Chapter 437 Can you see clearly what you're really thinking?
"Oh, I guess she's at Changyin Pavilion?" Xie Yunqi waved his hand dismissively. "She was supposed to perform on the zither at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, but she said she was tired of playing the zither every time and suddenly wanted to dance. So, she's been busy rehearsing with the zither players at Changyin Pavilion lately."
Xie Yunwen continued to explain to her, "It's not that my elder sister didn't want to come to see you. It's just that she and that musician had been rehearsing for a long time, but yesterday the musician's mother suddenly passed away, and my elder sister let her go back to attend the funeral. This means that all of my elder sister's rehearsals these past few days have been in vain, and she has to start all over again. With the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet approaching, time is tight, and my elder sister really can't find the time."
"I see. The Mid-Autumn Festival banquet is indeed just around the corner. My elder sister will have to work on getting to know the new musician again in the next few days, which must be quite tiring." Sheng Sheng thought for a moment, "It's alright, it'll be fine after the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. My elder sister will be there then, and I'll tell you all the fun things that happened along the way!"
The three siblings played for a while longer, and when they figured it was almost time for the court session to end, they set off for the Imperial Study.
When they arrived at the entrance of the Imperial Study, they indeed saw Eunuch Hou greet them with a look of delight, saying, "Oh my! Your Highnesses have arrived at just the right time. His Majesty has just finished court, and this servant was just about to send someone to Yuqing Palace!"
Eunuch Hou was an old acquaintance of Xie Yuxiao. After not seeing him for so long, it was quite heartwarming to see him again.
Sheng Sheng burst into a big laugh: "Eunuch Hou, it's been a long time!"
"Long time no see, long time no see, Second Princess." Eunuch Hou led the group into the Imperial Study with a smile, saying as they walked, "It's been more than a year since I last saw you, Second Princess. This servant has noticed that you've grown quite a bit taller. His Majesty will surely be pleased to see this!"
"Hehe, I love hearing that!" Sheng Sheng now loves hearing people compliment her on growing taller, and she immediately beamed with joy, laughing even more happily.
Xie Yunqi deliberately said, "How strange, Eunuch Hou, I've grown taller too, why isn't Father Emperor happy?"
Eunuch Hou was speechless for a moment: "Well, that's because His Majesty sees you, Fifth Prince, every day. So your height, which grows day by day, is not as striking as it is for the Second Princess when she is first seen."
Eunuch Hou was an old acquaintance of Xie Yuxiao, and Xie Yunqi naturally respected him. Asking him this question on purpose was just a whim to tease him.
"Alright, I'm quite satisfied with your answer."
"Haha, I'm glad Your Highness is satisfied."
Eunuch Hou chuckled twice and silently quickened his pace to lead the group inside.
Fortunately, it was only a few steps, and Eunuch Hou completed his task in no time.
Inside the Imperial Study, Xie Yuxiao seemed to be in a good mood, as if he had already heard Xie Yun's general report.
Sheng Sheng's eyes crinkled into a smile as she lifted her skirt and went over: "Father!"
"Oh my, my little princess is back!"
Xie Yuxiao strode down and picked the person up in his arms, saying, "Let Father Emperor see!"
Xie Yuxiao carefully examined the girl in front of him. "Not bad, not bad. You've grown taller and are still so pretty! It's just that you seem to have gotten a little tanned and thinner. Your face isn't as chubby as it used to be."
"Really?" Sheng Sheng looked at him with delight. "Father is the first person to say that Sheng Sheng has lost weight. Sheng Sheng has actually gained quite a bit of weight along the way. It's just that Sheng Sheng is growing taller, so it's not obvious."
"She's just a kid, isn't it normal for her to eat more? She's not fat at all! She's even thinner!" Xie Yuxiao chose to spoil his daughter.
"And what about me? And what about me?" Xie Yunqi leaned closer. "And what about me, Father?"
Xie Yuxiao glared at him and scolded, "Look at you, what kind of behavior are you now? The martial arts instructors at the training ground have complained to Grand Tutor Liu several times, saying that you've been saying you're sick or making other excuses to skip the training ground lately. I haven't even had a chance to confront your mother yet. Perfect timing, tell me what you're planning to do?"
"Oh dear, I was wrong, Father, please don't go to Mother!" Xie Yunqi immediately begged for forgiveness. "Well, I was indeed feeling a little unwell a few days ago... Yes, yes, I had a headache. Oh dear, it must be because of the autumn winds. I wasn't paying attention and it gave me a headache. Oh dear."
Everyone else chuckled, even Eunuch Hou couldn't stop smiling.
Xie Yuxiao saw through his words but didn't say anything, giving him a sidelong glance: "Get out of the way, don't block the way I'm talking to your sister."
"Oh." Xie Yunqi obediently stood to the side.
Xie Yuxiao turned back to speak with Shengsheng, a smile instantly spreading across his face: "I learned about it from what the prefect of Heshan County wrote in his memorial shortly after you left. I heard that you wiped out all the bandits of that Black Wind Stronghold outside the city? You little girl, you dared to sneak out of the city behind your Crown Prince brother's back. You're more capable than your brothers."
"Oh dear, didn't Prefect Tang promise to keep it a secret, Crown Prince?" Sheng Sheng muttered, tugging at Xie Yuxiao's sleeve and acting coquettishly. "Actually, Prefect Tang exaggerated. Sheng Sheng was only so bold because she had secret guards protecting her."
Although she didn't actually have any bodyguards with her at the time.
However, she wasn't sure how much Xie Yuxiao knew, and she was a little afraid that Xie Yuxiao would blame her for disregarding her own safety.
"Joining in the fun can make the bandit leader cry and beg for mercy?" Xie Yuxiao pinched her cheek, his eyes full of doting. "Alright, it's a good thing to rid the people of a scourge, but next time you must not act alone behind your brothers' backs, it's very dangerous. If you want any reward, just tell your father."
Sheng Sheng was relieved: "Hehe, forget about the reward. I also brought a gift for Father Emperor. I'll have someone deliver it to you tomorrow!"
"Oh, I even have a gift!" Xie Yuxiao laughed heartily. "Then, thank you, Shengsheng?"
"You're welcome!" Sheng Sheng patted his chest, accepting the king's thanks without any hesitation.
After the greetings, it's time for the concluding remarks.
Xie Yuxiao asked her a few more questions before putting her down and sitting back down on the dragon throne.
"Alright, you two have been through a lot along the way, and you have finally completed your mission successfully, bringing back the Rejuvenating Herb. The Rejuvenating Herb has been handed over to the Imperial Hospital, and I have also sent people to assist the Imperial Hospital in keeping a close watch on the Rejuvenating Herb. There will be no more mistakes this time."
Xie Yuxiao said to Xie Yunwen, "Fourth brother, before using the Rejuvenating Herb for formal treatment, you must not stop the acupuncture and other warming and tonifying treatments that Physician Zhou gave you. You must cooperate well and try your best to be in the best condition to receive treatment, so as not to let down the Crown Prince and Shengsheng's efforts."
Xie Yunwen solemnly replied, "Father, rest assured, I will definitely follow the doctor's orders and receive acupuncture on time every day. I will also never neglect the tonics."
He lowered his eyes and clasped his hands, his tone full of determination, "My elder brother and sister have worked hard for this for a long time. I can only take good care of my health so as not to fail their good intentions and to share the burden for Father and serve our Yu Kingdom in the future."
"Hmm, not bad."
Xie Yuxiao nodded, paused, and then brought up another matter.
Xie Yuxiao looked directly at Xie Yunyang, "Crown Prince, before you left you said you wanted to see your own heart clearly through this journey. Now that you're back, have you seen clearly what you're really thinking?"
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