Chapter 120 My once vibrant heart has long since become a barren wasteland.

When grading papers, checkmarks and crosses are generally used to indicate correctness or incorrectness. Circles, on the other hand, indicate that the sentence or paragraph is particularly excellent.

Xiao Quanzi looked distressed and helpless: "Although His Majesty was prepared for this, and His Highness lived up to expectations, he was the worst performer among the twenty-eight people. The Fourth Prince was brilliant and did very well, and the others also had their own strengths, but our His Highness... sigh, His Majesty was so angry that he dragged His Highness to Liuyun Pavilion after the morning court session, saying that he wanted to see how the Fourth Prince was thinking to answer the questions like that."

He couldn't help but chuckle, laughing uncontrollably at the thought of the scene.

And last time at Changyin Pavilion, Sheng Sheng remembered that her father had mentioned her fifth brother's answer sheet.

It seems to be some kind of water control strategy, that drying up the water will prevent it from flowing again?

Suppressing a laugh, Sheng Sheng asked, "Didn't Fifth Brother say he was studying hard every day, burning the midnight oil, for this exam? How come his results were still not ideal?"

Xiao Quanzi looked embarrassed and stammered, "Well, perhaps this exam paper isn't to His Highness's liking."

Even Xiao Quanzi himself sounded guilty.

He was too embarrassed to say it, even though Xie Yunqi had indeed been reading late into the night those few days.

But after reading for a while, he would ask the kitchen to bring him a plate of snacks; after reading for a while longer, he would ask someone to massage his shoulders to relax; and after reading for a while longer, he would want to read a storybook to change his mood...

Even when reading during the day, without various snacks nearby, I absolutely cannot concentrate on reading a single word.

After finishing an exam, everyone else was exhausted and lost a few pounds, but Xie Yunqi was so full that she gained a few pounds.

Only Xie Yunqi truly understands the spicy and savory flavor in the middle.

As they spoke, they had already reached the front of the inner hall, and Xie Yunqi's desperate cries could be faintly heard.

Xiao Quanzi still felt sorry for his prince and pleaded softly, "Second Princess, this servant knows that His Majesty loves you the most. You must rescue His Highness from this predicament!"

Sheng Sheng couldn't help but wonder, "Is it that serious?"

“If it were just copying books as usual, that would be fine, and I wouldn’t have had to beg Your Highness to come to my rescue.” Xiao Quanzi leaned closer. “I was just afraid that His Majesty would get serious. Your Highness has been pampered since childhood and can’t handle it!”

Sheng Sheng finally understood. It turned out that Xiao Quanzi was afraid that Xie Yuxiao would lose control of his anger and attack Xie Yunqi.

It's surprising that Xiao Quanzi, who always advises Xie Yunqi to think things through, actually cares about him a lot.

Sheng Sheng smiled and patted her chest to assure him, "Don't worry, with Sheng Sheng here, Fifth Prince won't lose a single hair!"

Xiao Quanzi was overjoyed: "Thank you so much, Second Princess!"

When Sheng Sheng entered, she first smelled a faint medicinal scent, and then saw Xie Yunqi and Xie Yunwen sitting face to face at the desk.

The desk must have been placed there temporarily. Xie Yunwen was sitting in a wheelchair, and the desk was just level with his knees, which was not a convenient height for him.

Xie Yunwen held a book in her hand and read aloud poetry, looking both helpless and amused.

Xie Yunqi was writing furiously across from him with a long face; it seemed that Xie Yunwen was giving Xie Yunqi a dictation.

Xie Yuxiao stood beside Xie Yunqi, staring intently at what Xie Yunqi had written. His face was ashen, and his chest heaved up and down, suggesting that Xie Yunqi was extremely angry.

Consort Liang stood petitely beside Xie Yuxiao, constantly covering her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, looking as if she were about to collapse, her eyes occasionally glancing tenderly at Xie Yuxiao.

Unfortunately, Xie Yuxiao didn't even glance at her; his attention was entirely on Xie Yunqi, completely wasting the flirtatious glances from Consort Liang.

What intrigued Sheng Sheng was a red iron cage hanging by the window, inside which was a red parrot.

"Father!"

Sheng Sheng ran over with small, quick steps. Xie Yuxiao's expression softened slightly upon hearing her voice. He sighed, pinched his nose, and composed himself.

Upon seeing Sheng Sheng, Xie Yunqi's listless aura noticeably dissipated.

Sheng Sheng bowed respectfully to Xie Yuxiao and Consort Liang, then addressed them as "Fourth Imperial Brother" and "Fifth Imperial Brother" respectively, before speaking softly and affectionately to Xie Yuxiao.

The first trick to calm down anger is to act cute.

"Father, what are you doing here? I've missed you so much all night."

Xie Yuxiao gently pinched her nose: "You're such a chatterbox. I haven't heard you say you miss your father for days. I bet it was Xiao Quanzi who sent you to rescue your fifth brother."

Xie Yuxiao glanced at Xiao Quanzi, who chuckled awkwardly and lowered his head, pretending he wasn't there.

Sheng Sheng blinked and said gently, "Then you're mistaken. I actually came to see my fourth brother today, and I really didn't expect to run into Father here. Doesn't this mean that I and Father have a very special connection?"

Sheng Sheng chuckled, hugged Xie Yuxiao, and then quickly gave Xie Yunwen a wink.

The second way to quell anger: Distract them!

Xie Yunwen understood: "Second Imperial Sister, what brings you here?"

Sheng Sheng tugged at her skirt and jumped in front of Xie Yunwen, cheerfully telling him about the picnic plans at Yunshan Farm, and then invited him: "Fourth brother, come along too! Everyone's going, we're just missing you!"

When Xie Yunqi first heard that Xie Yunjia was also going with them, the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

But he was forced to write here all day, and Xie Yuxiao wouldn't let him say anything else to Xie Yunwen. If he did, Xie Yuxiao would give him a warning look, so he could only keep writing. His once vibrant heart had long since become a barren wasteland.

Having finally managed to get a word in edgewise, he didn't care about thanking Yunjia anymore. He threw down his pen and quickly said, "Yes, yes, Fourth Brother, let's go together! You see, come to think of it, none of us brothers and sisters have ever gone anywhere together!"

After a pause, Xie Yunqi added, "Uh, the eldest brother doesn't count. He's always leading troops in battle, so he can't play even if he wants to."

Xie Yunwen was actually quite tempted. He had never left the palace, but what attracted him most was not leaving the palace, but the idea of ​​going with his brothers and sisters.

Xie Yunwen opened his mouth, about to agree, when Consort Liang, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up.

"No, have you forgotten all the lessons your mother assigned you? You have so many books to read every day, and you also have to practice calligraphy. How can you have time to go out and play?"

Consort Liang spoke sternly, glancing at Xie Yuxiao without revealing her true feelings, as if she was eager to establish herself as a mother who actively disciplines her son's studies.

Sheng Sheng tilted her head, somewhat not quite understanding.

Sheng Sheng looked around and indeed saw several bookshelves along the wall, filled to the brim with books.

So much effort! Even on your days off, you have to work this hard.

"Load, load, load!"

A somewhat shrill voice suddenly entered Sheng Sheng's ears. Sheng Sheng looked around but didn't see anyone open their mouth.