The Imperial Palace of The Tolling Lands

"You already know of my agreement with Liu Tián Qǔ to help him get a residence here in the imperial city. I already confirmed with Butler Huang, who was with Liu Tián Qǔ at the time. When Liu Tián Qǔ used my name to purchase the old Chen's residence, Elder Chen tried to gift the manor to curry favor with Wang Royal Manor. After much insisting, Elder Chen only agreed to sell the residence for One thousand gold taels and refused to accept any more than that. To stop him from currying favor Liu Tián Qǔ decided to buy the mountain that they have been trying hard to get rid of for the longest. Liu Tián Qǔ purchased the mountain for two thousand gold taels.

"That trashy burned down mountain with salted fields they couldn't even sell for 300 gold?" The Grand Prince asked

"Yes, So today Liu Tián Qǔ decided to go take a look at what he paid two thousand gold taels for." Wang Fèn Yǒng began to tell them of the three men she encountered on the mountain, their demise and the sack of ore. Wang Fèn Yǒng then explained all that Liu Tián Qǔ said he heard from the three men.

The emperor exploded from his seat. But before he could say anything, Wang Fèn Yǒng said, "Liu Tián Qǔ sent me here to open negotiations to sell this mountain to Your Majesty immediately." Causing the emperor to halt in his tracks.

Slowly sitting back down on the stool. For a few heartbeats, all was silent."Negotiations," the king said with a soft voice and an expressionless look in his eyes. The emperor look at Wang Fèn Yǒng and ask, "What are his terms and conditions?"

"First thing is first. Liu Tián Qǔsaid that he would accept no more and no less than 300,000 gold for the mountain."

"What do you mean? Explain this properly Yǒng'er."

"That's it? How could this be?"

"Do he not know the value of melded ore?"

As they all shout their disbelief, Wang Fèn Yǒng said, "I too know that the mountain is worth more than ten times what he was asking for it. I told him that the emperor could definitely afford to pay more than a measly 300,000 gold."

"Well then what did he say. How is it only this little he wants? What are the conditions? Is he asking for something unreasonable?" The Grand Prince said a hint of anger at the end of his questions.

Shaking his head, "No, Liu Tián Qǔ conditions are almost too simple and reasonable. But his answer to me was not simple. Liu Tián Qǔ thanked me for informing him that the emperor could pay more. However, Liu Tián Qǔ told me that he was aware that the emperor could afford to pay more than 300,000 gold. However, he couldn't afford to take more than 300,000 gold."

The emperor, the Grand Prince, and the First Lady of Wang Royal Manor all felt as if they were struck by lightning from a clear sunny sky. All three look at each other in complete shock. The room was in complete silence.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Breaking the silence, the emperor looked at Wang Fèn Yǒng and asked, "You had interactions with him. Tell me whose family child is he?"

"I'm not quite sure Your Majesty, I feel as if Liu Tián Qǔ may be connected to the Liu Family. However, if there is one thing I know. It's that there is no way they would allow a 13-year-old to leave the family and buy a residence to live on his own."

The emperor suddenly thought that maybe Liu Tián Qǔ was an illegitimate child from the outside. If that were the case, too much digging around would cause more harm than good. So the emperor said, "Let's put that to rest for now. Tell me, have you been able to get a feel of his character?"

"No Your Majesty, Royal Father and Royal Mother asked me that question as well."

"Speak, tell me." The emperor commanded.

"It still holds true that it is very hard for me to get a gauge on Liu Tián Qǔ character. He is too much of a contradiction."

"How so?"

"As I told Royal Mother and Royal Father, he's young, yet he has the wisdom of an elder. He is a child, yet when talking to him, you feel as though you are talking to an adult who has experienced much. When I drew my sword on him and almost killed him in anger, he showed no fear. Instead, with a few words, he was able to calm my anger. He even told me with his own mouth. To not think he is a nice person. He said that he is not a nice person. He just believes in honoring a friend's true heart."

The Emperor sat in silence for several minutes in deep thought before saying, "Tell me of his conditions."

"He had five conditions the first being he wants to be allowed to visit Wang Jǐng Jiè in his confinement" Wang Fèn Yǒng naming the first condition.

The emperor sat on the stool for several heartbeats with an odd look on his face. Before saying, "Continue."

"The second condition is that Liu Tián Qǔ wants Wang Jǐng Jiè to be allowed to come over and visit him anytime he wants after his confinement is over. Liu Tián Qǔ also went on to say he was working on hiring guards and securing his residence. So Wang Jǐng Jiè will be safe in his residence no matter what."

"Humph, he is very audacious. Continue." The emperor said with a displeased look on his face.

"Liu Tián Qǔ said that Wang Jǐng Jiè gets bored studying sometimes although Wang Jǐng Jiè loves to read and study. Liu Tián Qǔ third condition is to be granted access to study with Wang Jǐng Jiè occasional."

The odd look once again presented its self on the face of the emperor. This time he wasn't alone. The Grand Prince and The First lady of Wang Royal Manor also had odd looks on their faces. However, the Emperor only said, "Continue."

Taking out the three documents, Liu Tián Qǔ, gave him. Wang Fèn Yǒng passed them to the emperor. "Of these three documents, one is a map of the mountain Liu Tián Qǔ received from Elder Chen, one is documentation of Elder Chen deeding the mountain to Liu Tián Qǔ under my name, and the last is documentation of Liu Tián Qǔ deeding the Mountain to Your Majesty. The condition is that Liu Tián Qǔ will accept no more and no less than 300,000 gold for the mountain. The transaction is to be completed immediately upon confirming there is melded ore on the mountain."

"What is the final condition?" The emperor asked with the most indescribable look on his face.

"The final condition is that once these three documents arrive in the presence of Your Majesty. Liu Tián Qǔ will no longer be attached to anything that has to do with Veiled mountain. No matter what it may be. If it concerns anything that has to do with Veiled mountain, then Liu Tián Qǔ must take no part or be involved or have anything to do with it. Those are Liu Tián Qǔ's conditions in selling this mountain to the emperor.

"Could Liu Tián Qǔ be hiding something? I am in a hurry to receive it. However, he sounds too much in a hurry to release it. Could there be more to this situation than we can see?" The emperor asked with eyes tainted with suspicion?"

"If there is one thing that I can confirm it is that yes. Liu Tián Qǔ is indeed in a hurry to get rid of the mountain."

"Oh?" the Emperor asked

"Liu Tián Qǔ emphasized in telling me that for him to keep this mountain in his hands for a moment longer than necessary is for him to court death."