Chapter 612

Only after Yan Zhaohe had gone some distance did Zhu Jingchen finally let out a sigh of relief and turn to Xu Heming.

“Minister Xu, fortunately, you arrived in time. Otherwise, I truly wouldn’t have known how to deal with that old fellow.” Zhu Jingchen smiled at Xu Heming.

“Your Majesty, even if I hadn’t come, you still could have handled him,” Xu Heming replied bluntly.

“I’m not as formidable as Prince An. That old thing isn’t afraid of me,” Zhu Jingchen said loudly.

“Your Majesty, although Prince An is the stabilizing pillar of our Lan Nuo Kingdom, it is Your Majesty’s authority that is the key to suppressing Qinling Kingdom,” Grand Preceptor Cheng hurriedly stepped forward and said.

“Grand Preceptor Cheng is right,” Grand Tutor Wei added at once, unwilling to be outdone.

Zhu Jingchen frowned. Those two old fellows had remained silent just moments ago, yet now they were singing his praises as though they had rehearsed it.

“Since Grand Preceptor Cheng and Grand Tutor Wei are both so eloquent, the responsibility of receiving Qinling Kingdom’s envoys shall be entrusted to the two of you,” Zhu Jingchen said coldly as he looked at them.

“Your Majesty, absolutely not! I am advanced in years and fear I will be unable to handle the task properly, bringing unnecessary trouble upon us!” Grand Tutor Wei had never imagined that his attempt to flatter the emperor would end with him shooting himself in the foot.

“Your Majesty, Grand Tutor Wei speaks the truth. I, too, am advanced in years and truly lack the strength for such a task. An important responsibility like this should be given to the younger generation, to afford them more opportunities,” Grand Preceptor Cheng said, inwardly cursing his luck.

He could clearly sense that the emperor had been growing increasingly dissatisfied with the Cheng family of late.

Just now, he had merely intended to say a few flattering words to the emperor. He had never expected the emperor to place this responsibility on his shoulders.

How could Grand Preceptor Cheng possibly accept it?

If the task was mishandled, he would have to bear the curses of the people of Lan Nuo Kingdom.

And if he failed, it might even implicate the Empress. No matter what, Grand Preceptor Cheng did not dare accept the assignment.

Losing his official position was a minor matter. What absolutely could not happen was for the Empress to suffer humiliation because of him.

With that thought, Grand Preceptor Cheng immediately knelt in the hall.

Zhu Jingchen’s face darkened.

That old fellow was already so advanced in years, yet he still wanted to flatter him. Had he not looked around to see that the Cheng family no longer had anyone capable of taking on responsibility?

In his opinion, Grand Preceptor Cheng ought to return home and spend his remaining years in retirement!

However, dealing with Qinling Kingdom’s warrior was the urgent matter at hand.

After all, he truly was not certain that they would be able to withstand Qinling Kingdom’s assault.

“This matter is settled. Grand Tutor Wei and Grand Preceptor Cheng will be responsible for liaising with Qinling Kingdom,” Zhu Jingchen said, ignoring Grand Preceptor Cheng’s pleas.

He then turned to Xu Heming. “As for dealing with Qinling Kingdom’s warrior, that shall be decided by Prince An.”

“Your Majesty, if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave,” Xu Heming said without either objecting or agreeing.

The moment those words left his mouth, the court officials all drew a sharp breath. Prince An’s conduct was simply too discourteous.

With the example of Grand Tutor Wei and Grand Preceptor Cheng before them, the officials might have been dissatisfied, but none dared voice their objections.

Who could blame them? The emperor clearly favored Prince An now.

In their hearts, they were all thinking that once Qinling Kingdom’s envoys left, they would have plenty of time to deal with Prince An.

“Since Prince An has matters to attend to, you may return first,” Zhu Jingchen said.

He did not know that Li Zhiwei had already awakened.

Even so, he still did not dare keep Xu Heming there.

At that moment, Li Zhiwei was drinking porridge while looking at Zhiya beside her.

“Zhiya, thank you,” Li Zhiwei said with a smile.

“This servant owes Miss her life. I merely happened to know the reason behind Miss’s unconsciousness.” Zhiya lowered her head, not daring to reveal that she possessed yin-yang eyes.

After all, ever since she was little, people had treated her like a monster because of this unusual ability.

Li Zhiwei did not know that Zhiya possessed such a gift, but she was still deeply grateful to her.

“Zhiya, after this episode of unconsciousness, I have come to understand something very clearly. In this world, eight or nine things out of ten do not go as one wishes. That is why I want someone to help me, so that together we can help more people in need. Can you help me?” Li Zhiwei asked seriously.

Having lived two lifetimes, Li Zhiwei understood better than anyone the importance of accumulating virtue and doing good deeds.

She felt that the reason she had been able to awaken was perhaps because she had never done anything truly evil in her previous life. That was why Heaven had granted her the chance to be reborn.

Now that she possessed a destiny entirely different from the one in her previous life, she ought to do more.

She ought to help more people.

Zhiya stared at Li Zhiwei in shock.

Her grandfather had once told her that because she possessed yin-yang eyes, she needed to do good deeds for her own benefit.

But after her family fell into poverty, she had been willing to help others yet lacked the means to do so. Now, Miss actually wanted her to help with this work. Although she would not be the one providing the money, she would be contributing her own efforts.

That counted as doing good in its own way, did it not?

“Miss, of course I am willing!” Zhiya answered without hesitation.

“Good child, quickly get up.” Lady Yao affectionately took Zhiya’s hand and carefully asked, “You know that the Li family has only two children, Zhiwei and Zhou'er. Since you saved Zhiwei, you are also fated to be connected to our Li family. After discussing it with my husband, we would like to take you as our adopted daughter. Would you be willing?”

Zhiya’s eyes widened. She could hardly believe that such wonderful fortune had fallen upon her.

“But I am only an orphan. I know nothing and can do nothing—” Zhiya was uncertain whether she was worthy of becoming the Li family’s adopted daughter.

She even felt somewhat frightened.

“Good child, everything you have today was earned through your own efforts. You deserve it. Are you willing?” Lady Yao said, not minding it in the least.

“Zhiya, if you do not object, the Li family will be your home from now on. You and I can call each other sisters, and my parents will be your parents. In the future, my parents will certainly find you a good marriage and send you off from the Li family with honor,” Li Zhiwei added with a smile.

Zhiya had never imagined that a single act of kindness could win her such a bright future.

“Adoptive mother, Elder Sister, please accept Zhiya’s bow!”

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhiya knelt down and bowed deeply to the two of them.

“Good child, now that you’ve called me your adoptive mother, get up quickly.” Lady Yao’s eyes reddened, though she was smiling.

“Little Sister!” Thinking of Zhiya’s name, Li Zhiwei suddenly smiled as well. When she had chosen the name back then, she had not thought much of it. But now that she looked back, she felt that everything was simply fate.

“Mother, now that Zhiya is a young lady of our Li family, please arrange a proper courtyard for Little Sister as soon as possible. Also, assign a few maids to look after her,” Li Zhiwei said to Lady Yao.

“Of course. Our Li family may not have much else, but we certainly have plenty of courtyards. I’ll have to choose a good one for Ya'er,” Lady Yao said, nodding repeatedly.

“Thank you, Adoptive Mother. Thank you, Elder Sister,” Zhiya said without refusing.

After all, from now on, she would not be acting only on her own behalf. She would also represent the Li family.

At the relay station

“His Highness the Third Prince, has anything unusual happened in Lan Nuo Kingdom recently?”