"What about that ancient primordial presence I felt when I held the stone. Does everyone normally feel that as well?" Liu Tián Qǔ asked.

"What presence?" The Grand Prince asked with a slight frown on his face.

Wang Fèn Yǒng and Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā explained the old ancient primordial presence they seemed to attract through the Knell stone.

After they finished explaining the ancient presence to the Grand Prince. The Grand Prince looked over to Liu Tián Qǔ and shooked his head and said, "I have never heard of anything like this before. Imperial Grandfather will most certainly want to see what this old presence is about. Chances are he will ask you to touch the stone again and join you so he could see what it is all about. Do you feel as if you are able to touch the stone again later on?"

Liu Tián Qǔ swallowed hard before saying, "If he asks me, then yes, I will do it again. I, too, am curious to see what happens." The truth was Liu Tián Qǔ was experiencing another attack of the curiosity disease that she had. If it weren't for the pain, she would have already touched the stone again to see what would happen.

"I will be sure to let Imperial Grandfather know that as well," The Grand Prince said.

A glint lit Liu Tián Qǔ eyes as she asked, "So am I right in assuming that the Imperial family will want to procure as many Knell Stones as possible from my residence?"

"Yes, after the memorial of the Four Families is taken care of later on tonight. We will meet with the Emperor and Grandfather and see what steps they would like to take concerning this matter. If we are unable to meet tonight. Then we will most defiantly meet tomorrow." The Grand Prince chuckled as he looked at the Young Lord, who was now grinning widely.

The Grand Prince already knew where this was going. Since his Younger brother, the Emperor, made off with the young lord's carriage. The Grand Prince was quite sure that the young lord will use this time to get revenge.

"I promised my Butler that I would no longer tease the Emperor, so I won't." A grinning Liu Tián Qǔ said. "With that said, let's open negotiations. These rocks are useless to me. However, it is something that is priceless and rare to the Imperial Family. You can take as many as you want, they are plentiful and all over the place in my residence. Just leave behind a few for the good energy that they are releasing in my residence. However, I would like to name eight conditions."

The Grand Prince's light chuckle turned into a deeper laughter. Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā could no longer contain her amusement. She broke out into a light laugh. Deep unhidden amusement also showed in Wang Fèn Yǒng beautiful eyes. They were all deeply amused as they looked at the smirking young lord who was now gunning for revenge from the Emperor who stole his carriage.

"Name your conditions," Wang Fèn Yǒng said to his young friend.

I understand that my identity must be explained to the Emperor. I only request that when you tell the Emperor of my identity, you do it in private. My first condition is that my identity remain a secret a bit longer. I need more time before the vultures descend.

The Grand Prince and Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā both nodded in agreement. "This is wise," Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā said.

"Good," said the Grand Prince. "Name your second condition."

"I've just started this residence, and all my servants are new. As of now, I don't trust any of my servants. We are currently investigating all of the servants in my residence. However, I am 100% sure there a some that must be weeded out." Liu Tián Qǔ began to explain her second condition.

"My second condition is that if the Imperial Family needs any of the stones immediately. Then, for now, please take them stealthily. Wang Royal Manor, have full access to come and go at any time in my residence. So I leave how you will retrieve them to you."

"Within the next week or two, I will be clearing out my residence of all servants for three days to have the residence searched from top to bottom. During that time, the Imperial Family may actively remove however many stones that you desire. No one will suspect the Imperial Family from removing anything from my residence during this time. At the moment I do not wish to draw the attention of the servants to the Kneel Stones, so please act with caution for now."

The Lord, Lady, and Heir of Wang Royal Manor understood Liu Tián Qǔ's intentions. The Grand Prince looked at her and said, "I understand."

"Good, my third condition is five hundred horses for my house guards. I need to get my house guards mounted. The mounts that my house guards used today were rented. The events of today were a lesson. I don't want my house guards to be caught mount less again. However, they are not to be delivered until three months from now." Liu Tián Qǔ named the third condition.

"My fourth condition is to be granted stablehands to help with the horses. The stablehands must come at the same time the horses are delivered." Liu Tián Qǔ said with a smirk which caused the Lord and Lady of Wang Royal Manor to shake their heads in amusement at her.

"My fifth condition is to be granted ownership of the land that my Commander finds for the Garrison that I will be building." Liu Tián Qǔ said, naming her fifth condition.

"You could just purchase the land yourself. You don't need the emperor to grant it to you." Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā said with a slight frown of confusion.

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"The Emperor could have bought his own carriage as well. He didn't need to steal mine." Liu Tián Qǔ said in a sour voice with a sour expression on her face. It sent the Grand Prince and Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā into laughter once more.

"Yes, revenge for the carriage must be sought," The Grand Prince with a wide grin in agreement with Liu Tián Qǔ's fifth condition. "What is your sixth condition." The Grand Prince asked after he calmed down a bit.

"My sixth condition is since it has been verified that General Lu is not my father, and I am not of the Lu bloodlines. I would like the Emperor to grant me two copies of a Bill of Familial Separation from the Lu Family. Once my identity becomes known I wouldn't put it past General Lu to come to make trouble for me out of spite." Liu Tián Qǔs said then began to explain more in-depth.

"Since I keep getting dragged into things. My identity will be exposed sooner or later. When it is exposed, all those old rumors will once more resurface. It will become obvious that General Lu was cuckold. I'm sure General Lu will not be able to handle that too well. Now, with that said, as far as I know, I am on the Lu registry as deceased. The problem is, when it's all say and done, I am still on the registry. I am also a minor, so that would place me under the custody of the Lu Family once more. General Lu would be entitled to take everything I own." Liu Tián Qǔ explained. See the understanding in everyone's eyes. Liu Tián Qǔ knew she got her point across.

"Now if I have a Bill of Familial Separation. When General Lu comes to make trouble for me after my identity becomes known. I want to be able to present a copy of the Bill of Familial Separation to him. The other copy I will keep for my records. Remember, the Emperor granted me a Royal Medallion of Mercy and 3,000,000 gold. I am also preparing to begin building my own Army. Even if General Lu doesn't come for the gold. I'm am certain he will come for the Royal Medallion of Mercy and the Army that I build. Even if it's only out of spite, I am sure he will come." Liu Tián Qǔ said reminding Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā, Wang Fèn Yǒng, and the Grand Prince of the things in her possession the would entice anyone.

Liu Tián Qǔ saw the mild alarm in the Grand Prince's eyes when she mentioned her army falling under the control of General Lu. After all, he knew what kind of army Liu Tián Qǔ was aiming to create. An army that powerful definitely should not be under the control of the Lu Family.

The cunning Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā smiled knowingly and nodded at Liu Tián Qǔ and said, "Good move, a Bill of Familial Separation is a wise move. If you fall under the custody of the Lu Family, it would indeed be in General Lu's right to take possession of whatever you own."

"I really have no choice but to seek a Bill of Familial Separation." Liu Tián Qǔ began to explain.

"I would have requested one from the Emperor regardless. I am sure the Emperor would be very displeased with me if the Army he granted me ended up in the hands of General Lu. So a Bill of Familial Separation is something that I must obtain." Liu Tián Qǔ explained.

"Good," the Grand Prince nodded in agreement because he was just thinking the same. "What is your seventh condition?"

Liu Tián Qǔ's expression suddenly changed, and she looked at the grand prince mournfully and said, "There was a saying I heard long ago. The saying was, 'a person has no idea how much rice and fuel cost until they become the head of a household.'" Liu Tián Qǔ said quoting a proverb she heard in her past life.

Wang Fèn Yǒng looked over a Liu Tián Qǔ with eyes that glitter with deep amusement. however, he remained silent.

The Grand Prince grinned as he looked at the shameless Young Lord and though to himself, 'Aiya young brother, I know you don't lack of money. It would have been cheaper had you just bought your own carriage. By the time this young lord finish wringing all that he can out of you. You would have been able to buy enough carriages to transport an army.'

"Later on, I will be responsible for feeding many mouths. So I feel it's imperative I get farmland to grow a bit of food to help me feed the mouths that I will be responsible for. My seventh condition is that the Emperor grant me a large piece of fertile farming land."

"More land?" The Grand prince asked. The grin on the Grand Prince's face only grew bigger. "I will make sure to convey this condition to the Emperor. What is your final condition?"

Liu Tián Qǔ paused to gather her thoughts before saying, "Later on in the future, I would like to go adventuring. The Emperor decreed for Wang Fèn Yǒng to assist me for only five years. I have no family I could leave my army or house guards in the hands of when I go adventuring. I would like the Emperor to permit me to temporarily leave my army and house guards under the supervision of either Wang Fèn Yǒng or Wang Royal Manor during that time. Of course, I would also notify the Emperor before my departure." Liu Tián Qǔ said.

Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā and the Grand Prince stared at Liu Tián Qǔ in shock. They were not expecting that level of trust from the Young Lord.

Wang Fèn Yǒng looked at Liu Tián Qǔ with warm eyes that glitter with an indescribable expression. Liu Tián Qǔ heart pounded as she met the beautiful shinning eyes of the quiet young man for several heartbeats before looking away. The expression in Wang Fèn Yǒng's eyes made her wonder if he understood the real meaning behind the last condition.

Wang Fèn Yǒng continued to stare at her with strangely glowing eyes even after she looked away. "We will convey your conditions to the Emperor when we meet with him later on." Wang Fèn Yǒng said in a voice that held an odd tone.

Everyone talked for a little longer. Finally, Liu Tián Qǔ showed Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā, the Grand Prince and Wang Fèn Yǒng around Wang Royal Manor Courtyard. Shortly after, the Lord, Lady, and Heir of Wang Royal Manor departed Liu Residence.

***************

It was only early evening, but Liu Tián Qǔ was already completely mentally and emotionally exhausted. Today seemed like the day that would never end. After seeing the Lord, Lady, and Heir of Wang Royal Manor off. Liu Tián Qǔ desperately wanted to rest. However, there was so much that had to be done before the end of the day. Liu Tián Qǔ had wanted to make a courtesy visit to visit with Jiang Mín Yuè earlier on during the day after finding out about the stolen twin. Unfortunately all morning it's just been one thing after another and Liu Tián Qǔ wasn't able to visit with Jiang Mín Yuè.

Liu Tián Qǔ decided to take the opportunity now to pay a quick visit to the Jiang family. As Liu Tián Qǔ strolled through her residence towards the commander's courtyard. She thought hard on whether or not she should attend the memorial later on that evening that was being hosted by Elder Wang. Liu Tián Qǔ had initially decided to go. However, her fickleness kicked in, and she was second-guessing if she should attend or not. Liu Tián Qǔ knew that by now, the whole Imperial City knew that the martial families were staying in a new residence called Liu Residence. Many would begin in-depth investigations to try to uncover her identity. Liu Tián Qǔ didn't want to reveal herself so soon.

However, not to go would only bring her more problems. The Four Martial Families were all temporarily staying in her residence. The memorial that Elder Wang would be hosting tonight was not only to honor the deceased members of the families. It was also to celebrate the return of the Four Martial Families. So if Liu Tián Qǔ chose not to go, it would be very disrespectful towards her guest. Liu Tián Qǔ pondered the quandary she was stuck in as she made her way towards Commander Jiang Courtyard.