Chapter 426: Chapter 426: The Phoenix Has Risen Again (Thank You, Shou Huangyou Liang, for the Monthly Tickets and Extra Updates)

As soon as the Emperor asked the question, Ji Youze felt a sense of alarm. He quickly busied himself with writing and drawing on the paper, completely oblivious to the smirk on the Emperor’s face.

Sly little thing! Did he really think I knew nothing?

The third son of the Ji Family always wore a black veil, and he had heard that the owner of Bright Moon Pavilion also always wore a black veil.

So, one night, he suddenly put two and two together.

The reason he had just spoken those words to the Ji brothers was merely to confirm his suspicions.

In the previous years of drought, floods, and disastrous quakes, the National Treasury was empty and there was not a penny to be had.

At that time, Ji Youzhi always managed to find silver for him to use outside the Palace. He even exposed corrupt officials with the help of the merchants’ account books.

At first, he always thought it was Ji Youzhi’s ability. However, after he returned from a trip to the south and met the third son of the Ji Family, he suddenly understood it all one boring night.

"Oh dear! Slow down, my dear Princess, be careful not to trip."

Outside, after Xiaosuisui lured out the Gu Insect, she left the Side Palace of the Imperial Study. Her ears picked up a chirping sound.

So, she headed in the direction of Cining Palace. Eunuch Ling hurriedly chased after her. Poor Eunuch Ling, an old man now, could not keep up with Xiaosuisui. He wiped the sweat from his forehead while pleading for her to slow down.

In Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager sat in the courtyard, looking at the large Phoenix and sighing.

"Phoenix, Phoenix, now that Xiaosuisui has left the Palace, I am all alone again. Now only you can keep me company!"

The large Phoenix held her head high, ignoring the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager stroked her wings. "Phoenix, Phoenix, they say you are a Divine Bird, a messenger of the Celestial Dao. Do you have the divine power to bring my little darling back to the Palace to keep me company?"

The Empress Dowager sighed, muttering on and on. The Phoenix, looking skyward, rolled her eyes—she was tired of the old lady’s incessant chatter.

It was better when Master was in the Palace! The old lady would play with her and leave me alone. Oh... I miss Master so much!

The Phoenix rolled her eyes and chirped again!

"Oh, what is it, Phoenix? Why are you getting all worked up again?"

Hearing the Phoenix’s chirping, the Empress Dowager couldn’t help but ask with concern. Then, her eyes widened as she looked up at the sky; the Phoenix had spread her wings and was flying up!

"Oh! Why has Phoenix flown away again?" The Empress Dowager was very anxious. Supporting herself on Nanny Xiao’s arm, she followed in the direction the Phoenix had flown.

"Phoenix, why are you flying? The Princess is not in the Palace today, so there is no one to ride you. Why are you flying by yourself?"

Nanny Xiao supported the Empress Dowager, extremely anxious as they followed, and shouted towards the Phoenix.

No sooner had she finished asking than she heard a clear, childlike voice call out, "Phoenix, I’m here! Come down quickly!"

The Empress Dowager and Nanny Xiao stumbled, almost falling over.

"Xiaosuisui?" The Empress Dowager looked uncertainly at Nanny Xiao.

Nanny Xiao, too, couldn’t help but put a finger to her ear, as if trying to hear better. "That sounds like the Princess’s voice!"

"No, my little darling has left the Palace. This must be an auditory hallucination because I miss her too much."

The Empress Dowager shook her head helplessly, only to then hear Xiaosuisui’s giggling in her ears.

"Oh, I can’t stand it anymore! I miss Xiaosuisui more and more. Nanny Xiao, why don’t you go to Ji Mansion again and bring my little darling back to the Palace?"