111. Are you going to make new friends?

As the sun gradually set, the jubilation on the training ground subsided.

Qu Zijin looked at the group of little guys who were staggering around in front of him and finally announced, "That's all for today, everyone take a short break."

As soon as he finished speaking, the children scattered like playful ponies.

The little princess pulled her little dumpling to the shade of a tree to share snacks, chattering excitedly about the competition they had just had.

Just as Qu Zijin was about to breathe a sigh of relief, his clothes were grabbed.

He looked down and saw his second brother looking up at him with bright, sparkling eyes: "Master, teach me one more move! Just one more move!"

“Li Zhi…” Qu Zijin squatted down helplessly, “I really can’t be your master…”

"Master, you're being modest again!" the second brother persisted. "Your archery skills are absolutely top-notch in the martial arts world! Your disciple begs you to teach me the secret techniques and incantations!"

"Where did this mental cultivation technique come from...?"

"That's it!" the second brother gestured excitedly. "That's it—'If I become a Buddha, there will be no demons in the world. If I become a demon, what can Buddha do to me? Hehehe, tremble, you ants!'"

Qu Zijin: "?"

"And there's more!" The second brother was completely fired up. "'My fate is in my own hands, not in the heavens; defying fate is the craziest thing I can do! With Tai Chi in my left hand, I break all laws; with a demonic blade in my right, I slay gods and immortals!'"

"...Stop talking, I'm begging you." Qu Zijin finally couldn't take it anymore.

"Huh? Why? Master, don't you think this incantation is amazing? Just listening to it makes you feel excited!"

"Absolutely not."

"Why...?"

Just as they were arguing, the young prince suddenly walked over with a dark face and grabbed his second brother by the back of his collar: "Jin Lizhi! You come here right now!"

"Hey, hey, hey? Your Highness?" The second brother was suddenly dragged away. "I was just asking Master about martial arts!"

"Jin Lizhi!" The young prince dragged him to a secluded spot, his brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly. "You stand properly for me!"

The second brother, confused, asked, "What's wrong?"

The young prince lowered his voice and scolded, "Aren't you ashamed! The second young master of the Marquis of Beiding's mansion, chasing after the Grand Tutor and calling him 'Master,' what kind of behavior is that!"

"Where is it shameful?" the second brother retorted.

The young prince took a deep breath and tried his best to display the majesty of a prince: "As my study companion, how can you call me 'Master' and 'secret techniques' all day long? What kind of behavior is that?"

"But the Grand Tutor is truly amazing! Didn't Your Highness also see that dark, blazing dragon break through..."

"Shut up!" The little prince stamped his foot in frustration, his face flushed red. "Don't say anything that makes people embarrassed!"

The second brother blinked, then suddenly leaned closer: "Your Highness, you wouldn't happen to be..."

"What is it?" The young prince took a half step back warily.

"Are you jealous that I can become an apprentice?" The second brother shook his head smugly.

"What nonsense are you spouting!" The young prince was so angry his hair almost stood on end. "I think you're a disgrace! A disgrace to the Marquis of Beiding's mansion! A... a disgrace to me!"

He became more and more agitated as he spoke: "Do you know that if this gets out, everyone will laugh at us!"

The second brother curled his lip, completely unconcerned: "What do they know..."

"They just don't understand!" The little prince grabbed his second brother's collar. "But you're mine. If you're laughed at, it's the same as me being laughed at. Then the Grand Tutor, Little Moon, and Chaoyun will all be laughed at! So, I can't watch you be laughed at!"

These words stunned the second brother.

He stared blankly at the little prince who was always competing with him, and suddenly realized—wait, was he thinking of him?

He was a little touched: "Your Highness..."

"What are you yelling about!" the young prince interrupted him fiercely. "If you want to learn archery in the future, I'll ask my father to find you a general as your teacher! But don't call him 'Grand Tutor' in public anymore! Especially, especially don't say those embarrassing things anymore! Do you hear me?"

The second brother's eyes lit up: "Your Highness is going to find me a peerless master as my teacher? Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness!"

"Why are we going back to the topic of peerless masters again?!" The little prince rolled his eyes in exasperation at his appearance.

-

As the sun set, today's lessons were successfully completed.

The little boy, carrying a small bundle on his back, skipped and hopped, leading his second brother out of the training ground. In the distance, they could see Xie Wenling's carriage already waiting there.

The drill ground was in a spacious location and far from the major palaces, so carriages could drive directly outside the drill ground.

"Thank you, brother!" the little dumpling cheered and rushed over like a happy little bird.

Xie Wenling put down the official documents in his hand: "School's out."

"Mmm!" The little dumpling couldn't wait to be lifted onto the carriage by Xie Wenling, its short legs swinging in the air. "We learned archery! The Grand Tutor is so amazing!"

The second brother followed behind, nodding repeatedly: "That's right, that's right, it's a pity the Grand Tutor wouldn't accept me as his disciple..."

"Second Brother!" The little dumpling waved its arms. "The Grand Tutor said not to mention it again!"

"All right……"

Xie Wenling wasn't that curious, and didn't ask any more questions. He simply reached out and pulled his second brother into the car as well.

The carriage was spacious and comfortable, with a small table in the corner piled high with files and official documents.

After settling the two children in, Xie Wenling lowered his head and began reviewing his papers again.

The wheels turned, and the carriage traveled on a flat road without swaying.

The little dumpling glanced at Brother Xie, in front of him was a large stack of papers covered with writing, and next to him was a large pile of rolled-up portraits.

She wanted to talk to Brother Xie, but he seemed very busy, so she had no choice but to sit quietly.

Suddenly the carriage jolted, and several scrolls of portraits scattered all over the ground.

"Ouch!" The little dumpling was tossed into the air and landed, but luckily the cushions were soft and there was no impact.

"Something fell!" the second brother shouted.

Xie Wenling had already started bending down to pick things up.

"Moon, come and help too!" Little Dumpling also helped pick up the paintings and found that the ties binding two of the paintings had come loose, and the paintings were unfolded.

The little dumpling looked on curiously.

The first portrait depicts a boy of about five or six years old, dressed in a brocade robe embroidered with gold thread and wearing a small jade crown.

He sat upright in the armchair, his chin slightly raised, his round face bearing an air of pride beyond his years.

Those eyes were dark and bright, yet they exuded an air of arrogance, as if looking down on the painter.

The portrait bears the inscription "Dou Shichen, Heir Apparent of the Prince of Zhennan" in small characters.

“This brother looks so fierce…” The little dumpling shrank her neck and shifted her gaze to the second portrait.

The boy in the second portrait is about the same age as the Crown Prince of Zhennan, but he is dressed much more simply.

He stood ramrod straight, his small hands gripping the hem of his clothes tightly, his thin frame taut like a string.

Her pale face was framed by a pair of large, striking eyes that revealed a hint of timidity and unease.

His lips were pressed tightly together, and the stray hairs on his forehead seemed to stick to his skin from sweat.

The portrait is inscribed with "Bai Qingzhong, son of the King of Saigo".

"This little brother looks so pitiful..." the second brother sighed, staring at the portrait. "Is he very scared? He definitely needs the help of a great hero!"

Xie Wenling took the portraits and explained to them: "The first one is the heir of the Prince of Zhennan, who was spoiled since childhood. The second one is Young Master Bai, whose mother died early and who did not have a very happy life in the Prince's mansion."

The second brother said, "Thank you, Uncle Xie. They look about my age."

"That's about right. But most of the imperial family's children are precocious," Xie Wenling rolled up the portrait, his gaze calm. "These two children... one is spoiled, and the other is neglected. They both need to be properly taught."

The little dumpling clenched her pink fists: "When they come, Yue'er will share her favorite candy with them! Brother Dou won't be fierce after eating the candy, and Brother Bai will be happy after eating the candy!"

“Your Highness is very kind. However…” Xie Wenling paused, “These children are new to the capital and their temperaments are still developing. Your Highness should observe them first and not approach them rashly, okay?”

"Okay!" The little dumpling nodded obediently, resting her chin on her hand, her eyes fixed on Xie Wenling. "Then, Brother Xie, when will those two brothers come? Yue'er wants new friends!"