63. Haha, you've finally met your match!

Qu Zijin thought to himself, although there is a big age difference between the two, since Jin Lanyue said that he is Brother Xie, then he is Brother Xie.

"oh?"

"That young master carried Princess Fukang all the way to the academy gate. Princess Fukang was very attached to him..." Qu Zijin felt a pang of sadness.

"I see... My dear minister, please continue."

Qu Zijin became increasingly distressed as he spoke: "Your Majesty, I just felt... that this was wrong... I wanted to hug Princess Fukang, but she wouldn't let me, she only clung to that cousin..."

"Ha ha!"

Wei Xiuming: Haha, you've finally met your match!

"???"

Qu Zijin was speaking of something sad when he suddenly heard laughter. He looked up in disbelief at the emperor in front of him.

The moment Qu Zijin looked up, Wei Xiuming quickly wiped the gloating smile off his face, feigning seriousness. But seeing Qu Zijin's jealous expression, he was inwardly overjoyed: Hahahaha! What goes around comes around, and no one escapes the wrath of heaven!

He used to be able to only watch enviously as Qu Zijin held the little dumpling, but now it's Qu Zijin's turn to watch enviously as others hold the little dumpling.

No matter how much he was laughing inside, Wei Xiu maintained a serious expression on his face: "My dear minister, you are overthinking it. It is only natural for relatives to be close."

Qu Zijin frowned even more deeply: "Your Majesty, I am only worried..."

What are you worried about?

“Worried…” Qu Zijin suddenly became speechless, his ears turning red.

Wei Xiuming finally couldn't help but chuckle: "Alright, alright, I'll summon this Young Master Xie to the palace for a meeting another day."

Qu Zijin suddenly looked up: "Your Majesty!"

"What?" Wei Xiuming raised an eyebrow. "Does my minister have a problem?"

"Your Majesty, I dare not..." Qu Zijin bowed his head, his voice muffled, "I'm just worried that I might disturb Your Majesty..."

Wei Xiuming burst into laughter and patted Qu Zijin on the shoulder: "My dear minister..."

Before he could finish speaking, a sudden "whoosh" came from inside the window—

Inside, the four little ones started making a ruckus, and Jin Lanyue was frantically wiping the ink stains off her clothes, her little face covered in black marks.

The young prince, holding the overturned inkstone, was at a loss, and the skirts of his second brother and the little princess were also damaged.

Qu Zijin's expression changed instantly, and he forgot all about thanking the young master: "Your Majesty, please forgive me, this humble subject..."

"Go then. It seems you'll be quite busy today, my dear minister."

Qu Zijin hurriedly bowed and took his leave.

Inside the room, the four little ones all flashed ingratiating smiles as they watched Qu Zijin approach.

The little dumpling raised its ink-stained hand and said in a childish voice, "Grand Tutor...we didn't mean to..."

In short, this morning was really lively.

-

"My mother is here to pick me up!" Before school was even over, the little princess excitedly stood up from her seat.

The other three little heads simultaneously turned to look out the window.

A noblewoman dressed in palace attire walked slowly towards them, her golden phoenix hairpins remaining perfectly still, her every gesture exuding royal elegance.

The little dumpling looked around curiously.

"Chaoyun." Consort Xian stopped at the threshold.

The little princess threw herself into her arms: "Mother!"

Consort Xian embraced her, her gaze sweeping over the three children in the classroom. She then turned to signal the maid to bring out the brocade box: "It's our first meeting, so I've prepared a small gift."

Of course, although this wasn't the first time she had met the young prince, she had still prepared a gift for him.

Consort Xian addressed them, saying, "I have some news to tell you."

Since Consort Xian had entered the room, Qu Zijin, in order to avoid suspicion, got up and left the room, standing far away on the corridor, maintaining a proper distance.

Inside the room, Consort Xian gently stroked the little princess's head and announced the good news: "His Majesty will be hosting a banquet in the palace in three days, and Grand Tutor Qu is required to attend. Therefore, the school will be temporarily closed for the next few days."

"Really?" The little princess looked up in surprise.

Jin Lanyue was also very happy, but when she thought about how long she had rested and that she wouldn't be able to see the little princess for several days, she couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Your Majesty, can Yue'er go into the palace to play with the little princess?"

The virtuous concubine smiled slightly and nodded: "Of course you're welcome."

She turned to the little princess: "Chaoyun should also treat the guests well."

The little princess said happily, "Don't worry!"

"Then we'll be going now." Consort Xian smiled, took the little princess's hand and left. The little princess turned back and waved goodbye to her friends.

Before long, the young prince was also respectfully taken away by the palace servants.

Only the little dumpling and her second brother remained, peering out from the school gate.

Qu Zijin walked in slowly: "Teacher, Jin, would you like me to escort you back to your residence?"

He paused for a moment, then said, "We can buy candied hawthorns on the way."

The little dumpling's eyes lit up immediately: "Candied hawthorn...that's great!"

She shook her little head, reluctantly refusing, "Yue'er wants to wait for Brother Xie!"

"I see..." Qu Zijin's eyes dimmed, feeling extremely disappointed. Just as he was about to say something more, his gaze suddenly sharpened.

A vibrant figure appeared from the horizon.

"Thank you, Brother Xie!" The little girl ran over like a happy bird, hugged Xie Wenling's leg, and looked up at him excitedly, saying, "Yue'er is going on vacation! Four days!"

Xie Wenling tried to pull his leg out without showing any emotion but failed: "Hmm, I've heard about it."

"The little princess's mother said that His Majesty is going to hold a gathering..." The little dumpling let go of him on her own initiative, because she wanted to count on her fingers, "We can rest for three days, plus Yue'er's day off, that's four days!"

"A banquet..." Xie Wenling also wanted to know about the banquet. "I received an invitation today too. Is it because of you?"

Qu Zijin, who had been quietly following, confirmed, "Yes."

This was within Xie Wenling's expectations.

After all, he was an outsider who had just arrived in the capital. Without any achievements, he was fortunate enough to come into the emperor's sight and be summoned by the emperor. There was only one reason for this—he was introduced by someone.

And the only people who could introduce him were the Marquis of Beiding and his family.

Based on the timing, Xie Wenling naturally concluded that it was this little dumpling in front of him who had given him this opportunity.

He looked down at the little dumpling.

The little dumpling blinked its big eyes, looking completely bewildered: "What...what does it have to do with Yue'er?"

Clearly, the little dumpling who started it all knew nothing.

Qu Zijin lowered his eyes and said, "In short, since Lord Xie has accepted this favor, I hope you will remember it in your heart. I do not ask for a great return, but only to repay kindness with kindness."

Qu Zijin knew all too well how much hardship one had to endure to climb the ranks in officialdom without any help.

This time, Xie Wenling can be said to have taken a shortcut, avoiding several years of detours.

From any perspective... he was truly jealous of Xie Wenling.

"Ding, ding, I don't understand..." The little dumpling was even more confused.

The Grand Tutor started saying those strange things again.

But Qu Zijin had already turned and left, his figure appearing somewhat lonely in the twilight.