Once a person has held office for a long time and gained power, all they want is to make some money.

Wu Chi's eyes darted around, and he said with a sly grin, "Grand Master Zhou, you truly have an eye for talent!"

"The Longjing tea you're drinking is indeed intended to be presented as tribute to His Majesty in a few days," Wu Chi truthfully reported.

"Then how does the richest man, Wu, plan to send him to the palace?" Zhou Zhizhi took another sip of tea and squinted at Wu Chi.

"Well, naturally we'll go through the normal tribute channels, but if the Grand Preceptor is willing to do me a favor, I would be eternally grateful." Upon hearing Zhou Zhizhi's question, Wu Chi immediately understood that she must have something else in mind.

“I do have connections here. I can help you, Mr. Wu, get this tea to the Emperor and put in a good word for you.”

"But I'll have to pay a price to protect you."

Generally, the tributes offered to the emperor were equivalent to the palace acting as a free spokesperson, and the princes and nobles below would flock to them, wanting to enjoy the same things as the emperor.

Although palace regulations forbade the sale of tribute items, the lure of enormous profits still tempted many to take the risk. This had become an unspoken rule that everyone tacitly agreed upon.

These merchants who made offerings would secretly hoard some and quietly sell them to princes and nobles who were willing to pay high prices.

The more tribute these wealthy and powerful families possessed, the more it proved their wealth and strength.

Upon hearing that such a wonderful opportunity had been offered to him, Wu Chi naturally had no reason to refuse. So he happily agreed, "I am truly grateful to Grand Preceptor Zhou. May I ask what you require? As long as it is available in my residence, I will certainly offer it to you with open arms!"

Seeing that the two had talked enough, Zhou Zhizhi tentatively revealed her purpose.

"I heard that the richest man in Wuda has a martial arts manual called 'Bei Ming Divine Skill'. May I borrow it and see its true form?"

When Wu Chi heard that Zhou Zhizhi wanted the Northern Darkness Divine Art, he began to have doubts.

"Although the 'Northern Darkness Divine Art' is said to be a supreme martial arts manual, it is extremely difficult to master it. What's going on? One after another, people are asking him for the 'Northern Darkness Divine Art'."

Wu Chi had spent a great deal of effort and money to obtain the "Northern Darkness Divine Art" from a wandering immortal. Naturally, he was unwilling to give it away so easily.

He's someone who values ​​martial arts much more than business.

However, given that Zhou Zhizhi was the Grand Preceptor of the Great Xiao Kingdom, possessing power second only to the emperor, he couldn't directly offend her.

Wu Chi pondered in silence for a moment: "Grand Master Zhou, it's not that I'm unwilling to give you the 'Northern Darkness Divine Art,' but the First Prince already took it from me a while ago."

In fact, the eldest prince had only sent someone to ask Wu Chi for this supreme martial arts manual.

Upon receiving the news, Wu Chizhi feigned illness and kept delaying, not yet deciding on an excuse to reply to the Crown Prince.

Now that Zhou Zhizhi is asking him for the Northern Darkness Divine Skill, he can use that as an excuse to respond to the First Prince with the same trick.

Although she did not hold an official position in the imperial court, she had heard rumors that Zhou Zhizhi remained neutral and had always been at odds with the eldest prince.

Wu Chi was certain that Zhou Zhizhi wouldn't go to the First Prince for a so-called cultivation technique, which would only arouse the Emperor's suspicion.

Similarly, the eldest prince disdained to curry favor with the Grand Preceptor for the sake of a cultivation technique.

Zhou Zhi didn't know what else to say after hearing Wu Chi's answer.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you today, I'll take my leave now."

"Oh, Grand Preceptor Zhou, please take your time. Please come back if you need anything."

Wu Chi smiled and saw Zhou Zhizhi and Wu Da and Wu Er off from his residence.

After watching Zhou Zhizhi and her entourage walk away, he immediately sent a servant to report to the First Prince.

Back at the Imperial Preceptor's residence, Zhou Zhizhi sat in the small garden, her hands unconsciously tugging at the grass on the ground.

I really didn't want to have anything to do with that idiot, the First Prince Xiao Dongyang, but the system kept reminding me of the countdown to his annihilation every day.

"Alas! Why is it so hard to save my life!" Zhou Zhizhi sighed, looking up at the sky.

"You are already one of the top experts in the Great Xiao Kingdom, who would dare to make things difficult for you?"

"Yes, yes, tell your men to go and kill him right now!" Wu Da and Wu Er looked at the sullen Zhou Zhizhi and asked in confusion after hearing her discouraging words.

"You're lucky you can even take care of yourselves. What are you doing here instead of practicing your skills?" Zhou Zhizhi said.

Wu Da and Wu Er are concerned about themselves, but their own skills are really too poor. If they don't practice diligently, they will only hold themselves back when they go out in the future.

[28 days until they are wiped out.]

The system's mechanical and cold voice echoed in Zhou Zhizhi's mind.

Like the horn of the King of Hell calling for death, it jolted Zhou Zhizhi awake from her sleep.

Zhou Zhizhi got up, poured herself a glass of water, and drank it, knowing she couldn't just sit and wait to die any longer.

So he changed back into her old friend—the night clothes.

They planned to sneak into the Crown Prince's residence at night, find the "Northern Darkness Divine Art," and bring it back.

Zhou Zhizhi crouched on the eaves of the First Prince's residence and tiptoed over to lift a piece of tile.

Carefully assessing the situation inside the room, the eldest prince, after all, was born to a favored imperial concubine and was the strongest contender for the throne.

The guards in the mansion were very strict in the north, and the guards changed shifts every incense stick's time. Unlike Xiao Xiyou, who was not favored by the princes, the mansion had few people and guards.

Zhou Zhizhi had to be extremely careful to avoid the guards, lest she alert them.

Xiao Dongyang had clearly fallen asleep; the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Zhou Zhizhi seized the opportunity, got up, used her internal energy, and silently sneaked into the eldest prince's room.

To prevent waking Xiao Dongyang, Zhou Zhizhi lit a sleeping incense, causing the big fool to fall into a deep sleep.

The incense is extremely potent, capable of putting someone into a deep sleep for at least two hours. During this time, the person will not wake up regardless of wind, thunder, or even an earthquake.

She first searched the table and then checked the bookshelves in the back, but found nothing.

As darkness gradually gave way to dawn, Zhou Zhizhi sighed helplessly.

She knew she had to leave, or her whereabouts would be exposed, which would only make things worse.

Zhou Zhizhi was extremely frustrated upon returning to the Imperial Preceptor's residence. She had not only failed to devise a strategy to deal with the Eastern Depot, but also had not been able to find the "Northern Darkness Divine Art".

Devastated, Zhou Zhizhi lay lifeless on the bed.

"Xiaoyue, Xiaoyue," Zhou Zhizhi called softly to Xiaoyue, who was waiting outside the door.

"Master, what is it?" Upon hearing Zhou Zhizhi's call, Xiaoyue immediately pushed open the door and entered, walking to the bedside to inquire.

"Go tell the kitchen to prepare a table full of delicious dishes for me. I want crystal shrimp dumplings, braised pork knuckle, lotus root and pork rib soup, and some seasonal vegetables."