Extra: Xiao Shaoduo 1

"Bang bang bang..."

A rhythmic sound came from the flat ground in the garden.

Seeing his master standing there motionless, the eunuch behind the Sixth Prince urged, "Your Highness, if you don't go soon, the young prince will be returning."

Xiao Lingcong then slowly walked over.

Passing a cluster of flowers in full bloom, Xiao Lingcong saw a three-year-old child with delicate features and a beautiful face, dressed in neat clothes, patting a ball with his chubby little face, his fleshy cheeks jiggling with each movement.

Beside him, a seven or eight-year-old eunuch was counting for him.

Not far from them stood two Imperial Guards, two teenage eunuchs, a palace maid, and a matron. The Imperial Guards Imperial Guards were the most alert; as soon as they appeared, they looked over in their direction.

As Xiao Lingcong approached, he saw that the Imperial Guards were about to bow to him, so he quickly waved his hand and gestured towards Xiao Shaoduo. The Imperial Guards then bowed silently without making a sound.

"... Ninety-seven, ninety-nine, one hundred." The little eunuch's clear voice rang out, stopping at one hundred.

Xiao Shaoduo didn't stop, but took one more pat before finally stopping.

He caught his breath for a moment, then looked up and said to the little eunuch in a serious yet childish voice, "Xiao Lizi, you miscounted. It's ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine. You forgot to count ninety-eight."

"Huh?" The little eunuch scratched the back of his head in confusion. "Really?"

Xiao Shaoduo sighed like a little adult, wanting to say, "Xiao Lizi, you're so stupid," but remembering what his mother had said, he swallowed the words back.

He said, "Go back and practice counting more."

As he spoke, he turned his head, intending to instruct the two eunuchs to teach Xiao Lizi, when he glanced up and saw Xiao Lingcong standing to the side.

He quickly shut his mouth and bowed to Xiao Lingcong in a perfunctory manner. "Little Duo'er greets Sixth Imperial Uncle."

Xiao Lingcong asked in surprise, "You know me?"

Although they both lived in the palace, the Eastern Palace and the Xiao Lingcong lived were quite far apart. Xiao Lingcong didn't like to go out, and Xiao Shaoduo was also confined to the Eastern Palace because of his young age. So the uncle and nephew only met once during the New Year's family banquet and never saw each other at other times.

It's already autumn, Xiao Shaoduo, who was only two and a half years old at the time of the Lunar New Year, still remembers him after more than half a year. How could this not surprise Xiao Lingcong?

Not to mention his childhood, even now, Xiao Lingcong is thirteen years old. He doesn't really remember people he only met once half a year ago unless they are particularly important.

As the son of an unfavored concubine, he was naturally insignificant in the eyes of the Crown Prince's family. Moreover, Prince of Zhennan, Prince of Jingping, and other princes also attended the banquet with their children, making a total of thirty or forty people present.

The Crown Prince led the little fellow to exchange greetings before returning to the main table. He and Xiao Shaoduo barely exchanged a few words.

So he found it very strange that Xiao Shaoduo recognized him.

"Yes." Xiao Shaoduo looked up at Xiao Lingcong with a puzzled expression. "Last year during the New Year's banquet, Little Duo'er bowed to the Sixth Imperial Uncle, and the Sixth Imperial Uncle gave Little Duo'er a gold necklace as a gift. How could Little Duo'er not remember the Sixth Imperial Uncle?"

Xiao Lingcong: "..."

He suddenly remembered that the Crown Princess was rumored to have a photographic memory. Could it be that the little one before him had inherited her memory and could remember everything he saw?

Thinking about Xiao Shaoduo's conversation with the little eunuch, he asked, "Can you read now? I heard you tell the little eunuch that you miscounted. How high can you count?"

As the young grandson of the emperor, Xiao Shaoduo was personally taught by Zhao Ruxi and Xiao Lingyan, and also received instruction from several renowned scholars. Therefore, although he was only three and a half years old, he was well-mannered and polite.

Xiao Lingcong was his imperial uncle, his elder.

Now that his elders were asking him about his studies, he quickly put his hands down, stood up straight, and replied, "Reporting to Sixth Imperial Uncle, Little Duo'er has been able to read for half a year. He has already learned the Three Character Classic and the Little Duo'er Thousand Character Classic, and can now read the storybooks that his mother made for him. Last month, Grand Tutor Peng began to teach Little Duo'er the Analects."

"As for counting, Little Duo'er could count when he was one and a half years old, and he's currently learning the 'chicken and rabbit problem' from Grand Tutor Qi."

At this point, Xiao Shaoduo's expression showed a hint of distress, and his brows furrowed. "I just don't understand why those palace servants put chickens and rabbits in the same cage. Why can't they pack them separately? It's just too much trouble."

As he spoke, he let out a deep sigh.

That little face was incredibly cute. The eunuchs, maids, and Imperial Guards around her all wore doting smiles.

Xiao Lingcong: "..."

Before Xiao Lingcong could speak, the old woman approached and bowed to Xiao Lingcong: "Your Highness, please forgive me. The young prince was sweating from playing ball earlier, and this old servant needs to put a cloth on his back to keep him warm."

She should have come over as soon as Xiao Shaoduo stopped dribbling the ball. But Xiao Lingcong came over to talk to Xiao Shaoduo, and if she interrupted him rashly, people would surely say that the Crown Prince's family didn't respect the Sixth Prince.

Back then, when Xiao Lingpu was crippled and Xiao Lingyan was in a coma, Consort Xian began to stir. This action greatly displeased the Emperor. Although he didn't send her to the Cold Palace out of consideration for the Sixth Prince, he never treated her well again.

Later, Xiao Lingyan recovered, and Zhao Ruxi gave birth to Xiao Shaoduo. Xiao Lingyan was then made crown prince, and Xiao Lingcong received little attention.

People tend to sympathize with the weak. Now that Consort Xian is out of favor, although Xiao Lingcong is not neglected in terms of food, clothing, and education, he has ultimately become a background figure in front of the Crown Prince's family.

If her actions are inappropriate and get out, it will bring shame to the Crown Prince's family.

So she patiently waited until she felt she couldn't delay any longer before stepping forward to interrupt their conversation.

"It's alright, your health is the most important thing," Xiao Lingcong quickly replied.

The wet nurse first wiped the sweat from Little Duo'er's back and head, then placed a small cloth on his back, before gently asking Xiao Shaoduo, "Young Master, what did Her Majesty repeatedly instruct you before you left? Do you still remember?"

Xiao Shaoduo nodded his little head. "Mother said that if you sweat, you should hurry back to the palace to bathe and change clothes to avoid catching a cold."

"Yes," the wet nurse said with a smile.

As she spoke, she stood up, bowed to Xiao Lingcong, and took two steps back.

Xiao Shaoduo then said to Xiao Lingcong Little Duo'er, "Sixth Imperial Uncle, I'm so Gao Xing to have met you today. But Little Duo'er 'm sweating, so I need to go home and take a bath. I'll talk to Little Duo'er again another time."

Xiao Lingcong nodded, rummaged in his sleeve, and pulled out a handful of candies. "It was a chance encounter today. Sixth Imperial Uncle didn't have any trinkets on him, just a few candies. I hope Little Duo'er won't find them offensive."

As he spoke, he handed the milk candy to Xiao Shaoduo.

Xiao Shaoduo quickly accepted the gift with both hands, thanked the wet nurse, handed it to the wet nurse, bowed to Xiao Lingcong, and then turned to leave.

After walking properly for a while, he turned around and saw that Xiao Lingcong was no longer in his sight. Only then did he start running towards the East Palace.

"Slow down, Your Highness, be careful not to fall!" the wet nurse called out hurriedly from behind.

"Hahaha, Xiao Lizi, come and chase me!" Xiao Shaoduo's sweet voice faded into the distance.

Xiao Lingcong stood there for a while before turning around to look at the eunuch, then slowly turned back to the prince's quarters.