"Master, could you teach me to paint this picture?"
"Little Xi'er wants to learn?"
Xiao Xi nodded her head without hesitation.
"Alright, let's do it tomorrow. I'll start by teaching Xiaoxi'er to draw simple things."
"Yay! Yay!"
"Master is the best!"
Seeing Xiao Xi'er so happy, Zhang Shuhao felt much better himself.
——————
Qin Jingyi entered the imperial study and saw Qin Jue sitting on a chair to the side, drinking tea. He walked up to Qin Jue and bowed.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty."
"Rise."
"I wonder if Father has something to discuss with me?"
Qin Jue didn't beat around the bush with Qin Jingyan and asked directly, "I heard that Xiao Xi'er gave you a teardrop-shaped stone, is that true?"
Qin Jingyi was puzzled by Qin Jue's words, wondering why Qin Jue had brought this up.
However, Qin Jingyan still answered Qin Jue's question truthfully.
"Father, my younger sister did indeed give me a teardrop-shaped stone."
"when?"
About one or two months ago.
Where is the item now?
"In my bedchamber"
Qin Jue curled his index finger, watching Qin Jingyan tap the table, still considering whether to take the things from Qin Jingyan.
Just in case, Qin Jue still asked Qin Jingyi for the item.
"Go back now and bring me that teardrop-shaped stone."
"I don't know my father..."
"Let's go now!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will go immediately."
Hearing Qin Jue's resolute voice, Qin Jingyi agreed, left the imperial study, returned to his palace, and retrieved the stone Xiao Xi'er had given him.
"Your subject, this is what my younger sister gave me back then."
Qin Jingyi handed over the brocade box. Qin Jue opened the box and saw the teardrop-shaped stone that Qin Zhong had asked Wu Jiang to bring a few days ago.
The two stones are exactly the same, with no difference whatsoever.
Qin Jingyan had been secretly observing Qin Jue's reaction, but found he couldn't discern anything.
Seeing Qin Jue look up, Qin Jingyan quickly looked away and stared at his toes.
"Okay, you may leave."
"Father, this..."
"Put it here with me for now."
Qin Jingyi was still looking at the brocade box that Qin Jue had placed on the table; his meaning was quite clear.
I just want to take the box and its contents back intact.
"Get out of here!"
Upon hearing Qin Jue's irrefutable words, Qin Jingyi understood that he wouldn't be able to get this item back anytime soon.
"Your subject will now take his leave."
After Qin Jingyi finished speaking, he left the imperial study and looked up at the sun in the sky.
Instead of returning to the Imperial Academy, he went back to the Purple Bamboo Pavilion.
On the way back, Qin Jingyao still couldn't understand why Qin Jue had taken the stone from her.
I've observed that rock myself, and there's nothing special about it; it's just an ordinary rock.
Now that the stone has been taken by the Emperor, it certainly won't be returned anytime soon.
No, wait, it should be: From now on!!! Forever!!! We'll never get it back.
That was the first gift Xiao Si'er gave me, and now it's been snatched away by Father Emperor.
——————
"Yu Ying"
After Qin Jue called Yu Ying out, he directly handed Yu Ying the brocade box that Qin Jingyi had brought earlier.
Yu Ying took it casually, opened the box, and saw a teardrop-shaped stone inside.
"Yansheng, how come you have this stone again?"
"The boss brought it."
"Qin Jingyu?"
Qin Jue didn't speak, but instead realized that Qin Jingyao had been secretly observing his expression when he had focused his gaze on the stone.
He chuckled and cursed, "That kid's getting bolder."
"You dare to look me up and down now?"
"Be bolder, otherwise you'll be like a coward hiding in the mud."
Yu Ying continued, still unable to understand how Qin Jingyi had obtained the stone.
"By the way, where did Qin Jingju get this stone?"
"Given by Xiao Xi'er"
"A little girl? Where did this little girl come from?"
"Found on the palace road"
"Found it?"
Incredulity appeared on Yu Ying's usually calm and unremarkable face.
"Why didn't I see one too?"
"Stop talking nonsense and go get it from the Dark Guard Camp to see if it's the same as this."
Qin Jue pointed to the box containing the red teardrop-shaped stones as he spoke.
"Then I'll go now."
After saying that, Yu Ying left.
Qin Jue stared at the water droplets on the stone on the table, his gaze gradually turning cold.
——————
"Hmph, so you still know to come to the Imperial Academy?"
"Sister Yan'er, why didn't I know to come to the palace school?"
Bai Tangyan was speechless after being silenced by Xiao Xi'er's words, so he ignored her.
Bai Tangzhi, still seated, chuckled and spoke slowly to Xiao Xi'er, her eyes glancing at Bai Tangyan out of the corner of her eye as she spoke.
"Little Xi'er, she's been sulking because she hasn't seen you much lately."
"Bai Tangzhi, don't you dare spread such nonsense and slander me!!!"
"Sister Yan'er, I miss you even while I'm nestled in the palace~"
Really? You missed me?
Upon hearing Xiaoxi'er say she missed him, Baitangyan's earlier arrogance and hypocrisy vanished completely.
Looking directly at Xiao Xi'er with delight, he asked the question that was on his mind.
After Bai Tangyan finished asking her questions, she noticed that everyone around her was looking at her, so she released her grip on Xiao Xi'er's shoulder.
He coughed twice and said awkwardly, "I almost tripped just now, I just needed to borrow your shoulder for support."
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