Yun Jing Came to Stand Up for Anli

After hearing the Crown Prince's report, the Heavenly Emperor asked, "You completed this mission well. What reward do you want?"

The Crown Prince shook his head. "It was all what this son should have done. This son does not want any reward."

The Heavenly Emperor looked at Meng Liangmiao again. "And you?"

Meng Liangmiao hurriedly said respectfully, "Assisting the Crown Prince is my duty. I would brave boiling water and tread on fire without hesitation."

The Heavenly Emperor's brows relaxed as he was about to speak.

Yun Jing, who had finished his pastries and another cup of wine, gave a soft laugh. "As expected, rumors cannot be trusted."

"Oh?" The Heavenly Emperor turned to him. "What rumor?"

Yun Jing glanced at Meng Liangmiao.

Meng Liangmiao happened to look over and met his gaze. His heart gave a heavy thump, and an intense sense of foreboding rose within him for no reason.

Yun Jing curled his lips and leaned back in a leisurely posture.

"Along the way, I heard quite a few stories about the eldest young master of the Meng family beating his younger sister. They said that, right before all the disciples, he beat his sister until she vomited blood and fainted."

Yuan Tuo thought to himself, Those people did not seem to mention vomiting blood, did they?

"Such a thing happened?"

It was the Crown Prince who asked this. There was some displeasure in his gaze when he looked at Meng Liangmiao.

"Far more than that." Yun Jing added blandly, "He also bribed Duan Mu, wanting to force Meng Shiwan, who had already been eliminated, into Xuantian Academy. In the end, both of them were expelled by the headmaster."

Meng Liangmiao panicked and berated Yun Jing, "How dare you spout nonsense before the Heavenly Emperor?"

Slap! Slap!

Boom!

A fierce wind swept past. Yuan Tuo struck Meng Liangmiao's face from both sides, then kicked him squarely in the chest, sending him crashing into the railing of the Jade Pool.

His brows stood sharp and his eyes were cold. "How dare you disrespect Great Emperor Dangmo? Are you courting death?"

"Dang..."

Meng Liangmiao's cheeks burned with pain. The anger that had just risen in him immediately vanished, and he dropped to his knees in terror.

"This lowly one failed to recognize Mount Tai."

"Oh~" Yun Jing drawled. "You are still this arrogant before the Heavenly Emperor. It seems the rumors hold some truth after all. Was all that deference of yours earlier an act?"

"No..."

"Meng Liangmiao!" The Crown Prince rebuked him in a low voice. "Shut up!"

Then he knelt before the Heavenly Emperor. "Imperial Father, he was only eager to protect his sister and committed a grave mistake because he failed to recognize Mount Tai. But considering how diligently he has served at this son's side all these years, please spare him this once."

Yun Jing sneered. "What a fine case of being eager to protect his sister. Is the one he protects his blood-related sister, while the one he beats is a child picked up from the roadside? He cannot tell black from white, he resorts to bribery, and he is hot-tempered and irritable. Is he fit to serve as the Crown Prince's study companion?"

The Crown Prince looked at Yun Jing excitedly.

Great Emperor Dangmo was concerned about him.

He hurriedly distanced himself from Meng Liangmiao and frowned at him.

"How did you become such a person? You just told me it was all Meng Anli and the Lu family framing you. How could it actually be true?"

The Heavenly Emperor finally understood as well. This man was protecting Meng Anli.

He sighed. "Meng Liangmiao, you truly cannot tell black from white."

Without waiting for Meng Liangmiao to explain further, the Heavenly Emperor gave his order directly.

"Spirit Official, draft the decree. Meng Liangmiao is of poor character. Strip him of his position as the Crown Prince's study companion and steward of the Office of Stipends. Send him to the imperial kitchen to tend the fires for twelve years, pending future observation."

Yun Jing frowned slightly. Only twelve years—the punishment was too light.

Had he not made his stance clear enough?

Seeing his expression, the Heavenly Emperor knew he was dissatisfied.

So he said, "If not for Anli's kind and generous nature, and the thought that she would be heartbroken if he were punished too severely, his punishment would not be limited to this."

Yun Jing silently cursed the old fox. He was truly skilled at walking the middle path.

That child hated this entire family to the bone. She would never be heartbroken.

But since the Heavenly Emperor had already said so, Yun Jing would not refuse to give him face.

Seeing his expression soften as expected, the Heavenly Emperor wanted to find out just what kind of protection he held for Meng Anli.

So he asked the Crown Prince, "A few days ago, Meng Mingde said Anli's inner core had been destroyed. Feeling that she was no longer worthy of you, she requested to break off the engagement. I did not agree. What do you think?"

Yun Jing lifted a cup of wine, his expression indifferent. His long lashes lowered, concealing the look in his eyes so completely that no one could glimpse even a fraction of it.

The Crown Prince answered without hesitation, "As the saying goes, blessings are shared and hardships endured together. This son will not abandon Anli over such a small matter."

The Heavenly Emperor could not read Yun Jing's attitude, but at the very least, he had not objected.

The stone in his heart finally fell to the ground.

He praised the Crown Prince. "These are the virtues a benevolent and righteous ruler should possess."

The Crown Prince gave Yun Jing a deep bow. "I heard there is Huan Dan Grass in Beiming, which can regrow an inner core. Could Shaoguang seek one for my fiancée?"

A chilling coldness curled around Yun Jing's lips. He drained the wine in his cup in one gulp, letting the jade nectar slide down his throat before looking mockingly at the Crown Prince.

"No."

"Yes." The Crown Prince did not dare press the matter. "Then I will think of another way."

The Heavenly Emperor shook his head inwardly. This foolish son of his—did he not understand that the more he spoke, the more mistakes he made?

He waved them away, intending to chat with Yun Jing.

Yun Jing rose to his feet. "Old brother, I cannot hold my liquor. I will take my leave for now. We can gather another day."

The Heavenly Emperor tried to keep him. "You will not stay at the Heavenly Palace?"

Yun Jing's gaze swept over the revelry of song and dance, over the pipes and strings.

"I prefer peace and quiet."

The Heavenly Emperor choked on his words. After Yun Jing left, he curled his lip and muttered, "His temper is foul and stubborn, and he has no sense of romance. How did I come to have such a thought just now?"

After leaving the South Heavenly Gate, Yuan Tuo said indignantly, "Meng Liangmiao's brain must have been kicked by a donkey. Earlier, I gave the Heavenly Emperor some face and did not hit him too hard. That really let him off easy."

Yun Jing said nothing.

Yuan Tuo was used to it as well, and changed the subject. "But Crown Prince Shaoguang is rather devoted. He is willing to share hardship with Anli."

Yun Jing stopped in his tracks, his eyes filled with coldness. "Devoted? A devoted man does not know where she went after disappearing for a year? Does not know she has already obtained the Huan Dan Grass? A devoted man still stands up for her enemy?"

Yuan Tuo pondered for a while. By the time he finally understood and looked up, Yun Jing had already walked far away.

He hurriedly chased after him. "Master, you mean he was pretending? Why?"

Yun Jing turned back and looked into his clear eyes. "Either read more books or cultivate more. Otherwise, you will easily suffer losses when you go out alone."

"Oh."

Yuan Tuo scratched his head. He accepted being called stupid, but could he not at least be told why?

*

By this time, Meng Anli had already taken the medicine and returned to the disciples' quarters.

She had seen off wave after wave of disciples who came to check on her.

At last, night fell. All the disciples had left, and Lu Yao closed the door before asking Meng Anli with concern.

"Are you really not feeling unwell anywhere?"

Meng Anli smiled and shook her head. "Do not worry. I really am fine. He barely touched me before I flew backward. I forced out the blood myself, too."

Lu Yao was still worried. "Is it all right to force yourself to bleed?"

"It is fine." Meng Anli took her hand, her eyes curving into crescents. "Just rest assured."

She looked in the direction of the Heavenly Palace. "I only hope that this time, Your Majesty will still handle things impartially."

"He definitely will. I will ask my father what is happening outside."

She opened the Communication Mirror just as Lu Zhiyuan contacted her.

He shouted excitedly, "Good news, good news!"

Lu Yao was infected by his excitement as well. "Hurry and tell us."

"Your Majesty issued a decree stripping Meng Liangmiao of every position and sending him to the imperial kitchen to tend the fires. Hahahaha..."

"Really? That is wonderful!" Lu Yao laughed as well.

Meng Anli was surprised. She had never expected the punishment to be so severe. She had thought it would be like Meng Mingde's—some beating and a deduction of insignificant stipends.

He had actually been dismissed from office.