In the end, under Jiang Yan Chuan’s unyielding attitude, Jiang Huaian was carried away by palace servants to Consort Yan’s residence.
As they exited the door, Jiang Huaian’s wails echoed throughout the main hall. Even long after he had departed, the lingering echoes seemed to persist in everyone’s ears.
During this interval, Jiang Yingcheng took the opportunity to cast a pitiful look toward her Father Emperor, directing his attention to the palace maid named Zitang and subtly hinting for him to exact revenge on her behalf.
After a moment of silence, Jiang Yan Chuan ultimately conceded to the little one’s earlier dramatic performance. He ordered Changshun to administer a caning to the palace maid who hadn’t actually kicked the child.
Noble Consort Rou cried until she fainted, yet Jiang Yan Chuan offered no words of comfort. Instead, he scooped up Jiang Yingcheng and strode out of the hall.
Qing Guifei quickly grabbed Lan Zhaorong and Jiang Xingran, following closely behind.
The little one was in exceptionally high spirits, her inner monologue nearly continuous throughout the journey.
[Hehehe, hehehehehe.]
[Today really is a wonderful day~]
[Everything I wished for came true~]
Yunmeng Yiyi had been saved, and she had secretly tucked the small sachet beneath the seat of the main throne.
Moreover, her handsome Father Emperor had gone above and beyond in helping her, directly separating Jiang Huaian from Noble Consort Rou. It was likely her Seventh Brother would enjoy a long period of peace and stability ahead!
[Hehehe~]
Just as the Mingze Emperor was about to lift the little one into the Imperial Carriage, Qing Guifei and the others caught her slightly silly-sounding laughter.
Qing Guifei and Lan Zhaorong returned to their respective residences, while the Mingze Emperor ordered the carriage to proceed directly to Zhuyun Pavilion, where Fang Zhaoyi resided.
The little one hadn’t taken her afternoon nap yet, and the earlier crying fit had drained much of her energy. She stubbornly held on until they reached her own courtyard, but the moment she was taken into the arms of the matron responsible for her care, she drifted into a deep sleep.
The Mingze Emperor exchanged a meaningful glance with Fang Zhaoyi, and the two moved alone into the inner chamber. They dismissed all the palace servants, leaving only Changshun to guard the entrance.
Fang Zhaoyi had initially assumed the Mingze Emperor intended to stay the night at Zhuyun Pavilion. However, no sooner had they seated themselves inside than he posed a direct question: “After Little Eleven returned yesterday, did her inner thoughts reveal any important information?”
Fang Zhaoyi stiffened entirely, her head snapping up to look at the Mingze Emperor seated across from her.
A roaring buzz filled her mind, her thoughts growing muddled, yet she chose not to play dumb.
“Your… Your Majesty, after Yingcheng returned yesterday, she fell asleep immediately and didn’t wake until dinner. Her mind was completely captivated by the food, and she didn’t disclose any significant information…”
She couldn’t help but feel a sense of inevitability wash over her.
How could such an absurd yet fortunate ability—to hear the child’s inner thoughts—be bestowed upon her alone?
Since the Mingze Emperor asked in this manner, it indicated he could also hear the inner voice and had already gathered more information, knowing that she, too, could perceive it.
She didn’t dare consider concealment.
Fang Zhaoyi’s expression was dazed, but her remaining rationality prompted her to instinctively omit any details related to Jinshu.
Her position in the palace was still unstable; she couldn’t withstand the thunderous wrath that would follow a charge of deceiving the emperor. She had no choice but to continue covering it up.
It was just unfortunate that her little Jinshu couldn’t remain by her side from childhood.
But thankfully, Little Yingcheng had already devised a way to bring Jinshu into the palace as well.
As long as she had the chance to interact with Jinshu, everything would develop in a positive direction.
Jiang Yan Chuan remained silent upon hearing this, his knuckles rhythmically tapping on the wooden table as if keeping time with Fang Zhaoyi’s pounding heartbeat.
Fang Zhaoyi grew increasingly flustered, unable to stop her mind from wandering.
Had His Majesty discovered something?
Could there be spies planted by His Majesty in this courtyard who could also hear the little one’s inner thoughts?
Who could it be?
The nanny responsible for caring for the little one?
Or the palace maid assigned to her courtyard just last month?
Desperately wanting to distract herself, she suddenly recalled an important piece of information as if struck by inspiration: “Your Majesty, this subject suddenly remembers something regarding the system that communicates with Yingcheng in her mind!”
The tapping ceased abruptly. Jiang Yan Chuan asked, “What is it?”
Fang Zhaoyi swallowed hard: “It’s about the Merit Points…”
Their conversation lasted nearly two hours. By the time Jiang Yan Chuan emerged from the room, Fang Siwan’s rank had skyrocketed three levels, rising from the original fourth-rank Zhaoyi to the third-rank Wan Fei (Consort Wan).
When Jiang Yingcheng woke from her sleep, she thought she was still dreaming.
“What’s happening?” she asked the nanny holding her.
People in the courtyard were bustling about packing luggage, while her mother was nowhere to be seen.
Could it be that they were being thrown out?!
Jiang Yingcheng nearly cried from fright at her own speculation.
If they were truly driven out, would she no longer get to eat so many delicious snacks?!
Zhang Momo’s face was radiant with joy: “Niangniang has just been conferred as Wan Fei! We’re preparing to move to a larger courtyard!”
Jiang Yingcheng froze for a moment, then her eyes suddenly sparkled with bright light: “A bigger courtyard?”
Zhang Momo nodded with a smile.
Jiang Yingcheng wriggled like a silkworm pupa in Zhang Momo’s arms, then scampered wildly around the courtyard after being set down: “Woo-hoo, we’re getting a bigger courtyard”
A passing palace maid nearly collided with Jiang Yingcheng, quickly steadying herself before speaking with equal amusement: “Little Highness, please rest now. Wouldn’t it be better to run around after we reach the big courtyard?”
This successfully made everyone around laugh along, filling the small Zhuyun Pavilion with joyous laughter for a time.
That evening, Jiang Yingcheng didn’t get to run freely in the new residence as she had hoped.
At Zhuyun Pavilion, she had been too excited to stop running for quite some time. Upon arriving at Xing Shuang Palace, she only ate some snacks before falling asleep again.
Early the next morning, Zhang Momo woke Jiang Yingcheng much earlier than usual.
It was still dark outside. Jiang Yingcheng rubbed her eyes, her voice full of sleepiness: “Momo, why so early today?”
Remembering Wan Fei Niangniang’s instructions, Zhang Momo didn’t dare reveal too much, only vaguely saying: “Niangniang said that Changshun Gonggong will come again today to take you to see His Majesty. You need to get up early to get ready and wait for him to fetch you.”
Jiang Yingcheng immediately sprang up with full energy: “Really?”
Fang Siwan had just entered the room when she heard this excited verification. She said with a smile, “Really, really. So can our little sleepyhead get up now?”
Jiang Yingcheng’s eyes shone even brighter as she reached out both hands to Fang Siwan: “Mother, hug!”
This was definitely going to be an absolutely wonderful day!
Jiang Yingcheng was firmly holding Changshun Gonggong’s hand as she walked slowly toward where her handsome Father Emperor was.
It happened to be right after court dismissal, and they kept encountering small groups of officials walking together along the way. Whenever they passed by, she would lift her little face and flash them a big smile.
While successfully winning the affection of many officials, the chatter in her mind never ceased.
【Awoo awoo, what a good official!】
【Pah pah pah, filthy corrupt official!】
【Hee hee hee, such a pitiful uncle.】
The officials: “……”
【Huh? Why do their expressions look so strange?】
Changshun Gonggong glanced cheerfully at Jiang Yingcheng.
Don’t worry, they’ve just discovered a whole new world.