The two imperial envoys sent to investigate paid their respects to the Crown Prince and Prince Yan then got straight to the point with Secretary Zhao: “Secretary Zhao, in your report you stated that Jinli Town suffered only dozens of casualties. His Majesty sent us to understand the specific situation. How is it that with Jinli Town destroyed by the earthquake, there were so few casualties?”

Secretary Zhao glanced at Yu Jinshen, then said, “The two envoys may not know, but the low number of casualties in Jinli Town is all thanks to the Prince!”

Prince Yan?

Both men immediately looked at Yu Jinshen.

Yu Jinshen’s expression remained calm, revealing nothing.

Secretary Zhao explained, “Originally, His Highness and the Prince were staying in Jinli Town. However, that night a divine being appeared in the Prince’s dream, warning that an earthquake would strike Jinli Town. The next day, the Prince persuaded the townspeople to evacuate, thus allowing them to escape this great disaster…”

The Censorate Official and Little Lezi exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other’s eyes.

How could such an extraordinary thing happen?

The Censorate Official, having risen through the imperial examinations, didn’t put much stock in such matters. After regaining his composure, he said coolly, “Secretary Zhao, please take this official to see the town.”

Little Lezi, however, cast a few more glances at Yu Jinshen.

A divine being warning Prince Yan?

Was it the divine being or Prince Yan who lacked propriety? How could they bypass the Crown Prince?

Curious, he secretly glanced at the Crown Prince and indeed saw an unhappy face.

Little Lezi sighed inwardly, growing more curious.

He truly didn’t understand how these people could unanimously claim a divine being had warned Prince Yan. Where did this leave the Crown Prince’s dignity?

At this moment, the Crown Prince was indeed regretting for the hundredth time.

Missing out on such a glorious event was truly a great pity!

Unfortunately, the news of Seventh Brother receiving a divine warning in his dream had already spread, so he couldn’t claim the credit.

However—hmph, for Secretary Zhao to lie in front of the investigating envoys was deceiving the Emperor. He would report this to Father Emperor later!

While the Censorate Official and others had rushed from the capital, taking nearly two days even with fast horses, Emperor Jingming had already received Secretary Zhao’s second report.

Messages sent by express couriers naturally arrived much faster than ordinary teams.

With ample time, this report was much thicker, detailing how Yu Jinshen had used the pretext of a divine warning in a dream to persuade the people to evacuate, thus avoiding massive casualties. In reality, the reason Prince Yan could predict the earthquake in advance was because of that fifth-rank great dog, General Xiaotian.

Emperor Jingming held the thick report, both amazed and relieved.

He was amazed that a dog could predict an earthquake and relieved that the people of Jinli Town had escaped disaster, with the Crown Prince and others also safe and sound.

If the Crown Prince and his party had continued to stay in town, the consequences would have been unthinkable…

Emperor Jingming shuddered, thinking to himself: When the Crown Prince’s party returns to the capital, he must ask who the fool was who suggested staying in Jinli Town. They were truly a harbinger of misfortune!

Emperor Jingming made a mental note of this and asked Pan Hai, “Do you remember General Xiaotian whom We appointed several years ago?”

Pan Hai was slightly startled, “You mean the large dog raised by Prince Yan?”

Emperor Jingming glanced at him, correcting, “That is also an official of the court.”

Pan Hai’s mouth twitched as he smiled, “This servant was mistaken. I momentarily forgot General Xiaotian’s merits.”

Emperor Jingming put down the report and sighed deeply, “This time, we owe much to Minister Xiao. When they return to the capital, We shall summon General Xiaotian to the palace for an audience.”

Minister Xiao?

Pan Hai’s eyelids trembled, but he dared not laugh. Instead, he flattered, “It is all due to Your Majesty’s benevolence that such a divine and brave General Xiaotian has appeared in our world. General Xiaotian, like the top scholar who achieved the rare feat of placing first in all three imperial examinations last year, is truly an auspicious sign for our dynasty.”

Emperor Jingming nodded repeatedly upon hearing this.

There were too many troublesome matters; the more auspicious signs, the better.

However—why did this auspicious sign appear with the Seventh Prince?

This thought flashed through his mind but was quickly suppressed by Emperor Jingming.

In any case, saving so many people was a tremendously good thing. Rewards must be given later.

“Pan Hai, do you think General Xiaotian’s rank should be promoted?”

Pan Hai bowed, “Your Majesty is most wise.”

After all, it was just a dog. Whatever His Majesty said, goes.

Led by Secretary Zhao and others, the Censorate Official and Little Lezi saw Jinli Town after the earthquake.

Little Lezi was shocked, his mouth agape: “It’s this severe?”

The Censorate Official’s forehead was covered in cold sweat as he repeatedly asked, “There were truly only dozens of casualties?”

Secretary Zhao replied, “Sixty-one deaths, one survivor. Currently, twenty-three bodies have been recovered. The difficulty in recovering the remaining bodies is considerable…”

“Where is the survivor?” By this point, the Censorate Official no longer doubted the severity of the earthquake.

The earthquake had struck in the dead of night when people were fast asleep. If the townspeople had still been in town at that time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Secretary Zhao said, “The survivor is a three-year-old girl. The Prince personally rescued her and she has been sent to Wuji Town for medical care. If the envoys wish to see her, you can do so when we return to Wuji Town.”

The Censorate Official nodded, shifting his gaze from the devastated ruins to Secretary Zhao, “There’s no rush to return. This official would like to see the accommodation arrangements for the affected people of Jinli Town.”

Although the Censorate Official’s rank was low, his power was great, especially as an imperial envoy sent on royal orders. He was not someone to be offended.

Of course, an internal attendant like Little Lezi was even more untouchable.

Secretary Zhao personally led the way, taking the two envoys to where the people of Jinli Town were temporarily housed.

“Secretary Zhao, please attend to your duties. This official will walk around freely.”

Secretary Zhao indeed had many matters to arrange. Knowing that the Censorate Official wanted to investigate the situation without him, he tactfully withdrew.

In these days, he believed he had done his utmost with a clear conscience and feared no one’s scrutiny.

What the Censorate Official wanted to investigate was not Secretary Zhao, but the matter of the divine being warning Prince Yan in a dream.

Such an extraordinary event still left him doubtful.

Stopping a random civilian, the Censorate Official asked, “Old uncle, are you from Jinli Town?”

Having seen many officials in recent days, even seeing the Prince daily, the old man had long since lost much of his fear. He replied, “Of course I am. Everyone here, except for you officials, is from our town.”

“May I ask, old uncle, why did you all evacuate the town before the earthquake?”

Upon hearing this, the old man immediately knelt and kowtowed in a certain direction.

This reaction left the Censorate Official stunned, and he looked at Little Lezi.

What was going on?

If it was fear of seeing an official, shouldn’t he have kowtowed from the start? Wasn’t this reaction a bit slow?

Moreover, the direction was wrong.

The old man stood up, wiping his eyes, and said, “Please forgive me, sir. Hearing your question stirred up such emotions in me. We townspeople were able to evacuate in advance all thanks to the Prince…”

After listening to the old man praise Prince Yan for a full quarter of an hour, the Censorate Official couldn’t bear it anymore and waved his hand, “Old uncle, you may go about your business now.”

As soon as the old man left, the Censorate Official and Little Lezi exchanged a glance, both thinking the same thing: After this incident, Prince Yan’s reputation would likely spread throughout the land.