In the instant she turned around, the cold wind blew Sui Sui's bangs to one side of her eyebrow.

Beneath his sword-like eyebrows were a pair of phoenix eyes like a vast starry sky, a straight nose, and thin, tightly pursed lips. His exquisitely sculpted face resembled that of Xiao Jingzhao in his childhood.

He looked exactly like a miniature version of Xiao Jingzhao.

Knowing she was in the wrong, Sui Sui stopped in her tracks. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I originally meant to hit the pine tree next to the plum blossom tree, but my hand slipped..."

"I'm asking whose child you are? What are you doing here?"

Lin Xiang stood up and stared intently at Sui Sui.

Du Yutong turned around and saw this scene.

From her perspective, Lin Xiangzhi's eyes were fixed on Sui Sui with a menacing gaze, like an adult bullying a child.

She pulled Sui Sui into her arms protectively, her almond-shaped eyes wide, and said in an unfriendly tone, "The child has already apologized to you, why are you still being so unforgiving?"

Lin Xiangzhi raised an eyebrow slightly, completely ignoring Du Yutong's questioning.

He looked the woman up and down, his gaze finally settling on Du Yutong's face. "Your relationship with that person is unusual. Is this your son?"

“Your whole family’s relationship with him is anything but ordinary.” Du Yutong rolled her eyes and retorted without any politeness.

"Who is his mother? What is his surname?"

Seeing that Du Yutong was glaring at him angrily and had no intention of answering him, Lin Xiangzhi noticed that Du Yutong was not responding at all.

He crouched down, putting on a gentle smile, "Tell your uncle, what's your name? Who are your parents?"

"I am Sui Sui, and my mother is inside," Sui Sui said, giving Lin Xiangzhi a disdainful look.

My mother said that people who pry into things might have ulterior motives, so I shouldn't tell anyone who my father is, and I have to be careful.

This is the Su residence; he has no fear of bad people here.

"Who are you? And why are you at my uncle's house?"

Seeing Sui Sui's adorable yet fierce appearance, Lin Xiangzhi's eyes lit up.

Excitedly, he grabbed Sui Sui's hand, "I'm a good friend of your uncle Su Jin, and you're Su Jin's nephew! Your mother is Miss Jiang?"

"Uncle, are you cold? You're shivering so much. Go to the warm room and warm yourself up."

Since he's my uncle's friend, he's not a bad person, Sui Sui kindly reminded him.

Lin Xiangzhi: "..." This child is really good, kinder than that black-hearted bastard.

Du Yutong discerned something amiss from their conversation and Lin Xiangzhi's expression.

The person in front of me must know the Emperor; he is about the same age as the Emperor.

Du Yutong had also heard her father mention the story of Lin Xiangzhi bringing grain to the capital.

Putting all the information together, Du Yutong had already guessed most of the situation.

"Are you Lord Lin, who has taken over the position of Minister of Revenue?"

Lin Xiangzhi stood up and bowed to Du Yutong with clasped hands. "You have excellent taste, young lady. I am indeed Lin Xiangzhi. May I ask who you are...?"

"My daughter's surname is Du, my father is Du Zhong, and I am good friends with Sister Yue'er." Du Yutong returned the greeting gracefully.

"So you are the daughter of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. My apologies, it was all a misunderstanding. I didn't mean to blame Sui Sui earlier. No wonder I felt a sense of déjà vu when I saw you. You are Brother Su's nephew."

At this moment, Lin Xiangzhi wished he could grow wings and fly into the palace to ask that fellow when he had a child and how he managed to pretend to be a saint in front of him.

Watching Sui Sui run off into the distance, Lin Xiangzhi quickened his pace and asked Du Yutong, "Is Sui Sui five years old now?"

Du Yutong gave Lin Xiangzhi a meaningful look, then answered irrelevantly, "Young Master Lin likes children?"

Before Lin Xiangzhi could answer, Du Yutong said calmly, "There are some things you shouldn't ask. You'll know when the time is right."

Watching his retreating figure as he left those words behind.

Lin Xiangzhi picked his ear with his little finger.

Why does this sound so familiar? It's as if someone has said it to me before.

Suddenly, someone's face popped into his mind, and Lin Xiangzhi slapped his thigh, "So it was that black-hearted bastard who said that."

Lin Xiangzhi stopped and was about to turn around when an enticing aroma wafted in from somewhere.

Then footsteps sounded behind me.

When he turned around, he saw a maid carrying a tray. The dishes on the tray were covered with a copper lid, but the aroma still kept wafting into his nose.

Du Qi walked at the very back and greeted Lin Xiangzhi with a bow, saying, "Lord Lin, you're leaving so soon after arriving. It's almost lunchtime. Why don't you stay for lunch? Everyone in the warm pavilion is family."

Du Qi guessed that his master and Lin Xiangzhi's friends never stood on ceremony, and that Lin Xiangzhi turned away because he saw that there were women inside.

Lin Xiangzhi thought for a moment and realized that by this time he would have missed the emperor's meal.

He nodded slightly to Du Qi, "Then thank you very much, Butler Du, for adding an extra pair of bowls and chopsticks."

Once inside the warm pavilion, everyone exchanged greetings. Lin Xiangzhi concealed his suspicious gaze and did not inquire further about Sui Sui's background.

Su Jin instructed the maids and servants to divide the food into two tables.

Jiang Shuyue and Du Yutong took Sui Sui to another table.

Seeing that Aunt Qiuju and Zhu'er had left the warm pavilion, Yaozu also left.

Jiang Shuyue quickly called out to him, "Yaozu, don't go. Today, you can still have dinner with Suisui, just like you did at the academy."

"Father said that's against the rules, so Yaozu can go with Aunt Qiuju."

Sui Sui patted the spot next to her, "Yao Zu, come here quickly. We have honey-roasted goose today. It smells amazing. There are no outsiders here, so we don't need to follow any rules."

When Yaozu saw Jiang Shuyue nod to him, he pursed his lips and walked over to sit down.

Jiang Shuyue picked up a piece of roast goose and put it into Yaozu's bowl. "Qiuju and Zhuer are eating with other people in the dining room. Everyone has roast goose to eat. You are at the age where you are growing, so you should eat more meat."

At another table, Su Jin pulled Lin Xiangzhi down to sit and asked impatiently, "You haven't been here for several days. Was it official business that kept you occupied, or did your uncle go to the capital?"

Lin Xiangzhi slumped into the armchair, looking utterly dejected.

“My dear brother, do you know that the Ministry of Revenue is a complete mess? I’m dizzy from looking at the account books every day. The pressure of this temporary job is immense! If I don’t do a good job, the Emperor will not forgive me.”

“Brother Lin, you flatter me. His Majesty is benevolent; how could he let you suffer alone? It must be your subordinates who are slacking off. You need to keep a close eye on them from time to time.” Su Jin said, pouring Lin Xiangzhi a cup of rice wine.

"My brother is right. We don't have many capable people under our command. I'll have to select two more competent individuals to keep by my side another day."

There are quite a few old officials in the Ministry of Revenue who are just coasting along, those bastards, they make no major mistakes, they don't achieve anything significant, and they're so slow at their work, it infuriates me."

Lin Xiangzhi patted Su Jin on the shoulder with a sigh, “Your position as an editor is much better. It’s an easy job, and you don’t have to go to the morning court every day. But I’m just an acting minister who’s nothing, and I have to go to the palace at dawn every day.”

Lin Xiangzhi dared not say it, but these past few days he had been mentally cursing Xiao Jingzhao every time he woke up.

In the dead of winter, especially in Beijing, getting up in the morning requires sheer willpower.

Listening to Lin Xiangzhi's complaints through the screen, Jiang Shuyue and Du Yutong both suppressed their laughter.

Achoo!

In the imperial study, Xiao Jingzhao suddenly sneezed.