Feng Qingyi, as usual, walked into the classroom for her lessons. As soon as she sat down, she noticed Shen Hanyue glancing at her in her typical gossipy way.
"Hanyue, have I got something on my face?"
"Qingyi, that outfit of yours is really fetching!"
Looking down, Feng Qingyi noticed that Shen Hanyue was staring at her clothes with a weird look.
"This is just a regular coat. Why are you acting so strangely today?"
Shen Hanyue asked: "So how did your date go last night? Any sweet moments or romantic gestures?"
"...Date, how did you know that I went on a date yesterday?" Feng Qingyi asked.
Shen Hanyue pulled out her phone, "Not just me. There are pictures up on the forum for all to see."
Feng Qingyi grabbed Shen Hanyue's phone to have a look and commented, "These people are so idle! I'm not a big celebrity to be paparazzi'd."
Shen Hanyue: "Your boyfriend is so good-looking it's almost a crime he's not in the entertainment industry. I think his looks alone could set the internet on fire."
"The current fan culture doesn't care about the talent of their idols. If they're handsome, they're instantly catapulted to stardom."
"...Thanks for the compliment, but he doesn't need his looks to earn a living." She didn't want to be dating a celebrity.
Shen Hanyue: "Speaking of which, when are you going to introduce your boyfriend to us?"
"Had it not been for the sudden posts and pictures of you two on the forum, I would have assumed you've broken up already."
Feng Qingyi adjusted her hair, "He just came over last night for a while, we strolled around aimlessly and then he left."
"How was your dinner with that junior schoolboy?"
Shen Hanyue heartlessly replied: "The junior schoolboy is a good guy. He took me to the Mecca restaurant yesterday. Their food is just amazing."
"The junior schoolboy even promised me another treat next time. I quite like having him around to spoil me with food."
At Shen Hanyue's words, Feng Qingyi sighed. Catching a gourmand was no easy task.
"Hanyue, what do you think of the junior schoolboy?"
Shen Hanyue: "He's pretty nice. I hadn't expected his taste to be so similar to mine. I really enjoyed dining with him."
"What I meant to ask was, what's your opinion of him as a person?" Feng Qingyi practically facepalmed.
Shen Hanyue: "He's a great person too. When I came back last night, he even bought me my favorite taro bubble tea."
Feng Qingyi gave up the conversation right there. Somehow, every time Shen Hanyue mentioned the junior schoolboy, all she thought about was food and drinks.
It seemed like she couldn't help with this one. She would just let the junior schoolboy work it out by himself.
…
After a few spring showers, the sky in Shengjing was especially clear and blue.
The ascent of the new Emperor Tianqi did not affect the general populace much.
After all, regardless of who the emperor was, they had to carry on with their daily lives.
In the royal court, although there were a few voices opposing Xuanyuan Yan, they were in the minority.
In everyone's eyes, Xuanyuan Yan was the legitimate successor to the throne. Some ministers even petitioned for him to ascend the throne.
In the royal court, Xuanyuan Yan already had his power, although it wasn't publicly exposed, those who needed to know were aware.
No one was stupid enough to stand out at this timing, considering this was a special period, they might just become the target.
In the Yangxin Hall, Xuanyuan Yan sat on the couch, flipping through the books.
“Master, I have found that Murong Yan and her subordinates are heading towards the south. There is a powerful person secretly assisting her, we were not able to capture her,” Ming Jiu reported.
Xuanyuan Yan thought for a moment, “South, it seems she is planning to go back.”
“Master, the secret supporter is highly skilled in martial arts, we couldn't defeat them. Should we continue the chase?” Ming Jiu asked.
Xuanyuan Yan pondered, “Currently, it's the time of conflict between both parties. During this time, let's not make any mistakes. If she wishes to return, let her return. No need to chase her further.”
Ming Qi said, “Master, I always feel that Murong Yan is not simply the princess of the south. If she successfully returns to the south, there may be some changes.”
“If I remember correctly, to go to the south, one has to pass Nanwu, which is now under the control of A'Chuan. I'll write a letter asking A'Chuan to pay attention to the situation there,” Xuanyuan Yan said.
Ming Qi added, “If it was General Qin, he would surely be able to capture her.”
“Nothing else, you two may leave now.” Xuanyuan Yan waved his hand to send them away.
With the current situation in Tianqi settled, his long-standing wish has been fulfilled.
However, this empty imperial palace seemed somewhat boring.
By the end of April, Xuanyuan Yan, the new emperor of Tianqi, ascended to the throne and granted amnesty to the world.
After grand coronation ceremonies and rites of heaven, Xuanyuan Yan officially stepped onto the political stage of Tianqi.
With the new emperor’s inauguration, he eliminated the opposition with an unexpected swiftness, purifying the royal court. His methods were formidable to behold.
In the Guanyuan Temple, Xuanyuan Xi, and Bai Wei had packed their bags. After bidding farewell to the people of the temple, they boarded a carriage and prepared to return to Shengjing.
“Bai Wei, did you see Master Guang'an today?” Xuanyuan Xi asked.
Bai Wei shook her head, “He is nowhere to be found every day, who knows where he is now, most likely he has gone out to travel.”
“Master said that we will have a visitor at the house, I wonder who it will be?”
She originally wanted to ask Master Guang'an about the situation, but she failed to see him after the last meeting.
Bai Wei said, “We’ll know once we return to Shengjing. There is no need for you to worry, princess.”
After half a day's travel, the two arrived at a city not far from Shengjing.
At noon, Xuanyuan Xi took Bai Wei to a restaurant for lunch.
“Now that the new emperor ascends to the throne, granting amnesty to the world and reducing the tax by 20%, our lives will be better this year!”
“I heard that the new emperor has started to handle several corrupt officials just after taking office. He seems to be quite capable.”
“Although who becomes the emperor has nothing to do with us, we still hope that he is a wise monarch.”
“…”
Xuanyuan Xi and Bai Wei were somewhat in disbelief.
They had gone to the temple for a few months. How did Tianqi change so much as soon as they returned?
And who in the world is this new emperor?
Bai Wei approached the man who had just spoken, "Sir, may I ask who this new emperor you mentioned is?"
"I and my wife went to the temple to pray for blessings. We just came down from the mountain and heard this news. We were quite shocked at the moment."
The man said, "This new emperor is none other than the former Virtuous Prince."
"The Virtuous Prince was suffering from eye disease, wasn't he?" Bai Wei asked.
The man replied, "Miss, you might not know, but some time ago the Virtuous Prince fell into the water, and his eye disease has surprisingly healed since then. It's said that it was a divine blessing."
"How did the former emperor pass away then?" Bai Wei asked in a subdued tone.
The man began to elaborate, "The story is quite long, the former emperor passed away at a young age, all because he was harmed by a spy from the Southern Border."
