Chapter 49 049 I am fine too.

Colorful fireworks exploded over Xianling, creating a dazzling and mesmerizing spectacle.

The magistrate of Xianling was so anxious that he developed blisters on his lips, while the officials of the Ministry of Rites and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, upon receiving the news, all knew something was wrong. They also offered sacrifices to their ancestors on the Winter Solstice, and nothing had happened then. How could this have gone wrong now? How could they possibly take a break now? They needed to hurry to the palace to apologize.

This matter concerns our ancestors, so its importance must be elevated to the highest level; on a grander scale, it concerns the fate of the nation. The people near Xianling Mausoleum saw the sky shimmering and dazzling, its light captivating. The court officials, however, wore grim faces, as if they were seeing their ancestors from eighteen generations past beckoning them from the underworld.

At first glance, the description of the dazzling lights by the magistrate of Xianling immediately brought to mind the fireworks displays orchestrated by Li Zhaoci, those who had visited the estate. However, upon hearing that the late emperor had manifested himself, holding a Nine-Cloud Fungus and feeding it to Prince Zhong, the court officials became less certain. Could that little contraption really have such an effect? ​​Could it truly be a miracle?

When the words "Nine mushrooms appear, three sons live" appeared in the sky, the magistrate of Xianling didn't dare raise his head, fearing he would see the emperor's furious face. After all, the affairs of the vassal kings were extremely sensitive; saying the wrong thing could mean losing one's head.

Inside the hall, Xie Lanzhao's eyelids twitched.

The claims about the system's miracles are somewhat exaggerated; if handled poorly, they could actually boost the loyalist king's standing. However, the possibility of the loyalist king rising up is nonexistent. Perhaps this opportunity can be used to see if there are any staunchly loyalists within the court.

Xie Lanzhao's thoughts were in turmoil.

Zhao Jialing, seated on the throne, remained silent in deep thought.

After a long silence, she said, "When the late Emperor was alive, he worried about and worked hard because of Prince Zhong's crippled leg. Coincidentally, last night the late Emperor appeared to me in a dream, saying that sending Prince Zhong to Xianling would bring him good fortune. However, Xianling is not as convenient as Chang'an, and I'm afraid my third brother would not be able to adapt if he went there. I don't know what to do."

The courtiers began exchanging glances furtively again.

What does Your Majesty mean by this? Is it a miracle? Or is it simply a way to expel Prince Zhong from Chang'an?

After a few moments of silence, Zhao Jialing sighed again and said, "The snow is falling heavily, and the weather is freezing cold. I really can't bear to see my third brother suffer from the long journey. Let's discuss this matter again next year. Please take good care of Xianling, my dear ministers."

With just a few words, Zhao Jialing dismissed the court officials.

But the matter wasn't truly resolved; it remained stuck. Many people had witnessed the strange phenomena at Xianling, and the news quickly reached the Prince Zhong's residence.

Prince Zhong was in a terrible mood lately, and he was frustrated by everything. Since becoming paralyzed, Prince Zhong's mansion had never stopped searching for a miracle doctor. All the doctors they had met before said that his legs still had a chance to recover, but this time, the doctor who claimed to be a miracle worker told him to give up. He said that he should live one year at a time. Prince Zhong was so angry at the doctor's blunt words that he almost vomited blood. He ordered his men to throw the doctor into the basement and lock him up.

Upon hearing that a miracle had occurred at Xianling, his eyes shone with an extremely intense light.

Jiu Yunzhi... The late emperor wanted him to live; the late emperor still favored him!

Seeing the Prince's eagerness, the officials of the Prince's Palace advised, "Perhaps it's a conspiracy to send Your Highness away from the capital." He did not believe in so-called miracles. The Emperor was really cold to the imperial relatives. Even the Emperor's brother-in-law could not get any benefits. How could his Prince Zhong possibly win his favor?

"Has there been no miracle this year?" the Loyal King replied coldly. "If those things weren't for the protection of our ancestors, how could Your Majesty have produced them? We are all descendants of the Zhao family, so why would our ancestors protect only Your Majesty?" He had sought out renowned doctors for many years, but his crippled leg had not improved and had even shrunk to the point that he dared not look at it.

He believed that the unparalleled glorious miracle was not a forgery, but a true manifestation of the ancestors! If his legs hadn't been crippled, how could the late emperor have passed the throne to the dull-witted and foolish Sixth Sister!

If His Majesty truly desired for him to leave Chang'an, he might have relented under the persuasion of his court officials; at the very least, Xie Lanzhao would have found a way to get him out. But His Majesty deliberately delayed until next spring—clearly intending to delay the inevitable and prevent his legs from ever fully recovering! These legs were the most precious thing to Prince Zhong in his life, and he was now bordering on madness. He wouldn't listen to anyone's advice and even had his officials write petitions for him.

So what if it's snowing heavily? He's leaving!

The officials in the Prince Zhong's mansion were also Jinshi graduates. Their words were earnest and profound, and their manner was as if if His Majesty disagreed, they would simply have him carried into the palace and then prostrate himself in the midst of heavy snow.

Zhao Jialing was waiting for Prince Zhong to volunteer himself, so that she wouldn't be blamed. But she still had to put on a show, showing Prince Zhong's memorial to the court officials and letting them make a decision.

Some courtiers remained silent, unsure of His Majesty's thoughts, intending to speak only when his true feelings were revealed.

As for the other group, some agreed and some disagreed. One official inadvertently blurted out, "King Zhong is innocent, how can he be allowed to go to Xianling?"

The previously listless censor immediately perked up, his eyes brightening.

Everyone knows that guarding the tomb is exile, but can you say it like that? To say it so directly, where does that leave the late emperor's face? Is this exile? It's clearly filial piety towards our ancestors! After the censors' tirade, the opposition fell silent.

Zhao Jialing continued to feign hesitation: "I am only worried about Third Brother's health."

Xie Lanzhao understood and said, "Your Majesty should go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to pray. If the strange phenomenon at Xianling reappears, it will be an unchangeable destiny."

Zhao Jialing sighed and said, "That's the only way."

The prayers at the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the unusual phenomena at the Xianling Mausoleum gave people ample time to prepare, especially those who harbored doubts.

If it is man-made, then clues will be revealed.

Zhao Jialing didn't plan to set off fireworks this time. Last time she "watched a movie," she found that the system's special effects were even more dazzling than fireworks, enough to be considered a "miracle."

[I must praise the special effects this time.] Zhao Jialing wasn't stupid. After thinking about it, she realized that the special effects last time weren't very good. What if people had impure thoughts and misunderstood her? After all, some people couldn't wait to fawn over her third brother when he was still lying down.

Zhao Jialing asked suspiciously, "Are you really the Wise Ruler System?"

The system under scrutiny: [...]

It was actually insulted by a salted fish.

Zhao Jialing lamented: "Free things are indeed of poor quality. Who will compensate me for my loss?"

The system felt guilty, so the included gifts weren't as comprehensive; otherwise, the host could simply rely on it for help, and there would be no need for tasks. After a while, it asked, "So, what does the host want?"

Zhao Jialing: [Here's a map showing mineral distribution.]

System: [Go wash up and go to bed.] It hesitated for a moment before saying, [We can exploit some loopholes, like the "Daydreamer" achievement from last time; I can secretly create a dream-visiting item for you.]

It then asked: "Do you want Xie Lanzhao to dream of you every day?"

Zhao Jialing scoffed: "Isn't it natural for Xie Qingmeng to enter my dreams? Besides me, who else is qualified to enter her dreams? Does she need external help? Who are you insulting!"

She paused, then said, "Give it to Prince Zhong, so that Third Brother knows the late Emperor misses him."

On days off, many people are idle, and Xianling is not a place that requires ten days or half a month to reach. Besides sending servants to investigate, some even went there under the pretext of visiting relatives and friends to join in the commotion. On a moonlit night with few stars, the strange phenomenon indeed appeared. A clear, thunderous voice praised the current emperor's virtue and achievements, and then mentioned the Loyal Prince. The current emperor is benevolent and cannot bear to see his elder brother bedridden. For years, he has prayed for his brother's well-being day after day, and his sincere heart has finally moved the gods.

In short, Xianling has good feng shui, so if Prince Zhong wants to get medical treatment, he should move to live near Xianling.

The people of the Prince Zhong's mansion were dumbfounded, shocked by the strange phenomenon that spread in all directions.

As for the Loyal King himself, he saw the late Emperor in his dream.

He awoke with a start from his dream, and without caring that he had not received the imperial edict, he ordered the servants in his mansion to pack his things.

He then sent people to the residences of Princess Jinxian and other members of the imperial family and close relatives, asking them to plead with His Majesty for permission to visit the Xianling Mausoleum.

Princess Jinxian, who had been woken up, was almost furious. With a long face, she saw off the servant from the Prince Zhong's mansion and gritted her teeth, saying, "Is he sick?" She glanced at Gao Shao, who was still yawning, and then said with a cold smile, "I almost forgot, he is indeed sick."

Gao Shao reached out and tightened Zhao Xianju's fur coat, then whispered, "Has the princess heard about the Xianling incident?"

Zhao Xianju replied without hesitation, "Only an idiot would believe that."

Gao Shao: "..." She did feel something was amiss. The school reform was related to the "books in the wall" of the Imperial Ancestral Temple. The "books in the wall" might have been inserted, but the later-appearing classics—could they have been prepared by His Majesty long ago? It was completely different from the knowledge system of the Great Yong Dynasty. And then there was the gunpowder—Gao Shao pondered as she led Zhao Xianju into the house, "Weren't you chanting 'May the Heavenly Venerable bestow boundless blessings' earlier?"

Zhao Xianju remained silent.

Isn't that about entering the Dao? She glared at Gao Shao: "Gao Shao, are you making fun of me?"

Gao Shao cleared his throat: "How could I dare?"

·

Prince Zhong was eager to go to Xianling and didn't want to spend the year in Chang'an anymore. He persuaded the imperial clan to plead with His Majesty on his behalf.

Now that things had come to this point, Zhao Jialing certainly couldn't be the "bad guy" who would obstruct the Prince of Zhong. He immediately agreed to pack up everyone in the Prince of Zhong's household and send them to Xianling—including the Prince of Zhong's son, whom he intended to leave in Chang'an.

Zhao Jialing personally escorted the Zhongwang family.

As the carriages and horses gradually disappeared into the distance on the wide road, Zhao Jialing almost couldn't suppress his smile.

"Your Majesty," Xie Lanzhao's voice reached my ears.

"Hmm?" Zhao Jialing raised an eyebrow and whispered to her, "I can finally breathe a sigh of relief."

Her third brother isn't particularly harmful, but having him around is extremely annoying.

Feeling relaxed and at ease, Zhao Jialing stopped thinking about state affairs. She gazed at Xie Lanzhao and asked casually, "The end of the year is always busy. How has Xie Qing been sleeping lately?"

Did you dream of me?

System: [Um, a short nap will restore your energy, and you should generally have a dreamless night.]

Xie Lanzhao lowered her eyes and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am well."

【Good, how good is it? Is it as good as me entering your dreams?】

[Use it as a pillow for a short nap—]

[San San, shut up!] Zhao Jialing thought viciously.

Zhao Jialing blinked and said, "I'm fine too."

A smile appeared on Xie Lanzhao's face as she said, "Your Majesty's well-being is a blessing to the nation." Fearing that Zhao Jialing might lead her astray, she quickly brought up the main matter again, "News has come from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices that a Musician has been missing for several days. The people there have investigated and it seems to be related to the Prince Zhong's residence. However, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices dares not search the residence. I ask you to make a decision."

Zhao Jialing: "Hmm?"

[Host, a new quest has been triggered. "Main Quest: Governing the Country, Promoting Wise Men II, The Benevolent Heart of a Healer," please complete it as soon as possible.]

Zhao Jialing was a little confused: [Did the healer's compassion trigger the healer's heart?]

Meng Yize, a court physician, was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the second year of the Tianfu era and served as an official in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Her family had been physicians for generations, but because the medical profession was looked down upon, she participated in the imperial examinations instead. However, she often practiced medicine in the mortuary and was a truly talented individual! Some time ago, she was invited by the Prince of Zhong's household to treat an illness, but because of her overly honest nature, she was imprisoned.

Zhao Jialing's eyes lit up. What a talent!

She raised her voice: "Stop the Loyal Prince!"