Then he quickly got up and went to the outhouse in his yard to use it.

——————

Qin Jue picked up Xiao Xi'er after school in the afternoon.

Qin Jue personally carried Xiao Xi'er's small cloth bag containing writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

The father and daughter arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation in no time.

After entering the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Chunhe came in carrying two strings of candied hawthorns.

"Your Majesty, Princess, these are candied hawthorns that Commander Zou brought for you from outside the palace."

"Commander Zou instructed the servants that when the princess returned, they should give her the candied hawthorns."

Qin Jue nodded, and Chunhe then brought the candied hawthorn to Xiao Xi'er.

Little Xi'er stretched out both hands at the same time, and started eating a string of candied hawthorns in one hand.

Xiao Xi'er had just bitten off a hawthorn and was chewing it when she offered a string of candied hawthorns to Qin Jue's lips.

He mumbled indistinctly, "Daddy, you eat."

"I've already let Daddy try it, it's not sour, it's sweet."

Qin Jue took a bite of the candied hawthorn that Xiao Xi'er was holding up and ate it.

"Hmm, not bad."

"whee"

Qin Jue suddenly remembered that she hadn't seen Zou Heng all afternoon.

Where is Zou Heng?

"This servant does not know."

Chunhe bowed and answered.

"Go down."

Upon hearing Qin Jue's order, Chunhe left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

After Chunhe left, Yuying climbed down from the roof beam.

"Little Xi'er is really not being fair."

Little Xi'er, who was eating a candied hawthorn, looked up at Yu Ying with a puzzled expression.

"Little Xi'er only gives your father candied hawthorns, but not your uncle."

"Uncle is so sad."