Qin Jue left the Hall of Mental Cultivation and went to the Imperial Study.

As soon as Yang Fan and Bai Lin entered the Imperial Study, they noticed the hand warmer in Qin Jue's hand, which was clearly not the size of Qin Jue's hand.

The two exchanged glances and immediately knew that it was Qin Ruoxi who had given it to Qin Jue.

At the same time, he couldn't help but mutter to himself about Qin Jue. No wonder His Majesty seemed so pleased; he was showing off to us! No wonder I noticed that hand warmer in His Majesty's hand the moment he entered—it was clearly out of character for him; it must have been a deliberate act by His Majesty to let me see it!

After Bai Lin and Yang Fan figured it out, they were both speechless at Qin Jue's behavior and infuriated by his boasting about his daughter.

Qin Jue naturally noticed the way Bai Lin and Yang Fan were staring at the hand warmer in his hand, and also sensed the change in their auras. In a good mood, he sat down in the chair of honor.

After settling in, he looked at the two people standing below and asked them a question.

"What brings you two ministers here?"

Upon hearing Qin Jue's words, Bai Lin knelt down.

"Your Majesty, news of victory has arrived from the south. It is said that all three battles were resounding successes. The Third Prince and Prince Qi have worked together very well, rising from lowly soldiers to centurions. Baili Zhou has always been the one advising them, and now he is their right-hand man."

Qin Jue nodded. "Reward."

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty."

Upon hearing Qin Jue's word "reward," Bai Lin and Yang Fan knelt down six times, kowtowing to Qin Jingtai, Qi Sinan, and Baili Zhou in gratitude.

After bowing in gratitude, the two stood up again, looking at Qin Jue with somewhat worried expressions.

This greatly annoyed Qin Jue. "What is it? Speak!"

"Your Majesty, the end of the year is approaching."

Yang Fan came out, cupped his hands in a respectful greeting to Qin Jue, and said...

"Say it all at once," Qin Jue frowned in displeasure as Yang Fan only said half of what he wanted to say.

"Your Majesty, the end of the year is approaching, we can improve the army's meals."

"Approved. Bai Lin, you are the Minister of War. You can discuss this with the Minister of Revenue and express all your thoughts."

On this day, in the same season, at a different place and at a different time, in the southern evening.

Heavy snow was falling in the capital, but there was no snow in the south, where only a light winter coat was needed.

Qin Jingtai, Qi Sinan, and Baili Zhou sat around a campfire. A rack sat on top of the fire, and on the rack appeared to be a chicken skewered.

"We were really lucky; it was our first time up the mountain, and we caught a pheasant!"

As he spoke, Qin Jingtai brought his nose close and sniffed, then looked up.

"It smells so good!"

Qi Sinan turned away in disgust when she saw Qin Jingtai's expression, clicking her tongue in disapproval.

"Tsk tsk tsk"

Bailizhou also had a lot to say to Qin Jingtai, "Can't you at least pay attention to your image?"

"You're still the third prince, aren't you?"

Qin Jingtai was somewhat displeased upon hearing Bailizhou's words and immediately spoke to Bailizhou.

"I am no longer the Third Prince, I am simply Qin Jingtai."

"I know, but do you think Nan and I treat you like the Third Prince?"

"Qisinan has never had one."

Qin Jingtai glanced at Qi Sinan, recalling past events, and then spoke directly.

Upon hearing this, Qi Sinan rolled his eyes. Ignoring Qi Sinan, he glanced at the pheasant roasting over the fire, saw it was cooked, and simply reached out and tore off a leg, handing it to Baili Zhou.

Just as Qi Sinan was about to tear the other leg off the pheasant, Qin Jingtai realized what was happening.

He immediately grabbed the chicken leg and tore it off the pheasant.

After watching Qin Jingtai's smooth and fluid movements, Qi Sinan smiled.

"Haha, then I won't be polite!!!"

Before Qin Jingtai could react, Qi Sinan grabbed all the pheasant carcasses from the rack on the fire.

They started eating.

After Qin Jingtai took a bite of the chicken leg, he saw Qi Sinan eating while holding a pheasant. He sat facing Qi Sinan.

His eyes widened, and he glared fiercely at Qi Sinan, his mouth making an unusually large movement as he bit into the chicken leg.

It's like saying, 'You lack martial ethics'.

Seeing Qin Jingtai's resentful gaze, Qi Sinan suddenly felt that the pheasant in his hand, which had been somewhat stale, suddenly tasted delicious.

So he sat facing Qin Jingtai and happily ate the pheasant in his hand.

Baili Zhou smiled at the two children's childish antics. He ate his chicken leg and looked up at the moon.

He muttered to himself, "I wonder how my sister is doing."

Upon hearing Bailizhou's words, Qin Jingtai and Qi Sinan stopped glaring at each other.

They both looked up at the moon in the sky.

I wonder if my little brother, who was one year old that year, has grown up now, and what he's doing.

After Qi Sinan finished speaking, Qin Jingtai immediately followed.

"I feel like my younger sister, my mother, and my brother."

The question of death has arrived!

"You don't miss your father?!"

Although Qi Sinan's tone suggested shock, his overall demeanor and expression remained quite calm.

“…”

Qin Jingtai was speechless. "Father's words... are alright, mainly because Father doesn't need me to think about them!!!"

The three of them ate the pheasant meat, quietly gazing at the moon hanging in the sky, using this as a way to express their longing.

——————

"Your Majesty, Lord Baili Ping and his wife request an audience."

Qin Jue was sitting by Xiao Xi'er's bedside telling her a bedtime story when he heard Sanhezi's voice reporting that he had been interrupted. He was quite impatient.

"Father, I want to go out and see the world too."

Unable to sleep, Xiaoxi reached out and tugged at Qin Jue's arm.

Qin Jue then brought over a thick blanket and wrapped Xiao Xi'er up in it.

He then picked her up and carried her outside. Once outside, Qin Jue used his internal energy to warm Xiao Xi'er. He also had Sanhezi add three more heaters.

"Xuan"

Sanhezi walked out of the main hall and invited Baili Ping and his wife in.

"Your humble servant/your subject pays respects to Your Majesty and the Princess."

"Get up, what brings you here so late?"

After Baili Ping and his wife stood up, they glanced at Xiao Xi'er, who was sitting in Qin Jue's lap looking at a sketchbook, and then spoke.

"Your Majesty, my humble servant and my wife wish to take in my good-for-nothing daughter."

"What, you've brought your daughter all the way to the palace?"

Qin Jue glanced at Baili Ping and his wife standing below, then covered Xiao Xi'er's feet with his large clothes and tucked the blanket around her.

"No, Your Majesty... what I mean is..."

"Go back. We can discuss anything tomorrow. I'm tired."

Qin Jue glanced at Xiao Xi'er, who was dozing in his arms, and then dismissed Baili Ping and his wife.

As Qin Jue finished speaking, Sanhezi gestured for Baili Ping and his wife to enter.

Seeing Qin Jue leave with Xiao Xi'er, the two realized their chances were over and left as well.