What was the phoenix so afraid of? Its angry yet helpless eyes revealed everything.
Their family’s precious Xiaosuisui was there, along with Xie Pan’Er and Xiaobai.
If the phoenix was willing to fight Xiaobai, it ant it wasn’t afraid of Xiaobai. So, it must be afraid of either Xie Pan’Er or their precious Xiaosuisui.
They didn’t know about Xie Pan’Er’s situation, but as for their precious Xiaosuisui...
Lady Ji felt a sense of suffocation. Taking a deep breath, she looked towards Xiaosuisui, only to see Xie Pan’Er whispering sothing in Xiaosuisui’s ear.
Then, she saw Xiaosuisui nod slightly and shout at Xiaobai, "Xiaobai, you’re not allowed to fight the phoenix anymore! Or else, I won’t want you!"
As soon as Xiaosuisui said this, Xiaobai, who had been preparing to pounce, suddenly deflated.
Seeing Xiaobai’s reaction, Xiaosuisui seized the opportunity, bent down, and scooped him into her arms.
Xie Pan’Er took her hand, and they trotted over to Lady Ji and the others.
The mont they moved, the phoenix let out a series of sharp cries, spread its wings, and suddenly flew towards their direction.
It stopped directly above their heads. In no ti, the phoenix was circling above the Empress Dowager and the others.
Seeing the phoenix suddenly take flight, still pursuing the white furball it had been fighting earlier, everyone was bewildered.
"This phoenix certainly enjoys a fight," soone muttered.
"Nonsense! The phoenix clearly sensed the presence of the True Dragon Emperor and flew over because of that," soone eager to flatter retorted. This explanation was rather pleasing to both the Empress Dowager and the young Emperor.
Similarly, these words were even more well-received by the Ji Family. More than just well-received, they were moved to tears of gratitude.
Lady Ji’s mind raced. She took Xiaosuisui from Xie Pan’Er’s arms, held her horizontally, and imdiately knelt, proclaiming loudly, "Heaven bless our Great Han Dynasty! Long live His Majesty the Emperor, for ten thousand years, ten thousand tis ten thousand years! Long live Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, for a thousand years, a thousand thousand years! The phoenix has descended; Great Han shall prosper!"
Good heavens... This was the unspoken thought of everyone present. Lady Ji is truly cunning! She snatched such a perfect chance for flattery right out from under us!
Instantly, not wanting to be outdone, everyone else knelt and echoed, "The phoenix has descended! Heaven bless Great Han! Long live His Majesty the Emperor, for ten thousand years, ten thousand tis ten thousand years! Long live Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, for a thousand years, a thousand thousand years!"
As the crowd’s shouts rose, the phoenix circling in the sky suddenly screeched irascibly, flapping its wings relentlessly.
The National Master recognized the phoenix’s sudden change as agitation. However, the crowd of commoners interpreted it differently: "The phoenix truly is a Divine Bird! It can understand what we’re saying! Its behavior shows it’s agreeing with us!"
The one offering this piece of flattery was Head Eunuch Ling, the young Emperor’s chief eunuch.
Prompted by the words of Head Eunuch Ling, the Emperor’s personal attendant, everyone kneeling on the ground erupted in a unified chant: "Heaven bless the Great Han Dynasty! Heaven bless our Emperor! Long live His Majesty the Emperor, for ten thousand years, ten thousand tis ten thousand years! Long live Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, for a thousand years, a thousand thousand years!"
The Empress Dowager smiled, and the young Emperor’s Long Yan (imperial countenance) showed great pleasure. "My loyal subjects, rise! Heaven blesses Great Han; the Divine Bird has graced us with its presence! I decree a general amnesty across the land and a remission of taxes for three years!"
As soon as the young Emperor uttered these golden words, the officials concerned for the welfare of the common people, with a great rustle of robes, all knelt down again, once more proclaiming, "Long live the enlightened ruler!"
However, Yang Yi’an, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue in charge of the National Treasury, was lanting inwardly: Heavens! The National Treasury only just recovered a few years ago! With His Majesty’s golden pronouncent, it will be empty again in less than a year...
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