Golden Jade Palace.
This was the residence of successive legitimate imperial princesses.
With carved beams and painted rafters, it was extremely luxurious.
Even though it had been vacant for many years, it was still kept spotlessly clean.
At this moment.
Dozens of palace maids knelt on the ground, not daring to breathe loudly.
Jiang Yuechu sat on a wide Phoenix couch, rubbing her temples.
"Guyue, look at the furnishings in this room. Do you like them?"
The Emperor paced back and forth in the hall with his hands behind his back.
"Although this Golden Jade Palace is excellent, it has been uninhabited for some years... I originally wanted you to live in Changle Palace, but the Empress Dowager..."
The Emperor paused, a trace of helplessness flashing in his eyes. "Never mind, let's not talk about that."
"You will have to make do here for a while. I have already ordered the Ministry of Works to select a site."
Jiang Yuechu looked up, a little helpless.
"This place is already very good, there's no need to..."
"How can that be?!"
The Emperor's eyes widened, directly interrupting her words.
"You are the Grand Princess of my Great Tang! You are my only biological sister!"
"In these sixteen years, you have been displaced, suffering how much hardship? Enduring how much pain?"
"Now that you've finally returned home, if I can't even give you a decent place to live, what meaning is there in me being this Emperor?"
"I will build you a Princess Manor in the best location in Chang'an City! If you're not used to living in the palace, you can live outside the palace in the future."
Upon hearing this.
The sense of estrangement in her heart inexplicably dissipated a little.
"Thank you, Imperial Brother."
Jiang Yuechu did not decline.
Only a fool would refuse a good thing.
Since she had accepted this identity, she should naturally accept all the corresponding treatment.
Moreover.
She would be living in Chang'an for a long time in the future, so she couldn't always rely on the Wei Residence.
Having her own place would also make things more convenient.
"That's right!"
Seeing her agree, the Emperor immediately beamed with joy.
"Alright, it's getting late."
"You've just broken through a Realm, and it's precisely the time when you need to stabilize your Dao Cultivation."
"I won't disturb your rest."
The Emperor walked to the door, then stopped and turned around.
"Sleep well."
"Tomorrow's morning court..."
"I will give the people of the world an explanation."
With that said.
The Emperor strode out the door.
"Prepare the imperial carriage! To the Imperial Study!"
"Summon the Zhongshu Ling, Minister of Rites, and Director of the Court of the Imperial Clan, to an immediate audience!"
"Anyone who dares to be half a moment late will bring their head to me!"
...As the eunuchs and palace maids respectfully withdrew.
The vast Golden Jade Palace finally fell silent.
Jiang Yuechu clasped her hands behind her head, gazing at the carved Dragon and Phoenix ceiling above.
The bed beneath her was covered with countless layers of precious velvet.
She sank into it, feeling her bones turn to jelly.
It must be said.
Life in the palace was indeed corrupting.
This entire day had been rather surreal.
Sixteen years of hardship, gone in an instant.
For an ordinary person, they would probably have long been immersed in this boundless wealth and warmth.
But Jiang Yuechu did not feel that she could relax in the slightest.
Relying on mountains, mountains fall; relying on water, water flows.
To stake one's life on the favor of others.
Was truly foolish.
Her eyes moved slightly, and her consciousness sank into her mind.
[Host: Jiang Yuechu]
[Realm: Seed Lotus Initial Realm]
[Dao Cultivation: Zero Years]
Although the Tiger Demon and Pig Demon were now free.
Every day, they still needed to provide Dao Cultivation for the Wolf Demon and Bear Demon.
Coupled with several days of no income recently.
The Dao Cultivation being completely depleted.
Was also within her expectations.
Tsk.
She had to go out... If she didn't quickly earn some Dao Cultivation back, even the daily upkeep of these beasts would become a problem.
Once the supply was cut off, the deduction would be interrupted.
She wondered... if her previous investment would go to waste.
In any case, there was nothing left to do in Chang'an City now.
Since the Emperor had acknowledged her as his sister.
Then Jiang Xun's case was no longer an issue.
With this in mind.
Jiang Yuechu no longer hesitated.
She pulled the soft, cloud-like brocade quilt over herself.
Closed her eyes.
Her mind was already made up.
She would set off in these two days.
Return to Region... The next day.
The morning bell broke through the thin mist of Chang'an City.
Civil and military officials, dressed in court robes, stood in two rows according to their ranks, each holding their breath.
Three cracks of the silent whip.
The palace gates swung open.
Officials streamed in, like fish crossing a river.
Upon the Dragon Throne.
The young Emperor sat upright.
Compared to his usual gloom, today the Emperor's brows held an irrepressible vibrancy.
"If there is business, present it; if not, adjourn the court—"
The Old Eunuch's sharp voice echoed in the grand hall.
The Minister of War was the first to step forward, holding his ceremonial tablet, and bowed, saying:
"Reporting to Your Majesty, an urgent report from Jiangnan West Circuit states that the tremors at the Demon Saint Seal site are becoming more frequent, and three more counties have been disturbed. Although the Demon Suppression Division has tried its best to suppress them, but..."
He paused, his tone heavy.
"But refugees have appeared. If they are not appeased, there is a fear of popular uprising."
The Emperor frowned.
It was Jiangnan West Circuit again.
That old Demon Saint was probably really about to emerge... "Issue an imperial decree to the Ministry of Revenue to immediately allocate money and grain. The refugees must be appeased without delay."
"As for the demons..."
A cold glint flashed in the Emperor's eyes.
"Now the Demon Suppression Commander-in-Chief and the Right Demon Suppressing Envoy are all stationed in Jiangnan West Circuit. If it truly dares to come out, it will never return."
The Minister of War retreated.
Immediately after, several other ministers stepped forward, either reporting on local harvests or impeaching corrupt officials in certain areas.
These were all trivial matters.
The Emperor listened somewhat distractedly.
His gaze wandered, as if he had something on his mind.
Just as the court became slightly quiet.
A figure in a crimson official robe suddenly rushed out.
With a thud.
He knelt in the center of the grand hall, his official hat a little askew, appearing quite disheveled.
"Your Majesty! This old subject has a memorial to present!"
Everyone looked sideways.
The person kneeling was none other than the Left Vice Minister of Personnel, Su Wenbing.
Normally, this Master Su was most particular about his appearance, even walking with stately steps. What had happened to him today?
The Emperor frowned slightly, leaning back in his seat.
"Minister Su, what causes you such alarm?"
Su Wenbing looked up, tears streaming down his face.
"Your Majesty! Yesterday, my son Qingzhou, at the invitation of Prince Jing, attended the Liushang Banquet. It was originally a refined gathering for literary exchange, a cultured affair."
"Who would have thought... who would have thought he would suffer such a cruel hand!"
At this point, Su Wenbing trembled all over, whether from anger or fright, it was unclear.
"My son was publicly assaulted, beaten so severely that he vomited blood, and to this day... he is still unconscious!"
These words caused an uproar among the court.
Who in the capital didn't know the name of Su Qingzhou?
He was the sole heir of the Su family, and a renowned talent throughout the capital.
Under the very nose of the Emperor, someone dared to beat Young Master Su into unconsciousness?
"Such a thing happened?"
The Emperor raised an eyebrow, his tone revealing no emotion.
"Who was so audacious?"
Su Wenbing gritted his teeth, his voice filled with hatred:
"According to the servants who accompanied him, the assailant was a woman!"
"This woman wore a silver-scaled cloak and claimed to be a Silver Robe Inspector of the Demon Suppression Division. Her actions were extremely arrogant and overbearing!"
"My son merely reasoned with her for a few sentences, speaking some scholarly principles."
"She then became enraged, not only attacking and injuring him, but also... also publicly insulting my son as a demon!"
"Your Majesty!"
Su Wenbing kowtowed, his head hitting the ground with resounding thuds.
"My son grew up reading the books of sages. Although he has no official title, he knows propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame. How could he be a demon?!"
"That woman clearly relied on her martial prowess to bully the innocent, treating the law as nothing!"
"I implore Your Majesty to uphold justice for this old subject and severely punish the culprit to set things right!"