Chapter 307 The person Siyao loves is Siyao's husband (4400 words)
"boom!"
"boom!"
"boom!"
In the courtyard, an eight-year-old boy was practicing boxing.
Each punch he threw produced a thunderous sound.
His steps were steady and powerful, and his boxing style was expansive and fluid, even pleasing to the eye.
Zhou Ruoxi sat in the courtyard making clothes for her child, occasionally looking up to watch Mo'er practice boxing.
The young mother recalled that eight years ago, when her child was just born, he was only a tiny little thing in her arms.
Yesterday, we measured her height, and it turns out that Mo'er is already four feet two inches tall.
Before we knew it, Mo'er had grown into a little man.
Standing to the side, Cui Cui was also quite fascinated watching her young master practice boxing.
Cui Cui thought that when the young master grew up, he would be very tall and handsome, and many women would definitely like him!
"Is the Fifth Madam here?"
Just as Xiao Mo finished practicing the Heaven-Opening Fist once, a hoarse voice rang out from outside the courtyard.
Zhou Ruoxi looked out of the courtyard and quickly recognized him as the personal eunuch of the King of Qin, whom she had met once before when she paid her respects to the King of Qin.
Zhou Ruoxi stood up, stepped forward, and bowed slightly: "This is I."
“I have already met Fifth Madam. I apologize for the intrusion and disturbance.” Eunuch Li bowed respectfully.
"What are you saying, Father-in-law?" Zhou Ruoxi straightened up. "Is there something you need, Father-in-law?"
"It's nothing serious." Eunuch Li smiled and looked at the young man standing to the side. "This must be the Third Young Master, Xiao Mo, right? He's truly a handsome young man! He has the demeanor of the Prince back in the day!"
"You flatter me, Father-in-law," Xiao Mo said, stepping forward and clasping his hands in greeting. He sensed that the other party was coming for him.
But the problem is, what would someone from the palace want with me, a nobody like me?
That's right.
Li Gonggong said.
"The palace will soon hold a hunting ceremony, which will be attended by the two princes and the princess. We have heard that the Xiao family has a third young master who is said to be skilled in boxing at a young age and is the same age as several princes and princesses."
Therefore, the palace is considering appointing the Third Young Master as a guard. I wonder if Madam Zhou and the Third Young Master would be willing?
Zhou Ruoxi glanced at her son, her expression showing some difficulty.
She didn't want her child to come into contact with those royal relatives; otherwise, if anything went wrong, Mo'er would likely be in grave danger.
But how can I refuse the palace's request?
Just as Zhou Ruoxi was thinking of an excuse, Xiao Mo stepped forward and said, "I am naturally willing. May I ask when I will go?"
"Three days from now, we'll send someone to pick up the Third Young Master," Eunuch Li said with a smile, then looked at Madam Zhou, "Madam, there shouldn't be any problem, right?"
Zhou Ruoxi glanced at her child.
Xiao Mo smiled and said, "Mother, it's alright. It's just being a guard. I'll be right back."
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Father-in-law. My son doesn't know much about this. He only knows how to practice boxing. I hope you'll be understanding."
Zhou Ruoxi bowed again and asked Cuicui to take out some silver from inside the house, intending to secretly give it to Eunuch Li.
"Don't worry, Madam, it's nothing. We'll help if we can." Eunuch Li secretly accepted the silver.
"Thank you very much, sir."
"You're too kind, Madam. I'll go and report back now."
"Take care, sir."
After seeing Eunuch Li off, Zhou Ruoxi quickly went to her child's side and said worriedly:
"Mo'er, you shouldn't have agreed so soon. Many royal relatives will be attending the Qin royal hunting ceremony, and the Qin king will also be there. As the saying goes, serving a king is like serving a tiger. What if something happens to you?"
"Mother, it's alright," Xiao Mo comforted her. "I'm just a guard, and I'm only eight years old. Even if something goes wrong, would His Majesty hold a grudge against a child like me?"
Zhou Ruoxi felt that her child was right.
But it feels a little strange to hear these words coming from my own child.
“Yes, Madam, it’s alright. I also think you’re overthinking it.” Cui Cui stepped forward and said, “Although the Third Young Master is young, he is very sensible. Besides, Madam, this is a great opportunity. What if the Third Young Master gains His Majesty’s favor this time?”
"Yes, Mother, what if His Majesty sees how well I protected you and gives me a high-ranking official position?" Xiao Mo said jokingly, trying to reassure his mother.
"Mo'er, your mother doesn't want you to become a high-ranking official. I just want you to be well."
Zhou Ruoxi simply shook her head, knowing it was too late to refuse. She could only earnestly instruct him, "Mo'er, you must remember to be careful in your words and actions when you meet His Majesty. Don't seek merit, just avoid mistakes. These days, I'll teach you some palace etiquette. You must study it carefully, understand?"
"I understand, Mother."
Xiao Mo nodded solemnly.
Soon, three days passed. Early in the morning of the fourth day, several palace maids came to the Xiao residence again, picked up Xiao Mo and took him to the Imperial Hunting Forest outside the city.
Zhou Ruoxi watched Mo'er disappear at the end of the street, her gaze lingering for a long time.
For some reason, she felt very uneasy, as if something was going to happen at this hunting ceremony.
"Your Highness."
"Your Highness, it's time to get up."
"Your Highness."
Meanwhile, in the Qin royal palace.
A palace maid knelt by the little girl's bedside, calling out softly.
Not long after, the little girl groggily opened her eyes and let out a big yawn.
"Your Highness, today is the day of the hunting ceremony, and we are about to head to the Imperial Hunting Forest," the palace maid said softly. "If Your Highness is late, Her Majesty the Empress will be angry."
"Okay, I understand."
The little girl rubbed her eyes, struggled to get out of bed, and sat in front of the dressing table.
The little girl shook her head as several palace maids dressed and groomed her.
Before long, the little girl changed into a neat and tidy hunting outfit.
"Your Highness looks beautiful, no matter what you wear."
The palace maids looked at the little girl in front of them and praised her sincerely.
Although the princess is still young, she is already a beauty in the making.
On ordinary days, Her Highness the Princess looks lovely when she wears her palace dress.
Now, dressed in a hunting outfit with a touch of wildness and chivalry, and with her hair tied in a high ponytail, the princess not only exudes a noble air of royalty but also the feel of a little female knight-errant.
Not to mention that her own princess has skin as white as snow, delicate and flawless, with a pair of bright, watery eyes like grapes, and a small, pert nose that perfectly inherits the beauty of the Empress.
The empress was originally hailed as the most beautiful woman in the world, and her fame spread throughout the seven major and fifteen minor kingdoms.
It seems that in a few years, Her Highness the Princess will inherit her mother's title.
"It is quite beautiful."
The little girl, who had been dozing off, looked at her pretty reflection in the mirror and suddenly became wide awake, spinning around in front of the silver mirror twice.
"Let's go and let Father Emperor take a look."
As soon as he finished speaking, the little girl happily ran out of the palace, looking forward to her father praising her.
"Your Highness, wait for us!"
Several palace maids quickly followed.
But just as the little girl ran out of the palace, she saw her father, the emperor, already waiting outside.
When the palace maid saw His Majesty, she immediately bowed her head and paid her respects.
"Father."
The little girl ran over with her arms outstretched.
"Oh, my little princess Siyao is awake."
King Qin Shengtian of Qin picked up his daughter and pinched her little face.
The ruler of Qin had two sons but only one daughter.
The King of Qin doted on his only daughter, giving her everything he could from childhood to adulthood, and even finding ways to give her things he couldn't provide.
"Father, why didn't you say you were coming?" Qin Siyao pouted.
"Isn't this to let my princess sleep a little longer?" The King of Qin put his daughter down and said softly, "Your mother knows you like to sleep in, so she asked me to come and wake you. I deliberately wandered around outside the door. Don't tell your mother."
"Don't worry, Father, I will definitely not tell."
"Yes, Siyao is the best girl." The King of Qin said with a smile, "Let's go, your mother and your two older brothers are already waiting for us. If we don't leave soon, your mother will scold me."
"Yes, Father!"
Qin Siyao followed her father onto the imperial carriage.
Not long after, Qin Siyao met her mother and brother in the front hall of the palace.
"A daughter greets her mother, asking how she is doing?"
When she saw her mother, Qin Siyao immediately became dignified, got off the carriage, and bowed respectfully.
In Qin Siyao's heart, although her father loved her the most, her mother was the fiercest.
"I'm well." Empress Shi nodded. "Get up."
"It's Mother."
Qin Siyao stood up and stood properly to the side.
"As expected, Mother is the only one who can keep Third Sister in check," said the sixteen-year-old eldest prince, Qin Jingsu, with a smile.
“That’s right.” The thirteen-year-old Second Prince Qin Jingyuan laughed along. “Normally, Third Sister is lawless and fearless, like a wild man. Only when Mother is around is Third Sister so well-behaved that even Second Brother doesn’t recognize her.”
Hearing her two older brothers laughing at her, Qin Siyao pouted and instinctively raised her little foot to kick them.
But when she saw her own mother, she could only lower her head and continue to be a good girl.
"Alright, if you keep laughing at Siyao, none of you will sleep tonight," the King of Qin said with a smile. "Let's set off."
"It's Father!"
Qin Jingsu and Qin Jingyuan bowed, mounted their horses, and rode at the front.
Watching her older brothers ride horses, Qin Siyao blinked, wanting to ride too, but she was still too young and her mother wouldn't allow it, so she could only obediently sit next to her mother.
"Siyao, how are you doing with the ten poems and three parallel prose pieces that your mother asked you to memorize?"
Inside the carriage, Empress Shi asked her daughter a question.
"Daughter...daughter," Qin Siyao hesitated, her eyes darting left and right, her small hands tightly gripping the hem of her skirt.
In fact, Qin Siyao has been busy playing these days and hasn't memorized a single poem.
She was planning to study hard when she got home today.
Unexpectedly, her mother is now testing her.
"Cough cough cough"
Seeing his daughter's nervous appearance, the King of Qin coughed a few times and said...
"Xin'er, today is the day of the hunting ceremony, so let's not talk about these things for now. Besides, it's my fault. Every time I see Siyao studying, I feel that she is working hard, so I let her go and play."
Empress Shi rolled her eyes at her husband: "Your Majesty spoils her too much, which is why she is so fearless. If Your Majesty disciplined her like her two older brothers, would I still need to keep an eye on Siyao like this?"
"Hahaha." The King of Qin grasped the Queen's hand. "Xin'er, what are you saying? Those two boys will be the pillars of our Qin Kingdom in the future. Siyao is just a girl. Why do we need to be so strict with her?"
"You can't say that. Since Siyao is a princess of my Qin Kingdom, she represents the face of my Qin Kingdom. If she marries out in the future and doesn't understand anything, only knows how to play, and is also willful and capricious, wouldn't that make people laugh at her!"
"I'd like to see who dares to mock my daughter."
"In short, I will teach Siyao well, Your Majesty just need not spoil her too much."
Empress Shi didn't want to say anything more to His Majesty.
However, Empress Shi soon remembered something: "Speaking of which, the Qi Kingdom wants to arrange a marriage between our children to strengthen the friendship between our two countries. What does Your Majesty think?"
"What does Siyao think?" the King of Qin asked.
"No! Siyao doesn't want an arranged marriage!" Qin Siyao raised her head. "When Siyao grows up, she wants to find her own husband!"
"What kind of husband does Siyao want to find?" the King of Qin asked with a smile.
"Siyao, Siyao wants to find someone she likes!" Qin Siyao replied. "The person Siyao likes will be Siyao's husband."
"Hahaha." The King of Qin laughed loudly, not taking his daughter's words to heart.
After all, what can an eight-year-old girl understand about love?
"The Prime Minister has already spoken to me about this matter," the King of Qin said, taking a sip of wine. His voice, though not angry, carried an air of authority. "I have made my decision. How can the Dragon Princess marry my son?"
Empress Shi was taken aback for a moment, then replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Half an hour later, the King of Qin and his entourage arrived outside the Imperial Hunting Forest.
At this moment, all the imperial relatives and nobles were already waiting.
"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"
After the King of Qin alighted from his carriage, everyone shouted in unison.
"My esteemed subjects, please rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The King of Qin glanced at the crowd and said with a smile:
"Today is the once-a-decade hunting ceremony of my Qin Kingdom. My Qin Kingdom was founded on military strength, and every ten years, the offspring must go to the Imperial Hunting Forest to hunt alone."
"For this hunting ceremony, I have also prepared some small gifts for everyone."
As soon as he finished speaking, Eunuch Li stepped forward, holding a box in his hands.
The King of Qin opened the box.
Inside was a crimson jewel.
Upon seeing this precious pearl, everyone's breath caught in their throats. This was the Fire Spirit Pearl! For martial cultivators, it was a treasure akin to a celestial artifact!
"Whoever hunts the most this time, this Fire Spirit Orb will belong to them!" The King of Qin closed the box. "Everyone, you can all do your best."
The crowd shouted excitedly, "Your Majesty, we will certainly not disappoint you!"
"Good." The King of Qin nodded in satisfaction and said to his children, "Jing Su, Jing Yuan, and Si Yao, these are the children of various generals. They have been practicing martial arts since they were young. Choose one of them as a guard and go to the Imperial Hunting Forest together."
According to Qin custom, during the hunting ceremony, officers of the fourth rank and above would send some of their sons from the capital to serve as royal guards, which was also a way to strengthen the bond between the next generation.
Of course, relying solely on these young people as guards is definitely not enough.
Therefore, the King of Qin would also have palace attendants secretly follow him, just in case.
"Yes, Father."
The three responded and then walked to the row of descendants of military generals, choosing their own guards.
In fact, both princes already had someone in mind, but Qin Siyao was still being picky.
However, she soon noticed a guard who looked to be about her age.
Qin Siyao stepped forward, her hands behind her back, and asked curiously, "Are you a guard too?"
“Yes, Your Highness,” the little boy replied.
Qin Siyao blinked her big, bright eyes: "But you're so small, just like me."
The little boy did not reply.
"But this is the first time I've met someone my own age," the little girl said, her eyes crinkling. "What's your name?"
The little boy turned his head, looked into the girl's eyes, and answered:
"Xiao Mo".
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com