Chapter 49 The Emperor's Promise
The Anguo Princess's residence became a pot of boiling water.
The servant carrying the tea tray nearly bumped into a pillar, spilling tea all over the floor.
"Quick! Put the map away!" Mu Fang growled in a low voice.
Xiao Beichen moved with lightning speed, shoving the map marked with the waterways of Jiangnan onto his chest. The movement was so forceful that it almost tore his armor apart.
Yan Ziche went even further, kicking a bag full of dry food and medicine precisely under the armchair in the corner, and then pulling the cushion over it to cover it up.
The two teenagers, one sixteen and the other ten, had nervous expressions on their faces, as if they had done something wrong.
If the Emperor knew that they were planning to sneak off to Jiangnan, thousands of miles away, to venture into the dragon's den called Mirror Lake, just to find the legendary green carp for Little Fish...
Mu Fang had no doubt that the emperor could break the legs of all three of them on the spot and then give each of them a solitary cell in the imperial prison so that they could reflect on what it meant to "behave themselves and behave their own way".
Amidst the chaos and confusion, Chu Yuan arrived.
There was no cracking of whips from the imperial carriage, no clanging of armor from the ceremonial guards.
He was only wearing a faded blue casual suit, with fine frayed edges on the collar and cuffs.
The chief eunuch Li Defu, who followed behind, had also changed into an inconspicuous gray robe, looking just like an ordinary old servant going out with his master.
As Chu Yuan stepped through the gate, he looked noticeably smaller.
The majesty and imposing presence before the palace coup were completely eroded by the betrayal of her own children and the effects of drugs.
The white hair at his temples was glaring, and the deep furrows at the corners of his eyes were so deep they could hold rainwater.
He raised his hand, stopping the people in the courtyard who were about to kneel down.
"No need for formalities."
His voice was hoarse, a peculiar hue characteristic of someone recovering from illness, carrying a weariness that seemed to emanate from his very bones.
"Today, there is no emperor."
Chu Yuan's gaze slowly swept across the chaotic courtyard, finally settling on Mu Fang, or more precisely, on the back of Mu Fang's tall figure protecting him.
"I... am just an old man who came to see his granddaughter."
His voice softened abruptly, as if afraid of disturbing something.
Where is Xiaoyuer?
Mu Fang's throat bobbed, and he had no choice but to turn his body to the side.
Chu Yuan did not stop in the noisy flower hall.
As if drawn by something invisible, he bypassed the corridor and headed straight for the small garden in the backyard.
There, the osmanthus flowers are in full bloom, their sweet fragrance fermenting in the afternoon sun.
Mu Yu sat on a small stone bench under the osmanthus tree.
On the stone table in front of her was a plate of crystal-clear osmanthus cake, which Xie Zhiwei had just brought out from the kitchen, calculating the time.
Her small body leaned forward, and because she couldn't see, Mu Yu didn't reach out to take it.
She simply leaned closer, her little nose hovering above the plate, and carefully and attentively sniffed it.
It's confirmed, it's Zhiwei's brother's cooking, and it's her favorite level of sweetness.
Only then did she feel relieved enough to extend her two chubby little fingers and carefully pick up a piece with her fingertips.
She held the pastry to her lips, but didn't eat it right away.
Instead, she stuck out her pink tongue and gently licked the edge of the osmanthus cake.
It seems to be using its sense of taste to reaffirm the sweetness it had been anticipating.
Finally, she opened her little mouth with satisfaction, took a big bite, and ate a small piece.
A tiny hamster pouch puffed up on its cheek as it happily chewed.
The entire process was quiet, focused, and orderly.
Mu Yu adapted very well.
It's so good it makes your heart clench.
Chu Yuan stood a few steps away, watching without moving.
Looking at that little guy who was so engrossed in his own world.
Watching her in the boundless darkness, using her sense of smell, touch, and taste to try her best to find a little bit of sweetness for herself.
He had expected to see his little granddaughter hiding in a corner, secretly shedding tears.
But what he saw was a small sun striving to bloom on the ruins.
This caused the emperor even greater heartache than seeing Mu Yu's tears.
A bittersweet warmth welled up in my eyes.
Chu Yuan abruptly turned his face away, looking elsewhere.
Li Defu, who was following behind, kept his eyes downcast, but he could clearly feel that the most noble monarch of the Great Chu Kingdom was shaking his shoulders uncontrollably.
After a long while, Chu Yuan turned back.
Her eyes were still red, but her expression had barely recovered.
He strode over to Mu Yu's side.
"Little Fisherman".
When the words came out, he realized that he was choking back sobs that he couldn't even control himself.
Mu Yu stopped chewing, and her little ears twitched alertly.
She knew that voice all too well.
It's a majestic yet kind voice that I hear in my dreams every day.
"Grandpa Emperor!"
Forgetting all about the osmanthus cake in her hand, Mu Yu immediately put it down and "looked" in the direction of the sound.
Those large, unfocused amber eyes tried to open wide.
A small face blossomed into a smile brighter than the sunshine.
"You're here! Are you feeling better? Steward Li said you've been sick for a very long time."
Mu Yu was still preoccupied with the "official explanation" they had given her.
She enthusiastically stretched out her little hand and patted the stone bench next to her.
"Grandpa, please sit down! It's not cold here!"
"Want some osmanthus cake? Brother Zhiwei just made it, and it's sprinkled with lots and lots of osmanthus flowers. It's so sweet and fragrant!"
As she spoke, Mu Yu reached into the dish, picked up a piece, and held it up high, offering it to Chu Yuan.
Her chubby little hand was still covered with glistening crumbs of pastry.
Chu Yuan could no longer hold back.
He took the osmanthus cake and, imitating Mu Yu's earlier actions, took a small bite.
The delicate fragrance of osmanthus and the sweet softness of glutinous rice melt in your mouth.
But it felt as if something was tightly blocking his throat.
"tasty."
He spoke, his voice terribly hoarse.
"It's the best osmanthus cake that Grandpa has ever eaten."
He sat down next to Mu Yu, keeping her company as she ate the entire plate of osmanthus cake.
He didn't ask a single question about the eyes.
Not a single word related to sadness was mentioned.
He listened as Mu Yu spoke to him in her clear, childlike voice, chattering away.
The osmanthus flowers in the garden smell particularly strong today.
The big cat's purring was louder than yesterday.
She said she played chess with Sister Qin Zheng and Sister Jia Ning today and won a big bag of candy.
Chu Yuan would occasionally hum in agreement or ask, "Really?" and then tell Mu Yu that once her eyes were better, he would take her to the Royal Hunting Grounds to roast a whole lamb that was even fatter and bigger than the last one, so she could eat her fill.
One big and one small, one old and one young.
We chatted about the most mundane things under the osmanthus tree.
It's as if nothing has changed.
It was as if none of the misfortunes had ever happened.
Chu Yuan only got up to take his leave when the afterglow of the setting sun bathed the entire courtyard in a warm gold.
He didn't let anyone deliver it to him.
Alone, she walked out of the princess's mansion with somewhat unsteady steps.
As they boarded the carriage returning to the palace, the moment the curtain was drawn, the kind-looking "old geezer" vanished.
In its place came the ruthless and all-powerful Emperor of Chu.
The air inside the carriage seemed to freeze instantly.
Chu Yuan leaned back on the cushion, closed his eyes, and remained silent.
Mu Fang, who was accompanying him, just stood there with his hands at his sides, even his breathing was soft.
I don't know how much time passed.
Chu Yuan's voice rang out again.
This time, there was no weariness, no hoarseness, only the cold, decisive manner unique to emperors.
"Mu Fang".
"Your subject is here." Mu Fang bowed.
"At all costs."
Chu Yuan's eyes snapped open, devoid of any warmth, filled only with surging rage.
"Cure her eyes."
"My national treasury is open to you. My Imperial Medical Academy is at your disposal. Whatever you desire or need in the entire Great Chu Kingdom, take it directly without reporting to me."
This is no longer an approval, but an authorization.
This grants Mu Fang the supreme power to mobilize the entire nation's resources.
Mu Fang's heart skipped a beat.
"besides."
Chu Yuan's voice grew even colder.
"Investigate for me."
"Investigate thoroughly."
“From the day of the palace coup, everyone who has directly or indirectly hurt Xiaoyuer, caused her even the slightest fright, or made her shed a single tear.”
"If there's one, then count it."
The lights inside the carriage dimmed.
The emperor's final declaration was steeped in bloodshed.
"I want their blood to wash away the injustices my granddaughter suffered!"
This is a promise from an emperor.
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