Cannot Let Her Choose Freely

All the Soulstone Ore was transported back to Yanjing and brought straight into the palace, where it was piled up in an unused hall.

Royal relatives and ministers took turns visiting, all saying that this was the first time they'd seen what Soulstone Ore actually looked like...

As previously agreed, Grace could take a tenth of it.

She was summoned to the palace.

The Emperor and several ministers were present, beaming as they admired the room full of Soulstone Ore.

"President Grace," Prime Minister Quentin Shaw said to her. "As agreed, you may take a tenth of these Soulstone Ores."

"Thank you, Prime Minister!" Grace replied with a bright smile.

"I’m sure you know, President, if the Soulstone is of the Yellow grade, even the biggest chunk isn’t worth much. But if it’s Celestial grade, then even this—"

He picked up the smallest piece and weighed it in his hand. "—is worth a fortune! So, we won’t divide by weight, just by the number of pieces. President, do you have any objections?"

Grace said, "Prime Minister, you’re absolutely right. Let’s go by the number of pieces!"

Quentin Shaw nodded, "I've already counted all these Soulstone Ores. Not one more, not one less—thirty thousand pieces in total. President Grace, you may take three thousand! Go ahead and pick!"

"Thank you!" Grace smiled and walked over, starting to select Soulstone Ore under the envious, jealous, and resentful gazes of the ministers.

Three thousand pieces of Soulstone Ore—even if they were all Yellow grade—would be an unimaginable fortune!

The Zhu family is about to hit it big!

Grace looked like she was picking at random.

In reality, Cutie Pie was guiding her from inside the space!

It helped Grace pick out the very best Soulstones.

By the time she had picked all three thousand pieces, none of the Earth Spirit Jade above grade was left.

Grace happily had them packed up and was just about to have them carted away when someone shouted, "Wait!"

Grace turned to see Consort Penelope arriving.

She wore a double-happiness patterned satin phoenix robe, with a sweeping cloud motif skirt trailing behind her—noble and stunning, she approached with regal beauty.

"Quentin Shaw, you really did your job well!" Consort Penelope said.

"What do you mean by that, Your Grace?"

"What did Grace give you in exchange? You actually let her pick through all these Soulstones?"

"Consort Penelope, nobody can tell the quality of Soulstone Ore just by looking at it. I let President Grace pick, but it’s all down to luck! These Soulstone Ores were all mined by her, after all. Isn’t that fair enough?" Quentin Shaw replied.

"And how do you know she can’t tell the good ones apart just by looking?" Consort Penelope retorted.

"Well..." Quentin Shaw hesitated. "Then what does Your Grace suggest?"

"Put all the ones she picked back, then redistribute them!" Consort Penelope declared.

"And how exactly do you propose we redistribute them?" Quentin Shaw asked.

Consort Penelope said, "Since you claim she can't tell the difference by sight, then leave all the ones she picked, and let her choose three thousand from the rest."

"And what’s the point of that?" Quentin Shaw asked.

Consort Penelope smiled, "Just to be safe! President Grace isn’t ordinary—if she could find the Soulstone Ore, what if she really can tell the good ones apart? How can we let her walk away with all the best?"

Quentin Shaw looked at Grace, about to speak, when Emperor Henry Tuoba called out, "Consort Penelope."

"Your Majesty," Consort Penelope replied sweetly.

"All these Soulstone Ores were mined by President Grace. I only gave her a tenth—now you want to take it back?"

"That’s not what I meant, Your Majesty. I just think we shouldn’t let her pick as she pleases!" Consort Penelope protested.