[That expression, those actions... Is the little brat trying to hide something from me? He looks so guilty!]
Having spent a lot of time with Xie Rang, Yun Qing knew all about his little tricks. Judging from his current behavior, he seemed guilty no matter how you looked at it!
She glanced suspiciously at the ground, then at the boy's hands behind his back. Just as Xie Rang was about to break out in a cold sweat, she finally spoke: "Your Majesty, I wished to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with you, so I came early. Does Your Majesty not welcome me?"
Who knew that Yun Qing, one of the few times she voluntarily stayed in the palace, would encounter this little brat's secret?
Xie Rang realized he had overreacted. With a swift movement, the object he had been holding slipped silently into his sleeve. He smiled calmly and said, "No, I welcome the Grand Tutor. I would be even happier if the Grand Tutor stayed in the palace!"
Yunqing still felt something was off, but it was just her intuition. She didn't ask any more questions and walked to the table to put down the food box she was carrying.
"I will stay for a few days, until after the Autumn Festival. I'd like to try the newly made pastries; I wonder if they suit Your Majesty's taste?"
"Kids have their own secrets as they grow up, I understand, so I'll be understanding."
Xie Rang froze, unable to explain it no matter how hard he tried. It was truly a secret, so he could only remain silent and take a bite of the pastry.
In ancient times, sugar was scarce, and the nobles of the Great Xi Dynasty especially loved to show off their status by eating sugar. Most of the palace pastries were cloyingly sweet, and Yunqing couldn't stand them after eating them a few times. Later, she asked the chef at home to make some changes, and the pastries made were just right for her taste.
She actually knew all along that not only did she love to eat, but the little tyrant did too; it was just that the child was very reserved and ate with great restraint.
Under the Grand Tutor's burning gaze, Xie Rang commented, "...It tastes good, I really like it."
"I'm glad you like it. I brought the molds so that Xiaochu can learn to make it too."
As they spoke, Yun Qing noticed the sawdust on the table and couldn't help but laugh: "Shunfeng is still not quick enough. How come His Majesty hasn't tidied up the clutter on his table?"
Ever since Yun Qing came in, Shunfeng had been hiding in the corner, not daring to make a sound. Although he was serving inside, Xie Rang had warned him that he was absolutely not allowed to leak any of what he had seen. Now he had no choice but to come out and take the blame.
"Grand Tutor, please forgive me, Your Majesty, please forgive me. This servant will pack up immediately."
Shunfeng, having been selected to enter the palace, had been exposed to much things and had become quite clever. Seeing the look of admiration in Xie Rang's eyes, he knew he had done the right thing and quickly swept away all the things without making a sound.
Finally, things were over, and Xie Rang breathed a sigh of relief. He then offered his suggestion: "It's stuffy in the palace. The weather is cool now. I'll accompany the Grand Tutor for a walk outside."
In the summer, the palace usually has ice available. Under Yun Qing's intimidation, no one dared to shortchange the emperor on ice. However, Xie Rang was too focused just now and was not allowed to make any noise to disturb him. The ice in the study had long since melted, and it was stuffy inside, with the heat trapped inside.
Yun Qing saw through it but didn't say anything: "Let's go. With the wind at our backs, open all the windows to let in some fresh air. Pack up these writing brushes and ink, don't let anyone find them."
Yun Qing entered the palace before the gates were locked. Based on what she said, Xie Rang believed that she wouldn't leave for the next few days, which made him feel a little more relaxed. He even found the scenery in the Imperial Garden more appealing.
Even in hardship, the emperor must not suffer. After Lin Chen seized power in the palace, he thoroughly purged the palace, expelling most of the disloyal officials and leaving only the honest ones. Gradually, he also tidied up the palace.
In the last few years, the struggle among the princes of marriageable age was extremely fierce. The period before the late emperor's death may have been a brief moment of lucidity, when he briefly regained the wisdom of his youth, severely punished a group of people, and ordered all the concubines to be sent to temples for spiritual practice. Therefore, the harem is now more deserted than ever before.
But there are advantages too; at least no fools will pop out.
"I don't know if these lotus flowers will grow next year. I don't know how many lives have been buried in this filthy place. Your Majesty should take good care of it in the future."
During the reign of the late emperor, palace intrigue was particularly severe. The inner palace and the court colluded, resulting in heavy casualties. It was also by chance that someone took advantage of the situation to seize power. Otherwise, how could Xie Rang have had the opportunity to ascend the throne?
Just thinking about the scheming and intrigue in the palace made Yun Qing's scalp tingle.
Historically, minor tyrants were not interested in women, but the situation is different now. I wonder if he will have a partner in the future. This kid shouldn't be a womanizer, right?
Xie Rang: !
no!
No! At his age, why would the Grand Tutor consider these things?
Yun Qing opened her mouth as if to say something, but when she met the calm eyes of the little tyrant, she felt that it was indeed inappropriate to say these things now, and silently swallowed her words.
[Forget it, let's wait until they're older. Their bodies aren't fully developed yet; thinking about that is too far ahead.]
Xie Rang silently let out a breath.
"I've instructed the palace servants to keep a close watch on it, and I'll also hire some gardeners to tend to it. Next year, the Grand Tutor will be able to see the lotus flowers bloom. As for the edge of this pond, it's inherently dangerous. If someone dares to approach it and fall in, losing their life, that's their own fault."
The pond wasn't deep to begin with, but the bottom was full of silt, and once you got stuck, it was hard to get out. Xie Rang had once accidentally seen servants pushing people into the pond when he went out to find food. Running around here late at night, they were either up to no good or looking for death.
From the little tyrant's cold gaze, Yun Qing seemed to read something. She didn't want to think about it too much and sighed, "Well, it's too early to think about it now. Let's talk about it later."
As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, the moon grew ever rounder. Several magnolia trees in the courtyard of the Hall of Supreme Harmony were in full bloom. Yunqing simply had the palace servants bring out a table, and they enjoyed their evening meal while admiring the moon, finding great leisure and pleasure in the process.
"If only things could be this peaceful every year."
Yun Qing felt that this moment was precious, because peaceful days don't come all the time.
Before leaving the mansion, they brewed osmanthus wine. Yunqing tasted it and found it to be low in alcohol, so she didn't hold back and poured a small cup for Xie Rang to try. This is also a custom used to pray for good fortune.
"The Crown Prince of Wuyang will be coming to the capital to report on his duties at the end of this year. Has Your Majesty decided what reward you will bestow upon him?"
There are many things to do at the end of the year. This year, with foreign envoys arriving in the capital, all the matters have piled up, making it even more troublesome. Yun Qing can only rely on her memory to select some important matters to handle personally.
The only thing Da Xi should be thankful for is that the border generals are loyal enough. If they are kept in check and there is no shortage of military pay, there will be no worry about the border being undefended. Once the internal troubles are resolved, the little tyrant will be able to seize power and no one will be able to stop him.
Yun Qing slowly sipped her wine, her eyes slightly reddened by the rising alcohol, but it didn't affect her thinking: "Think it over carefully, they are worth winning over. Your Majesty, remember to trust those you employ, and not to employ those you don't trust."
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