How could she possibly hope for him to promote her good-for-nothing younger brother in such an improper manner when she had even firmly refused the position of Empress?
Jin Moli looked at Su Qiao with a complicated expression. "Qiao'er... how can you be so... so..."
So considerate of me in everything?
He sighed and reached out to rub her head. "Actually, I'd rather you be a little more willful, like you were back when we lived in the manor. The current you is so sensible that it pains me."
Hmph, be willful and domineering so you can beat me to death? So you can have an opportunity to strike?
Su Qiao sneered inwardly, but wore an exasperated expression as she said:
"Your Majesty, when my mother brought the pickled vegetables earlier, she already said that my younger brother is unruly. He secretly ran away, saying that he wanted to partner with the friends he used to play cricket-fighting with and start some kind of business."
"Alas, my younger brother has not only disliked studying since he was young, but also refuses to apply himself to anything proper. He's always associating with a bunch of dissolute young men who know nothing but eating, drinking, and having fun. My grandfather and grandmother have been terribly worried over him."
"But he was born that way. No matter how much we try to manage him, we can't. Just like this time—he left behind a letter and ran off. There was nothing the family could do. We can only hope that once he grows older and gets married, he might improve."
Su Qiao spoke with an expression of helplessness and exasperation at his failure to live up to expectations.
Jin Moli patted the back of her hand comfortingly. "He's still young. He'll get better when