Chapter 35 Su Yuyao's Brave Adventure in the Heavenly Palace (First Time)

Xuanfeng was making some arrangements. He glanced at Su Yuyao's flushed forehead, then pulled her into his arms and continued, "Generals, in order to avoid attracting attention, the mountain strongholds assigned to you may not be the best, and some may even be in dangerous places. However, they are all key points in the mountain range. Remember, focus on developing your own strength. Your branch's strength is weak, so you must act according to your ability and never be reckless!"

"Yes, Lord Xuanfeng!" the eight generals replied in unison.

"But sir, how are we going to get our monthly salary?" someone asked.

"I'll figure something out; I won't owe you anything."

"Lord Qinggan has taken all of the Immortal Mountain's monthly stipend for this month. Can you still ask him for it?"

“Receive a monthly salary? I’ve received one before! I received it at the Heavenly Gate of the Dui Palace! I…” Su Yuyao interrupted.

"Girl, shut up!" Xuanfeng interrupted Su Yuyao.

"Hey? By the way, Yao'er, do you have any ideas?" Qi Men asked with a smile.

Su Yuyao glanced up at Xuanfeng's face and saw that he was only frowning and did not object, so she boldly said, "When the wolf clan receives their monthly stipend, either the chief goes in person or another reliable person goes with their identification document. Since Xuanfeng did not go to collect it in person, did Lord Qinggan go with his identification document?"

"Of course not!" Qimen said. "Lord Qinggan earned his position through his own shamelessness. How could you possibly hand over your token to him?"

"Then let's go get more! They're not giving us the right ones, we can't let them be taken advantage of!"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Girl, go find Meng Yu to play with," Xuan Feng said, dismissing Su Yuyao.

"Why are you chasing me away? I'm telling the truth! Have you even been there?"

"Lord Xuanfeng has already gone there, but still hasn't brought it back!"

"No! The purpose of this trip is..."

"Girl!" Xuanfeng shouted sternly, "Go play by yourself! Don't cause trouble!"

"I didn't cause any trouble!" Su Yuyao said, tugging at Xuanfeng's sleeve. "Since Lord Qinggan has already withdrawn the money, we definitely won't be able to withdraw it again, so..."

"Meng Yu!" Xuan Feng lost his patience. "Take Yao'er away!"

Upon hearing this, Su Yuyao had no choice but to let go, muttering, "I haven't finished speaking yet..."

“Su Yuyao!” Xuanfeng shouted, his eyes wide.

"Okay! I'm leaving!" Su Yuyao turned around and disappeared into the crowd.

Looking at Meng Yu, who was hiding in the distance, covering her mouth and chuckling, she rolled her eyes and said, "What are you laughing at!"

"You almost got beaten up!" Meng Yu said with a laugh.

Su Yuyao ignored Meng Yu's teasing and was instead worried about Xuan Feng's predicament. She walked back to the main hall and looked at the token on Xuan Feng's table.

"Yao'er, what are your thoughts?" Meng Yu looked at Su Yuyao, then followed Su Yuyao's gaze to Xuan Feng's table.

“Their ideas are wrong!” Su Yuyao said, sitting on the steps, “but they won’t listen to me…”

Looking at the dejected Su Yuyao, Meng Yu asked, "If I asked you to go and collect it, would you dare?"

"Huh? You want me to go?" Su Yuyao immediately perked up and said, "Of course I dare! But I don't know where to pick it up."

“I know!” Meng Yu said in a low voice, “I went to the Heavenly Palace with my senior brother before. If you dare to go, I’ll take you there once!”

"Okay! Take me there! But... I don't have any identification documents..."

"You've been eyeing the token for ages!" Meng Yu said with a smile, tapping Su Yuyao's forehead.

"But I don't dare to take it..." Su Yuyao whispered in Meng Yu's ear, "You go and take it!"

Meng Yu laughed and refused, "You don't even dare to take it, yet you want me to? You know how terrifying Lord Xuanfeng's temper can be!"

"Then... shall we make a fake one?" Su Yuyao pondered.

“Yao’er,” Meng Yu pressed down on Su Yuyao’s head and said, “Forging a token without authorization is a serious crime!”

Su Yuyao thought for a moment and said, "The safest way is to steal the token!"

After saying that, she quickly ran to the table, grabbed the token, and stuffed it into her bosom.

"Meng Yu, run!"

"Hey? Yao'er! Yao'er!" Meng Yu grabbed Su Yuyao, both amused and exasperated. "If we go now, what if Lord Xuanfeng comes looking for you? We'll be caught red-handed!"

"That's right! So when shall we go?"

"Girls! Meng Yu! What are you doing here?! Come back quickly!" Xuan Feng shouted.

"Coming!" Su Yuyao ran over happily.

Xuanfeng coldly told Su Yuyao, "You are not allowed to enter the main hall from now on!"

"It wasn't my idea to come, it was Meng Yu who insisted on dragging me here..." Su Yuyao said, tugging at Xuan Feng's sleeve.

Meng Yu was walking towards Xuan Feng when he heard Su Yuyao say this, and he quickly took a few steps back. "Yao'er! Don't hurt me!"

Xuanfeng looked at Meng Yu with a dark expression. "Meng Yu, come here!"

"My lord! Please... calm down! Calm down! Ah!" Meng Yu was kicked solidly by Xuan Feng.

"Hehehe..." Su Yuyao laughed and made a face at Meng Yu, then turned her head and showed her forehead to Xuan Feng, "Meng Yu hit my head!"

"My lord!" Meng Yu rubbed his leg and said angrily, "Yao'er just now..."

"I wasn't paying attention to Meng Yu's lecture, that's why he hit me..." Su Yuyao quickly chimed in, afraid that Meng Yu would forget about the token.

Xuanfeng looked at Su Yuyao's forehead; it was no longer red.

"Girl, no matter who's giving the lesson, you have to listen carefully, understand?"

"Yes, I heard you!" Su Yuyao nodded.

"I might not get back until very late today. I'll have Meng Yu take you home later. Have dinner and get some sleep. You have to go to the academy tomorrow," Xuan Feng whispered to him.

"Oh, I see," Su Yuyao replied, pursing her lips.

"Meng Yu!" Xuan Feng said seriously to Meng Yu, "You need to take good care of your junior sister. Although she doesn't like studying, she's not stupid. You need to be patient with her."

"Yes, sir!" Meng Yu lowered his head and replied with a wry smile.

"You'll take Yao'er home later, and you're not allowed to let her run around, understand?"

"Yes, sir!"

Meng Yu pulled Su Yuyao out of the side hall. Only then did Xuan Feng lead a group of people into the main hall to discuss matters.

Su Yuyao and Meng Yu exchanged a smile at each other at the door.

"How do we get there?" Su Yuyao asked.

"Borrow a crane!" Meng Yu pulled Su Yuyao and ran towards the academy.

Su Yuyao squatted down under the stone gate, and soon saw Meng Yu leading a snow-white crane down.

"You stole it so quickly?" Su Yuyao asked, stroking the proud crane.

“What do you mean by stealing?! This is called borrowing!” Meng Yu said, flicking Su Yuyao’s forehead.

Meng Yu picked up Su Yuyao and lifted her onto the crane's back, exclaiming, "Yao'er! You're too heavy!"

"Where am I heavy! Xuanfeng carried me for a long time and never said I was heavy!" Su Yuyao said unhappily.

Meng Yu lifted his long robe and was about to jump onto the crane's back when a shout stopped him, "Meng Yu! You stole a crane again!"

Su Yuyao was startled and quickly lay down.

"Ah? Senior Brother! Oh dear! I was wrong, I was wrong! I won't do it again!"

Gong Meng caught Meng Yu, then looked up at the crane, "Who's up there! Get down here!"

Su Yuyao clung tightly to the crane's feathers in fear. The crane slowly spread its wings to shield Su Yuyao on its back, cawed twice, and then pushed off with its legs, gracefully ascending into the air.

"Old Bai! Come down here! You're so old, what are you doing flying around like that!" Gong Meng stomped her feet in anger.

Old Bai, however, leisurely hovered in the sky.

"Huh? Old Bai... Crane, do you know the way to the Heavenly Palace?" Su Yuyao asked timidly. "Meng Yu was supposed to take me there, but now I'm all alone. Can you take me there?"

"Caw—!" Old White let out a long cry, flapping its wings and flying higher and higher.

"Old Bai! Where are you going! Come back quickly..." Gong Meng's voice grew softer and softer.

...

Inside the Never-Sleeping Lodge, a gentle warmth filled the air, along with the aroma of tea. The tide had just receded, and Xianming was bathing in the cold spring behind the building.

He pondered: Xuanfeng was already wary of Yi's mother, Chaoxi was no longer loyal to her, and Zeyuan had made a mess of things by taking over the Wuji Dao. And what was Baiyan thinking? She actually pushed Feihua into Zeyuan's arms; what a pity for that child…

"Crunch—!"

"Huh?" Xianming looked up in confusion. Wasn't this Qi Meng's crane, Lao Bai? Why was he here today?

"Wow! Is this the tea garden?" Su Yuyao exclaimed, riding on the back of the crane. "It's built on the mountainside, with the pool as its bed! It's so beautiful!"

"Longjing!"

"Here I am! Immortal Tea Lord!"

Xianming stood up from the cold spring, put on a long robe, and walked into the Never-Night Lodge. "Quickly, find out who the child riding Old White is!"

"yes!"

...

The Heavenly Gate consisted of two tall and thick pillars. Old Bai circled the pillars a few times before landing.

Su Yuyao carefully climbed down from Lao Bai's body, but because she was too small, she couldn't reach the ground.

"Old Bai! You're a little shorter... Ouch!" Su Yuyao fell flat on her backside.

She rubbed her bottom and stood up, looking at the towering gateposts that seemed to reach the sky. "Wow! They're so tall!"

She touched the token in her arms, mustered her courage, and stepped towards the Heavenly Gate.

"Halt!" A gatekeeper clad in armor suddenly appeared in front of Su Yuyao. "Little girl, not just anyone can enter the Heavenly Palace!"

"Ah!" Su Yuyao was so frightened by the sight of the door god, who was as burly as a small mountain, with a dark face, bulging eyes, and bristling eyebrows and beard that her legs went weak.

She took out the token and handed it over tremblingly, saying, "I...I am from the Immortal Mountain, here to collect Lord Xuanfeng's monthly salary!"

"Receiving a monthly stipend?!" The doorman sized up Su Yuyao. "Are you alone?"

"Yes, it's just me! Uncle Door God, please let me in!" Su Yuyao pleaded, looking up at him.

"It's not that I won't let you in, it's just that it won't make a difference if you go in! The time for collecting your monthly salary has already passed!"

"Then who's responsible for distributing the monthly stipend? I need to go find him and ask him. We from the Immortal Mountain haven't received our monthly stipends!"

"Didn't you receive it?" the door god asked, frowning. "How could that be? It's Lord Qinggan who comes to collect it every month!"

"That's not right! Lord Qinggan never mentioned the monthly stipend! If he had received it, why would he hide it and not hand it over? So, I've come to ask clearly why our immortal mountain isn't receiving its monthly stipend!"

"Uh...this..."

"Uncle Door God, I'll go in and find out what's going on, and I'll be right out!"

"Uh... okay, go and come back quickly!"

"Thank you so much, Uncle Door God!" Su Yuyao said, curtsying. "Could you please show me the way? It would save me from wandering around the Heavenly Palace aimlessly!"

"Go in from here, walk straight along the road, pass two courtyards, the third courtyard is called the Internal Affairs Department, go there and ask where to collect your monthly salary."

"Thank you, Uncle!" Su Yuyao thanked the door god and followed the directions to the Internal Affairs Department.

Su Yuyao observed everything in the Heavenly Palace with curiosity.

There's even a thin mist above the pool here? And why are all the flowers and plants here so tall?

A group of slender and beautiful young women walked towards her, and they all covered their faces and chuckled when they saw Su Yuyao.

The girls here are so pretty! Su Yuyao touched her round belly. Don't they eat? How come they're so thin!

"Who are you?" An old woman saw Su Yuyao and stepped forward to ask.

"Greetings, Granny! I've come from the Immortal Mountain to collect my monthly salary!" Su Yuyao curtsied in response.

"Receive a monthly stipend? Didn't Lord Qinggan already receive it?"

“No! If Lord Qinggan had taken it back, he would definitely have given it to Lord Xuanfeng! But he didn’t! Why would he keep the money for himself? So, Lord Qinggan definitely didn’t come to collect it!” Su Yuyao said loudly.

The old nanny smiled slightly and said, "Oh, I don't know about that. You'll really have to ask. It's in the Internal Affairs Department up ahead. Go through the gate and head towards the east courtyard!"

"Thank you, Granny!"

Su Yuyao continued walking forward.

Another group of people carrying a sedan chair came towards them, and Su Yuyao quickly bowed her head and made way for them.

Suddenly, the sedan chair stopped in front of Su Yuyao.

"You come from the Immortal Mountain?" A gentle yet powerful female voice came from behind.

Su Yuyao didn't dare to look up, and curtsied, replying, "Yes..."

"May I have your name?"

"Go back..."

The nanny accompanying them reminded them, "This is Princess Jinyu."

"Replying to Princess Jinyu, my name is Su Yuyao."

"Oh? You're Su Yuyao? The child adopted by Elder Brother Xuanfeng?"

"yes……"

What are you doing here?

"I've come to collect my monthly stipend from the Immortal Mountain!" Su Yuyao said loudly, her head bowed.

"Monthly salary? Didn't you receive the green orange?"

"Lord Qinggan probably hasn't claimed it. If he had, he wouldn't have refused to give it to Lord Xuanfeng. But he hasn't given it to him for so long, so he probably hasn't come. Therefore, I've come to claim it today."

"Hmph," Princess Jinyu sneered, "Su Yuyao, let me make this clear: your Immortal Mountain's monthly stipend has already been taken by Qinggan. Go back and ask him for it!"

Su Yuyao was shocked. Who exactly was this Princess Jinyu? Did she favor Xuanfeng or Qinggan?

"Aren't you leaving yet?!" Jin Yu's voice became impatient.

"I can't leave! Now that Lord Qinggan has taken her monthly salary back, I'm going to find the person who distributed the salary and ask them what the Heavenly Palace bases its monthly salary distribution on! Is it based on familiarity or on the rules!" Su Yuyao said boldly.

The sedan chair slowly descended, and Jin Yu, dressed in a golden gown, rose from the chair and walked to Su Yuyao.

“Raise your head.”

Su Yuyao hesitated, then slowly raised her head to look at Jin Yu in front of her.

What a beautiful and dignified woman!

"You really want to find out the truth?"

"yes!"

"Okay, then I'll take you to ask."

"No need to trouble the princess. I'll go and ask first. If I can't find out the answer, then I'll trouble the princess again!"

Looking at the naive yet impulsive girl in front of her, Jin Yu suddenly understood why Xuan Feng had adopted her.

"Then go ahead. If you encounter any difficulties, just mention my name, and I'll give you some face!"

After saying that, Jinyu got into the sedan chair.

Su Yuyao didn't dare to raise her head until the group had gone far away.

She took a breath and continued walking towards the Ministry of Internal Affairs.