Chapter 81 The Little Water God Returns to Beijing
The news that the floods in Jiangnan had been quelled and the imperial envoy's fleet was returning to the capital spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys of Jiayu County.
On the day of departure, before dawn, the dock was already packed with people, several times more crowded than during the Lantern Festival.
The people came spontaneously, and many even traveled overnight from villages and towns dozens of miles away.
They carried their most valuable possessions: a basket of farm eggs, and still-warm rice cakes in their arms. Some men even led their only egg-laying hen.
They were not good with words and could not express themselves with fancy phrases, but they used this most simple way to express their gratitude to the rescue team.
Chu Chongjin stood at the bow of the Wan'an, his posture as upright as a pine tree.
Looking at the simple yet sincere faces below him, he was filled with mixed emotions.
He had spent half his life on the battlefield, witnessing mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and the treacherous nature of the imperial court, but he had never seen such pure and passionate hearts among the people.
This power was more awe-inspiring to him than any army.
"Your Highness, look over there!" Yan Ziche's voice was filled with barely concealed excitement.
The crowded people parted to make way for the newly appointed governor of Jiayu County, accompanied by the highly respected Su Wenyan, the tutor of three emperors, as he led a group of local gentry and elders toward the dock.
Their expressions were solemn and serious.
Behind them, several strong men were carrying two very conspicuous objects.
Similarly, it is a huge, open canopy, its surface embroidered with countless names in various colors—it is the Umbrella of Ten Thousand People.
Each name on this list represents a family saved from the flood, a profound expression of gratitude.
Another item was a huge plaque made of Phoebe zhennan wood, which was quite valuable.
Above the plaque, three large gilded characters are carved in a flamboyant style: "Little Water God".
Su Wenyan stroked his long, white beard and spoke in a loud, clear voice: "Your Highness, Princess."
This umbrella, bearing the sincere sentiments of the people of Jiangnan, carries the 3,672 names on it, representing 3,672 families who were saved.
Please, Your Highness, accept this token of your appreciation.
He pointed to the gleaming golden plaque, his aged eyes filled with a gratified smile: "This plaque was erected for the young princess by the people themselves, who pooled their money and hired the best craftsmen."
They said that the little princess was a 'little water god' sent by heaven to save them, which was the highest praise they could think of for her.
Please accept this, Your Highness.
Mu Fang held his daughter tightly in his arms. Hearing these words, the eyes of this tough man became a little hot.
Mu Yu couldn't see the grand scene, but she could "smell" it.
Her nose twitched slightly. On that umbrella of ten thousand people, thousands of warm and bright white energies gathered, like the warmest sun in winter, making her feel warm all over.
In her perception, the "Little Water God" plaque was even more extraordinary, like a small sun radiating a rich and pure power of faith, a hundred times more dazzling than the largest piece of gold she had secretly hidden away.
"Daddy, it's sparkly!"
She clapped her hands excitedly and shouted, "So many sparkly things!"
Mu Fang lowered his head and looked at his daughter's flushed face, which was red with excitement. An indescribable sense of pride welled up in his heart.
He spent half his life fighting on the battlefield, earning countless military merits, but all of this glory could not compare to the burning warmth in his heart felt by the "Little Water God" plaque in front of his daughter.
"Yes, that's everyone praising our little Yu'er."
His voice carried a tenderness he himself was unaware of.
Xiao Beichen grinned and chuckled to himself, looking as proud as if he were the one being praised.
"Did you hear that? Our little Yu'er will be a deity with an official title from now on!"
"This is certified by the people of Jiangnan, even more powerful than an official position bestowed by the imperial court!"
Yan Ziche silently took out his precious little notebook from his pocket, turned to a new page, and carefully wrote down with charcoal: "The Legend of Princess Anguo, Jiayu Chapter, Final Chapter: The people bowed and worshipped, presented a canopy, were bestowed the title of Water God, and her reputation reached the pinnacle of Jiangnan."
The fleet's mooring lines were untied, and the multi-story ship slowly sailed away from the dock.
Upon seeing this, the people on the shore spontaneously knelt down, forming a dense, dark mass.
Their shouts rose and fell, converging into a tremendous wave.
"Respectfully seeing off His Highness the Ninth Prince!"
"Respectfully seeing off the Duke of Protectorate!"
"Respectfully bidding farewell to the Little Water God!"
The last three words were shouted especially loudly, carrying the most sincere blessings and reverence, and echoed on the river for a long time.
Mu Yu was held by Mu Fang and lay on the gunwale of the boat, waving her chubby little hands vigorously towards the shore.
Goodbye!
Although she couldn't see their faces, she could sense that the gray and black fortune that had once clung to the people of Jiayu County had now transformed into a healthy, white, peaceful fortune.
The entire Jiayu County has been revitalized.
At the same time, a tremendous change was taking place in her sea of consciousness.
The golden pond of good fortune had risen to an unprecedented level, its water so rich it was almost overflowing.
They evaporated and converged throughout the entire space of consciousness, eventually forming a vast expanse of golden auspicious clouds.
To her even greater surprise, the power of faith gathered on the "Little Water God" plaque transformed into streams of pure golden light, continuously flowing into the center of the pond.
The illusory dragon shape, symbolizing the progress of "leaping over the dragon gate," is frantically absorbing these powers.
At a speed visible to the naked eye, it went from a blurry outline to a clearer one. The patterns of dragon scales began to emerge, the joints of the dragon claws gradually became distinct, and even the dragon whiskers had the beginnings of a divine dragon.
The influx of immense blessings and pure faith power caused the progress bar to leap forward dramatically.
Mu Yu let out a long, comfortable sigh, like a cat basking in the sun.
This trip to Jiangnan was tiring, but it was absolutely worth it!
As the boat reached the middle of the river, an enticing aroma wafted from the cabin.
Three former top assassins of the Black Wind Hall, now the ship's personal chefs, are carefully carrying a plate of freshly baked scallion pancakes over.
The leader, "Master Wang," respectfully held the plate high and handed it to Mu Yu: "Little Princess, please try it. It's freshly made and still piping hot."
His eyes were filled with anticipation and trepidation.
Mu Yu's little nose twitched like a puppy's, precisely turning towards the scallion pancake.
"fragrant!"
She generously gave the highest praise, a single word.
She reached out her little hand, picked up a piece, and took a big bite.
The scalding hot pancake made her gasp for breath, and her little tongue went numb, but she still cherished it and couldn't bear to spit it out.
"Uncle Wang, your cooking skills are getting better and better!"
She praised him vaguely.
Master Wang was so excited that his eyes welled up with tears, as if he had received the highest praise in the world.
Seeing this strange yet harmonious scene, Xiao Beichen couldn't help but move closer to Yan Ziche and nudge him with his elbow.
"Hey Ziche, can you imagine that the three top assassins of the Black Wind Hall, who were once feared by everyone, are now here arguing over whose scallion pancake is the crispiest? Wouldn't that make your jaw drop?"
Yan Ziche replied expressionlessly, "Based on my detailed observation, their combat effectiveness has not decreased due to the change of professions."
On the contrary, because they found a new spiritual anchor, their hearts were more at ease, and their actions became more precise.
Especially Chef Zhang, who was in charge of chopping vegetables; his knife skills were steadyer than when he was cutting someone's neck.
As Chu Chongjin listened to their conversation, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
He looked at the happy crowd before him, then glanced at Jiang Tao and Qian Wansan, who were being held captive at the bottom of the ship's cabin, and his gaze gradually became distant.
The matter in Jiangnan seems to have been settled.
But this is just the beginning.
Sikong Ming's conspiracy to collude with the Northern Frontier Wolf Guard is like a sharp sword that can cut through iron like mud, silently hanging over the entire Great Chu.
He had to get back to the capital as quickly as possible.
His gaze returned to Mu Yu, who was burying her face in a scallion pancake that was bigger than her face, eating like a little kitten stealing oil.
Chu Chongjin's heart felt inexplicably calmed down.
With her around, it seems that no matter how big the conspiracy is, there is always a glimmer of hope.
Just then, a scout from the Xuanjia Army, who was in charge of reconnaissance ahead, hurriedly jumped from the fast ship onto the deck and knelt on one knee.
"Your Highness, Your Excellency!"
Three miles ahead, in the middle of the water, we spotted a ship flying the flag of a Northern Frontier merchant vessel, seemingly waiting for us.
Mu Fang and Chu Chongjin exchanged a glance, and the relaxed expressions on their faces instantly vanished, replaced by extreme solemnity.
Sikong Ming's backup plan.
You've arrived so quickly?
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