Chapter 370 No Need for Sibling Slaughter to Choose a Monarch

"Um?"

Seeing that Sheng Sheng was confused, Xie Yun-yang smiled and explained, "It was my grandmother who told me not to bother you. If my grandmother hadn't told me about you finding a little fox, I would have already sent Ta Ying to find you."

"Ah, I see."

Sheng Sheng shyly approached the Empress Dowager, pursed her lips, and wrapped her arms around the Empress Dowager's arm. She began to flatter her in a mischievous way, "I knew it! Why hasn't my brother come to find me yet? It turns out that Grandmother specially gave Sheng Sheng some time! Did Grandmother already know that Sheng Sheng would forget the time because of the little fox? Grandmother, you really care about Sheng Sheng. You are so kind!"

A slight smile flashed across the Empress Dowager's solemn face, but her words remained as dignified and self-possessed as ever.

"Alright, it's good that you have such a kind heart at such a young age. This is not the palace, so I will indulge you a bit. But in the palace, one must be mindful of propriety in all things. When we return to the palace, do not lose your manners because of your playthings."

"Yes, yes, I understand."

Seeing that she was well-behaved, the Empress Dowager nodded, her tone much gentler than before, and asked, "Alright, how is the little fox?"

Sheng Sheng answered truthfully and even took the opportunity to suggest taking the little fox down the mountain to find a clinic.

Before Sheng Sheng arrived, the Empress Dowager had only exchanged a few casual words with Xie Yunyang. She hadn't had a chance to ask them why they had come, assuming that the two children had come to Putuo Temple specifically to visit her and that she could meet Sheng Sheng along the way.

Now that she had met the person and knew that Sheng Sheng's request stemmed from a kind heart, the Empress Dowager didn't press her further and nodded in agreement.

Xie Yun-yang, however, was a little worried about letting Sheng Sheng act alone and wanted to accompany her.

"Go ahead. Although Jinzhou City is small and not a big city, the magistrate of Jinzhou City is a good official who has governed the city very well. Have the guards follow him closely; nothing will happen."

Upon hearing this, both of them were curious. What kind of official could possibly earn such praise from the Empress Dowager?

She was merely curious and didn't seem to have much other intention to investigate. Upon hearing that the Empress Dowager had agreed to her request, she immediately expressed her gratitude and then went to find the little fire fox.

After Sheng Sheng left, the Empress Dowager continued her earlier question to Xie Yunyang, "By the way, you didn't have time to finish speaking earlier. How has your mother been lately?"

Xie Yun paused, her expression hesitant.

Upon seeing this, the Empress Dowager asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

"Grandmother, Mother..."

Xie Yun lowered her eyes and began to recount what had happened in the palace.

After hearing this, the Empress Dowager frowned and her face showed anger: "So many things have happened in the palace!"

Xie Yun gave a wry smile: "Yes, Grandmother, a lot has indeed happened in the palace recently. However... many of these things were foreshadowed long ago."

The Empress Dowager was filled with mixed emotions. She knew that Empress Zheng had always been resentful about the death of the Third Prince, but she had tried to persuade Empress Zheng many times, to no avail.

To be honest, the Empress Dowager was very satisfied with Empress Zheng. She was able to be a model of virtue for the country, manage the harem well, and bring excellent children to the royal family.

But ever since the Third Prince passed away, Empress Zheng has become increasingly...

well.

"Good child, you have suffered." The Empress Dowager walked to Xie Yunyang's side, took his hand, and patted it. "You and Chuan'er, you are both very outstanding children, each with your own strengths. You are brothers who should be of one mind, but there are always other reasons that want to push you two brothers astray."

You've always been more perceptive than others. Your grandmother knows you feel incredibly guilty, believing you caused what happened to your fourth brother. Ah-sang, your grandmother rarely says these things, but you must understand that some things are beyond your control and cannot be blamed on you. All you can do is seize the opportunities that come your way and do your utmost to make amends.”

"Grandmother, I understand," Xie Yun said. "Sheng Sheng said the same thing to you. Along the way, I have seen more expansive scenery than in the capital and have come to understand some things. I will no longer be as conflicted as before."

The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction, but also cautioned him with concern: "No matter what others do, you brothers and sisters will always be blood relatives. What your father went through, your grandmother does not want, and your father does not want you to go through again. The Kingdom of Yu does not need to rely on fratricide to select a wise ruler."

Xie Yun nodded firmly and said earnestly, "Grandmother, rest assured, I understand."

...

As soon as the little fire fox, sounding weak, got into the carriage, Stone curiously and warily came over to sniff it.

Unable to discern anything from the smell, the little fox was terrified. When it opened its eyes, it saw a tiger sniffing at it, which gave the little fox a sudden burst of energy as it struggled to get away.

Sheng Sheng quickly and gently patted the stone's head: "Stone, sit still and don't move. The little fox is hurt. You'll scare it if you do that."

Unexpectedly, Stone ignored Sheng Sheng's words and stubbornly pushed its fluffy head forward, its nose almost touching the tip of the little fire fox's bushy tail.

The little fox let out a weak whimper, its paws gripping tightly onto Sheng Sheng's sleeve. Its once droopy ears were now taut, and even the tip of its tail was trembling slightly.

The creature before them was none other than the king of beasts; of course, the little fire fox was afraid.

She gently coaxed the little guy in her arms, rubbing the little fire fox's head with her fingertips to soothe him. She then turned and glared at the stone that was still peeking out: "If you keep making a fuss, I'll tie you outside the carriage and let you catch the cold wind. You won't be allowed to go with the carriage either."

These words worked. Stone immediately drooped his ears and reluctantly took two steps back, but he still stared at the little fire fox in Sheng Sheng's arms with resentment, its tail gently sweeping the carriage floor behind him.

Stone looked at Sheng Sheng with a pitiful expression, full of resentment: "Master, why did you bring another one back?"

"What?" Sheng Sheng was a little confused about what he was talking about.

Yan Hu, lying beside her, chuckled as he reminded Sheng Sheng, "Sheng Sheng, Shi Tou is probably jealous."

"ah?"

Sheng Sheng looked bewildered: "Jealous?"

Sheng Sheng looked down at the trembling little fire fox in her arms, puzzled, and then she understood.

She found the stone, and when the stone first saw the little fire fox, it must have felt that its "exclusive spot" had been taken away.

When Shengsheng first found Shitou, she focused most of her attention on him, grooming him, feeding him, and taking good care of him.

Now that he had a soft little creature in his arms, the way he took care of the little fox was just like when he took care of Stone back then, so Stone naturally felt a little uneasy.

They were just like children vying for attention.