The next morning, after finishing his morning court session, Lord Wei arrived at the palace gate and called to the servants waiting nearby, asking why they hadn't arrived yet.

The servant shook his head and said, "I've been waiting here the whole time. I'll definitely see you when you come."

What's going on? Although the delegation is supposed to arrive in about an hour, the interpreter is supposed to be at the palace to wait in advance.

It's not good to be on time exactly, there's no such thing as perfect timing. What if something happens on the way and we're delayed?

Xiao Duo is quite reliable when it comes to important matters. She wouldn't oversleep on such an important day!

"Let's go back to the manor." After thinking it over, Lord Wei felt it was safer for him to go back and personally bring the girl back.

Inside the palace, numerous civil and military officials attend court every day. Those who live nearby arrive by sedan chair, while those who live further away naturally use horse-drawn carriages. However, with so many sedan chairs and carriages, it is impossible for them to stop outside the palace gate; instead, they are all parked not far away.

The servant trotted over to his carriage and had just called for the driver to bring it over and stop when Lord Wei was about to get in. The servant, with sharp eyes, said, "Sir, the young master's carriage is here. Should we ask him?"

"Young Master" refers to Wei Zizheng, who holds the rank of seventh grade official. He does not need to attend the morning court every day, but he is required to attend on the first and fifteenth of each month.

As his son's carriage drew closer and stopped, Lord Wei saw Kaiyang through the carriage window and breathed a sigh of relief. "He's here!"

After the carriage stopped, Wei Zizheng got off first, and his expression was not very good. It wasn't the kind of bad expression that comes from anger, but rather the kind that comes from worry.

"Father," Wei Zizheng greeted his biological father.

"Can't you relax a bit? Kaiyang himself isn't nervous, so what are you worried about? Are you afraid that Kaiyang will cause trouble and implicate you in losing your official position? Or are you afraid that our entire family will be executed?" Lord Wei couldn't help but get angry when he saw his son's expression.

Wei Zizheng, who had been scolded twice early in the morning, felt very innocent. Kaiyang had only been with Xiaoduo for less than a year, and before that, he had been led by that villain to be a beggar.

He admitted that Xiaoduo had taught her son very well, but in terms of etiquette, he was still lacking. It didn't matter in his own household, but when he came to the palace, it wasn't a relaxed occasion like attending a banquet, but rather a reception for a foreign delegation!

It's inappropriate to bring a seven-year-old child to such an important occasion!

Thinking back to last night, when Xiaoduo told her father that she wanted to bring Kaiyang along, she said she wanted to broaden Kaiyang's horizons, and her father actually agreed!

At that time, Wei Zizheng didn't know whether to say that his father was too indulgent towards Xiaoduo or too indulgent towards Kaiyang.

It's good for children to broaden their horizons, but it depends on the occasion.

On an occasion like this, officials below the seventh rank are not even allowed to be present, yet she actually brought Kaiyang along!

"Father, son..."

"Get out of the way." Lord Wei interrupted his son with disdain and impatience. Seeing the two of them who had just gotten off the carriage, his expression immediately changed and he said with a smile, "Relax, there's no need to be nervous."

Wei Zizheng glanced at the two, one big and one small, and thought to himself, "Father, which eye of yours saw that these two are nervous?"

Look at their eyes and expressions; if you didn't know better, you'd think they were out shopping!

Although it was Kaiyang Xiao's first time visiting the palace, he wasn't nervous or apprehensive at all because Hong Xiaoduo had brought him there.

No matter where he is, he feels at ease with her around, and no one can bully him; she will protect him.

Although his grandfather and father were both high-ranking officials, Kaiyang knew that whenever he was bullied or mistreated, his grandfather and father would protect him at all costs.

However, Kaiyang was worried that it might implicate them.

His grandfather was a second-rank official, and there was a first-rank official above him who could suppress him, and above him was the emperor. His grandfather and father protected him, but they also had various concerns and couldn't let go completely.

But Mother is different. Mother is the most capable. When she encounters a problem, she is simple and direct: just do it.

Furthermore, since I started following her, it seems there's nothing she can't handle.

Yesterday, his mother told him that she brought him here today not simply to broaden his horizons.

Most importantly, it is said that he learned foreign languages, and this visit by the foreign mission was a rare opportunity to put them into practice.

My mother said that whenever there's an opportunity, she'll let him participate in translation.

He was also instructed not to tell his family about his involvement in the translation, as they would likely worry if they knew beforehand.

Kaiyang also noticed her grandfather and father. When they heard that she wanted to bring him along, they were indeed very surprised, especially her father, whose brows immediately furrowed so tightly they could have trapped a fly.

On the way to the palace this morning, my father was in the carriage, giving me all sorts of instructions out of concern. Sigh!

Kaiyang could understand his father's worries, but he couldn't refuse to come just because he wanted to be filial to his mother and thus betray her good intentions.

Listen to your mother, you can't go wrong!

After getting off the carriage, Hong Xiaoduo greeted Lord Wei and then looked confidently at the palace gate and the surrounding buildings.

At this time, more and more officials returned after having breakfast outside after the morning court session. They were curious to see that Lord Wei had a child and a handsome young man dressed in an official's robe.

Someone briefly greeted Lord Wei and then walked into the palace gate.

"Let's go in. Although the delegation hasn't arrived yet, we shouldn't just stand there waiting. Let's sit and wait in the side hall," Lord Wei said to Hong Xiaoduo.

“Alright, Lord Wei, please go first.” Hong Xiaoduo made a respectful gesture of invitation.

Lord Wei suppressed a laugh and gestured for Hong Xiaoduo to come with him.

“Lord Wei, I am just an ordinary citizen with no official position. It’s fine outside, but it’s not appropriate for me to walk side by side with you, a second-rank official, here,” Hong Xiaoduo joked in a low voice.

“But you are the most crucial and important person today. Even if you walk ahead of me, that’s perfectly acceptable.” Lord Wei knew she was joking, so he deliberately put on a stern face and replied.

Kaiyang followed behind the two, and upon hearing this, he looked back at his father, wondering if it would be more appropriate for him to walk behind his father.

"Look straight ahead and walk carefully." Wei Zizheng's low voice reminded Kaiyang, who quickly abandoned his previous plan.

As the group of four, young and old, walked in, they were all surprised to see that Lord Wei had brought a child with him today.

There is a palace banquet at noon today, but it is for foreign delegations, and the guests are officials of the third rank or above!

"Hey, isn't that young man next to Lord Wei a woman?" Someone with sharp eyes noticed it as soon as they got close and asked the person next to them in a low voice.

The news spread quickly, and before they even reached the side hall, most of the officials knew that Lord Wei had brought a woman dressed as a man and a child with him.

"Isn't this ridiculous? Even if you dote on your grandson who was finally found, you shouldn't bring him into the palace on a day like today!"

"Impossible. Lord Wei is not the kind of person to act recklessly. Perhaps His Majesty has given his permission."

"How could that be? It's not a palace banquet." A cacophony of voices rose from all around...