Traveling through Tianlong: Starting from the Zhenlong chess game

Chapter 525: A Farewell Gift, a Mysterious Box
No matter what the world said, the fact that Zhao Mu was made a vassal king had been completely settled.

And Zhezong also planned the time for Zhao Mu to become a vassal.

It was scheduled for five days later.

After everyone's preparations, Zhao Mu's wives and concubines were ready to move to the new home, including Wang Yuyan, Musha, Hongluan and others who followed Zhao Mu.

Just the day before Zhao Mu left, Zhezong specially hosted a private banquet for Zhao Mu in the palace.

Zhezong and Zhao Mu toasted each other and drank three rounds of wine.

Holding the wine glass, Zhezong said, "Uncle, you are now the ruler of a country. Tomorrow you will go to Qi to be a vassal. I don't know when we will meet again after this separation."

Zhao Mu held up his wine glass and said with a smile: "Haha, if Your Majesty really can't bear to part with me, then just give me this edict. I can also accompany Your Majesty day and night."

Zhezong smiled and shook his head, saying, "Alas! Uncle, you are joking. I am the emperor of the Song Dynasty, and my words are golden. How can I go back on my words when it comes to offering sacrifices to heaven and earth?"

Zhao Mu continued, "If that's the case, I can continue to stay in the capital, and I will leave the affairs of Qi to others."

Zhezong shook his head again and said, "All good things must come to an end. Besides, my uncle is stationed in the northwest border for the Song Dynasty. How can I put my private affairs before the public ones?"

As he spoke, Cheoljong drank the wine in the cup. Then he said, "Oh! By the way, uncle. You will leave tomorrow. I will give you three more gifts."

As he spoke, Cheoljong clapped his hands.

Then more than thirty young and beautiful girls came in one after another.

Looking at the delicate flowers in front of him, even an old bee like Zhao Mu found them fascinating.

Zhezong said: "These are the newly selected beauties this year. I know that my uncle likes beautiful women, so I gave them to him. When he arrives in Qi, he can use them as concubines in the harem. But he should not indulge in women and neglect state affairs."

Zhao Mu cupped his hands and said, "Thank you very much, Your Majesty, for the reward."

After Zhezong nodded, he waved his hand and asked the beauties to go down first.

Then they clapped their hands again. Two eunuchs came up slowly, holding two red lacquered plates.

In one of the plates was placed the golden mace of Emperor Taizong returned by Zhao Mu, and in the other plate was a box tightly sealed with wax.

Zhao Mu naturally understood what was inside the box when he saw Taizong's golden mace, but he really couldn't figure out what was inside the box.

Zhao Mu then asked, "Your Majesty, I just wonder what treasure is in this box that is so tightly sealed?"

Zhezong replied: "The uncle will know about this later. Anyway, I have a decree to give to the uncle."

Zhao Mu then stood up and bowed to receive the order.

Zhezong said: "Uncle, this box is extremely important. You must keep it carefully. But there is one thing, that is, you must not open it privately. If you open it privately, it will be a crime of extermination of the clan."

Zhao Mu replied, "I obey your order." Then Zhao Mu sat back.

Zhao Mu continued to ask: "When can I open this box?"

Zhezong smiled and said, "When I have an order, your uncle can open it." Seeing Zhezong's smile and the size of the box, Zhao Mu suddenly felt a little uneasy. He was really a little afraid that Zhezong would give him a "no fruit in the box, please pick it yourself". He was also afraid that there would be a day when he would "never be able to eat the Han Dynasty's salary".

Zhezong looked at Zhao Mu's slightly frightened expression and seemed to have guessed something.

Zhezong smiled and said, "Haha, don't worry, uncle. I am not the Cao Aman who usurped the throne, and your uncle is not the Xun Lingjun who died unjustly. What I gave you is a gift. Anyway, this good thing cannot be opened so quickly. Did you take note of it, uncle?"

Zhao Mu replied, "I have made a note of this. I will keep this box carefully until the day when your majesty allows me to open it."

Zhezong smiled and then nodded.

After the banquet, Zhao Mu returned home with Zhezong's three gifts.

In his carriage, Zhao Mu held the box tightly.

Although he couldn't open it, he shook it and knocked it. The box was not light. Although he didn't know what was in the box, Zhao Mu was sure that the box was not empty. He also put his heart back in his stomach.

After returning home, Zhao Mu handed over the concubines awarded by Zhezong to Conglong Xuan for care, and gave the golden mace to Ju Jian for safekeeping.

Zhao Mu ran straight into Azhu's room holding Zhezong's mysterious box.

In Ah Zhu's room, Wang Yuyan and Ah Bi were chatting and laughing.

Since Wang Yuyan entered the Qi Palace, she has accepted her fate. Although she still doesn't like to joke, she is much better in front of Ah Zhu.

Zhao Mu held the box and said to Wang Yuyan and A Bi, "Miss Wang, A Bi, you two should go back first. I have something important to discuss with A Zhu."

Wang Yuyan and A-Bi looked at each other, and then without further delay, they walked out of the room and left.

Ah Zhu looked at Zhao Mu's solemn expression and felt a little puzzled. Ah Zhu asked, "What's wrong, sir?"

Zhao Mu took out the box hidden behind him. Just now, Zhao Mu put his hands behind his back and used the method of free and unfettered wind to make the box float in the air. This was to prevent Ah Bi and Wang Yuyan from noticing. From the front, Zhao Mu looked majestic with his hands behind his back.

Zhao Mu placed the box that Zhezong gave him on Azhu's desk.

Ah Zhu murmured, "What is this?"

Zhao Mu shook his head and said, "I don't know much about this. I just came back from the palace, and His Majesty gave me three parting gifts, one is thirty-six beautiful ladies, one is the Taizong golden mace passed down from my ancestors, and this box in front of me is the third one. But His Majesty has repeatedly warned me and even issued an imperial decree, strictly forbidding me to lose it or open it privately. So I don't know what's inside it."

Ah Zhu looked at the box on the table and said, "How could there be such a strange gift in the world?"

Ah Zhu looked at Zhao Mu and said, "Sir, bring it to me. Do you want me to open it without His Majesty noticing?"

Zhao Mu shook his head and said, "Of course not. Since His Majesty has issued a strict order, we cannot disobey it. Besides, it does not do any harm to us now. Among the women around me, you, Ah Zhu, are the most careful and steady. I will come to see you first when I return home. I want you to keep this box for me. Even if all my wealth is lost, you must not lose it."

After Ah Zhu realized the seriousness of the matter, she stopped playing around as usual. She nodded and said, "Don't worry, husband. Ah Zhu will keep it well."

Zhao Mu nodded and said, "Yes! This thing will be kept with you from now on. Wait until His Majesty gives the order and allows us to open it."

(End of this chapter)