A crowd had gathered, their cheers echoing. No one knew what was being performed, the throng so dense that nothing was visible.
The houses in the capital were built tall, and the shops lining the streets were mostly two stories. This time, Xiao Shan couldn't take her up onto the rooftops.
"A'Shan, what do we do?" She really wanted to see.
"Is that difficult?" Xiao Shan crouched down. "Sit on my shoulders."
"Ah? This, it's not quite proper."
"Don't worry, no one recognizes us. When we're out enjoying ourselves, don't be so concerned about this and that."
Ling Yao then carefully sat on his broad left shoulder, cradling her belly.
"Hold my neck, I'm going to stand up."
Xiao Shan tested his footing, one hand supporting Ling Yao's waist, the other cupping her leg. He slowly rose to his feet.
The human seat was remarkably stable, not at all frightening. Ling Yao was suddenly elevated above everyone else, her view opening up, the scene in the center laid out before her.
"A'Shan, it's two little monkeys performing!"
Excited, she shouted it out. Everyone was focused on the performance, and many children were yelling, so her voice went unnoticed. Only a few people nearby glanced at them.
Ling Yao felt relaxed, completely at ease.
The performance was captivating. When it concluded, Ling Yao clapped along with the crowd, forgetting she was seated in mid-air. Xiao Shan held her steadily, and she hadn't even realized it. After clapping, she suddenly remembered and quickly hugged his neck again.
The monkeys' owner began collecting money, and the crowd started to disperse, thinning out quickly.
Ling Yao saw the monkey owner's ingratiating smile stiffen. He held out a basin to the few scattered people. The two little monkeys sat to the side, gnawing on dry apples. Beside them sat a four or five-year-old girl, as innocent and ignorant as the monkeys, likely the owner's child.
"What kind of people are these! They rush to the front to watch, then run off when it's over. As I see it, they should collect the money first!"
An old man with a loud voice shouted from the front.
His outburst made it awkward for the remaining people to leave too quickly. Most of them produced a few copper coins.
"I couldn't even squeeze in, I only saw the monkeys' tails!" the lean old man huffed, but he still placed a piece of broken silver into the basin.
The monkey owner almost knelt before him. The single piece of silver received that day made it all worthwhile. He spoke words of thanks, his voice filled with emotion.
The old man waved him away impatiently and turned, his gaze falling upon the tall and imposing Xiao Shan.
The monkey owner, whether out of fear of Xiao Shan or for some other reason, had not approached them to collect money. Ling Yao had already been preparing to give him a large silver coin.
"My, my, isn't this General Shenwu? And this, this..." What a peculiar posture!
"Your child is this old already?"
Xiao Shan had already bent down, intending to let Ling Yao down. He suddenly heard the old man's words and nearly straightened up to kick him.
"Ah, no, no, you are the Divine Maiden's person. You mustn't disrespect the emperor." The old man shook his head and looked at Ling Yao.
Xiao Shan introduced her to the old man: "This is Yuan Bufei's father, formerly a Light Chariot Commandant, now retired at home."
Ling Yao nodded at the old man, thinking that Yuan Bufei was truly like his father, a bit of a brute.
Old Yuan was startled. He had already recognized Ling Yao's identity. The General Shenwu was openly accompanying her; who else could it be? Moreover, that bulging belly was no deception.
Oh dear, why had his mouth been so quick just now!
"Alright, Old Yuan, you go on your way. I still need to take my wife shopping!"
Sensing the old man's conflicted desire to bow and his evident annoyance, Xiao Shan quickly cut him off. The monkey owner was already kneeling obediently. Xiao Shan tossed a silver coin into the basin and then left, holding Ling Yao's hand.
Old Yuan muttered to himself: Wife? What wife? Doesn't he understand his own status? He's the one who married into the family!
"I'll take you to the largest restaurant in the capital. It originally belonged to Prince Ru Nan, but now it's your eldest brother's. Oh, and it's ours too. You're the junior owner, with a twenty percent share of the profits."
"Ah?" Ling Yao was bewildered, knowing nothing.
Hua Shang Tower, the largest restaurant in the capital. Upon arrival, Ling Yao's expression changed. She remembered this place; it was here that she had stabbed Lu Yanqing to death!
Although it had been an inn before, it was now renovated into Hua Shang Tower, grander and more luxurious than before.
The first time she had secretly left the palace with her second brother, she had encountered such an event. She hadn't recovered for a long time, waking up terrified from nightmares. At that time, Qing He had stayed up all night to look after her.
Xiao Shan couldn't possibly not know this place. Why had he brought her here?
Ling Yao looked at him with a stiff expression.
"I know that after the incident, the former Emperor had this place razed and rebuilt, bestowing it upon Prince Ru Nan."
This had also intensified the rivalry between Grand Tutor Lu and Prince Ru Nan, making them mortal enemies.
It forced Prince Ru Nan, who had previously remained aloof from court affairs, to join the political arena to maintain balance. The former Emperor likely had no choice, as Grand Tutor Lu's influence in the court grew. It was only natural for him to seize the opportunity to draw Prince Ru Nan into the fray.
Furthermore, Prince Ru Nan was a subject, and it was his duty to serve the country. Who would have thought that for his own selfish gain, he would harbor resentment towards the former Emperor?
"I also know that this place holds unpleasant memories for you, but from today onwards, there will be no more."
Ling Yao pursed her lips, not understanding his words, but out of trust, she suppressed her inner displeasure and allowed him to lead her into Hua Shang Tower.
Inside the building, there was a separate performance stage. A storyteller was speaking with great animation, his voice rising and falling, full of emotion.
"Then, Princess Ling Yao raised her right hand, and a ball of Samadhi True Fire appeared in her palm. This fire could not be extinguished by wind or water, and the flames reached half a meter high..."
The listeners gestured to indicate the height.
Ling Yao looked at her own hand. Were the flames that high? She hadn't noticed.
"The entire court shouted in unison: 'The Divine Maiden descends, blessing our Great Jing!' Then the Divine Maiden ascended the altar, waved her hand, and the altar burst into flames. Not a single corner of the Divine Maiden's robes was singed..."
Ling Yao looked at Xiao Shan. "Which Divine Maiden is he speaking of?"
Could it be the one from five hundred years ago?
Xiao Shan chuckled and led her away, all the way up to the third floor.
"Naturally, it's you, the Divine Maiden. When telling stories, one must embellish like this, otherwise, how can you attract listeners?"
"Did Eldest Brother have him say this?"
"No, your eldest brother doesn't have that much free time. Storytellers have their own sources. Nowadays, the entire capital is abuzz with stories of the Divine Maiden. You can hear them everywhere."
Upon reaching their private room, someone silently opened the door.
Ling Yao stood at the entrance, refusing to move further.
"Second Brother secretly took me out of the palace. He said he was going to buy me a sugar figurine and told me to wait. Then there was a knock at the door. I thought he had returned, but when I opened it, it was Lu Yanqing, who had been drinking."
Even though everything here had changed, the location was still the same. It was the first time she had left the palace, the first time she had killed someone, the first time she had experienced the shattering sensation of her heart's extreme terror.
That kind of deep-seated fear was difficult to erase.