107. Everyone received a gift, except for one person.
The two little ones played happily for a while, but as they played, the little princess suddenly noticed that Jin Lanyue seemed a little absent-minded.
"Little Moon," the little princess asked, "what's wrong?"
The little dumpling twisted her fingers and whispered, "Actually...actually, Yue'er also prepared a gift for someone else..."
Who is it?
The little dumpling leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Yes... Your Majesty..."
“Oh, it’s Father!” the little princess grabbed her hand. “What’s so difficult about that! Come on, I’ll take you to see Father!”
"Wait!" The little dumpling grabbed her nervously, "Yue'er, Yue'er is scared..."
"What are you afraid of? Don't be afraid, I've got your back!"
Before the little girl could say anything more, the little princess had already dragged her toward the imperial study.
Inside the Imperial Study at this moment—
Wei Xiuming was flipping through the memorials with utter boredom.
Xie Wenling was reporting on the progress of the selection of imperial princes when he noticed that the emperor seemed distracted.
He had gone to pick up Jin Lanyue from school, but he didn't see her. He only saw the little prince with a long face. After telling him that the little dumpling had gone to the palace of the virtuous concubine, the prince turned around and left.
Xie Wenling was just about to wait there when the emperor sent someone to summon him away.
He was asked to give a work report, but he didn't seem to be listening attentively.
"Your Majesty?" Xie Wenling stopped his report and asked, "Is there something wrong with what I said?"
Wei Xiuming sighed, put down the memorial, and finally couldn't help but ask, "I heard that the little girl from the Marquis of Beiding's family was delivering gifts all over the palace today?"
Xie Wenling understood, and a slight smile appeared on his lips: "That's right. The county princess sent generous gifts to her parents, brothers, servants, me, the Grand Tutor, the princess, the princes, and the imperial concubines."
I heard that even her dog, Xiaobai, got a collar.
"Oh? What did you send?"
“Each person received a different gift; the gifts for parents and siblings were…” Xie Wenling listed them off as if they were his own treasures.
Wei Xiuming grew increasingly uneasy as he listened: "So, everyone received it?"
“Well,” Xie Wenling said with a smile, seemingly oblivious to the meaning behind his words, “that is indeed the case.”
Xie Wenling thought to himself—
Everyone received it, except for one person.
Who is that person?
That's so hard to guess.
"Well, I, the ruler of this country, am the only one who didn't receive a gift." Wei Xiuming couldn't laugh at all.
He was very unhappy.
I am very unhappy.
The last time we delivered pastries, everyone got some except him!
He! Didn't!
Wei Xiuming gritted his teeth.
It's outrageous, absolutely outrageous! This is a blatant and undisguised case of differential treatment.
Xie Wenling silently admired his ever-changing expressions, and was about to say something when he suddenly heard a chattering voice outside, followed by the announcement from a young eunuch: "Your Majesty, the princess and Princess Fukang request an audience."
Wei Xiuming's mood suddenly improved by half, and he immediately sat up straight: "Summon them!"
The door to the Imperial Study was gently pushed open, and the little princess walked in, holding the little dumpling's hand.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty." The little princess bowed.
The little dumpling quickly followed suit and bowed, but almost tripped because she was so nervous: "Greetings, Your Majesty..."
Wei Xiuming suppressed his anticipation and asked in a serious tone, "What brings you two little ones to me?"
The little princess nudged the little dumpling: "Little Moon, tell me quickly."
The little dumpling took a deep breath, carefully pulled out a small bundle, and whispered in a voice barely audible, "Moon...Moon has prepared a gift for the Emperor..."
Wei Xiuming was so excited he almost cried, and his thoughts underwent a complete 180-degree turn.
He knew he had not been forgotten!
Good boy, he didn't spoil her for nothing!
However, he still feigned composure and asked, "Oh? A gift for me?"
The little dumpling nodded, mustered its courage, took a few steps forward, and presented the small bundle with both hands: "Here, here..."
Wei Xiuming took the bundle, opened it, and found that it contained some ornaments, which were exquisitely crafted and had auspicious meanings.
It was nothing special to the emperor; it was all standard practice.
It doesn't look like... the little dumpling picked it herself.
Emperor Wei Xiuming's suspicions arose subconsciously, and he began to wonder if the Marquis of Beiding's mansion wanted to use the little dumpling to curry favor with him.
Until he flipped through them and unexpectedly saw something... a toy?
It's shaped like a little frog, inlaid with pearls and gemstones, and stands out conspicuously among a pile of jewelry—because generally no one would give away jewelry shaped like a frog.
Wei Xiuming picked it up and placed it on the table, then gently pressed it. The little thing actually jumped up using Lu Ban's magic.
Press once, jump once, press once, jump once.
It's... kind of fun.
The little dumpling below saw that Wei Xiuming had immediately set his sights on the frog and started playing with it, and happily raised his hand: "It was Yue'er who picked it! The little frog was picked by Yue'er!"
"Ah..." Wei Xiuming withdrew his hand as if waking from a dream, "Why did you think of giving me a toy?"
"Doesn't the Emperor like it?" The little dumpling became a little nervous when Wei Xiuming asked her the question.
"No, no, I like it very much, I just didn't expect someone to give me a toy." Wei Xiuming also dropped his airs and stopped referring to himself as "I, the Emperor".
The little princess said with a smile, "Father, Little Moon is so thoughtful. We all got gifts!"
Upon hearing this, Wei Xiuming got up from his seat and came to the little dumpling.
He crouched down, looking the little dumpling in the eye: "Princess Fukang, why did you think of giving me toys?"
The little dumpling said earnestly, "Because...because Yue'er thinks this is fun, the little frog hopping around is fun. Yue'er wants to give the toy to Ni!"
She said, "Daddy often says that going to court is so boring, and he doesn't want to go and wants to ask for leave, but I can't ask for leave. So I can play with the little frog, and then I won't be bored!"
Xie Wenling, who was listening nearby, paused for a moment but did not stop it.
Although it wasn't good to directly say that his own father didn't want to attend court, and although suggesting that the emperor play with toys during court sessions sounded like a sycophant's suggestion, but...
But she was only three years old, a time when she was innocent and naive.
Wei Xiuming didn't seem to care at all, and instead laughed: "Thank you, I really like this toy."
He was indeed pleasantly surprised.
Officials hoped he would be wise and capable, virtuous and tolerant, and diligent and conscientious.
The people hope that he will show compassion for all, that he will have keen insight to catch corrupt officials, and that he will work tirelessly to maintain this prosperous era.
Even he himself thought so.
He must be diligent, perceptive, virtuous, and insightful.
He cannot be lazy, nor can he make mistakes, because even a small mistake could have disastrous consequences.
He wanted to meet everyone's expectations, to become a wise ruler, to be as perfect as the gods in the temple, and to have no personal emotions or desires.
Sometimes he would get irritable, violent, and want to give up, but he could only try his best to restrain himself. In front of others, he was a reliable monarch.
But he is also human. He knows he is not perfect, and he can only strive to be as perfect as possible.
But it's really tiring.
That's why he was so happy when he received this little toy and the innocent suggestion that "you can play with toys during court sessions."
If an adult had said this, he would have thought the man had ulterior motives and dragged him out to be beheaded.
But the one who said this was a child, who even regarded him as a companion and told him that he could sneak away when he was bored.
This reminded him of the times he would sneak out to play when he was a child.
At that time, although I knew I was wrong, I was genuinely happy.
Now, holding this little frog, he seems to have grasped that carefree childhood time again.
Wei Xiuming stood up and solemnly placed the little frog on the imperial desk: "This is wonderful... When I'm tired from writing, I'll have a little gadget to relieve my boredom."
He turned around and picked up the little dumpling: "How about I give you a gift too?"
"Okay, okay." The little dumpling nodded. After the little princess and the virtuous concubine, she was going to receive a third gift!
"Then..." Wei Xiuming smiled, "Do you want to be a princess?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
