Chapter 751

A gaunt, pale face appeared.

His eyes were tightly shut, and a faint smile hovered at the corner of his mouth.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi exclaimed in unison: 'Cheng Jing!'

Xiao Ningyuan stepped forward and examined the face closely: 'Is it really him?'

He turned to his sister and said, 'No wonder he asked about your offspring gu.'

Suddenly, the surroundings erupted in exclamations.

Tuan Tuan hastily pried open Eunuch Cheng's hand: "What's wrong?"

Xiao Er and Lu Qi rushed over and together pulled Xiao Ningyuan away several steps.

Only then, a blood-red gu worm slowly crawled out of Cheng Jing's ear.

"Xiao Feifei!" Tuan Tuan exclaimed in shock.

Everyone turned their heads and saw Xiao Feifei jump from her arms onto the ground, then dash to the gu worm's side.

One large, one small; one white, one red.

One a fluffy snowball, the other a brilliant red like a pool of fresh blood.

The hall fell silent, everyone holding their breath.

Xiao Feifei lowered her head and gently rubbed against the gu worm's body.

The gu worm let it rub, remaining completely still.

Afterwards, its body shriveled inch by inch, the blood-red skin gradually darkening, turning black, and finally becoming a small pool of dark red blood.

Xiao Feifei looked at that pool of blood, tilted her little head, turned around, ran back to the dragon throne with legs spread, and jumped up onto it.

Tuan Tuan grabbed it in a hug, pressing her little face against its long fur.

Xiao Feifei made two "eng-eng" sounds, rested her chin in the crook of her arm, covered her nose with her big tail, and closed her eyes.

Xiao Ningyuan stared blankly at the pool of blood on the ground and murmured, "This must be that female gu worm."

Everyone suddenly understood.

Xiao Jieyun waved his hand, and the Imperial Guard lifted Cheng Jing's corpse away.

Xiao Yuanhang slowly said, "A madman actually managed to throw the whole world into chaos like this."

Xiao Jieyun gave a slight nod: "He could even come and go in my Zichen Hall; it seems my palace is the foremost place that needs to be cleaned up."

"Convey my decree: all palace eunuchs, maids, and Imperial Guard shall have their registers rechecked; any suspects are to be detained first."

"Yes!" The commander of the Imperial Guard received the order and departed.

Xiao Yuanhang glanced at the little dumpling nestled in the Emperor's embrace.

"Your Majesty," Xiao Yuanhang whispered, "Tuan Tuan is tired."

Xiao Jieyun lowered his gaze and saw the little dumpling's head bobbing up and down as it sank, almost using Xiao Feifei as a pillow.

A smile appeared on his lips: "I've been too busy talking."

He gently lifted Tuan Tuan, looked at everyone, and said, "You may rest in the palace tonight. Cheng Jinyan!"

"This old servant is here."

"Make sure they are all settled, especially Tuan Tuan."

"Yes."

The next morning, the pacification notices were posted all over the nine gates of Jingcheng.

The notice bore a bright red jade seal, the characters clear and distinct.

Prince Chen and Prince Qing have both been executed; those who were coerced will not be pursued.

Whether soldier or civilian, the fallen will be compensated, the wounded will receive silver from the Imperial Court for medical treatment, and Jingcheng's taxes will be waived for three years.

The crowds pressed before the notice, looking again and again, having literate scholars read it over and over.

Everyone erupted in an uproar.

"Three years tax-free!"

"It's best when His Majesty returns!"

"Long live His Majesty!"

The whole street boiled over, repeatedly shouting "Long live His Majesty!" as everyone rejoiced.

A few days later, the Emperor held a grand banquet for his officials in Taiji Hall.

Candles blazed brightly, the golden bricks gleamed like mirrors, and the sound of strings and pipes flowed continuously.

This was the first grand banquet after the recovery of Jingcheng, and all meritorious officials were seated.

Xiao Jieyun sat upright on the dragon throne, wearing a faint smile.

Eunuch Cheng held the imperial edict aloft, standing before the steps: "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

"The eldest son of Prince Ning, Xiao Ningyuan, ventured into the tiger's den and obtained the map of Jingcheng's defenses; his merit is immeasurable."

"Appoint him Left Vice Minister of the Household Department, grant him the title of Zhengyi Dafu, and award him one thousand taels of gold and one hundred bolts of brocade."

Xiao Ningyuan stepped forward and performed the great ritual with proper decorum.

"The second son of Prince Ning, Xiao Ningchen, sneaked through secret passages, displaying courage surpassing the three armies."

"Enroll him as General Zhao Wu, bestow one thousand taels of gold, and grant him an imperial horse."

Xiao Ningchen stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and performed the rites of gratitude.

"The third son of Prince Ning, Xiao Ningxun, repeatedly saw through treacherous schemes and fought to the death on the city walls without retreat."

"Appoint him as an Academician of the Hanlin Academy, concurrently serving as a Langzhong of the Ministry of War's Directorate of Staff, award him one thousand taels of gold, and grant him a set of the imperial Four Treasures of the Study."

The Emperor glanced at Xiao Ningxun and said, "Your leg injury hasn't healed; you need not kowtow."

Xiao Ningxun, remaining seated, performed the rites of gratitude.

Loyal and brave General Xiao Er, who repeatedly protected the Princess amidst countless dangers, was indispensable in his merits.

Promoted to Fourth‑Rank Bright‑Might General, additionally appointed Cloud‑Banner Captain, and bestowed five hundred taels of gold.

The mysterious envoy Lu Qi of the Tianji Pavilion, who accompanied the Princess through life and death and protected her with merit, was ennobled as Deputy Assistant Banner Captain and granted five hundred taels of gold.

Lu Qi thanked the favor, sat beside Xiao Er and whispered, "What exactly is a Deputy Assistant Banner Captain?"

Xiao Er smacked his forehead and said, "We'll go back and I'll explain it to you later."

The private goods workshop official Feng Zhou was promoted to Minister of Works, while still retaining his position as private goods workshop official, and was granted five hundred taels of gold.

Feng Zhou, excited, repeatedly thanked the court, and as he stepped down he nearly tripped over the hem of his own robe.

Lord Jinghai Zhou Jinhua, though he once defected, was deemed to have realized his error and returned, opened the city gates to welcome the great army into the city; his merits and demerits balanced, so he receives neither reward nor punishment.

Zhou Jinhua shouted "Ten thousand years!" tremblingly thanked the favor and returned to his seat.

Chen Hao, although belonging to the rebel faction, is loyal to the Imperial Court; moreover, the Ninth Prince interceded, sparing him from collective punishment, and he was titled General of Gratitude, remaining in the capital.

Chen Hao bowed deeply repeatedly.

Xiao Jieyun looked at King Baibu Luo and said, "King Baibu Luo of Kucha Kingdom, riding a thousand miles to aid, I wish to forge an everlasting alliance with Kucha, open the borders for trade, and let our peoples never offend each other for generations."

Baibu Luo took the state document from Eunuch Cheng's hand, tossed it into his bosom carelessly, and shouted, "His Majesty, how delightful! From now on, the fine horses of Kucha are yours to select first!"

Xiao Jieyun smiled faintly, "Then I shall not be modest."

Princess Jiayou, the Guardian of the Nation, though still young, has repeatedly achieved remarkable feats.

She was bestowed the title Princess Protector of the Nation, to receive a princely stipend, and was granted a golden seal and purple ribbon.

The hall erupted in a roar.

The Princess's promotion to Princess is a favor never before bestowed since the founding of the Fiery Kingdom.

Tuan Tuan lifted her small face and looked at Imperial Uncle, "May I still pick up trash?"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Immediately, Xiao Jieyun looked up and laughed heartily.

The Emperor's hearty laughter echoed through Taiji Hall, and the ministers all began to laugh.

"Fine!" he descended the jade steps, came before Tuan Tuan, bent down and lifted her up, "You are not only my Princess Protector of the Nation, but also a Fiery Kingdom Immortal Envoy."

"Pick whatever you want to pick, even the junk you bring back; I will grant you a palace to store it in!"

Tuan Tuan giggled, "Thank you, Imperial Uncle!"

Ten thousand households' lights lit up in Jingcheng, streets and alleys strung with lanterns and ribbons, bustling with unparalleled festivity.

In an otherwise ordinary room, it was quiet, with only a solitary lamp the size of a bean.

Liu Guiyan sat alone at the bedside, staring blankly at a neatly stacked, dark‑colored old robe on the bed.

She gently brushed the fabric's weave, as if afraid to damage it.

From outside the window came the laughter of neighbors.

Someone was humming a tune, while others were setting off firecrackers.

Children chased and played in the alley, their footsteps thudding "dong dong dong" as they ran past and back.

She lifted her head, gazed at the warm glow of lights outside the window, her lips moving slightly.

Cheng Lang, did you hear? They're all celebrating.

"Celebrate what? Celebrate that you're gone?"

She lifted the robe, pressed it against her face, grabbed the scissors nearby, and cut fiercely.

One cut after another, and after a moment the old robe became a pile of shredded cloth on the floor.

She stared at the scattered cloth and murmured, "I will have them all accompany you as burial goods."

Cheng Lang, on the road to the Yellow Springs, walk slowly; I will be there soon.