Chapter 41 Let him be.

Emperor Xiao Jing slowly strolled into Empress Xu's palace.

Before even entering the palace gates, one could hear the Seventh Prince's chattering voice coming from inside.

Emperor Xiao Jing gestured for the eunuchs and palace maids to be quiet, and then slowly led Wu Youde inside.

"Mother, these are pastries from Taoyuan Pavilion. My aunt bought them for me, and they're delicious."

And this is a fruit made at my aunt's house; it's delicious too.

My cousin secretly brought this back for me while he was strolling around Qianmen Street.

Hehe, they're all delicious.

"It's just as good as what the imperial chefs in the palace make!" the Seventh Prince said proudly.

"So you took it out to prepare it for us to eat?" The crown prince asked with a smile.

"Hehe, my aunt told me that I should give it to close relatives, not to strangers," the Seventh Prince said embarrassedly.

Immediately following was the hearty laughter of Empress Xu and the Crown Prince.

Emperor Xiao Jing couldn't help but smile.

That silly little Qi.

His aunt probably meant that she was afraid someone in the palace would use these snacks to cause trouble!

This kid actually interpreted it as not giving food to people he didn't get to eat because of a bad relationship...

With this in mind, Emperor Xiao Jing finally stepped through the gate.

Wu Youde then shouted at the top of his lungs, "The Emperor has arrived!"

The eunuchs and maids in the Empress's palace immediately knelt down, and Empress Xu also came out with the Crown Prince and the Seventh Prince.

Empress Xu was about to perform the ceremony when Emperor Xiao Jing waved his hand.

"I've finished dealing with those memorials, so I came to check on things. I didn't expect the Crown Prince and Xiao Qi to be here too!"

Empress Xu smiled and personally served tea to Emperor Xiao Jing.

Emperor Xiao Jing looked at the Crown Prince and the Seventh Prince, who stood respectfully with their hands at their sides, and smiled.

"Please sit down! Weren't you chatting quite cheerfully just now? What's wrong? Why are you acting like a mouse seeing a cat the moment I arrive?"

The crown prince quickly bowed and paid his respects.

The seventh prince was about to bow when Emperor Xiao Jing waved to him.

"Come here and let me see what good things you've brought back. You didn't even bring them to the Hall of Diligent Governance for me to see."

Upon hearing this, the Seventh Prince hurriedly brought out the boxes of pastries he had previously shown off to Emperor Xiao Jing.

"My aunt prepared some delicious snacks for me."

"Father, listen, it's so crispy!" the Seventh Prince said, popping a piece into his mouth.

Watching the Seventh Prince diligently chewing the piece of candy, while looking at her with a serious expression.

Emperor Xiao Jing also looked into the snack box.

Sure enough, just like before he ascended the throne, the snacks at the Peach Garden Pavilion outside the palace were the same.

"Father, this is a baby candy. It's my favorite. My aunt bought it for me especially." The Seventh Prince pointed to a piece of candy about the size of a finger inside.

Emperor Xiao Jing paused for a moment, then picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.

"Your Majesty..." Wu Youde, who was standing to the side, tried to persuade him.

Emperor Xiao Jing waved his hand at him.

Feeling the sweet aroma spreading in his mouth, along with the crispness, Emperor Xiao Jing's thoughts became a little hazy.

It seems like a long time ago, there was a piece of candy just like this.

A little girl with two golden bells tied to her head also put a piece of this candy into her mouth.

"Is it delicious? It's my favorite food. Now that I've given it to you, you can't hide here feeling miserable anymore..."

"Father, is it delicious?" The Seventh Prince's voice brought Emperor Xiao Jing back to reality.

Emperor Xiao Jing snapped out of his daze and immediately saw the Seventh Prince staring wide-eyed at him, waiting for him to speak!

"Delicious! Little Qi knows how to eat, and your aunt knows how to shop too. This stuff is really good." Emperor Xiao Jing said with a smile.

The seventh prince then grinned.

Then the box of candy was given to Empress Xu, and the Crown Prince also took a piece.

Even Wu Youde, who served Emperor Xiao Jing, was given a piece.

"Father, these snacks need to be chewed, and they are not suitable for Grandmother to eat, so I did not send them to her," the Seventh Prince explained.

Emperor Xiao Jing nodded.

That's right, these pastries and dried fruits are hard to chew, so it's best not to send them to the Empress Dowager.

"You can keep it for yourself. We're just having a taste, we won't fight you for it," Emperor Xiao Jing said with a smile.

The seventh prince then put all the pastries away.

"What else did your aunt prepare for you? Any little trinkets?" Emperor Xiao Jing continued to ask.

The seventh prince shook his head and instead took out the long box of gold ingots that Old Madam Shen had given him.

"My aunt and the old lady prepared these, saying they were for my use."

"Father, look how beautiful these little gold ingots are! They come in all sorts of designs!" the Seventh Prince continued to show off.

Emperor Xiao Jing peeked out and saw that they were indeed the small gold ingots that ministers usually used to give as gifts.

However, the Seventh Prince probably doesn't have it...

Emperor Xiao Jing sighed inwardly.

It's Xiaoqi's aunt who's so thoughtful. Xiaoqi is growing up and can't be treated like she was when she was little anymore. Giving some gifts to the people who serve her will help her survive better in the palace!

“They are quite beautiful. You like these? Wu Youde, have the Imperial Household Department recast a batch of gold ingots, all kinds of designs.”

Each palace had its own offerings.

"Give the Seventh Prince a generous reward as well. Children love these new and exciting things to do," Emperor Xiao Jing instructed Wu Youde.

Wu Youde agreed.

Empress Xu smiled and nodded.

The Crown Prince was taken aback for a moment, but then quickly smiled and echoed his sentiment.

"Seventh Brother likes these. I have quite a few myself. I'll have someone send some over to Seventh Brother later."

Emperor Xiao Jing smiled and nodded.

Seeing the Seventh Prince's overjoyed expression, Emperor Xiao Jing's smile seemed even more genuine.

"Would it be fun to go and pay respects to the old lady of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion on her birthday?"

"It was so much fun. I talked with my cousins ​​all night long, all crammed into one bed, and we still had so much to say."

"Hehe!" The Seventh Prince was a little embarrassed.

Emperor Xiao Jing thought it was normal. He had met the young men from the Duke of Dingguo's mansion before, and Shen Huaichen had spoiled them rotten.

"Do you still want to go play?" Emperor Xiao Jing continued to ask.

"Yes, Father! My aunt told me that if I want to visit their residence again, I just need to tell you properly."

"I'm sure you'll agree." The Seventh Prince looked at Emperor Xiao Jing expectantly again.

Looking into those eyes that were exactly the same as those in his memory, Emperor Xiao Jing's heart softened immediately.

"Your aunt is right. As long as you talk to me properly, I will definitely agree."

How about this: you can go to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion on your days off.

However, you should tell me and your mother that we will arrange for someone to follow you.

As for the rest of the time...

"Father, my aunt's tutors are also very good," the Seventh Prince suddenly said.

Emperor Xiao Jing knew, of course, that the tutors at the Duke of Dingguo's mansion were excellent; how could they not be good if they were found with the help of Old Master Shangguan?

However, the scholars invited by these officials all spoke of the principles of being a subject, how to be loyal to the emperor and love one's country, and how to be both loyal and filial...

The tutors in the palace, however, taught the art of being a ruler, how to govern one's subordinates...

"Do you want to study at your aunt's house?" Emperor Xiao Jing suddenly asked.

"Yes!" the Seventh Prince said without hesitation.

"Granted! Go if you want to go," Emperor Xiao Jing said with a smile.

"Your Majesty..." Empress Xu was somewhat surprised.

"Father..." The Crown Prince was also a little surprised.

"Your subject kowtows to thank Your Majesty!" The Seventh Prince immediately bowed respectfully to Emperor Xiao Jing.

"Xiao Qi is still young. It was unfair to keep him confined in the palace before."

He's destined for a life of wealth and privilege, let him be!

By the way, Your Highness, your previous memorial on river management was quite good; it showed much improvement compared to before, and I am very pleased.

Also, you need to keep an eye on the Ministry of Revenue.

"The Imperial Observatory has said that this year is unlikely to be peaceful, and I estimate that there will be many places where we will need to spend money," Emperor Xiao Jing said with a smile.

The crown prince bowed and accepted.