Chapter 1380: Unable to See Suisui’s Future

The young eunuch hurriedly said, “I don’t know, but Minister Ji personally entered the palace and went straight to Cining Palace!”

Emperor: “…” With a puzzled expression, he headed to Cining Palace. Just upon entering, he heard Empress Dowager Xiao say, “This matter, our girl living in the palace, I’m already used to it. You suddenly come to take her away! I’m really reluctant. How about this, I’ll personally send someone to take her and you back. Once you’re done handling everything, let them bring her back to me!”

Upon hearing these words from Empress Dowager Xiao, Ji Youze furrowed his brows.

“Your Majesty, the Ji Mansion is truly Suisui’s home. She hasn’t been at home these days; my mother misses her greatly. Please, for the sake of my mother’s limited time, let Suisui stay at home and spend time with her grandmother!”

Upon hearing Ji Youze’s words, Empress Dowager Xiao felt a pang in her heart; the old Madam Ji was still so young, and yet…

“So be it, you may take her back. Once the prince’s full moon banquet is over, I’ll send someone to fetch her again. And about your mother… Sigh… Never mind, I’ll visit when it’s convenient for me!”

“Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. If my mother knew of your kindness, she would be overjoyed. However, it’s not safe outside the palace; please stay here and do not venture out.”

“This world belongs to the Royal Family, yet it is within our own place that feels the least safe. Enough, let us not talk about this anymore. You may leave!”

Empress Dowager Xiao sent someone to wake Xiaosui, only to find that she was still asleep. Rubbing her eyes as she got up, she grumbled, “I haven’t even woken up yet! Why are they picking me up again? Can’t I just have a good sleep?”

Xiaosui’s face was full of resentment, which put the palace maid attending to her in a difficult position.

“We servants didn’t want to disturb your dreams so early either, but the Empress Dowager has instructed us to help you get dressed. Minister Ji has come to the palace to take you home.”

Upon hearing this, Xiaosui blinked, thinking she heard wrong, and asked, “Which Minister Ji?”

A few days ago, her second brother celebrated his full moon, and her third uncle, unable to avoid it any longer, finally took office, being directly appointed as the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue of the Great Han Dynasty.

Once Ji Youcheng became Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, the first thing he did was overhaul the entire Ministry, replacing many key positions with his own people. Suddenly, the Emperor’s desk was filled with memorials impeaching him!

The Emperor advised him to keep a low profile, but Ji Youcheng simply rolled his eyes at the Emperor.

“If I don’t make a fuss, when will your National Treasury ever have surplus grain?”

The Emperor was left speechless. He let Ji Youcheng do as he pleased, leaving all the memorials that impeached him unaddressed.

From then on, rumors about Xiaosui, the little lucky charm, intensified even further.

The third uncle, a nobody, inexplicably became a key figure in charge of the National Treasury.

Rumors about the Ji family rising to prominence through their connection to Xiaosui, the eldest princess, grew increasingly widespread.

These rumors quickly spread out of the Capital City, reaching Xun’an County and Baiyun Town. When people heard the words “little lucky charm,” they naturally thought of the little fortunate star Li Yanyan who left Ling Village, associating even further with the broomstar Li Suisui who was born on the same day as Li Yanyan.

“Ji Suisui, Li Suisui, could there be some connection between them?”

People who knew these two children gathered in groups.

“Who knows? The old Li family went to the Capital City, and their Li Suisui has long since died. Instead, Li Yanyan, the little lucky charm, is said to have been taken as a disciple by the National Master, and now the Li family has prospered.”

“Oh! So, there should be no connection between Ji Suisui and Li Suisui.”

People who didn’t know the truth merely exchanged a few idle words.

At this moment, someone resting nearby suddenly interjected.

“Hey! You guys don’t know, do you? Recently, some officials came and arrested the Li family. It’s said that their relatives in the Capital City committed a crime, implicating the entire old Li family.”

“Ah! Are you telling the truth? What happened?”

Curiosity is in everyone’s nature, especially with such significant matters.

“I don’t know the specifics, only that a member of the old Li family in the Capital City was a high-ranking official. That official committed a great crime, was executed by the Emperor, and even the collateral branches were punished with exile. A few days ago, the entire Li family was arrested. I heard the crippled woman from Li Laosan’s family was scared insane, constantly cursing a death omen, bad luck, lamenting why the old lady didn’t bury her completely, leaving them with endless suffering!”

“Ah! What’s this all about? Why does Li Laosan’s wife curse like this? Who did the old Lady Li try to bury?”

“That, I’m not sure. But I heard from some digging that people in the old Li family say Li Suisui didn’t actually die; she simply disappeared without a trace. However, the day after Li Suisui’s supposed death, something strange happened with the Li’s family womenfolks.”

“What strange event? Could there be another story behind Li Suisui’s death?”

“There certainly is more! I heard that the Li family women went missing for an entire morning. The family searched high and low, only finding them at noon at a mass gravesite. It’s said they were buried in the ground, with only their heads exposed.”

“Ah! They were buried? Could it be some sort of revenge against them?”

People engaged in a lengthy discussion about the little lucky charm of the Li family and the broom star, yet they couldn’t discern the truth!

Such issues only caused a small ripple in Xun’an County.

However, elsewhere, nobody knew anything about the little lucky charm or had any interest in her.

Meanwhile, in the Xiaozhou Mountain area, the newly settled Yun family declared it their clan land. Here, they rebuilt ancestral halls and integrated with the local village community.

They established a school.

Although several groups of mountain bandits came intending to take over, they were all dealt with by the Yun family.

That night, Yun Cang stood in his own courtyard, hands behind his back, gazing up at the bright moon in the sky.

“Father!”

Yun Kuo emerged from the house, looking worriedly at Yun Cang.

“Have you divined something?”

Seeing Yun Kuo coming out with a troubled face, Yun Cang asked.

“Father, aunt, aunt seems to be nearing her end!”

“Have you discovered anything else?”

“There is a slight glimmer of hope, but it’s very faint. Father, I want to make a trip to the Capital City!”

Yun Cang nodded.

“I’ve also heard many rumors about Suisui recently, and I’ve divined a hexagram for the child. It’s unclear and confusing.”

“Father, do you have any speculations?”