"Amitabha, Your Majesty, do not worry. This is a tribulation that Miss Jiang must go through. If she can overcome this tribulation safely, her future path will be smoother."
"What if she can't get through?"
Xiao Jingzhao's voice trembled as he nervously swallowed and leaned down to ask.
"Everything is preordained; Your Majesty's haste is of no use."
Master Huiyuan ignored Xiao Jingzhao's anxious gaze, raised his hand, picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to him.
"Your Majesty, please sit down and have a drink to relieve your fatigue. Your health is of utmost importance. Your body cannot withstand such torment as you are working without rest."
Hearing Master Huiyuan's ambiguous words, Xiao Jingzhao was so anxious that his lips almost blistered.
He sat down, took the teacup, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.
Whether it was something wrong with Master Huiyuan's tea or just his psychological effect, after drinking the tea in his hand, his meridians felt clear and his fatigue was greatly reduced.
He put down his teacup and asked directly, "Master, please don't use Zen words. I just want to know if she is safe? Where is she now? I need to see her immediately."
Master Huiyuan looked up and saw that Xiao Jingzhao's forehead was glistening with sweat.
He shook his head and said slowly, "Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed. If Your Majesty wishes to find her as soon as possible, go to places with yin energy."
"Where is there any place with yin energy?" Xiao Jingzhao blurted out without thinking.
"Amitabha, this humble monk has said enough. I can only say this much for today. The rest is for Your Majesty to understand."
In fact, Xiao Jingzhao already knew the answer after asking the question. There were only two places with yin energy: one was the cemetery on the mountain, and the other was the mortuary.
"I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Master."
Master Huiyuan smiled gently and poured Xiao Jingzhao another cup of tea.
"This humble monk said nothing. Your Majesty is exceptionally perceptive and will surely be able to see Miss Jiang soon. This tea is refreshing; Your Majesty, please have another cup."
Xiao Jingzhao picked up the cup and drank it all in one gulp, saying without ceremony, "Master's tea is indeed extraordinary. May I ask the master for two cups to bestow upon my attendants?"
“Amitabha, Your Majesty is merciful, this humble monk will certainly grant your request.”
Having received Master Huiyuan's words, Xiao Jingzhao called Xiang Song in and had him pick up a teacup, pour himself two cups, and drink them.
After finishing his tea, Xiang Song bowed respectfully to Master Huiyuan and said, "Thank you for the tea, Master."
"I apologize for disturbing you, Master. I will descend the mountain now."
Ignoring Master Huiyuan's attempts to persuade him to stay, Xiao Jingzhao immediately led Xiang Song down the mountain.
After drinking the tea, the two felt much better and soon arrived at the foot of the mountain.
The horse grazed on some wild grass in the woods for a while, which served as a rest.
Xiang Song overheard the Emperor and Master Huiyuan's conversation clearly from outside the door.
As the crescent moon, weaving through the clouds, sank westward, Xiang Song asked, "Your Majesty, shall we inspect the cemetery or the mortuary first?"
Xiao Jingzhao mounted his horse, glanced at the sky, and said, "Let's go back to the capital immediately. I'll go to the morning court session. You go and deliver the message: start searching the mortuaries and graveyards outside the capital."
After saying that, he added, "Including mass graves everywhere."
In Wanling, almost every county has a mortuary where unclaimed coffins are kept.
Among them were many who died far from home, whose families had not yet had time to transport them back to their hometowns and were temporarily placed in mortuaries.
Some families were so poor that they had no choice but to store the coffin in a mortuary until they were able to bury the deceased.
The two traveled under the stars and moon, finally arriving back in the capital before dawn.
When the soldiers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard saw the two men at the city gate, they could hardly believe their eyes.
As far as they knew, the Emperor had traveled a hundred miles away yesterday, a journey that took him all night.
Xiao Jingzhao tossed the exhausted horse, panting heavily, to the soldiers and returned to the palace alone.
Xiang Song didn't dare to linger for a moment and immediately went to deliver the message.
Xiao Jingzhao returned to the palace and went straight to a side hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The palace maid on night duty was dozing by the bed when she sensed someone entering. She quickly got up to greet them.
Xiao Jingzhao waved his hand, making a shushing gesture, and the palace maid, with great tact, withdrew.
Looking at Sui Sui sleeping soundly on the bed, and thinking of Yue Niang's unknown whereabouts, Xiao Jingzhao felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.
It's unclear what Sui Sui dreamed about in his sleep, but a slight smile appeared on his lips.
Xiao Jingzhao's eyes instantly reddened, and his nose tingled.
The son must have dreamt of swinging with his mother in the garden.
Ever since a swing set was installed in the Jiang family garden, every time Xiao Jingzhao brought his son back to the mansion, he would clamor to swing with his mother.
The job of pushing people under the swing set naturally fell to him.
Every time he saw the mother and daughter looking happy, he felt a sweet warmth in his heart.
Xiao Jingzhao looked up at the hourglass on the table. In about 15 minutes, his son would be getting up to practice his martial arts.
He knelt down, leaned over and kissed his son's chubby hand, then gently placed his little hand under the covers.
He tucked the blanket in before tiptoeing out of the bedroom.
Upon going outside, Xiao Jingzhao saw the palace maids on night duty still standing there and asked, "Did he make a fuss about seeing me before going to bed last night?"
The palace maid quickly bowed and reported, "Your Majesty, the young master played in Chang Le Palace until late last night before returning to the palace. He originally wanted to go see Your Majesty, but Fu Gui said that Your Majesty was very busy and tired. The young master is very sensible and said that he would go to see Your Majesty after Your Majesty has rested."
"Okay, I understand. Tell him when he gets up that I will have breakfast with him."
After the morning court session today, Xiao Jingzhao was preparing to inform the ministers that the morning court sessions would be suspended for two days.
He didn't know when he would be able to return after leaving the palace today.
Tomorrow is the day I'm taking Sui Sui back to the Jiang residence. I'll take this opportunity during breakfast to reassure my son so he won't get anxious if he can't find me and his mother.
Xiao Jingzhao left the side hall and went straight back to his bedchamber to change his clothes.
Seeing the Emperor's weary expression, Eunuch Ma was deeply anxious.
The Emperor's expression made everything clear: the person still hadn't been found.
The palace maids and eunuchs serving in the Imperial Study were all given a gag order. Since the Emperor did not speak of it, Eunuch Ma naturally kept quiet.
Xiao Jingzhao quickly washed up, changed his clothes, and went to the morning court.
He had no interest in discussing politics at the morning court session. He sat on the dragon throne some distance from the ministers, and no one could see the anxiety in his eyes.
He slightly raised his hand, "My beloved ministers, if you have something to report, please speak; otherwise, you may leave the court."
Since the Emperor ascended the throne, the morning court session had never been so hasty. "This..."
The ministers looked at each other, then shook their heads, saying, "We have nothing to report."
"It's good that you're all alright. My beloved ministers have worked tirelessly for the people of Wanling. I hereby grant you two days off from morning court."
Before everyone could react, Xiao Jingzhao got up and left.
Lin Xiangzhi frowned almost imperceptibly.
...
Ugh! It smells awful.
As soon as Jiang Shuyue woke up, she was overwhelmed by a putrid smell that made her want to vomit.
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