After traveling through time, I was raised by a little brat

Unlike the dire situation in Yangzhou, people in the imperial city still lived a comfortable life.

After Tang Qi entered the Imperial College, he received a two-day holiday every month to return home and reunite with his family. However, five days before the next holiday, it was Tang Wenshu's birthday. Zeng Yuan, therefore, specially organized a small birthday party for her in the courtyard.

Since Tang Wenshu had lived in the mansion since childhood and had no other playmates, Zeng Yuan and Tang Zhengrong were the only two people in attendance at the banquet. Although the atmosphere was harmonious and joyful, it felt a little lacking in excitement.

Tang Wenshu was wearing a light pink dress, with her hair in double buns and an exquisite hairpin on her head. She looked very cute. She sat at the table, looking at the delicious food on the table, her eyes sparkling.

"Wow! What a rich meal!" Tang Wenshu looked at the table full of delicious food, his eyes widened and he exclaimed in surprise.

"Today is your birthday, my dear daughter, of course we have to celebrate it." Zeng Yuan smiled and looked at Tang Wenshu lovingly, her eyes full of doting.

"Thank you, Mom!" Tang Wenshu responded to his mother's love with joy, a happy smile on his face.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, Tang Wenshu raised his head, blinked his big eyes and asked, "By the way, where's my second brother? Why hasn't he come yet?"

"He should be here soon." Zeng Yuan thought for a moment, then comforted Tang Wenshu.

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure flashed by the door, and Tang Zhengrong strode in. He carefully held a beautifully wrapped gift in his hand and walked straight towards Tang Wenshu.

After walking in front of Tang Wenshu, Tang Zhengrong stopped, handed the gift to his sister, and said gently: "Shushu, happy birthday to you! May my sister always be happy and carefree."

"Thank you, second brother!" Tang Wenshu excitedly accepted the gift and couldn't wait to open it. When the colorful paper wrapped around the gift was removed, a dazzling light instantly caught everyone's eyes - it turned out to be an exquisite dagger inlaid with various gems!

"Wow! So beautiful!" Tang Wenshu couldn't help but exclaimed. She was completely attracted by the gorgeous appearance of the dagger.

"Do you like it?" Seeing his sister so ecstatic, Tang Zhengrong's lips curled up slightly, revealing a warm smile.

"Yeah, I like it so much!" Tang Wenshu nodded repeatedly, dancing with joy like a child who got a favorite toy.

However, at this moment, Zeng Yuan frowned and said with a hint of reproach, "Ah, Zhengrong, you're no different. Why would you give such a dangerous thing to a girl? What if she accidentally hurts herself?" She turned to look at Tang Wenshu and said earnestly, "Shushu, listen to your mother. Never carry this dagger with you again."

As night fell and the lights came on, flickering candlelight illuminated three smiling faces. The table was laden with delicious delicacies, the aroma filling the air and making everyone salivate. As the three savored their sumptuous meal with gusto, their hearts were each preoccupied with one person: Tang Qi.

Tang Qi had been at the Imperial College for over two weeks. Everyone had missed him terribly during that time, wondering how he was faring, whether he'd lost weight from his hard work, or whether he missed his family and friends as much as they missed him. Just as everyone's thoughts were racing, footsteps suddenly sounded outside, followed by the sound of the door being gently pushed open.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Tang Qi entered the room together, both beaming with smiles. They quickly walked to the table and pulled out exquisite gifts, handing them to Tang Wenshu. One was the Emei Spear, the other the Judge's Brush, both small and exquisite weapons easily concealed and carried.

"Shushu, these two weapons are for you. You can practice using them when you have free time." His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said with a smile, his tone holding a hint of unquestionable meaning. Zeng Yuan wanted to refuse, but seeing the Crown Prince's determined look, she finally nodded and let Tang Wenshu accept.

"These things are only for Shushu's self-defense. Of course, it's best if you don't need them," Tang Qi said. "It's easier to avoid an attack than to defend against one from behind. Shushu, take care of yourself," he said, patting his sister's head.

The atmosphere at the dinner table grew increasingly lively. As the Crown Prince savored his meal, he enthusiastically recounted recent events at court. The most noteworthy of these was the Yangzhou water bandit case. Rumors circulated that these bandits had been rampant in the Yangzhou area, committing murder, looting, and other atrocities, bringing great suffering to the local people. Most importantly, during the Shangsi Festival, the sons of Yangzhou's stewards and aristocratic families were murdered or captured, including Princess Jiahui.

Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but think of Tang Jilian. Tang Jilian must have arrived in Yangzhou by now, but it was unknown what strategy he would adopt in facing such a difficult situation. After all, he had previously made great military achievements in southern Xinjiang and had performed exceptionally well. Could he successfully quell the Yangzhou water bandit rebellion and restore peace to the region? Everyone speculated in their hearts, while also silently praying for Tang Jilian.

"I believe Dad can do it!" Tang Zhengrong said with a firm gaze. He was filled with immense trust and admiration for his father. In his heart, his father had always been that almighty, indomitable hero.

"Princess Jiahui? Why did she go to Yangzhou?" Tang Wenshu asked in surprise. Previously, she had only heard that Princess Jiahui had married far away, but she had never imagined that she would marry in a place as far away as Yangzhou, far from the imperial city.

The Crown Prince, standing by, couldn't help but sigh softly. "I hope she's doing well... Thinking back to what happened on last New Year's Eve, it's all just a thing of the past. Alas, I wonder why Auntie was so determined to let her marry so far away. Back then, Princess Jiahui was a well-behaved and lovely little girl. We even attended classes together in the palace. Those were truly beautiful and unforgettable times!" At this point, a hint of nostalgia and melancholy crossed the Crown Prince's eyes. "Jiahui was actually a good child. Two years ago, during the war..."

"What's wrong? Prince brother, please tell me quickly!" Tang Wenshu asked anxiously, his big watery eyes full of curiosity and confusion.

His Royal Highness's brow furrowed slightly, his gaze dark and distant, as if his thoughts had drifted back to those turbulent times. He spoke slowly, "Back then, the war in the north had not yet subsided. The flames of war raged, and the people were displaced. Our treasury was already empty, unable to sustain the long-term expenditures of war. Conservatives in the court advocated sending a princess north to negotiate peace in exchange for the next ten years of stability for Zhao." At this point, His Royal Highness couldn't help but sigh.

After hearing this, Tang Wenshu showed surprise on her face and couldn't help saying, "But isn't Jiahui a princess?" She really couldn't understand why Princess Jiahui was chosen for the marriage.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince nodded and went on to explain, "Yes, Jiahui is indeed a princess. But at that time, the royal heirs were dwindling, and there were very few princesses of the right age. And at that time, Jiahui was only 12 years old..." His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's voice trembled slightly, as if he was still frightened by what happened that year.

"After hearing about this, little Jiahui actually took the initiative to stand up and expressed her willingness to go to the north to marry." His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's tone was full of admiration and emotion.

Tang Wenshu widened her eyes and said in disbelief, "How can this be possible? How can the royal family be so fragile that they want a woman to sacrifice herself to bless the prosperity of Zhao?" A wave of anger and injustice surged in her heart.

His Royal Highness was silent for a moment, then raised his head and said with a firm gaze, "Of course not. Countless men of Zhao would rather die in battle than kneel! Fortunately, later, the brave and fearless General Zhao led a great army to an expedition that lasted a year. After arduous and arduous battles, he finally quelled the rebellion in the north, restoring peace and tranquility to Zhao."

"Princess Jiahui, she's truly a responsible woman!" Tang Wenshu couldn't help but sigh, a hint of concern and worry in her eyes. Recalling her previous experiences, especially that unforgettable New Year's Eve, she felt a mixture of emotions.

At the time, she had believed that Zhu Jiahui and Liu Yixin were engaged in intrigue and conspiracy over trivial matters, and she had concluded that Zhu Jiahui was not a good person. However, now it seemed that her initial view was too one-sided. How can one judge people and events based solely on surface appearances? How can one easily make judgments about someone without understanding the ins and outs of the matter?

Indeed, even after that much-publicized farce, the imperial court retained Zhu Jiahui's title of princess, a testament to the hidden agenda. The current Yangzhou riot presents a complex, volatile, and fraught situation. I truly hope this brave and resolute princess can overcome this crisis and survive it safely.