Chapter 167: Ah Bao Speaks Up

[Firstly, Father Emperor is worried that recognizing kinship might fail and cause secondary harm to Third Brother. Secondly, even if recognition is successful, he fears Third Brother might think that Father Emperor only values blood relations and disregards their many years of father-son relationship. Father Emperor has been troubled by this issue all night, almost pulling out his hair. No matter if Third Brother is his blood relative or not, Father Emperor does not intend to let him go. He genuinely cares about their father-son bond, but Third Brother is unaware of his father’s deep concern.]

If not for fearing others discovering his ability to hear the royal sister’s thoughts, Di Li would have been crying with snot and tears by now.

“Father Emperor, is this piece of yellow jade the one from the token last night?” Di Li asked, looking at the yellow jade.

The Tyrant collected his thoughts. “Yes.”

“I happened to see it last night. It…”

“The letter from Feng Xuetang stated that this yellow jade was placed on you by the old monk and was a gift from your biological mother. However, this yellow jade… seems to be of royal origin.”

Di Li pressed his lips together. “Father Emperor, should we also perform a blood test to confirm kinship?”

The Tyrant’s eyes brightened. Di Li’s suggestion was exactly what he had been struggling with last night. Fearing an unsatisfactory outcome might hurt Di Li, he had been unsure how to approach the matter.

Di Zian quickly agreed, “Father, I think Third Brother’s suggestion is very good. Maybe in the past, after you were with a woman and forgot about her, she gave birth to Third Brother and then sent him to the old monk, who had him delivered to the palace.”

“But what if the blood test results are unsatisfactory? Third Brother, at that time, you won’t be able to stop people’s gossip, and your situation might become even more difficult.”

Even though he would issue an order forbidding people from discussing it, he couldn’t stop every individual from talking.

If the recognition fails, others would likely accuse Di Li of occupying the throne illegitimately, suggesting he had gone mad trying to become a prince.

Di Li pondered for a moment. “There’s nothing worse than the current situation.”

“Then let’s go with the blood test.” The tyrant did not want Di Li to overthink it. Fortunately, the idea was brought up by himself, which relieved the tyrant.

The three of them were very worried, but only Ah Bao was happily playing around after having a full meal.

The two drops of blood mixed into the water, and after a moment of stagnation, they merged.

Di Zian was ecstatic. “Third Brother! You are truly my Third Brother. You are Father’s son, you are!”

Di Li stared in shock.

The tyrant, deep in thought, handed Di Li the jade pendant. “Take this with you.”

Di Li took the jade pendant excitedly. It was his first time fully understanding his background—his father was indeed his father.

But he still didn’t know who his mother was, only this piece of jade.

[This is such good news; Third Brother doesn’t have to run away and can continue being a leisurely prince.]

Ah Bao, with hands on her little hips, stood in front of Di Li. “Third Brother…”

Di Li affectionately picked up Ah Bao, his royal sister, who was not only cute but also a little lucky star.

Without Ah Bao, he feared he would never know who he was.

“Father, can you really not remember?” Di Li asked seriously.

The tyrant shook his head, rubbing his brow. He had thought about it all night but still couldn’t remember which woman he had given the jade to. Moreover, twenty years ago, he hadn’t been with any other woman.

Di Li was his son; why couldn’t he remember Di Li’s mother?

“Father, I think the jade was placed on Third Brother by the old monk. It might be better for Third Brother to go look for the old monk.” Di Zian hadn’t been at the scene last night, but Di Li had already told him about the situation at Qingyun Palace.

“Father, that was also my thought.”

The tyrant also felt this matter was not simple. “Well, then you two should focus on investigating.”

Di Li and Di Zian murmured, “Seventh Brother, according to the description in the letter, the old monk had no name, and he was old. We don’t even know if he is still alive.”

If he was dead, it would be troublesome, and the lead would be cut off.

Ah Bao had just finished the last bit of milk from her bottle, burped, and looked at her two brothers with wide eyes. “Dead, dead…”

Di Li and Di Zian: !!!

The two exchanged glances. One with a puppet destiny, the other with a bad luck constitution. This was a deadly combination, and they might not accomplish anything.

“Burp, not dead, not dead…” Ah Bao waved her little hands.

[The old monk is a kind-hearted person; he wouldn’t die so easily. Even if he did, he’d come back to life.]

Huguo Temple.

The once peaceful Huguo Temple was very different today as the old abbot was nearing his end.

A large group of monks sat on the ground chanting and praying. Some were crying, some were reciting, creating a grand scene.

In the hall, the old abbot lay on the meditation mat, his eyes closed, not breathing.

“Master, please don’t leave us, woo woo woo.”

“Master has passed away; Master is going to the Western Paradise.”

“Master, woo woo woo, have a good journey.”

Just as the old abbot had closed his eyes, he suddenly opened them.

The group of monk disciples was in an uproar, like ants on a hot pan, frantically running around.

Why were they so anxious?

Of course, they were worried because their master, who had just passed away, suddenly came back to life.

A young novice approached. He was the new disciple of the old abbot, only six years old, and was usually very cherished. “Master, Master, do you have any unfulfilled wishes, and are you not willing to leave?”

“Leave? I’m not leaving anymore.”

The young novice: ???

He stared with round eyes. “Master faked his death; Master is talking nonsense.”

“Nonsense? Your master is alive, truly alive, do you understand?” The old abbot was also somewhat stunned and quickly chanted, “Amitabha Buddha, blessings from the gods.”

“Master, are you really alive? But you clearly stopped breathing just now,” the young novice said, unable to believe it, his innocent words revealing his confusion.

“I was barely hanging on earlier; now I am completely alive.”

“Master, why? Can a person come back to life?”

The old abbot lovingly patted the young novice’s head. “Perhaps it’s because Yama didn’t want me.”

The young novice seemed to half-understand but was overjoyed, snuggling into the old abbot’s arms. “It’s so great that Master is alive again. I have my master back. Yay!”

Huguo Temple, originally a royal temple and usually not open to the public, was different today.

Coincidentally, the temple was open to the public today. Many pilgrims came, worshiping the gods, praying to the Bodhisattvas, hoping for good fortune in the coming year.

News of the old abbot coming back to life spread rapidly throughout Huguo Temple.