Elsewhere, Su Yan was sitting in the pavilion, daydreaming, as numerous tiny characters appeared before her eyes which she was reading intently.
All methods of coaxing provided by Xiao Hua.
Suddenly, Xiao Hua’s voice rang out
"Ding-dong, congratulations to the Host for successfully completing the random task."
Su Yan snapped out of her reverie.
By her calculations, it had been ten days since she had fed Xuanyuan Yonghao the poisonous insect.
Then Xiao Hua spoke cheerfully
"Host, you have received a random reward."
"What is it?"
"Ding-dong, a Personal Space."
Following that, Xiao Hua explained
"Host, you can put anything in this Personal Space, whether it’s alive or not, with the only limitation being two types of items."
Su Yan became somewhat interested
"Can I put myself into it?"
"····No, you cannot."
"Then can I put the Third Prince into it?"
"·····Also not possible.·· It is limited to living things other than humans."
That said, this thing didn’t seem very useful.
Immediately after, Xiao Hua added
"Host, anything you place in this space will belong to you for a long time, and you can take it across planes."
"Does it mean I can take things and leave this outer world?"
"Yes, Host."
But··· she didn’t seem to have anything particularly important she wanted to take with her.
After thinking for a bit
"Then, can I take Little Red with me?"
Little Red?
The poisonous snake?
Xiao Hua asked without holding back
"Host, do you like that snake a lot?"
"Not bad, it’s very obedient."
After saying this, Su Yan asked another question
"Can I take it with me?"
"You can, Host."
Su Yan licked her lips, a little pleased.
"Host, is there anything else you would like to store? You can still take one more item."
"No, that’s it."
Su Yan answered bluntly.
Having said this, she recalled something else
"Xiao Hua"
"Yes, Host?"
"Does that mean I no longer have to be a spy?"
"Correct, the ten-day task is over."
"Then, I don’t have to write in that booklet either?"
"Of course."
Hearing this, Su Yan was even happier, not having to laboriously write those words anymore.
Although, that booklet was nearly fully written already.
As they conversed in whispers, Chunhua reappeared, having left earlier.
Chunhua approached Su Yan and said,
"General Lin and Prime Minister Zhao are here, they say they wish to see you."
Su Yan was momentarily bewildered.
These two··· She had met them once before, but they were not acquaintances.
Seeing Su Yan’s confusion, Chunhua could not help but laugh and ask,
"They said it’s urgent, would you like to see them?"
Su Yan nodded
"Alright."
Chunhua left, and after a short while, Prime Minister Zhao walked in.
General Lin was still nowhere to be seen.
Zhao Ziyang, looking refined and gentle,
"Miss Su Yan, we meet again."
Su Yan stood up, puzzled
"Prime Minister Zhao, what’s the matter?"
Zhao Ziyang carefully studied Su Yan.
He was here out of necessity, his last resort.
Chunhua placed a cup of tea on the stone table.
Zhao Ziyang sat down opposite Su Yan.
With a cup of warm tea in hand, his scholarly demeanor softened the sharpness in his eyes, gentle as a spring breeze.
He took a sip of tea.
"Miss Su Yan, have you heard about the recent events outside?"
"I’ve heard a bit."
"Then, do you know about nearly three hundred guards and palace maids from the Eldest Prince and Second Prince’s residences soon facing execution and mutilation?"
Su Yan nodded,
"I have heard."
She remained calm, not showing the alarm or horror that a typical woman might upon hearing such news.
Zhao Ziyang watched her reaction with a bit of surprise.
She looked delicate, yet proved to be very resilient.