The sky was clear, and sunlight streamed through the alleyways of the street, falling on the boy riding a white horse.
The boy was dressed in a plain brocade robe, and his hair was casually tied in a bun. The ribbon he used to tie his hair was taken from his mother's hair ornament.
The white horse came to a stop, and the young man looked down at the two brothers who were about to board the carriage, grinning with a mouthful of white teeth, his smile as bright as a camellia in spring.
Fu Meili's eyes sparkled, and she waved to the boy with boundless joy, "Brother!"
Jiang Huai leaped off his horse, patted Fu Meili's shoulder, and said indulgently, "Going to look at the account books again? I'm going to complain about Mother; she's using child labor!"
Fu Meili chuckled and lightly punched Jiang Huai's arm.
The brother and sister laughed and joked, but Jiang Huai didn't forget his serious business. He looked at Li Huan with a half-smile and said, "Isn't Your Highness supposed to attend a banquet at the residence of the Pillar General today? It's getting late!"
Li Huan pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache coming on, and said helplessly, "You know perfectly well that it was all my uncle's idea!"
Turning to Fu Meili, he said, "Meili, it's not what you think. I'll just send a congratulatory gift and come back..."
Li Huan's words turned into a trace of weakness when they met Fu Meili's pure, large eyes.
She's still young and doesn't understand any of that...
How should he explain all of this to her?
The uncle was worried that the Fu family's achievements would overshadow the emperor's, so he was determined to find a wife-in-law with comparable power to consolidate his position as the crown prince.
Almost all the civil officials in the court followed the lead of the Grand Tutor and the Fu family father and son, so they could not be relied upon.
The uncle had no choice but to turn his attention to military generals.
But my uncle had no idea what the country meant to those military generals who had truly made military achievements!
They're like our providers!
The industries under the Jiangshan regime are the strongest support for the generals on the battlefield!
Even my mother said that my uncle was short-sighted... Never mind, I won't say anymore, it's all tears if I talk about it!
The Fu family members are all very shrewd, and almost everyone except Fu Meili knows what Uncle is thinking.
Meili is still young, only eight years old!
Li Huan repeatedly convinced herself!
As Jiang Huai watched Li Huan's constantly changing expression, his smile gradually froze on his face.
This guy is inhuman! His little sister is only eight years old! Eight years old!
So you're already thinking of making a move on her?
No way!
"Since Your Highness isn't going to the banquet at the Pillar of State General's residence, why don't we go hunting outside the city? Your Highness hasn't stretched your muscles in a long time; you can't be so lazy! Yu-ge'er, let's go, let's go together!"
Li Huan sensed a hint of gritted teeth in Jiang Huai's words, and his heart tightened and sank.
This guy is too cunning, obsessed with protecting his sister. If he wants to marry Meili, he'll have to compete with her in the future!
Go ahead, who's afraid of who!
Li Yu, beaming, said, "Alright, alright, let's go back to the palace to change our clothes first. Huai'er, wait for us, we'll be back to find you soon!"
As the carriage gradually disappeared into the distance, Jiang Huai watched it go with a sullen face, a cold glint flashing in his dark eyes.
Fu Meili stepped forward and took Jiang Huai's arm, tilting her head as she asked, "Brother, you've been to the General's residence?"
Jiang Huai looked away and laughed, "I've been there. That old man can't beat me in a fight, he can't out-strategize either, and he's a terrible chess player with awful sportsmanship. He's so annoying! I can't stand it, so I'm leaving!"
Fu Meili smiled broadly, pulled Jiang Huai, and turned to walk towards the shop.
The brother and sister walked ahead, while Fu Li followed behind, leading the horse and Hua Jiao at a leisurely pace.
"Are you really going hunting outside the city with His Highness the Crown Prince and the others? Aren't you going to tell your parents?"
Jiang Huai's eyes flashed, and he grinned, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth. "What's the point of hunting? We're just looking for an opportunity to teach them a lesson!"
Fu Meili tilted her head, looking at Jiang Huai with some confusion.
My brother has a good relationship with the two princes. They often sleep in the same bed at the Grand Tutor's mansion. But sometimes my brother's hostility towards the Crown Prince is genuine, just like now. He feels like rushing up and beating him up.
Why is that?
Jiang Huai patted Fu Meili's head and pouted, saying, "You're still a little girl, you don't understand men's affairs, don't ask too many questions!"
"oh."
If she doesn't want to ask, she doesn't have to. Anyway, her parents aren't worried, so why should she be?
Upon arriving at the store, Qiao Shi was the first to greet us.
He wiped the water off his hands and said in a nagging tone, "Hua'er, didn't your mother tell you? You're still young, don't overuse your brain, or you won't grow tall!"
Fu Meili immediately pouted, clearly unhappy.
"I hate Grandpa's mouth the most. He always says such discouraging things. Why am I not growing taller? Mom says I'll definitely be taller than her when I grow up!"
Qiao Shi chuckled and nodded, "Alright, alright, Grandpa misspoke. Come, come, have a glass of milk and get some more of that... you know, that's right, getting more milk will help you grow taller!"
As they were talking, the shop assistant brought over a cup of milk that Qiao Shi had carefully prepared for Fu Meili.
Fu Meili immediately accepted the milk with a smile in her eyes.
They said they didn't want her to come to the store to look at the accounts, fearing it would strain her brain or hurt her eyes, but they still prepared milk for her to drink every day.
After Fu Meili finished drinking the milk, Qiao Shi took her to the kitchen.
Needless to say, a whole bunch of delicious food and drinks were prepared and were ready to be fed.
It's just a bit of a shame that no matter how much I feed them, they won't gain weight!
Jiang Huai watched his sister walk into the large kitchen at the back with a smile in his eyes before turning to leave.
A tall figure walked in dejectedly, so engrossed in walking that he didn't notice anyone and almost bumped into Jiang Huai.
After Jiang Huai dodged the person who came over, he reached out and firmly placed his hand on Jiang Huai's shoulder.
"What are you doing? You've lost your mind!"
The shout came, and Gu Yuchun looked up blankly, almost fainting from fright.
"Your Highness, I greet Your Highness!"
Jiang Huai chuckled, "Did your uncle dump you again?"
Gu Yuchun's face turned pale, then green, and finally he lowered his eyes bitterly.
"It's because I'm too stupid and have embarrassed you, young master."
He was barely literate, and his martial arts skills hadn't improved much; he was even worse than the servants in the manor. The young master's friends were all noble and talented men, and the servants and guards they brought along were far superior to him. No wonder the young master didn't like taking him out.
Thinking about it this way, Gu Yuchun's expression became even more dejected.
Jiang Huai snorted and said, "I asked you to stay in the shop to help out or stay with your uncle, but you refused and insisted on going with him. That brain of his... tsk tsk, you should just give up on that idea! Go to my mother and ask her to arrange a job for you. She won't treat you badly."
Gu Yuchun was truly unwilling, but there was nothing he could do.
Jiang Huai laughed and said, "Don't be so stubborn. What's the difference between following my mother and following my uncle? So what if my uncle is a top scholar in both civil and military affairs? He's still as obedient as a kitten in front of my mother."
Gu Yuchun's eyes flickered slightly, and he remained silent.
"Just don't stare at my mother for more than three breaths, hahaha!"
Gu Yuchun's lips twitched, but his mind began to stir.
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