The Grand Tutor Returned to Court

Chaoge, inside the Royal Palace.

Ever since Di Xin had set off alone for Tiger Head Cliff, Empress Jiang had been unable to sit still. Accompanied by Niangniang Huang and Noble Consort Yang, she had left the inner palace and waited inside the palace gates for news.

Of all the women in the inner palace, only Su Daji was not with them.

As a newly appointed Noble Consort, Su Daji should have paid her respects to the Empress, as palace etiquette required. After all, the Empress was the mistress of the inner palace, the mother of the realm.

But Su Daji had not done so.

Nor had she spent any time with Niangniang Huang or Noble Consort Yang.

Empress Jiang had not said anything outright, but it was impossible for her not to have her own thoughts about it.

When neither side made the first move, they gradually grew more distant.

Waiting was agonizing and nerve-racking.

Especially when it came to the safety of the Great King and the Crown Prince. Even Empress Jiang, usually so composed, was beginning to lose her composure. It truly felt as though each day lasted a year.

Time dripped by, second by second.

From the hour of the Snake to noon, and then on to the hour of the Goat, their legs were growing stiff from standing, yet they still had not seen the Great King return.

Everyone was beginning to panic. A sense of foreboding had taken root in their hearts, but they feared it would be unlucky to voice it, so no one said a word.

Empress Jiang, in particular, was growing more and more restless, pacing back and forth.

"The Great King has returned to the palace!"

Just as everyone was consumed with worry, a long cry suddenly rang out from beyond the palace gates. The heavy gates swung open, and Di Xin strode inside.

When she saw Di Xin, then spotted Yin Jiao behind him, Empress Jiang burst into tears of joy.

"This concubine welcomes Your Majesty!"

She curtsied to Di Xin, then went over and took Yin Jiao by the hand, examining him closely.

Only after confirming that the Crown Prince was unharmed did she let out a long breath of relief.

"All right, Empress. Take Jiao'er back to the Central Palace and talk with him."

After speaking, Di Xin headed straight for Shouxian Palace, not even acknowledging Niangniang Huang and Noble Consort Yang as they bowed to him.

Di Xin had always treated them this way, and they were used to it; neither showed any particular reaction. After offering Empress Jiang their congratulations and a few auspicious words, they each returned to their own palaces.

After seeing the two consorts off, Empress Jiang took Yin Jiao and hurried straight to the Central Palace.

Once they reached the main hall, Empress Jiang examined Yin Jiao closely again, then drew him into her arms. "My son, you've suffered so much. Tell Mother what happened to you over the past two days, and how your Father King rescued you."

Yin Jiao knelt before Empress Jiang and bowed deeply. "Your son has been unfilial and caused Mother to worry!"

Empress Jiang nodded slightly. "My son, there's no need for all those formalities here. Sit down, quickly, and tell me what happened."

Yin Jiao thanked her and sat as she had asked. "Mother, you must already know how I was abducted. After they captured me, I spent the night in a cave on Chaoge Mountain. Today, they took me to Tiger Head Cliff."

At this, Empress Jiang's eyes filled with tears. "My son, you've always been so delicate. You must have suffered terribly this time."

"Mother, I'm all right. If not for Father King, I'm afraid I would have been parted from you forever..." Yin Jiao went on to recount everything that had happened: how Di Xin had reached Tiger Head Cliff, how father and son had both fallen from the cliff, and even how the white clouds had caught them. He left nothing out.

Only after Yin Jiao had finished speaking did the tension in Empress Jiang's body ease a little. Even though she knew he had returned safely, every time he described a dangerous moment, she could not help holding her breath.

Imagining the perilous scene, and how Di Xin had thrown himself down to save Yin Jiao at the cost of his own life, Empress Jiang took her son's hand and said gently, "My son, your Father King doesn't lack affection for you, as you thought. He simply isn't good at expressing it. Now you understand, don't you?"

Yin Jiao nodded firmly. "Mother, I understand. And on the way here, I heard something. When Father King climbed Tiger Head Cliff, he encountered four tigers and killed two of them. The situation was extremely dangerous. Father King also told me to stay in the Central Palace for now and not return to the East Palace, in case assassins got another chance to strike."

"Oh, really?"

Empress Jiang's voice was full of delight. Ever since Yin Jiao had been named Crown Prince, he had lived alone in the East Palace and could not often see his mother. Palace rules forbade even a birth mother from visiting freely.

"Yes!" Yin Jiao nodded with a smile.

"My son, see? Your Father King truly cares about you!"

Empress Jiang's expression softened even more.

"Your son understands. I won't complain again..."

The banquet at Shouxian Palace was lavish.

Daji had already ordered the servants to prepare everything, waiting for the Great King to return to the palace.

With the Fox Spirit in his arms, Di Xin drank heartily and briefly recounted what had happened, emphasizing the part about an immortal coming to their rescue, as though he knew nothing about it.

In Di Xin's eyes, Daji had become a mouthpiece, passing on the information he wanted the Daoist Sect to hear.

The Fox Spirit showed no sign of giving herself away. As Di Xin spoke, she occasionally looked tense.

As the two talked and drank, the atmosphere was warm and easy. Then a palace attendant came to report that Grand Tutor Wen had just returned to Chaoge and was waiting outside the palace gates to request an audience with the Great King.

"He's back? Excellent!"

Di Xin exclaimed excitedly, then hurried to his feet and headed out.

"Great King, Grand Tutor Wen is your subject. You can simply summon him to an audience!" Daji stood up, her face full of disappointment, and reminded him.

"The Grand Tutor has returned to court. I must show him the respect he deserves."

By the time he finished speaking, Di Xin was already far away.

Meanwhile, a palace attendant hurried off to escort Wen Zhong into the palace. Di Xin waited for him along the way, and at last came face-to-face with the legendary Grand Tutor Wen.

The man looked to be in his fifties. His long beard streamed in the breeze, giving him an air of otherworldly grace.

"Your subject, Wen Zhong, pays his respects to the Great King!"

Seeing that Di Xin had come out personally to greet him, Wen Zhong hurriedly bowed.

Di Xin quickly helped him up and laughed heartily. "You returned quickly, Grand Tutor! It's been so long since we last met. I've missed you dearly!"

The two went straight to Longde Hall, where they sat down and got to the point.

Di Xin was curious about why Wen Taishi had returned so quickly. By rights, the imperial decree should not have reached the North Sea yet, so he asked about it first.

Wen Taishi glanced at Di Xin and said, "I dare not deceive the Great King. I haven't received the decree. I heard from a friend that something had happened in the palace, so I hurried back. For now, I've put the troops at the front under the command of my two junior disciples, Ji Li and Yu Qing, and told them to hold the defenses. We'll decide what to do next once I give the order."

"Your friend?"

Di Xin wasn't especially concerned about the front lines. He was curious who had sent Wen Taishi the news.

"Your Majesty, that friend is actually an elder from my sect. We get along so well that we treat each other as equals. His name is Zhao Gongming," Wen Zhong explained.