Chapter 523
The princes all wore python robes.
“Judging by the patterns on that robe, it really is our Crown Prince.” This was spoken by someone well-read, who recognized at a glance the style of embroidery on the robe.
“His face confirms it too—it’s definitely our Crown Prince. They say the Divine Maiden favors His Highness the Crown Prince. Looks like it’s true.” This was someone who had seen the Crown Prince before and enjoyed listening to the rumors circulating in the streets.
“If only I had an aunt like that!” This came from a family with nothing but sons and not a single daughter.
“I have an aunt, but my aunt doesn’t have a flying carriage!” This was a brazen, thoughtless child who failed to notice that his ten-year-old aunt had already silently picked up her little whip.
Below the city tower, the common people were buzzing with discussion. Above it, Emperor Mingxi and Yue Fuguang were nowhere to be seen, and the officials had begun talking among themselves as well.
Wei Ping and several of the ministers in particular craned their necks, gazing enviously at the carriage in the sky, which shimmered with flowing light as a galaxy flashed around it.
“Do you think that once His Majesty and the others come down, Grand Tutor Yue might let us take a ride too?”
“I doubt it. Grand Tutor Yue must be exhausted. She may simply return to her residence afterward.”
“Then do you think Grand Tutor Yue will take the flying carriage to court over the next few days?”
“Exactly! Grand Tutor Yue hasn’t attended court in so long. I feel that court is nowhere near as interesting when she isn’t there!”
“Grand Tutor Yue is truly terrifying when she attends court, but when she’s absent, it really does feel as though something is missing!”
Gossiping was entertaining, but being frightened was genuinely frightening too. Many times, they had felt they knew far too much and might lose their heads over it.
“So… do we still have a chance to ride in it?”
The men looked at one another, silently assessing just how much weight they carried in Yue Fuguang’s eyes and whether they had any hope of getting a ride.
As for attending court, their wish actually came true. Three days after Yue Fuguang returned to her residence, she really did take the flying carriage to court.
At that moment, Yue Fuguang sat inside the carriage. Emperor Mingxi was on her left, and Yu Chongshan on her right. Seated below them were the brothers Yu Zhongchun and Yu Shuchun.
Emperor Mingxi held a cup of fragrant tea in his hands as he gazed at the scenery outside. The wind and clouds were so close that they seemed within reach.
Every so often, birds swept past in the distance. They were now flying higher and farther than the birds themselves.
Below them, the capital of Shangjing grew smaller and smaller, while the people of Dayan were reduced to tiny black specks.
The green mountains and vast stretches of land beneath them also dwindled into insignificance. Without realizing it, everyone’s hearts seemed to open up.
To see all the mountains below from such a lofty height—to stand at an altitude they had never even imagined and take in the scenery of the world—filled them with an inexplicable surge of heroic spirit, along with the complicated realization that they were so very small.
Supreme shock and fear intertwined in their hearts, eventually transforming into boundless joy and reassurance. After all, when they turned their heads, they could see the Divine Maiden Yue Fuguang, the pillar that stabilized all of Dayan.
Once Emperor Mingxi and the others had settled their emotions, Yue Fuguang brought out some food for them as well. With a trace of regret in her voice, she said, “It’s a pity the timing isn’t right today. Watching the sunrise from the flying carriage is an experience unlike any other.”
“This is already more than enough. I never dreamed that one day I would be able to drink tea and admire the scenery in the sky!”
Emperor Mingxi chuckled. “And it’s so steady, too. Even my imperial carriage can’t compare!”
Yue Fuguang smiled as well. “Now that Your Majesty is flying through the heavens, is it different from what you imagined?”
Emperor Mingxi nodded with a smile. “I never imagined we could fly higher than the birds. I never knew the clouds in the sky would look like mist, and as for the land below…”
Emperor Mingxi went on for quite some time. At that moment, he was like a curious old child. Every time Emperor Mingxi said something, the three members of the Yu family nodded along.
Whether or not the emperor had voiced exactly what was in their hearts, the father and sons provided emotional support with remarkable enthusiasm.
They drank tea and admired the scenery as they traveled through the sky for quite a while. Then Yue Fuguang thought of the people of Dayan still waiting below, and her eyes shifted.
Seeing her host purchase yet another attention-grabbing item from the system shop, the system couldn’t help grumbling, [Host, do you really love showing off that much?]
Yue Fuguang retorted, refusing to admit the accusation in the slightest. “System, I’m doing all this for the mission. The mission!”
With that, she stopped paying attention to the system. As the flying carriage slowly descended, she reached her hand out of the window and snapped her fingers at the empty air.
In an instant, the wind and clouds began to surge, and seven-colored light appeared on the horizon.
Everywhere the flying carriage passed, petals sprang into existence and drifted gently downward.
“Quick, look! The Divine Maiden’s flying carriage is coming back! And what’s that?”
“Are those flower petals?”
“Flower petals? Like the petals from Nanyue?”
“Nanyue? What do you mean, brother? Tell me about it!”
“You’re not from Shangjing?”
“I’m from Liuping County. I only just arrived in Shangjing.”
“Then let me tell you…”
While everyone was talking animatedly, the petals high in the sky finally began to fall in thick, snowlike flurries.
“Catch them! Catch them!”
Some people stretched out both hands to catch them. Others even opened their mouths, while some took off their clothes entirely.
The civil and military officials standing atop the city tower, waiting for His Majesty and Grand Tutor Yue to return, did not remain dignified for long either.
Because they stood higher than the common people, they were the first to reach out and catch the falling objects.
Wei Ping examined the petal resting in his palm. It looked neither quite like a flower petal nor a drop of water, but rather like some strange, jade-green object. Cai Xian held one in his hand as well, and it was exactly the same.
“Old Cai, want to taste it?”
The two had worked together far too many times. They possessed a tacit understanding that others could never match.
“Let’s taste it! We’ll see if it’s better than those flatbreads!” Cai Xian carefully popped the tiny object in his hand into his mouth.
He smacked his lips twice with great concentration. Wei Ping watched his reaction curiously, but when Cai Xian remained silent for some time, he couldn’t help urging him, “Old Cai, hurry up and tell us—how does it taste?”
“It tastes like the meat pies I love. After eating just one, my whole body feels warm. My stomach was a little empty a moment ago, but now I actually feel full!”
“It can do that? Really?” Huo Ying leaned over. He, too, had one cupped in his hand.
“You’ll know once you try it, won’t you?”
“True. Then I’ll give it a taste too!”
Huo Ying was a straightforward man. He tossed it directly into his mouth, but before he even had time to smack his lips twice, the thing had already slipped down his throat.
Wei Ping leaned over again. “Well? How is it?”