Chapter 77: Fairy Sister, Yu'an Is Here!

Another half a shichen later, Yu'an wiped her tears with two hands swollen like little pig's trotters.

Her eyes were beet red, crying pitifully.

Meanwhile, Chen Ying stepped out of the room and looked at her father, who was peering in with a worried face.

"He's just a child who doesn't know any better, fine, but how could you join in the mischief?"

How could there be such a coincidence?

It must have been arranged by Father.

Luckily Yi Jiang is a terrible navigator, otherwise he really would have slipped out.

Hearing his grandson's lusty wailing, Chen Delin was reassured.

After having the residence physician hurry in to examine and apply medicine, he covered his mouth with a hand and yawned, then turned and waved.

"Getting old, can't keep up the pace, I'm going back to sleep."

Seeing this, Chen Ying frowned and let out a heavy, helpless sigh.

Yu'an had no idea that her little friend had snuck out in the middle of the night to come find her, crawled through a dog hole, and gotten her palms smacked after being caught.

The little one had watched an episode of Nezha Legend before bed, and was now in her dreams beating up the bad guys alongside Nezha.

Hehe, tomorrow she can go find Fairy Sister!

……

The next day, Early Court.

The Shunhe Emperor had just sat down when the Eldest Prince stepped forward, his words earnest.

"I report to Your Majesty — the case of the Pingnan Marquis Residence is riddled with doubts. To prevent loyal ministers from being wronged, I beg Father Emperor to retry this case!"

Hearing this, a flicker of displeasure crossed the Shunhe Emperor's face.

The Crown Prince stepped forward.

"Big Brother's words are mistaken."

"The Pingnan Marquis — ah no, Cheng He and his brother suffered defeat on the battlefield; the annihilation of the Hundred Thousand Army is fact, and the treasonous letters seized from the Pingnan Marquis Residence are also true."

"Moreover, the Cheng Family practiced Witchcraft Gu Art, attempting to harm Father Emperor."

"Colluding with the enemy, plotting treason — the evidence is conclusive!"

"For such shameless villains, Father Emperor was still willing to spare the Cheng Family's womenfolk, merely exiling them — that is already boundless imperial grace, the utmost of benevolence."

"What grievance is there left to cry about?!"

Hearing this, the Eldest Prince's tone grew heated.

"Then why did the Cheng Family's womenfolk still perish in the flames in the end?!"

"Bang!"

The Shunhe Emperor slammed his hand heavily on the armrest of the Dragon Throne.

"Insolence!"

"So? Just who do you suspect?!"

The Crown Prince and the Eldest Prince hurriedly dropped to their knees to beg forgiveness, and the Imperial Officials in the hall also fell to the ground one after another.

"Father Emperor, calm your anger."

"We beg Your Majesty to calm your anger."

"Hmph!"

The Shunhe Emperor snorted.

The Crown Prince first observed the Shunhe Emperor's expression, then turned his head to look at the Eldest Prince.

"Imperial Brother, Father Emperor already spared their lives — it was their own ill fortune that they died in Beihuang City. Who can be blamed for that?"

Listening to his words, watching the mocking smile on his face, the Eldest Prince clenched his fists tightly and said through gritted teeth.

"I must ask the Crown Prince to choose his words carefully."

The Crown Prince gave a silent, cold laugh, turned his head back, and looked at him no more.

The Shunhe Emperor waved his hand impatiently.

"Enough, all of you, rise."

Everyone rose and stood properly again, but the Eldest Prince did not move.

"Father Emperor, the Pingnan Marquis Residence has campaigned on the battlefields for years, earning many great merits for Da Yin. If now, based on mere pieces of evidence of unknown origin, we rashly convict and close the case so hastily — would that not chill the hearts of loyal ministers and the common folk of the realm?"

The Shunhe Emperor gripped the armrest of the Dragon Throne tightly, his jaw clenched hard, so angry the veins on his temples bulged.

But the Eldest Prince went on.

"Now the common folk in the streets are all saying that Your Majesty heeded the Slanderous Words of petty men and wrongly killed loyal ministers — Da Yin is in peril!"

"Hold your tongue!"

The Shunhe Emperor slammed his palm on the desk before him and stood up, pointing at the Eldest Prince, beside himself with rage.

"I think you've truly lost your senses! Get back to the Eastern Border this instant! Only when you've come fully to your senses may you return to the capital!"

The unspoken meaning: if he brought up retrying the Cheng Family's case again, then he need not return to the capital at all.

The court officials standing below exchanged uneasy glances.

This counts as… a demotion, right?

It seems the Eldest Prince has truly fallen out of Your Majesty's favor.

The Crown Prince smiled smugly inside, but on his face wore the look of a "good little brother" deeply worried for his elder.

"Father Emperor, calm your anger."

"Imperial Brother simply places too much weight on his master-disciple bond with Cheng He — it is understandable. I ask Father Emperor, for the sake of Imperial Brother's momentary folly, not to blame Imperial Brother."

Hearing his words, the Eldest Prince rolled his eyes in a great, exaggerated fashion.

You're not pleading for me — you're afraid Father Emperor won't punish me harshly enough!

The Shunhe Emperor slowly sat down, thinking over the Crown Prince's earlier words.

Indeed, even his own son had been influenced by the Cheng Family and was starting to lean toward them.

Then among the Civil and Military Officials in this Imperial Court, how many were Cheng Family's people?

His gaze, carrying a scrutinizing meaning, swept over each of the Imperial Officials in the hall one by one, finally settling somewhere.

"Minister Sun!"

Minister Sun stepped forward.

"This Old Minister is here."

"Regarding what the Eldest Prince said earlier — retrying the Cheng Family case — what does Beloved Minister Sun think?"

Minister Sun kept his head lowered the entire time.

"Your Majesty is wise. This case was already decided long ago; this Old Minister has no thoughts on it."

The Shunhe Emperor called out again.

"What about Vice Minister Meng?"

Vice Minister Meng stepped forward, keeping his head slightly lowered just like Minister Sun.

"This minister also has no objections."

"Then regarding the punishment I just gave the Eldest Prince, what do the two Beloved Ministers think?"

Minister Sun and Vice Minister Meng spoke in unison.

"Your Majesty is wise."

The Shunhe Emperor's thumb rubbed against the knuckle of his index finger, a trace of coldness in his eyes.

Wise — wise again!

Can't they say anything else?!

Lately, he'd grown sick of hearing those four words!

At this moment, the Minister of Rites, having received a cue from the Crown Prince's eyes, stepped forward.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this year's sacrificial rites have been successfully completed."

Hearing this, the Shunhe Emperor's expression softened somewhat.

"All Beloved Ministers have worked hard."

The Minister of Rites bowed slightly.

"It is all thanks to the Crown Prince's personal attention to every detail and his diligent responsibility that this sacrificial rite went so smoothly."

The Shunhe Emperor nodded, looking at the Crown Prince with approval.

"The Crown Prince truly did very well this time."

The Crown Prince bowed in salute.

"Sharing Father Emperor's burdens is this son's duty."

"Speaking of the sacrificial rites, where is the Qintian Jian? What are our Da Yin's fortunes and celestial signs for next year?"

As he spoke, the Shunhe Emperor looked toward the Qintian Jian Director.

The Qintian Jian Director replied respectfully.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I observed the heavens last night — next year will surely bring success in all matters, favorable weather, and a bountiful harvest!"

"Good!"

The Shunhe Emperor was greatly pleased.

What do the rumors among the common folk matter?

When the harvest comes and the people are at peace, the rumors will surely collapse on their own.

Just watch — without the Cheng Family, I can still sit firmly upon this Mountain!

"Court adjourned!"

……

Early in the morning, Meng Shi and her sisters-in-law and Tian Qin were already busy in the Chu Fang.

"Quick, quick, quick — the soup on the stove is done simmering. Hurry and pack it in the clay pot."

After a simple meal, Yu'an prepared to set off with a large pile of things.

Ever since learning that An Luo's side required 'points' to receive offerings, although they didn't know what 'points' were, they figured it was like silver.

The Immortal had already helped them so much — of course they couldn't let the Immortal spend more.

So the Cheng Family decided to have Yu'an collect the offerings into the Treasure Chest, then bring them all over together.

The system, having gained no benefit, wept in a storm.

These days, why is it so hard to earn a little extra?!

"Yu'an, remember to ask the Immortal to try the soup your Grandmother made."

"And don't forget to present those offerings either."

Having helped her great-grandson pack his bundle, Cheng Old Madam reached out and rubbed Yu'an's little head, earnestly giving her instructions.

The little one obediently nodded.

"Okay, Great-Grandmother, Yu'an remembers."

Having said that, the little one's figure flashed and disappeared before them.

Fairy Sister, Yu'an is here again!