A fourth-rank expert worked as a carpenter; Tiedan urged Yun Shuyue to become a concubine

Gu Moran held the freshly made syrup without looking up.

"Who?"

Uncle Fu glanced at Tiedan and lowered his voice.

" Surveillance Commissioner Yun."

"Oh, him? He's not here to see me."

The wind is much stronger at the front gate than in the backyard.

Yun Zhengze wore a worn-out blue cloth jacket and ordinary cotton boots.

Holding a small wooden horse about half a person's height in his arms, the horse was polished smooth and had a soft pad on the saddle. In his other hand, he clutched six bulging red envelopes and paced back and forth outside the threshold.

Tiedan squatted on the threshold, having already nibbled on two candied hawthorns, with brown sugar crusts sticking to his lips. Seeing Yun Zhengze peeking around, he first held the wooden stick horizontally in front of him.

What are you doing here again?

Yun Zhengze's throat tightened, and he forced a smile.

I came to see you.

"You've finished reading, you can go back now."

Tiedan spoke decisively, then lowered his head and took another bite of the hawthorn.

Yun Zhengze was speechless for a long time, so he could only pass the Trojan horse forward.

"This wooden horse is rideable, and the wheels are sturdy. Dad... Uncle Yun had the carpenter make it overnight. Why don't you give it a try?"

Tiedan glanced at the Trojan horse.

He had seen other people's children riding wooden horses when he was in Black Wind Stronghold. Those things usually had broken legs and missing wheels, and people would chase you away if you were allowed to touch them even once.

The wooden horse in front of me was painted red, its mane was neatly braided with hemp thread, and there was a wooden box under its belly that could hold small items.

Tiedan swallowed hard, but then put on a stern face.

I have a horse.

"You have?"

"The prince said he would take me to see the military horses in the spring."

Yun Zhengze nodded quickly.

"Yes, yes, military horses are good, but this one can be kept indoors for playing, and can also be ridden at night."

Tiedan didn't move.

Yun Zhengze then handed over the red envelope.

"And the New Year's money, Uncle Yun will make it up to you."

Tiedan stared at the six red seals, slowly lowering the candied hawthorn in his hand.

How many are in here?

Yun Zhengze's eyes immediately reddened.

"Open it and take a look."

Tiedan took the red envelope with both hands and carefully pried it open.

The gold ingot rolled into his palm, pressing down on it.

Tiedan opened his eyes wide and immediately opened the second and third ones.

The six red envelopes were filled with gold ingots.

He counted on his fingers for a long time but couldn't figure it out. He only knew that these things were enough to buy a lot of meat, a lot of candied hawthorns, and enough for Auntie Zhao to make him new shoes for a whole year.

Yun Zhengze squatted down, wanting to touch the child's head, but fearing the child would dodge, he could only leave his hand hanging in mid-air.

"My good son, is that enough?"

Tiedan quickly stuffed the gold ingot into his clothes, but he remained defiant.

Who is your son?

Yun Zhengze laughed until tears streamed down his face.

" Uncle Yun is wrong, Uncle Yun is clumsy with words."

Tiedan hugged Hong Feng, his eyes darting around.

Will you pay me back later?

Yun Zhengze was stunned, then nodded repeatedly.

"Here you go, I'll give you gifts during festivals, and when you get a reward at school, Uncle Yun will give you one too. If you're sick... oh, you can't be sick. If you grow taller, Uncle Yun will make you new clothes."

Tiedan was satisfied with what he heard, moved his lips, and called out in a muffled voice.

"Okay, Uncle Yun."

Yun Zhengze froze in place.

The three words were spoken very softly, even carrying the sticky smell of a child who had just eaten candy, but upon hearing them, the tears he had been holding back finally fell.

He lowered his head to wipe his face, the back of his hand brushing against the bridge of his nose, the more he wiped, the more disheveled he became.

Yun Shuyue carried a bowl of freshly cooked white sugar glutinous rice balls from the backyard. When she saw this scene from afar, she stopped in her tracks.

She stared at the wooden horse in Yun Zhengze's arms, then saw Tiedan hide the gold ingot in his clothes, and snorted.

"A dignified provincial inspector, squatting at the door coaxing a child, looks no different from an old beggar."

Yun Zhengze looked up, tears still on his face, and didn't dare to talk back. He then took out a red envelope from his pocket.

" Yue'er, this is your New Year's money from Daddy."

Don't call me that, I don't care.

Yun Shuyue placed the bowl on the small table by the door, and the steam hit Yun Zhengze's face.

"I cooked an extra bowl of glutinous rice balls for the Lantern Festival. Take it or leave it."

Yun Zhengze stared at the snow-white glutinous rice balls in the bowl, with osmanthus petals floating on the soup. His hand hovered in mid-air for a long time before he finally picked it up.

The first bite releases a burst of sweetness that fills your mouth.

He kept his head down, popping one bite after another into his mouth.

Tiedan sat on the wooden horse, pushed off with his toes, and the wooden horse swayed forward half an inch.

He turned around and saw Yun Zhengze holding a bowl and crying, and he curled his lip in disgust.

Are glutinous rice balls really that delicious?

Yun Zhengze quickly raised his sleeve to wipe his face.

"Tasty."

"Even tastier than meat?"

"Um."

Tiedan didn't believe it. He reached into the bowl, scooped up a piece, put it in his mouth, chewed it a couple of times, and then looked at Yun Shuyue.

" Sister Yue'er, this is really delicious!"

"I want to eat this every day! You can spend more time with the prince, or become his concubine if necessary?"

Upon hearing this, Yun Shuyue blushed so deeply that her face turned bright red, and she raised her hand to knock him on the head.

"At such a young age, from whom did you learn such vulgar language?"

Tiedan covered his head and rode the wooden horse inside.

Gu Moran stood under the porch for a long time, watching until Yun Zhengze finished the last sip of soup, before asking Uncle Fu to add a small table and having someone move the charcoal brazier to the front yard.

" Lord Yun, come in and warm yourself by the fire."

Yun Zhengze stood up and bowed to Gu Moran.

"Your Highness, I..."

"Don't discuss official business during the first month of the lunar year."

Gu Moran her hand to interrupt him.

"It's Tiedan's business whether he wants to call you Uncle Yun. Whether he wants to return to the Yun Clan or not, he has to give his own approval. If Lord Yun truly cares for the child, then stop using your official airs to pressure people and spend more time with him eating a few bowls of glutinous rice balls."

Yun Zhengze nodded quickly.

"Your Highness, rest assured, I understand."

Tiedan rode the wooden horse around once, then poked his head out from inside the door.

" Uncle Yun."

Yun Zhengze immediately turned around.

"Why!"

Tiedan stretched out his hand.

"The wooden horse is mine, and the gold is mine too. You can't go back on your word."

Yun Zhengze nodded with a smile.

"They're all yours."

Tiedan shrank back with satisfaction, and the wooden horse wheels rolled over the blue bricks, making a soft creaking sound.

Yun Shuyue stood behind the wall, touching her burning face.

I wonder if Your Highness heard Tiedan's utter nonsense?

In the afternoon, a series of wooden creaking sounds came from the Foot Care Hall.

Pu Yunshan stood on the half-erected roof beam, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his face smeared with wood dust, and freshly sawed planks piled at his feet.

He held a thick piece of wood in his hand, and with a burst of force from his palm, the wood split neatly into two pieces along the grain.

The craftsmen below looked up, then silently put their axes down.

Is this person's palm strike faster than an axe?

They had taken most of the New Year holiday, and the remaining few were worried that Foot Care Hall would not be completed until February. But these past two days, Young Master Pu has been acting like he's possessed, raising beams, splitting wood, and chiseling tenons during the day, and even going out to repair doors and windows at night.

A Fourth Rank master carpenter could match the skill of ten strong laborers.

" Young Master Pu, please take a rest."