Chapter 114
Jiu Xiao took a bite and froze, unable to move.
The freshly washed vegetable leaves were wrapped around a few slices of fatty and lean pork belly that had been grilled on skewers until the oil was squeezed out.
With a crisp snap, he chewed it together with the tender garlic. The burst of flavors included the sweetness of the vegetables, the savory saltiness of the meat fat, and the refreshing, mildly pungent aroma of garlic.
Jiu Xiao had never known that anything could taste so delicious.
Crispy, chewy, tender, and soft - different textures unfolded like a blossoming flower in his mouth.
In one bite, he almost forgot that he was supposed to leave.
"Who's there!" Xiao Luzi's plate was jolted by the recoiling pork belly skewer.
Consort Min, standing farther away, caught sight of it and frowned up at the rafters.
Her angry shout finally alerted the person on the beam.
Instantly, a figure in black clothes, faster than her upward glance, darted away.
"Insolent! Where are you going!" Consort Min raged, enraged that there was a thief in the Chonghua Palace!
The guards rushed in with a clatter.
"Consort Min?"
"An assassin, no, a thief!" Consort Min fumed, slamming the table.
But Concubine Liu and Cheng Qian couldn't help but smirk.
Because in the cradle, Chu Chu's stunned inner voice rushed out at high speed.
[Damn! Who is this! Such fast moves!]
[Aunt Min didn't even see them?]
[The guards outside heard the shout and rushed in, but this person had already left, without even a trail of dust.]
[Sigh, the power gap is too big...]
Xiao Chuchu sighed, ever since her system's ability to watch live broadcasts from anywhere was sealed, she had no way to figure out many things.
But she wasn't stupid, and a little reasoning left her stunned.
[Oh my, could this be that Tea-serving Junior Eunuch with a power level of 99?]
"Pfft... cough." Cheng Qian, hearing his sister's inner voice, nearly choked on the pork belly, his face turning red.
The junior eunuch he had rescued from being drowned in the lake was truly a master?
He hadn't misheard his sister's inner voice the last time.
Then why had that person concealed their abilities and not fought back that day? Was it on the Emperor's orders? Was this person the Emperor's secret guard?
[Oh, he didn't actually go out of the palace with Father Emperor to see the refugees, but why did he come to watch us eat grilled meat?]
Xiao Chuchu's grape-like eyes flickered, and she quickly understood.
[He was hungry, his weakness is being hungry!]
[But why didn't he steal from someone else, but instead watch Xiao Luzi's grilled meat beside my brother? Xiao Luzi just said this was the second time the power level 99 junior eunuch stole his food. Was it him last time too?]
[Oh, I'm dizzy.]
Xiao Chuchu didn't understand.
[Father Emperor isn't in the palace, but the enlightenment progress can still go up? What does that mean?]
Xiao Chuchu felt like she was just a hair's breadth away from the truth.
Her inner voice was rapid and dense, making both Cheng Qian and Concubine Liu a little dizzy.
But Cheng Qian's expression grew stranger the more he listened.
The person Father Emperor had been trying hard to enlighten recently was this Tea-serving Junior Eunuch?
Huh... really?
Then the enlightenment progress... was something Father Emperor was doing...?
Cheng Qian's body stiffened, as he recalled the things he had done for this Tea-serving Junior Eunuch.
Rescuing him, giving him clothes, a warm stove, and food jerky.
Now the other had eaten his grilled meat, and the instant noodles Xiao Luzi had been robbed of before were also cooked by him personally...
Could this enlightenment progress not be Father Emperor's doing, but his own?
Cheng Qian suddenly sat on the stone bench, his heart pounding.
But he soon shook his head.
Impossible.
He must be overthinking it.
His sister had said this was a task from the Immortal Realm for Father Emperor!
*
Outside the palace, comforting the refugees, Xiao Yunzhou smiled warmly at every elderly, weak, woman and child in the relief hall.
He even personally asked them how they had slept and eaten, until his back ached and he could barely stand up straight, before reluctantly preparing to return to the palace.
"Your Majesty has worked hard all day, please rest early upon your return," said the few elders of the Imperial Cabinet, their backs also bent from exhaustion.
Wei Zheng also looked at Xiao Yunzhou with admiration, "Your Majesty's efforts are appreciated."
But Xiao Yunzhou shook his head.
His heart was uneasy.
He didn't know what the enlightenment progress was for the day.
As the Emperor, he truly felt ashamed at not heeding the Little Princess's advice. He had been cowardly again today, not daring to summon that Tea-serving Junior Eunuch with a power level of 99 to accompany him out of the palace to the relief hall to see the refugee arrangements.
He was afraid the other might not control his killing intent and assassinate the Emperor outside the palace.
Sigh.
Regret.
Now that he had spent a day outside the palace in peace, all Xiao Yunzhou felt was regret.
Why didn't he call the assassin to come along?
He could have made significant enlightenment progress.
But now, this great opportunity was wasted by his own cowardice as the Emperor!
"Sigh." Xiao Yunzhou prepared to return to the palace, but his face showed no joy, only worry.
"Your Majesty, what troubles you? Could you share it with this old minister?" Of the Imperial Cabinet and Six Ministries' ministers, only Liu Wenchang, Concubine Liu's father who accompanied them today, asked Xiao Yunzhou about his sigh.
"Ah, it is Duke Liu who shows concern for Us," Xiao Yunzhou said, looking at the slightly graying Liu Wenchang with gratitude.
When one is near death, setting aside all imperial grandeur, he finally appreciates the value of those around him.
Look, the Imperial Cabinet's Prime Minister Fucha and Deputy Prime Minister Shen Mian didn't care about him.
Only Old Duke Liu truly cared for him.
No wonder he is Concubine Liu's father, no wonder he is his Duke!
Xiao Yunzhou was touched, "Old Duke, it's perfect timing, join Us in Our study chamber tonight for a heart-to-heart discussion between ruler and minister."
The elders and ministers of the cabinet and six ministries immediately took a big step back upon hearing this.
Not only were they not jealous or resentful, but they looked at Liu Wenchang with sympathy, their eyes filled with the relief of 'finally, it's your turn to suffer this.'
Liu Wenchang could not refuse Xiao Yunzhou, and was arranged a sedan chair into the palace by Wei Zheng.
"Duke Liu, eat a hearty dinner tonight, eh."
"That's right, you still remember the bone-chilling tales, don't you?"
"Duke Liu, when was the last time you told stories to people?" The Imperial Cabinet and Six Ministries all 'advised' Liu Wenchang with a chuckle.
The Emperor had been too strange lately.
Not sleeping himself, but insisting that officials accompany him!
If he fell asleep, they had to wake the Emperor. What, they couldn't wake him? No, they had to poke the Emperor with a bamboo pole...
If the Emperor was still sleepy, then it was the officials' fault.
They had to come up with a way, tell stories, bone-chilling tales, anything to keep the Emperor awake!
Could officials really do this?
The Imperial Cabinet and Senior Ministers had recently suffered greatly.
Taking action against the Emperor wasn't right, but not taking action wasn't right either.
They were in deep trouble.
...
At last, the inhuman suffering has befallen Liu Wenchang, the recently popular imperial concubine's father.
It was high time for Liu Wenchang to taste the bitterness.
Several ministers gleefully exchanged glances and bowed to Liu Wenchang, "Liu, take care. We shall return and rest now. Ah, finally I can sleep soundly tonight."
Liu Wenchang's mouth twitched.
He had already heard about the Emperor Xiao Yunzhou's strange affliction during the court session earlier.
Not only that, he knew more.
The Emperor's insomnia was largely due to his 'Immortal Realm missions'!
On odd days, Liu Chan organized palace ladies to sew winter clothes outside the palace, and sometimes she would convey the young concubines' concerns to Liu's mother.
Liu Wenchang had heard about it long ago.
These past two days, Xiao Yunzhou had been trying to reform someone.
According to his daughter, it was most likely a senior minister left over from the previous Emperor's reign.
Initially, Liu Wenchang believed it and did not wish to interfere further, but today he felt something was amiss!
"Your Majesty, when I saw you serving porridge today, you seemed deeply troubled, sighing constantly, with your brow sweating and your face pale."
After entering the imperial study and lighting the night lamp, Liu Wenchang could no longer hold back his question to Xiao Yunzhou.
"I am truly concerned, is Your Majesty unwell?"
Xiao Yunzhou did not look like he was reforming someone at all, but rather appeared afraid!
Liu Wenchang worried that if the Emperor mishandled the situation, it might endanger his daughter, granddaughter, and grandson, so he had to get to the bottom of it!
If the Emperor could not handle it, at least he could!
"I wish to share Your Majesty's burden."
Xiao Yunzhou was touched and did not know what to say, "Alas, looking around the entire court of civil and military officials, you are the only one who treats me like a junior and cares for me so dearly, Liu."
Liu Wenchang lowered his head guiltily.
But Xiao Yunzhou's next words left him dazed.
"Liu, you are one of us, so I shall speak plainly."
"There is a highly skilled assassin from the previous dynasty in my palace, intent on killing me."
"Don't ask me how I know!" Xiao Yunzhou whispered closely into Liu Wenchang's ear, lowering his voice lest anyone overhear.
Liu Wenchang opened his mouth.
Oh.
He wouldn't ask.
How did he know?
His granddaughter must have told him!
"I have made great efforts recently and have overcome most of the threat."
"But the assassin still harbors killing intent, and I know not what to do."
Liu Wenchang immediately turned serious, "Do you know who it is? Is there any possibility of negotiation?"
Negotiation?
Xiao Yunzhou stared wide-eyed.