Volume One, Chapter Three: The Delicate Glass Cup and the Self-Destructive Time Traveler!

Zhu Biao quickly wiped the glass cup in his hand with his sleeve, moving carefully as if afraid of bumping it or leaving scratches.

"What are you doing? You’ve dirtied your clothes!"

Jiang Lin was puzzled by Zhu Biao’s behavior.

With furrowed brows, Zhu Biao scolded him dissatisfiedly, “Young Master Jiang, even if you are my lady’s lifesaver, don’t expect me to turn a blind eye.”

“To treat such a treasure so carelessly is utterly outrageous!”

“Huh?” Jiang Lin was momentarily stunned.

What treasure?

It was just a few cheap glass cups!

He had forgotten that day when a whole box of blind-box parcels had arrived from express delivery.

After a moment of realization, Jiang Lin suddenly understood.

The glass-making techniques in the Ming Dynasty were far from perfected, and impurities were abundant.

Glassware with fewer impurities was regarded as treasure!

Such flawless glassware was, in Zhu Biao’s eyes, the rarest of treasures.

Jiang Lin smiled helplessly, “These are just ordinary cups.”

“If you like, I can give you a few.”

“No, no.”

Zhu Biao waved his hand repeatedly, speaking firmly,

“How could I accept such precious gifts?”

Just as he spoke, he suddenly paused, sensing something amiss. He looked at Jiang Lin incredulously and asked,

“What did you say just now? You plan to give me several?”

“Could it be… you have more than one of these glass cups?”

“Yes, as many as you want. I have a whole bunch!” Jiang Lin nodded with a smile.

He then turned and brought over a tray filled with glass cups.

Zhu Biao’s eyes widened instantly. He carefully picked up one glass cup to examine it, then compared it with the one in his hand, finding both equally exquisite.

He then inspected the other cups—identical in every detail, indistinguishable.

For a moment!

Zhu Biao recalled his earlier reprimand and felt his face flush with embarrassment.

Neither spoke for a while, the air thick with awkwardness.

“Uh… since you said you would give me some, I’ll reluctantly accept.”

Zhu Biao was the first to break the silence, picking up a cup and gently polishing it in his hand, treating it truly as a treasure.

Jiang Lin shook his head with a light laugh, never imagining that a mere glass cup could captivate the crown prince of Ming so thoroughly.

“No worries, I have plenty more. I’m not short of one. Do you want to pick another to make a pair?”

“Alright, then I won’t be polite!”

Zhu Biao thought to himself that he could give one to the emperor. Surely, the emperor would be delighted and cherish such a delicate glass cup.

After putting away the two cups, Zhu Biao looked at Jiang Lin respectfully and gratefully said,

“Thank you for your noble gift, Immortal, and for saving my lady just now. Without you, she would have been lost.”

“May I know the name of the Immortal? I, Zhu Biao, would like to express my gratitude in the future!”

Having witnessed Jiang Lin’s healing and the exquisite glass cups, Zhu Biao had completely accepted him as a celestial being descended to earth.

Before such an immortal, there was no need to hide his identity; in fact, insincerity might offend him.

Jiang Lin was taken aback, hardly believing his ears.

Did he… hear that right?

Zhu Biao?

Wasn’t that the name of the Ming crown prince?

This was the eleventh year of the Hongwu reign; Zhu Biao should be in his twenties.

The man before him looked about the right age, and who would dare impersonate the crown prince?

If this man was indeed Crown Prince Zhu Biao, then the woman lying in bed must be his crown princess, Lady Chang, and the little boy must be the crown grandson, Zhu Xiongying.

My goodness!

How dramatically unbelievable!

Jiang Lin waved his hand, “I am no immortal, but I am not from Ming either.”

“I am a traveler from over six hundred years in the future, named Jiang Lin.”

No more pretense—I’m a time traveler. I’m laying all my cards on the table!