courtyard and the books for a long time, having also been drenched in the rain for quite a while, her strength completely exhausted

"It just happens to be twelve," Huo Chen said, while already reaching out to grasp her chin.

"Aunt Gui Xin, this is the last one." Mu Wanqing slowly stood up, holding those jade beads in her hands. Her hands, which were once covered in dirt, had now been washed clean by the rain.

To be precise, it is a traversal.

The heavy rain poured down like a whip striking against the body, each lash causing a slight sting. She longed to throw the jade bead in her hand onto the ground and walk away, but this was the Duke Zhuang's residence; how could she possibly escape from here

The laughter abruptly ceased

She was weak in body, so Zhi Ning went to steal some medicinal herbs for her. Before she could succeed, Mu Yirou caught her. It was Ho Chen who personally ordered Zhi Ning to be locked in the woodshed. Now, a day and a night have passed, and Zhi Ning has run out of water and food; she will soon be unable to hold on. She did not know how many times she had pleaded, but in the end, Ho Chen tore a jade bead from Ying Ji's hand, scattering twelve jade beads in the courtyard, demanding that she find them all by tonight, not missing a single one, and then he would give her the key to the woodshed. She did not know how many times she had pleaded, but in the end, Ho Chen tore a jade bead from Ying Ji's hand, scattering twelve jade beads in the courtyard, demanding that she find them all by tonight, not missing a single one, and then he would give her the key to the woodshed.

Mu Wanqing trembled her lips, yet she was unable to speak or express her thoughts for a long time

For Mu Wanqing, who has received modern education, life is the most precious. However, ancient women placed great importance on their chastity. Since the true Mu Wanqing has departed, and heaven has granted her a new life, she will live it to the fullest.

Huo Chen nonchalantly scattered the twelve jade beads in the courtyard. In such a vast courtyard, she had to find twelve jade beads. A faint cold smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she moved again, only to touch some small stones.

A cold voice suddenly rang out: "Come over here and let this king take a look."

The concubines, upon witnessing Huo Chen's actions, could not help but chuckle softly.

In the courtyard of Tonghua Residence, Mu Wanqing was crouched on the ground, seemingly picking up something. The torrential rain fell heavily upon the earth, stirring up the earthy scent, which was whipped up by the lashing downpour. The courtyard was shrouded in darkness, yet she continued to search for something, her entire body soaked through, shivering in the cold. The scene of her being battered by the rain and wind was truly pitiful

Mu Wanqing felt as if her back was pricked by thorns. Enduring such bullying from Huo Chen, how could she withstand it? She stood up and stared at Huo Chen: "I have already brought the jade beads and the illustrated book as agreed, yet Your Highness does not keep your promise"

Mu Wanqing was startled, her body involuntarily shivering. Despite Huo Chen's hand being incredibly warm, she still wanted to escape

Not far ahead was the bathroom. Her lips had already turned purple from the cold. The maid at the door, seeing her holding a jade orb, opened the door for her. Her shoes were covered in mud, so she could only take them off before stepping inside

"Crouch down and let this king count." Huo Chen leaned against the edge of the bath.

The night is tranquil, yet it is accompanied by a violent storm and thunder, with the sound of rain pouring down.

Mu Wanqing did not want to take a single step, but when she thought of the first sight she saw upon waking up after her journey through time—Zhi Ning's eyes, swollen and red from crying—her heart felt as if it had been struck hard by someone. Taking a deep breath, she walked around the flower-adorned lady screen and approached the bath.

Gui Xin glanced at her. Even though her clothes were completely soaked and her hair was disheveled by the wind and rain, her pair of bright, expressive eyes made it impossible for anyone to look away. Gui Xin quickly covered her and said, "The prince is taking a bath. I will take you to the bathroom. Hurry and get the key, and we can let Zhi Ning out."

When Mu Wanqing woke up and opened her eyes, the first person she saw was Zhi Ning, who had been taking care of her all along