Changing the subject, Liu Tián Qǔ removed a circler pure bronze looking box that had a scenic carving of a fully armored warrior standing guard over what seemed to be an empty space. She passed the box to the Grand Prince and said, "I also brought a gift for the Grand Prince. It's is a gift that may prove useful during battle. Have you ever heard of the Armband of the Guardian Warriors?"
The reaction of everyone utterly shocked Liu Tián Qǔ and made her almost knock over her empty teacup.
Little Dumpling had just stood up and picked up the teapot to pour everyone another cup of tea. However, when he heard Liu Tián Qǔ question. The shock of hearing the words Armband of the Guardian Warriors out of the blue caused the teapot in his hands to start trembling.
Wang Fèn Yǒng eyes were lowered, and he looked to be lost deep in thought. However, when Liu Tián Qǔ mentioned the Armband of the Guardian Warriors, his eyes immediately snapped towards Liu Tián Qǔ.
He didn't get to stare in shock for long, though, because he also saw the shaking teapot in Little Dumpling hand. Wang Fèn Yǒng swiftly leaned forward and snatched the teapot as it slipped from Little Dumplings' nerveless fingers.
After snatching the pot out of thin air, Wang Fèn Yǒng quietly began pouring tea for everyone. The fact that he saved everyone from being splashed with hot tea went completely unnoticed by everyone at the table.
Little Dumpling definitely didn't notice. Little Dumpling's eyes were wide as a saucer and glued to the bronze circle box that was now in his Imperial father's hands. His gaze wasn't the only one fixed on the bronze box. His Imperial mother's gaze was also glued to the bronze box.
The Grand Prince was looking down at the box he received. When he heard Liu Tián Qǔ's question, his eyes head snapped up in utter shock. Liu Tián Qǔ was pinned under the gaze of the Grand Prince.
"What did you say?" The Grand Prince asked. So great was his shock the circler box that he had just received trembled slightly in his hands before he instantly got his emotions under control. It happened so fast that Liu Tián Qǔ thought maybe she saw wrong.
"I asked, have you heard of the Armband of the Guardian Warriors?" Liu Tián Qǔ repeated.
"I have." The Grand Prince said as he reverently opened the circler bronze box he held in his hands. Inside of the bronze box was a warrior's armband. It looked to be made of gold, yet it had a different shine than the shine of gold. There also seemed to be a muted inner glow in the armband. The carvings on the armband looked like what could only be described as intricate Celtic carvings.
As the Grand Prince and his family gazed at the armband in a daze. Liu Tián Qǔ said, "According to what the peddler said, the armband was crafted in the westernmost part of The Sunken Lands in the outer most part of the Desert of Death. It's was crafted by a master armorsmith under the guidance of an alchemist, oracle, and a shaman. It was crafted from a mysterious melted metal found under an active volcano that borders The Sunken Lands and the barren lands. The bronze box was crafted with the same material but mix with bronze to deliberately change the color of the box." Looking at the expression on everyone's face, Liu Tián Qǔ thought, 'Who is this peddler? How does he manage to get his hands on things that are this rare?'
"I was told that these armbands are worn by the Guardian Warriors of The Sunken Lands that guard the borders between The Sunken Lands and The Barren Lands. This armband is extremely rare and worn only by the Elite of the Guardian Warriors. Mostly the commanders and generals wear them. Supposedly in battle, it gives you strengthen of a berserker doubling, tripling, and even quadrupling your strength. It gives you a berserker's strength but allows you to maintain your sanity. After each use, you must return it to the bronze circle box. The box recharges it." When Liu Tián Qǔ first heard the price that the peddler charged her. She thought the peddler was robbing her.
The only reason why she didn't make a fuss was because of the exchange of knowledge. The peddler helped her greatly with the methods of the Nadelineian winemaking.
Now from the reaction of everyone Liu Tián Qǔ knew that wasn't the case. She determined to reserve the best of the wine she was able to make for the peddler. She would hold onto it until he returns to the Tolling Lands. She made a mental note to let everyone in her residence know that the peddler will have the same privilege as the Wang Royal Manor. He welcomed whenever he comes. It doesn't matter when.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
If these armbands really work, then it would be a game-changer for Liu Tián Qǔ. With the Black Blossom dual potion, Liu Tián Qǔ's strength was already going to increase. Liu Tián Qǔ's strength would more than triple if she doubled the benefits she would receive from Black Blossom dual potion with an Armband of the Guardian Warriors.
The peddler had six of the Armbands of the Guardian Warriors. Liu Tián Qǔ had decided to give on to the Grand Prince, one to Wang Fèn Yǒng , keep one for herself, give one to Little Dumpling and maybe one to her Commander. The last one she had decided to hold in reserve.
Little Dumpling finally snapped out of his stupor and reseated himself. He looked over to see his brother pouring everyone a fresh cup of tea. Poor Little Dumpling was so confused. He didn't remember giving his brother the teapot of asking his brother to pour tea. So how was it his brother had the teapot and was pouring tea for everyone. Little Dumpling vividly recalled getting up and retrieving the teapot. However, after that, he couldn't remember anything else other than the Armband of the Guardian Warriors.
Carefully closing the bronze circler box, the Grand Prince held the bronze box out Liu Tián Qǔ and said, "I really want to shamelessly snatch this Armband of the Guardian Warriors for myself and keep it. However, this is too valuable. I think you should keep it for yourself.
"No need," Liu Tián Qǔ shooked her head as she waved away the Grand Prince's words. Liu Tián Qǔ once again reached into the large bag she brought with her. "No need, I was incredibly lucky." Pulling out a second bronze box Liu Tián Qǔ reached over and set it next to the teacup of Wang Fèn Yǒng who had just replaced the teapot.
Wang Fèn Yǒng froze when his gaze locked onto the second bronze box that Liu Tián Qǔ placed next to his teacup.
Liu Tián Qǔ didn't want to chance that Wang Fèn Yǒng wouldn't accept it. So Liu Tián Qǔ sat it down in front of him as she said to the Grand Prince, "I had already determined to give one to you and one to Wang Fèn Yǒng. No worries, I also have one for myself. From what I was able to understand, the Grand Prince and Wang Fèn Yǒng are the right-hand men of the Emperor because he trusts both of you more than anyone else. So it's often he send both of you to carry out missions. So I think that these armbands are now in the hands of the people who would need them the most."
The Grand Prince stare at Liu Tián Qǔ with the most complicated expression on his face. He then turned and looked at his wife, who met his gaze. Liu Tián Qǔ then understood by the look she saw in Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā's eye.
Looking at the couple in understanding Liu Tián Qǔ said, "I asked that you both not make this complicated. There is one reason and one reason only that I have given Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā and the Grand Prince these gifts. It's is simply because both of you are Little Dumpling and Wang Fèn Yǒng parents. And Little Dumpling and Wang Fèn Yǒng are my friends. I didn't want to come empty-handed on my first visit. However, I don't know your likes or dislikes. So I just thought of something that you may need the most and went from there." Liu Tián Qǔ explained.
"I am a blunt and straightforward person. These gifts are not a bribe, nor are they to curry your favor. However, if you feel uncomfortable with the extravagance of the gifts, then there are actually two things you can help me with." Liu Tián Qǔ made sure to meet the eyes of the couple as she conveyed her thoughts to them.
The Lady of the Manors' looked over to Liu Tián Qǔ her gaze met Liu Tián Qǔ's, and she asked, "What is it you need help with."
"The Emperor sent me ten excellent horses. The most experience stable hand that I have is a twelve years old boy I bought along with Wēi Guāng, my blinded horse. Although only twelve, he is an extremely clever and diligent boy who learns at a very abnormal pace. So I am thinking about putting him over my stables although he is very young. The rest of the stablehands are slaves that my housekeeper bought. They barely can be called apprentices." Liu Tián Qǔ explained.
"I heard that every stablehand in the stables of Wang Royal Manor is excellently trained in everything that has to do with their tasks. They even shoe the horses of the manor themselves, eliminating the need to hire someone to do that. I request that for one month, you allow one of your most experienced stablehands to come over and teach my servants for two hours each day?" As Liu Tián Qǔ explained her situation and request, she saw the amusement in the Grand Princes' eyes get heavier and heavier. However, for the life of her, she couldn't figure out why the Grand Prince was so amused.
The Grand Prince understood just how cunning Liu Tián Qǔ was. He was under the impression that Liu Tián Qǔ deliberately gave him an extravagant gift to extort help from him. 'This Young Master Liu is very cunning. He was very careful to ask for something insignificant that cost nothing for me to give him. Aiya, he reminds me of my wife when I first met her she did the same. To this day, I still remain in her debt.' The Grand Prince thought in amusement.
"That is no problem I will have the butler send someone over every day two hours before noon. Starting tomorrow, I will have that person sent over to report to you." The Grand Prince agreed to fulfill Liu Tián Qǔ's first requests.