Chapter 27 Such a Soft Heart
Xiao Qing thought those eyes were very beautiful.
Most importantly, these eyes make it very easy for people to lower their guard.
His eyes were completely different from those of the Grand Tutor.
Just as she was about to take a closer look, a faint, indistinct sound came from the depths of the lush green grass and vibrant flowers.
The sound was very soft, but strangely enough, she not only heard it, but her heart also seemed to clench.
Xiao Qing glanced over instinctively, catching a glimpse of the boy's expression out of the corner of her eye.
A flicker of panic seemed to quickly cross his eyes, and his face stiffened.
His performance lingered in Xiao Qing's mind for two seconds before she turned her head away.
What's inside?
Yingying lowered her head sharply, her thin shoulders appearing somewhat tense.
Zhao Youchen, with a serious expression, said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, I will go and take a look."
Yingying's shoulders seemed to tremble slightly.
Xiao Qing raised her right hand to stop Zhao Youchen and walked towards the flower bushes.
She was already petite, and although she was ten years old, she measured her height and found it to be only about 1.3 meters.
I really want to find a rope and hang myself from a tree, then "help the seedlings grow faster"!
Then she crouched down, parted the grass, and looked inside. She was stunned for a moment, and her heart almost melted.
Yesterday, a light rain fell, and the grass still carried a damp scent of fresh grass. Among the lush green grass, several layers of pure white cotton cloth were laid on the damp grass roots, and three tiny kittens, no bigger than the palm of a hand, were sleeping inside.
One of the kittens, with its gray-blue and white fur, slowly opened its eyes in a daze, making a weak meow as it struggled to reach into the empty teacup beside it, seemingly trying to stick out its tongue to lick the little bit of milk left in the cup.
Perhaps sensing Xiao Qing's gaze, the kitten shook its head and looked over, its amber eyes wide open, as if curious, or perhaps unable to see clearly, but in any case, it wasn't afraid.
She's so cute, it's making my blood boil!
Xiao Qing unconsciously moved closer.
Zhao Youchen saw this scene through the gaps in the grass.
However, he didn't share Xiao Qing's feeling. He frowned and reminded him, "Your Majesty, these cats are of unknown origin. It's best to be careful."
Xiao Qing paused for a moment, but still carefully squatted down and, with her back to Zhao Youchen, extended her little finger to greet the kitten in a friendly manner.
God knows how much she wanted to have a cute and gentle kitten when she was little, but her parents wouldn't let her!
Later, she fell ill and stayed in the hospital every day. Even though her family indulged her in almost everything and wanted her to be happy every day, how could she possibly keep a cat to accompany her in that kind of place and situation?
Besides, the hospital wouldn't allow it.
Ying Ying said at the opportune moment, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I found these kittens; they were probably abandoned. Two of them were already dead when I found them. I... couldn't bear it, so... I secretly hid them here. I have disturbed Your Majesty; please punish me."
He seemed to deliberately lower his voice when he spoke, so that Xiao Qing could hear him but not so much as to frighten the sleeping kitten.
"Where did this milk come from?" Xiao Qing felt a pang of heartache when she saw the kitten give up looking at her and try to crawl into the teacup again.
Such a small kitten will starve to death very quickly if no one feeds it, right?
Ying Ying stammered awkwardly, but finally, as if making up her mind, she stiffened her neck and said, "Please punish me, Your Majesty. It was this servant who stole it from the kitchen."
Zhao Youchen's brows were furrowed so deeply they looked like small mountains.
What kind of milk is it?
"Your Majesty!" Zhao Youchen couldn't help but exclaim.
Xiao Qing finally looked at the Imperial Guard Commander and saw his extreme disapproval in his expression.
She thought for a moment, then stood up and looked at Zhao Youchen, her hands hanging at her sides, hidden in her wide sleeves.
“Lord Zhao, these kittens are so small, abandoned and without a mother. If no one takes care of them, they will end up like their dead brothers and sisters. Now that I have seen them, I cannot bear to see them suffer such an end.”
Her already watery eyes blinked slowly, her long eyelashes fluttering gently. There was a hint of melancholy and expectation in her eyes. Zhao Youchen was caught off guard and felt as if his heart had been struck. He was speechless for a long time.
He had sensed the young emperor's soft heart and kindness when he was asked to save Ying Ying. Reflecting on the turbulent decline of the Xiao dynasty, he felt that the young emperor was simply sympathizing with his own kind.
"What does His Majesty mean?" he asked somewhat awkwardly.
"Shall I take care of them?" Xiao Qing looked at Zhao Youchen, then at Ying Ying.
Zhao Youchen felt it was inappropriate, but he also understood Xiao Qing's feelings and couldn't refuse outright, so he said, "How about I inform the Grand Tutor?"
After saying that, he wanted to slap himself.
Why bring up something you shouldn't talk about!
Xiao Qing's expression changed again as expected.
She lowered her eyes with an even more dejected yet more sensible demeanor and whispered, "Yes, these things need the Grand Tutor's approval."
Zhao Youchen immediately knelt down on one knee, "Your subordinate misspoke, your subordinate meant..."
Xiao Qing shook his head, signaling him not to continue, and instead comforted him, saying, "Lord Zhao, there's no need to say more. I understand. The Grand Tutor was only doing it for my own good; it was I who acted willfully."
Zhao Youchen almost changed his mind.
Ying Ying said, "Your Majesty, may I take care of them? If Your Majesty likes them and wishes to see them, I can bring them over every day... if Your Majesty doesn't mind..."
He was a little embarrassed. "Moreover, if Your Majesty agrees, this servant can keep them legitimately and will no longer need to steal food from the kitchen."
A quick thought flashed through Xiao Qing's mind.
Where are you on duty right now?
Ying Ying replied, "I wasn't on duty. It was just that Lord Zhao took care of me and let me stay at the Imperial Guard Headquarters. But... but I... dare to make a request..."
Zhao Youchen felt something was off. "Yingying, His Majesty is benevolent. Don't push your luck."
Xiao Qing said, "It's alright, go ahead."
"Yes. This servant has no relatives or friends left and nothing to his name. It was Your Majesty who saved this servant that day, and this servant is eternally grateful. I can only repay this kindness with my life, and I have no other intentions. I humbly request Your Majesty to allow this servant to enter the palace as a servant. Even if I spend my days sweeping the palace steps, as long as this servant can be loyal, I will be content."
Zhao Youchen's face darkened.
Entering the palace as a servant? Is that some kind of good path?
Or does Ying Ying have some ulterior motive? Could he be trying to get closer to His Majesty through this?
So……
Xiao Qing shook his head. "You are still young and there are some things you probably don't understand yet. Rather than becoming a servant in the palace, you should follow Lord Zhao. Perhaps you will find a better way to serve the court in the future."
Zhao Youchen suddenly felt something was off again.
His Majesty is so young, yet he speaks with such an air of maturity, it's truly...
But what happened next was even more surprising.
“If Your Majesty is referring to taking ‘Qingxin’, I took it not long ago when I was stealing food in the kitchen.”
Xiao Qing and Zhao Youchen both looked at him at the same time, and were speechless for a moment.
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