I, the villainous eldest prince, will suppress everything!

The Great Zhou Dynasty did not exist from the beginning. Instead, it was the last emperor of the previous dynasty, the Yu Dynasty, who was incompetent and extremely tyrannical, causing widespread resentment and misery among the people.

Emperor Taizu of Qin, in accordance with the will of the people, led his troops in rebellion. It took twelve years to overthrow the previous dynasty and establish the Great Zhou.

Back then, Emperor Shang felt that the situation was hopeless. Before Emperor Taizu of Qin could lead his troops to the capital, he ordered his soldiers to secretly transfer all the gold, silver and jewels, as well as the people's wealth, that he had amassed over the years to Mount Jiuyi and bury them there.

In the future, any person with the ambition to revive the Yu Dynasty can take it out for their own use, regarding it as the dragon vein of the former dynasty!

Back then, all the soldiers who participated in burying the dragon vein were executed by order of Emperor Shang, leaving no survivors.

To deceive Emperor Taizu of Qin, Emperor Shang even set fire to the palace, making Emperor Taizu believe that all the gold and silver treasures perished in the fire.

Unexpectedly, several eunuchs who had been hiding in the water vat throughout the fire miraculously survived and told Emperor Taizu about the dragon vein.

However, since the key figures who buried the dragon vein were all executed by order of Emperor Shang, no one knows the true location of the dragon vein, only that it is in the Jiuyi Mountains.

Three hundred years have passed, and every emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty has sent people into the mountains to search for the dragon vein, but without exception, they all returned empty-handed.

In the Jiuyi Mountains, the weather is unpredictable and ferocious beasts roam freely. Forget about finding the dragon vein; every time they go in, they suffer heavy losses.

When the late emperor was alive, he ordered the Jiuyi Mountain to be sealed off, making it a forbidden area for the royal family. No one was allowed to enter without the emperor's permission.

After listening to what Xiao Xue'er said, Qin Li nodded, suddenly understanding.

Although Xiao Xue'er is a bit dim-witted and has a big chest but no brains, she is undeniably a walking treasure trove of knowledge. Whether it's martial arts manuals or unofficial histories, there's nothing in the world she doesn't know.

"If my husband can find the dragon vein of the previous dynasty in the mountains, the military expenses for this expedition will be a piece of cake," Xiao Xue'er said.

Qin Li nodded in agreement.

What lies in the Jiuyi Mountains is not a dragon vein at all, but clearly a mountain of gold.

Let alone raising enough funds for this expedition, we could raise enough for ten expeditions.

But the problem is...

Qin Li's eyes suddenly turned cold as he looked at Xiao Xue'er and questioned, "The Nine Peaks Mountains are extremely dangerous. So many people have died there over the years. You're letting me into the mountains so that I can also die there, and you can run away with Qin Feng, right?"

Xiao Xue'er trembled with fright and quickly knelt beside Qin Li, as obedient as a kitten. "My lord, you've misunderstood! I didn't! I really didn't!"

"Anyone can talk the talk, but you have to prove you can't with actions, don't you think?"

Qin Li snorted coldly, first scanning her entire body, then lifting her chin with his finger, a wicked smile playing on his lips.

Xiao Xue'er knew exactly what Qin Li meant. Suppressing her discomfort, she slowly climbed onto Qin Li's body, pleading, "Please, my husband, have mercy on me, waah~"

……

……

Three days later, in the afternoon.

Just as Qin Li broke through to the late stage of the fourth rank and successfully entered the ranks of fifth-rank experts, people from the palace arrived.

"His Majesty has decreed that the First Prince, Qin Li, shall be fully responsible for the search for the dragon vein of the previous dynasty in the Jiuyi Mountains. So be it!"

"Thank you, Eunuch Xie! Someone, please show him your reward!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Biao reluctantly pulled out a silver ingot from his pocket.

The eunuch exerted all his strength, using both hands and almost falling on his butt, to "snatch" the silver from Zhou Biao's hand.

The eunuch who received the reward bowed and left happily.

After the person left, Zhou Biao stared longingly for a while before finally stepping forward and asking, puzzled, "Your Highness, I don't know Sister Li!"

He had witnessed everything Qin Li had done these past few days.

Besides spending his days in his room with Xiao Xue'er trying to give birth to several little princes for them, Qin Li would go to see Prime Minister Xiao Yuanlu and ask him to lead the ministers to put pressure on Emperor Xuan in court, so that Emperor Xuan would agree to open up Mount Jiuyi to search for the dragon vein of the previous dynasty!

He had no objection to opening up Mount Jiuyi in search of the dragon veins of the previous dynasty.

Zhou Biao will definitely take the lead and make it his mission to find the dragon vein!

What he didn't understand was that Qin Li was preparing to hold a "Dragon Vein Conference".

We cordially invite heroes from all over the world to join us in searching for the dragon vein in the mountains!

Isn't this just like their princess consort Xiao Xue'er, making a foolish mistake?

Everyone's gone into the mountains. What if someone else finds the dragon vein first? Wouldn't we be doing all the work for someone else?

Upon hearing this, Qin Li picked at his ear with his little finger and said nonchalantly:

"Biao, it's normal that you don't understand. With your brain and intelligence, it's very difficult for this prince to explain it to you clearly!"

"All you have to do is do whatever I tell you to do, do more and talk less."

"Hey, how's the Jade Maiden Sect female disciple I asked you to find coming along?"

Zhou Biao immediately clasped his hands in a fist and replied, "The world is vast and boundless. We are still on the search, but I believe good news will come soon."

Qin Li nodded.

We need to find the dragon vein, and we also need to find the female disciple.

Qin Li is an extremely self-disciplined person.

Spiritual practice must not be interrupted!

He discovered that as time went on, Xiao Xue'er's benefits to him had become very limited, and he had to find a new replacement.

Otherwise, the protagonist's cultivation level would have surpassed his.

Speaking of the main characters, Qin Li couldn't help but ask, "By the way, how are Qin Feng and Su Chen doing lately?"

The villain's lackey is just the villain's lackey.

They didn't take the two of them seriously at all.

Zhou Biao blurted out, "That good-for-nothing is still confined to his residence. If it weren't for Your Highness specifically requesting him to participate in the Dragon Vein Conference, he would probably be staying in his residence for the foreseeable future."

"As for that spoiled brat Su Chen, he's in his own residence, unable to even get out of bed, howling all day long."

"Can't even get out of bed?" Qin Li frowned. "What happened?"

"Both of them were severely beaten by Han Zhen, the commander of the Imperial Guards, and no one knows why."

"You got beaten up?"

Qin Li couldn't help but raise his voice.

This Han Zhen is a ruthless character.

How dare they hit the main character!

Two still!

They probably don't even know how to write the word "death".

"I heard it's a friendly sparring match. As you know, Your Highness, Han Zhen is a martial arts fanatic! He wants to spar with everyone he meets."

Upon hearing this, Qin Li nodded.

It seems I should meet with Han Zhen sometime; the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Even if they can't be friends, he'll at least have a drink with anyone who dares to hit the main character!

After asking a few more questions and learning that the two main characters were in no particular condition, Qin Li finally felt relieved.

After changing his clothes back in his room, Qin Li was about to go out; he had an appointment with someone today.

The money problem is half solved. All that's left is to wait for the Dragon Vein Conference to begin, follow the protagonist to find the Dragon Vein of the previous dynasty, and money will no longer be an issue.

Next comes the issue of food. As the saying goes, "An army marches on its stomach."

Qin Li had arranged to meet the largest grain merchant in the capital at Tianxiang Restaurant, and today was the day to keep the appointment.

"Your Highness, I'm just idling around anyway, shall I go with you?" Zhou Biao volunteered.

Since arriving at the First Prince's residence, Zhou Biao has been so bored that he's practically rolling on the floor, except for arranging for people to find disciples of the Jade Maiden Sect.

He has a wealth of skills but nowhere to use them; he desperately wants to achieve something.

"Need not!"

Qin Li decisively refused, straightening his collar. "Wei Hongying will go with me."

While the protagonist Qin Feng is still under house arrest, he must seize the opportunity to try and make things happen with Wei Hongying.

Bringing Zhou Biao along is no different than bringing a light bulb along.

"oh…"

Zhou Biao watched Qin Li leave, looking like a wronged little wife.