Chapter 33: You can prevent it on the first day, but you can’t stop it on the fifteenth!

The end of the year is approaching, and the National Academy’s semi-annual assessment is about to begin.

Xihe tried hard to appear diligent and studious.

"It's okay. If you drop anything, I'll make it up to you." said the eldest prince.

Xihe smiled awkwardly and continued, "This...Brother has been very busy lately. I'd better not bother you. I can handle it on my own!"

Zhao Chengning believed it without a doubt, but Zhao Jinyuan on the side glanced at the little girl with a half-smile.

The eldest prince was assigned an errand by Emperor Jingyuan and did not often visit the National Academy, but he heard a few things about his younger sister.

Seeing that he couldn't continue, Xihe looked at Zhao Jinyuan for help.

Zhao Jinyuan smiled slightly and spoke to the rescue, "Alright, big brother, if Xihe wants to learn on her own, let her. It's a good opportunity to discuss the matter of the Jingjiao Camp with you."

Zhao Chengning's attention was indeed drawn away. "Go ahead."

Xihe gave Zhao Jinyuan a thumbs up.

Well done!

The little girl was looking at the picture album in her hand with great interest, and accidentally heard Zhao Jinyuan talking about leading troops.

"Second brother, are you going to lead the troops?"

Zhao Jinyuan smiled and nodded, "Yes, Commander Xu said that I am old enough to gain independent experience, and the day before yesterday he asked my father for permission to take over the defense of the southern city."

Speaking of this, Zhao Jinyuan's face became a little more cheerful.

In the past, the Jingjiao Camp was controlled by the Yun family, who had put many obstacles in his way, both overtly and covertly, suppressing him and preventing him from making a breakthrough. After Xu Qingye took over, he discovered Zhao Jinyuan's undisputed talent and had no intention of suppressing him. After consulting Zhao Jinyuan, he submitted a memorial the next day.

Xihe muttered, "Leading the troops, will it be dangerous?"

Zhao Jinyuan pondered for a moment, "Fortunately, the main body belongs to the imperial city, and the main purpose is to maintain order. There is no major danger."

Hearing this, Xihe nodded seriously, turned around, took out a peace amulet from behind, and handed it to Zhao Jinyuan, "Second brother, take it! Keep you safe!"

Zhao Jinyuan glanced blankly behind his little sister, wondering where the little girl took the thing out from, but his hand took the amulet first.

"For me?"

Zhao Jinyuan stroked the amulet in his hand. It felt heavy, and he vaguely felt something hard. "Why put a piece of... iron?"

I’ve heard of placing talismans and copper coins, but this is the first time I’ve seen someone placing iron sheets.

Xihe stroked his nonexistent beard, looking like a sage. "Oh, you don't understand! Only iron sheets can protect against swords and knives. Talismans and the like are light and airy, this is still the real deal!"

What Xihe didn't say was that it was a thousand-year-old black iron, invulnerable to swords and spears. She dug it out from the corner of the medicine cabinet, and there was only one piece of it.

Zhao Jinyuan held the iron sheet, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Zhao Chengning spit out his tea, patted Zhao Jinyuan on the shoulder, and consoled him solemnly, "Not bad, either."

Zhao Jinyuan gave him a chilling look and put the amulet into his arms. "Okay, Royal Brother, take it. Thank you, our little darling."

Ever since Concubine Xian started calling him by this title, Zhao Jinyuan also changed his name to this one.

His lovely little sister is really a little darling.

Xihe smiled contentedly and sank back into the golden house.

Suddenly there was a cough. Xihe looked up in panic and exchanged glances with the eldest prince.

Zhao Chengning took a sip of tea unnaturally, "Xihe, where's my brother's?"

Xihe wanted to take out the prepared food, but after hearing this, he became playful and pretended to be guilty, "Oh no, I forgot to make it for big brother."

"Third brother and fourth sister have given theirs, little brother's is being made, and father and mother's are here."

With every word Xihe spoke, Zhao Chengning's face became darker.

Okay, okay, Xiao Mingxuan has them all, but he doesn’t!

Zhao Chengning's expression at this moment was like that of an abandoned woman, as if she would cover her face and cry and walk away in the next second.

Zhao Jinyuan saw through it but didn't say anything. He turned his back slightly, his shoulders shaking constantly.

Seeing Zhao Chengning sighing, Xihe finally pulled out a peace amulet of the same color from behind her back. She jumped into Zhao Chengning's arms and tied it around his waist. "How could I forget big brother? You've been the best to me."

After saying that, she leaned in and kissed the eldest prince.

Zhao Chengning was stunned for a moment, and turned his head away awkwardly under the teasing gazes of the two people, but he felt sweet in his heart.

"My dear sister, tell me what you want to eat or play, and I will get it for you!" Zhao Chengning put the amulet in his palm and turned it over from left to right, feeling elated.

The little girl listed a lot of things in detail, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Big Brother, can I... go see the Fifth Brother?"

Zhao Chengning's expression darkened slightly as he considered his words carefully. "Why do you suddenly want to visit Fifth Brother?"

Xihe said: "Well... I haven't met the fifth brother yet, I want to meet him."

Zhao Chengning and Zhao Jinyuan looked at each other and saw curiosity in each other's eyes.

Zhao Chengning hesitated, "Xihe, I can't make the decision on this matter. I need the royal father's permission."

Because of the leg problem, the Fifth Prince's temper became increasingly gloomy. Ever since someone died in Changqiu Palace, rumors began to spread that the Fifth Prince had a violent temper and often beat and scolded palace maids.

Emperor Jingyuan might not be unaware of this, but he was too lazy to care. He just issued an order without his knowledge that no one was allowed to approach Changqiu Palace.

"Is that so?" Xihe lowered his head in thought, not knowing what he was thinking. "Okay then."

Xihe had no intention of forcing them, and as noon was approaching, the two princes stayed in Fuhua Palace for dinner.

During the meal, Zhao Jinyuan was in charge of two things at the same time. He had to wipe Xihe's mouth and pick up food for Zhao Chengning. He was extremely busy.

*

Xihe once again embarked on the drowsy journey of the National Academy.

"Little brother~" Xihe threw herself into Xiao Mingxuan's arms under everyone's curious gaze.

Xiao Mingxuan raised his hand habitually and took the little girl.

"Catch me!" It was winter, and Xihe was wrapped like a ball. From a distance, one could only see a snowball rolling into the arms of the Ninth Prince.

A small head slowly emerged from the snowball, and its bright eyes stared straight at Xiao Mingxuan.

"Yeah, I caught it."

Xiao Mingxuan untied the little girl's cloak, brushed off the snowflakes on her hair, put the warm hand warmer into her hands, and took the food box from the servant, "This is the new cake from Kuixingzhai, try it."

The little girl looked at the unfamiliar face in front of her curiously, but her attention was soon drawn back to the pastries.

It was so delicious after one bite, "Brother, why are you so nice to me all of a sudden? Are you trying to please me?"

Xihe had just said it casually, but unexpectedly Xiao Mingxuan replied seriously: "Yes, I'm trying to please you."

Xihe was stunned, and the pastry fell to the table with a plop.

Xiao Mingxuan's eyes were very beautiful, slightly raised like peach blossoms flying in the air. They had experienced the flames of war and witnessed the beauty of snow. The bottom of his deep eyes were filled with tiny lights, like a whirlpool that wanted to suck people in. There was an unknown madness hidden under his clear eyes.

Xihe was being watched, and everything was silent. At that moment, she could only hear her own heartbeat.

Plop, plop.

It's much faster than usual.

"Why?" Xihe asked.

Xiao Mingxuan smiled, a glimmer flashed in his eyes, and handed over another piece of cake. "Who made me offend a little girl? I have to apologize."

Xihe knew he was talking about the incident in Mingyue Palace, so she whispered, "That's not necessary, I've stopped being angry with you."

Because she was also wrong, Xihe always felt unworthy.

Xiao Mingxuan sighed and said without question, "Xiao Xi'er, look at me!"

Xihe met those deep eyes and waited quietly for the other party's next words.

"Xiao Xi'er, I care about you, so I'm willing to do this. You don't have to feel indebted." Xiao Mingxuan straightened the little girl's hair that was scattered on her forehead. "If Xiao Xi'er feels sorry for me, then spend more time with me, okay?"

Xihe's mind was a mess and she couldn't remember anything. She basically just believed whatever Xiao Mingxuan said.

Seeing the other person nod, Xiao Mingxuan let go with satisfaction.

As soon as Master Li arrived, Xihe prepared to go to sleep.

This time, Xiao Mingxuan stopped him, "The annual exam is in half a month. Are you planning to hand in a blank paper?"

Xihe shuddered and shook a few times.

Damn it! Even though she said that, she really didn't attend a single class.

Do you really want to ask big brother for extra lessons?

Xihe searched in his mind and looked for help at the person next to him, "Little brother, help!"

The little girl looked at him pitifully, just like the hamster.

Xiao Mingxuan couldn't help laughing out loud, and immediately earned a threat from the little girl to strangle him.

"You want me to give you extra lessons?"

The little girl's eyes suddenly lit up, she nodded repeatedly, and hugged Xiao Mingxuan tightly with her arms, fearing that this mobile tutor would run away.

Xiao Mingxuan seemed to be in deep thought for a moment, "Then you have to give me some benefits."

Xihe let out an "ah" with a slightly strange look on his face. After a moment, he tentatively asked, "Then... can I give you a fragrant scent? Okay?"

The little girl thought she was very clever and was about to pounce on him in front of everyone in the school.

Xiao Mingxuan's expression changed drastically, and he quickly held down the restless little girl, his cheeks flushed.

He glanced around and said in a low voice, "Not here, let's talk about it when we get back!"

Xihe felt that there was something wrong with this statement, but he couldn't figure out what was wrong for a long time, so he had to agree to it.

She asked, "Brother, can we make up for it in Mingyue Palace?"

Xiao Mingxuan flipped a page of the book and asked casually, "Want to go outside?"

Xihe nodded hurriedly, "Is it okay?"

Xiao Mingxuan couldn't help but reach out and pinch the little girl's cheek, and only withdrew his hand when she was on the verge of losing her temper. "Okay, but you have to listen to me and don't run around."

The last confrontation with Emperor Jingyuan could be considered a silent negotiation. Emperor Jingyuan broadened his scope of activities, but also increased the number of people lurking around him.

"I'll definitely listen!" Xihe was overjoyed and leaned over to kiss Xiao Mingxuan, "Little brother is the best."

Xiao Mingxuan froze.

Okay, okay, I can prevent it on the first day, but I can’t stop it on the fifteenth.

Zhao Xihe, you are great!

The sound of reading in the school suddenly stopped, and Tutor Li looked at the two people in the corner with hesitation, wanting to say something.

The smile on Xihe's face froze.

She suddenly remembered that her little brother had just said that one should not be affectionate with others outside.

After a long while, he chuckled twice and said, "Haha, sleep...sleep."

After saying that, he immediately lay down on the table and buried his head in his arms.

Just kill yourself.

Li Taifu: "..."

Hmm~ I’m really old and my eyes are blurry.

Xiao Mingxuan coughed twice, tilted his head and looked out the window, his ears and neck were completely red.

The National Academy prepared a resting place for each student. After lunch, Xihe began to feel drowsy, but was unwilling to go back to his residence and insisted on pestering Xiao Mingxuan.

If you speak too hastily, you will cry.

The rest area was separated by gender. Xiao Mingxuan didn't want others to see Xihe, so he took her back to the carriage.

Fortunately, the carriage was big enough, so Xiao Mingxuan held her in his arms and wrapped her tightly in fox fur. "Go to sleep. I'll wake you when it's time."

The little girl's consciousness was already blurred. She said "hmm" in a muffled voice and fell into a dream.

Xiao Mingxuan felt a little cold, and the injury on his back was aching slightly, so he had a splitting headache. He leaned against the wall of the carriage and closed his eyes to rest.

His brows were tightly furrowed, his lips were slightly pale, and he looked quite irritable, as if he had had a nightmare and couldn't wake up.

The space is small, and the charming smell has nowhere to hide. The faint milky aroma in the nose invades the brain nerves, and it feels like a taut thread that will break with a slight force.

A strand of red thread appeared on Xihe's wrist and entered Xiao Mingxuan's body.

His frown relaxed slightly and he fell into a deep sleep.

Half asleep and half awake, Xiao Mingxuan felt a sense of emptiness in his arms. A cold wind blew into his arms, and he couldn't help but shiver. Soon, the cold wind was blocked, and a hint of warmth appeared in his arms.

Xiao Mingxuan had woken up, but consciousness had not yet returned. His eyelids were extremely heavy and he could not open his eyes, but a familiar voice rang in his ears.

"Greetings, Princess Zhaoyuan." Zhou Tingchuan occasionally went out for a walk and met Xihe who was sticking her head out of the carriage.

When Xihe heard the sound, she looked and saw a man in white clothes. He was tall and graceful, playing with a folding fan in his hand. He looked gentle and elegant.

"Hello!" The little girl tilted her head and smiled.

Zhou Tingchuan paused, put the fan in the palm of his hand, forgot what to do for a moment, and stared at the smiling face infatuatedly.

After a long time, a warm smile appeared on his face, "Your Highness is well."

There was some surprise in Zhou Tingchuan's eyes.

This little princess is different from the rumors that she is domineering, scoundrel and scheming.

Just as he was about to say a few more words, a voice came from the carriage, carrying a hint of chill, even colder than the wind and snow. Zhou Tingchuan couldn't help but frown.

"Xiao Xi'er, who are you talking to?" Xiao Mingxuan's voice was hoarse and slightly deep. He rubbed his brow with one hand, as if he was in great pain.

As expected, Xihe's attention was drawn back. Seeing that Xiao Mingxuan looked unhappy, she moved closer.

Their foreheads were pressed tightly together, and the warm breath from their noses hit each other's faces.

"Xiao Xier!" Xiao Mingxuan's breathing became disordered.

Xihe didn't feel uncomfortable at all, and said to herself: "Little brother, your forehead is so hot, you are sick!"

Xiao Mingxuan certainly knew that he was sick, but the heat in his body was not entirely due to the illness.

Before he could say anything, the little girl hurriedly poked her head out and said, "Sister Yunhui, let's go back to the palace quickly. My brother is sick."

"I understand."