After the interstellar female general died in battle, she transmigrated into the body of a dashing p

Xiao Huachi nodded seriously, then looked at Zheng Zhian and said with a smile, "Little one, we should go back now." He didn't seem to care about her choice of words.

On the contrary, he liked that intelligence more and more.

Zheng Zhian finished eating the chicken leg, her little mouth glistening with oil. Duke Yun helplessly took out a handkerchief to wipe it for her.

"Grandpa, let's go!" Zheng Zhi patted his little belly contentedly. It was so nice to be able to eat a chicken leg after coming out. Danqin rarely let her eat these things.

Looking at her neck, the Duke of Yun said seriously, "Don't go out of the palace unless necessary in the future." He handed her to Xiao Huachi, "Then I'll have to trouble you, senior."

They had already heard about the prime minister's son. Since he was no longer alive, they had nothing more to say. If that kid hadn't died, then this matter wouldn't be so easily fooled.

"Goodbye, Grandfather, Grandpa Feng." Zheng Zhian ignored his words and waved his little hand.

She'd be bored to death if she stayed in the palace all day long.

"Let's go." Xiao Huachi, holding the little one in his arms, took a step and disappeared from their sight in an instant.

When they returned to the Star-Picking Tower, Zheng Zhian was surprised to find her father still there. He calmly asked the seemingly otherworldly child, "If a certain place suffers a natural disaster, and the local people are in dire straits, and the disaster relief funds allocated by the imperial court are insufficient to solve the problem, what would you do?"

When they returned, Zheng Hongyuan didn't say anything, but remained standing beside him, only taking a sip of tea.

Upon hearing his father's question, Zheng Zhian curiously ran over to look at the books on the boy's desk.

Well, the Minsheng Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror for the People) happened to be a record of a disaster that had occurred in a certain place. She quietly retreated to the Bagua table and began to study the patterns on it carefully.

Seeing her movements, Xiao Huachi assumed she hadn't understood, and followed her with a smile to see what she was learning. Besides martial arts and formations, he taught Chu Mo whatever she wanted to learn, such as poetry and ancient books, and she would ask him questions when she couldn't understand something herself.

I never expected that this is what he was looking at today.

Upon hearing the question, Chu Mo lowered his head and pondered it seriously. Clearly, this question was still somewhat challenging for someone with his current experience. However, no one disturbed him. A quarter of an hour later, his eyes gleamed as he looked up at the Emperor and said, "We can raise funds from powerful and wealthy merchants."

Hearing his words, Xiao Huachi nodded in satisfaction. Amo was indeed very clever.

Before he could even finish celebrating, another question came crashing down on him: "What if they're unwilling to donate?"

After waiting for a while, he was still frowning and deep in thought. Xiao Huachi saw that the little girl was getting bored and had started to dismantle the wooden blocks that he had placed on the Bagua table. He immediately raised his voice and said, "Little girl, what do you think should be done about His Majesty's problem?"

Zheng Zhian stopped his mischievous little hands and turned back to look at them with a puzzled expression. "What?" He felt like he was caught daydreaming in class and then made to answer a question.

Before Xiao Huachi could repeat the question, she looked like she had just realized something and said innocently, "Rewards! Whenever Danqin wants someone to do something extra, she gives them some kind of benefit as a reward."

“But if the reward is gold and silver jewelry, it would be better to use it directly for disaster relief.” Chu Mo hadn’t thought of this, but if there really was that kind of money, then donating it would be redundant.

Zheng Zhian couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Are you stupid? Why do we have to give them gold and silver jewelry?" Seeing that he still didn't understand, he sighed. "Let the court issue them a plaque for being a philanthropic family. When it's delivered, make a big fuss with gongs and drums. The more they donate, the more unique the plaque will be. That's all."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Huachi was slightly taken aback. As expected of someone who had attended court with the emperor for three years, he already knew how to use his reputation to achieve his goals at such a young age.

Hearing her answer, a smile flashed in Zheng Hongyuan's eyes, and he looked proud. He looked down at Chu Mo, who seemed to understand but not quite. This child had not yet experienced the ways of the world, nor had he grown up in the court like the little fellow. It was already remarkable that he could think of these things, and he was indeed promising for the future.

Seeing that Chu Mo was deep in thought, Xiao Huachi did not intend to explain the intricacies to him. It was not something that could be explained in a few words. He would only understand the truth after he went out and experienced the world.

He casually walked to the nearest chair and sat down, looking at Zheng Zhian, raising an eyebrow and smiling as he said, "Little guy, aren't you going to offer me a cup of tea as a formal apprenticeship ceremony?"

"Apprenticeship Tea?" Zheng Zhian was genuinely puzzled. What kind of tea was that?

Zheng Hongyuan could tell from her expression that she didn't understand, so he explained, "If you want to become Master Xiao's disciple, you must personally offer him a cup of tea. This is the tea ceremony for becoming a disciple."

"Oh, is that so? Then I won't do the worship!" Zheng Zhian said nonchalantly, a sly glint in his eyes.

Upon hearing her say that, Xiao Huachi was furious and immediately sat up straight. "How can you go back on your word like that?" He looked at her with some resentment. "Don't you know what it means to keep your word?" His expression was just like that of a little girl who had been abandoned by her lover.

Zheng Zhian walked to the table, stood on tiptoe to pour a cup of tea, held it to him, and said in a serious tone, "Did I promise you anything?"

He thought back and realized that the little guy hadn't really given a clear answer, and he was speechless for a moment.

Seeing his discomfiture, Zheng Zhian stopped joking and became serious, bowing and saying, "Master, please have some tea."

Xiao Huachi accepted it with satisfaction, and Zheng Zhian knelt down and kowtowed three times earnestly.

Seeing this, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows and smile, truly believing that the little guy didn't understand these things.

She genuinely didn't know about the tea ceremony for becoming a disciple, but she did know that kneeling was required.

After she finished kowtowing, Xiao Huachi helped her up, his beaming smile conveying his joy to everyone present.

He picked the boy up and introduced him to the boy who had regained his senses, "This is your senior brother, Chu Mo. If anyone bullies you in the future, ask him to help you get revenge. If you can't beat him, come back to me."

Zheng Hongyuan looked helplessly at the two who had just become master and apprentice. The little guy kept nodding, clearly very satisfied with his master.

He suddenly wondered if his decision to have the little guy become the apprentice of this old rascal was a little inappropriate.

What he didn't expect was that in the future, when things were giving him headaches, he wouldn't think it was inappropriate at all, but rather that the decision was a complete mistake...

Chu Mo stood up, his lips moving slightly without any expression, and said, "Junior Sister."

“Senior brother.” Zheng Zhian couldn’t understand how her master, who didn’t seem like a proper person, could have produced such an expressionless little ice block.

However, her master's last words were exactly what she wanted to hear!

"Are you coming back with me now, or staying here?" Zheng Hongyuan had achieved his goal and it was time for him to go back and review the memorials.

Before Zheng Zhian could answer, Xiao Huachi said with a smile, "Your Majesty, you should go back first. I'll bring her back later." He had just taken the baby in his arms; how could he just take her away like that?

Zheng Zhian nodded seriously, "I'll get to know my master better."

Those who knew them would think they were grandfather and grandson, but those who didn't would think they were just newly apprenticed masters! Zheng Hongyuan didn't say anything more and turned to fly downstairs.