Chapter 261: Chapter 261: Father, Long Time No See

Xiang Ying retrieved the drone, and from this trip, she thoroughly understood the layout of Shangjing City.

The residences of high officials and nobles were also captured by her network vision.

Now using 3D scanning to print out the map, Xiang Ying patiently marked several locations.

When the opportunity arises, she would have Jie Chen compile a list of corrupt officials from Nanyue for her to systematically search through; who knows how rich she could get!

Xiang Ying put away the drone and took a moment to look into a space.

What she saw was troublesome; her cartoon characters had wandered into a dense and miasmic forest.

Everyone leaning against big trees, breathing weakly, it looked like they were not doing well.

Xiang Ying was shocked.

How could this be, these people, at least a hundred thousand strong, were not so easily raised by her.

They must not die here!

Immediately, Xiang Ying could not care less about the outer shell of the medicines, tossing in various antibiotics into the screen.

As well as some food, clean water, and specially prepared medicine.

Luckily, these cartoon characters had grown accustomed to her provisions, each one bowing before taking the medicine in a smooth, fluid motion.

Xiang Ying also threw down many pieces of honey bread, which were made by the kitchen robot in her space, something nonexistent in this era.

After she finished all these, she saw their faces looking better and only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.

Just out of the space, a guard lifted the curtain.

“Come out.”

As Xiang Ying stepped out of the carriage, the biting cold wind helped clarify her thoughts.

She then realized, she had walked through a deep palace corridor, and Jie Chen and the others were gone!

And in front of her were about a dozen guards, closely monitoring and escorting her, she seemed to have been put under strict surveillance.

Xiang Ying slightly focused her mind, and prompted by the guards, she took the initiative to walk forward.

On both sides, guards in shining silver armor were neatly lined up, escorting her forward.

The cold wind blew, the fur between the armor plates trembled slightly, and the subtle friction sounds made the red walls on both sides of the palace corridor seem even more imposing.

It had snowed a couple of days ago, and today it had stopped.

Xiang Ying looked up, the palace walls towered high, the vermillion hue more striking against the pure white snow.

On the wall tops, multilayered glazed tiles added complexity in color, now the accumulated snow in the crevices of the tiles added to the shimmering reflection.

Xiang Ying passed by a courtyard and couldn’t help but stop to look inside.

Truly luxurious!

Just from the visible corner, she saw the winding corridors, with the wooden railings intricately carved.

Even though the patterns depicting dragons and phoenixes were slightly covered by the light snow, one could still discern the elaborate lines carved on the costly mahogany, seemingly ready to burst through the barriers.

Beneath the corridors hung an octagonal palace lantern, with meticulously painted birds and flowers on the lampshade, exuded a dignified air even unlit.

Xiang Ying also saw a pond at the end of the corridor, where the water had not completely frozen, reflecting the snow-laden shore and the irregularly placed Taihu rocks.

The mere placement was so exquisite, indicating that the people living in this palace must be deeply cherished.

The guard from behind chastised, “Move along, what are you staring at!”

Xiang Ying hummed softly, nonchalantly.

What could she be looking at? Of course, she was taking note.

The entire Imperial Palace tonight was within her grasp!

She was led to a secluded courtyard, not even a palace maid was assigned.

When Xiang Ying entered the room, the door was shut behind her by the guards.

She even heard the sound of locking.

Xiang Ying looked around.

A simple bed, table and chairs, and a cabinet.

Xiang Ying walked to the doorway, her voice cold, “I am to reside here? How will I manage meals every day?”

“A palace maid will come to deliver them to you,” the guard responded coldly.

Xiang Ying asked further, “And what about my chamber pot?”

The guard, clearly impatient by now, answered tersely with suppressed anger, “A palace maid will take care of that too!”

“Oh~” With someone to attend to her, she felt reassured.

Xiang Ying patted her skirt and sat down on the bed.

Jeez! Such a hard seat!

Not only is the bed board hard, the bedding is thin as well.

It’s already deep winter now, who knows how cold it will get by night.

Xiang Ying immediately brought out soft and comfortable silk bedding from her space, and because of the cold, she exchanged a small portable heater from her barter space.

She discreetly lit a candle, lest someone outside see and discover her little sun heater.

Then, Xiang Ying took out a hot oil pot and put in the prepared skewers she had.

Rolling up her sleeves and opening a cola, she began to feast heartily.

On the other side.

Jie Chen walked with heavy steps to the entrance of the Imperial Study Room.

The leading eunuch said in a shrill tone, “You wait here.”

The cold breeze kept blowing across his clothes, the nearby imperial guards looked straight ahead, he stood beneath the hundred steps, feeling as minuscule as a grain of sand compared to the magnificent Imperial Study Room.

Jie Chen waited a long time, which caused him to unavoidably recall his childhood.

In his early years, his mother had informed him that his identity was different from the other princes.

Because he was not entirely a Southern Yue person, his brothers were not close to him, even his Father, the Emperor, did not much like him and was always particularly strict with him.

Several times, even when he had done nothing wrong, his Father had made him stand outside the Imperial Study Room just to test his obedience.

Through harsh cold and scorching heat, he had stood there.

The longest he had stood was for two hours until he collapsed from the heat.

That time his mother had held him and wept, it was the first time she had argued with his Father.

But it only resulted in the man’s tone becoming even stricter.

“The Emperor is training his patience and endurance! If he cannot endure hardship, how can he shoulder great responsibilities?”

Back then, Jie Chen didn’t understand, why did he need to cultivate such strong resilience?

Later, he came to know that perhaps at that time, his Father was already planning to send him back to Xizhou.

Thinking of the past, Jie Chen stood in the cold wind, his expression involuntarily mocking.

He was no longer the child who was at the Emperor’s mercy.

Just as he thought about leaving, the eunuch emerged from the Imperial Study Room, “The Emperor invites you in!”

Jie Chen ascended the stairs and stepped into the Imperial Study Room filled with the dense aroma of thick wood, the scent from the bronze incense burner was faintly discernable.

Walking past the ‘Four Seas Peace’ screen, he saw a figure in brilliant yellow sitting behind the desk.

Jie Chen knelt down expressionlessly to pay his respects.

“This subject pays homage to the Emperor.”

The figure behind the desk moved and immediately came over to help him up.

“Rise, my tenth son, let me have a good look at you.”

The Emperor, Jie Chen’s father Ling Su, had a face of stern majesty, which appeared even more oppressive when not smiling.

But now, his face was filled with smiles, looking at Jie Chen with eyes full of emotion.

“Time flies, thirteen years have passed and you have grown so much. Although occasionally Father heard from spies about your appearance, never did I imagine you would grow taller than me.”

He reached out, intending to touch Jie Chen’s forehead, but Jie Chen subtly dodged.

The Emperor’s eyes darkened, hearing only Jie Chen say, “If the Emperor has no matters, this subject will take his leave now.”

Ling Su coldly flung his sleeve, “What, hasn’t the thirteen years of trials taught you what constitutes emperor, subject, father, and son? Must you provoke me to anger?”