Chapter 184: Elder Brother Jingyu Goes Missing

Chapter 184: Elder Brother Jingyu Goes Missing

The townsfolk had been holding back their emotions, searching through the wooden barrels in silence.

Barrels from the imperial harem were brought and placed in the center of the grand hall, each one containing a child.

Fortunately, the barrels were filled with medicinal incense, so the entire hall was permeated with the smell of herbs. Otherwise, the stench from the Nourishing Heart Palace’s underground chamber would have made the townsfolk vomit as soon as they entered.

A woman began to cry out, and soon others could no longer contain their grief.

"This is our Dongsheng! How did you become so frail? The wounds are down to the bone!"

"Oh heavens, my child, what have they done to you? That damned emperor… no, that old dog! I’ll tear his flesh and feed it to the dogs!"

Many of the townsfolk found their children and held them, crying out in anguish.

"Princess, this scene is not suitable for the little princess to witness," Nurse Jin said, not wanting the little princess to hear those wails; it was too heart-wrenching.

"It's fine. Perhaps Xier's presence might comfort them," Xiao Yue replied, knowing her daughter wanted to help these children. She also thought that Xier needed a lot of merit. If helping these children could earn her merit, then it would be a good thing.

At the very least, the heavens wouldn’t let Xier’s efforts go to waste, right?

Holding Xiao Xi'er, they entered the grand hall. The little princess, seeing the semi-conscious children and the people carefully identifying each one, furrowed her little brows again.

"I'll prepare some blessed water!" Upon Xiao Xi'er's indication, Jing'en quickly drew many talismans. In a large copper basin filled with the blessed water, Jing'en thought for a moment, then walked to the princess and said, "Princess Royal, please allow the little princess to bless these children. This old monk believes that my young master is a very blessed child. If she blesses them, these children will surely recover faster!"

"Alright, let Xier bless them!" Xiao Yue agreed, thinking the old monk was indeed very considerate. In this way, the townsfolk would be grateful to Xiao Xi'er and would surely offer all the merit to her.

Xiao Yue carried her daughter to the copper basin, gently patting her as she said, "Xier, look, this is the blessed water for treating the older brothers and sisters. If you're really a little fairy, please bless them."

Xiao Xi'er looked at the blessed water, observing the energy of the talisman.

"Hmm, not bad. The old bald man’s talisman skills have greatly improved. It seems he’s on the verge of a breakthrough!"

"Mom, are you trying to make sure everyone knows I'm helping?"

Xiao Yue remained expressionless, but a small thought crossed her mind. Would it be better if Xier knew she could hear her thoughts?

But if Xier asked when she had started hearing them, how should she answer?

Sigh!

She wasn’t good at lying. If Xiao Xi'er found out and started to dislike her, what would she do?

In that brief moment, Xiao Yue’s thoughts raced back and forth.

Meanwhile, outside the grand hall, Xiao Yin was dealing with the aftermath at the Nourishing Heart Palace.

"Destroy this Nourishing Heart Palace completely. Once Master Jing'en has finished helping the children, have him come here. We need to see if we should place any protective charms in this place!" Xiao Yin emerged from the basement with a dark expression.

"That monster, calling himself an emperor! I think he’s not even worthy of being a dog!" Yuan Hui clenched his fists in anger and turned to leave.

"Where are you going?" Xiao Yin called out to Yuan Hui.

"I'm going to kill him!" Yuan Hui said angrily.

"Killing him would be letting him off too easy," said Xiao Yin coldly. "He has wreaked havoc on the entire Beiling. The people of Beiling should be the ones to judge him!"

"This guy is truly detestable and disgusting," gritted Yuan Hui and the others.

Ruo Xi Baby didn’t hesitate anymore. Although she wasn’t sure if her mother could hear her thoughts, she felt that her mother definitely loved her.

Even if she noticed her little tricks, she wouldn’t question them.

"Mother was a bit silly in those years, but at other times she is very wise. She should know that I’m a different kind of baby and wouldn’t make a big fuss!"

Ruo Xi Baby thought to herself as she dropped all the medicine into the elixir.

Xiao Yue, on the other hand, was feeling both amused and embarrassed.

She really wanted to shake her daughter and say, "Baby, please, stop talking and let your mother keep some dignity, alright? Let’s not bring up old stories, okay?"

After Ruo Xi Baby placed the medicine and added some of her previously drawn spiritual talismans, she waved her slightly sore little arm in satisfaction.

"Alright, that should do it!"

Master Jing'en quickly took the elixir and, using a scoop from a bucket, distributed it evenly to each child.

Xiao Yue carried her child to another room.

On the floor of that room, about a dozen people were slumped sitting.

"These aren’t our kids. Where are our children?"

"Our Qiuyue was out with her cousin last night and bought a bunny lantern. In just a moment, she disappeared, and it’s been almost half a year now, with no sign of her alive or dead..."

"Bunny lantern?" Ruo Xi Baby’s eyes widened in alarm. "Where’s Elder Brother Jingyu?"

Yesterday, the lantern seller drew something in Elder Brother Jingyu’s palm, and now Jingyu was missing.

Xiao Yue, listening to Ruo Xi Baby’s thoughts, turned and saw the emperor approaching, accompanied by Zhao Hong.

"Yue'er, there’s trouble," Xiao Yin interrupted before Xiao Yue could speak. "Zhao Yiwen has taken people to investigate. We hadn’t thoroughly checked the Seven Colors Palace in the Imperial City before. They might have colluded with the Tatars and possibly kidnapped many children, including Jingyu."

"Jingyu!" Xiao Yue’s body froze for a moment, and she looked down at Ruo Xi Baby. "Alright, I’ll handle things here. Brother, you take Xiao Xi'er and go find Jingyu. Xiao Xi'er and Jingyu might share a spiritual bond, which could make the search easier."

"Yes, that’s exactly what I was thinking," Xiao Yin nodded and took Ruo Xi Baby. "Xiao Xi'er, let’s go find Elder Brother Jingyu. Uncle thinks Jingyu let himself be captured to expose the Seven Colors Palace’s hideout in Beiling."

"Mm!" Ruo Xi Baby hummed lightly in response to her uncle.

Xiao Yin looked up at his sister, and they nodded at each other.

Xiao Xi'er understood everything, perhaps even more than these two adults.

Without lingering, Xiao Yin turned and left with Baiyu and a few subordinates.

Eunuch Gao came over to assist Xiao Yue, Nurse Jin, and the others in caring for the children.