"Although the migration to Juyong Pass has increased the manpower of the three passes, it is firstly to express His Majesty's trust in the Qin family; secondly, the Khitans are wild and difficult to tame, and it will not be easy to manage them. It will inevitably require a lot of manpower and energy from the Qin family to settle them. It will be ten years or so before we can see any results."

"Yes! I will consider it carefully." Li Shimin's expression relaxed, and he nodded with a smile. He also thought Qin Qiong's words made a lot of sense, but he was used to considering everything carefully, so he did not make a decision immediately.

"Regarding the secret realm, I will arrange for someone to investigate. By the way, what does that monster look like?" Li Shimin asked again.

"I will arrange for someone to send it to the palace immediately," Qin Qiong said, bowing respectfully.

"Hmm! Not too many, I just want to take a look." Li Shimin nodded and smiled with satisfaction.

He didn't want to see it, he wanted to eat it. As the emperor, he couldn't be too blunt. Qin Qiong understood his meaning: not too much, just enough to keep some for himself. He breathed a sigh of relief; after all, it was with his son, so asking for more wasn't a problem, but taking it all would be difficult.

Li Shimin then inquired about some details regarding Qin Qiong's trip before engaging in casual conversation. In fact, he was aware of the movements at the three passes, and in some aspects, he knew even more about the details than Qin Qiong did.

"Shubao, you have a good son," Li Shimin exclaimed.

"Your Majesty flatters me," Qin Qiong said modestly with a smile.

"I'm not being modest," Li Shimin said with a smile. "The scions raised by those families in the Northwest are not incompetent. It takes real talent to keep them in check. The two poems that inspired the heavens have made Youzhou quite lively for a while."

"Hehe! This guy has studied Confucianism and inherited the lineage of Guigu. With all my skills, I can only ask you to find a successor." Qin Qiong said with a smile. He said he was dissatisfied, but his smile did not mean he was unhappy.

"Don't you have a second son in your family? He's practicing martial arts, and he's much better than the boys in my family," Li Shimin said, pointing at Qin Qiong and shaking his head. He clearly thought Qin Qiong was showing off, something others could only envy.

"Your Majesty is too modest. The Crown Prince is gentle and refined, and his manners are those of a great man; the Prince of Wu is heroic and martial, and the Prince of Wei has also embarked on the path of Confucian cultivation. This is not something that ordinary people can do," Qin Qiong praised earnestly.

Li Shimin also enjoyed being praised by others, especially by Qin Qiong, a famously honest man. With a broad smile, he said, "Whether it's the legacy of Wei Liaozi or the legacy of Guiguzi, Uncle Bao can handle it as he sees fit. But if you want to pass on the art of diplomacy, just let me know."

"Your Majesty, I thank you." Qin Qiong bowed gratefully. They hadn't told the Qin family everything about the inheritance, but they didn't intend to hide it from Li Shimin. After all, their family would still be living in Chang'an, and it wouldn't be good if Li Shimin found out anything later and aroused suspicion.

This decision was made by Qin Mu after consulting with Qin Qiong. Qin Qiong knew Li Shimin well and believed that Li Shimin would never do something like forcibly seizing something. Even if he coveted it, he would at most want a copy. More likely, he would send someone to learn it, since copies could be tampered with.

"It's getting late, so I won't keep your family reunion any longer," Li Shimin said, glancing outside the imperial study.

Knowing that Li Shimin meant for him to leave, Qin Qiong rose to take his leave. By this time, thick tallow candles had been lit in the palace. There was a curfew in Chang'an, but this was of course useless to Qin Qiong; he returned home without hindrance, even escorted by patrolling soldiers.

"Young Master, Master is back. Please come over." A middle-aged maid came to Qin Mu's room and bowed respectfully.

"Okay, I'll be right there." Qin Mu remembered that this was a maidservant of Aunt Zheng, so he didn't treat her differently. He stood up and smiled, then called over a guard and two maidservants, picked up the gifts he had prepared, and went out with them.

Although they were family, it was customary for wealthy families to eat separately. Qin Qiong and Aunt Zheng sat at the upper table, and to their right sat a boy of about ten years old. At first glance, it was obvious that he was Qin Qiong's biological son, as his face was exactly like Qin Qiong's.

The first table on the right was empty, while the second table was occupied by two slender girls. The older one seemed a bit timid; she glanced at Qin Mu and immediately lowered her head. The younger one, however, had bright, lively eyes and kept looking at Qin Mu.

Qin Mu smiled back at the little girl, then stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Father, Aunt."

"Mu'er is here, please take a seat." Aunt Zheng smiled and pointed to the empty table on the left.

"It's our first meeting, and I wasn't prepared. This is just a small gift; please don't find it offensive, Auntie." Qin Mu took a box from the maid and presented it to her with both hands.

"You silly child, we're all family, why are you being so polite?" Aunt Zheng happily accepted the box.

"I don't know if this will fit. If it doesn't, Aunt, please have someone alter it," Qin Mu said with a smile.

"Okay!" Aunt Zheng nodded with a smile, but out of politeness, she did not open it.

Qin Qiong knew Qin Mu's family background well, and said without any hesitation, "Take a look, and if you don't like it, I'll have him change it."

“This…” Aunt Zheng hesitated for a moment, but still opened the box and took out a silver-white cloak.

This was the skin of the Silver Wolf General. The inner layer, with its animal pattern, was used to make a fan. The outer layer had been skillfully preserved and placed inside the box. Qin Mu only discovered it while looking for gifts. He had originally thought the outer layer was damaged.

With the help of her maid, Aunt Zheng put on the cloak, looked around with satisfaction, and her smile grew even wider.

"Mu'er is so thoughtful, your aunt is very pleased." Since it was still summer, Aunt Zheng had her maid put it away.

"You must be Huaiyu?" Qin Mu asked with a gentle smile as he walked up to the boy.

“Yes…you are the eldest brother.” The boy stood up somewhat awkwardly and said.

"Don't be nervous, I'm your older brother, I won't hurt you." Qin Mu smiled and then took another box from the guard.

This time, instead of handing it over directly, he opened the box, took out a metal folding fan, snapped it open, shook it, and then closed it again. He handed it over, saying, "This is a gift from your elder brother."

Qin Mu's graceful movements made the little guy's eyes light up, and he couldn't wait to take it.

"This folding fan was crafted by a master craftsman at your elder brother's request, and the fan surface was made from the skin of a silver wolf general. It can be used as a weapon, yet it's inconspicuous, so don't lose it," Qin Qiong instructed.

"Thank you, big brother." The little guy immediately developed a much better impression of Qin Mu, and happily pinched his folding fan as he spoke.