Shi Bingyun clapped her hands. Soon, a stream of servants flowed in, presenting an array of exquisite tableware. There was high-quality Guan ware porcelain with a crackled glazed surface that was as thin as paper. At first glance, it was entirely blue, but closer inspection revealed a faint pink hue beneath the glaze. The chopsticks were ivory inlaid with silver, their silver tips polished to a bright shine, and the ivory shafts glowed with a soft golden luster.0

As for the delicacies they held, each dish was so refined and delicate that it made one hesitant to disturb their presentation.0

To be fair, Qi Xuansu now had a modest fortune. An annual income of 3,600 Taiping coins was no small sum, enough to guarantee an ordinary family a lifetime of prosperity. Even so, it was not nearly enough to afford this kind of luxury.0

As a superintendent, Qi Xuansu had only one attendant assigned to take care of daily chores. After all, he could not be expected to do the laundry or cook meals himself because he was busy working day and night while also maintaining his cultivation. He barely had time....0