Chapter 1053: Gained an Uncle

Although there’s a distinction between ruler and subject,

the little girl is too adorable, making you want to hold her immediately upon meeting.

It even makes you want to claim her as your own daughter.

Yue Er squinted her big eyes and said proudly.

"Indeed!"

"I’m smarter than Third Brother and Fourth Brother, just as smart as Big Brother!"

"But, how come I have one more uncle now!"

Nearby, Xia Ruqing and Ni Manxue both heard this and laughed.

Especially Xia Ruqing.

Hearing her daughter brag again, she couldn’t help feeling powerless.

Yue Er probably will never learn the word ’humility’ in this lifetime.

Unexpectedly, Xia Jingfeng played along and said with a stifled laugh,

"No! I think Yue Er is the smartest in the world, even smarter than your Big Brother!"

Yue Er blinked her eyes.

"Really?"

Xia Jingfeng nodded.

Yue Er lay excitedly in Xia Jingfeng’s arms.

"Uncle is so nice!"

"Mother, Uncle says I’m the smartest!"

Xia Ruqing: "..."

She gave Jingfeng a faint glance, helplessly said to her daughter,

"Okay! You are the smartest, a hundred times smarter than your Big Brother, alright?"

Yue Er was a bit upset.

"Hmph!"

"Mother is bad!"

Hearing this, Xia Ruqing lightly patted her bottom, pretending to be angry.

"Don’t talk nonsense!"

Yue Er rubbed her little bottom and made a funny face at her.

Lady Ni and Xia Jingfeng both laughed.

...

Arriving at the main hall, the three chatted for a while.

Ni Manxue took Yue Er to find Xia Chenghui to play.

Only the sister and brother were left in the main hall.

Since they were direct siblings, there was nothing to avoid.

Once the palace attendants left, the two could have a proper conversation.

Xia Ruqing took out a set of the Four Treasures of the Study she brought from the palace and said with a smile,

"There’s nothing good to give you, this is a tribute, a complete set for you to use!"

He worked in the Ministry of Revenue.

His position wasn’t high, and the salary wasn’t much, so probably... he didn’t have good brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones to use.

This was perfect to give to him.

Sure enough, a scholar can never resist such a thing.

Xia Jingfeng’s eyes were wide open, but he still humbly refused.

"Empress, this is too precious, I cannot accept it!"

Xia Ruqing was a little helpless.

"You’re so close to Yue Er, yet you call me Empress?" With a hurt expression.

Xia Jingfeng got nervous and quickly apologized.

"Big Sister... I... was wrong!"

It’s easy to lose control over the fondness for children.

But in front of Big Sister, he always felt there was a difference in ranks, and being too casual was inappropriate.

"So..."

Xia Ruqing smiled.

"Alright!"

"I know it’s not intentional!"

She just casually complained, seeing his nervous look.

Someone who didn’t know might think that she bullied her brother as soon as she left the palace.

In the past.

Her kinship with Xia Jingfeng seemed more like the instinct of her predecessor.

Later on, gradually.

That kind of connection was ingrained like it was etched in her bones, indistinguishable between whose was whose.

This young man is stubborn and diligent, strong-willed and courageous, and he respects her as a Big Sister beyond words.

While in Yongzhou, his letters never ceased.

Every word, every line, was all about the deep familial connection.

And as for her.

Even though she has the Emperor now, four children, along with Big Brother, Sister-in-law, and others around.

But there was always an important place in her heart for Jingfeng.

These past two years.

Jingfeng returned to the Capital City, but the palace walls made it hard for them to meet.

Even though the sister and brother hadn’t seen each other for a long time, they would never feel estranged.

So, Xia Jingfeng smiled and shyly called out Big Sister.

Xia Ruqing also smiled.

"That’s more like it!"

However... he’s a bit unused to it.

At over twenty years old, Xia Jingfeng had long outgrown his youthfulness, and his behavior was steady and capable.

Yet his shy gesture just now truly brought her back to her memories.

Back then, he was really... frail!

Xia Ruqing quickly shook her head, letting go of the past!

"By the way!"

"I also heard you’re going on a long journey!"

"I came this time to send you off!"

Saying so, she also took out a few ancient books from the box she had with her.

"These are the books I found in the palace!"

"You probably have lots of them, not sure if you’d find them useful!"

"Just take them with you!"

Xia Jingfeng became interested as soon as he saw the books.

"What kind of books?"

"Big Sister, you’re so thoughtful!"

Xia Ruqing said,

"They’re about the Portland Country language! If you find them useful, take them with you!"

She had looked through maps and tried to compare the country’s location on a modern globe.

She found that Portland Country is quite close to modern-day England.

It could be inferred that they speak English there.

Although Old English and 21st-century English are quite different,

at least some things never change.

Based on her memory, she wrote some commonly used daily phrases, annotating them with Chinese characters for pronunciation and meaning.

At least she could be of some help, albeit not knowing much herself.

After saying this, she continued.

"Although there are officials from Honglu Temple, you should know some yourself!"

"Just in case!"

"Also, the journey is long, make sure you bring enough money and provisions!"

Xia Jingfeng, holding the books, didn’t know what to say.

After a while he squeezed out a sentence.

"Don’t worry, Big Sister, Big Brother and Sister-in-law will prepare everything!"

"These books are very useful!"

"I’ll keep them by my side!"

Xia Ruqing nodded, let out a long breath.

"Actually... I didn’t want you to go this time! It’s too far and dangerous!"

"But the Emperor said it’s all by land!"

"Even so, be extremely careful..."

She repeatedly advised, mainly because she couldn’t let go!

Xia Jingfeng suddenly laughed.

"Big Sister!"

"How have you changed since childhood!"

"When we were kids, you wouldn’t say so much!!"

Xia Ruqing glared at him.

"When we were kids, I was too hungry and weak to speak much!"

"Now with strength, I have to chatter on!"

Xia Jingfeng hurriedly explained.

"Big Sister, I dare not say chatter!"

"It’s good if you can always chatter!"

Otherwise, struggling alone is too exhausting.

Without seeing Big Sister, it always feels meaningless.

Xia Ruqing chuckled.

"Alright, don’t need you to complain!"

"I have nothing more to say, as always, take care of yourself!"

With so many people going, it’s pointless to nag, so it’s better not to say much.

Xia Jingfeng was silent for a moment, then seriously said,

"Thank you for your concern, Big Sister!"

"This journey will surely be perilous, I know that!"

"But if we can solve the flood disasters in Jiangnan over the years, no matter how perilous, it’s worth it!"

"So, please rest assured, Big Sister!"

"These are things I must go through and do!"

Xia Ruqing slightly raised her brows, silently guessing, ’How’s that, did I guess it right!’

She let out a long breath.

"Alright then!"

"Since it’s what you want to do, Big Sister will always support you!"

After saying that, she stood up.

Xia Jingfeng quickly stood up as well.

"Thank you, Big Sister!"

She smiled gracefully.

"Aren’t you tired of thanking back and forth?! Go ahead if you have things to do!"

Xia Jingfeng bowed.

"Yes!"

Just as he was about to turn around, she called out to him again.

"Wait a moment!"

Xia Ruqing suddenly remembered something, and she gave a mischievous smile.

"When you return safely, how about I find you a good match?!"