Ning Chen looked at Wu Sijun with fatherly affection. "Daddy's been away from you two for so long. Are you angry with Daddy?"

Wu Sijun shook his head. "Mother says Daddy is a man who does great things. He protects millions of people. He's a hero, a savior... Sijun is proud to be Daddy's son.

Mother also says it's not just the Great Xuan's people. It's thanks to Daddy that the Wu Kingdom's people have good lives too."

Ning Chen burst out laughing.

The woman emperor had really raised the two children well... No, just Wu Sijun. That little rascal Little Lemon had started pinching his nose.

"Wait a little longer. In a few years, when the world is at peace, Daddy will be able to spend lots of time with you... Whatever I owe you, I'll make up for it all then.

Come on. It's a nice day. Daddy's taking you out on the town."

The streets were bustling.

Ning Chen carried Little Lemon in one arm and held Wu Sijun's hand with the other.

Feng Qizheng, Xiao Yanxi and the inner palace guards kept close around them.

Suddenly a commotion broke out a little way ahead.

An old man carrying loads on a shoulder pole had fallen by the roadside, maybe because he was old and his strength had failed him. Peanuts from his baskets were scattered all over the ground.

The moment he saw it, Wu Sijun pulled free of Ning Chen's hand and ran to help.

Startled, Ning Chen quickly sent Feng Qizheng and some men after him.

Watching the boy help the old man up, he muttered, "Back in the modern world, helping someone up like that would land you flat broke."

Xiao Yanxi looked puzzled. "Why would helping someone up make you go broke?"

Ning Chen's mouth twisted in a cold smile. "Because not every official is human, or knows the law.

I once read an ancient book called The Record of Strange Forms... It told of beasts that had cultivated themselves into spirits and taken human shape. They became officials, and they made…