The legitimate daughter was reborn, and the emperor’s little Jiaojiao went crazy.

Chapter 971 How dare you compare my sister to a dog?

The hall was silent, as if no one was there.

After a moment, Emperor Zhaowu's Adam's apple rolled and his voice became hoarse. "Imperial sister, did I do anything that made you misunderstand?" He suddenly raised his hand and pressed his chest. "Actually... I also miss my husband. He was the first person to stand by my side, and he paved all the way for me."

Shi Anxia raised her eyes suddenly, and there seemed to be broken ice floating in her eyes.

The Emperor Zhaowu's sleeves with dark patterns drew a slight arc under the candlelight. He stood with his hands behind his back, "I want to bring Yi Yi back to the palace and find the best tutor to teach her classics and history. I will also..."

"Your Majesty, you can't do that." Shi Anxia interrupted, her face as solemn as when she solemnly apologized to him that day, "Your Majesty favored me and gave me the title of Princess Haiyan. However, I know very well that the inheritance of the dragon vein is related to the foundation of the country, and the royal bloodline cannot be mixed."

The room was silent again, as if no one was there.

"I thank the emperor for his love and favor for Yi Yi." Shi Anxia took a deep breath, and under the dark gaze of Emperor Zhaowu, she said firmly, "But Yi Yi cannot follow the emperor back to the palace."

Shi Anxia raised the corners of her lips slightly, and performed an impeccable palace etiquette, "I, your sister, thank the emperor for his kindness on behalf of my son. I will make sure he remembers that the emperor uncle treats him with great kindness."

Emperor Zhaowu finally gave in. "We can't let a quack like Ye Xun be Yi Yi's mentor. Although he is your son, he is also... my nephew."

The polite words exchanged between us were respectful but distant. If you are not a close relative, you will not be able to speak from the heart. In the end, the two sides will end up unhappy.

Emperor Zhaowu eventually learned that Zhuo Qiran's hair turned white overnight for the princess and three children. He also learned that Ye Xun, as Zhuo Qiran's master, was looking for a cure for him.

He only half understood what was said and had many questions in his mind, but he didn't know where to start.

He only knew that the imperial sister was forcing him to return to the capital, and he couldn't take the child with him who had dimples when she smiled.

On the way back, Emperor Zhaowu remained silent.

Xiao Shuzi followed behind in small steps, not daring to make a sound.

Emperor Zhaowu walked into the courtyard on the broken snow. When the door curtain of the warm room was lifted, the hot air from the floor dragon that hit him in the face made him frown slightly, and the coldness all over his body was entangled with the warm fragrance.

Xiao Shuzi hurried in, took off the fox fur coat for his master, and took it outside to shake off the snow. When he entered the room again, he heard his master say, "The emperor's sister is very wary of me."

Xiao Shuzi didn't dare to say anything. Should he agree or refute at this moment? No matter what he said, it would be inappropriate.

But the master refused to let him go, and raised his eyes solemnly and asked, "Xiao Shuzi, what do you think?"

Xiao Shuzi's heart trembled, and he silently chanted "Eunuch Qi, please protect me" before kneeling down and replying, "I am a stupid slave..."

Emperor Zhaowu seemed tired and rubbed his brows. "Get up and answer the question." He suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Xiao Shuzi sharply. "Do you know where you stand?"

Xiao Shuzi's heart trembled again. Mother, Eunuch Qi, if you don't answer this question correctly, you will lose your head.

He answered respectfully in a low voice, "Xiao Shuzi once served the Emperor, so he is the Emperor's man. Now I have the honor of serving you, the Emperor, so naturally I am your man wholeheartedly."

"Are you telling the truth?" Emperor Zhaowu looked at him.

Xiao Shuzi lowered his head. "Eunuch Qi once taught me that the worst thing for a servant is to be indecisive and try to profit from both sides. He once told me that if one day he lost power and I gained the emperor's favor, I would never tell him about my master's affairs."

"Eunuch Qi has indeed done a good job." Emperor Zhaowu knew that Qi Youen seemed to be able to get along with everyone, but in fact he was very tight-lipped and had the word "loyalty" engraved in his bones.

No one can pry a useful word out of Eunuch Qi's mouth, unless the retired emperor tells him to spread the news, then he will use this opportunity to curry favor.

Emperor Zhaowu stared at the little tree for a long while before saying, "I also need someone like Eunuch Qi by my side. Do you think you are one?"

I think I am, so I can be? Xiao Shuzi clenched his sleeves with his fingers, "To me, a man like Eunuch Qi is not only a father but also a teacher. He is also a mountain that I cannot reach the top of. But I am willing to climb every day, even if I fall and get smashed to pieces, I will still reach up."

I wonder if this speech can impress the master? Xiao Shuzi didn't dare to look up, but lowered his head to look at his toes.

I tried my best! Wealth and glory are fleeting.

If he had not achieved the status that Eunuch Qi had in the heart of the retired emperor, it would be hard to say who owned his head.

Emperor Zhaowu did not speak for a long time, as if he was thinking.

Just when Xiao Shuzi thought that his master would not speak to him from the bottom of his heart again, his master spoke again, "I thank my husband and my sister for their help. Now that my husband is gone, I want to do something for them." He was disappointed, "But my sister is wary of me."

Xiao Shuzi cautiously took a half step forward and said softly, "From what I can see, the princess is very close to the emperor. How could she be on guard?"

"I want to bring Yi Yi back to the palace to educate her properly, which will also be considered as fulfilling the kindness of the prince consort. But my sister..." Emperor Zhaowu closed his eyes and leaned back in the armchair. His long eyelashes concealed the sadness in his eyes, and he sighed, "Forget it."

That's it? You thought it was a big deal. Xiao Shuzi felt relieved when he heard this. He understood that the princess rejected the master's kindness and was unwilling to let the master take the young marquis back to the palace.

After all, his master was young and the new emperor, and his self-esteem was hurt after being rejected.

Xiao Shuzi knelt down in front of his master, and massaged his legs and feet with skillful techniques, saying softly, "Master, do you remember when we passed by Jingyang, we saw a dog crying? At that time, you said that dogs are the most spiritual animals."

Emperor Zhaowu opened his eyes and glanced at him, not understanding why Xiao Shuzi suddenly brought up this.

Xiao Shuzi lowered his head and said, "Alas, you only saw the dog crying, but you don't know why it is crying."

"You know?"

Xiao Shuzi smiled awkwardly, and the strength in his hands was just right. "I was curious at the time, so I went to ask around, and I learned that the dog had just given birth to a litter of puppies. Its owner couldn't raise so many, so she sold the puppies or gave them away. The dog was a mother, and she was crying because her baby was taken away, and she would never see her own flesh and blood again."

Emperor Zhaowu understood and pretended to be angry, "How dare you compare my sister to a dog? You are so bold!"

Xiao Shuzi's face froze, and he shuddered with fear. "Nununu, I dare not. I just want to tell you, Master, that the princess did not mean to go against your kindness. All things have spirits. Even a mother dog is reluctant to part with her own flesh and blood, let alone a woman as affectionate as the princess?"

Seeing that his master's expression had eased a little, he continued to massage his master's legs. "You see, now that the prince consort is gone, the princess's children are all she cares about. The two little princesses were so weak at the beginning, and even though the princess loved them, she brought them all to Lingzhou. She just couldn't bear to be separated from the children. They are suffering! It's freezing cold!"