A Cutie Spoiled by Her Seven Uncles-Chapter 567: Arenโt You Being a Bit Too Harsh on Your Third Brother?
The National Master suddenly blinked, raising his head to stare at the phoenix flying mid-air, the little girl on its back, and the white rabbit. Then, he asked a question in a low voice.
"This rabbit... is it really just a rabbit?" ๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐๐จ๐๐ฏ๐๐๐ง๐๐น.๐ฐ๐ผ๐
He seemed to recall it had eaten meat before...
The National Master felt more and more confused. In the end, he blamed everything on Xie PanโEr.
Yes, it was Xie PanโEr.
Previously, in the Cining Palace, he had also seen Xie PanโEr and the Eldest Princess riding on the back of the Phoenix, and had witnessed Xie PanโEr communicating with the great bird.
At that time, why hadnโt he thought of the Eldest Princess?
Although the Emperor was young and playful, he had never been unreasonable, especially in matters of state. Conferring a title on a princess was one thing, but such a grand title as โChang Rongshun Shunheโ was bestowed without consulting the Courtiers. This kind of reckless action was not something His Majesty would typically do.
So what could have made him make such a decision? The National Master wondered.
"When the Eldest Princess was in the Palace, apart from this, did anything else unusual happen involving her?" the National Master asked the Palace Maids and Eunuchs.
The Palace Maids and Eunuchs looked at each other, then each found an excuse and scurried away.
Feng Wushang didnโt understand where the problem lay. He was certain that his little Disciple possessed great fortune.
But what about the Eldest Princess? Her features were clearly ordinary, and her birth date was inauspicious. Yet, what was happening now was rather unexpected!
The National Master, his head spinning from all the thinking, didnโt even realize how he had left the Imperial Palace.
It was only when he heard someone calling, "National Master! National Master!" that he came back to his senses.
"Ah, Su Mu! What is it?"
Su Mu looked at the National Master with some concern.
"National Master! Whatโs wrong? I called out to you so many times on the street, but you didnโt hear me! Are you troubled by something?"
"Iโm fine, just lost in thought. By the way, what are you doing out on the street?"
Su Mu was the Captain of the Guards at the National Masterโs Mansion; he usually didnโt leave the premises.
"Something major has happened, National Master!" Su Mu said mysteriously, whispering into the National Masterโs ear.
Instantly, the National Masterโs expression turned grave.
"Are you saying that Li Yanyan also went to Qixia Temple?"
Su Mu nodded. "Yes, but donโt worry, National Master. Miss Li Yanyanโs own grandmother accompanied her, and weโve also arranged for people to follow them secretly."
"National Master, the Empress Dowager going to Qixia Temple to pray for blessings is such a significant event. Why was it so sudden? She just announced it and left, without even consulting the Courtiers. This is too rash. What if thereโs a mishap? What would happen if something befell the Empress Dowager?"
The National Master wanted to scoff. He, too, wanted to know why the Empress Dowager had suddenly gone to Qixia Temple. And what was the deal with those three thousand Elite Soldiers? But he didnโt have spies in the Imperial Palace, nor did he possess clairvoyance or clairaudience, so he had no idea what was happening at Qixia Temple. Praying for the disaster victims of Yunhang? Why did he feel a nagging doubt about that?
"Iโm not clear about this matter either. By the way, help me investigate something. On the West Main Street of Vermilion Bird Street, thereโs a Gambling House called Li Ji. Go and find out what happened in their Gambling House today, specifically concerning the Eldest Princess and her companions."
"The Eldest... Eldest Princess? What... what would she be doing in a Gambling House? National Master, are you mistaken?"
The Eldest Princess is just a baby! How could she possibly go to a Gambling House? Su Mu thought in disbelief.
The National Master didnโt answer Su Muโs question. He returned to his Mansion and ordered someone to go to the Li Mansion and bring his little Disciple to see him.
However, the servant quickly returned, reporting that Li Yanyan had gone to Qixia Temple and had not yet come back.
"Qixia Temple?" The National Master frowned. "Why did she go to Qixia Temple as well?"
The servant hurriedly replied, "I heard she went yesterday. These days, a phoenix has often been seen resting on the wutong tree on the back mountain of Qixia Temple, so many noble young ladies and wives from the capital have gone there to offer incense. Even the Empress Dowager went to Qixia Temple this afternoon."
Qixia Temple?
The National Master remained silent for a moment. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he turned and left his Mansion.
The Empress Dowager went to Qixia Temple... The Emperor intends to wage war against the Buddhist Sangha... Is there something significant he doesnโt know? He recalled what Eunuch Ling had said when reporting to the Emperor: โThe Eldest Princess was stolen out.โ And the Emperorโs claim that Qixia Temple had imprisoned the Eldest Princess...
Confusion filled the National Masterโs mind. He felt that things were spiraling out of control.
ใAt Qixia Temple.ใ
Ji Youze watched the panting Dugu Laugh and quickly handed him a cup of tea.
"Is everything settled?"
Dugu Laugh took a large gulp of tea to relieve his fatigue, then slammed his hand on the table and exclaimed, "Ji Laoba, youโre truly brilliant! Over one hundred thousand taels of gold, two hundred thousand taels in silver notes, and our darling niece even won over a hundred thousand taels more! The problem of Yunhangโs disaster victims is now solved!"
Ji Youze frowned at his words. "What do you mean, โour darling nieceโ?"
Sheโs clearly *my* darling niece, isnโt she? he thought.
Dugu Laugh couldnโt help but rub his nose and say shamelessly, "Weโre brothers, arenโt we? So, your niece is my niece too, right?"
Ji Youze: "..."
It seemed he couldnโt refute that.
"You were supposed to be looking for the chests. Why did you end up at a Gambling House?"
Xiaosuisui could find his third brotherโs lost gold; Ji Youze was confident about that. But for her to suddenly win over a hundred thousand taels of silver...
"Heh! Talk about a series of coincidences! Let me tell you, this was truly serendipitous. Do you know who stole your third brotherโs gold and your second brotherโs medicine chest?"
Dugu Laugh immediately launched into a vivid account, recounting the dayโs events to Ji Youze, whose eyes widened in astonishment as he listened.
"Could things really be so coincidental?" Ji Youze asked, stunned.
"Tell me about it! Oh, and thereโs one more thing I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
Dugu Laugh picked up his teacup, took another sip, and then told Ji Youze, "When your third brother heard Long Wu say that the gold was disaster relief funds, he fainted on the spot. He was then sent back to the Ji Mansion. I went to check on him when I returned, and I heard he still hasnโt regained consciousness!"
Hearing this, Ji Youze turned his face away, trying hard to appear unconcerned.
Dugu Laugh continued, "You can stop pretending. This was definitely another one of your schemes; Iโve figured it out. However, I can understand you wanting to help His Majesty solve the issue of the relief funds, but why did you have to set up your own third brother like that? Thatโs no small sum! One tael of gold is equivalent to ten taels of silver! Arenโt you being a bit too ruthless?"
