Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 51 Hurry Up

Leaving aside Ying Yuandao, whose face was flushed with excitement at receiving his new name, even Elder Mu was in a daze for a long time before praising him.

"It's a good name."

She was the one who was narrow-minded.

Jiu Que didn't mind, after all, the other party meant well. However, she was unaware that Ci'an Hall existed, as she had only been in the capital for a short time. Elder Mu was happy to answer Jiu Que's questions.

"The head of the hall was a veteran who retired from the battlefield. He said that when he returned home, he found that his family had all died. Heartbroken, he simply left his hometown. He never married and at first only adopted a few homeless children. Later, more and more children were adopted, and eventually, he built the Ci'an Hall."

Being so close to the capital, with the Worry-Free Cave nearby, and still able to raise children, that hall master is quite a remarkable person. It's just a mystery who he really is...

At this moment, Old Mu also took the opportunity to ask the biggest question he had about this trip.

"Actually, the old woman knows that this is not a matter for someone of my status to inquire about. But if I can't get accurate information, I really can't sleep peacefully. After all, every family has a young wife and children, and everyone is afraid that their child will suddenly disappear. Lord Ying, I would like to ask if I may be so bold as to ask, is the matter of Wuyou Cave really over?"

The commotion a few nights ago was said to be the Thunder God descending to punish the villains of Worry-Free Cave, while others said it was caused by Lord Ying. The truth was hard for ordinary people like them to discern, but what Elder Mu desperately wanted to know was that since the matter had escalated, if they didn't seize the opportunity to pursue it, those thieves from Worry-Free Cave would inevitably return and retaliate once they recovered.

There are only thieves who are thieves for a thousand days, how can one guard against thieves for a thousand days? It is unlikely that ordinary people who have to work hard every day to make a living would guard against kidnappers year after year.

Jiu Que raised an eyebrow and patted Ying Yuandao's head. The child's hair was dry and yellow due to years of lack of nutrition, and it didn't feel very nice, but Jiu Que still liked it.

"Old Mu, you are underestimating yourself. You are no ordinary old woman. With such profound insights, you are the real reclusive master!"

Jiu Que wasn't flattering Elder Mu; it was simply that in their few brief interactions, Jiu Que felt the old woman possessed an extraordinary wisdom. Perhaps this was what people meant by "having an elder in the family is like having a treasure."

While those families who had found their children were still overjoyed, Old Mu had already thought so far ahead, which was truly a pleasant surprise.

However, even Jiu Que himself cannot guarantee this.

"But I'm just a low-ranking official of the sixth grade, I really don't know anything about this."

Seeing the disappointment in Elder Mu's eyes, Jiu Que continued to speak.

"But there's something I think we all know."

“Our emperor is not a gentle monarch.”

That was a ruthless and decisive emperor; he must have already grown quite displeased with Wuyou Cave. Although Jiuque hadn't spent much time with Emperor Jingtai, he knew His Majesty somewhat.

The emperor, having struggled out of the mud, felt no humiliation about his past experiences; on the contrary, he spoke of them openly and frankly. Therefore, the treatment he received as an ordinary citizen would make him more inclined to favor the lower classes. He would handle this matter properly. Old Mu paused, then suddenly understood.

Yes, no matter what, she should never forget that it was this very Emperor who rescued them from the suffocating torment of war more than a decade ago, bringing them thirteen years of peace. So what was she still worried about? She only needed to trust His Majesty.

After seeing off Elder Mu and the others who assured her they wouldn't say a word, Jiu Que stretched and, seeing that it was still early, decided to take the group from afar for a stroll in the streets. Although she had already bought them new clothes and shoes, she still needed to buy some toys and stationery for the children. Since His Majesty had bestowed so much gold upon her, and she had nothing better to do, she might as well spend it.

Leading a group of children, Jiu Que was in high spirits. It was afternoon, and the streets were gradually filling up. Jiu Que strolled around with a group of quiet, well-behaved, and curious little ones. Yuan Dao had initially worried that people would be disgusted if they recognized them. However, whether it was the stall owners or shopkeepers along the roadside, after their initial surprise, they all smiled.

"It's you! I was wondering why I hadn't seen you for several days. It turns out that Lord Ying adopted you. Lord Ying is a very good person. You should repay his kindness and do your best to repay him."

A middle-aged woman selling malt candy by the roadside looked at them gently and gave each of them a piece of malt candy. Jiu Que wanted to pay, but she refused to accept it no matter what. In the end, she secretly put the candy on the woman's stall while she was busy with other customers and ran away.

Yuan Dao was pulled by Jiu Que's hand as they ran through the bustling street. He remembered the auntie from just now. Half a year ago, when he was starving, she had put the unsold malt candy from her stall into a broken bowl by the roadside. At that time, the auntie was actually a little scared because the thieves from Wuyou Cave, who were waiting in the shadows for them, a group of little beggars, to beg for money, were still watching them. But even though she hadn't said a word to him, Yuan Dao still remembered her vividly.

Because that maltose is really sweet.

Yuandao was originally a very strong child, but for some reason, he has been unable to hold back these past few days, with large tears falling to the ground and splashing into small puddles.

He remembered what his master had said.

"Actually, there are more good people than bad people in this world. It's just that you're unlucky and encounter more bad people. Don't blame others for not daring to interact with you. Most of the people you usually meet are ordinary people who are busy all their lives, just trying to earn a few coins and keep their families safe and sound. It's understandable that they don't stand up for you in order to protect their current lives. After all, you have no relation to them. There's not much affection between strangers."

"But think more about those good people, think about the little bit of kindness they occasionally show. They also expended a lot of effort and courage to dare to take that small step forward."

"Many people work their hardest and still end up as ordinary people. Let's not be too demanding and focus on the present, okay?"

Yuandao sniffed, looking at his master who was tightly holding his mangled hand, and couldn't help but smile. His master was that brave yet foolish person! They were just strangers, yet he risked his life for them, children with no blood relation, and even adopted them…

He wiped his face hard, laughing and crying at the same time. It was really silly, but Yuandao didn't think so at all. He felt that he was the luckiest child in the world. He had encountered a lot of kindness along the way. Those kindnesses, whether obvious or not, supported him to get to where he is now. So, from now on, he will treat people with the greatest kindness.

This must be what the master meant by 'passing on'...

"A long way? Hurry up and catch up."

"Hey! Master's here!"

(End of this chapter)