"How could you be like this, how could you be like this!"

In the dead of night, Song Mingzhang's heartbroken voice still echoed.

Scolding, crying...

...

Li An was also aware of some circumstances:

After Song Anning's appearance was restored, she spent all day mingling with the young people in the city, both men and women.

Two months ago, the young people in the city organized a spring outing and a hunt, and naturally, she went along.

During that spring outing, the Ninth Prince from the Celestial Yang Prince's Mansion was also present. After the spring outing and hunting, the Ninth Prince invited her and a few other socialites to a small gathering.

According to Song Anning, they drank too much at the time, and did not know what happened, it was only when they woke up that they realized what was done could not be undone.

Li An had seen such things too many times; in his past life, relying on his status in a Cultivation Clan... he had also done such beastly things.

For the upper echelons, playing like this was quite normal.

Moreover, based on his speculation, Song Anning might not have been completely unaware—those days she was glowing, seemingly quite happy.

Some of the young maids even privately speculated that Song Anning might become a princess consort in the future.

But Song Anning had no status, no Spirit Root talent; in simple terms, she just had a good figure and face, becoming a princess consort was not that easy!

The young prince soon grew tired of playing.

Her dream of becoming a princess consort was shattered, compounded by an unplanned pregnancy...

In the following days, Song Mingzhang was very worried. He first sought out Spirit Medicine for an abortion and also instructed the maids to take care of Song Anning's daily needs.

At the same time, he went around, finding ways to suppress the news of the incident and imposed a gag order on the maids in the mansion.

He was already nearing the end of his life span, and after this matter, he grew even weaker.

For three months, Li An did not mention a word of the matter, pretending not to know.

One day, Song Mingzhang found Li An.

"Little friend Zuo, you've read more than half of the books in my study now, your knowledge has surpassed mine..."

He looked at Li An and said:

"Reading should be put to use, have you thought about your future?"

Li An was taken aback, pondered for a long while, and said:

"Zuo really hasn't planned much."

Song Mingzhang said:

"I have an opportunity here, I wonder if you are interested..."

"Please tell me, senior."

"My end is near, before I die, I can recommend one person to the Treasure Pavilion to serve as an Artifact Evaluator. With your talent, you will surely pass the test... would you be willing?"

Li An was momentarily stunned and said, "The Treasure Pavilion..."

Then he was moved: "If I can enter the Treasure Pavilion, I can broaden my horizons and increase my knowledge. If senior can support me, Zuo Wen will give it his all!"

Song Mingzhang nodded, "Additionally, there is another matter I wish to discuss with you."

"Anning owes you a great debt of gratitude twice over. You know her well, and she has strayed from the path. I would like to ask you to save her once more..."

"You are over a hundred years old and have yet to marry. I am considering entrusting Anning to you, I wonder what your thoughts are?"

He wore an expression of shame and pain, "She is already a ruined woman, I must not hide this from you... If you are unwilling, I will not force you."

Li An sighed slightly in his heart, he had already anticipated this.

In truth, after Song Anning's appearance was restored, surely in Song Mingzhang's heart, he wanted to find a better family.

But who knew Song Anning played too wildly and ended up with a scandal.

The upper echelon in the city, being well-informed, who would still marry her?

It's better to let her marry Li An, Li An is at least a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and if he smoothly enters the Treasure Pavilion, Song Anning would have a life of prosperity and wealth.

"I am an old man over a hundred, Anning is still youthful... Perhaps Anning would be unwilling?"

"You are her savior, there's no reason she would be unwilling!"

Song Mingzhang earnestly said, "Little friend Zuo, feel free to speak your mind, are you disgusted by her? If so... Anning becoming a concubine is also possible."

Li An sighed and said, "Zuo Wen is willing to take Anning as the main wife. If she is willing to marry me, I would be overjoyed. If she is unwilling, she is free to choose another good match. How about that?"

Song Mingzhang nodded with satisfaction.

...

After this conversation, Li An frequently went to visit Song Anning, giving her medicine, bringing her water, and caring for her meticulously.

Song Anning should have already known about this, but when facing Li An, there was often a flash of uncontrollable disgust in her eyes.

After all, she had seen many young and talented, well-dressed young men from outside, all young and wealthy.

In comparison, Li An, already a hundred years old, with grayed hair, a face full of wrinkles, and a demeanor old and simple, always engrossed in books, how could he be worthy of her myriad charms?

Li An was quite indifferent to this.

If Song Anning truly liked him, it might have been quite troublesome. Her disgust was precisely the confidence for Li An to agree to Song Mingzhang's request!

Now that Song Mingzhang was still alive, naturally, she dared not say anything, but once Song Mingzhang passed, Li An would not intervene. Given her character, she would never resign herself to marrying Li An.

Respect others' destinies!

...

"Zuo Wen, pack up and accompany me to the Treasure Pavilion tomorrow."

One day, after the three of them had dinner, Song Mingzhang spoke up.

Li An's heart was stirred.

...

The next morning, Li An and Song Mingzhang set off by carriage.

Soon they arrived in front of the Treasure Pavilion. The building was grand, surrounded by a powerful Array for protection. Once they got off and entered, it was brimming with treasured items. Magical Artifacts, materials, Spirit Pills, and so on were displayed in the showcases.

Song Mingzhang led Li An into a quiet hall.

The entrance to the hall was heavily guarded, and many people were already seated inside.

There were many young people, but also a fair number of middle-aged individuals, with a total of about ten.

Inside the hall, there were two types of people, seeds for Artifact Evaluators cultivated from a young age by the Treasure Pavilion, and people like Li An who were recommended by current Artifact Evaluators as "connections."

This was an assessment.

Song Mingzhang had already told Li An that an Artifact Evaluator could only recommend someone, giving Li An the qualification to participate in the assessment.

Whether one could become an Artifact Evaluator still depended on one's own ability to speak for oneself.

"Is this the one recommended by Master Song Mingzhang?"

Among them, there was a man and a woman, both of their eyes glanced over at Li An.

Li An had heard from Song Mingzhang that the young man's name was Lu Hua, and the woman was Zheng Xiaoxiao. These two were the personal descendants of other Artifact Evaluators.

They were Li An's biggest competitors!

This time, the vacant Artifact Evaluator positions in the Treasure Pavilion were only two.

"This person is already so old, what is he here for..."

"I heard he was recommended by Master Song. His son died years ago, leaving only a granddaughter, what relation does this person have with him?"

Some other young people were whispering among themselves.

"Silence, no more talking!"

Soon, a middle-aged woman with a stern face had walked in. She glanced coolly, "The Artifact Evaluator assessment consists of two parts, discussion of items, and artifact evaluation!"

"Now, in the box given to you, there is an examination paper and ten different items. After answering the paper, write down the origin, characteristics, and value of these ten items one by one."

"The time limit is half an hour!"

She waved her hand, and immediately, someone distributed numerous wooden boxes.

The people who got the boxes hurriedly opened them and began reading the papers.

Li An opened his box, glanced over it, then picked up his brush to answer.

Not far away.

Lu Hua and Zheng Xiaoxiao, upon receiving their papers, both looked pleased, as if confident and prepared.

...

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