Chapter 527 A Family of Loyalty

Chapter 527: A Lineage of Loyalty

Ruo Xi Baby's angry yell immediately made everyone raise their weapons and stand on guard.

Qiu Chanzi chuckled, looking at Ruo Xi Baby and shaking his head. "You're not really Xier. The real Xier would’ve forgiven me for everything, simply because I raised her."

"Just because you raised Xier, you have the gall to think she should obey you and fix everything for you?" Xiaoyu Heng coldly retorted.

"What do you know? Without me, Xier would've starved to death in the wilderness in her past life. Without me, she’d have had no future—she wouldn’t even have needed revenge, she could’ve just died!" Qiu Chanzi said.

"So, you stood by while Xier suffered, watched her risk her life to find you, and in the end, you even watched her sacrifice herself for you, didn't you?" Xiao Yin also stepped forward, his voice icy.

"Emperor, without that past life’s experiences, do you think you would have the empire you have today? Xier was destined to be the Heaven-Sent Princess. She came to your side and helped you become the supreme ruler. She has already done enough for you!" Qiu Chanzi said, turning to Xiao Yin.

"Qiu Chanzi, I once thought you were some enlightened master. Now I see you’re nothing but a blight lurking in the shadows, bringing calamity!" Jiu Niang said, raising her sword. "Xier, don’t be sad. Auntie will handle him for you!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Jiu Niang’s sword was already at Qiu Chanzi’s throat.

Qiu Chanzi merely raised his hand, and a shimmering halo flickered. Jiu Niang’s body was hurled sideways.

Xiao Yin sprang forward and caught her.

"That cursed old monster is actually this strong!" Jiu Niang fumed.

"Let me deal with him!" General Lü said, raising his broadsword and charging forward.

However, after just a few exchanges, he was booted straight in the ribs by Qiu Chanzi.

Landing hard, General Lü coughed up blood but still gripped his sword, ready to attack again. Ruo Xi Baby stopped him.

"Brother, it’s your turn now," Ruo Xi Baby said, patting her brother’s arm.

In the next moment, Xiaoyu Heng lunged into battle.

Xiao Yin carried Ruo Xi Baby back several steps until they were pinned to the wall.

The door of a nearby shop opened, and someone handed over a sippy cup. Ruo Xi Baby turned to see it was the child of East Ming’s prime minister—a rosy-cheeked, cherubic boy of about five or six, cradled in the prime minister’s arms.

"Are you Princess Xier?" the boy asked, his voice bright and curious.

"Yes, I am!" Ruo Xi Baby nodded, taking the cup and sipping from it. "Mmm, it’s delicious!"

"The Little Princess likes it? That’s Hong'er’s favorite honey water," the prime minister said.

"Your name is Hong'er?" Ruo Xi Baby asked.

"Yes, Chen Yuhong!" the little boy nodded.

While the fierce battle raged outside, the two children had already started playing inside the shop.

Since arriving in East Ming, Ruo Xi Baby hadn’t had a chance to truly enjoy herself—she hadn’t even explored the Imperial City properly.

Playing with Hong'er, she learned that this restaurant belonged to his family—run by his mother, the youngest wife of the prime minister’s household.

"Our family has many children, and the master often brings home orphans. Over the years, we’ve hired one cook after another, but I was never satisfied. So, I started cooking myself. It became second nature. Some of the children grew up eating and living with us, so I brought them here to work," said Jiu Niang, the restaurant’s proprietress.

"Impressive," Xiao Yin and Jiu Niang both praised the woman and the prime minister. "For the prime minister to have a daughter-in-law like you is truly a stroke of luck for his household."

"His Majesty the Emperor of Great Wei speaks truly. Having Jiu Niang is truly a blessing for our Chen family. After my daughter joined the imperial household, she had no companions in the early years. She was devoted to the emperor, but even after her realization, she remained unhappy. It was Jiu Niang who accompanied her all these years. They were practically sisters," said the chancellor.

His hair had gone completely white, and his back was hunched.

Xiao Yin knew that decades ago, this man had been the most valiant general of East Ming, unmatched in battle, commanding both reverence and fear wherever he went.

The entire East Ming respected him. The Chen family was East Ming's foundation.

No one would dare cross East Ming—not even Great Wei, which had long desired to annex East Ming but had never succeeded.

Yet, despite such unwavering loyalty, the Chen family had married their daughter into the royal family just to prevent the emperor from suspecting them.

They never realized that outshining the sovereign was the deepest fear of every emperor.

Looking at Xiao Xi'er Baby, the chancellor sighed and said, "Our Chen family has only sons, with the empress being the sole daughter. When she became pregnant, we were overjoyed, thinking the emperor truly loved her. But then, the child she bore was..."

"Father, don't say anymore. In truth, Rou'er is also a good child. She's endured so much these years," Jiu Niang said.

"I know her struggles. Rou'er is truly intelligent, with a delicate heart. She has sacrificed much for East Ming, but..." The chancellor glanced outside and sighed. "People's loyalties have changed. The emperor refuses to see!"

Ruo Xi Baby looked up at the old man but said nothing, continuing to play with Hong'er.

"Little Princess, aren't you concerned about what's happening outside? The fight is intense, and it seems His Royal Highness the Prince is at a disadvantage!" Jiu Niang said.

"Relax, everything's under control!" Ruo Xi Baby waved her small hand. "I know everything he knows!"

Jiu Niang was slightly stunned, then nodded. "What an exceptionally bright child!"

"Hong'er, are you your mother’s youngest child?" Xiao Yuze also came over, joining Xiao Ruilin in playing with Xier.

"No, I have older brothers, but they're all gone," Hong'er shook his head.

"Hmm?" Ruo Xi Baby looked at Hong'er curiously.

"My brothers were years older than me. They went to battle against the Southern Mingyue Kingdom and never returned," Chen Yuhong said.

"So that's how it is," Xiao Yuze said to Ruo Xi Baby. "Xier, poor Hong'er here has suffered too."

"He may be brotherless, but Baby's got brothers!" Ruo Xi Baby nodded.

Jiu Niang appeared quite old, likely even older than her uncle Xiao Yin, making Chen Yuhong her youngest son—which was unusual in itself.