Eunuch Zhao's expression stiffened, and he nodded, "Understood, Your Majesty..."
Alas, it seemed the Emperor intended to take the Princess back. If Yun Siman truly had feelings for her, then he absolutely couldn't let her leave!
In the guest room, Yun Siman was playing 'galaha' with Xiao Xinling. Galaha was a game played with the joints of pigs and sheep, and with a pouch, it offered unique fun...
During the off-season, the women, young wives, and young girls of Dashui Village loved to sit on the kang and play this game.
But Yun Siman was a grown man and had no interest in such a toy. If it weren't for passing the time with Xiao Xinling, he would have slipped out for a drink long ago. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"Siman, why aren't you throwing the pouch? You're cheating..." Xiao Xinling glared with her almond-shaped eyes and pinched him hard.
Yun Siman cried out, "Ouch!" and casually tossed the pouch onto the fire wall, "I'm not playing anymore, it's boring!~"
How could such a boring game exist in this world?
Seeing this, Xiao Xinling was so angry that she stood up from the kang, put her hands on her hips, and said, "Yun Siman, treat me better, or I'll never see you again..."
Yun Siman had now figured out the identities of Xiao Xinling and Emperor Cheng. He had overheard this information in the outhouse.
However, with the Princess suddenly being taken away by the Emperor and about to be married off to a foreign country, Yun Siman felt troubled and confused, not knowing what to do.
"If you don't want to see me, then don't. I won't lose any flesh without you..." Yun Siman said stubbornly.
Xiao Xinling was furious. Before Gao Mama could stop her, she pounced like a mother hen, rode on Yun Siman's neck, and beat him, "Heartless man, heartless man, how could you say such a thing? You're not even human anymore, I... I'll beat you to death!~"
When Eunuch Zhao walked in, he saw Yun Siman carrying the Princess around the room, with Gao Mama sighing and chasing after them...
This was clearly something only a young couple would do.
He really wished the Emperor could see this. Look how good their relationship was! Perhaps they could recruit Yun Siman as a驸马 (fù mǎ - imperial son-in-law), and it would save the Princess from crying day and night.
"Huh? Old Zhao, why are you here?" Xiao Xinling was slightly startled and jumped down from Yun Siman's neck.
Eunuch Zhao coughed lightly and murmured, "Young Master Yun, my master wishes to see you..."
"See me?" Yun Siman was taken aback.
He had a bad feeling about this.
"I'm going too!" Xiao Xinling linked her arm with Yun Siman's and pulled him towards the exit.
Eunuch Zhao quickly stopped her, "Oh, Miss, my master only wishes to see Young Master Yun alone. You should rest!~"
Xiao Xinling: "..."
So mysterious, what did he want to do!
Given Father Emperor's temper, wouldn't he scare Siman half to death?
"Then... I'll wait here!" Xiao Xinling reluctantly let go of Yun Siman's arm, her face full of worry.
A moment later, Yun Siman, with a heart full of unease, entered the study in the west wing...
Coincidentally, Xiao Jinheng and Xiao Xitian had returned. Seeing their fourth brother walk into the study with a gloomy expression, Xiao Xitian's eyes lit up, and she pulled Xiao Jinheng along.
"Hey, little village boy, what are you doing?" Xiao Jinheng's heart pounded.
Xiao Xitian grinned, "Of course, eavesdropping!~"
She wanted to know what the old Emperor had said to her fourth brother.
Xiao Jinheng: "..."
Good heavens, daring to eavesdrop on Father Emperor's conversation, you're really bold.
Xiao Xitian took out two paper cups from her satchel and clumsily poked two holes in the bottom, handing one to Xiao Jinheng, "Hold this!~"
Xiao Jinheng was completely confused, "What... what is this?"
Xiao Xitian tiptoed to the study door, a mischievous smile on her face, "Eavesdropping artifact, watch this..."
She pressed the rim of the cup against the study door, then put her ear to it, and began to eavesdrop with a smile.
Xiao Jinheng: "..."
Where did you learn all these strange tricks?
Truly worthy of being a little demon.
Then Xiao Jinheng, following her example, pressed his ear to the paper cup and listened intently to the sounds from the study.
Eunuch Zhao and Gao Mama exchanged glances, both looking helpless.
The young prince and the sweet baby were eavesdropping outside the door. As servants, they dared not stop them and could only stand on either side of the door, craning their necks to listen...
"Master Huang!~" Yun Siman approached the desk and cupped his hands.
Emperor Cheng was stuffing tobacco into his pipe. He looked up at Yun Siman and asked indifferently, "Your father mentioned you have a job in the capital. Can you tell me what it is?"
If he was promising and capable, he might consider taking Siman as a驸马, especially since that brat Xinling liked him so much...
Emperor Cheng was not an unreasonable person.
Yun Siman looked at the Emperor of the Liang Dynasty and couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
He pondered whether to tell the Emperor the truth. At this point, there was no need to hide anything...
After all, even Marquis Gu had to obey the Emperor.
"I work under Marquis Gu!~" Yun Siman replied in a low voice after a long hesitation.
Emperor Cheng held his pipe and narrowed his eyes, "Marquis Gu? Is it Gu Mingyan?"
Gu Mingyan was the younger brother of Empress Xiao and Emperor Cheng's brother-in-law. What kind of work could Yun Siman do for him...
"It is indeed him!" Yun Siman replied.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Cheng became even more interested in the young man, "What does he usually have you do?"
Gu Mingyan only had a few subordinates, and each of them was an elite. Could Yun Siman be one of them?
"It's very varied!~" Yun Siman mumbled, "Going undercover in neighboring countries, infiltrating enemy territory to steal intelligence, or resolving hidden dangers and various troubles for the court..."
This statement not only shocked Emperor Cheng but also surprised Xiao Xitian and Xiao Jinheng outside the door.
So their fourth brother had done so many remarkable things outside.
No wonder his martial arts were so good, able to leap over eaves and walk on water. Without some skill, how could he steal intelligence from neighboring countries...
"Fourth Brother Siman, you're amazing!~" Xiao Jinheng praised.
Working for his uncle, Fourth Brother Siman would surely achieve great things in the future.
Emperor Cheng stared at Yun Siman for a moment and asked, "In that case, do you know about the crossbow diagram that the Ministry of Works received a few months ago? That was stolen from a neighboring country by one of Marquis Gu's subordinates. How much do you know about this matter?"
That was a very advanced repeating crossbow. If it were manufactured according to the diagram, the combat power of the Liang Dynasty's army could be improved by several levels...
Yun Siman scratched his face and said with a smile, "I was the one who stole that diagram!~"
Although there were some bumps and twists, it was generally smooth.
Emperor Cheng: "..."