He slowly began to speak: "I have also made preparations on my side. I have a spirit servant, who is highly skilled, loyal and reliable, and has been secretly protecting me all these years. Now I can summon him at any time. I have also brought a lot of advanced weapon blueprints from the modern era, and I have had craftsmen forge a batch of firearms, whose power far surpasses that of the bows, arrows, swords and knives of this era. In addition, the supplies I have stockpiled are enough to support us in dealing with any emergencies. Food, medicine, ammunition, everything we need is available."
As she spoke, she raised her hand and waved it, and several figures appeared in the corner of the secret room; they were her spirit servants.
Each of them exuded composure, possessed sharp eyes, and displayed extraordinary strength.
On the shelves next to them were rows of oddly shaped firearms, as well as boxes of ammunition and packaged food and medicine, piled up like mountains.
Pei Wuwang looked at everything before him, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, which quickly turned into deep emotion. He grasped Shen Qingtang's hand, his tone firm: "With you here, I have nothing to fear. No matter how much pressure the royal family exerts, no matter how much trouble the Second Prince and his ilk cause, we can handle it. If we want to conquer this world, there is no reason why we cannot."
Shen Qingtang grasped his hand in return, her eyes gleaming with determination: "Alright, then we shall fight side by side. If they know what's good for them, we'll remain at peace; if they insist on being our enemies, then we'll show them what true strength is."
The two were of one mind, their eyes filled with determination and ambition. A contest concerning imperial power and destiny was already imminent, ready to erupt at any moment.
The shadow of war loomed ever thicker over the capital, and the royal family's surveillance became increasingly tight.
The second prince and his men were itching to make a move.
Pei Wuwang and Shen Qingtang had already stockpiled troops and supplies, and were just waiting for an order to launch an earth-shattering battle.
But at this tense moment, a bizarre rumor spread like wildfire, breaking the deadlock.
Rumors say that a great calamity is about to befall the world.
Floods, droughts, and plagues may follow one after another. Only the appearance of "Fu Bao" can avert this catastrophe and protect peace in all directions.
This "treasure of fortune" is no ordinary object; it is an auspicious omen sent down by heaven, bearing endless blessings. It can bring good fortune and ward off evil, nourish all things, and not only ensure that the people of a region live in peace and prosperity, but also bring favorable weather and a prosperous nation.
Initially, the rumor circulated privately among the people, but as time went on...
More and more people believed it to be true, and some even claimed to have seen auspicious omens or colorful clouds in the night sky.
Or perhaps strange grains of rice are growing in the fields; all these signs seem to confirm the saying that "Fu Bao has appeared in the world."
What was even more shocking was that the Imperial Preceptor, a remarkable man known for his accurate divination and extraordinary abilities, personally ascended the throne to meet the Emperor.
To deduce the secrets of heaven in public.
The Imperial Preceptor, dressed in a black Taoist robe and holding a compass, closed his eyes and pondered for a long time before solemnly reporting to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, I observed the celestial phenomena last night and deduced the Eight Trigrams. Indeed, there are signs of an impending great calamity. However, Heaven is merciful and has sent down a blessed treasure to avert the disaster. My calculations show that this blessed treasure is not a single person or object; its aura is dispersed and subtly connected to Shen Qingtang and Pei Wuwang. Moreover, its core location is precisely at the border of the four kingdoms."
These words caused an uproar throughout the court and shook the entire nation. No one had expected that this treasure could avert such a great calamity.
It turns out that he is involved with Pei Wuwang and Shen Qingtang, who were falsely accused of treason by the Second Prince and others.
Even more unexpectedly, its location was in a place where all sorts of people and forces were mixed and intertwined at the junction of four countries.
Pei Wuwang and Shen Qingtang's location in the suburbs of the capital was situated in the core area where the four kingdoms met, bordering the heart of Daliang to the east and the Western Regions to the west.
It is bordered by tribes in the southern border region to the south and grassland tribes to the north. It is a place where forces from all directions converge and trade is frequent.
Shen Qingtang's businesses were able to quickly spread to the surrounding areas, and Pei Wuwang's influence could also develop secretly without being detected too early.
This rumor, along with the imperial strategist's predictions, instantly disrupted everyone's plans.
The royal family had originally planned to take action against Pei Wuwang and Shen Qingtang, but now that they have learned that the two may be related to Fu Bao, if they act rashly, they may offend the will of Heaven and cause a great calamity, and no one can bear the responsibility for that.
The emperor could only suppress his anger for the time being, ordering a halt to the suppression of the two men and to wait and see what would happen.
The second, third, and fourth princes were furious, but there was nothing they could do.
They originally intended to use the charge of treason to eliminate Pei Wuwang and Shen Qingtang, but Fu Bao's rumors acted as a protective charm, keeping the two safe for the time being.
The claim that it could "save a great calamity" even won him more popular support. The common people had long suffered from war and famine.
Now that they hear that Fu Bao can bring peace, they have even greater respect for Pei Wuwang and Shen Qingtang, who are associated with Fu Bao.
Many people even spontaneously prayed for the two, hoping that they could "awaken" Fu Bao as soon as possible and resolve the calamity.
Pei Wuwang and Shen Qingtang did not expect such a sudden change.
Shen Qingtang looked out the window at the streets and alleys that had become even more bustling because of the rumors.
The people's faces were filled with anticipation and awe, while their hearts were filled with doubt: What exactly is this blessed treasure? Why is it related to them and Pei Wuwang?
Who is behind the spread of this rumor? Is it just a coincidence, or is someone deliberately trying to disrupt the situation, or has some other motive?
Pei Wuwang's expression was solemn as he tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his gaze deep: "Regardless of whether this lucky charm is real or fake, it has at least bought us some time. The Second Prince and his group dare not act rashly again, and the royal family is also somewhat hesitant. We can take this opportunity to further consolidate our power and find out the truth behind this rumor."
This land where the four countries meet has always been a place of undercurrents due to the interplay of power.
Now, due to the rumors surrounding "Fu Bao," things have become even more unpredictable.
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