Liu Neng accompanied the National Master to Xiaosuisui’s Qin Xin Courtyard, and he clearly saw the surprise on the National Master’s face.
"This tree seems to have been around for so years; it looks like its branches were just pruned!"
Liu Neng hurriedly nodded. "This old locust tree has a history of hundreds of years. Its branches should have been pruned long ago. However, our Master hasn’t been residing in the Mansion for a long ti, so we dared not act on our own authority. Later, the Old Madam suddenly returned with the young masters and ladies without notifying us beforehand, so the pruning was delayed. It wasn’t until today, when all the Masters in the Mansion went on a lake tour, that I finally had soone prune the branches!"
Although there were no apparent flaws in Steward Liu’s words, the National Master saw inconsistencies everywhere.
"Who resides in this courtyard?" the National Master asked directly.
"This is the Eldest Princess’s courtyard!"
"The Eldest Princess? Is she the sole resident?"
Even though the old locust tree’s branches had been pruned, the National Master recognized at a glance that the tree had just been struck by lightning.
He couldn’t figure out why the Celestial Thunder would strike the Ji Mansion. Was it because of its geographical location? Or was it due to a certain person in the Ji Mansion, or perhaps a particular object within it?
The Steward answered honestly, "It’s not just the Eldest Princess residing in this courtyard, but also her tutoring Nanny and six Palace Maids bestowed by His Majesty to serve her. Additionally, Miss Xie, a guest at our Mansion, is also staying here."
"The Eldest Miss Xie? How did she end up at your Mansion?" The National Master’s eyebrows knitted upon hearing this.
"Our Eldest Princess is fond of Miss Xie, so our Old Madam invited her for an extended stay at our Mansion, arranging a room for her in the Eldest Princess’s courtyard."
"As far as I know, isn’t it the Third Miss Xie whom your Eldest Princess fancies? How co she suddenly took a liking to the Eldest Miss Xie?"
"National Master, you may not be aware. The Xie Family’s fifth branch has been expelled from the clan. They established their own separate Sect, so Xie Pan’Er is now the Eldest Miss of this new Sect."
Upon hearing this, the National Master said no more. He had been dispatched by his Sect to support the imperial family of Great Han, to assist the Emperor in governing the nation, to protect this world from demons, and to safeguard the common people. Thus, he hadn’t paid much attention to political affairs. That explained why he was completely unaware of the Xie Family’s circumstances!
"Alright, I understand now. I will take my leave!"
The National Master had entered the Ji Mansion through the Main Gate, but now he departed by flying directly out from the backyard.
This scene was witnessed by those hiding in various nooks and crannies, and the news spread like wildfire: The Ji Mansion was struck by Celestial Thunder, alarming the National Master! The Ji Mansion harbored a Demon—a warning from the Celestial Dao! The Demon in the Ji Mansion was subdued by the National Master, who then flew directly out of the Mansion! And so on...
「Inside the Imperial Palace」
Ever since the appearance of the strange celestial phenonon, the Big Phoenix had been restless. It kept squawking and flapping its wings, continuously circling in the sky.
The Empress Dowager grew exceedingly anxious seeing the Big Phoenix’s state.
"What’s wrong? Why has the usually calm Big Phoenix suddenly gone berserk? What on earth happened just now?"
On the day of the Double Ninth Festival Palace Banquet, a phoenix had unexpectedly arrived at the Imperial Palace. Because this phoenix had fought with the Eldest Princess’s pet, the Eldest Princess called out to it once as she was leaving the Imperial Palace: "Big Phoenix!"
Yes, from that mont on, everyone in the Imperial Palace referred to this phoenix as Big Phoenix.
"Big Phoenix! Is your agitation due to the celestial phenonon just now?" the Empress Dowager asked, looking up at the Phoenix as it circled relentlessly and shrieked in the sky.
The Big Phoenix responded with an even more agitated shriek!
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