Surviving in the General's Mansion - Chapter 58

When Xia Heng checked in today, she discovered she had received thirty points!

She stared in surprise for a long while before taking a closer look at the date.

It had already been a full month since she transmigrated to Huaxia. Today was the first day of the tenth month!

Looking back, an awful lot had happened over the past month. She had originally worried she would never fit into this world.

Now, however, it was clear she had worried for nothing.

In one month, she had made plenty of friends at the General’s Mansion of Northern Pacification and even met the female lead. Surely that counted as making something of herself.

Xia Heng happily completed her check-in, then looked at her balance. Without her noticing, it had risen to 356 points!

Xiao Yaqing alone had contributed thirty points.

Even Madam Xiao had given her ten, which left Xia Heng rather baffled.

She had barely interacted with Madam Xiao. Aside from exchanging greetings, they had hardly spoken. Could it be because Madam Xiao appreciated her looks?

Xia Heng narcissistically stroked her face and continued reading. Altogether, the scattered favorability gains from recent days amounted to 120 points.

There was also one unusual entry:

*Relocated Lady Hao’s grave. Merit Points gained: 20.*

Those had been added to her balance too!

Merit Points could be converted into ordinary points? It seemed she had found another way to earn them!

In an excellent mood, Xia Heng opened the prize wheel. She still had last week’s weekly draw, and today’s monthly grand draw was available too.

She opened the weekly wheel first and, unsurprisingly, received the guaranteed prize: a spring-loaded dagger.

After returning it to the warehouse, the first slot now displayed: *spring-loaded dagger ×2*.

Xia Heng rubbed her hands together and prayed silently, *Great God of Koi, bless me!*

She tapped the monthly draw. The grand wheel began to spin as Xia Heng watched eagerly.

At last, it stopped on—

*Fruit Phone ×1.*

“Woohoo!”

Xia Heng shot straight out of her chair.

“A phone! A phone! I love you! Long live the monthly draw!”

She immediately searched the system store for the same model. It cost four thousand points!

She had struck it unbelievably lucky this time.

Thank you, Great God of Koi!

She read the phone’s description carefully.

*This device is powered by magical energy. Its magic crystal will not require replacement for ten years.*

*Devices of the same model can make free calls and transmit messages, photographs, and files without geographical restrictions.*

*Storage capacity: 520 GB. This product can connect to the astral network. (Note: Internet access is unavailable in areas without astral network coverage. Built-in functions such as maps and weather forecasts will remain unaffected.)*

Naturally, there was no such astral network in this fictional ancient world.

But the maps and weather forecast worked without Internet access? And the phone did not need charging?

A magic-powered phone really was amazing!

Xia Heng quickly opened the map. She found it could only display an area with a radius of five thousand meters (about 3.1 miles) centered on her, rather than any place she wished to see.

The weather forecast currently showed only the capital, with no option to switch cities.

Still, that was already very useful.

Opening the camera, Xia Heng raised two fingers in a victory sign at the lens.

When she saw the picture, she grimaced. There really was not a trace of beautification.

Next time, she could use it to take ugly photographs of Xiao Yaqing! Hahaha!

Having no Internet was a little disappointing, but Xia Heng remained delighted with her first major prize.

The phone did not use a SIM card, but there was a unique number on the back. According to the instructions, this was the number used for calls and messages.

Xia Heng’s phone number was 009.

She hugged the phone and tried every function, taking photographs of practically every corner of her room.

Only then did she reluctantly return it to the warehouse.

With only one phone, she could not test the communication functions. But once there was one, there could always be a second. If she failed to draw another, she could buy one after saving enough points.

Once she obtained a second phone, she could give it to Xiao Yaqing. Then they could contact each other anytime and anywhere, which would make private conversations far easier.

Feeling satisfied, Xia Heng took inventory.

Two spring-loaded daggers, one Fruit Phone, and one pair of binoculars—all supplied by the system.

One packet containing eighteen taels of broken silver, plus 920 copper coins.

She had spent more than one tael buying seeds with Chuqing last time. Spices really were expensive!

Later, when seeing off the Zhao sisters’ mother, she had given away another five taels.

What remained included both silver and copper coins, so they had to occupy separate slots.

Then there were the two taels of broken silver from yesterday’s monthly wages, which also had a slot of their own.

She had earned that money herself. Of course it deserved to be stored separately!

Xia Heng had also picked out a selection of items from the dowry sent by the Xia family.

Those occupied ten slots and included medicinal ingredients, cotton cloth, clothes, and other supplies. She had packed small bags of peanuts, lotus seeds, and red dates too.

She had a warehouse, after all. She could snack on them when hungry, and they might prove useful in an emergency.

Looking at the growing number of occupied slots, Xia Heng nodded in satisfaction.

At last, she was no longer as utterly penniless as when she first arrived!

* * *

Many officials and their families had already arrived by the time Cang Chuli reached the banquet hall.

Today, he wore a deep crimson robe, his hair swept high beneath a golden crown. His entire bearing was forceful and imposing.

Many of the officials’ female relatives stared at him, then blushed and silently looked away.

*That is one of the capital’s deadliest men. He shows no one any deference. Don’t stare. Don’t stare.*

“Mingxu looks excellent in that robe! And he isn’t as thin as before. He’s remarkably handsome today,” Madam Xiao said cheerfully to her husband.

“Of course. Mingxu has been good-looking since childhood. That boy is an expert at playing the fool to hide his strength!” Xiao Huan replied with a laugh.

Xiao Yaqing sat elegantly beside them. No one would have guessed she had still been suffering from a hangover at home yesterday morning.

“The Tujue envoys have arrived!”

The hall abruptly fell silent.

Huyan Lie strode inside in a sapphire-blue robe. The earring on his right ear gleamed, and his neatly braided hair hung down his back.

He spotted Cang Chuli in his seat at once.

His smile deepened. He calmly followed the palace attendant to his assigned place and sat down.

When Cang Chuli finally looked his way, Huyan Lie raised the wine cup before him in greeting.

Cang Chuli turned his gaze aside as though he had not seen the gesture.

“First Prince, you have traveled a great distance. Forgive us for failing to welcome you sooner.”

“You are too courteous, Lord Cheng. I hope the Prime Minister will look after us during this visit.”

Cheng Zhesong was seated directly below Huyan Lie. The two exchanged a few pleasantries without attracting anyone else’s notice.

“His Majesty has arrived!”

Everyone knelt.

“Long live His Majesty! Long, long may he reign!”

“Rise and take your seats. There is no need for excessive ceremony today.”

After a rustle of clothing, the officials and their families returned to their places.

“Today’s banquet is being held to welcome the Tujue envoys.”

Dongfang Wei looked toward Huyan Lie. Seeing him alone, he asked, “Prince Huyan, have you come to the banquet by yourself?”

“Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. To express her gratitude for your generous hospitality, my younger sister has specially prepared a dance to offer you.”

Xiao Yaqing bit her lower lip. Naturally, she understood what that meant.

When two countries sought peace, the most advantageous alliance was one sealed by marriage.

For Huyan Lie to say this today, he must already have made his plans.

Of course. As she was now, she had no right to refuse on Dongfang Wei’s behalf.

Dongfang Wei’s expression did not change in the slightest.

“I see. We have also prepared dances to welcome the two of you at tonight’s banquet. It appears the princess intends to give the grand finale.”

“As Your Majesty wishes,” Huyan Lie replied with a slight nod.