378: Chapter 379 Zhou Zhiruo, a commoner, becomes an apprentice of Emei.

Zhao Min, Yin Li, and Xiao Zhao stepped forward as instructed and bowed to Lu Chen, Yin Susu, and the others.

Zhao Min was poised and graceful, her eyes shifting with a hint of cunning: "Minmin (Li'er, Xiao Zhao) will follow Your Majesty's arrangements."

Yin Li pouted, but her eyes were sparkling.

Xiao Zhao stood quietly with her hands by her side, like a shadow.

Just then, Revered Master Jingxuan stepped forward and bowed to Fang Yanqing.

"Reporting to Revered Master."

Fang Yanqing's cold, clear eyes flickered slightly as she looked at Jingxuan.

Jingxuan said respectfully: "Revered Master, some time ago you ordered this Disciple to find someone. Fortunately, I did not fail the mission; I have found that young girl at the Han River and brought her back to the mountain gate."

Fang Yanqing nodded slightly, her face unreadable.

A small commotion stirred among the Emei Sect Disciples.

The person the Imperial Noble Consort personally ordered to be found?

Jingxuan turned to the side and beckoned toward a direction in the crowd.

"Zhiruo, come here."

The crowd parted, and a young girl of about ten, dressed in a worn cloth skirt, walked out timidly.

Her figure was slight, her features delicate, and her large eyes looked around uneasily, like a frightened fawn.

Upon reaching them, she was somewhat at a loss. She glanced at Jingxuan, then quickly lowered her head and bowed gracefully toward Lu Chen and the ladies, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz:

"Commoner... Zhou Zhiruo pays respects to His Majesty the Emperor, and pays respects to all the ladies!"

Lu Chen's gaze fell upon her.

This was Zhou Zhiruo.

There was a lingering melancholy between her brows, but it could not hide her natural beauty.

He observed her for a moment, his tone calm but carrying an unquestionable authority: "Are you Zhou Zhiruo?"

The little girl trembled slightly and lowered her head even further: "Yes... this commoner is indeed Zhou Zhiruo."

"Look up," Lu Chen said.

Zhou Zhiruo hesitated for a moment before slowly raising her head, her eyes filled with trepidation.

Lu Chen nodded: "Excellent foundation; you are a good seed for martial arts."

He changed the subject: "Your father, Zhou Ziwang, shed his blood on the battlefield to resist the violent Yuan, and he is a hero of our Great Ming."

"Your Uncle Chang Yuchun is currently in the Han Sea and cannot get away for the moment, but I know of your background."

When Zhou Zhiruo heard the names of her father and Uncle Chang, her eyes turned slightly red, and she bit her lip hard to keep from crying.

Lu Chen continued: "As the descendant of a martyr, I cannot let you suffer any grievances, which is why I had Imperial Noble Consort Fang find you and bring you to Emei. If you want to thank someone, thank Imperial Noble Consort Fang!"

Zhou Zhiruo had been watching from below for a long time and already knew who the Imperial Noble Consort was, as Fang Yanqing was dressed in Daoist attire.

Zhou Zhiruo kowtowed to Fang Yanqing: "Commoner Zhou Zhiruo thanks the Imperial Noble Consort!"

Fang Yanqing looked at Zhou Zhiruo: "Rise. This Palace accepts you as a Disciple; henceforth, Jingxuan will teach you on my behalf!"

Lu Chen's gaze swept toward Zhao Min and Yin Li, who were watching the spectacle.

"Zhao Min, Yin Li."

"This subject's daughter is here!"

"This niece is here!"

The two responded in unison, their expressions differing.

Zhao Min remained smiling, while Yin Li looked at Zhou Zhiruo with curiosity.

Lu Chen pointed to Zhou Zhiruo: "The four of you will join the Emei Sect to cultivate together."

"In your daily lives, you must support one another. You are not to bully others by relying on your status, and you are absolutely forbidden from causing any trouble. Do you hear me?"

Lu Chen glanced not far away, where Zhu Jiuzhen and Wu Qingying seemed to be watching the scene.

Hmm, with these two young misses added to the mix, Mount Emei would likely be chaotic and lively in the future.

The inner palace wasn't even settled yet, and the Emei Royal Girls' School had opened for business.

Zhao Min, sharp as ice and snow, immediately stepped forward with a beaming smile and took Zhou Zhiruo's hand:

"Your Majesty, rest assured. Little Sister Zhiruo is so lovely; we couldn't possibly love her enough. From now on, we are sisters in one family. We will certainly get along well and cultivate diligently, without causing any trouble for Master or Your Majesty."

Her words were flawless, expressing her stance while appearing intimate.

Zhou Zhiruo, held by her hand, felt somewhat at a loss, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Yin Li also crowded over, patting her small chest in assurance: "Imperial Uncle Emperor, rest assured! I promise I absolutely won't bully Little Sister Zhiruo or Little Sister Xiao Zhao! If anyone dares to bully them, I will be the first to object!"

This girl's status was truly different from before.

Her aunt was Empress Yin Susu, her father was Marshal of the Azure Dragon Army Prince Yinye, her grandfather was the Left Commander of the Five Military Commissions Yin Tianzheng, and her uncle-in-law was the reigning Emperor Lu Chen.

When it came to a strong background, no other noble child in the imperial court could surpass her.

Walking in the palace, she was more at ease than in her own home, and she spoke to Lu Chen with much less restraint.

Just like that, having finished her promise, she remembered something. Her little face fell, and she leaned in close to Lu Chen, lowering her voice to complain: "Imperial Uncle Emperor!"

"Hmm?" Lu Chen raised an eyebrow at her.

"You should do something about my father!" Yin Li said indignantly. "He's taken another concubine! It makes my mother fight with him every day; the house is almost being set on fire! It's fortunate that Auntie brought me along on this trip!"

Although her voice was low, who among those present did not have exceptional hearing?

The corners of Yin Susu's mouth twitched imperceptibly; she was clearly also very troubled by her own troublesome brother.

Hearing this, Lu Chen was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, reaching out to flick Yin Li's little nose.

"Hahaha! You little girl!"

He laughed until he was leaning back: "Even an honest official finds it hard to settle domestic disputes! How can I manage your father's messy affairs?"

"Besides, even if I wanted to manage it, it wouldn't be my place."

He gestured toward Yin Susu.

"For this matter, you need to go to your aunt. She is the Empress, and the inner palace is under her jurisdiction. Your father's backyard can barely be considered an extension of the inner palace's business."

Yin Li pouted even more: "Auntie won't care! She said Father is a dog who can't change its habit of eating excrement!"

Yin Susu: "..." That sounded like something she would say.

Lu Chen suppressed his laughter and said solemnly: "Hmm... if your aunt has no solution..."

He stroked his chin, pondering as if it were a serious matter.

"How about this? Tomorrow I will have the Imperial Kitchen send your mother a jar... no, two large jars of aged Shanxi vinegar!"

"Guaranteed to be sour enough!"

Yin Li: "Huh? Why send vinegar?"

Lu Chen patted her head: "To let your mother get jealous! Only after she's had her fill of vinegar will she have the strength to keep arguing with your father!"

"Pfft—"

Ji Xiaofu and Yang Huangyi couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Yin Li was stunned for a moment before realizing that her Imperial Uncle Emperor was teasing her, and she stomped her feet in embarrassment and annoyance.

"Imperial Uncle Emperor! You're mean!"

She turned and ran back to Yin Susu's side, clinging to her aunt's arm, acting spoiled.

Yin Susu glared at Lu Chen helplessly and gently patted her niece's back.

The atmosphere in front of the great hall was much lighter due to this little interlude.

Lu Chen shook his head with a smile, no longer paying attention to the temperamental Yin Li.

His gaze turned back to Jingxuan.

"Jingxuan."

"Your Majesty, this subject is here," Jingxuan replied hurriedly.

"These four girls are all entrusted to you. You have taught Zhu Jiuzhen and Wu Qingying well these past few years," Lu Chen said. "Guide them well in their cultivation and in how to conduct themselves."

"The most important thing is their character."

Jingxuan's expression turned serious, and she replied solemnly: "Jingxuan understands! Please rest assured, Your Majesty; Emei will strictly discipline and carefully nurture them, and we will certainly not disappoint Your Majesty's high expectations!"

Lu Chen nodded, his gaze sweeping over the Emei Disciples lined up in the plaza, finally landing on the brand-new Sanxiao Palace.

"Alright, today's business is concluded. Minjun, have the rewards I bestowed upon Emei been arranged?"

Ding Minjun hurriedly stepped forward: "Your Majesty, all rewards have been arranged properly!"

He waved his hand: "Very good. I will stay here at Emei for three to five days, letting the ladies also enjoy the scenery of Emei."

Immediately, Lu Chen said to Fang Yanqing: "I haven't been to Emei for some time; I truly miss the old days!"

Fang Yanqing seemed to recall the madness that once took place on the Golden Summit of Emei. Now that she had even given birth to a child, it was truly unpredictable how life turns out.

Finally, Lu Chen remembered one more thing: "Minjun, select twenty outstanding female guards from the South Division of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to take orders from the Madam of Demon Suppression of Persia. In a few days, have them head to Persia Province to assist her in her affairs!"

Ding Minjun immediately received the order and arranged the personnel.