As soon as they exited the palace doors, they saw Sweet Baby standing by a stone pillar with a strange little boy, while Xiao Jinheng stood with his hands clasped behind his back, respectfully before the grand hall…
Seeing this, Chengdi suppressed his inner excitement and agitation, and coughed lightly, "Heng'er, you're back?"
This brat, if he continued to live in Dashui Village, he would probably forget that he had an elderly father in the palace…
Xiao Jinheng took a step forward, bowed, and saluted, "Your son pays his respects to Your Majesty!~"
Following that, Xiao Xitian pulled Jie Kong over, knelt, and kowtowed, "This commoner Yun Xitian, and this humble monk Jie Kong, pay respects to Your Majesty…"
Upon hearing this, Chengdi smiled so widely his mouth couldn't close, "Xitian girl, how many times have I told you? From now on, when you see me, just call me Uncle Huang. There's no need for kowtowing!~"
After speaking, Chengdi personally stepped forward to help Xiao Xitian up, "Get up, get up quickly…"
Xiao Jinheng, who was bowing: "???"
Xiao Jie Kong, who was kneeling: "???"
What the heck, do you only have eyes for that little girl?
Don't you see the two of us still here, sulking?
"Yun girl, what are your plans now that you're in the capital?" Chengdi asked, holding Xiao Xitian's small hand, smiling.
She had developed the waterwheel, solving the problem of grain grinding for the people of Daliang.
Then, using something called Qi Ye Zi, she successfully drove away the locust army, protecting the villagers' crops.
With all these contributions combined, even enfeoffing her as a county princess felt like an understatement…
Xiao Xitian's eyes curved, and she raised her small head, "Uncle Huang, I've come to the capital to sell wine. I happened to bring you two bottles, Uncle Huang can try them!~"
"Sell wine?" Chengdi pinched his chin, a hint of curiosity in his voice, "Yun girl, you can also make wine?"
They say that wine brewed by farmers is very authentic. Although it's a bit cloudy, its taste is simply better than those watered-down wines…
"It's grape wine!~" Xiao Jinheng said calmly.
Chengdi heard this, shot Xiao Jinheng a look, and said indignantly, "You brat, I didn't ask you, don't interrupt!"
Xiao Jinheng: "……"
So, do you still have me, your son, in your eyes?
"Since it's wine from Yun girl, then I must taste it myself. Come, let's go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. I have a lot to tell you…"
After Chengdi finished speaking, he pulled Xiao Xitian towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Xiao Jinheng and Xiao Jie Kong were completely left aside, like two dry little wild grasses…
When the ministers saw that the Emperor had left, they withdrew from the Hall of Diligent Governance. Seeing the Crown Prince standing outside the door, the ministers all looked terrified and quickly stepped forward to bow.
"Your humble subject, your humble subject pays respects to the Crown Prince…" Prime Minister Yang walked at the forefront, leading the salute.
Xiao Jinheng glanced coldly at him, and curled his lips, "Prime Minister Yang, I heard you raised a 'good son,' who is overbearing and arrogant in the Imperial Academy, and even got into a fight with his classmates over a girl!~"
"You have been an upright and incorruptible official, widely praised, so why is the son you raised so morally deficient?"
Prime Minister Yang, who was completely bewildered: "???"
What happened to his son?
Jing Rui never mentioned anything about the Imperial Academy when he came home. Could that kid have caused some trouble outside?
Thinking of this, Prime Minister Yang cupped his hands in trepidation and asked tentatively, "Your… Your Highness, if you have something to say, please say it directly. Once this humble subject understands the situation, I can discipline that brat!~"
If Jing Rui dared to oppose the Crown Prince, he would beat him to death when he got back…
Xiao Jinheng's small face was gloomy as he looked directly at Prime Minister Yang, "Some things are better for Prime Minister Yang to ask Young Master Yang directly. To know one's mistakes and correct them is the greatest virtue. If Young Master Yang continues to be obstinate, then the Imperial Academy may no longer be able to accommodate him…"
Actually, Yun Jinhe's expulsion from school had been weighing on him.
Xiao Jinheng had wanted to talk to Prime Minister Yang for a long time…
"Your… Your Highness, this humble subject will definitely question thoroughly when I return and seek justice for Your Highness!~" Prime Minister Yang's forehead was covered in sweat, his heart filled with both anger and fear.
Xiao Jinheng glanced at the other ministers again, then left with his hands behind his back…
Xiao Jie Kong pouted, then trotted after them, getting ahead of Xiao Jinheng and rushing into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
"Oh my, wasn't the Crown Prince in Dashui Village? How did he… how did he suddenly return?"
"What kind of talk is that? The palace is the Crown Prince's home, why can't he come back?"
"No, no, why do I feel like something big is about to happen in the court recently…"
"What big events could there be? Besides the Suizhi people from the northern frontier and the pirates along the southern coast, our country is peaceful!"
"……"
The ministers stood there discussing for a while longer, then left the palace together.
Only Tu Qingdong, the Vice Minister of Water, lingered by the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, craning his neck to peek inside.
Could the little girl the Emperor was leading just now be the daughter of the old Yun family from Dashui Village?
He had heard that the girl named Yun Xitian was only six years old this year, and had already been enfeoffed as the County Princess of Dongping by the Emperor…
Moreover, the waterwheels and windmills widely used in Daliang were all designed by that little girl.
When the officials from the Ministry of Works received the drawings for the waterwheels and windmills, they were all impressed by the ingenious designs…
"Truly, heroes emerge from youth since ancient times!~" Tu Qingdong muttered to himself, his face full of envy.
The Emperor had asked him to design the warships' blueprints within a month. Even if he worked himself to death and found all the top talents in the country, he probably wouldn't be able to complete the task…
But if he sought the help of the County Princess of Dongping, there might be room for maneuver.
Thus, the dignified Vice Minister Tu waited outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation for over an hour, but he didn't even catch a glimpse of the little county princess…
It wasn't for any other reason; Chengdi was holding a grand banquet in the Hall of Mental Cultivation because Yun girl had personally come to the palace.
The imperial kitchen became busy again, with all the chefs bringing out their best skills, all to serve this little county princess who had traveled from afar…
"Yun girl, how is the taste of this dessert? Is it delicious?" Chengdi sat opposite Xiao Xitian with a smile, reaching out to put a piece of rose crisp for her.
If Xitian girl didn't like it, he would have the imperial chefs remake it until Xitian was satisfied…
Xiao Xitian looked at the dazzling array of dishes on the table, and her appetite was whetted. She ate everything with gusto and didn't stand on ceremony at all, "Mhm, it's really delicious! Thank you, Uncle Huang, for your generous hospitality!~"
"If it's delicious, eat more. Don't save any for those two!" Chengdi said solemnly.
Xiao Jinheng: "……"
Xiao Jie Kong: "……"