I'm the Farmgirl You Can't Mess With

Chapter 1357: Side Story: Having the Whole World in View (34)

It was a sunny day, and the autumn air was refreshing. The officials stood in position after finishing reporting work matters. With their heads lowered, they waited for the youths to step forward to raise the matter of envoys again. At the same time, they thought about how they were going to spend the wonderful break during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday.

Unexpectedly, the Imperial Court remained silent. Eh, those youths actually did not step forward this time?

Many ministers looked over at them.

The youths were standing at the side, looking down at their toes in boredom. The ministers’ hearts skipped a beat, feeling that something must have happened.

These children all had the same foul temper as King Rong and certainly weren’t the sort who would give up upon hitting a wall. Why did they suddenly not bring up the matter again today after persevering for so long?

Qi Xiuyuan also looked at his nephews in astonishment as he waited for them to speak up. Seeing that no one came out to report, he was about to signal Eunuch Wan to announce the dismissal of the court when an imperial censor stepped forward and took the initiative to say, “Your Majesty, I think the diplomatic mission proposal submitted by Prince Rong a few days ago is feasible.”

Qi Xiuyuan’s expression darkened as he stared at the young imperial censor. He wanted to know if this was a conspiracy or if the censor wanted to flatter the children.

The young imperial censor was explaining the reason for his support. The real reason was that he genuinely was in favor of the diplomatic mission to the west. Unfortunately, he was not in the capital previously because he was away on a business trip. Otherwise, he would definitely have expressed his support once the young masters mentioned it. If everyone worked hard together, they might be able to gain more support.

Hearing that his reasoning sounded logical, and that there was a yearning look on his face for the sea, Qi Xiuyuan’s expression improved a little. He glanced at the children and asked, “Who else is in favor of the diplomatic mission to the west?”

Apart from a few people who voiced their agreement, the rest of the people in the court were silent.

After the Emperor finished asking, Little Leopard stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, because all the dukes are against the Imperial Court’s diplomatic mission to the west, we have already canceled this plan.”

Everyone gaped at him, surprised to see them giving up so easily.

If the children admitted defeat so easily, they would not be Haoran and Zijin’s offspring. Qi Xiuyuan put away the surprise on his face and coughed lightly. “You’re not going out to the west anymore?”

Little Leopard shook his head. “No, of course we’ll still go to the west. But not on behalf of the Imperial Court.”

The ministers widened their eyes. If they weren’t representing the Imperial Court, could it be that they wanted to represent King Rong’s estate?

Little Leopard puffed out his chest proudly and said, “We want to represent the royal family on this diplomatic mission. Royal Uncle, since this is our family matter, there’s no need to discuss it with the courtiers, right? We’ll discuss it among ourselves when we get home.” Having said that, he looked at the courtiers with disdain and continued, “If we discuss it with them, I reckon we’d still be arguing over this when I’m old.”

Clearly, it was implied that their work efficiency was low.

The ministers’ faces flushed red. Little Fu and Little Lion quickly covered Little Leopard’s mouth and glared at him. With a chuckle, they said to everyone, “We’ve indeed changed our minds, so there’s no need for everyone to continue quarreling over this matter. Royal Uncle, let’s discuss it in private.”

Qi Xiuyuan glanced at them lightly and glared at Little Treasure, then stood up and said, “Court is dismissed.”

Everyone hurriedly knelt down to send him off. When he turned to the back, Little Lion and Little Fu immediately pulled Little Leopard out with sharp eyes and agile hands. Tiger Head followed behind.

Little Treasure slowly walked to Little Bear’s side. After walking out of the hall for a certain distance, he asked with a smile, “This idea is both clever and shameless. Who suggested it?”

Little Bear coughed lightly and said, “My father.”

Little Treasure was silent for a moment before praising, “The older the ginger, the spicier it is. As expected of Fourth Uncle, once the commander-in-chief of the three armies.”

“My father isn’t here. You don’t have to praise him against your conscience.”

Little Treasure coughed lightly and said, “I’m just speaking the truth. With this change, we just have to prepare the supplies needed for the diplomatic mission and the treasures we’re planning to bestow to the various countries.”

Just as Little Bear was about to say there was no need for it, the two of them had reached the Hall of Diligent Governance. Qi Xiuyuan’s shout came from inside. “Hurry up and get in!”

The two young men looked at each other and ran in holding up the hem of their robes.

At this moment, Qi Xiuyuan was glaring at the youths. When he saw the two older ones, he immediately pointed at Little Treasure and scolded, “If you had known that your Fourth Uncle had thought of a solution, why didn’t you tell me earlier? You even made me be a fool for nothing.”

Little Bear immediately said, “Royal Uncle, Brother Crown Prince just found out about this, too. My father only told us about it when he came back yesterday afternoon. After we discussed it, it was already dark and the palace door was locked. I thought that it wasn’t anything urgent, so I planned to enter the palace today to tell you and Brother Crown Prince.”

Only then did Qi Xiuyuan’s expression look better. However, when he thought about how Qi Haoran had been talking to him in the palace yesterday morning and not mentioned a word of this solution, but told the children after leaving the palace, his anger rose again.

Seeing Little Leopard hanging his head, he immediately took his anger out on them. He pointed at them and said, “Don’t just focus on yourselves. You have to teach your younger brothers, too. Look at how well Tiger Head has been taught by you. I remember that Little Leopard was originally smarter than Tiger Head, but look at how he’s turned out now.”

Little Leopard and Tiger Head were stunned momentarily. Then, they both jumped up and shouted, “Royal Uncle, how am I stupid?”

One of them shouted, “Royal Uncle, how can you slander me?”

Little Treasure was a little speechless. He felt that Royal Father must have been so angry that he became muddle-headed. He hurriedly went forward to step between them and said, “Royal Father, this matter is only half resolved. Since the diplomatic mission has become a family matter, we can only fork out the expenses of the diplomatic mission ourselves. I’m afraid we can’t use the money from the national treasury.”

Qi Xiuyuan immediately said, “I don’t have money.”

The youths immediately felt that Qi Xiuyuan was even more petty than Qi Haoran.

Little Fu said faintly, “Fourth Uncle said that he would support us a little. My big brother also said that he would give us some of his private savings…”

Little Leopard looked at Qi Xiuyuan eagerly.

The corners of Qi Xiuyuan’s mouth twitched as he asked, “Do you think your Royal Uncle has private savings?”

Tiger Head pointed out, “Every year, you’ll receive your share of the profits from the glass factory and watch factory. Moreover, you own so many Imperial Plantations.”

Qi Xiuyuan complained about how broke he was. “Think about the natural disasters that have been happening in the past few years. Each of those times, I’ve taken from my inner treasury to replenish the national treasury?”

At this point, Qi Xiuyuan looked at Little Treasure and Little Bear faintly and said, “And the two of you, how much money have you moved from my private vault to build Treasure-Bear Academies in the past five to six years?”

The two children immediately lowered their heads.

Qi Xiuyuan looked at the youths and sighed faintly. “Royal Uncle isn’t like your parents. More money leaves my inner treasury than enters. Sometimes, I can’t even make ends meet. Can you bear to use an old man’s money?”

The children looked at the white hairs on his temples and had no words to refute. They looked at each other and in the end, Tiger Head scratched his head and said, “Forget it. Anyway, we already have enough money.”

Qi Xiuyuan almost vomited blood when he heard that. Then, he became suspicious and asked, “You have to visit so many countries along the way. Have you factored in the costs of national treasures?”

Tiger Head waved his hand nonchalantly and said, “Royal Uncle, don’t mention the national treasures anymore. That’s the cheapest expense of all.”

Qi Xiuyuan asked hesitantly, “What national treasure are you planning to give them?”

The children spat out two words coldly, “‘The Analects’!”

Qi Xiuyuan’s jaw dropped.