She stepped forward, gently bending down, kindly persuading her younger brother that it was time to return to the palace and rest. But the little prince seemed persistent about Ah Jun's answer. He obediently responded to his imperial sister's words while expectantly looking at that big brother... Those little eyes emitted a shining beam that Ah Jun simply couldn't resist. Of course, it also made the little princess furious!
"Oh... alright!"
"Oh what, still oh... what alright—let's go, Little Jun!"
Therefore, the following exchange was quite obvious—the boy softened and agreed, but was mercilessly rebuked by the girl. The little princess made a face at Ah Jun, then with gentle firmness began dragging her brother away from the bad person...
"Sister... let me play a bit more—big brother, a word once spoken cannot be taken back!"
"It's 'a team of horses cannot catch up'—you little thing, do you have any sense, who's your real sister... Is he that great!"
"Oh my, sister... you don't play with me, you're either practicing or reading, it's so boring!"
"Fine, tomorrow Brother Lü and I will spend the whole day playing with you, happy now?"
"Mm... you keep your word, or else..."
"Or else what!"
"Haha... nothing—well, big brother, goodbye, remember to come play with me and sister!"
"Alright, let's go! What are you still looking at—come on, Brother Lü!"
"Sister... can I... sleep with you tonight? Oh please, sister, you're the best!"
"You little thing, I really can't do anything with you... fine, yes!"
"Oh, wonderful, sister's the best—oh, brother, I still want to hear the story you were telling, you didn't finish last time?"
"Mm!"
"Yay..."
"Hey, wait you guys... Little Jun, how about we change the bedtime story tonight—alright, Brother Lü?"
"Oh? Sister... you weren't scared by that story last time, were you—hehe!"
"Oh, you little thing, daring to tease your sister... I'll show you, haha!"
"Ah... brother, save me—sister's tickling me, hehe hehe... it tickles!"
Watching the little prince's cheerful retreating figure, Ah Jun felt this lie was worth it—after all, he was an outsider, how could he frequently come to such an elite place as the imperial palace? However, he also discovered that the little princess was indeed as Little Xi said, her true nature contrasted with her current personality.
Although her attitude toward him was poor, there was a misunderstanding after all. Plus Little Xi's big mouth only told half the story, being targeted was understandable—however, toward her own family, especially the Empress Dowager and this younger brother, she truly displayed a perfect side.
Both understanding and obedient. Both gentle and lovely. Both caring and considerate...
—Simply two different people. The key is, I don't have any temper toward her at all? Very strange. Theoretically speaking, someone treated like this would feel somewhat uncomfortable, but instead I feel a kind of joy. Could it be during training, my brain got overheated?
"Sigh... Ah Jun, why are you staring at her again? You're very unusual today—neither repulsed nor angry, letting that girl bully you... hehe, is your brain broken?"
"—Ah Jun... are you still not feeling well?"
"Hm? Oh... no, I'm fine—right, it's getting late, we need to hurry and find a place to stay, right?"
Just as Ah Jun watched that family of three leave, Little Xi quietly slipped to his side, grinning and throwing out a remark that interrupted this person's reverie—but then Ning'er also interrupted Little Xi's words, her face full of concern as she inquired about her companion's condition.
At this moment, summoned back to reality, Ah Jun, upon seeing his two companions, suddenly thought of a problem—lodging. Oh no, it's getting late, if we don't find a place soon and everywhere's fully booked, what then?
"Children, why don't you stay at the palace tonight—Administrator Li..."
"Improper!"
Just then, the Emperor, who had escorted the Empress Dowager back to the palace, had also returned. He walked cheerfully to the children and made a great suggestion, but was rejected by the Empress—this was rather awkward. As they say, an emperor's word is his bond, but it seems in modern society, there's no longer any hierarchy or gender distinction.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress... in this old minister's view, we could arrange for the honored guests to stay at the imperial family's exclusive Yuelai Hotel, closest to the palace—this way we maintain propriety while avoiding the hardship of travel."
"Mm!"
"Oh... yes, yes, Administrator Li thinks so thoroughly... haha, then I'll trouble you to take the children to check in!"
"Yes!"
"Yuelai... that's not a place anyone can just stay at, money doesn't even work! The people staying there are either high officials or nobles, and you need to book half a year in advance. The room rates are ridiculously high too—I've only stayed there half a time, haha—I heard that hotel used to be called Yuelai Inn, an old establishment passed down for thousands of years!"
"Half a time?"
"Yeah... well, because back then, I was still in mom's belly!"
"Everyone, please!"
"My dear, you know this child is really quite good..."
"Good... hmph, time reveals a person's heart!"
"Oh my, why do you keep such a stern face? Still hung up on things from before..."
"Enough, stop bringing up sore subjects!"
"Mm... hey, did you notice, with our Xin'er's fearless personality, she seems... seems a bit helpless in front of that child! Mm... those two should be quite good together—looks like in the future, someone can finally help us manage her, don't you think? Haha... ah, mm... *ahem*..."
"Hmph... still laughing—isn't it all because you spoiled her!"
"Me? Alright, alright, my dear, calm down—after all, Xin'er is still a child, and you're always so stern with her, so strict. Someone needs to protect her a bit, otherwise this child's heart could easily develop problems..."
"You and your reasoning—acting like a total daughter slave, where's your dignity as a nation's ruler... If I don't be strict, won't she turn everything upside down!"
"Well... haha, oh my, a daughter is her father's little sweetheart, of course she needs to be pampered—mm... with Little Lü taking care of her in the future, Xin'er should be very happy—that child really is a good child, quite likable—don't you think?"
"They're not suitable!"
"Huh?"
"One is sovereign, one is subject, how can they be a match!"
"Hey! I thought... what era is this, you're still... wait, weren't you the one who cares least about such things?"
"Hmph... don't forget, when the roof beam is crooked, the walls below are slanted!"
"This... oh my... alright, alright, let's not talk about it—well then, my dear, let's go back too..."
—Mm... the training is finally all complete, fortunately I didn't disappoint everyone's expectations... But why hasn't my acceptance letter arrived yet? Could it have expired...
That night, too many thoughts surfaced, leaving Ah Jun with endless reflections, so much so that he lost sleep again, lying in bed for a long time without any drowsiness—mm... so many things happened today. The thrilling and wondrous wormhole, Gardener Grandpa's tangential remarks, the Emperor's warm enthusiasm and the Empress's cold sternness, the training's tension and surprises, Furball's recognition, and the Empress Dowager's misplaced affection, the little prince's innocence...
And that little princess who became his adversary due to misunderstanding—though she seemed violent, willful, and capricious, she was fundamentally kind, with a gentle, lovely, elegant side. For some reason, his heart felt joyful—could it be as Little Xi said, this is... liking? But it seems different from TV dramas. What exactly is the reason... Can't figure it out!
So, tossing and turning, he could only climb up and sit by the bay window, gazing at the sky—but in the imperial city, he could only see faint starlight and a blurry crescent moon, like Ah Jun's heart, confused and worried.
"*Thump!*"
Suddenly, a collision outside the window brought new hope to the child still in a daze—was it the academy's ticket?
So Ah Jun immediately followed the sound, focused his gaze, and indeed there was an urgent letter stuck to the glass, flapping its wings.
—Mm... it came? Wait, that's not right, why does this look... so familiar! Well, I won't think too much about it...
So he impatiently opened the window and looked—oh? It's not the academy's ticket, then it's...
Finally, when Ah Jun took the letter to the desk lamp for careful confirmation, he was delightfully surprised to discover that although it wasn't the acceptance letter, it was from his long-silent pen pal—she'd finally written back!
Although not within his original expectations, it was far beyond Ah Jun's anticipation. Honestly, this was as pleasant as receiving the acceptance letter, perhaps even more exciting.
—Ah Jun, hello! Wishing you well upon reading this!
I'm guessing, did the final training go smoothly? I bet you had no problems at all!
Originally after receiving your letter, I wanted to reply earlier, but I was afraid of disturbing you, so I waited until now. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, are you already on your way home? Then be careful on the road, and write back when you get home!
I heard that Beijing's zhajiangmian noodles and roast duck are especially delicious. If you haven't left yet, you could try them tomorrow... And the Great Wall is worth seeing too!
Ah! It seems there might not be enough time, so just try the roast duck for me. I haven't had it yet, and my dad refuses to buy it for me every time he comes on business trips... Oh, my dad also said that acceptance letters, in some special circumstances, might be sent late. As for the timing, well... he seems to have said the latest ones arrive on the fifteenth of the first lunar month, Lantern Festival, haha, really dragging it out... So if you haven't received it yet, it's fine, doesn't mean anything!
Alright then, get some rest early, you still have to deal with Spring Festival travel tomorrow. Good night!
Happy New Year!
Little Dimples
—Hm? How does she know I just completed training... Well, I mentioned it before, she probably guessed. Little Dimples, Happy New Year. I wonder when we can meet... Thank you for your constant companionship. I'm grateful for you, otherwise those thoughts bottled up inside would have no outlet. If fate allows, I really want to meet you...
Ah Jun read his pen pal's letter carefully, word by word—the content was thoughtful and comforting, always giving him different perspectives and inner joy. Although they'd never met, their hearts seemed to connect, understanding each other, appreciating each other, which made Ah Jun very much look forward to their first meeting.
—Of course, it depends on fate. After all, it also depends on the other person's wishes. What if they don't want to? That would be awkward...
Thinking and thinking, the boy's heart gradually calmed down. Then he felt his body sink, and the vanished sleepiness began to attack. So Ah Jun carefully put away the letter, stored it safely, then hurried to bed to sleep. After all, he still had to travel tomorrow.
—I wonder why the Emperor asked us to come to the palace again early tomorrow morning... What for? Looking at the Empress's expression, she seemed quite reluctant... Ah well, never mind, it's already eleven o'clock, I must rest.