Chapter 285: Dropping Into The Water
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Xiao Jin stood up and went to the front of Emperor Kangze.
Everyone was curious about how Emperor Kangze would deal with Xiao Jin. For a moment, everyone’s attention was focused on the two of them.
Emperor Kangze’s face was solemn as he slowly said, “Xiao Jin, you have also made great contributions to the Chu State on your return this time. It can be considered as atoning for your crimes with meritorious deeds. 1 will restore your identity and status and allow you to continue to stay in Prince Qi’s Manor. Do you have any objections?”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Emperor Kangze nodded. “I heard that General Yong Wu gave you the tiger tally during the war. Now that the war is over, General Yong Wu will return to the border to guard it in a few days. You should return the tiger tally to him.”
He asked for the tiger tally as soon as he had the chance. It seemed that Emperor Kangze’s wariness of Xiao Jin had not lessened at all.
Just as everyone was curious about what Xiao Jin would do, he took out the tiger tally.
Emperor Kangze’s expression softened considerably when he saw that Xiao Jin was prepared to hand over the tiger tally so readily.
The eunuch stepped forward to take the tiger tally. Just as he was about to hand it over to Emperor Kangze, a black eagle swooped down and grabbed the tiger tally in the eunuch’s hands with its claws.
Before everyone could come back to their senses, the eagle grabbed the tiger tally and soared into the sky!
Emperor Kangze stood up from his dragon throne in a panic.
“Quick! Fire arrows and shoot that eagle down!” Emperor Kangze ordered.
The Imperial Guards immediately prepared their bows and aimed at the eagle.
The eagle was grazed by one of the arrows and loosened its claws, dropping the tiger tally into the Heavenly Lake.
Splash! The sound stirred up ripples of shock in the hearts of the ministers!
“Go into the water! Go into the water and fish it out for me immediately!” Emperor Kangze shouted.
The banquet venue was in complete chaos at once.
The eunuchs, palace maids, and Imperial Guards all jumped into the water to retrieve the tiger tally.
All the ministers also stood at the edge of the Heavenly Lake and watched nervously. Even Emperor Kangze could not sit still.
Only Su Ying’s family of four remained extremely calm.
“Look at you. Why did that eagle come right at the moment you gave it to him?” Su Ying glanced at Xiao Jin. When she reached out for the snacks, she realized that all the snacks on the table had been eaten.
Xiao Jin sat down beside her with an aggrieved look. “His Majesty asked for it. I can’t possibly refuse.”
Su Ying looked at all the ministers who had flocked to the Heavenly Lake to watch and said impatiently, “When will the dishes be served?”
Xiao Jin glanced at the empty plate of snacks and reached out to grab the untouched snacks from the next table. No one at this banquet would be like Su Ying, whose eyes were only focused on the food on the table.
“The lake has moving currents, doesn’t it?”
Xiao Jin nodded.
Su Ying chuckled softly. “Then that will be a lot of fun.”
Su Ying stood up after finishing her snacks. “I ate too much. I’m going to the outhouse.”
“Don’t wander around,” Xiao Jin said.
“Mm-hmm.”
Su Ying had just walked out when a palace maid came forward to lead the way.
When Su Ying came out of the outhouse, the palace maid who had led the way had disappeared. Only Xiao Jue was waiting outside.
Xiao Jue looked at her with an inscrutable expression, gazing intently at this woman before his eyes that he once hated.
Before Xiao Jue could speak, Su Ying spoke first, “You’re quite lucky, you damn dog.”
Xiao Jue choked, thinking back to the time when Su Ying had held him hostage and stabbed him without hesitation. If he hadn’t been wearing soft armor at that time, he would have gone to hell.
When he thought of this, he couldn’t help taking a step back, distancing himself from Su Ying.
Su Ying saw his action and sneered, “What are you afraid of? Didn’t you specially wait for me here? I’ll give you a chance to say what you want to say.”
Xiao Jue was very regretful now. He regretted subconsciously following Su Ying when he saw her walking out. He instinctively felt that this woman was still as stupid as before. After all, she had wanted to drug him so that he would pay her more attention, but that drug had been used on Xiao Jin by accident.
Xiao Jue didn’t believe that a person could change overnight just like that, but when his gaze once again met Su Ying’s almond-shaped eyes as deep as an abyss, he subconsciously retreated.
“I am just passing by!”
Su Ying curled her lips icily. “Scum.”
The disdain on Su Ying’s face greatly antagonized Xiao Jue. He gritted his teeth and said, “Su Ying, don’t you forget how you used to follow me around like a dog!”
“Xiao Jue, don’t you forget too how I punished you like 1 was toying with a monkey.”
Su Ying pushed him away and turned to leave.
Xiao Jue clenched his fists in anger. “Su Ying, 1 will teach you guys a good lesson!”
When Su Ying returned to the banquet venue, everyone had already returned to their respective seats and sat down. The sound of drums rang out, and the graceful figures of the dancers were swirling and gliding.
However, Emperor Kangze’s expression was ominous, and it was obvious that he was not in the mood to appreciate the performance.
Su Ying sat down next to Xiao Jin. It seemed that the tiger tally had not been found.
The palace maids had already served the dishes, but no one had the appetite.
Su Ying was not one of them.
However, the Imperial dishes served were meager, and each portion was small. It was not even enough to fill the gaps between Su Ying’s teeth.
“When will this banquet end?”
Xiao Jin glanced at Emperor Kangze. “It will be almost the end when the Emperor’s patience runs out.”
Su Ying yawned. She actually felt sleepy.
Xiao Jin felt a little helpless, but his eyes were filled with affection. Su Ying never failed to feel sleepy after eating. It was so easy to raise her.
Emperor Kangze suddenly stood up, and the music and dancing stopped abruptly.
“I am tired. Everyone, please do as you please.” As soon as he finished speaking, Emperor Kangze stood up and left.
The Empress could only stand up as well.
Not long after Emperor Kangze left, some of the ministers stood up and bid farewell to their colleagues. The tiger tally had not been found yet, and if they stayed here and became implicated in the subsequent repercussions, it would really be an undeserved misfortune.
“Let’s go back too.” Xiao Jin stood up while holding the hands of the two little ones.
Su Ying had not eaten her fill and was stuck sitting there for so long that she had already lost her patience long ago.
“I wonder if Uncle Hea has prepared lunch for us…” Su Ying muttered to herself. In the blink of an eye, she saw Little Madam Jiang walking toward her.
Little Madam Jiang had a motherly look on her face, and when she walked up to Su Ying, her eyes became red-rimmed right on cue.
“Your Highness.” Her affectionate voice gave Su Ying goosebumps all over.
She had staged this act with great precision.
“What’s the matter, Mrs. Prime Minister?”
Little Madam Jiang was stunned for a moment before coming back to her senses. “Your Highness, since you’re back, why didn’t you go back to the Prime Minister’s Residence to visit? Your father and I were worried sick.”
“Worried about me?” Su Ying smiled but her eyes were somewhat icy. “If you were really worried about me, why didn’t you give me more money when 1 was exiled? Why didn’t you plead for us in front of the Emperor when we were in trouble? Mrs. Prime Minister, when you say these words, you probably don’t believe them yourself, do you?”
Little Madam Jiang was stunned again. She thought that Su Ying said this because she was bearing grudges for being exiled.
“It is not convenient to say certain things here. Tomorrow. Come to the Prime Minister’s Residence tomorrow. We mother and daughter can have a good chat then.” After Little Madam Jiang finished speaking, she turned to look at Xiao Jin. “It’s been hard on Your Highness to take care of Princess Consort Qi during this period of time.”
As she spoke, she looked at the two little ones with joy.
To Su Ying’s surprise, the two little ones cowered and hid behind Su Ying when their eyes met her gaze..
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