Traveling through another world to stir the emperor's heart

The next day, the sun was shining brightly. Feng Qingyue rose early and dressed carefully. She planned to go out and explore, hoping to find some opportunity. Feng Qingyue summoned her maids, Su Jin and A Cui, both clever and loyal.

Feng Qingyue took Su Jin and Ah Cui out of the general's mansion and strolled along the bustling streets. As they were walking, her eyes suddenly lit up and she saw that familiar figure - Ling Yuxiao.

Feng Qingyue remembered Ling Yuxiao's life-saving grace last time and had been looking for a chance to repay him. Seeing him now seemed like a perfect opportunity. She walked over and said with a smile, "Mr. Ling, what a coincidence."

Ling Yuxiao was delighted when he saw Feng Qingyue, "Miss Qingyue, are you going out shopping today?"

Feng Qingyue said, "Master Ling, you saved me last time, and I've been looking for a chance to repay you. I wonder if you're free now. I'd like to treat you to a meal."

Ling Yuxiao was somewhat flattered and quickly said, "Miss Qingyue is so polite. I will respectfully obey your command."

So, Feng Qingyue brought Ling Yuxiao, Su Jin, and A Cui to a restaurant. They found a private room on the second floor and ordered some signature dishes.

During the meal, Feng Qingyue and Ling Yuxiao chatted. Feng Qingyue asked curiously, "Master Ling, are there any large pavilions or organizations in our capital?"

Ling Yuxiao put down his chopsticks and looked at Feng Qingyue, wondering why a young girl would ask such a question. But after thinking for a moment, he replied, "There is a Qionghua Pavilion in the capital, and it's truly a place of wonder. However, not everyone can enter the Qionghua Pavilion. You must have an invitation. No matter who you are, without an invitation, you will be turned away. Moreover, no one knows who the owner of the Qionghua Pavilion is."

Feng Qingyue's eyes were filled with curiosity as she asked, "Oh? There is such a mysterious place."

Ling Yuxiao smiled and continued, "Coincidentally, I happen to have an invitation from Qionghua Pavilion."

Feng Qingyue looked at him in astonishment, thinking that since he had an invitation, he must know a lot about Qionghua Pavilion. Ling Yuxiao looked at Feng Qingyue's eager expression and found it very cute, so he said, "Miss Qingyue, since you are so interested, there is an auction at Qionghua Pavilion today. I can take you to have a look inside."

When Feng Qingyue heard this, she clapped her hands in joy, "That's great!"

After they finished their meal in a hurry, they took Su Jin and A Cui out of the restaurant and headed towards Qionghua Pavilion.

Soon, a magnificent pavilion appeared before their eyes. It had carved beams and painted buildings, with flying eaves and pointed corners. Above the lintel, the three characters "Qionghua Pavilion" were written in a flamboyant style.

Ling Yuxiao took out an exquisite invitation from his arms. The guard took a look at it and respectfully stepped aside to let the two in. Feng Qingyue, Su Jin, and A Cui followed behind. Su Jin and A Cui looked around curiously. They rarely came to places like this, and their eyes were full of novelty.

Upon entering the Qionghua Pavilion, the place was already bustling with activity. In the center of the lobby was a circular auction table, surrounded by rows of tables and chairs, each laden with exquisite snacks and fragrant tea for the guests to enjoy.

Feng Qingyue looked around and saw that the people around her were dressed differently. There were dignitaries in luxurious clothes, and there were also people who looked like chivalrous knights.

Ling Yuxiao took Feng Qingyue to a seat near the front and said to her softly, "Miss Qingyue, this auction at Qionghua Pavilion is very interesting. You will see all kinds of rare treasures soon."

Feng Qingyue nodded expectantly, her eyes fixed on the auction table, wondering what kind of surprise would appear today.

A graceful woman slowly stepped forward onto the auction table. She was today's auctioneer. She held an exquisite brocade box in her hand, which she gently opened. A brilliant light instantly illuminated the entire auction table.

"Dear guests, the first lot for auction today is a thousand-year-old South China Sea pearl. This pearl is round and full, with an attractive luster, and has the effect of prolonging life. The starting price is one thousand and two taels of silver." The auctioneer's voice was crisp and pleasant, echoing in the lobby.

Everyone in the audience bid, and the price continued to climb. Feng Qingyue looked at the pearl, secretly marveling at the uniqueness of ancient treasures. Ling Yuxiao watched the bidding with interest, but had no intention of bidding.

Feng Qingyue whispered to Su Jin and A Cui, "This pearl is really rare, but the price has risen too fast." Su Jin and A Cui nodded in agreement.

As the auction progressed, a variety of bizarre and incredibly valuable items came on the market. There was a mysterious spice from the Western Regions, which, when burned, transported one to a fairyland; there was also a sword said to have been forged by a master swordsmith, its blade gleaming with a chilling, intimidating aura.

Finally, the last lot of the day was brought out. The auctioneer took out a peculiar object, a seemingly ordinary metal disc engraved with some strange symbols and lines, looking unremarkable.

The auctioneer explained, "This item has a rather mysterious origin, said to be related to ancient astronomical and meteorological observations." The audience reacted with disdain. In their view, such a plain and seemingly useless item couldn't possibly be worth much. Ling Yuxiao was also puzzled; he couldn't see what was so special about this disc.

Feng Qingyue's eyes widened, however, her heart filled with shock. This disc was incredibly familiar to her. Before her time travel, she had been conducting a research project on astronomy and meteorology, and this disc was a crucial artifact she was studying. She hadn't expected it to travel with her to this world. She knew the disc's immense value. The symbols and lines on it represented an ancient and unique method of recording astronomical and meteorological data, or perhaps a tool for weather forecasting.

Feng Qingyue turned to Ling Yuxiao and asked him how the auction would work. Ling Yuxiao briefly explained it to her. With a clear mind, Feng Qingyue began bidding. Since most people thought the item was worthless, there were very few bidders. Feng Qingyue easily won the disc at a relatively low price.

Everyone around started to murmur, thinking that Feng Qingyue had paid such a high price for a junky item, which was really not worth it. However, the auctioneer smiled and praised Feng Qingyue for her good taste.

After the auction ended, Feng Qingyue was about to leave with Ling Yuxiao. Suddenly, a man who looked like an attendant came over and said respectfully to Feng Qingyue, "Miss, our boss wants to see you."

Feng Qingyue subconsciously glanced at Ling Yuxiao, who was filled with surprise. He had seen quite a bit of the world in the capital, but he had never met the owner of Qionghua Pavilion.

Feng Qingyue and Ling Yuxiao followed the attendant towards the backstage. When they reached the door of a room, the attendant reached out to stop Ling Yuxiao and said, "The boss only wants to see Miss Feng Qingyue."

Ling Yuxiao suddenly became unhappy. He was worried that Feng Qingyue would be in danger if she went in alone. But Feng Qingyue shook her head and comforted him, "It's okay. Just wait for me outside." After that, she took a deep breath, opened the door and walked in.

The room was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood and was elegantly decorated. A man in a brocade robe stood with his back to the door. As Feng Qingyue entered, the man slowly turned around, revealing a face with clear outlines and a mysterious smile.

"Ms. Feng Qingyue, you are indeed very courageous." The man's voice was low and magnetic.

Feng Qingyue was a little nervous, but she remained calm on the surface and asked, "May I know who you are?"

The man smiled gently and said, "I'm the owner of this Qionghua Pavilion. You can call me Jun Mo. Today, I saw that you had a unique eye for that round plate. I was very curious, so I wanted to chat with you."

Feng Qingyue's heart moved. She knew that Jun Mo must be no simple person, and his interest in her might have some deeper meaning behind it.

"Boss Jun, I bought this disc just out of curiosity. I wonder why you are interested in me?" Feng Qingyue asked.

Jun Mo walked to a chair nearby and sat down, motioning Feng Qingyue to sit down as well. He then said, "Young lady, there's no need to be modest. This disc may look ordinary, but it actually contains a huge secret. Anyone who can see its value must be extraordinary."

Feng Qingyue thought to herself, it seems this Jun Mo knows the secret of the disc, or at least has some clues about it. She decided to test it out, so she said, "Boss Jun, to be honest, I have some knowledge of astronomy and meteorology. I think the symbols and lines on this disc may be related to astronomy and meteorology, so I took a picture of it."

Jun Mo raised his eyebrows slightly, with a hint of surprise in his eyes, "Young lady actually studies meteorology? This is really interesting."

At this moment, Ling Yuxiao was waiting anxiously outside. He kept glancing at the tightly closed door, his heart filled with worry.

In the room, Feng Qingyue and Jun Mo continued their conversation. Jun Mo seemed to have a strong interest in Feng Qingyue's background and purpose, and kept asking questions. Feng Qingyue answered them skillfully, not revealing too many of her secrets but also making Jun Mo feel that she was sincere and trustworthy.

"Boss Jun, I want to know how much you know about the secret of this disc?" Feng Qingyue finally couldn't help asking.

Jun Mo was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Girl, the secret of this disc may be more complicated than you think. However, if you are willing to cooperate with me, I can help you unlock this secret."

Feng Qingyue was shocked. She didn't know what Jun Mo meant by cooperation. In this world, she didn't have enough strength to easily cooperate with others, especially someone as mysterious as Jun Mo.

"Boss Jun, what do you mean?" Feng Qingyue asked cautiously.

Jun Mo smiled and said, "You are a smart girl, so you will understand what I mean. I can provide resources, and you can use your knowledge. Together we can explore the secrets behind the disc. Of course, in the process, we can also get what we want from each other."

Feng Qingyue pondered for a moment. She knew this was an opportunity, but also a risk. If she could collaborate with Jun Mo and unlock the secrets of the disc, she could return home faster. After all, relying on the magnetic field six months from now wouldn't guarantee a return. If Jun Mo had any ill intentions, she could be in danger.

"Boss Jun, let me think about it." Feng Qingyue said.

Jun Mo nodded and said, "Okay, Miss, you can take your time to think about it. However, I hope you can give me an answer as soon as possible."

Feng Qingyue stood up to say goodbye, and Jun Mo did not try to stop her. When she left the room, Ling Yuxiao hurried over to greet her.

"Qingyue, are you okay?" Ling Yuxiao asked with concern.

Feng Qingyue shook her head and said, "I'm fine, let's go."

Ling Yuxiao, Feng Qingyue, Su Jin, and Ah Cui left Qionghua Pavilion. Along the way, Feng Qingyue pondered Jun Mo's proposal, unsure of her decision. Ling Yuxiao sensed something was on Feng Qingyue's mind, so he didn't ask any further questions. The two of them walked silently toward the General's Mansion.