Third-Class Earl!

Gold bricks shimmered, reflecting human faces.

So-called gold bricks were not actually made of gold, but a kind of paving brick used exclusively for palaces and other important buildings. They were made from Suzhou Sticky Soil within Southern Zhili—sticky without dispersing, powdery without turning sandy. The crafting process was extraordinarily complex; from raw earth to finished product took at least two and a half years. They were utterly unique.

Because their texture was dense and fine, and they rang with a metallic clang when struck, they were called gold bricks.

At this moment, Liang Qu scuffed the gold bricks beneath his shoes. With nothing better to do, he pondered when his own home might be paved with such fine bricks.

After submitting the written report on the incident, he had not returned home. Instead, he had the Sacred Emperor arrange for him to wait in a side hall, saying there was another important matter.

He could more or less guess what it was.

About half a shichen later.

Eunuch Li beckoned.

The fragrance of flowers drifted lightly, and lush grass carpeted the ground.

The Imperial Garden.

Palace attendants stood in rows along both sides. Liang Qu walked half a step behind, accompanying the Sacred Emperor on a stroll.

A bumblebee with an enormous fat butt frantically fluttered its wings and plunged into a flower. Its legs pressed down, crushing the entire bloom until its stem bent and drooped to the ground, while it stuck up its butt and gathered pollen.

"I have read Minister Xu's report. Is the White Ape truly as miraculous as described?"

"It is an innate exotic species, so it naturally possesses some extraordinary qualities. Take the Frog Clan Elder, for instance. Though rather poor in cultivation, when it comes to seeking fortune and avoiding disaster, it