"Look, does this sound like a subject speaking to his monarch? Anyone who didn't know would think Murong Taotao was one of Emperor Ming's rebellious sons..."
"Then, then I'll have someone pack up immediately and we'll set off from the palace tomorrow!~" Emperor Ming rubbed his hands together with a smile. "It's been a long time since I've been out of the palace to play!"
Upon hearing this, Murong Taotao frowned, "Your Majesty isn't going out to play, you're clearly going to supervise and keep an eye on this humble minister!"
Emperor Ming: "..."
Taotao, don't be so blunt. I need some dignity too.
"Your Majesty can go, but this humble minister has three conditions. If Your Majesty violates them, then this humble minister will abandon you!" Murong Taotao said with a serious expression.
Emperor Ming scratched his face sheepishly and asked humbly, "What... what three conditions?"
"First!" Murong Taotao glanced at Emperor Ming. "Once we leave the palace, everything must be according to this humble minister's arrangements. Your Majesty is not allowed to act recklessly. No indulging in debauchery, no gluttony, no squandering money like dirt, all of it is forbidden!~"
Emperor Ming: "..."
This makes it seem as if he's become a prisoner of the National Preceptor!
The dignified Son of Heaven of the Great Yan Dynasty cannot gorge himself. Then what's the point of him going out? He might as well stay in the palace and enjoy his blessings...
But thinking of Taotao's abilities and temperament, Emperor Ming nodded weakly and agreed in a low voice, "Alright, I, I promise you!~"
Murong Taotao grunted and continued, "Second, when we return will be decided by this humble minister. During our journey together, Your Majesty is not allowed to bother me every day. Your constant chatter is very annoying..."
Emperor Ming: "???"
Does Taotao find me annoying?
I've always treated you like my own son...
"Alright, alright!~" Emperor Ming pouted, his face full of grievance and dejection. "Then what's the third point?"
Murong Taotao chuckled, "This humble minister hasn't thought of it yet. I'll tell Your Majesty when the time comes..."
After saying that, Murong Taotao tucked his sleeves and happily went out to play.
Emperor Ming sighed, his forehead covered in sweat.
Looking at the young National Preceptor's retreating back, he felt both affection and helplessness.
What else could he do? Every family has a few rebellious sons.
And so, the next morning, several simple carriages slowly drove out of the Yan Kingdom's imperial palace, speeding towards the border of the Liang Kingdom...
Dàshuǐ Village, Old Yun's Residence.
A large crowd of villagers had gathered at the east end of the village, and many craftsmen could be seen busy coming and going.
County Magistrate Chen stood on a high platform, holding the windmill blueprints and directing the craftsmen...
"Hurry, hurry, let's try to finish by tomorrow or the day after. I'm doing this to provide convenience for everyone. You've all seen the windmill that Old Yun's family made. Oh, it's quite powerful for grinding grain and corn. It only takes less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to grind it all into powder..." County Magistrate Chen said with a smile.
The villagers also rolled up their sleeves and helped.
Everyone knew that the windmill was designed by Sweet Baby. Now, she didn't need livestock to grind grain; as long as the wind blew, the large windmill in the yard would creak and turn by itself, becoming quite advanced...
County Magistrate Chen said that as long as this windmill at the east end of the village was built, the villagers could use it for free, no money charged.
With such a good thing, the villagers naturally wanted to benefit from it.
"Sweet Baby, look, are the carpenters doing it correctly?" County Magistrate Chen squatted on the ground, smiling at Little Xi Tian. "Are there any parts of the blueprint that need to be changed?"
"No need, Uncle County Magistrate..." Little Xi Tian blinked her big eyes. "The carpenter uncles are doing a great job, there are no mistakes!~"
It seemed that the brat had pressured the Uncle County Magistrate again, making him work so diligently. Every day for the past few days, he had come to Dàshuǐ Village before dawn, urging the craftsmen to get to work...
"Sweet Baby, why aren't you a boy? Sigh!~" County Magistrate Chen reached out and rubbed Little Xi Tian's head, sighing. "If you were a boy, I'd betroth Xiǎo Rǎn to you and let her live at your house permanently!"
Little Xi Tian: "..."
Uncle County Magistrate, what a ridiculous idea!
Since Sister Xiǎo Rǎn is engaged to Nephew Jing De, you shouldn't say such things, otherwise, people might think you don't fancy Jing De...
"Uncle County Magistrate!" Little Xi Tian tilted her little head, her smile sweet. "It's also good that Xi Tian is a girl. What boys can do, Xi Tian can also do, no conflict!~"
Who says women are inferior to men? Just wait, she will definitely achieve great things in the future, the kind that can shake the world...
County Magistrate Chen heard this and his face crinkled with joy. He looked at Sweet Baby more and more adorably and was about to give her a piece of candy when Gao Jing De suddenly ran over.
"Little Aunt, Little Aunt..." Gao Jing De ran, panting, having lost one of his shoes.
As the weather gradually warmed up, villagers who went to work in the fields would wear thick cotton-padded jackets in the morning, and then take off their cotton clothes to wear thinner ones when the sun came out.
Gao Jing De's health was not very good, and he was already sweating profusely after running from home to the village entrance...
Seeing this, Little Xi Tian quickly went to meet him. "Third Nephew, what's wrong?"
"Li-Little Aunt, huff, huff, I'm exhausted!~" Gao Jing De took several deep breaths to recover and pointed in the direction of his home. "Little Aunt, please go home quickly and take a look. It's good news, great news..."
Little Xi Tian: "???"
What's going on?
What good news could there be at home? Could it be that Sister Shān Shān gave birth?
How is that possible? Sister Shān Shān is due to give birth in the autumn or winter of this year at the earliest...
County Magistrate Chen was also curious and asked Gao Jing De, "Why are you so flustered? What happened?"
Gao Jing De gave a silly smile, his mouth suddenly becoming tight. No matter how County Magistrate Chen asked, he wouldn't say.
"You, you're playing coy with your father-in-law!" County Magistrate Chen said speechlessly, directly grabbing Little Xi Tian's hand and walking quickly towards Old Yun's residence.
Gao Jing De followed behind with a smile, looking at County Magistrate Chen's back and saying, "Father-in-law, from now on, when you see my Little Aunt, you must change your address. You can't keep calling her Sweet Baby, that's too disrespectful..."
He knew it. Little Aunt was extraordinary and would soar to success sooner or later.
County Magistrate Chen: "..."
This brat dared to play tricks on him, was he looking for a beating?
"Why should I change my address?" County Magistrate Chen stopped and looked back at Gao Jing De. "Brat, explain yourself clearly!~"
Gao Jing De shook his little head and stuck out his tongue. "Na-na-na, I won't say, I won't say!"
County Magistrate Chen: "..."