Upon hearing Xiao Ning's agreement, Wang Mang's face flushed with excitement.
"Boss, I'm already 68 years old!"
After the initial excitement subsided, he came to his senses and said with some difficulty, "As the saying goes, few people live to seventy. I'm already halfway to the grave, I don't know if I'll be able to live to see that day!"
Xiao Ning thought for a moment and said, "What you said makes sense. Here's what I'll do: I have a spiritual fruit that can add thirty years to your lifespan. Take it and consume it!"
After saying that, he took out a low-grade spiritual fruit from his storage ring and handed it to Wang Mang.
It wasn't that he didn't want to give Wang Mang high-grade spiritual fruits, but rather that he was worried that if Wang Mang consumed high-grade spiritual fruits, his body would experience abnormalities, and if the Heavenly Court discovered this, it would be difficult to handle the situation.
After all, playing it safe and developing your strength is the best strategy!
Wang Mang stared wide-eyed at the spiritual fruit Xiao Ning handed him, swallowed hard, and stammered, "Big Boss, you mean... this fruit can increase one's lifespan by thirty years?"
The spiritual fruit was about the size of a green date, and its fragrance was so strong that one couldn't help but want to swallow it whole.
"That's right, as you yourself said. After all, your body is old and frail. What if you die before you can accomplish your great task? Wouldn't all my efforts have been in vain? I would have to find a way to go to the underworld to revive you. That would be too much trouble!"
Xiao Ning replied indifferently, showing disdain for the low-grade spiritual fruit, not even glancing at it.
Without further hesitation, Wang Mang threw the spiritual fruit into his mouth and ate it with a "crunch!"
After he consumed the spiritual fruit, as if a miracle had occurred, his previously decaying body rapidly became younger, and his originally gray hair turned jet black and shiny.
His slightly bent back straightened, the loose skin on his face became firm, and every cell in his body regained its vitality.
I felt like I was back to my prime, with no more back pain or leg soreness.
Rejuvenate!
Truly turning back the clock!
Wang Mang clenched his fist, overjoyed. He hadn't felt his body so relaxed in many years.
At this moment, Wang Mang was in tears.
Only after losing something do we realize that the most important thing in life is our own body. Everything else is unimportant; good health is the foundation of everything.
"Thank you so much, boss! Thank you so much, boss!"
Wang Mang wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, feeling extremely grateful to Xiao Ning.
"No need to thank me. The most important thing now is that you must be prepared to explain things clearly to your subjects, wives, concubines, and children!"
Xiao Ning waved his hand and said, "Also, find me a place to stay. I need to devise a plan for you! To reclaim lost territory, unify the nine provinces, and formulate policies to benefit the people, etc."
Wang Mang laughed heartily and replied, "Please wait a moment, sir. I need to write an edict to bestow upon you the title of the only non-royal prince of my Great Xin! I will also order the Ministry of Works to build you a magnificent princely mansion!"
………………
Lingchuan County, Jianxing Prefecture.
A few years ago, a giant mountain shaped like five fingers suddenly fell from the sky, took root and closed up as soon as it landed, becoming a wonder of the entire county.
At first, many scholars and literati came to visit and admire the mountain, but as time went on, they found that although the mountain was thousands of feet high, there was nothing beautiful to see, and gradually no one came to visit anymore.
On this day, the people of Lingchuan County discovered that the entire county was under martial law, the streets were swept clean, and even the hooligans who used to hang out in the streets and alleys had disappeared completely.
Moreover, there were guards at every intersection. They were dressed in flying fish robes, held Miao knives, and kept a close eye on the passers-by, looking very nervous.
In the county town, there was a two-story restaurant called Yuelai Xiaozhu. At this moment, in the lobby on the first floor, guests were sitting in twos and threes, looking at the situation outside and discussing it.
"Brother Lin, what's going on? Could it be that some important figure is coming to Lingchuan County?"
A young man picked up a piece of food and put it in his mouth, then asked his friend at the table, "There are even Imperial Guards cleaning up the streets, that's incredible!"
His deskmate was an older, overweight man with a large belly and an air of wealth.
After hearing the young man's words, the fat man shook his head and said, "Brother Li, I'm not very clear either. I only know that the person who came is of very high status. I don't know any other information at all!"
"Huh?!?"
The young man exclaimed in surprise, "Brother Lin, your brother-in-law, as the magistrate of this county, is unaware of this news? Then... the identity of the person who came must be extraordinary!"
"Who knows? We'll find out when that person arrives. Anyway, it has nothing to do with us nobody!"
The fat man surnamed Lin smiled indifferently.
"Brother Lin is right, come on, have some food!"
The young man was taken aback, then burst into laughter.
"Thump!"
Just then, a gong rang out, drawing everyone's attention.
The fat man surnamed Lin and the young man surnamed Li both looked up at the street.
Two bronze gongs led the way, followed by a forest of banners. Black banners with red characters and gold dragons were displayed, with a large seal script character "新" (new) floating on the banner. The banner bearers were all burly and had solemn expressions.
In the middle of the procession, six snow-white horses pulled a royal carriage, which slowly entered Lingchuan County through the city gate, followed by countless mounted, armored, and armed guards.
A vast and majestic procession, utterly solemn and awe-inspiring!
Banners fluttered and rustled in the wind.
The imperial carriage was a huge carriage, carved entirely from huanghuali wood, and surrounded by layers of black curtains, preventing outsiders from seeing what was inside.