Galloping A Thousand Miles - Return

"Father."

The clear voice of a girl disrupted the chaos in the hall. Jingan was unbothered by the ruckus, remaining calm as she held up the book that landed on her table. She gently flipped through the ancient book from Lizhe Kingdom with her pretty fingers. Her eyes gleamed with curiosity similarly to a young girl with her interest piqued.

"Jing'er has studied foreign languages to an extent and has read some foreign books. What is this book about?"

Before the Emperor could scold Jin Wangsun for his inappropriateness, the Emperor needed to quickly direct his attention to Jingan. "Jing'er, don't look! Don't look!"

Even Princess Hongzhuang stopped her, albeit with a bright red face. "Sister, you cannot look inside!"

"Huh? Why not?" asked Jingan, expression pure, yet beautiful as flowers in boom. She titled her head. "I saw this book in your room, as well, Sister."

Jingan's statement was literally a pebble that stirred up a sky-high wave. The entire hall fell dead silent.

"The Princess likes to read Lord San Shen X Ximen Chuideng? What sort of preference is that?" wondered the audience.

The Emperor's expression obviously took a turn for the worse. As soon as he looked to the two girls, Hongzhuang, who sat next to Jingan, jumped to her feet as soon as Jingan was about to read it out loud. "Huh?!!! Wh-Wh-Why did you enter my room, Sister?!"

"Why else?" rhetorically asked Jingan. She covered her mouth and giggled. "A few days ago, I went to see you, but couldn't find you. I figured you must've left the palace, so I went to your palace to see if you left a notice for me, telling me where you went. Who would've known?"

Jingan poked Hongzhuang's supple skin in similar to fashion when lecturing a young girl and feeling unhappy.

"You didn't leave any notices for me. You knew I came back to the capital, yet didn't leave a single message. Don't you think you're too naughty?"

Hongzhuang's face turned red thanks to Jingan's poking. Hongzhuang always had a tomboy side to her. She, in fact, was pretty much as unrestrained and frank as a boy. Therefore, she was powerless against her elder sister who was the epitome of femininity. Hongzhuang wasn't afraid of challenges or fighting, but her sister's soft voice and elegant speech rendered her powerless.

"I-I… I am sorry, Sister. I was not aware you had returned at the time."

Jingan stopped Hongzhuang's overreaction and picked up the "Lord San Shen X Ximen Chuideng" book again. She turned back to face the Emperor. "I did not take a close look back then, though. It seems that I missed out on a treasure. I was unaware that this was an ancient book, Father."

Despite being well-aware of his daughter's feelings for Lord San Shen, the Emperor couldn't tell everyone present, including his own relatives, that Princess Hongzhuang liked a leader in the Demon Sect. As such, he had to force himself to fight the urge and look unfettered. "I took a look at the book just now. It's actually… an ordinary book on religion. It's nothing valuable by any account. It just so happens to be that the sincerity is undeniable, as it was brought back from Lizhe Kingdom, which is thousands of miles away."

In his mind, however, the Emperor exclaimed, "Jing'er, Jing'er, the ignorant may be innocent, but you have completely ruined your father!"

All of the Emperor's relatives laughed with him. The Emperor knew that his claim was ridiculous. Having said that, they did partially believe him.

"Wow," remarked Jingan. "So, that means that Master Jin gave you a big gift, Sister. The book in your room was the exact same. I guess you're both in sync."

Hongzhuang stroked her lower jaw as if she had a tooth ache. "Y-Yeah… I-I guess it is not too shabby for a gift."

"That's fantastic, Sister. You and Master Jin are fated for each other."

"Y-Y-Yeah, fated, fated."

Hongzhuang wanted to just climb into a hole; she could no longer even look at her sister. She had read the book in her room countless times, but didn't leave any traces behind. Her sister's mention of the book in her father and relatives' presence was akin to being caught reading porn. Being sensitive as she was, Hongzhuang couldn't help being fidgety due to the embarrassment.

Wanting to change the subject as fast as possible, the Emperor said, "Wangsun's item is hereby considered submitted. All right, Constable Tang!"

"Present."

"Submit your gift now. I shall personally examine it."

Tang Ye's eyes drifted back and forth. Hesitant, he said, "Uhh, umm, th-the gift we have… the gift we have for Her Highn-"

"Don't fret, Young Tang. Geniuses have genius ideas. Trust me on it," interjected Hongjiu, in a muffled tone after coughing.

Without giving Tang Ye any time to think, Hongjiu took a step forward and handed up the gift on behalf of Ming Feizhen. "Your Majesty, this is the gift Ming Feizhen asked your subject to give you."

After taking it off Hongjiu and taking a look, the Emperor nearly passed out due to anger.

The cover was the same. The paper felt the same. The only difference was the number after "part". Even the text were the same. It was clearly from the same series.

"'Lord San Shen X Ximen Chuideng' again?! And previous chapter?!" The Emperor hurled the book at Tang Ye's face and thundered, "Are you two here to sell me porn books today?!"

The entire audience couldn't help instantly bursting out in laughter! The Emperor realised how embarrassed he was. Unfortunately, he didn't know what to do about the two walking bizarre individuals.

Jing Wangsun, on the other hand, was surprised. He thought, "Oh? They could import such a rare item, as well?"

Jingan didn't realise she wore a smile on her face. Princess Hongzhuang was the only who covered her face while peeking out the gaps between her fingers. She thought to herself, "There's a previous chapter of god's work?! Where do they sell it?! Leave me the third book! I need it for collection and reading purposes!"

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Long Zaitian guarded the palace doors with a stern expression. After boasting as if he was without equal, he