Chapter 143: He just doesn't have that ability

The hall suddenly fell into an eerie silence.

The civil and military officials stared at each other, never expecting that this tiny child would have such boldness and presence, roaring in the hall.

Xiao Yuanhang carefully supported the young lady standing on his leg, afraid she would lose her balance and fall to the ground.

Xiao Jieyun was getting a headache from the officials' noise, not expecting that before he could speak, Tuan Tuan would already show her might.

His mouth twitched slightly, and he had to exert great effort to suppress his smile.

"Cough, cough." The Emperor cleared his throat, "Princess Jiayou, you've had a hard journey; please take a seat."

He paused, a faint smile appearing: "Someone, bring tea, uh... bring warm milk."

Eunuch Cheng personally brought a cushioned stool and placed it beside Xiao Yuanhang, then took the milk cup from the attending palace staff and put it in Tuan Tuan's hands: "Hold it steady, Princess."

"Thank you, Grandpa!" Tuan Tuan then, still pouting, hugged her milk cup and sat steadily on the cushion.

Xiao Yuanhang quickly reached out to tidy the young lady's hair and collar, which had been ruffled just moments before.

Tuan Tuan cradled the warm milk, sipping it in small mouthfuls; her fair little face still bore a few clear pink sleep marks left by her cloak, making her look both aggrieved and adorable, a stark contrast to the fierce little tiger she had been moments earlier.

Zhou Jinhua stepped forward again, bringing the topic back: "Please, Your Majesty, think three times! The self-reproach edict concerns the foundation of the state; Your Majesty must not..."

Before he could finish, Tuan Tuan lifted her head and interrupted him: "What is a 'self-reproach edict'?"

Zhou Jinhua was taken aback and had to explain: "It is the Emperor's proclamation to the world, admitting his own faults..."

"Faults?" Tuan Tuan looked puzzled: "Imperial Uncle reads so many documents every day, sees so many people, busy to the point he has no time to play with me; he works so hard, why would he still be at fault?"

"This..." Zhou Jinhua was momentarily speechless, rendered mute by that pure logic.

Seeing this, Wei Zhengqiu immediately interjected: "The Princess has misunderstood."

"It is not that we think Your Majesty is at fault, but given the current nationwide drought, the people all believe it is Your Majesty's responsibility."

"If we do not issue an edict, how can we quell this widespread public anger and settle the hearts of the myriad people?"

After hearing that, Tuan Tuan recalled the rumors she had heard on the way back to the capital, and also recalled Xiao Ze's saying, "The more you forbid them to speak, the more they think it's true." She held her small cup, furrowed her brow, and once again could not understand.

Humph! After all, he's just an infant who hasn't even shed his baby smell—what could he understand? He's got nothing to say, right!

Seeing her lower her head and stay silent, Zhou Jinhua said: "Your Majesty! Since the Princess thinks the self-reproach edict is inappropriate, I have another proposal."

"Everyone knows that Da Xia has a divine child, a reincarnation of a deity, who can summon wind and rain."

"Now our Lie Guo suffers drought, while Da Xia enjoys favorable weather, all thanks to this divine child's protection."

"Since the jade seal of Da Xia is in Your Majesty's hands, why not use it as a token to invite the divine child to come to Lie Guo to pray for rain and blessings—wouldn't that kill two birds with one stone?"

Divine child? It's that Tou Shen again!

Tuan Tuan lifted her head, wrinkled her little nose, and snorted: "That Tou Shen? He doesn't have the ability for that!"

Hearing that, Wei Zhengqiu immediately straightened his face and sternly rebuked: "Princess Jiayou! Please watch your words! The Da Xia divine child's fame spreads across the world—how dare you casually comment on him?!"

"He's not any kind of divine child at all!" Tuan Tuan shot back without backing down, "He's utterly useless!"

Wei Zhengqiu was angered by her "unreasonably stubborn" demeanor into laughing: "The Princess is young and unaware of the immensity of heaven and earth, which is somewhat understandable."

"But this is a matter of state and war—how could you be allowed to play around here? Do you really think, as a mere inexperienced brat, you could surpass that Da Xia divine child?"

Xiao Jieyun said in a deep voice: "Minister Wei!"

"Here I am!" Wei Zhengqiu hurriedly responded, bowing.

Xiao Jieyun's gaze fell on Wei Zhengqiu, and he exclaimed: "How is it that you're the one jumping about with joy!"

"I see Minister Wei is old—his ears aren't sharp, and his mind is muddled! How dare you, in the hall, before my very face, openly praise another country and belittle our meritorious officials!"

Tuan Tuan puckered her lips at Wei Zhengqiu: "Exactly! Exactly!"

Wei Zhengqiu trembled all over, his face somewhat unsightly: "Your Majesty! I am concerned for the state, not..."

"No need to say more!" Xiao Jieyun interrupted him again: "Since Minister Wei suffers from such a grave ailment, there's no need for him to weary himself over state affairs."

"Go home and recuperate for a while; when you're healed, come back to see me! Attendants!"

Two guards entered in response.

"Take Minister Wei, and 'invite' him out of the palace to return to his residence!"

Wei Zhengqiu hurriedly knelt: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please forgive me!"

The guards ignored his repeated pleas for mercy and roughly dragged him out of the hall.

The hall immediately grew much quieter; the officials who had just echoed him fell silent like cicadas in winter, bowing their heads and daring not to speak further.

The hall was quiet, but the matter remained unresolved; Xiao Jieyun furrowed his brow slightly.

Natural disasters and popular resentment are genuine facts; they cannot be resolved merely by punishing a single official.

Could it be that I truly must issue a self-reproach edict?

Tuan Tuan looked at Xiao Jieyun; Imperial Uncle was worrying over the rumors!

Everyone says it's his fault, but he clearly isn't at fault!

Poor Imperial Uncle! The purple aura on him isn't as bright as before.

Purple aura! Right!

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up; she jumped down from the cushion and, with a backward hand, handed the empty milk cup to her father.

She pitter-pattered up to the imperial steps, lifted her little face, and spoke clearly: "Imperial Uncle, you don't need to worry!"

"Don't you remember? You are a great dragon! With you, the emperor who is a great dragon, go tell the Old Heaven Lord to send rain—wouldn't that solve it?"

Xiao Jieyun's heart stirred; "Exactly, I am a true dragon, I possess purple aura!"

The very purple aura that once allowed An Niang to regain her senses!

"I am the Son of Heaven; offering sacrifices to Heaven for rain is precisely the emperor's duty! This is far more legitimate and proper than issuing a self-reproach edict!"

The officials all at once began to speak up.

"Your Majesty! The Princess's words make sense!"

"Your Majesty's sacrifice to Heaven, proclaiming it to the world, will surely pacify the people's hearts!"

"This is the best plan!"

"It can even better show that the Imperial Court cares for all the people!"

"Voices of agreement rose and fell."

"Yet some still worried: 'Your Majesty, your sincerity in performing the Heavenly Sacrifice could move heaven and earth, but if after the Heavenly Sacrifice it still does not rain, what then?'"

"If the rain still does not fall, it will surely damage Your Majesty's holy reputation!"

"Yes, if the Heavenly Sacrifice proves ineffective, the people's resentment will likely grow even more..."

"No way!" Tuan Tuan turned around, faced everyone, patted her little chest, and said, "Imperial Uncle performs the Heavenly Sacrifice to pray for rain; the rain will surely fall!"

Xiao Jieyun looked at the tiny person standing below the steps, a small little bunch, yet standing before His Majesty, and could not help but be deeply moved.

He pondered for a moment, then slowly rose; the officials hurriedly bowed, and Xiao Yuanhang also hastily rose.

Xiao Jieyun proclaimed loudly: "Convey His Majesty's edict, announce it to all under heaven!"

"Imperial decree: appoint Princess Jiayou as the 'Heaven-praying Immortal Envoy,' solely responsible for the Heavenly Sacrifice to pray for rain."

"Effective immediately, construct the Heavenly Sacrifice platform!"

"When the divine platform is completed, His Majesty will personally ascend it to perform the Heavenly Sacrifice and pray for rain!"

"Court is dismissed!"