Yuan Yao's first reaction was: "Uncle's here?"
Her face lit up with surprise.
She hasn't seen Xie Ning for a very, very long time!
Looking at the joyful face of the little dumpling, the Ninth Prince felt a pang of sadness.
His little dumpling was so happy about someone else's return.
It really hurt his feelings.
However, he remained outwardly calm.
Slender fingers pluck the strings.
A dull, muffled piano note began softly, tinged with tremolo.
The Ninth Prince looked at Yuan Yao: "You're happy to see Xie Zhi?"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao's eyes lit up, and she affectionately clung to the Ninth Prince's arm, asking, "Father, aren't you happy?"
The Ninth Prince snorted lightly: "What is there for me to be happy about?"
"Really?"
She didn't believe it.
Clearly, a hint of pleasure was about to spill out of the Ninth Prince's eyes.
Yuan Yao, like a little pendant, hung herself on the Ninth Prince.
The Ninth Prince raised his hand and pulled her into his arms.
His dumplings were fragrant and soft.
The Ninth Prince narrowed his eyes slightly and said with a smile, "Whether he comes or not, it makes no difference to me."
But if he comes and Xiao Yao'er is happy, then I will be happy too.
Yuan Yao blinked gently: "Father..."
The Ninth Prince patted her little head: "My joy is based on my precious little dumpling."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao leaned close to the Ninth Prince's cheek and gave him a kiss: "Daddy is the best!"
The Ninth Prince smiled faintly.
He looked down at the little one in his arms.
Everyone else was growing taller, but Yuan Yao, despite all the pampering he received, still wasn't growing much...
However, they are small, soft, and very cute.
As long as you're healthy.
The Ninth Prince, holding the little dumpling in his arms, warmed the charcoal fire for a while, then called out to the outside of the hall, "Come in."
Yuan Yao turned her head curiously.
Upon seeing this, she exclaimed with delight, "Uncle!"
Beneath the hood, Xie Ning, with her soft, white hair like brocade, and dressed in a bamboo-green robe, stepped through the door and entered.
His smile was radiant: "Little Yao'er."
"Uncle, you're finally back!" Yuan Yao was overjoyed.
The Ninth Prince raised his hand, letting her out of his embrace.
Yuan Yao took small steps and ran towards Xie Ning: "Uncle, where have you been these past two years?"
"It's been so long, and you haven't come back to see Yao'er even once!"
There was a hint of complaint in her tone.
Xie Ning smiled and said gently, "Uncle went traveling. Last year, due to the war on the border, I joined the army and served as a military doctor for a while."
Later, I went to the State of Chu…
"A military doctor?" Yuan Yao immediately perked up: "How was the battle when the two armies clashed? Was it very fierce?"
Xie Ning smiled and shook her head.
He shrank back, put his hands in his pockets, and asked, "Can I go warm myself by the fire?"
"certainly!"
Yuan Yao asked Jing'er to make a bowl of ginger tea.
Xie Ning removed her hood and cloak, and bowed to the Ninth Prince: "Brother, Aning is back."
The Ninth Prince responded with a faint "Mm".
Xie Ning was not at all surprised by the Ninth Prince's attitude.
He smiled and said, "A-Ning has collected a lot of good medicines on her trip back. I'll have someone send them to my brother later."
medicine?
Upon hearing this word, the Ninth Prince's face showed displeasure: "I am perfectly fine and do not need medicine."
Seeing this, Xie Ning quickly said, "Brother, don't misunderstand! The medicine I brought isn't for that kind of thing!"
Nine Thousand Years Old: "..."
The old man's face darkened slightly.
Xie Ning scratched his head.
It seems like he said something wrong?
"Brother..."
"What's wrong?" Yuan Yao walked over with her short legs.
"It's nothing," the Ninth Prince replied casually, then beckoned, "Little Yao'er, come here."
Yuan Yao obediently walked over.
After holding his daughter, the Ninth Prince turned to Xie Ning and asked, "Have you met the Chu royal family?"
Xie Ning nodded: "I saw him."
Yuan Yao listened from the side, somewhat surprised.
Her uncle is doing quite well!
In the State of Chu, they even managed to infiltrate the royal palace?
At this moment, Jing'er brought in ginger tea.
After drinking the ginger tea and feeling a bit warmer, Xie Ning said, "In the State of Chu, from military power to political power, it is all controlled by the Empress's faction."
The emperor of Chu was easily swayed by his wife's influence.
The next generation of the family was also ambitious.
The idea of starting a war with the Great Qi was advocated by the Empress's faction.
"Once we capture several cities of the Great Qi, the Empress's faction will have a strong voice in the court. At that time, it will be natural to appoint the Empress's son as the Crown Prince..."
Is such a thing even possible?
Yuan Yao felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing this.
Is the war launched solely to seize the position of crown prince?
Are ordinary people really just ants in their eyes?
Can a crown prince who seizes power through plunder truly become a good emperor in the future?
No!
This kind of person is not fit to be an emperor at all!
If he comes to power, the State of Chu will likely bring about its own destruction sooner or later!
Where is Yun Chan?
Poor Yun Chan, how could she survive in such an environment?
For a moment, Yuan Yao felt a mix of emotions.
"Little Yao'er." A voice woke Yuan Yao.
"What's wrong?" Yuan Yao looked up.
Xie Ning smiled gently, reached into her pocket, and pulled out something.
The thing was wrapped in yellow brocade.
It's clearly a royal item.
“This is…” Yuan Yao asked curiously.
Xie Ning handed over the item: "Yun Chan asked me to bring this to you."
Yun Chan gave it to you?!
Yuan Yao quickly reached out and took it.
As she untied the brocade, she complained in a childish voice, "Before Yun Chan left, she told me that she would write to me when she returned to Chu."
As a result, I waited for months and didn't receive a single letter!
These past few months, I've often worried, thinking something had happened to him..."
As he spoke, the brocade was unveiled.
A parchment scroll appeared before my eyes.
On the parchment, the four large characters “流水照花” (Flowing Water Reflecting Flowers) were written in gold lettering.
Yuan Yao was slightly taken aback: "This..."
Xie Zhi explained, "This is the sheet music that Yun Chan found for you."
This musical score is a rare copy that Chu musicians are vying to obtain.
Little Yao'er, you must practice the zither diligently, lest you let Yun Chan's efforts go to waste.
A rare copy?
It's a limited edition!
That sounds amazing!
Yuan Yao gently turned a page and glanced at it.
Just one glance gave her a headache: "This is way too difficult!"
Ah, the clouds are flowing!
Before he left, he told her that it wasn't her fault that she didn't play the piano well, and that she should play it when she was older.
In the blink of an eye, a sheet music was delivered to him...
A hand reached out.
The Ninth Prince took the sheet music and glanced at it.
After reading it, he closed the sheet music and said, "If my daughter doesn't want to play the zither, then she won't. We'll talk about it when she's older."
Growing up?
Yuan Yao blinked her big, bright eyes and said pitifully, "But, Daddy, Yao'er has to take an exam!"
The Ninth Prince waved his hand and said, "Take the exam again next year!"
It means next year, that is, next year.
Another year has passed, and the peach blossoms bloom in March.
The Academy of Chinese Classics welcomes new students for the new year...
However, Yuan Yao and the others did not go to school on time.
The border between the Qi and Chu states remains embroiled in conflict.
The Kingdom of Xiqiu sent an invitation.
Yuan Yao, Huai Rou, and Huai Yao boarded a carriage bound for Xiqiu Kingdom.
Xie Zhi, Lin Xuan, and Jiang Chengyan also mounted their accompanying horses.
A large group of people set off for the Kingdom of Xiqiu...
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