The two little buns held hands and ran into the Imperial Garden...
The winter scenery was a bit bleak, but the grandeur and luxury of the Imperial Garden were still magnificent.
Rockeries, corridors, ponds, pavilions, and the tall octagonal pavilion. A gust of cool wind blew, and the copper bells on the corners of the pavilion made a 'ding-dong' sound...
"You stinker, I have something urgent to tell you. Can we play after I finish talking?" Little Xi Tian said helplessly.
Her second brother's life and death were unknown, how could she be in the mood to wander the Imperial Garden!
Xiao Jin Heng smiled and said, "It won't take too long, let's go!~"
Little Xi Tian: "..."
She didn't expect the stinker to be so playful.
The two little buns passed through a long corridor and finally arrived in front of a rockery.
"Little village girl, look quickly! There's a big hole behind this rockery. It's very spacious inside. I used to love coming here to read when I was little!~"
As she spoke, Xiao Jin Heng pulled Little Xi Tian inside...
Inside the rockery, it was indeed a hidden world. There was even a small table with thick fallen leaves spread on it. Among the leaves, a few strangely shaped stones could be seen.
"This is my secret space, and only you know about it!~" Xiao Jin Heng brushed away the dead leaves with his sleeve and pulled Little Xi Tian to sit down.
Little Xi Tian blinked her big eyes. Did their backyard also have such a big hole...
"Little village girl, besides this place, I haven't taken you to many other places yet. How many days do you plan to stay in the palace this time?" Xiao Jin Heng asked.
Little Xi Tian sighed, "I'm leaving tomorrow!~"
"So soon?" Xiao Jin Heng took off his mask and raised his eyebrows.
After coming all this way, how could she leave just like that?
Little Xi Tian hummed, "Stinker, my second brother was captured by soldiers. They said they were going to the front line to fight. Can you send someone to rescue him?..."
There were only two months left until the New Year. If her second brother wasn't home, her parents would worry to death.
When Xiao Jin Heng heard this, he frowned, "That's not right. Father Emperor said that commoners are not allowed to be conscripted into the army. Who dares to defy Father Emperor's decree?"
Even for conscription, the court would use legal means, not forced recruitment.
It was truly a chaotic world where all sorts of strange things and demons emerged.
If Father Emperor knew about this, he would be so angry he'd die...
"It was... it was a one-eyed man who captured my second brother!~" Little Xi Tian said with a worried expression.
Hearing this, Xiao Jin Heng narrowed his eyes slightly, "Don't worry, I'll go and report this to Father Emperor later. As long as Father Emperor agrees, your second brother will be home soon!~"
This was such a big matter that he dared not act on his own.
"Okay!" Little Xi Tian nodded, her worried heart finally calming down.
As long as the stinker helped, this matter would definitely be resolved...
Seeing the little village girl smiling at him, Xiao Jin Heng flicked her little nose, his expression a little dejected, "I thought you came to the palace to see me!~"
If Second Brother Man hadn't been in trouble, the little village girl wouldn't have traveled so far to be here.
Little Xi Tian pursed her lips and smiled, "I came to see you too!"
"Really?"
"Uh-huh!~"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jin Heng's dejected expression lessened considerably. "Then, since I've been away from Dashui Village for so long, has that fellow Jin Xiao Lou been pestering you every day?"
Little Xi Tian: "..."
Good heavens, how did the conversation get sidetracked like this?
"No!" Little Xi Tian said helplessly.
Xiao Jin Heng snorted and stood up, "That's a lie. That kid is like a shadow, always following you around with a silly grin. He must have ulterior motives!~"
Little Xi Tian: "..."
No, this body is only five years old. After the New Year, it will only be six. What could he possibly want?
This stinker was getting more and more peculiar.
"Can we change the subject?" Little Xi Tian rolled her eyes.
Seeing her pouting little face, Xiao Jin Heng stopped teasing her. "Alright, Father Emperor should be out of court by now. I'll take you to see him!~"
"Mhm, mhm!"
After putting on the mask again, the two little buns took a shortcut, avoiding the eyes of the palace staff, and went straight to the Imperial Study...
Emperor Cheng sat at his desk with a frown, flipping through stacks of memorials. Xue Luhai, the Minister of War, stood beside him, whispering something softly.
Seeing the two little buns suddenly burst in, Emperor Cheng was about to get angry when he saw Sweet Baby blinking her big eyes, wearing a little floral jacket, and smiling at him.
Emperor Cheng was stunned for a moment and quickly said to Xue Luhai, "Minister Xue, you may leave first...~"
"Yes!"
Xue Luhai responded. He was Emperor Cheng's most trusted man, and he naturally knew that the little princess had returned to the palace. But upon seeing Little Xi Tian, he suddenly remembered someone.
His own daughter always nagged him about a little girl from the Yun family in Dashui Village, who was beautiful and lively. She even showed him a portrait of Little Xi Tian...
If Xue Luhai guessed correctly, this little girl should be Yun Xi Tian!
"Minister Xue, aren't you leaving yet?" Xiao Jin Heng said.
"Oh, oh, this humble minister, this humble minister takes his leave!~" Xue Luhai cupped his hands and quickly walked out of the Imperial Study.
Emperor Cheng put down his memorials, stood up, walked around the desk, and came to Little Xi Tian. "Yun girl, why have you come into the palace?"
Little Xi Tian performed a proper bow to Emperor Cheng, "This commoner, Yun Xi Tian, pays respects to Your Majesty...~"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Cheng laughed heartily, "Yun girl, you don't need to be so formal with me. You should just call me Uncle Huang!~"
Xiao Jin Heng twitched his lips. Father Emperor, you are truly biased.
If any of his princes or princesses were disrespectful, they would be severely reprimanded by Father Emperor.
But in front of the little village girl, he said there was no need for formality. Is this really appropriate, Father?
"Thank you, Uncle Huang...~" Little Xi Tian bowed again.
Emperor Cheng was overjoyed. He ordered Eunuch Zhao to have the imperial kitchen prepare some exquisite and delicious pastries, and he had the palace servants heat the floor to keep Sweet Baby warm.
"Heng'er, didn't I tell you to stay in the East Palace obediently? Why are you out again?" Emperor Cheng glared at Xiao Jin Heng and asked with disappointment.
Xiao Jin Heng looked wronged, "Father Emperor, if I hadn't brought the little village girl over, you wouldn't have seen her!~"
Emperor Cheng: "..."
Your smug and overjoyed look is truly blinding.
During your time back in the palace, you've been moping around and looking unhappy all day. But as soon as you saw the Yun girl, you became this happy. You've really changed.
"Yun girl, did you come to the palace this time just to play with Heng'er?" Emperor Cheng asked.
"Father Emperor!~" Xiao Jin Heng cupped his hands in a salute, "This son has something to say...~"