reward?
Lin Wanwan's heart was filled with doubt.
Looking at the simple, unadorned sandalwood box on the dragon table, she was momentarily unable to fathom Xiao Che's thoughts.
Although she has done a great service today, in the final analysis, everything she did was for self-preservation, and incidentally... she also helped him out.
In this transactional collaboration, both parties got what they wanted, and it should have been a clean break.
Why would he specifically "reward" him?
Is it a simple reward? Or... is there a deeper meaning?
"Open it and take a look." Xiao Che's voice remained in that cold, emotionless tone.
Lin Wanwan suppressed her speculations and slowly stepped forward to the dragon desk that symbolized the highest power of the empire.
This was the first time she had been so close to the dragon case.
She could clearly see the mountain of memorials piled on the desk, and Xiao Che's imperial brush, still stained with vermilion ink, which had just been used to review the memorials.
An invisible, imperial pressure emanated from the table.
But Lin Wanwan's heart was unusually calm.
Her gaze fell on the sandalwood box.
The wooden box is exquisitely crafted, yet without any superfluous carvings. It is smooth all over, with only a tiny coiled dragon pattern at the hidden clasp.
Low-key and reserved, yet exuding an indescribable air of nobility.
Lin Wanwan reached out her hand, her fingertips gently touching the cool, hidden clasp.
Her heart also jumped.
She didn't know what was inside the box.
Is it priceless jewelry? Or gold that can guarantee her a lifetime of wealth and luxury?
She gently pressed the hidden clasp.
With a soft "click," the lid of the box opened.
Lin Wanwan's breathing seemed to stop for a moment.
However, the scene that came into her view was far beyond her expectations.
Inside the box, there was neither the dazzling jewels nor the glittering gold and silver she had imagined.
On that dark red velvet cushion, lying quietly, was only... a jade pendant.
It was a jade pendant, its surface smooth and lustrous, carved from an unknown type of jade. The color of the pendant was quite unusual; it wasn't the common white or green jade, but an extremely deep, almost inky black.
In the dim light of the imperial study, the jade pendant seemed to absorb all the light, with only its edges revealing a warm, watery luster.
On the jade pendant is carved a lifelike coiled dragon with its head and tail intertwined. The dragon's body is strong and agile, its scales are clearly visible, and its eyes are bright and piercing, as if it might burst out of the jade pendant at any moment and soar into the sky.
Lin Wanwan's gaze was deeply drawn to this unique jade pendant.
It is beautiful.
It is a restrained, powerful, and uniquely masculine beauty.
But... it was just a jade pendant.
Although it appears to be quite valuable, as an "appreciation" from the emperor, it seems... rather ordinary.
Just as she was wondering, that cold voice rang out again, clearing up all her confusion.
"This is my personal jade seal."
Xiao Che's voice remained calm, as if he were talking about something trivial.
But to Lin Wanwan, those seven words were like a thunderclap, exploding with deafening force!
A privately sealed jade pendant?!
Lin Wanwan gasped, abruptly raising her head to look at Xiao Che in disbelief.
Although she didn't know much about the rules of the palace, she had heard that in addition to the Imperial Seal of the State, which represented the supreme imperial power, the emperor also had a private jade pendant that he never parted with.
That jade pendant was not used to review memorials or issue imperial edicts.
It has only one function.
That is... troop deployment!
Xiao Che continued to explain in his completely flat tone:
"Seeing this pendant is like seeing the Emperor himself."
"With this token, one can directly mobilize... the three thousand imperial guards of the capital region without the need for military tally or imperial edict."
"boom--!"
Lin Wanwan's mind completely exploded the moment she heard those words!
Three thousand Imperial Guards!
This...this is almost half of the mobile forces stationed in the capital!
They are the core armed forces that guard the imperial city and protect the safety of the emperor!
And now...
This man just casually handed over the command to me to mobilize this army?!
This is hardly a reward!
This is simply... simply giving her half of his life and even half of his empire!
"Your Majesty...this...this is far too precious! Your Majesty...your concubine dares not accept it!"
Lin Wanwan turned pale with fright and instinctively tried to close the box and take a step back.
She never imagined that her self-defense counterattack would bring such an earth-shattering reward!
This "reward" is too heavy, too hot to handle!
It was so heavy that she didn't dare to accept it, nor could she afford to!
However, Xiao Che simply watched her panicked appearance with cold indifference.
The corners of his mouth seemed to...except slightly, curve upwards, before immediately returning to his icy expression.
"What is there to be afraid of?"
He asked in a calm tone, his voice carrying an undeniable air of authority.
"The imperial harem is more dangerous than you can imagine."
"Empress Dowager, although we have suffered a great loss today, she will never let this go. Liu Fu is just a finger she has cut off. Her power is still deeply entrenched and unfathomable."
"Take it."
His gaze fell on the dark jade pendant, and his eyes became deep and sharp.
"In preparation for...unexpected needs."
His words were very clear.
This is not a reward.
This is a... talisman.
One of these is the most powerful talisman that will allow her to protect herself in this perilous palace where she could be silenced at any moment.
It was also a form of trust, the highest level of trust he gave her.
Lin Wanwan was so shocked that she couldn't say a word.
Looking at the deep-thinking, emotionless man before her, she felt for the first time that she couldn't quite understand him.
What was his mindset that led him to make such a crazy decision?
Just because I helped him get rid of Liu Fu?
Or is it because he has already regarded himself as an indispensable part of his plan?
She tried to glean some clues from his cold, stern face.
Yet his expression remained unfathomable, like a bottomless, icy pool, making it impossible for anyone to discern even a fraction of its depth.
However……
Just as Lin Wanwan's heart was filled with turbulent waves and endless twists and turns.
Her uncontrollable eyes still habitually looked at the "screen display" above his head.
Then, she saw it.
Above Xiao Che's cold face, which seemed to say "keep away".
A brand new emoji, tinged with a hint of smugness, a touch of arrogance, and even a bit of a domineering CEO vibe, is slowly and clearly emerging—
It was a pixelated little figure, standing coolly with his arms crossed, a smirk on his face, and an expression that said "everything is under control."
Beside it, there was a line of extremely eye-catching, shimmering large characters.
[From now on, you're mine.jpg]
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