Riding a horse outside the city clearly helped Cui Xiaoqiu relax.
"Are you tired?" Yanran asked with a smile.
"Shang Ke." Jingjing beads of sweat glistened on Cui Xiaoqiu's forehead.
I've been sick, and I'm not the same as before; my body is still a bit weak.
But in Yanran's eyes, it was proof that Cui Xiaoqiu was "incompetent" and needed to be taken care of.
"You're not feeling well, you can't push yourself," Yanran said. "Let's sit under the tree, have some water, and eat something."
"Good."
A thick layer of fallen leaves had accumulated under the tree, and Yanran sat cross-legged directly on the ground.
Cui Xiaoqiu hesitated and said, "Isn't it a bit cold?"
Yanran is already eleven years old, she seems to be getting to that age soon...
Yanran: "It's okay, you can't always be so dramatic. Cui Xiaoqiu, you're a man!"
Cui Xiaoqiu is good in every way, except that she lives too exquisitely.
In comparison, Yanran felt she was more like a rough man.
Cui Xiaoqiu remained silent and sat down next to her.
Yanran opened the water pouch and handed it to him first.
Cui Xiaoqiu took it and drank a sip, while Yanran took it back and then tilted her head back and gulped down several large mouthfuls herself.
Cui Xiaoqiu: "..."
Could you give me the water bag so I can drink again?
After what she said, I felt like I wasn't being very manly anymore.
Whether it's exquisite or meticulous, Yanran can't stand it, then there's something wrong with it.
Yanran gave him two more pieces of dried meat.
"I didn't bring any food with me when I left," Yanran said, patting the purse at her waist. "Luckily, I had some in stock. This dried meat was made by my mother; isn't it delicious?"
Cui Xiaoqiu took a bite, nodded, and said, "Your Highness's cooking skills are indeed exquisite."
"That's natural."
As she spoke, Yanran's gaze fell on the purse at Cui Xiaoqiu's waist.
Her own purse was always filled with food, so she suddenly wondered what Cui Xiaoqiu's purse contained.
Spices? It doesn't seem like it; it's all bulging and puffy!
It must be delicious!
Thinking this, Yanran immediately perked up. "What delicious food did you put in your purse? Here, take it out and have a taste."
"No." A fleeting look of embarrassment crossed Cui Xiaoqiu's eyes. "I never carry food with me."
"Oh." Yanran believed him and didn't pry into what was in his purse.
This made Cui Xiaoqiu, who was feeling guilty and nervous, silently breathe a sigh of relief.
Yanran was very relaxed. After finishing the jerky in her hand, she simply lay back down, looked up at the azure sky through the branches, and said, "Autumn is almost over!"
"Yanran," Cui Xiaoqiu sat cross-legged, her back ramrod straight, as if she never relaxed, "I want to ask you something."
"Okay, go ahead and say it!"
"If I did something behind your back for your own good, would you blame me?" Cui Xiaoqiu asked.
Yanran thought for a moment and then said, "That depends on what it is. But I think it's okay if you keep it from me, as long as you're happy. Just... just don't say it's for my own good, because that always makes me feel uneasy."
Cui Xiaoqiu smiled wryly, "Then I'll tell you. I promised your brother I wouldn't tell you."
"My brother told you not to say it? Then don't say it." Yanran immediately said, "My brother is probably afraid that I'm unreliable and will leak the information. I really am not very reliable, so please stop talking."
Cui Xiaoqiu: "..."
"However," Yanran said with a grin, "Are you and my brother plotting something good?"
Cui Xiaoqiu: "So, should I tell you or not?"
Yanran: "Just... could you remind me a little bit?"
"Oh," Cui Xiaoqiu said, "Treason."
Yanran: Holy crap!
She scrambled to her feet, her eyes brimming with excitement. "Really? My father has finally come to his senses? He's not blindly filial anymore?"
Oops, sorry, I accidentally blurted out what was on my mind.
Cui Xiaoqiu said, "It has nothing to do with the Prince."
Yanran's eyes darted around. "My brother secretly conspired with you, so he rebelled himself? And kept it from my father?"
"And your mother, you, and almost everyone in the Prince's mansion."
Yanran was dumbfounded.
Brother, you've been quietly plotting something big!
"Cui Xiaoqiu," Yanran's expression suddenly turned serious, "My brother told you not to tell anyone, why did you still tell me? You didn't tell anyone else, did you?"
"Of course not. It's just that the thought of keeping it from you and being blamed by you later makes me uneasy," Cui Xiaoqiu said, lowering her eyes.
"Am I that kind of person?" Yanran said seriously. "My brother is really something. I'm so tight-lipped, and I'm so good at kung fu, why didn't he take me with him?"
Thanks to Cui Xiaoqiu for telling her, otherwise she would have missed the excitement!
Cui Xiaoqiu couldn't help but chuckle.
He did it on purpose.
He wanted to tell Yanran, but he also had his own selfish motives.
Linlin's idea was to step forward herself and take full responsibility for all the consequences.
However, when the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken; if he fails, the Prince of Jin's Residence will not be able to escape unscathed.
In that case, why not let Yanran come along?
Such an opportunity will never come again in my lifetime.
To achieve great deeds and establish a career, just like the important minister who helped Emperor Taizu shoot down his unscrupulous brothers, one can leave a name in history and live a worry-free life based on such merits.
Cui Xiaoqiu felt that he would give Yanran everything he could, without any hesitation.
However, he would never stop Yanran from having what she deserved, and he would never feel that his talents were being overshadowed.
"Tell me quickly, what is my brother planning to do?" Yanran asked excitedly.
It's finally over!
She didn't want to live that suffocating life for another single day.
"The prince's private seal should still be in the princess's hands; the princess won't be wary of your brother."
Yanran's mouth dropped open. "Steal my father's seal? That's a great idea! But it would require using my father's men. Even if they obeyed, my father isn't stupid; wouldn't he notice?"
"Then let the prince be powerless to do anything even if he notices it."
"You've tied up my father?"
If he really dares to do that, my brother will be in big trouble.
"So what if they're tied up?" Cui Xiaoqiu said calmly.
For the Prince of Jin, it was simply about giving the world an explanation, and also about giving himself peace of mind.
Prince of Jin has long since lost all hope in the Emperor.
Especially after the matter of the Lang Family's wheat seeds was exposed, the emperor still refused to punish the Lang Family. What is this if not the behavior of a foolish ruler?
Yanran clapped her hands. "Great idea!"
"It was my idea," Cui Xiaoqiu said.
Yanran patted his shoulder. "I knew my brother wouldn't come up with such a wicked idea, hahaha..."
Cui Xiaoqiu: "..."
"That's a brilliant idea! Don't worry, Cui Xiaoqiu, it's alright if you don't pass the imperial examination. My father can just give you an official position later!"
Cui Xiaoqiu: "I don't seek an official position, I just hope that if the prince ever becomes extremely angry with me for anything in the future, you can put in a good word for me."
"Don't worry about that, we're like family!"
"So, pinky promise?"
"Cui Xiaoqiu, you're so naive! Come on, pinky swear!"