Back at the Hanlin Academy, Meng Anci had just sat down when the door was violently pushed open with a bang.
Academician Sun Yan entered, followed by two colleagues. He spoke with a forced smile, " Lord Meng was quite the figurehead in court today."
Meng Anci looked up at him but didn't say anything.
Sun Yan walked to his desk and tapped the edge of the table with his finger. " Lord Yan is your superior, after all. Did you think about where the Hanlin Academy's reputation would be after what you did in the Imperial Palace?"
Meng Anci said with a half-smile, "Lord Sun, His Lord Yan the Crown Prince is currently conducting a joint trial with the Three Judicial Offices regarding Lord Yan's matter. If you have any objections, why don't you go to the Eastern Palace and ask the Crown Prince now?"
And if you can't hide your own tail well, don't stick your neck out for others.
Sun Yan's face stiffened. He wanted to ask him what he knew, but there were too many people around, so he didn't dare to speak up for the moment.
Meng Anci his head and casually flipped through the documents in his hand. "The door is over there. If Lord Sun doesn't leave soon, I can't guarantee what he'll say at tomorrow's morning court."
Sun Yan stood there, his expression shifting unpredictably. Two colleagues behind him pulled him away as they turned to leave.
The door closed. Zhao Zhiyuan at Meng Anci, and neither of them said anything, only curving their lips into a slight smile.
At the end of March, Yan Shuan's case was completely closed.
Crown Prince Xiao Yuan reported to the Emperor, " Yan Shuan's family has secretly hoarded more than 3,000 mu of land. The money used to purchase the land all came from selling ancient books and stealing rubbings."
Liu Wenbin was coerced into participating in the conspiracy and possessed account books related to Yan Shuan's Yan Shuan sale of rubbings, which have now been handed over to the court. Considering his meritorious service in atonement, your subject has pardoned him from the death penalty.
The emperor leaned back on the soft couch, while the imperial physician knelt beside him to take his pulse. He said weakly, "Yuan'er... put aside these state affairs for now and talk with your father."
Xiao Yuan's expression was somewhat solemn as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "Father, I am here..."
The emperor waved for the imperial physicians to leave, then, holding Xiao Yuan's hand, said weakly, "They say illness strikes like a landslide. I've spent my life fighting on the battlefield, finally establishing Sheng Dynasty, but I fear I won't live to see its flourishing day."
"Father... will surely live to be a hundred years old."
The emperor coughed and chuckled. "That's all nonsense for children." He took a deep breath. "Yuan'er... Your father asks for nothing more than that you treat the princes well after you ascend the throne; they are all your own brothers."
The emperor feared that if he closed his eyes, Xiao Yuan would find every excuse to kill his own brother. Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, the emperor coughed repeatedly in anxiety.
"Are you refusing to agree?"
"Your Majesty, I promise you, as long as they do not harbor any rebellious intentions, I will ensure they die a natural death."
Upon hearing this, the emperor let out a long sigh of relief, waved his hand weakly, and said, "Go... From tomorrow onwards, you will act as regent."
Jin Shanyao knew nothing about the affairs of the imperial court; she was currently preparing to return to the medicinal herb-growing mountain in Qingzhou Prefecture with Meng Anzhi.
Meng Anci anxiously, "Auntie, sister... you're not really gone and never coming back, are you?"
Jin Shanyao chuckled, "What are you thinking? We can't possibly leave you alone in the capital. Don't worry, we'll come as soon as we finish growing the herbs."
Meng Anci then looked at his sister, "Sister... promise me you'll come back. Don't leave me alone in the capital, I'm scared."
Meng Anzhi's lips twitched. She thought to herself, "You caught the arrow with your bare hands, and when you impeached Yan Shuan, why didn't you seem afraid? You seemed quite excited."
"Alright, alright... I'll definitely come back, don't worry..." Meng Anzhi said, pulling Jin Shanyao to sit on the oxcart. " Qing He... is gone."
"Hey... coming, coming!" Qing He ran out of the house carrying large and small bags, then plopped down on the oxcart. "Miss, let's go."
Meng Anci in astonishment, " Qing He, you didn't even say goodbye before leaving?"
Qing He looked at him and couldn't help but giggle, "Young Master, you stay home and wait for us. We'll bring you some dried sweet potatoes my mother made when we come back."
Hehehe, she's going home. Everything about Beijing is great, except she doesn't get to see her sister and family. She'll be staying for almost three months this time; just thinking about it makes her happy.
Jin Shanyao looked at Meng Anci's bitter face and smiled, "Stay home and wait for us. Remember, don't take off your necklace. When you go on long trips or to dangerous places, take Xiaoli and Dahuang with you, understand?"
"I understand..." Meng Anci muttered softly, "Luckily they didn't leave, otherwise I would really be all alone."
When Jin Shanyao and Meng Anzhi returned to Qingzhou Prefecture, it was the first day of the fourth month.
As evening fell, Jin Shanyao released his Spiritual Power into Liuyang County. He first briefly swept over the First Manor and saw Tao Yunshan organizing people to move seeds in preparation for spring plowing. He then transferred his Spiritual Power to Lush Mountain.
On Lush Mountain, the plants and trees immediately stretched their branches and leaves upon touching her Spiritual Power, welcoming the arrival of their ancestor.
With Jin Shanyao, he slowly spread his Spiritual Power, covering the entire Lush Mountain. Only after confirming that all the vegetation in the mountain was free from disease and unharmed did he slowly withdraw his Spiritual Power.
Back in Qingzhou Prefecture, Jin Shanyao felt much more relaxed. She stopped caring about planting and how Meng Anzhi hired and managed people, and spent her days chatting with Shopkeeper Wang outside the shop.
" Old Wang... you have no idea how much I miss you."
Shopkeeper Wang snorted and snatched the small Jin Shanyao basket from Jin Shan's hand, saying, "Do you miss me, or do you miss Xiaohua's roasted melon seeds?"
Jin Shanyao her lips and said, "Why are you so stingy? I'll give you a whole sack of melon seeds later..." As she spoke, she reached out to snatch the small winnowing basket from Shopkeeper Wang's hand, but a scream came from afar.
"Auntie... you're finally back! Without you, Xiao Huzi's life was a living hell."
Jin Shanyao could even turn around, someone grabbed her waist and hugged her tightly. Xiao Huzi cried his heart out, "Auntie... take me away, I don't want to be surnamed Hu anymore!"
Jin Shanyao to look at Shopkeeper Wang, but good heavens, he'd vanished without a trace...
" Xiao Huzi, let go first... let's talk this out."
"I don't..." Xiao Huzi cried, hugging her even tighter, "Auntie... you're my last straw..."
Jin Shanyao, dragged Xiao Huzi to the backyard of the Anzhi Hall, pulled him off her body and pressed him onto a stone bench. With a howl, Xiao Huzi jumped three feet high, clutching his bottom.
Jin Shanyao suppressed a laugh and coughed twice. "Tell me, what's the reason this time?"
Xiao Huzi wiped away his tears, pulled a wad of money from his bag, slammed it on the stone table, and said aggrievedly, "Auntie, don't say anything more... just give me ten Beating-Resistance Talisman Paper."
Jin Shanyao counted the copper coins on the stone table, "It's not good for you to keep getting beaten up."
"What can I do...? My parents used to beat me, but this time even my grandfather hit me. If my grandmother hadn't stopped me, I would have been going to see the Lord King of Hell."
Xiao Huzi put his hand on his belt, wanting to take off his pants to check his injuries, but in the end he held back... After all, he was a student who had just completed his studies, and he still had to save face.