Chapter 543 Xiaoman has grown up

It is chilly in the capital city in spring.

The heavy palace gate slowly opened, and officials in court robes filed out.

Zhang Heyao walked among them. His dark purple official robe made his face look even more handsome and cold, with a hint of anger lingering between his brows.

Yun Ting was also among them, and he was smiling and chatting with the people around him.

He casually wore a priceless sable fur coat over his court robes, and nonchalantly played with a mutton-fat jade pendant in his hand, with his usual cynical smile on his face.

The tit-for-tat confrontation in the court just now left no trace.

Zhang Heyao suddenly took a few quick steps and walked to his side. His voice was cold, "Your Highness, you have really put a lot of effort into this today."

"Oh?" Yun Ting paused and turned slowly. His smile remained unchanged, but a sharp gleam flashed in his eyes. "You and I both serve the Emperor and the court. We should work tirelessly every day. This is the duty of a minister. Lord Zhang, there's no need to praise me."

The expressions of the people around him were indescribable.

Everyone knows that Shangshu Zhang is a well-known "model worker". He is in charge of such a large Ministry of Revenue. He personally handles everything and makes decisions decisively. His abilities and skills are recognized by both the government and the public. At such a young age, he is expected to enter the cabinet and become a prime minister.

On the other hand, Yun Ting, a dandy who climbed to the top by currying favor with the emperor and fawning on him, did such ridiculous things that his father, Duke Yun, was so angry that he closed his door to visitors.

Zhang Heyao's words were clearly an expression of extreme anger and irony. How could Yun Ting have the audacity to take advantage of the situation and say that he was "working hard"?

I'm afraid she's trying her best to entertain the emperor!

There is a reason why Zhang Heyao is angry today.

Just now in the court, Yun Ting targeted him again.

——Whatever he approves of, Yun Ting will oppose.

Even Yun Ting was "openly" opposed.

——You and I are both the emperor’s favorites. If I don’t step on you, how can I stand out?

So today Zhang Heyao couldn't hold back and issued a warning.

Facing Zhang Heyao's sharp edge, Yun Ting looked like a piece of meat on a rolling knife, not caring at all.

Outside the palace gate, servants from various households had been waiting for a long time. They came forward one after another to take over the tablets from their masters and put on thick cloaks.

In the midst of such a busy scene, a childish voice suddenly came.

"father!"

A small figure, wearing a royal blue brocade jacket embroidered with delicate blessing patterns, stumbled towards a luxurious carriage outside the palace gate like a round cannonball.

"Young master, slow down! Watch your step!" The wet nurse followed closely.

The coldness on Zhang Heyao's face faded a little. He walked forward quickly, squatted down, and opened his arms.

That little person was his lifeblood, Xiaoman.

Xiaoman threw herself into Zhang Heyao's arms, her two little arms tightly wrapped around his neck, her little face rubbing against his neck again and again, her voice soft and loud: "Daddy, Xiaoman is here to pick you up from court. Grandma said it's cold today, so I brought you a hand warmer!"

As he spoke, he held up a delicate and small heater as if presenting a treasure.

The nurse quickly explained, "Master, the young master originally said he wanted to go out for a walk. Then, I don't know how, he ended up here..."

She was very nervous.

This job made her nervous all day long.

Zhang Heyao is too strict and demanding, while Xiaoman is quirky and difficult to lead.

As Xiaoman gets older, it becomes increasingly difficult to please both sides.

Hey, who isn’t struggling for money?

What Zhang Heyao gave was really too much.

Fortunately, Zhang Heyao didn't seem to be surprised and just said "hmm" lightly.

He carefully touched his son's little face, which was slightly red from the wind, and then reached into his sleeve to touch his little hand.

Fortunately, my hands are warm.

"Dad, candy!" Xiaoman patted the small purse on her waist, opened it clumsily, and poured out a few candies from it.

This was what he had just asked his nanny to buy for him on the street.

Zhang Heyao usually keeps a strict control over him and doesn't allow him to eat too much sweets for fear that it will damage his teeth.

Xiaoman could make trouble for the wet nurse, but she was afraid that Zhang Heyao would be angry, so she took out the candy to please him first, and at the same time she carefully and secretly looked at his expression, for fear that he would be angry.

Xiaoman didn't know that the look in his eyes now was very similar to Lu Qinniang's when she was feeling guilty.

In Zhang Heyao's memory, every time Lu Qin's mother did something that might make her unhappy, she would look at him with the same eyes - a look that was a little nervous, flattering, and self-comforting.

For Zhang Heyao, his former self was almost suffering from stupidity.

He never delved into the cautious pleading and anxiety hidden behind those eyes.

Now I understand that it wasn't her who was stupid, but myself who was so arrogant and turned a blind eye.

The abandoned mother told him her desire in her own way, but he never really listened.

So he lost.

Every bit of Xiaoman's growth is like a key, constantly unlocking his dusty memories.

Sweetness, bitterness, regret...all kinds of feelings intertwined into a huge web, trapping him in it.

For the past three and a half years, he has been living in this cage of reality and memories, almost masochistically, confined by a circle of limitations, yet content with it.

Every similar moment brought sharp pain, but he was reluctant to forget it - it was the only rope connecting him to the past.

"I want some candy too. Can you give me one, young master?" A teasing voice broke Zhang Heyao's trance.

Xiaoman listened to the unfamiliar voice and looked up at Yunting.

Yeah, it looks good.

But even if he looks good, you can't accept his candy.

Xiaoman subconsciously held the candy closer to her.

At this time, Zhang Heyao said calmly: "Xiaoman, this is Yun Ting, the prince of Yun State. Come, meet the prince."

Xiaoman immediately put away her greedy look, and in Zhang Heyao's arms, she cupped her hands in a proper manner, and saluted in a childish voice, "Hello, Prince."

His little appearance is so cute that it makes people feel soft-hearted.

"Hello." Yun Ting squatted down to his eye level.

This is the son of Xiao Yan and Lu Qiniang.

An indescribable bitterness and emotion suddenly surged in his heart, a mixture of emotions.

But he had a smile on his face, "Your name is Xiaoman, right? Can you give me a piece of candy? I've never eaten one before."

"Eating sugar is bad for your teeth." Xiaoman's eyes rolled around, her face serious as she blurted out, "Sugar is not a good thing, so please don't eat it, my prince."

The corners of Zhang Heyao's lips curved upwards almost imperceptibly.

"It's okay, my teeth are in good condition." Yun Ting did not give up.

Xiaoman's quirky appearance doesn't make her look like Xiao Yan and Lu Qiniang, but more like his second sister.

shining……

"I can't hurt you." Xiaoman Xiaoman shook his little head and said it confidently. At the end, he didn't forget to seek an alliance, "right, Dad?"

"Yes." Zhang Heyao's voice was filled with doting. He stood up steadily holding his son in his arms. "My son, we are father and son. We will take our leave first."

Xiaoman stuffed a candy into his mouth, "Daddy, sweet mouth."

Hearing this, Yun Ting's eyes became slightly hot.

This tone is exactly the same as Lu Qiniang's.

He seemed to understand Zhang Heyao's obsession.

Because the past is too beautiful, even if it is already an illusion, people don’t want to wake up.

Yun Ting slowly stood up, his sable fur coat fluttering slightly in the chilly spring breeze.

He looked at Zhang Heyao holding Xiaoman and walking towards the luxurious carriage with complicated eyes.

"Dad, I want to ride a horse, not a car."

"It's windy outside, be obedient."

"Go slowly, don't run." Xiaoman stretched out his little finger and made a "little by little" gesture, his big eyes full of pleading.

Zhang Heyao said helplessly: "...Okay. I'll just ride for a while. If the wind gets strong, I'll get back to the car."