Chu Feiyan awoke, and Chu Minghao and Gui Tong immediately rushed to her side.
The "lifeless object" on the table suddenly seemed to lose all importance, with no one paying it any mind.
After they left, Chu Qianli picked up the recording pen and opened it.
It contained a message from Long Xinghe, left a day prior, which Shi Yi had already delivered.
After listening, she deleted the recording directly.
Chu Minghao would never have the chance to discover the recording pen's secret.
Removing the battery, she placed the recording pen back on the table and paid it no further attention.
Instead, she walked to the window and waved her hand.
A new recording pen, hanging from a branch in the distance, was retrieved by her.
This recording pen had been delivered by Shi Yi that very morning. One had to admit, Shi Yi's disguise skills were truly remarkable.
Even Gui Tong had not noticed.
However, Gui Tong had been guarding her all day, leaving her no opportunity to get her hands on the recording pen.
Now that Chu Feiyan was awake, Gui Tong had finally left.
Chu Qianli immediately opened the recording pen.
It held the message Long Xinghe had left her before departing.
Hua Rong, Feng Jinghua!
Consort Rong was the former Princess of Ye.
So, was Princess Ye's return meant to reclaim everything for Prince Ye?
Was Prince Ye truly killed by the current Emperor?
But then, why was Feng Yexuan born full-term?
Even with modern technology, it was unlikely to keep a child in the womb for two extra months.
Could it be that he truly wasn't Prince Ye's son?
But if he wasn't Prince Ye's son, he wouldn't possibly help Hua Rong against the current Feng imperial family.
What else was amiss here, Chu Qianli couldn't figure out for the moment.
As for Murong Yu being one of the founders of Yaoren Valley back then, while she didn't know this, it didn't seem to come as a great surprise.
Murong Yu had already admitted her involvement in Long Xiyue's death, and Chu Qianli actually knew this.
Before, she had even considered that Long Xiyue was killed by Murong Yu.
But Murong Yu was Wuya's mother. If she killed Murong Yu for revenge, Wuya would be devastated.
For Feng Wuya's sake, she decided not to act until she had irrefutable proof that Murong Yu had killed her mother.
But now, Long Xinghe's message proved that Murong Yu was not the true culprit behind Long Xiyue's death.
Then, who was it that had forced Long Xiyue to her death with the Yaoren army back then?
And who was Murong Yu's junior disciple, Long Xiyue's senior disciple? Was he her father?
Murong Yu had left with Long Xinghe. When she found Murong Yu in the future, she would definitely ask him personally.
Outside, a bird chirped again.
Chu Qianli quickly walked to the window.
Beneath a tree in the distance, a servant was sweeping fallen leaves.
Chu Qianli whistled, and the servant immediately came to the window.
"Gui Tong left not long ago, he'll likely be back soon," she said.
Shi Yi adjusted his servant's cap and whispered, "A piece of news suddenly spread through the imperial city today, that the legendary Heaven and Earth Lock has appeared in the Southern Ming imperial city."
"Impossible," Chu Qianli's eyes darkened.
Shi Yi looked at her in surprise, "Boss, why... impossible?"
The Heaven and Earth Lock had been missing for many years, and people had been searching for it for just as long.
Because, according to legend, the Heaven and Earth Lock contained a treasure map, and whoever obtained the treasure within could become incredibly wealthy.
Now that they all had their own forces, if one of them could obtain the treasure, they could recruit soldiers and rapidly expand their influence.
At that point, they could truly control the situation and overthrow the government.
Shi Yi looked at her, lowered his voice, and urged, "Boss, if you can obtain the Heaven and Earth Lock and find the treasure within, you will possess forces far greater than Prince Xuan and Prince He! You absolutely cannot miss the treasure of the Heaven and Earth Lock."