14. Chapter 14: Biased
Xiaoxiao was always very focused when practicing calligraphy, until she heard the boy's voice, she realized there was a boy in the room.
His face was as white as jade, and he wore a blue robe with gold edges and silk boots. He looked extremely luxurious, and his peach blossom eyes sparkled with disbelief and a hint of inexplicable interest.
Xiaoxiao's slender fingers holding the wolf-hair brush unconsciously tightened a little. The sunlight poured in through the window lattice, making the girl's already jade-like skin look even whiter.
Her bright eyes moved slightly, and she felt a little uneasy for no reason.
Xiaoxiao didn't understand why the young man asked about her mother right away. Seeing that his facial features were 30% similar to Pei Xiu Han, Xiaoxiao thought he was Pei Xiu Han's cousin.
Xiaoxiao vaguely remembered that Pei Xiuhan had two uncles and seemed to have three cousins, but she didn't dare to guess that it was the emperor.
Xiaoxiao didn't hide anything. When she mentioned her mother, her voice unconsciously dropped. "I, I don't have a mother."
Pei Jing automatically interpreted her words as meaning that his mother had passed away. He looked at his little cousin with a touch of pity. No wonder the emperor's uncle had been away from the capital for so long. It must have been because his little cousin's mother had passed away that he had brought her back.
The girl had delicate features and a fair and tender face, and she looked adorable no matter how you looked at her. Pei Jing had no playmates, let alone a little sister. Every time his study partner showed off to him how well-behaved and sensible his sister was, he felt sorry that his uncle was a stupid blockhead.
Seeing his cousin's lost expression, he couldn't help scratching his head, feeling that he was too reckless for bringing up his sister's sad story.
He stretched out his paw, touched Xiaoxiao's head in a familiar manner, and comforted her: "It's okay, it's okay. Brother will protect you from now on!"
His smile was bright and friendly, just like Brother Pei. Xiaoxiao couldn't help but curl her lips and said softly, "Thank you, brother."
Pei Jing's heart melted when he was called "brother". The more he looked at his little cousin, the more he felt that she was so well-behaved and adorable. He leaned over to look at her handwriting and blinked, "Are you copying the emperor's uncle's handwriting?"
Xiaoxiao nodded obediently, smiling shyly, "I've only been practicing for a while, so my writing is a little ugly."
When he was nine years old, he could only read and write, so he naturally had no right to look down on Xiaoxiao. It was only in the past two or three years that Pei Xiuhan had to discipline him for a period of time, and his handwriting could be read.
He acted like a brother and gave instructions: "Uncle Emperor's handwriting is very vigorous and elegant. It might be a little difficult for you since you are just getting started. Come, come, I will write a page for you and you can practice according to my instructions."
As he spoke, he picked up the wolf-hair brush. He has always been a man of action. He started writing as soon as he said he would, and wrote a whole page in one breath.
His handwriting is actually somewhat similar to Pei Xiuhan's, but it is a little more childish, and unlike Pei Xiuhan's frequent cursive writing, it is indeed easier for Xiaoxiao to imitate.
When Xiaoxiao saw his handwriting, her eyes lit up a little and she praised him sincerely, "Your handwriting is really beautiful."
This was the first time in Pei Jing's life that someone had praised him so sincerely, and he couldn't help but feel a little flattered.
He was playful when he was young, and the Grand Tutor always complained that he could not keep up with his studies. The young eunuchs were all Pei Xiuhan's people, urging him to make progress all day long. His study partner was a nerd who was better than him in reading and calligraphy. This was the first time he felt such a sense of accomplishment. In addition to being happy, he wrote a few pages for Xiaoxiao.
When Xiaoxiao came over to grind ink, Pei Jing caught a glimpse of the thin calluses on Xiaoxiao's palms. A scene suddenly flashed through his mind: after the death of the imperial aunt, his little cousin was pitifully oppressed by relatives and had to work hard. He pushed Xiaoxiao aside and said, "Stay aside."
The young eunuch was extremely pleased, thinking that his young master had finally grown sensible and was motivated. He was just feeling touched when he saw Pei Jing glaring at him unhappily. He said unhappily, "What are you standing there for? Come over and grind the ink."
Little Leo touched his nose embarrassedly and hurried over.
At this time, Pei Xiuhan was in the military camp. It would take more than 20 days for Old Zhang to arrive in the capital. He planned to leave the capital after the New Year. While he was still in the capital for these two months, he wanted to focus on the training of the soldiers, otherwise he would be worried about the defense of the capital after he left.
Pei Xiuhan had been on the battlefield since he was a teenager, leading troops to repel the Jin Dynasty more than once. Within the Jin Dynasty, he was even given the title of General Shura. Civil officials disliked his aggressive nature and feared he might usurp the throne, but military commanders adored him, and the soldiers also held him in high esteem.
In order to train the troops, Pei Xiuhan put on armor. The silver-white armor shone with condensed light in the sunlight. He was tall and imposing. When he wore armor, he looked like a god descending to earth. When the soldiers saw him, their eyes were filled with eagerness.
Training soldiers was undoubtedly boring, and he had always been very strict with them. After three hours, the soldiers were almost exhausted and felt that their bodies were drained.
Pei Xiuhan called for a halt only when the sun was setting. A large patch of sunset glow poured down from the west, shrouding the entire military camp in orange light. When his figure disappeared in the sunset glow, the soldiers collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.
While he was training, Yang Hao didn't dare to interrupt. Only then did he step forward and quietly report the emperor's whereabouts. "The guards couldn't stop him, so they let the emperor go. However, everything was done according to your instructions. Xuanbing Bazi has been hiding in the dark to protect him. He is still in Suyuexuan and hasn't left yet."
Pei Xiuhan had originally intended to go to the palace, but upon hearing this, he returned directly to the palace. He was wearing heavy armor and had fought with the generals for a while, sweating profusely. He felt a little sticky, so he simply went to take a shower. Before entering, he said, "Call the little emperor."
He always showered quickly, and when he came out, Pei Jing had just arrived at Wuya Hall. Pei Jing didn't pay attention to the time for a moment, until Yang Hao came to call him, he realized that it was getting late.
Afraid that his uncle would scold him, he wanted to slip away with the young eunuch, but the stubborn Yang Hao stood in front of him and would not let him leave. Pei Jing had no choice but to hang his head and follow Yang Hao to Wuya Hall.
Seeing him as if he was going to the execution ground, Xiaoxiao inexplicably wanted to laugh.
Pei Jing seldom left the palace often, and every time he did, the emperor's uncle would get angry. Sure enough, as soon as he came in, he was met with his cold gaze.
Pei Jing was a little scared. He ran to Pei Xiuhan and rubbed his back. "Uncle, calm down! I know I was wrong. Next time, I will never risk my life and leave the palace. I will keep my promise this time."
His promise was like a fart. Pei Xiuhan had heard the same words at least seven or eight times.
Pei Xiuhan waved his hand away, sneered, and said with a half-smile: "Calm down? What's there to be angry about? It's just right that you were assassinated. It saves me from worrying about such a troublesome thing like you every day."
Pei Jing was used to being scolded by him, so he bowed to him as if begging for mercy, with a playful smile on his face, "I was wrong, I was wrong, I was really wrong, uncle, please don't be angry, I'm just curious about my little cousin."
Pei Xiuhan frowned. The light in the room was a little dim. A servant came in and turned on the light. His cold eyebrows and eyes looked even colder and more distant under the candlelight.
Pei Jing was raised by him. Although he was afraid of him, he would unconsciously show some intimacy when facing him. Now he complained, "Uncle, you are so mean. What is our relationship? You didn't even tell me that you had a little girl. If I hadn't secretly come here today, I wouldn't have known that my little cousin has grown up so much."
Pei Xiuhan's brows furrowed tighter and tighter.
Pei Jing couldn't help but sigh, "My little cousin is quite adorable. You've been hiding her for so many years, what for? Could it be that her mother didn't want to marry you? You must be so unkind that she ran away with the baby. Tsk tsk tsk, there are women in this world that you can't handle. Poor little cousin of mine! She lost her mother at such a young age, and even after our old father showed up, he ignored her. Her little hands are covered in calluses, and she's forced to copy your calligraphy. My little cousin is so pitiful."
Seeing that he was getting more and more outrageous, Pei Xiuhan's heart twitched, his face was cold and creepy, and he couldn't help but pat his head, "What little cousin? Call me aunt!"
This brat is rebelling!
Is he that old?!
The little emperor was a little confused. Aunt? He never thought that Xiaoxiao was actually the emperor's illegitimate daughter who was living among the people!
He had long been accustomed to calling her "little cousin." But now, realizing he was a generation younger than me, he was extremely depressed. He said, "I thought the iron tree had finally blossomed, but after all this time, I'm still not as good as Grandpa Huang."
Pei Xiuhan's brows twitched, and he stretched out his leg to kick him. Pei Jing was already prepared and ran away in a flash, "Hmph, don't stop talking! You're already old, and you still haven't married. Be careful that you will be a bachelor for the rest of your life."
Pei Jing ran very fast. After running into the yard, he did not forget to turn his head and make faces at Pei Xiu Han while running. He did not look at the road and bumped into Xiaoxiao who was coming towards him. He was so powerful that Xiaoxiao had no time to dodge and was knocked backwards by him.
As the figure flashed by, a strong and powerful arm hooked the little girl's waist, and Xiaoxiao was pulled into Pei Xiuhan's arms, her nose filled with his scent.
Pei Jingze fell to the ground with a bang, grimacing in pain. Seeing Xiaoxiao was unharmed, he looked at Pei Xiuhan with accusations in his eyes!
Could it be that he picked it up?
Xiaoxiao didn't see his accusation. She felt a little dizzy and her slender white hands tightly grasped Pei Xiuhan's clothes.
He had just come out of the shower, and his clothes were already loose. The little girl grabbed them and opened them directly, revealing his fair and strong chest.
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