After a moment, Xiao Lin emerged from the inner chamber wearing his python-patterned cloud brocade formal attire with dark gold overlapping collar, his steps steady and measured.
Spotting her father about to leave from the corner of her eye, Xiao Luoning scurried over to Xiao Lin’s legs. Without any hesitation, her two greasy little paws grabbed the hem of his expensive robe as she tilted her kitten-like smudged face upward.
“Daddy, daddy!”
Her voice was soft and sticky, “Where are you going?”
ω
Xiao Lin looked down at the little pink dumpling who had practically become an attachment to his leg, his voice deep and steady with its usual cold solemnity:
“To the palace, to pay respects to your imperial grandmother.”
Luo Luo instantly perked up, her big eyes blinking rapidly as her little toddler voice rose higher:
“Daddy, can Luo Luo go see imperial grandmother too? Luo Luo misses imperial grandmother so so much! Imperial grandmother likes Luo Luo the mostest!”( ′﹀ )*゜
She pressed her little head against Xiao Lin’s leg, putting all her effort into acting cute, rubbing until the expensive fabric became slightly wrinkled.”
“You?”
Xiao Lin’s eyebrows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
His mind instantly flashed through this little devil’s usual exploits of climbing roofs and causing chaos.
If she were let loose in the strictly regulated palace…
Plus, his mother had been weak lately and probably couldn’t withstand such “lively” “filial piety.”
Having thought this far, he decisively refused:
“You stay home properly today. The Old Master I hired for you will arrive shortly. From today onward, you need to learn reading and writing, and study some manners.”
“Ah?!”
The light instantly vanished from Luo Luo’s little face, her small mouth forming a perfect circle of surprise.
Then reacting quickly, she shook her little head like a rattle-drum, her two short legs stomping anxiously.
“No no! Luo Luo hates writing and memorizing most! Luo Luo wants to go to the palace with daddy! Wants to see imperial grandmother! No Old Master!”
Xiao Lin raised an eyebrow, deliberately putting on a stern face and playing his trump card: “Be good. Otherwise…”
“For today’s lunch, roasted squab, sliced duck, and your favorite… pear blossom cake, will all be gone.”
No roasted chicken, duck, or pear blossom cake?!
This was undoubtedly a devastating blow to the “little foodie devil.”
Luo Luo’s pink little mouth immediately pouted high, like a pufferfish suffering immense grievance, small mutters escaping through her lips:
“Bad daddy, only knows how to bully baby!”
Xiao Lin bent down, his imposing presence making the little one shrink her neck: “Hmm? What did you say?”
Luo Luo reacted extremely quickly, instantly switching to an irresistibly sweet smile that could drown someone in sweetness.
“Daddy~”
( )
“Luo Luo will be good, definitely listen to the Old Master’s words!”
Listen?
In her dreams!
The words “listen” simply didn’t exist in Xiao Luoning’s dictionary!
Xiao Lin gave a satisfied “hmm,” ignoring her flickering little eyes as he turned and strode out of the flower hall.
Not long after, the extremely spacious royal four-horse carriage was ready in the courtyard.
The carriage body was ebony with gilded gold, extraordinarily luxurious.
Xiao Lin glanced at the brand new wheel on the left side, a barely noticeable gloom flashing through his eyes.
That thing the little one used yesterday really had quite the power.
“Daddy!”
A small figure came trotting out after him, pointing her chubby little finger at the shiny new wheel.
“The carriage wheel is fixed? One got blown off yesterday! Luo Luo saw it!”
Mentioning this matter made Xiao Lin’s already expressionless face instantly darken several shades, covered with a layer of frost.
He stopped walking, looking down at this “culprit” from above, his voice icy enough to freeze: “Yesterday, what was that thing you used?”
Luo Luo generously took out a small, exquisite Sichuan brocade embroidered pouch from her waist, then pulled out a round, black iron lump with a long fuse dangling from it.
She presented it to Xiao Lin like a treasure.
“This is it! It’s super powerful! It’s a treasure made by future daddy!”
This was her protective artifact – when encountering danger, just ‘boom’ throw it, dust billows everywhere, perfect for slipping away.
This move was actually taught by daddy himself!
“Future… daddy?”
Xiao Lin frowned deeply, contemplating his daughter’s bizarre claims about her origins, understanding that she meant the “future self” from five years later.
He could actually create such a fierce object?
“Yeah yeah!”
Luo Luo nodded her little head rapidly, her big eyes sparkling brightly, filled with infinite admiration for “future daddy.”
“Daddy is super amazing, knows everything, can make anything! And…”
She deliberately drew out her tone, glancing at the unhappy “current daddy” before adding, “He never scolds Luo Luo, treats Luo Luo so gently and nicely.(′つヮ)
Hearing this, Xiao Lin’s face darkened almost imperceptibly.
Hah, so this “current” father was inferior to that “future” one?
An inexplicable irritation rose in his heart.
He coldly snorted, saying nothing more as he flicked his sleeves and boarded the carriage, sitting upright on the soft seat covered with thick white tiger fur, speaking in a low voice to the outside:
“Yun Ying, let’s depart.””
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The guard commander Yun Ying standing attendance outside the carriage responded respectfully.
The heavy wheels slowly rolled over the bluestone pavement, leaving the royal residence.
Just as the carriage was about to turn out the main gate, a sneaky little figure took advantage of the gate servants’ inattention and grabbed onto the carriage’s tail with its gorgeous gilded auspicious cloud ornament.
Like a little koala trying hard to climb a tree, she successfully “hung” herself onto the carriage’s rear.
Yun Ying, who saw everything through the carriage curtain gap, twitched the corner of his mouth almost imperceptibly, silently shifting his gaze away, choosing to turn a blind eye.
Never mind, never mind, as long as the little ancestor is happy.
The carriage traveled smoothly for a while when Xiao Lin, who had been resting with his eyes closed inside the compartment, suddenly felt his dark gold overlapping collar being gently tugged by a warm little paw.
He abruptly opened his eyes, his sharp gaze instantly locking on.
He saw that delicate little face right in front of him, wearing a mix of small pride and flattery, calling out in her babyish voice: “Daddy!”
(づ)づ
A stern flash appeared in Xiao Lin’s eyes, “How did you get up here?”
Was his guard commander blind or something!
Yun Ying: Already blind! Don’t poke!
The little toddler unceremoniously took the opportunity to burrow into his hard chest, her soft little body rubbing back and forth.
Her voice was soft and sticky, carrying a hint of small grievance:
“Luo Luo couldn’t bear to be apart from daddy, just wanted to stick close to daddy. Daddy, take Luo Luo to see imperial grandmother, okay?”
Those moist big eyes could melt even the hardest heart with their cuteness.
Xiao Lin kept a stern face, feeling the warm little thing in his arms as his refusal did a turn on the tip of his tongue.
He warned with a fierce expression: “I can take you to the palace. But you must promise to behave properly the entire time! If you dare cause even the slightest trouble, I’ll immediately have someone send you back and ground you for three months!”
Luo Luo’s little face instantly brightened like a flower, nodding her head like a little chick pecking rice.
“Daddy don’t worry, Luo Luo is the best behaved! Would never make daddy angry.”
Well-behaved?
Nonexistent!
Just get in first, la la la~~