An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

Jing Chunxi pinched his palm quietly, thinking that he still had six years to go until he turned nineteen.

Six years is enough time for Pu Ge'er to grow up, and it is also enough time for her to find brothers and sisters who can take charge of the family for her.

"But we can't wait that long," Xu Zize's voice suddenly rose, like an arrow shot from a bowstring, "At most, we can wait until Xi'er turns sixteen! Xiaokang must come to marry her."

A vein on his forehead jumped, and his voice was firm, the tail end of which echoed slightly in the quiet room.

Jing Chunxi's fingertips trembled at the sudden rise in voice. He then bit his lower lip and said stubbornly, "Eighteen! It can't be any earlier."

"No!" He left no room for negotiation.

After knowing each other for several years, this was the first time they had been so confrontational. Jing Chunxi had expected Xu Zize to curl his eyes and try to appease her as usual, but this time, his eyes were filled with apology, and he seemed to be gritting his teeth in pain.

It's not that he is unwilling to give in, nor that he can't beat those old guys, it's just that he doesn't want to and can't wait, so he wants to marry Xier as soon as possible.

"Those old guys in the Ministry of Clan Clan and the ministers are putting pressure on us. It's impossible to do it so late. In three years, Brother Xiaokang will be an adult." Xu Zize took a deep breath and lowered his voice, but with a heavy sense of helplessness, "Old Madam, this matter... I really can't support Xier." Xier was stubborn, so he could only be roundabout.

"What is this matter with me?"

The old lady suddenly smiled, and her smile was like frost on tiles in winter, a thin layer that melted at the touch of a finger.

"The old general had already told me about this matter when he came back that day. He naturally knew the dilemma faced by the emperor and the eldest prince." Her tone slowed down, as if she was recalling the flashing swords and shadows in the court.

"Sister Xi is young, so delaying the marriage for a year or two would give her enough time to prepare. We understand that. But... why is the eldest prince so strongly opposed to the crown prince? Even the emperor doesn't seem to want to appoint a crown prince right away. Does he have other ideas? Or does the queen want to wait until the two little princes are older?"

It is not impossible that the queen consort wants to seize the crown prince position for her own son. After all, this has been the practice in every dynasty.

"It's not what the old lady thinks!" Xu Zize quickly interrupted her, knowing that she had misunderstood again.

He pursed his lips and spoke in a low but steady voice, "In fact, Queen Mother treats Xiaokang as her own son. The Eastern Palace has already been arranged, and she is just waiting for Xiaokang to come and move in, but Xiaokang refuses."

"Teacher Xuan, who resigned because he refused to teach the deposed crown prince, has been summoned from Qi and Lu to the capital. He will enter the palace soon and will teach Emperor Xiaokang from now on." When he said this, a glimmer of light that a young man should have finally appeared in his eyes, like a candlelight on a snowy night.

During his years in the palace, he had studied in the upper study, but he was not favored by the junior tutor and the other princes. So he just buried his head in his studies, and received guidance from no one except the Empress Dowager.

"It's just," Xu Zize's voice sank, emphasizing each word, "Xiao Kang and the Emperor don't want to be manipulated by those old guys—"

He paused, as if chewing up his unresolved anger and swallowing it, "For the next three years, Father and Xiaokang will definitely do their utmost to stop the selection. Xiaokang just wants to concentrate on his studies and help Father with government affairs. He doesn't want to waste time arguing with them, and even less does he want them to fill the harem with concubines."

Finally, he looked at Jing Chunxi. The determination in his eyes was like an iron nail driven into wood, firmly fixed and unshakable.

His voice softened, but every word was gentle, and he seemed to be begging: "I can wait for Xi'er for three years. If after three years... you still don't marry a concubine——"

When he turned to the old lady again, his eyes were already burning with anger: "Those old guys... must overturn the palace."

Seeing the two of them chatting back and forth, they were actually discussing marriage - you pushed me and I didn't give in, one was sixteen and the other eighteen, just like bargaining in a small shop in the market.

The old lady endured it again and again, and finally chuckled softly. There was a bit of doting in her laughter, as well as a bit of relief of "so that's how it is".

"The eldest prince's plan is very good. I have no objection. I also admire the eldest prince. But it is the parents' orders and the matchmaker's words. When Xi'er's parents return to Beijing, the eldest prince must come to visit in person." The old lady dared to say this because she knew her daughter's character. If Xijie likes it herself, the two of them will definitely be very happy.

"The rest is entirely up to the eldest prince and His Majesty." After the old lady said this, a relaxed expression appeared on her face, full of kindness and tolerance. She was happier than knowing that the Ningguo Mansion would soon come to propose marriage.

Sixteen is actually not a child anymore, and delaying it will damage the eldest prince's prestige in front of the royal family. Besides, we can't always indulge Sister Xi's temper. The wedding date has to be decided by the imperial teacher, so she has no right to be picky.

As she spoke, she raised her hand and touched her chest, as if slowly exhaling the breath that had been holding her.

She had initially thought the Crown Prince or His Majesty had other plans for the marriage, wanting to change it at the last minute. Now, it seemed the Crown Prince was meticulously planning for Sister Xi, and her hidden worries melted away like spring snow in the sun.

"With the support of the old general and the old lady, Xiaokang will definitely not let Xier down. Father has also promised that the marriage will be granted when Xier reaches the age of marriage."

Xu Zize straightened his clothes and bowed again. The gloom between his brows disappeared, like the blue sky after a sudden rain.

He turned his head and looked at Jing Chunxi with a bit of apology, hoping to get a smile from her, but the little girl frowned instead.

She parted her pink lips, shook her head very lightly, and then let out a long sigh, the breath brushing against her ears like a feather. "I will enter the palace in three years. Pu Ge'er is only fourteen. I don't know if he will continue to take the exam."

He then shook his head again, even less vigorously than before, as if he was too lazy to even move his head. Only the cloud of worry between his brows grew thicker and thicker. "Hey, how can Xier feel at ease when you haven't gotten married yet?"

Her voice was soft and tender, but it carried the worried tone of a mistress of the house; a young girl of twelve or thirteen chose to imitate an adult by frowning, which made Xu Zize's heart suddenly tighten.

He pondered for a moment, then soothed her gently, "Pu'er is now the son of a noble family. He can enter the upper study to accompany her. How about letting him enter the palace? That way, you siblings can see each other more often, and Brother Xiaokang can teach him personally."

Before she finished speaking, Jing Chunxi jumped up like a lit firecracker, and a small wave flew out of the hem of her apricot-red skirt.

She took two steps at a time and rushed to the opposite side, sitting down next to Xu Zize, her elbow almost touching his arm, and she almost grabbed his sleeve and shook it hard.

"Really? Pu Ge'er can come into the palace with me?"

The ending note rises high, like a little bird chirping under the eaves.

"Xier!"

The old lady shouted softly, with three parts of anger and seven parts of helplessness, and her eyes measured over like a tape measure, as if she was going to order the nanny to take the little girl back for another etiquette lesson in the next moment.

Xu Zize raised his right hand slightly, smiled and stopped the old lady, "Xi'er is still young, this is her true nature."

The old lady cleared her throat and smoothed things over, "Even if you don't go to the study, there's still the General's Mansion. Xi'er, don't worry."

This was what she and the old general had discussed repeatedly under the lamplight after getting Xu Zize's promise that day - it was just to take care of a sensible older child. It would be best if he was willing to live with his grandparents during his vacation. If not, then let Erlang and Silang go over to accompany him in his studies.

There are two rows of new servants in the General's Mansion, and transferring seven or eight more over is just a matter of raising a hand.

The old lady raised her eyes and looked at Xu Zize again, the admiration in her eyes almost overflowing -

The eldest prince's idea was truly foolproof:

Firstly, the two grandsons would not be separated for a long time, which would save Xijieer from worrying about them every day and feeling uneasy in the palace;

Secondly, the princess is bound by palace rules. If her brother goes out as soon as he takes a day off, it will inevitably attract criticism. Now she simply brings him into the palace, which is justified.

Thirdly, Pu Ge'er can still leave the palace during his days off and return to Prince Jing's mansion to visit his parents, brothers and sisters, or he can come over to accompany these two old guys to bask in the sun and chat;

The most important thing is that the eldest prince personally instructs on the lessons, which is no different from the personal instruction given by Taifu Xuan. If Pu Ge'er is determined to take the imperial examination, it will be a blessing from heaven.

Thinking of this, the old lady quietly and solemnly gave the eldest prince a few more points.