Chapter 50
“Master Mu?”
Unexpectedly, even Master Mu agreed with such a showy display. Actually, Jiuyue didn’t dislike it; it was just, well… a little awkward. There were just too many people, and she had only done what was right—so why was it deserving of such loud thanks? Moreover, that night, she wasn’t the only one busy. The real heroes were the city patrol soldiers who charged ahead, disregarding danger to capture all the culprits. They were the ones truly deserving of gratitude.
Master Mu smiled at Ying Jiuyue with gratitude and then bowed deeply, performing a proper ceremonial salute.
“We sincerely thank Your Excellency for saving our lives…”
Madam Lin and the others followed suit, bowing deeply. Even the children who had been lost and found, returned to their families, joined in. They were just ordinary people, without the eloquence to speak grand words—they could only bow sincerely. And yet, even such ordinary people, when showing heartfelt respect to an official who truly cared for them, could leave everyone speechless.
The two bodyguards closest to Jiuyue had a well-known role—they were her spies. They were ordered not only to protect Ying Jiuyue but also to report everything about her to His Majesty. Until now, they only knew her as a genius capable of inventing divine weapons like “Signal Flare” and “Thunder Fire.” Now, they realized that she was also a compassionate official.
Indeed, only now did they truly understand that the person they were sworn to protect, though a woman, was a dignified and upright official. If the entire empire were filled with such officials who genuinely cared for the people, they couldn’t even imagine what the world might become.
Finally, Jiuyue, unable to resist the crowd’s enthusiasm, could only say a few simple words of thanks amid the throng, while firmly refusing the offerings of chickens, ducks, fish, rice, and money.
“No, no! I only did what I should have done. Life isn’t easy for any of you, so please take these things back.”
Seeing herself surrounded, Jiuyue refused three times in vain and finally helplessly turned to Master Mu for assistance. She could have hidden at home, but she feared the townsfolk would pile offerings outside her door.
Master Mu smiled for a moment and then helped, finally rescuing Jiuyue from the situation. As the crowd gradually dispersed, Jiuyue invited Master Mu and the others inside to rest. After several polite refusals, Master Mu eventually entered—Jiuyue had something she couldn’t forget.
As soon as she stepped inside, she saw a group of nervous, curious children staring at her. Although Master Mu was no longer young, her gaze was still sharp. On closer inspection, weren’t these the small street children who frequently ran around the city? And why were they in Master Ying’s home? Seeing their new, clean clothes and slightly rosy cheeks, she couldn’t help but smile. These past few days, they had been taken in by Master Ying.
Rather than sitting in the formal reception hall, Master Mu and the others preferred to stay in the courtyard, where they could talk with the children. Jiuyue, being unconcerned with formalities, led everyone to the pavilion in the courtyard.
A smile crept across Master Mu’s usually stern face—a smile capable of calming crying children. Some of the kids were frightened, but Xiao Niba was fearless, stepping forward to greet them confidently.
“So good… really good…”
Master Mu seemed lost in thought for a moment, a glimmer of moisture in her eyes quickly fading, replaced by a grateful smile directed at Jiuyue.
“Your Excellency, you are kindhearted. These children are also unfortunate souls. Thankfully, you rescued them, allowing them to leave the man-eating cave… May I ask, how do you plan to care for these children? I know of a place outside the city called Cian Hall, which takes in orphans. The head of the hall is compassionate, and though life there is humble, they can eat and dress well. When the children turn twelve, they can find work and gradually support themselves.”
At this, Xiao Niba and the others shifted nervously. Master Mu noticed the children’s hidden disabilities and sighed, though she comforted them nonetheless.
“It’s alright. As long as one is willing to endure hardship, they can survive.”
Yet their disabilities meant they would have to work a hundred times harder than others, and might never receive proper reward. Though wars had ended, strange beliefs persisted—some thought that those with physical impairments were rejected by Heaven, for why else were they incomplete while others were whole?
Master Mu scoffed at such nonsense. During years of war, weren’t injuries common among refugees? Many missing limbs were not just soldiers from the battlefield. To claim that a body must be whole was absurd—a product of being overfed and idle!
Truly, Master Mu’s thinking was remarkably progressive. Jiuyue applauded in agreement.
“Exactly! Even if someone is physically impaired, so what? These children are kind and upright. Even in hardship, their hearts are good. They even saved me—they are my lifesavers.”
With that, Jiuyue scooped up the blushing children into her arms. They were simply too adorable, and even after a day and night in the palace, she had been thinking of them.
Xiao Niba felt a little shy. Though only five years old, he was mature for his age. The warmth of Master Ying’s embrace reminded him of his mother, so he didn’t resist immediately.
Indeed.
But did they really save Master Ying? They had only reminded her, and even without them, the highly skilled bodyguards would have kept her safe… Thinking this, Xiao Niba felt a bit downcast.
“Master Mu, thank you for caring for these children. There’s no need to send them to Cian Hall; I’ll donate rice and flour another day. I have already promised them they can stay in my home. From now on, they are my disciples. They will one day throw clay pots at me, haha… Of course, I will also help them find their parents. If the parents want them back, they can go; if not, or if their parents are no longer around… they will stay with me. They will always have food to eat.”
“This is my eldest disciple. I’ve temporarily named him…”
“Yuandao.”
“He will be called Yuandao from now on.”
Though physically impaired, the child was named “Yuandao,” for Jiuyue firmly believed that his resilient, upright character would help him endure and grow stronger, going ever further.
Far-reaching as the world may be, the heart remains complete.
Yuandao.
Ying Yuandao.
