Chapter 289: The Divine Bird Recognizes Its Master (Two Chapters Combined into One)
However, the one man, two dogs and one bird were still disappointed because they did not see Zhao Shiqing.
Xiaoguai, who was burdened with an important task, returned to Tianshui Hutong and looked around. Not only did he not find Zhen Wuduo, he didn't even see Ma Ping Gou and Sha Gou.
Fortunately, he found Shi Congcong.
Shi Congcong was spinning around a millstone, spinning freely. This was his hobby.
Xiaoguai's eyes hurt. Whenever he saw this stupid donkey circling around the millstone, Xiaoguai's eyes hurt.
Shi Congcong raised his head and saw Xiaoguai looking down at him. Shi Congcong shouted proudly. This silly bird must be ashamed of himself. After all, in this family, he is the only one who can pull the mill. He is the smartest one. He is the smartest one in the family. Only he deserves to be called Shi Congcong!
Xiaoguai: [What about flattering dogs and stupid dogs? ]
Shi Congcong: [How could a clever donkey know what a fool is doing? Foolish bird, get out of here and don't slow down the donkey's grinding.]
Little cutie...
"Hey, Xiaoguai is back?" A familiar voice came from behind. Xiaoguai turned around and saw Wan Ruyi.
Xiaoguai nodded proudly as a greeting.
Wan Ruyi became excited: "Oh, Xiaoguai is back. Is the second young lady back too? Where is the second young lady? Xiaoguai, are you hungry? I'll go kill a chicken for you, two chickens, no, three, but it's still not enough. Xiuxiu and Lingbo will be back too. We don't have enough chickens at home, so I'll go buy some. Aunt Ji, let's go buy some chickens!"
Wan Ruyi ran away in a flash. Xiaoguai was stunned. He wanted to find the old man, so why didn't anyone tell him where the old man was?
Sure enough, except for A Niang, all the other two-legged beasts were stupid and couldn't understand what Xiaoguai was saying.
Shi Congcong was still spinning in circles. He had to let everyone know that he was different and he was smart!
It was not until night fell and the city gates were closed that they were sure that Zhao Shiqing would not enter the city. Only then did the man, two dogs and a bird return home dejectedly.
In Tianshui Hutong, Aunt Ji had already gone home. The aroma of stewed chicken filled the yard. Wan Ruyi sat on the steps with his chin in his hand, looking depressed.
The chicken was stewed, but the person who wanted to eat it didn't come back.
Zhen Wuduo sat back in his big rocking chair. He felt lonely because his beloved granddaughter didn't come back.
Two dogs lay at his feet, their faces full of vicissitudes of life, and their mouths were drooling uncontrollably.
Zhen Wuduo looked up at the grape trellis. The grape season had passed, and his precious granddaughter hadn't even had the chance to eat the last crop of grapes.
Zhen Wuduo sighed, and heard Xiaoye's whimpering at his feet. Zhen Wuduo looked down and saw that the stupid dog's saliva had soaked the surface of his shoes.
It would be strange if a dog didn’t drool over such delicious stewed chicken.
Huh? Wan Ruyi couldn't bear to see cats and dogs being wronged. Normally, she would have given each of the two dogs a bowl of soup to feast on. How could she not have the heart to do so today?
An idea suddenly occurred to Zhen Wuduo. He put on his wet shoes and walked over to Wan Ruyi. "Ruyi, who are you stewing this chicken for?"
Wan Ruyi: "One for the Second Miss, one for Xiuxiu, one for Lingbo, one for Xiaoguai, one for Dapang and one for Xiaoyao."
Zhen Wuduo suddenly became excited: "How did you know that the second young lady was coming back when you were at home?"
Wan Ruyi: "Xiaoguai is back."
"Where is Xiaoguai? Where is he?" Zhen Wuduo asked hurriedly.
Wan Ruyi was stunned. Yes, she didn’t see Xiaoguai when she came back from buying chickens.
Zhen Wuduo called all the guards over to look for Xiaoguai!
Since Xiaoguai has returned home, it proves that he and Ergou were not wrong, and the eagle was Xiaoguai.
Xiaoguai came back first, he must have come to deliver a letter to him.
However, the guards searched from home to the street, and from night to dawn, but they did not see any trace of Xiaoguai.
Who would have thought that at this moment, Xiaoguai was digesting his food in the Third Prince's mansion.
Ever since the Third Prince learned that the Fourth Prince was reselling disaster relief grain, he has been feeling mixed emotions.
What makes me happy is that the idiot finally killed himself, but what makes me worried is that the emperor suddenly appears and I don’t know what his intentions are.
The third prince went to the palace specifically and told Concubine Qiao about this matter.
Such a big thing must have been known to Concubine Qiao, who has connections everywhere.
She has been feeling very anxious these days.
The retired emperor has been quiet for twelve years. During these twelve years, he was like an invisible man. Apart from rewarding his sons and grandsons with a few elixirs he made himself during festivals, he had no other actions.
Except for the grand Dharma Assembly held during the Chinese New Year this year!
That ceremony cost 150,000 taels of silver, and Emperor Yongjia was heartbroken. Concubine Qiao tried to comfort him for a long time.
Apart from this, there is nothing unusual.
But now, the retired emperor not only showed up, but also traveled to Tongzhou and captured the fourth prince.
How can this not make people think more?
"When you were a child, the emperor loved you very much. Do you still remember?" Concubine Qiao smiled and comforted her son.
Of course the Third Prince remembered it, as he was already old enough to remember things at that time and was very good at pleasing his grandfather.
Concubine Qiao continued, "Prince Jing is introverted and doesn't like to talk. The Second Prince has been a bookworm since childhood. The Fourth Prince has low self-esteem and is afraid of the Retired Emperor. The Fifth Prince is a mischievous monkey and annoying. Zhao Yuan is still a baby. Only you are the most favored by the Retired Emperor. When the Immortal Wuxiang returned from his travels that year, the Retired Emperor personally visited the Wuji Temple. Of all the imperial grandchildren, he only brought you with him."
The Third Prince also recalled the past, and a smile finally appeared on his face. "Yes, I still remember. Back then, I simply praised the beautiful water lilies at Wuji Temple, and Grandfather personally asked Master Wuxiang for a jar of them as a reward. Unfortunately, I was young and the lilies died. When Grandfather learned of this, he didn't reprimand me, but instead rewarded me with a eunuch who tended the flowers."
These past events had long faded away with the departure of the retired emperor, and the third prince himself had almost forgotten them. Now, after being reminded by Concubine Qiao, he remembered them again.
Yes, how could he forget that he was the emperor’s grandfather’s favorite grandson.
Today, he is the only adult grandson with the best reputation.
"But why did the Royal Grandfather suddenly go to Tongzhou?"
Concubine Qiao thought for a moment and said, "The most important thing he did when he went to Tongzhou was to capture the Fourth Prince. My son, let's think positively. He is paving the way for you."
The third prince was stunned. If the fourth prince had not embezzled the disaster relief grain, then his return from Tongzhou this time would be a first-class merit.
He had already made contributions to the Empress's family, earning him a lot of respect in front of the Empress. Adding to this achievement...
Concubine Qiao looked at him and expressed her concerns: "Actually, my mother has always been worried that the Queen will convince the Emperor to register him under her name."
The Third Prince looked at Concubine Qiao in disbelief. "What are you talking about? Impossible! How is this possible? Concubine You is still alive and well."
Before this, the Third Prince had placed his hopes on Concubine You and the You family. He expected them to hold back the Fourth Prince.
For this reason, he often asked people to guide the children of the You family to do evil things.
No one knows a son better than his mother. Concubine Qiao naturally knew what the third prince had done to the You family.
She also knew what the Third Prince was thinking at the moment: "You also know that as long as Concubine You is alive, the Fourth Prince will not be recorded under the Queen's name, but what if Concubine You dies?"
The Third Prince was shocked: "Fourth Prince, he is so bold, does he want Concubine You to die?"
Concubine Qiao smiled slightly: "Why is this impossible? Don't forget, he is a prince, a member of the royal family."
Concubine Qiao didn't want to continue this topic. No mother would like to talk about this with her son, which is why she never said anything.
She said, "But there's no need for that now. The Emperor has taken action, and His Majesty can't protect the Fourth Prince even if he wants to."
Back then, the Fourth Prince framed Prince Jing and the Third Prince at the same time. Even though it was such a big deal, Emperor Yongjia finally showed leniency and let the Fourth Prince go.
But this time, with the emperor taking action, it would be impossible for the fourth brother to escape.
The Third Prince smiled and said, "I was worried that Father would suppress this matter again, so I fanned the flames and let everyone in the capital know about it. Now that this matter has spread throughout the capital, I think it won't be long before it spreads throughout the country. By then, even if Father wants to protect the Fourth Prince, he will be powerless."
This matter spread throughout the capital, and it was all known to the whole city, and it was all the work of the third prince.
Not only did he want to expose the Fourth Prince's scandals, he also wanted to put Emperor Yongjia on the spot.
This is a great opportunity to eliminate the Fourth Prince, and it is also the last time. If we fail this time, there will never be another chance in the future.
Concubine Qiao said, "The more it is now, the more cautious we must be. It's best to keep it a secret even from the prince's wife."
"I understand. Is Qiujun okay?" asked the third prince.
Concubine Qiao put away the smile on her face and said: "Don't think about these things at this time. There are so many eyes in the palace now, you'd better be careful."
The Third Prince hadn't seen Fan Qiujun for some time, but he had no romantic thoughts at the moment, so he just asked casually.
After leaving the palace, the Third Prince returned to his residence. On the way, he asked someone to check in the teahouse and restaurant. Sure enough, the people were all talking about the Fourth Prince.
The Third Prince was in high spirits. When he returned to the palace, a eunuch came running over and said, "Your Highness, great joy! The divine bird has returned!"
The third prince was overjoyed. The divine bird had not appeared in the palace for a long time, but he did not expect it to appear today.
The return of the divine bird, what does this mean?
This means that his position as crown prince is secure!
"Quick, get the Clairvoyance and let this prince see it. By the way, have you prepared offerings for the divine bird?"
The eunuch hurriedly said, "Prepare it, prepare it. Send all the fat chickens, fat ducks and whole rabbits that the divine bird likes to eat to the divine bird."
The third prince climbed up to the highest observation tower in the palace, picked up his clairvoyance, and saw the long-lost divine bird eating in the hall in the center of the lake.
The eunuch said cautiously, "I have inquired about this. This mythical bird appeared in the Baoqing Marquis's mansion a while ago, and the Baoqing Marquis's mansion also raised it. Unfortunately, it didn't appear for a long time."
The third prince was stunned. Baoqing Marquis Mansion?
"Since when did the divine bird stop appearing?"
The eunuch said, "After the divine bird stopped appearing, Zhu Yu was captured. Since then, the divine bird has never appeared again."
In fact, after that, Xiaoguai went to Baoqing Marquis Mansion again, but he went to Sun Lanzhi's yard, so no one else saw it.
The third prince nodded. Before the Zhu Yu case happened, the Baoqing Marquis Mansion was a very popular and wealthy place.
The divine bird landed in a blessed place. At that time, the Baoqing Marquis Mansion was a blessed place, so the divine bird would go there.
Since the divine bird did not go, the Baoqing Marquisate began to decline. Although the title has not been demoted yet, it has already lost all its reputation.
The Third Prince could not hide his joy. Now that the divine bird had landed in his mansion, it meant that the Third Prince’s mansion was a blessed place!
He remembered that this divine bird was not afraid of people, so he walked down from the viewing tower, came to the center of the lake, and tried to get close to Xiaoguai. As expected, Xiaoguai did not retreat. After eating and drinking, he actually paced on the pier, just like an idle person who had eaten and digested his food.
The third prince became more and more delighted, and simply called his two confidants to discuss the next move in the lakeside hall. The divine bird did not leave, and seemed to understand their conversation, listening with its ears tilted from time to time. Although it was obviously a bird of prey, it looked a bit cute at this moment.
The confidant smiled and said, "Your Highness, it seems to me that this divine bird seems to be trying to recognize its master."
The Third Prince's eyes lit up: "Recognize the master, the divine bird recognizes this prince as its master?"
"Yes, you see, that divine bird seems to understand what you are saying. Is it recognizing its master or something?" the confidant said flatteringly.
The Third Prince was overjoyed. The divine bird recognized its master. Could a divine bird recognize its master casually? It clearly saw the kingly aura in this prince!
"Alright, when this prince ascends the throne, I will definitely confer a title upon the Divine Bird! I'll confer the title of Divine Bird General!"
The current Third Prince is of course not qualified to confer an official title on the Divine Bird, but this does not prevent everyone in the Third Prince's Mansion from calling Xiaoguai the Divine Bird General from now on.
After all, it is common to see crickets and fighting cocks being called generals. Eagles are brave by nature, so why not call them generals?
Zhen Wuduo had people search for Xiaoguai all night but still couldn't find him.
Just when he was feeling down, Xiaoguai came back by himself.
"Hey, little ancestor, where have you been?"
Xiaoguai looked at him reproachfully and said, "You guys are not here, so I can't go hunting for food by myself."
Xiaoguai flapped his wings and flew up again. Zhen Wuduo hurriedly chased after him with his old legs, all the way to the back of the house. Xiaoguai dug out a purse from the bushes behind the house and threw the purse in front of Zhen Wuduo.
[Aniang asked Guai to give this to you. Humph, since you are not at home, Guai has no choice but to leave it here.]
Zhen Wuduo was overjoyed. His beloved granddaughter had indeed brought him a letter. If he had known it would be hidden here, he would have had someone look through it last night.
Zhen Wuduo couldn't wait to open his purse and took out a letter from it. The words on the letter were so dense that Zhen Wuduo could only use a magnifying glass to read it word by word.
When he finished reading the letter, his expression became unusually serious.
My precious granddaughter is going to do great things.
He thought about it, then walked into the kitchen and saw Wan Ruyi kneading dough.
"Stop kneading the dough and follow me."
Wan Ruyi shook her head: "Second Miss must not have eaten rice cakes for a long time. I will make some more."
"Let Aunt Ji do it."
"The Second Miss likes what I cook."
"She's just a little girl, don't always call her Second Miss. Doesn't she call you Aunt Wan? Then just call her Qingqing."
In fact, Zhao Shiqing had asked Wan Ruyi to call her by her name a long time ago, but Wan Ruyi liked to follow everyone in calling her Second Miss.
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