Chapter 61: Nurture Without Teaching Destroys the Whole Family

61. Chapter 61: Nurture Without Teaching Destroys the Whole Family

Jingcheng.

The Imperial Palace.

Emperor Xi He saw the memorials presented separately by Wang Deshun and Zhao Muqing, and the smile on his face could no longer be concealed.

"Your Majesty, what has made you so happy?"

Empress Xie Zixian looked at the delighted Emperor Xi He, very curious.

Her mood these past two days had not been good at all, after all, that brother who never ceased to worry her had returned to Jingcheng, yet he did not even enter the palace to see her.

What an unscrupulous fellow, and she had still been thinking of him.

"Take a look!"

Emperor Xi He handed Wang Deshun's memorial to Xie Zixian's hand.

"Ha ha, my little brother‑in‑law truly has a keen eye for talent!"

"Manichaeism?!"

"Suppressed?"

"Is it that childish?"

After reading the memorial, Xie Zixian felt that this Manichaeism seemed to be getting weaker each generation; the previous incarnation of Maitreya, at least, had coerced an entire city's populace, causing a brief stir.

But this one, during the uprising, was wrapped up like a dumpling.

"Your Majesty, what does this have to do with Xie Zian?"

"Wang Deshun is your man, Zhao Muqing is also your man!"

Xie Zixian did not think Shen Yunyao had actually done anything in the process of suppressing the Manichaeist rebellion. In her view, it was merely Wang Deshun and Zhao Muqing casually doing a favor for the Xie Family.

"Ha ha, Zixian, you don't know this, do you?"

"Whether Wang Deshun or Zhao Muqing, they would not dare to deceive me!"

"Putting aside other matters, the very fact that our sister‑in‑law dared to accompany Wang Deshun and Zhao Muqing on this trip already shows that a woman can match a man's resolve."

"If she were an ordinary woman, who would dare such a thing?"

"One careless step and life is lost!"

Emperor Xi He was truly growing more fond of this sister‑in‑law he had never met.

Of course, Emperor Xi He's desire to recognize Shen Yunyao as his sworn sister grew even stronger.

With such a formidable young lady and an emperor as her backing, that brat Xie Zian would surely be kept under tight control from now on.

Ha ha, just thinking about it makes me happy!

"Your Majesty, why did the Manichaeists choose Linlang County?"

After a brief thought, Xie Zixian asked a question.

As a daughter of the Xie Family, she was not an ordinary genteel lady; while waiting to be married, she attended school and read histories, and she possessed unique insights on many matters.

"What do you think, Zixian?"

Emperor Xi He glanced at his Empress, already having an answer in his mind.

Xie Zixian thought briefly and said, "If the report from Linlang County has no issues, then only the officials of Linlang County could be at fault; oppression forces the people to rebel!"

For years, Dayong had enjoyed favorable weather; occasional local disasters were minor, and the court promptly provided relief.

Since it was not a natural disaster that stirred people's hearts, it could only be a human calamity.

"Ha ha, Zixian, you truly are my wise consort; I think so as well."

"Wang Deshun and his group's memorials were sent a bit early; I hope they don't become complacent and have their boat capsized in the gutter!"

"Your Majesty, are you worried that the officials of Linlang County will kill and silence people? Then, what about my sister‑in‑law...?"

Xie Zixian grew anxious.

"Hold on, don't be hasty!"

"Our sister‑in‑law is blessed with destiny and certainly will not cause trouble. Still, we must prevent any mishap, so I will dispatch people to Linlang County right away!"

Although Emperor Xi He comforted Xie Zixian with words, he still felt uncertain inside.

If this young lady truly met an accident in Linlang County, it would indeed be a great pity.

……

Linlang County.

Shen Yunyao met Cuiyu, who had rushed from the relay station; the master and servant reunited, and Shen Yunyao was in an excellent mood, but Cuiyu wore a pitiful expression, like a lamenting woman of the inner chambers abandoned by a man.

"Smile a little!"

"We're all fine, why aren't you happy?"

Shen Yunyao reached out and tugged at Cuiyu's little braid.

"Hmph!"

Cuiyu turned her head haughtily, looking as if she were angry and hard to soothe.

Shen Yunyao knew the little girl was blaming her for taking so long to send someone to fetch her, and for not arranging a message earlier, which had kept her on edge.

"Alright, let me tell you, the county town has lots of delicious food!"

"If it weren't for waiting for you, I would have already gone eating with Shen Mama and the others!"

"Really?"

Upon hearing that, Cuiyu's expression softened considerably.

"Of course, could I even lie to you?"

Shen Yunyao never drafts her lies.

If she hadn't already tasted them, how would she know the food here is good?

Unfortunately, Cuiyu didn't see this turn coming.

So, an angry little girl was easily handled by Shen Yunyao.

The master and servant took the group to the streets, tasting the county town's cuisine.

The bit of discontent in Cuiyu's heart had long been tossed far beyond the clouds.

For her, the only cure for worries is food.

"This one's okay; it tastes a bit better than Liu Cheng!"

"This one doesn't work; it's far off, not even as good as Wang's in Liu Cheng!"

"This one's good!"

"That one, that one..."

All along the way, Cuiyu turned into a food critic.

However, the little girl is also sharp; after the encounter, she says nothing in front of others, but once they're far away, she starts commenting with Shen Yunyao.

Shen Yunyao echoes her, and on some points, they are still very much in agreement.

Perhaps it's because Linlang Juncheng underwent a massive turnover, or maybe because Wang Deshun and Zhao Muqing's group haven't left yet, still keeping lawbreakers in check; during this period, the streets of Linlang Juncheng didn't even have a single troublemaking thug.

Of course, we can't rule out that Qu Feng's governance is effective.

Although such a situation is extremely rare.

Shen Yunyao and the others hadn't stayed in Linlang Juncheng long before the imperial decree arrived.

Along with the decree came five hundred palace guards, the elite of the elite.

They will be responsible for escorting the Manichaeism bandit leaders, and also for ensuring Shen Yunyao's party's safe passage to the capital.

Zhao Muqing was temporarily left in Linlang Juncheng to assist the garrison there, thoroughly eradicating the remaining Manichaeism remnants.

Although the Manichaeism uprising in Linlang Juncheng was aborted, the things they did in secret still need to be handled properly.

Otherwise, it could become a future trouble.

Li Zaiye and other Linlang Juncheng officials were also put on prison carts.

They entered the capital together with the Manichaeism rebels, and at this point, Li Zaiye still didn't know why he had been caught up in the disaster.

But he himself arrived at an answer.

What a rip‑off!

His prized son Li Mao, together with the incarnated Maitreya of Manichaeism, turned out to be sworn brothers.

To put it bluntly, just because of that, their whole family is finished.

Li Mao was stunned into silence at that moment.

The big brother he always thought was cool turned out to be the incarnated Maitreya of Manichaeism.

But now, claiming he didn't know, no one would believe him.

"You little scoundrel, why didn't I drown you in a urine bucket back then?"

After Li Zaiye learned the truth, he truly wished he could go back to the time his son was born and throw him into a urine bucket to drown.

Unfortunately, time cannot flow backward, and he cannot return to the past.

Li Mao also thought he was arrested because of this.

Only the attendant who acted behind him, upon seeing Shen Grandma and Ma Grandma, suddenly understood how they fell into this calamity.

But he didn't dare to speak out.

If he stays silent, he's a secondary offender and might avoid death.

If he speaks, he'll have to die!