good season

However, the man, two dogs, and one bird were still disappointed; they did not see Zhao Shiqing.

Xiao Guai, burdened with a heavy responsibility, returned to Tianshui Hutong and searched around, but not only did she not find Zhen Wuduo, she also did not see Ma Pi Gou or Sha Gou.

Fortunately, he found Shi Congcong.

Shi Congcong was circling around a millstone, spinning freely, which was his hobby.

Xiao Guai's eyes hurt whenever she sees this silly donkey going around in circles on the millstone.

Shi Congcong looked up and saw Xiao Guai looking down at him. Shi Congcong squeaked triumphantly. This silly bird must be ashamed of itself. After all, in this family, only he knows how to pull the millstone. He is the smartest. He is the smartest in the family. Only he deserves to be called Shi Congcong!
Little Darling: [Where are the sycophant and the idiot?]

Shi Congcong: [What a fool would do, a clever donkey wouldn't know. Stupid bird, get out of the way, don't slow down the donkey's millstone pulling speed.]

Little Darling
"Hey, Xiao Guai is back?" A familiar voice came from behind. Xiao Guai turned around and saw Wan Ruyi.

Little Guai nodded haughtily, which was her way of saying hello.

Wan Ruyi became excited: "Oh my, Xiao Guai is back! Is Second Miss back too? Where is Second Miss? Xiao Guai, are you hungry? I'll go kill some chickens for you, two chickens, no, three, but that's still not enough. Xiuxiu and Lingbo will be back too. We don't have enough chickens at home, I'll go out and buy some. Aunt Ji, let's go buy some chickens!"

Wan Ruyi ran off in a flash, leaving Xiao Guai bewildered. He wanted to find the old man, but why hadn't anyone told him where the old man was?
Sure enough, apart from her mother, all the other two-legged beasts were stupid and couldn't understand what Xiao Guai was saying.

Shi Congcong was still spinning around. He had to let everyone know that he was different, that he was smart!

Only when night fell, the city gates closed, and it was confirmed that Zhao Shiqing would not enter the city, did the man, his two dogs, and a bird return home dejectedly.

In Tianshui Hutong, Aunt Ji had already gone home. The aroma of stewed chicken filled the courtyard. Wan Ruyi sat on the steps, resting her chin on her hand, looking dejected.

The chicken stew is ready, but the person who was supposed to eat it hasn't returned.

Zhen Wuduo sat back in his rocking chair. His beloved granddaughter hadn't returned, and he felt dejected.

Two dogs lay at his feet, their faces etched with hardship, yet drool uncontrollably dripped from their mouths.

Zhen Wuduo looked up at the grape trellis. The grape season was over, and his beloved granddaughter hadn't even gotten to eat the last batch of grapes.

Zhen Wuduo sighed. He heard Xiao Ye whimpering at his feet. He looked down and saw that the silly dog's drool had soaked his shoes.

This stewed chicken smells so good, it's no wonder even a dog would drool.

Huh? Wan Ruyi can't stand seeing cats and dogs suffer. Normally, she would have already given each of the two dogs a bowl and let them eat to their hearts' content. Why can't she give them any today?

A sudden idea flashed through Zhen Wuduo's mind. He slipped on his wet shoes and walked up to Wan Ruyi: "Ruyi, who is this chicken for?"

Wan Ruyi: "One for the Second Miss, one for Xiuxiu, one for Lingbo, one for Xiaoguai, and one each for Da Pang and Xiao Yao."

Zhen Wuduo immediately became excited: "How did you know the Second Miss was coming back while you were at home?"

Wan Ruyi: "Little Darling is back."

"Where is Xiao Guai?" Zhen Wuduo asked hurriedly.

Wan Ruyi was stunned. Yes, she hadn't seen Xiao Guai since she bought the chicken.

Zhen Wuduo summoned all the guards and asked them to find Xiao Guai!

Since Xiao Guai went home, it proves that he and Er Gou were not mistaken; that eagle was indeed Xiao Guai.

Xiao Guai came back first; she must have come to deliver a letter to him.

But the guards searched from their homes to the streets, from night to dawn, but they couldn't find any trace of Xiao Guai.

Who would have thought that Little Darling was currently digesting her food at the Third Prince's residence?

Since learning that the Fourth Prince was reselling disaster relief grain, the Third Prince had mixed feelings of joy and worry.

The good news is that the fool finally killed himself, but the bad news is that the retired emperor suddenly appeared, and we don't know what his intentions are.

The Third Prince made a special trip to the palace to tell Consort Qiao about this.

Such a big matter was naturally known to the all-powerful Consort Qiao long ago.

These past few days, she has been feeling very anxious.

The retired emperor had been quiet for twelve years. During these twelve years, he was like an invisible man, except for giving his sons and grandsons a few elixirs he had personally refined during festivals.

Except for the grand Dharma assembly held during the Lunar New Year this year!
The Buddhist ceremony cost 150,000 taels of silver, which distressed Emperor Yongjia greatly. Consort Qiao comforted him for a long time.

Apart from that, there was nothing unusual.

But now, the retired emperor has not only shown up, but has also gone all the way to Tongzhou to arrest the fourth prince.

How could this not make people think?

"When you were little, the Emperor Emeritus was very fond of you, do you remember?" Consort Qiao comforted her son with a smile.

The Third Prince certainly remembered; he was old enough to remember things then and knew how to please his grandfather.

Consort Qiao continued, "Prince Jing is introverted and doesn't like to talk. The Second Prince has been a bookworm since he was a child. The Fourth Prince is insecure and afraid of the Emperor Emeritus. The Fifth Prince is a mischievous and annoying child. Zhao Yuan is still a baby. Only you are the one whom the Emperor Emeritus likes the most. That year, when the Immortal Wuxiang returned from his travels, the Emperor Emeritus visited Wuji Temple. Among all the imperial grandsons, the Emperor Emeritus only took you with him."

The Third Prince also recalled the past, and a smile finally appeared on his face: "Yes, I still remember. At that time, I only praised the water lilies of Wuji Temple for blooming beautifully, and my grandfather personally asked the Immortal Wuxiang for a pot of them as a reward for me. Unfortunately, I was young and killed the water lilies. When my grandfather found out, he did not scold me, but instead rewarded me with a flower-planting eunuch."

These past events had long faded with the passing of the Emperor Emeritus, and the Third Prince himself had almost forgotten them. Now, thanks to Consort Qiao's reminder, he remembered them again.

Yes, how could he forget? He was the Emperor's favorite grandson.

Today, he is still the only adult grandson and has the best reputation.

"But why did my grandfather suddenly go to Tongzhou?"

Consort Qiao thought for a moment and said, "The biggest thing he did when he went to Tongzhou was to arrest the Fourth Prince. My son, let's look on the bright side; he was paving the way for you."

The Third Prince was taken aback. If the Fourth Prince hadn't embezzled the disaster relief grain, then his return from Tongzhou this time would have been a first-rate achievement.

He had already rendered meritorious service to the Empress's family, which earned him considerable respect in her eyes, and this latest achievement further solidified his position.
Consort Qiao looked at him and voiced her concern: "Actually, I've always worried that the Empress will persuade the Emperor to register him under her name."

The Third Prince looked at Consort Qiao in disbelief: "What did you say? Impossible, how could this be? Consort You is still alive and well."

Before this, the Third Prince had placed his hopes on Consort You and the You family, expecting them to hold the Fourth Prince back.

To this end, he often had people instruct the You family members to act recklessly.

No one knows a son better than his mother, and Consort Qiao was well aware of what the Third Prince had done to the You family. She also knew what the Third Prince was thinking at this moment: "You also know that as long as Consort You is alive, the Fourth Prince cannot be registered under the Empress's name, but what if Consort You dies?"

The Third Prince was shocked: "Fourth Prince, how dare he! Does he want Consort You dead?"

Consort Qiao smiled slightly: "What's impossible about that? Don't forget, he's a prince, a member of the royal family."

Consort Qiao did not want to continue this topic. No mother wants to talk about these things with her son, which is why she had not brought it up.

She said, "But it's not necessary now. With the Emperor Emeritus taking action, even if His Majesty wanted to protect the Fourth Prince, he couldn't."

Back then, the Fourth Prince framed both Prince Jing and the Third Prince at the same time. It was such a big deal, but Emperor Yongjia still showed leniency and let the Fourth Prince go.

But this time, with the Emperor Emeritus intervening, it's impossible for the fourth prince to escape this calamity.

The Third Prince smiled and said, "I was just worried that Father would suppress this matter again, so I fanned the flames and let everyone in the capital know about it. Now this matter has spread throughout the capital, and it won't be long before it spreads throughout the world. At that time, Father will be powerless to protect the Fourth Prince."

This matter became widely known in the capital, and it was all the work of the Third Prince.

He not only wanted to expose the Fourth Prince's scandals, but also to put Emperor Yongjia in a precarious position.

This is a golden opportunity to eliminate the Fourth Prince, and it will be the last. If we fail this time, we will never have another chance.

Consort Qiao said, "The more critical the moment, the more careful we must be. It's best to keep this from even the Crown Prince's wife."

"I understand. Is Qiuyun alright?" the Third Prince asked.

Consort Qiao put away her smile: "At this time, you shouldn't think about these things anymore. There are so many eyes in the palace now, you should be careful."

The Third Prince hadn't seen Fan Qiuyun for some time, but he wasn't thinking about romance right now; he was just asking casually.

After leaving the palace, the Third Prince returned to his residence. On the way, he sent someone to check out the teahouses and restaurants, and sure enough, the people were all talking about the Fourth Prince.

The Third Prince was in high spirits. Upon returning to his residence, a eunuch rushed over and exclaimed, "Your Highness, great news! The divine bird has returned!"

The Third Prince was overjoyed. The divine bird had not appeared in the manor for a long time, but he never expected it to appear today.

The return of the divine bird—what does this signify?
This means his position as crown prince is secure!

"Quickly, go and get the clairvoyant device so this prince can have a look. By the way, have you prepared offerings for the divine bird?"

The eunuch hurriedly said, "It's all prepared. The fat chickens and ducks that the divine bird likes to eat, as well as whole rabbits, have all been sent to the divine bird."

The third prince climbed to the highest observation tower in the mansion, picked up his telescope, and sure enough, he saw the long-lost divine bird feeding in the lakeside hall.

The eunuch said cautiously, "I have inquired and found that this divine bird once appeared in the Baoqing Marquis's residence, and the Baoqing Marquis's residence also kept it. Unfortunately, not long after, the divine bird stopped appearing."

The Third Prince was taken aback. The Marquis of Baoqing's residence?

"Since when did the divine bird stop appearing?"

The eunuch said, "After the divine bird stopped appearing, Zhu Yu was captured, and the divine bird has never appeared again since."

Actually, after that, Xiao Guai went to the Baoqing Marquis's residence again, but she went to Sun Lanzhi's courtyard, and no one else saw her.

The Third Prince nodded. Before the Zhu Yu case, the Baoqing Marquis's mansion was a highly sought-after and extremely wealthy place.

The divine bird landed in a blessed place, and the Marquis of Baoqing's residence at that time was a blessed place, which is why the divine bird went there.

With the divine bird no longer going, the Baoqing Marquis's mansion began its decline. Although it has not yet been demoted, it has already lost face.

The Third Prince could not hide his joy. Now that the divine bird had landed in his residence, it meant that the Third Prince's residence was a blessed place!
He remembered that this mythical bird was not afraid of people, so he went down from the viewing tower to the center of the lake and tried to approach Xiao Guai. Sure enough, Xiao Guai did not lie down. After eating and drinking its fill, it actually started to stroll on the boardwalk, just like a person who had just finished eating and was taking a break.

The Third Prince was overjoyed and summoned his two trusted confidants to discuss their next steps in the lakeside hall. The divine bird did not leave, as if it could understand their conversation, occasionally tilting its ear to listen. Despite being a bird of prey, it seemed to have become somewhat adorable at this moment.

The confidant smiled and said, "Your Highness, in my opinion, this divine bird seems to have a certain intention of recognizing its master."

The Third Prince's eyes lit up: "Recognizing a master? The divine bird recognizes me as its master?"

"Yes, look at that divine bird, it seems to understand what you're saying. Isn't it recognizing you as its master?" the confidant said obsequiously.

The Third Prince was overjoyed. The divine bird had recognized him as its master? Could a divine bird just randomly recognize a master? It clearly saw the kingly aura emanating from this prince!
"Very well, when I ascend the throne in my future dynasty, I will definitely bestow an honor upon the divine bird! Let it be called the Divine Bird General!"

The Third Prince is not yet qualified to bestow an official title upon the divine bird, but this does not prevent the people of the Third Prince's residence from calling Xiao Guai the Great General of the Divine Bird from now on.

After all, there are many crickets and fighting cocks that are called "generals," and eagles are inherently brave, so what's wrong with calling them "generals"?

Zhen Wu had his men search all night, but they still couldn't find Xiao Guai.

Just as he was feeling dejected, Xiao Guai came back on her own.

"Oh my, my little darling, where have you been?"

Xiao Guai looked at him reproachfully, "Since you're all not here, can't I go out and hunt for food by myself?"

Xiao Guai flapped its wings and flew away again. Zhen Wuduo hurriedly chased after it with his old legs, all the way to the back of the house. Xiao Guai pulled out a purse from the bushes behind the house and threw it in front of Zhen Wuduo.

[Your mother asked me to give this to you, but since you're not home, I had no choice but to leave it here.]

Zhen Wuduo was overjoyed. His beloved granddaughter had indeed brought him a letter. If he had known it would be hidden here, he would have had it searched last night.

Zhen Wuduo couldn't wait to open his purse and take out a letter. The letter was covered with dense writing, so Zhen Wuduo had to find a magnifying glass to read it word by word.

After he finished reading the letter, his expression became unusually serious.

My precious granddaughter is going to do something big.

He thought for a moment, then strolled into the kitchen and saw Wan Ruyi kneading dough.

"Stop kneading the dough, come with me."

Wan Ruyi shook her head: "Second Miss must not have eaten rice cake for a long time. I'll make some more."

"Let Aunt Ji do it."

"The second young lady likes what I make."

“She’s just a child, don’t always call her Second Miss. Doesn’t she call you Aunt Wan? Then you should call her Qingqing.”

In fact, Zhao Shiqing had long ago told Wan Ruyi to call her by her given name, but Wan Ruyi preferred to call her Second Miss along with everyone else. (End of Chapter)