Because of her daughter's return, Xiao Yitang specially held a family banquet, and the whole family was filled with laughter and joy.
The next day, Jiang Shumiao was summoned to the palace again.
The Empress Dowager, having not seen her for a long time, held her tightly and refused to let go, saying, "You're going out for a bit, what's wrong...?"
She wanted to say he'd lost weight, but then she noticed that although the little guy was short, he was quite chubby. So she hesitated for a moment, and said instead, "Why is he only gaining weight and not growing taller?"
Such heartbreaking 'concern'.
The Empress noticed the girl's gloom and said with a smile, "You've been gone for more than half a year, and Yu Yan and the others have missed you terribly. You must stay in the palace for a few more days this time, otherwise they'll cause trouble again."
Jiang Shumiao had no objection.
Anyway, she definitely won't go back to the Imperial Academy.
After the court session, Emperor Hongde went directly to Changxin Palace. "I heard yesterday that you returned to the capital. Have you finished taking care of everything?"
"The previous troubles have been temporarily resolved, but there are still other things to do." Jiang Shumiao was a little troubled, but then she smiled and said, "I heard that my brother got engaged, so I came back to meet my future sister-in-law."
"oh?"
Emperor Hongde raised his eyebrows. "Didn't your mother tell you? Your future sister-in-law is the second daughter of the Liu family, and her brother is your classmate."
"Liu Jing'an?"
Jiang Shumiao was so busy telling her parents and brothers about what she had seen and heard over the past six months that she completely forgot to ask these questions.
Emperor Hongde nodded, then remembered something else, "I heard that you recently exorcised a demon in Hedong County, and Liu Chengshang was his cousin."
"Yes, his youngest son, Liu Xian'an, was possessed by a dragon demon and almost turned into a demon himself."
This happened only a month or so ago.
It's truly a case of coincidences.
Emperor Hongde grunted, "It seems you've done quite a bit of exorcising demons and saving people these past six months."
He knew that Jiang Shumiao had saved not only humans, but also demons, but he didn't complain at all.
He hadn't forgotten the despicable things the Zheng family had done. These young noblemen were like devils, less popular than a mere enchantress. What could he say? He could only turn a blind eye.
Emperor Hongde then brought up another matter.
"Why didn't the Imperial Advisor come back with us?"
Jiang Shumiao told the truth, "He found the Wen family ancestor, oh, that is, his son. He may have been traumatized and chose to go into seclusion."
Emperor Hongde nearly choked to death on his tea.
"What?"
The Empress Dowager and the Empress also looked as if they had seen a ghost.
Jiang Shumiao sighed, "I was thinking of sending him back when the time was right, but now, he can't go back."
Emperor Hongde was stunned by the news, his mind going blank for a moment. He subconsciously asked, "Why?"
"He won't live for many more years."
Jiang Shumiao sighed.
That day, she actually saw Wen Zhixuan's lifeline.
Emperor Hongde was stunned again, and after a long while, he didn't know what to say.
The Empress Dowager and the Empress were still in shock at the idea that "the son is the ancestor," and they couldn't understand the logic behind it no matter how hard they tried.
Jiang Shumiao didn't explain further. She stayed in the palace for three days, telling stories for three days straight, until her lips were almost burning from talking. Finally, on the fourth day, she slipped away and went home. On the fifth day, a bunch of children came chattering excitedly to her door.
They were all his former classmates, including Zhao Huaichu, who was confined to his home because of the land equalization decree.
Seeing these innocent and naive faces again after half a day feels like a lifetime ago.
The children had heard a bit about Jiang Shumiao's adventures of slaying demons and monsters from the Fifth Princess and the Fifth Prince, and they were extremely curious about it. They came here today to hear the story told live.
Jiang Shumiao's face darkened.
Have you memorized all your lessons? Have you finished all your homework?
The children said in unison, "We've finished memorizing and completing the exercises."
Jiang Shumiao: "..."
Why did you all roll up your sleeves the moment I left?
So, I'm the one who's hindering your progress every day?
I feel a little down.
Jiang Shumiao had no choice but to recount her experiences along the way, as requested by the public.
The children have many questions.
"Can skeletons become spirits? Then I have to go back and tell my father to guard the ancestral graves well and not let monsters take them away."
Jiang Shumiao was speechless for a moment.
I must say, he's quite good at applying what he's learned to other situations.
Several young girls teared up when they talked about the rabbit demon who was devoted to love but was betrayed.
"That Meng Siyuan is so wicked, Miaomiao, have you punished him?"
"Him?"
Jiang Shumiao said with feigned regret, "He should have already returned to the underworld and is waiting to be reincarnated. Oh no, he did a lot of evil deeds in his life and owed a lot of romantic debts. He will have to be punished in the underworld. It will take him several decades to be reincarnated."
Cheng Ningqin let out a sound of surprise. Tears still clung to her eyelashes, and her bewildered expression was both adorable and comical.
Pang Xiangyu offered a very fair assessment: "This is what you, Miaomiao, always mean by 'evil begets evil,' isn't it?"
"Yes."
Since their attempt to frame Wen Zhixuan failed, and the Ruan, Yu, and Xie families were punished, the prominent families in the capital have become much more subdued. After all the twists and turns, they are still good friends.
Zhao Huaichu thought for a moment and said, "But didn't you say that taking someone's body is a sin? Won't that rabbit demon also be punished?"
More than a dozen pairs of eyes turned to Jiang Shumiao.
Jiang Shumiao nodded, "Yes, and a human-demon relationship goes against the natural order. She will bear the consequences of her actions."
Children are generally quite innocent, and their expressions showed some sympathy upon hearing this.
Little chubby Liu Jing'an raised his hand, "Miaomiao, I heard from Daddy that you saved my cousin Xian'an. He was eaten by a big snake. Is that true?"
A giant worm?
Jiang Shumiao rolled her eyes and tapped him on the forehead. "It's a dragon, not a worm."
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