Chapter 76

Chapter 76: Untitled

The six-year-old crown princess of Zhao Kingdom had… vanished again!

Chaos briefly engulfed the Eastern Palace before Emperor Jiang Yao was summoned.

Within moments, Jiang Yao hauled a squirming "mud monkey" out from the rockery.

Eastern Palace attendants gasped: "We searched that rockery five times!"

"Next time, check for disturbed grass stems. Perhaps someone prefers being an earthworm to a human," Jiang Yao declared, gripping the "mud monkey’s" collar like a kitten and signaling for washing water.

Soon, the muddy creature transformed into a soft girl in cow-print pajamas, scrambling onto Jiang Yao’s bed while giggling, "Mama!"

"Who said you could wear my old clothes? My mother made those!" Jiang Yao snatched the escaping cow-tail hem and pinned the child down.

"Mama, you’re blind! Grandma and the Empress Dowager just sent these! Mine!" Jiang Jin rolled angrily across the bedding like a tiny cow.

Jiang Yao inspected the fabric and conceded it was newer than her own childhood garments.

"Hmph, they dote on babies. I haven’t gotten clothes like this since growing up," she muttered.

"Mama, you’re too old for cow pajamas," Jiang Jin giggled impishly.

"None of your business," Jiang Yao swatted the standing cow-girl flat and ruffled her. "My mother sewed those for me! And why bury yourself? What if someone stepped on those grass stems and you suffocated underground?"

Jiang Jin wriggled free. "It’s inherited! From Grandma and Granny Wen! I inherited the Empress Dowager’s talent for running and hiding—I’m the best!"

"Ridiculous! Where’d you hear your imperial grandmother ran or hid?" Jiang Yao laughed, then added, "And ‘inherited’? I was adopted by my mother, and I adopted you. What’s to inherit?"

"It is inherited!" Jiang Jin climbed to Jiang Yao’s ear, whispering conspiratorially, "When Granny Wen and Granny Baili visited, I peeked! Granny Baili said, ‘Run! See if you escape faster than Jiang Wu did! Or think I chase slower than Du Yinsui?’ Then the Empress Dowager pinned Granny Baili over her knee—"

"Enough!" Jiang Yao choked, clamping Jiang Jin’s mouth shut.

"Why cover my mouth? Even without their stories, I know the Empress Dowager fled! Didn’t you say she left Jin Kingdom to protect Grandma while fulfilling her birth father’s pact and seizing power?"

"True… I mentioned her fleeing. But not that she was good at it. She didn’t last a day before your grandmother caught her—hardly ‘skilled,’" Jiang Yao stuffed the wriggling child under blankets. "Finished today’s lessons? If you’ve energy for hide-and-seek, memorize an extra half-book tomorrow!"

"Mama! You promised a good life when you adopted me! All I’ve done for two years is study—where’s this ‘good life’?" Jiang Jin’s cheeks puffed like steamed buns.

Jiang Yao squeezed the pouting face. "Yes, I’m your mama. But did I promise comfort? I only asked if you’d call me mother. You chose this! Now learn diligently—even through tears. Aim to match Granny Baili: ascending the throne at fifteen is our shared goal."

"I didn’t want to; you became the Emperor at sixteen yourself, Mom! You were the one who didn’t study well, and now you make me learn!" Jiang Jin protested, kicking her feet.

"Don’t bring that up! I wasn’t slow; I was just playing the fool. If I’d been quick on the uptake sooner, my mom would’ve run off earlier!" Jiang Yao fumed at the memory. She had been careless back then—only realizing in her teens that Du Yinsui and the others aimed to dump their duties on her. By then, pretending to be dumb was too late; sixteen was the limit those two were willing to wait. Any delay, and she feared a beating.

Lost in her angry thoughts, Jiang Yao gradually calmed down and noticed the quiet beside her. She looked down to find the little one wide awake, eyes big and round, clearly plotting no good.

"You’ll be too late! I already know how much you’re learning. Playing dumb now won’t delay your ascension; it’ll just earn you a spanking." Jiang Yao smirked, pinching the little one’s cheek. "Study well, so I can go out and have fun with Mom. If you miss us, find yourself a smart one to learn with, and you’ll be free sooner too."

"Mom, let’s sleep. Will you tell me more about how Grandma and Empress Dowager picked you?" Jiang Jin sighed, getting cozy.

Jiang Yao tucked her in and rolled her eyes. "What’s there to tell? Your grandmother secretly told you, right? I supposedly got picked because, as a child, I held a grudge, farted in Du Yinsui’s arms. Do you believe that?"

"I do! You picked me after knocking those big bullies’ leader senseless. Same thing." Jiang Jin returned the eye roll. "Mom, I’m heading out tomorrow to visit Uncle. He said there’s a new dessert called crème brûlée to try. Let me snack and hear your tales. Also, I need to see if I can find a kid to pick up."

"Rushing where?" Jiang Yao tapped Jiang Jin awake. "You’re only six—what’s the hurry?"

"You weren’t sixteen when you picked me up; you weren’t in a rush," Jiang Jin countered with another signature eye roll before drifting back to sleep.

Jiang Yao pondered.

Picking up kids was an art! Not many like the ones she’d raised!

Who wanted to be Emperor? Qin Ruoyao did not.

Who wanted to be Emperor? Young beggar Jin did not.

Jiang Wu once thought he did, but realized he didn’t as Du Yinsui continued aiding him with arms from Jin Kingdom. By then, escape was hard.

Luckily, they had little Yao Yao.

After pacifying Zhao Kingdom post-war, under Yao Yao’s guidance, it rejuvenated. The past couldn’t be undone, but hopes persisted for the future.

Jiang Wu often regretted succumbing to Baili Ying’s drunken chatter, leading to accepting Prince Cheng’s power promise. Although Du Yinsui found him the next day, she stayed throughout events Jiang Wu wished he’d avoided.

Though Du Yinsui reassured him, Jiang Wu couldn’t escape self-condemnation.

Until…

Du Yinsui reached her breaking point, pushed Jiang Wu onto the bed, and spoke frankly.

"Think positive for once! Remember leaving the exile, guiding vital resources through Daizhou, and your helplessness at conflict tales. You wanted strength to protect me, but it’s broader than that. I don’t mind you busy; I’m here, aren’t I? As for grievances, maybe like the toil you put me through that night and morning when you bolted," Du Yinsui huffed.

Dutifully, all of Jiang Wu’s mental knots unraveled alongside Du Yinsui’s repetition of that night’s and morning’s tasks.

Afterward, Du Yinsui returned to Jin Kingdom for Wen Junzhi. Upon coming back, she was honest.

End times, traversing worlds, a storage ring, heaps of guns, and alien toxins.

Du Yinsui and her companions didn’t need more power.

She truly wished to walk this troublesome path with Jiang Wu.

There’d be more paths to come… together, step by step.