Chapter 214 Previously, Sheng Sheng and Pei Ji were the same.

"Alright, alright, Father is right." Sheng Sheng comforted herself. "Actually, it's not awkward for Sheng Sheng to go alone. I see that Sister Yan Yan and the others like me quite a bit. Maybe they can take me dancing with them! At worst, I can just take Fifth Brother with me and let Shi Tou play on the side."

Xie Yuxiao breathed a sigh of relief: "Yes, but you must be careful, you know? You must take guards with you wherever you go, so that your father and your brothers will not worry about you two children again."

"Mmm, okay, okay," she repeatedly assured him, then obediently lowered her head to eat her breakfast.

After finishing his meal, Sheng Sheng suddenly realized that he hadn't seen his older brother and the Crown Prince since yesterday morning. He wondered what they had been doing in such a hurry yesterday, and whether they hadn't returned yet.

Thinking of this, Sheng Sheng remembered that Xie Yuxiao and Lu Chaosong had just been discussing what rewards to give to those who performed well in this year's hunt, so she casually asked.

"Father, who won first place in this year's hunt? Did my brother and the Crown Prince do well?"

She naturally had no worries about her outstanding brothers, and she had also overheard Xie Yuxiao and Lu Chaosong chatting behind the screen when she arrived.

Father and General Lu are having a great time chatting. Judging from their tone, Father must be extremely happy with this list.

"You found out again."

Since the list was going to be released that night anyway, Xie Yuxiao simply opened it and showed it to Shengsheng.

At the very top, Xie Yunchuan's name was clearly written, and everyone felt a sense of expected surprise, clapping and cheering.

"Wow, both my brother and the Crown Prince are amazing!" Sheng Sheng looked further back and sure enough, she saw Lu Chi's name a little further back.

Xie Yuxiao also saw it. Just a short while ago, he had been praising Lu Chi to Lu Chaosong for his small age but great courage, so he wanted to say a few words of praise: "I heard that you went to stir up some kind of hornet's nest yesterday, and you even brought the second young master of the Lu family with you?"

"Yes, Father, don't underestimate Brother Lu Chi just because he's young. He knows martial arts! His lightness skill is amazing. Yesterday, he ran into those two notorious bandits, and they couldn't catch him."

"oh?"

This was unexpected by Xie Yuxiao.

Despite his young age, Lu Chi's exceptional martial arts skills surprised Xie Yuxiao, who already knew that Lu Chi had been learning martial arts from Lu Chaosong since childhood.

"The student surpasses the master! Lu Chaosong's son is sure to achieve great things in the future! Hahaha."

Xie Yuxiao was relieved by Lu Chaosong's loyalty. He was naturally pleased that the son of a loyal minister would become a useful talent for the court in the future.

Lu Chaosong's eldest son, Lu Yixue, also studied at the Wenhua Hall. However, he only returned home last year to prepare for the imperial examinations when he reached the age to take them. Judging by the time, he should be able to take the spring examinations this year.

“Lu Chaosong is truly blessed. His eldest son is Wen and his youngest son is Wu. Both of his sons are so outstanding, yet he complains to me all day long. I think he doesn’t know how lucky he is.”

Xie Yuxiao sighed, "Unlike your fifth brother, who always angers me, causing your father headaches and heartache. He makes you feel pain in every way."

Sheng Sheng chuckled, and after laughing, she still spoke well of Xie Yunqi: "Father, actually, Fifth Brother is a very good person. Although he may not be very good at studying, and his temperament can be a bit worrying, Fifth Brother is very kind and sentimental. Whenever Sheng Sheng is around, Fifth Brother protects her very much and is very attentive. Look, this time when Xiao Quanzi was injured, Fifth Brother was so worried that he cried."

Xie Yuxiao pondered for a while with a deep look in his eyes, and seeing that he had taken it to heart, he continued.

"Besides, my brothers are already very capable. Each of them has their own strengths. Although I haven't met the eldest brother yet, the other brothers are all great. Most importantly, they all have sincere hearts. And everyone gets along very well. Father, look, we children get along well, and Father and the ladies always love and care for us. That's enough. Father can't expect everyone to know everything."

Xie Yuxiao breathed a sigh of relief. He understood the principles; how could he not know them?

As a father, he hopes his children will excel, but what he hopes for most is that they can be happy and safe.

But he was not only a father, he was also a monarch.

When he gets old and dies, this empire will eventually be handed over to his children.

If they are not outstanding, how can he entrust the entire Yu Kingdom and its millions of people to them?

However, Xie Yuxiao strongly agreed with what Sheng Sheng said: Xie Yunchuan was steady, Xie Yunyang was honest, Xie Yunwen was intelligent, and Xie Yunqi... well, kind.

Most importantly, the brothers' relationship has grown stronger, which is what makes Xie Yuxiao most gratified.

He would use checks and balances in the court, but deep down he didn't want his children to experience a "nine princes vying for the throne" phenomenon, because that's how he got there.

The bloodshed and indifference involved were simply unbearable.

He sincerely hoped that his brothers could unite and work together to protect the kingdom of Yu.

Xie Yuxiao chuckled. He realized that he was now always being lectured by a five-year-old little dumpling.

Xie Yuxiao felt a mix of relief and sadness: "You, how come such a young person has so many profound principles?"

"Because Sheng Sheng is clever." Sheng Sheng smiled, but suddenly felt a pang of longing for someone else.

Why be content with the present?

The brothers are kind and respectful to each other, and the emperor dotes on them. Perhaps it is because they know that this harmony, which is within their reach, is something that some people yearn for but cannot obtain, that they cherish it even more.

For example, Pei Ji.

For example, her in the past.

No wonder Sheng Sheng always felt an unspeakable resonance with Pei Ji before; it turns out that before, Sheng Sheng and Pei Ji were the same.

They yearn for love, yet receive none, only to be met with even greater indifference.

The Duke of Jingguo...

Her thoughts drifted to the Duke of Jingguo's mansion, a place inextricably linked to her past.

Previously, due to a series of unforeseen circumstances, Qin Xiang, the second young master of the Duke of Jingguo's mansion, was demoted to a commoner, and the Duke of Jingguo's mansion had not been heard from in his sight for quite some time.

Thinking back now, it seems that the Duke of Jingguo deliberately avoided my gaze in the Imperial Study. Was it because he recognized me and felt guilty?

No one from the Duke of Jingguo's mansion came to the hunt this time. It is said that the eldest son was not present, the second son had become a commoner and was not eligible to participate, and the only daughter was young and frail. Therefore, the Duke and Duchess of Jingguo also took the opportunity not to participate.

But once you start speculating about something, it's hard to stop thinking about it.

Could it be that they are afraid of running into me?

After all, this kind of occasion is not like being in the palace, where it's easy to bump into someone just walking around.