By the end of August, word had spread of the prince's blood sacrifice, which had moved heaven to raise the sacrificial flag. People were buzzing in Xing'an County, wondering if the flags fluttering in the absence of wind was anything other than divine intervention. Everyone was saying the prince was truly destined to be the emperor!
Duan Xinyan heard her mother and wet nurse discussing this matter. After asking the reason, she scoffed, "What's the big deal? My father can do it with his inner strength, and so can my husband."
"Nonsense!" Jian Ning stepped into the room, gouging her eyes and saying, "Isn't using internal energy to activate the flag foolish? Besides, it's simply impossible in front of so many people. If I were to say, it's because His Royal Highness the Crown Prince cares about the people, and that's what moved the heavens. Stop talking nonsense, you hear me?"
Duan Xinyan curled her lips, feeling extremely dissatisfied, but she also knew that she couldn't talk nonsense after doing something, otherwise it would easily bring disaster. Even if she didn't think about herself, she had to think about her daughter!
The next night, Huo Jincheng came again riding on Qiu Ge. When he saw Ding Youtian, he didn't say anything. He kept rambling and looked absent-minded. Jian Ning couldn't stand it anymore and said with a stern face, "If you have something to say, say it. When did you become so fussy? If you don't say it, you won't have another chance. We need to rest. There's no place for you to sleep. If you really have nothing to do, go back as soon as possible!"
"That's right." Ding Youtian also said, "My wife once said, 'No one comes to the temple for no reason.' You can't be tired of staying in the capital and come to talk to my wife, right? If so, we've said what we wanted to say. You can leave now."
Of course, Huo Jincheng didn't come to them specifically to chat. There was something real going on, but he felt embarrassed and didn't want to say it. However, he had to say it. Seeing that the two of them had ordered them to leave one after another, he might really be kicked out if he didn't speak up. So he had to steel himself and speak up.
"It's like this. In the evening, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince urgently summoned me to the palace. The Emperor..."
"What happened to the emperor?" Ding Youtian raised his eyebrows and asked.
"The emperor wants to see Prime Minister Nan!" After Huo Jincheng said this, he breathed a sigh of relief, as if a huge stone had been lifted from his chest, and then he looked at Ding Youtian.
"Hmph!" Ding Youtian flicked his sleeves heavily and turned to go in. He stepped forward to block his way, "Brother Ding! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said that the Emperor has no ill intentions and that he knew that Nan Xiang was still alive. His Royal Highness said that he would definitely protect Nan Xiang and would never..."
Before he could finish his words, Ding Youtian flicked his sleeve again and raised his foot to take a sideways step to avoid him, but he knelt down on one knee, clasped his fists and said in a deep voice: "Brother Ding! Since we met, I, Huo, have never begged you like this. I guarantee it with my own head, even if it costs me my life, I swear to protect the Southern Prime Minister and will not let him get hurt in the slightest. I hope Brother Ding will do this!"
"You're such a good fellow, Huo Jincheng! Do you know who the Nan Xiang you're talking about is? He's my mentor! He's the mentor who's treated me like his own son since I was little!" Ding Youtian's finger was almost poking his nose. "You're also a disciple, so let me ask you, if it was Uncle Wei, knowing he was going to die, would you send him there? As a disciple, would you watch your own master die?"
"Brother Ding!"
"Don't call me! From now on I don't recognize you, and from now on our two families are completely separated!"
Tong Bajin and the others came running from the front yard upon hearing the noise. Qiu Ge, Guoguo and Bai Mei'er also stared at them in surprise. Jian Ning pulled the furious Ding Youtian away. Before entering the door, she turned her head and gave Tong Bajin a look, then nodded at Huo Jincheng, indicating that he should comfort Huo Jincheng, and made a gesture to wait for her news.
"Have a cup of tea first to calm down." Jian Ning went into the room and poured Ding Youtian a cup of cold tea. "He's just like that. Don't bother with him."
After drinking a cup of cold tea, Ding Youtian's anxiety subsided a little. He felt that he had said too harshly in his anger. After all, Huo Jincheng had been of great help to their family. Although his words were sometimes unpleasant to the ears, he had no bad intentions towards others and acted uprightly.
"Oh." He sighed unconsciously.
"Are you feeling better?" Jian Ning massaged his head and pinched his shoulders. "Actually, I've been thinking that since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince hasn't ascended the throne yet, he still needs you, Uncle Liu, and my father before he can sit firmly on the throne. He should..."
Ding Youtian didn't wait for her to finish, and put his backhand on her hand, saying, "I'm really anxious and confused. Madam, you are right. The Crown Prince still needs my master and me right now, not to mention my father-in-law is here with us. He definitely doesn't want to see my master in danger."
"Now that you've figured this out, go ask him if he knows why the Emperor wants to see Uncle Liu. As for whether Uncle Liu wants to see the Emperor, that's still a question. But Uncle Liu and the Emperor conquered the world together, and their bond of monarch and subject spans over a decade. If Uncle Liu is willing to go, there's nothing to worry about. I'll have Brother Ma disguise himself as a guard and follow him into the palace. If a fight really breaks out, with the weapons in our era in the arsenal, even the palace's vast army of experts will have no trouble protecting Uncle Liu."
"What could it be? He just wants to ask my master to refine some elixirs, but my master won't make any for him. Forget it, let him go to Danyang to find my master himself, so he can give up!"
"I'll let him in." Jian Ning came out and called Huo Jincheng. Huo Jincheng's face froze as he strode over. He bowed to Ding Youtian before entering the house and said, "Brother Ding, this is my duty. Please don't be offended. I hope I won't hurt the harmony between our two families."
"Forget it, I'm too lazy to talk to you anymore. Just go to Danyang County and find my master. If he's willing to go with you, then go. If he's not willing, then I can't do anything about it. Whether you can persuade my master to go or not depends on your ability. Go!"
Ding Youtian waved at him.
"Thank you, Brother Ding, for your help!" Huo Jincheng turned around and strode away.
"Whether my master goes with you or not, please come here and let us know. Don't forget!" Ding Youtian chased out and shouted.
"Okay, Huo has taken note of it and will never forget it. Don't worry." Huo Jincheng rode on Brother Qiu. Guoguo and Baimei, the two smart guys, heard that they would come back here again, so they jumped onto Brother Qiu's back almost at the same time and took the opportunity to go out and have some fun.
"Keep an eye on Guo'er." Ding Youtian shouted to Huo Jincheng again.
"Don't worry, I won't let it fall." Huo Jincheng stretched out his hand to grab Guoguo, but was stared at by it.
Seeing this, Jian Ning said, "Don't worry about it. It will surely not fall."
Huo Jincheng waved at them, and Brother Qiu jumped up, swinging his snake tail a few times and soon disappeared from their sight.
Ding Youtian asked Tong Bajin and the others to rest. He and Jian Ning returned to the house, set up the chessboard, and played chess while waiting for Huo Jincheng. He had originally thought that Huo Jincheng would return empty-handed, but he had never expected that there was movement in the courtyard just after the hour of Yin. He and Jian Ning went out to see that Liu Xiazi, who had arrived on a flying sword, had landed in the courtyard before Qiu Ge.
"Master." Ding Youtian stepped forward and knelt on one knee.
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