Chapter 65 Begging for a Grace

Indeed, Meng Hongchang beamed with joy as he kowtowed to express his gratitude.

With trembling hands, Imperial Noble Consort Chen drew a slightly rusted longevity lock from her bosom. The character "Xiao" engraved upon it was somewhat worn away, likely from being constantly caressed in someone's palms over the years. This had belonged to her deceased child, and she had always carried it with her like her own life. Now, she handed it to Meng Yuxi.

"Yuxi, keep this safe. From now on, you are my, Chen Wanlan's, child," the Imperial Noble Consort said, her voice choked with emotion.

Receiving the longevity lock, Meng Yuxi suddenly burst into tears. "Father, Mother, I finally have a home! I finally have parents who love me! I, Meng Yuxi, am no longer that stray child who could be bullied at will!"

Meng Hongchang thought to himself that Yuxi was truly a remarkably clever child. Earlier, when he had told him to simply nod and agree no matter what reward was bestowed, the boy had indeed understood completely.

Hearing this, the Imperial Noble Consort immediately pulled Meng Yuxi into an embrace, both of them shedding tearful eyes. Xiao Yulong let out a long sigh, stepped closer, and opening his broad arms, tightly hugged them both. His left ring finger suddenly twitched.

At that moment, a myriad of emotions flooded Xiao Yulong's heart. *'Ah-Li, although this outcome is not the most perfect one, it is the first step I take hand-in-hand with our child Yuxi. I will not fail you.'*

Everyone present—the tiger-and-leopard guards, palace maids, and eunuchs—all dropped to their knees.

In unison, they shouted, "Congratulations to the Emperor, congratulations to the Imperial Noble Consort, congratulations to the Eldest Imperial Prince on your family reunion! May Heaven bless the Dali Dynasty!"

Xiao Yulong immediately ordered a chair to be brought out for Meng Yuxi. The chair was also brilliantly golden and exuded supreme luxury, placed right beneath the dragon throne.

Among everyone present, only the three of them were now seated.

With a benevolent expression, Xiao Yulong asked, "Yuxi, before the imperial examinations, I said that if you could become the top scholar, I would grant you a wish. Have you thought of what you wish for?"

Having already seated himself, Xiao Yu—now Xiao Yuxi—stood up immediately upon hearing Xiao Yulong's words.

Bowing to Xiao Yulong, he replied, "This son has no grand ambitions; I only wish for my parents to live for ten thousand years, safe, peaceful, and joyful."

Xiao Yulong had expected Xiao Yuxi to ask for mountains of gold, beauties, official titles, lands, houses, or the like at the very least. He never imagined that Xiao Yu would make such a wish.

He immediately burst into hearty laughter, his heart filled with great delight. Beside him, Chen Wanlan also smiled behind her sleeve and chimed in, "This is entirely the son's filial piety; Heaven will surely sense it and bless Your Majesty."

Xiao Yulong laughed and said, "Good, very good!"

Then, tapping lightly on the golden-backed armrest of his dragon throne, he added, "As for my son's wish, I cannot make the decision alone; that is something to ask of Heaven. Come, my son, name something more ordinary, hahaha."

The Imperial Noble Consort smiled and said, "Yuxi, it is rare for your Imperial Father to be in such high spirits. You should ask for a real grace."

After a moment of thought, Xiao Yu replied, "Your subject-son, having traveled through this city of Su, observed that many scholars spend decades studying through the hardships of winter and summer, yet only a handful achieve success and renown through the imperial examinations. This son wishes to establish a Heavenly Mystery Pavilion to gather brilliant minds from humble backgrounds across the realm, enabling them to turn their studies into practical use and relieve the urgent sufferings of the common people."

Xiao Yulong immediately withdrew his smile, his pupils contracting slightly as he calmly asked, "And what does my son consider to be the urgent sufferings of the common people?"

Beside him, Chen Wanlan no longer dared to speak casually. Shifting slightly, she sat at the very edge of her chair, listening to the Emperor with a solemn expression.

Meng Hongchang stood nearby, highly tense, cold sweat trickling down his forehead.

"First, the exorbitant prices of salt and iron within the cities; second, the obstruction caused by corrupt local officials; third, the difficulty of exchanging goods along the official trade routes," Xiao Yu replied earnestly, kneeling upon the ground.

Xiao Yulong suddenly burst into laughter, the sound shaking the colorful banners fluttering across the grounds.

"A splendid three-point hardship! You wish to form this Heavenly Mystery Pavilion? I grant it!"

Only then did Chen Wanlan and Meng Hongchang let out long sighs of relief, their hearts having nearly leaped into their throats.

"How much silver does my son require to set up the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion?"

"Reporting to Imperial Father, this son requires no silver, but merely requests the authority to pool collective wisdom and submit memorials," Xiao Yu replied respectfully.

"Why go to such cumbersome lengths? Yuxi, my child, hand that black fan to me."

Respectfully, Xiao Yu held the black fan tucked at his waist with both hands and raised it before Xiao Yulong.

"It is rare for my son to possess such a mind for the people's hardships. I shall make things convenient for your pavilion."

So saying, Xiao Yulong lightly took the black fan with his left hand. With a flick, the fan unfolded. Beneath his dragon-embroidered robe, his right hand was trembling at an imperceptible angle, like a taut iron-crafted bow pulled to its absolute limit.

True Qi surged through his right hand and tapped precisely upon the central black sphere of Xiao Yu's fan. Instantly, golden light radiated in all directions, and the fine lines upon the black fan transformed into dragon patterns, surging with dragon breath.

"This black fan was originally named the Wuji Fan. Now, I have infused it with the Xiao family's dragon aura, turning it into the Dragon Spine Fan. This fan shall be unique throughout the Dali Dynasty. I now bestow this fan upon you. For local officials of the fifth rank and below, you have the authority to strike first and report later. If any dare to forbid you from striking, tell me, and I shall sever their heads."

With these words, Xiao Yulong handed the Dragon Spine Fan into Xiao Yu's hands.

Xiao Yu kowtowed and expressed his profound gratitude.

Extremely satisfied, Xiao Yulong added one final remark, "Rise. However, if an innocent person is beaten by you, do not blame me for stepping in to return the favor."

With a smile, Xiao Yu replied, "Thank you, Imperial Father. Please rest assured, this son understands."

"This son will certainly make good use of this Dragon Spine Fan, manage the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion well, and give hardworking scholars a reliable place to contribute to the Dali Dynasty."

The Imperial Noble Consort suddenly understood what her son intended to do. He meant to wield the pens of scholars across the realm to shake the authority of the nobility in the court.

Before the Imperial Ancestral Temple in the capital city, torrential rain was falling. Amidst the thunderclaps, a streak of purple lightning tore across the sky, nearly striking the auspicious dragon-fish ridge ornaments atop the ancestral temple. Rolling thunder rumbled further as another flash of purple lightning slashed horizontally, pointing directly toward the direction of the East Palace.

A beautiful woman clad in yellow silk embroidered with phoenix patterns stood beneath a luxurious parasol, staring blankly at the pouring rain. Behind her stood rows of palace maids, flanked on either side by two elderly eunuchs whose eyes retained a restrained, profound luster, clearly indicating extraordinary martial prowess.

"Empress Mother, such an unnatural phenomenon in the heavens portends that a major event is about to occur," an elderly eunuch said, bowing.

The other elderly eunuch, more concerned for the Empress's health, merely urged, "Empress Mother, the rain is heavy; take care not to catch a chill. This humble servant begs the Empress to board the carriage. Must we still move our residence to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility?"

The beautiful woman in the yellow phoenix-patterned robes turned around and stepped onto the dazzlingly golden and luxurious carriage, her wide hem fluttering grandly in the wind.

"No, move the carriage to the Crown Prince's Palace. This Empress has important matters to discuss with the Crown Prince."

"As you command!"

All the attendants answered in unison, their voices so mighty that they drowned out even the rolling peals of thunder.