Report to the Empress and the Eldest Princess: They're using the system to poach your men.

"Tsk tsk tsk, you know how to be disgusting." Cen Yan pushed Shen Sangwan away and hid to the side. "I wonder what the Empress's reaction will be when she sees you like this."

“If you don’t tell me today, I’m going to stay here and not go back. It’s pointless to go back if I don’t hear what I want to hear.”

Shen Sangwan lay down on the bamboo couch like a complete idiot, crossing her legs, looking every bit like a female hooligan.

"Then you can sleep here. If the Empress finds out, you'll be the one who suffers."

Cen Yan shrugged, seemingly unconcerned, and prepared to rest on the bed.

"Cen Yan!"

Seeing that the other party really didn't intend to tell her, Shen Sangwan became a little anxious.

"Tell me what you want, and I'll have Xiaotong look for it for you. Stop keeping me in suspense."

"It would have been better if it had been this way."

Having achieved her goal, Cen Yan turned around and walked to the bamboo couch, sitting down next to the other person. "I don't need anything valuable, I just want something lightweight for self-defense, preferably something that can be used for multiple purposes and won't be noticed by others."

Listening to Cen Yan rattle off a long list of demands, Shen Sangwan's head started to ache, and a forced smile appeared on her face. "Hehe, it's not really valuable, but right now I'd rather you had something more valuable."

"If not, then I'll go to sleep now."

"No, no, wait a moment, let Xiaotong look for it first."

Although Xiaotong has leveled up several times and developed many new sections, she can't guarantee that there will be anything that meets Cen Yan's needs.

【Master, if you don't want to use that truth-revealing pill, why not just ask the other party directly? Why go through all this trouble?】

【Aww—!】

As soon as Xiao Tong finished speaking, he received a sharp rap on the head from Shen Sangwan, which made him clutch his head in pain.

If you keep spouting nonsense, I'll turn you into a transvestite.

[Quickly check if Xiaoyanyan mentioned this.]

Oh~

Xiao Tong reluctantly flipped through the documents. After a while, he finally spoke slowly after Shen Sangwan urged him again.

[Someone mentioned a similar one, but it's somewhat unusual and might not be convenient to use, Master. Perhaps you could have her choose another one?]

"Let me see what it looks like."

Xiaotong clicked on the detailed information image of the panel and found that it was made entirely of steel and aluminum, which did seem rather unsuitable.

"Um... Xiao Yan Yan, how about we change to another one—?"

Shen Sangwan glanced cautiously at Cen Yan beside her.

"There's none?"

"There is one, but if I take it out, it might bring you trouble. I can take it out and show it to you. If you like it, I'll draw up a blueprint and have the craftsmen here make a new one for you out of copper and iron."

After saying that, he took one out of his space. Before Xiao Tong could stop him, Shen Sang had already checked the item.

【No, Master, aren't you going to read the description?】

〖What's wrong?〗

【My lord, this thing is non-recyclable!】

Xiaotong was feeling unwell, and in the end, she could only silently withdraw her raised hand.

Oh no, that's it—

Seeing the small, ingenious object in Shen Sangwan's hand, Cen Yan instantly became interested.

"This little thing is quite unique. Are you sure you have the blueprints and the craftsmen here can recreate it?"

Cen Yan, who was playing with the object with great affection, felt that such an exquisite item would probably take a very long time to develop even in the modern world.

"Keep this for self-defense. Xiaotong told me that this thing cannot be recycled. Be careful in the future and don't let outsiders see it."

After saying that, she took out an instruction manual and handed it to Cen Yan, saying, "After you've read and memorized it, burn this thing."

Looking at Cen Yan's somewhat solemn expression, he suddenly realized that what he was holding was a hot potato.

But at this moment, she was no longer able to throw it.

"Now you can talk about Chonghua Palace!"

After fulfilling Cen Yan's needs, Shen Sangwan's gossipy nature was reignited, and she grabbed the other's hand, refusing to let go.

"The Empress Dowager guessed what was going on between you and the Empress, but she wasn't sure. Then, seeing how close I was to you, she sent someone to find me to confirm it and also to gossip about what happened at the Princess's residence. It's that simple."

"What? I don't believe it. It can't be that simple. You've been talking for almost an hour about such a small thing. I've drunk several cups of tea while sitting there. You're definitely lying to me."

Shen Sangwan jumped up in disbelief, grabbed Cen Yan's arm, and leaned down to interrogate her, "You better tell me the truth."

"It really was just an old person's gossipy nature acting up, but maybe he was worried about you and wanted to find out the truth. Besides, I didn't say a single bad word about it."

Cen Yan let Shen Sangwan hold her down and calmly looked up to meet the gaze of the person in front of her.

"Oh my god, I've really lost out!"

Seeing that there was no sign of the other party lying, Shen Sangwan immediately felt that she had lost out in this transaction.

"Little Yan Yan, you're getting better and better at seducing and manipulating me, huh—?!"

He reached out and pinched Cen Yan's face with a little force, speaking through his teeth.

"You've gone mad from being in love. You could never beat me before, and now you're even more brainless."

Cen Yan smiled as she pushed away the hand that was placed on her face.

Then I started to think about that gadget.

What's this thing called?

Feeling somewhat deflated after being scolded by Cen Yan, Shen Sangwan slumped onto the bamboo couch and lay down, muttering, "Qianji Tuo."

"It does look a bit like a spinning top, but it's the same size from top to bottom, so why is the height so different? It's really strange."

She carefully examined it while flipping through the instruction manual.

"Clang~"

"Huh——"

Twist the top and bottom parts clockwise as instructed in the instructions, and the item will immediately split into two sections connected by a very thin steel wire.

Cen Yan casually cut the bamboo couch backrest beside her, and before she even used much force, a scratch appeared on it.

"This isn't steel wire, it's a knife!"

Cen Yan couldn't help but complain, then closed it again and pressed the longer tail, cutting the smooth surface into squares of different sizes.

Each press of a button will pop out a sharp weapon from below: steel needles, daggers, and curved blades...

"This thing would be an incredible existence even in the modern world, right?"

Shen Sangwan was starting to get restless.

"This thing is smaller than three fingers, how come it has so many mechanisms, and they're all so sharp? You've made me want to take another one out and use it."

[Master, stop! Please cease such thoughts. This Thousand-Machine Tuo is unsuitable for Nan Jing. Giving one to Cen Yan is one thing, but Master, please don't invite trouble upon yourself.]

"I was just kidding, why are you so scared? Don't worry, I won't disrupt the balance of power recklessly. Otherwise, I would have already taken out those 'banned' items in bulk and used them directly on the other two major powers."