Novel Full Chapter 307: The Person Siyao Likes Will Be Siyao's Husband
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
In the courtyard, an eight-year-old youth was practicing fist techniques.
With each punch he threw, an explosive sound like thunder erupted.
His footwork was steady and powerful, his fist technique bold and sweeping, flowing like clouds and water, even giving people a pleasing aesthetic feeling.
Zhou Ruoxi sat in the courtyard making clothes for her child, occasionally raising her head to watch Mo’er practice his fist technique.
The young mother recalled eight years ago when her child had just been born. She held him in her arms when he was only that small yet yesterday when they measured his height, Mo’er was already four and a half feet tall.
Before she knew it, Mo’er had become a little man.
Standing to the side, Cuicui watching her young master practice fist techniques was also somewhat mesmerized.
Cuicui felt that when the young master grew up, he would definitely be very tall, and would look very handsome. There would surely be many women who would like the young master!
“May I ask if Fifth Madam is present?”
Just as Xiao Mo had finished practicing the Heaven-Opening Fist once, a duck-like voice sounded outside the courtyard.
Zhou Ruoxi looked toward the courtyard entrance and quickly recognized this was the Qin Kingdom’s ruler’s personal eunuch. She had seen him once when paying respects to the Qin Kingdom’s ruler before.
Zhou Ruoxi stood up, walked forward, and bowed in courtesy, “This concubine is she.”
“This one has seen Fifth Madam. This sudden visit is quite an intrusion. Please forgive me, Fifth Madam.” Eunuch Li respectfully performed a courtesy.
“Eunuch speaks too politely.” Zhou Ruoxi straightened up, “I wonder what matter brings Eunuch here?”
“It’s nothing major.” Eunuch Li smiled and looked at the young man standing to the side, “This must be Third Young Master Xiao Mo? Truly a talented young man! He has the Prince’s bearing from years past!”
“Eunuch flatters me.” Xiao Mo walked forward and cupped his fists. He sensed the other party had come for him but the problem was, as such a transparent nobody, why would people from the palace come looking for him?
“It’s like this.”
Eunuch Li began speaking.
“Soon the palace will hold the Grand Hunt. Both Princes and Princess will participate. It just so happens this one heard the Xiao Manor has a Third Young Master. I’ve heard that despite his young age, his fist technique is excellent, and moreover he’s the same age as the princes and princess.
So the palace was thinking of having Third Young Master serve as a guard. I wonder if Madam Zhou and 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 imperial relatives. Otherwise, if there was the slightest mishap, Mo’er would likely face great danger but how could she refuse a request from the palace?
Just as Zhou Ruoxi was thinking of an excuse, Xiao Mo had already stepped forward, “Mo is naturally willing. May I ask when I should depart?”
“In three days, this one will send someone to receive Third Young Master.” Eunuch Li smiled, then looked at Madam Zhou, “Madam, there shouldn’t be any problem, correct?”
Zhou Ruoxi glanced at her child.
Xiao Mo smiled and said, “Mother, it’s fine. I’m just serving as a guard. Your child will go and return.”
“Then I’ll trouble Eunuch. My child doesn’t understand many things. Normally he only knows how to practice fist techniques. I hope you’ll be understanding.”
Zhou Ruoxi bowed in courtesy again and had Cuicui fetch some silver taels from inside the house, attempting to secretly slip them to Eunuch Li.
“Madam, rest assured. Nothing will happen. Whatever this one can help with, I definitely will.” Eunuch Li secretly accepted the silver.
“Thank you, Eunuch.”
“Madam is too polite. Then this one will go report back.”
“Please take care, Eunuch.”
After seeing Eunuch Li off, Zhou Ruoxi quickly walked to her child’s side, saying worriedly,
“Mo’er, you shouldn’t have agreed so quickly. The Qin Kingdom palace’s Grand Hunt will have many imperial relatives participating. The Qin Kingdom’s ruler will also be present. As the saying goes, being with the ruler is like being with a tiger. If anything happens to you…”
“Mother, it’s fine.” Xiao Mo comforted her, “Your child is only serving as a guard. Moreover, your child is only eight years old. Even if there’s some mishap, would His Majesty really quibble with a small child?”
“…” Zhou Ruoxi felt her child’s words weren’t wrong but somehow, hearing these words come from her child’s mouth felt a bit strange.
“That’s right, Madam. Nothing will happen. This servant also thinks you’re worrying too much.” Cuicui on the side stepped forward and said, “Although Third Young Master is young, he has good judgment. Moreover, Madam, this is a very good opportunity. What if Third Young Master gains His Majesty’s favor this time?”
“Right, Mother. What if His Majesty sees I guard well and gives me a high position?” Xiao Mo said in a joking tone, trying to put his mother at ease.
“Mo’er, Mother doesn’t want you to become some high official. As long as Mo’er can be well, that’s enough.”
Zhou Ruoxi only shook her head, but she also knew it was too late to refuse now. She could only earnestly instruct, “Mo’er, you must remember, when you see His Majesty, you must be careful with your words and actions. Don’t seek merit, just seek to avoid mistakes. These days Mother will teach you some palace etiquette. You must study seriously. Understand?”
“I understand, Mother.”
Xiao Mo solemnly nodded.
Soon, three days passed. On the early morning of the fourth day, several palace maids from the palace came again to the Xiao Manor, received Xiao Mo into a carriage, and headed toward the Imperial Hunting Forest outside the city.
Zhou Ruoxi watched Mo’er disappear at the end of the street and didn’t withdraw her gaze for a long time.
For some reason, she felt very uneasy, as if something would happen at this Grand Hunt.
…
“Princess.”
“Princess, it’s time. We should get up.”
“Princess.”
At the same time, in the Qin Kingdom palace.
A palace maid lay by a little girl’s bedside, calling out softly.
Before long, the little girl drowsily opened her eyes and let out a big yawn.
“Princess, today is the day of the Grand Hunt. We’re preparing to depart for the Imperial Hunting Forest.” The palace maid said gently, “If Princess is late, Empress will be angry.”
“Oh… I know.”
The little girl rubbed her eyes, struggled out of bed, and sat before the dressing table.
The little girl shook her head while allowing several palace maids to dress and adorn her.
Before long, the little girl had changed into a crisp and neat hunting outfit.
“Princess looks so beautiful. No matter what you wear, you look beautiful.”
The palace maids looked at the little girl before them and praised from their hearts.
Although Princess was still young, she was already a beauty in the making.
Normally, when Princess wore palace robes, she was clear and lovely.
Now changing into this hunting outfit with a bit of wild and chivalrous flavor, with Princess tying her hair in a high single ponytail, she not only had the noble bearing of the palace but also the feeling of a little female warrior.
Not to mention their Princess’s skin was like snow, delicate enough to burst with a blow, her large watery eyes like grapes, her small delicate nose upturned. She perfectly inherited Empress’s beauty.
Originally, Empress was already hailed as the world’s greatest beauty, her fame spreading through the seven great kingdoms and fifteen small kingdoms.
Perhaps in a few more years, Princess would inherit her mother’s title.
“It does look quite good.”
The little girl who had been dozing originally saw her beautiful appearance in the mirror and immediately wasn’t sleepy anymore. She twirled twice before the silver mirror.
“Let’s go show Father Emperor.”
With those words, the little girl happily ran out of the sleeping palace, anticipating Father Emperor’s praise.
“Princess, wait for us…”
Several palace maids quickly followed but just as the little girl ran out of the sleeping palace, she saw Father Emperor was already waiting outside.
The palace maids seeing His Majesty quickly lowered their heads and bowed in courtesy.
“Father Emperor…”
The little girl opened her arms and ran over.
“Oh, our little Princess Siyao is awake.”
Qin Kingdom’s ruler Qin Shengtian picked up his daughter and pinched her little cheek.
The Qin Kingdom’s ruler had two sons in total, but only one daughter.
Toward this only daughter, the Qin Kingdom’s ruler could be said to dote excessively. From childhood until now, he gave her everything he could, and what he couldn’t give, he would find ways to give.
“Father Emperor, why didn’t you say something when you arrived?” Qin Siyao pouted.
“Wasn’t this to let our Princess sleep a bit longer?” The Qin Kingdom’s ruler set his daughter down and said quietly, “Your mother knew you’d stay in bed and had me come wake you. I deliberately lingered outside the door. Don’t tell your mother.”
“Don’t worry, Father Emperor. Daughter definitely won’t tell.”
“Mm, Siyao is the best.” The Qin Kingdom’s ruler said with a smile, “Let’s go. Your mother and your two brothers are already waiting for us. If we don’t leave soon, even I will be scolded by your mother.”
“Alright, Father Emperor!”
Qin Siyao followed Father Emperor onto the dragon palanquin.
Before long, Qin Siyao saw her mother and brothers in the palace’s front hall.
“Daughter pays respects to Mother. Is Mother well?”
When she saw her mother, Qin Siyao immediately became dignified. She got off the carriage and bowed respectfully.
In Qin Siyao’s heart, although Father Emperor normally doted on her the most, Mother was the fiercest.
“I am well.” Empress Shi nodded, “Rise.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Qin Siyao stood up and stood properly to the side.
“Sure enough, only Mother can handle Third Sister.” The sixteen-year-old First Prince Qin Jingsu said with a smile.
“Exactly.” The thirteen-year-old Second Prince Qin Jingyuan also laughed, “Normally Third Sister is lawless, fearing neither heaven nor earth, like a wild person. Only in front of Mother does Third Sister become so obedient that even Second Brother doesn’t recognize her.”
Hearing her two brothers mock her, Qin Siyao pouted and instinctively wanted to raise her little foot to kick them but seeing her mother, she could only lower her head and continue being a good girl.
“Enough. If you two keep laughing at Siyao, don’t expect to sleep tonight.” The Qin Kingdom’s ruler said with a smile, “Let’s depart.”
“Yes, Father Emperor!”
Qin Jingsu and Qin Jingyuan bowed in courtesy, mounted their horses, and walked at the very front.
Watching her brothers ride horses, Qin Siyao’s eyes blinked and blinked. She also wanted to ride a horse, but she was still too young and Mother wouldn’t allow it, so she could only obediently sit beside Mother.
“Siyao, the ten poems and three parallel prose pieces Mother asked you to memorize, how is your memorization now?”
In the carriage, Empress Shi asked her daughter.
“Daughter… daughter…” Qin Siyao hesitated, her eyes shifting left and right, her small hands tightly gripping her skirt.
In reality, Qin Siyao had only been playing these days and hadn’t memorized a single poem.
She had been thinking she would work hard to memorize after returning today.
She hadn’t expected Mother to test her now.
“Ahem, ahem, ahem.”
The Qin Kingdom’s ruler saw his daughter’s nervous appearance and coughed a few times.
“Xin’er, today is the day of the Grand Hunt. Let’s not discuss these things. Moreover, this is my fault. Every time I see Siyao studying, I feel it’s hard on her and let her go play.”
Empress Shi gave her husband a look, “His Majesty spoils her too much, which is why she’s so fearless. If His Majesty disciplined her like her two brothers, would this concubine need to watch over Siyao constantly?”
“Hahaha.” The Qin Kingdom’s ruler grasped the Empress’s hand, “Xin’er, you can’t say that. Those two boys will be the pillars of our Qin Kingdom in the future. Siyao is just a girl. Why be so strict?”
“That’s not something you can say. Since Siyao is our Qin Kingdom’s princess, she represents our Qin Kingdom’s reputation. If she marries in the future knowing nothing and only knowing how to play, being willful and unreasonable, wouldn’t that invite ridicule!”
“I’d like to see who dares mock my daughter.”
“In any case, Siyao will be taught well by this concubine. His Majesty just shouldn’t spoil her too much.”
Empress Shi didn’t want to say more to His Majesty. However, soon Empress Shi remembered something, “Speaking of which, the Qi Kingdom side wants to arrange a childhood betrothal with us to strengthen relations between our two kingdoms. What does His Majesty think?”
“What does Siyao think?” The Qin Kingdom’s ruler asked.
“No! Siyao doesn’t want a childhood betrothal!” Qin Siyao raised her head, “When Siyao grows up, she’ll find her own husband!”
“Then what kind of husband does Siyao want to find?” The Qin Kingdom’s ruler asked with a smile.
“Siyao… Siyao wants to find someone she likes!” Qin Siyao answered, “The person Siyao likes will be Siyao’s husband.”
“Hahahaha.” The Qin Kingdom’s ruler laughed heartily and didn’t take his daughter’s words to heart.
After all, what could an eight-year-old little girl understand about love?
“Regarding this matter, the Prime Minister has spoken with me.” The Qin Kingdom’s ruler drank a cup of wine, his voice authoritative without anger, “I have already decided. How could a dragon’s daughter marry a dog’s son?”
Empress Shi was stunned for a moment and responded, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Half an hour later, the Qin Kingdom’s ruler’s party arrived outside the Imperial Hunting Forest.
At this time, various imperial relatives were already waiting.
“We subjects pay respects to His Majesty!”
After the Qin Kingdom’s ruler got off the carriage, everyone shouted in unison.
“All beloved subjects may rise.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
The Qin Kingdom’s ruler surveyed the crowd and said with a smile,
“Today is our Qin Kingdom’s once-in-a-decade Grand Hunt. Our Qin Kingdom was founded on martial prowess. Every ten years, the descendants must independently go to the Imperial Hunting Forest to hunt.
For this Grand Hunt, I have also prepared some rewards for all of you.”
With those words, Eunuch Li walked forward carrying a box.
The Qin Kingdom’s ruler opened the box.
Inside was a crimson orb.
Seeing this orb, everyone’s breathing immediately tightened. This was a Fire Spirit Pearl! For martial cultivators, it was a treasure like an immortal item!
“Whoever hunts the most this time, this Fire Spirit Pearl will belong to them!” The Qin Kingdom’s ruler closed the box, “All of you can work hard.”
Everyone shouted excitedly, “We subjects will not disappoint Your Majesty!”
“Good.” The Qin Kingdom’s ruler nodded with satisfaction and said to his children beside him, “Jingsu, Jingyuan, Siyao, these are descendants of various generals’ manors. They’ve practiced martial arts since childhood. Each of you choose a guard to accompany you to the Imperial Hunting Forest.”
According to Qin Kingdom custom, during the Grand Hunt, officials of fourth-rank military officer positions and above would send some of their children staying in the capital to serve as imperial guards, which also fostered feelings between the next generation.
Of course, relying solely on these young people as guards was definitely insufficient.
So the Qin Kingdom’s ruler would also have palace protectors follow secretly to ensure nothing went wrong.
“Yes, Father Emperor.”
The three responded and walked before the row of military officers’ descendants to select their guards.
Actually, the two princes already had people in mind. Only Qin Siyao picked and chose left and right. However, she soon discovered one guard who appeared to be around her age.
Qin Siyao walked forward, her small hands behind her back, and asked curiously, “You’re also a guard?”
“Yes, Princess.” The little boy responded.
Qin Siyao blinked her watery large eyes, “But you’re so small, as small as me.”
“…” The little boy didn’t respond.
“But this is the first time I’ve seen someone my age.” The little girl’s eyes curved, “What’s your name?”
The little boy turned his head, looked into the girl’s eyes, and answered, “Xiao Mo.”