April’s days have completely shed the chill.
Neither cold nor hot, just right for comfort.
In Duanning Palace.
Xia Ruqing woke up early, rarely sending Henger and Yeye off to school herself.
The two Little Buns were already six years old in the blink of an eye; after Mid-Autumn, they would move outside.
The brothers had shed their unruly ways after three years of studying and martial training, showing maturity and elegance in their mannerisms.
They’re no longer the little rascals who used to chase Yellow Bean all over the world.
Henger wore white clothes, with a smile in his eyes.
"Mother, you shouldn’t sleep in anymore; you should go out and about more often!"
If you stay cooped up every day, you’ll suffocate!
Xia Ruqing was slightly surprised, rubbing his hair.
"Oh? Henger is starting to care for others now?"
For the past two years, she had been wholeheartedly focused on Yue Er, and hadn’t had a good chat with the two Buns for a long time.
This led to her missing her son’s little changes—sob, sob... she wasn’t a good mother.
Henger looked a bit uncomfortable, quickly avoiding her.
"Mother, I have grown up already!"
Xia Ruqing’s palm was suddenly empty; she stared at her dodging son, paused for a moment before she laughed.
"Alright! Mother won’t touch you anymore!"
It’s quite normal for a little boy to react like this, being raised on the idea of ’being a man’.
Back in the day, children matured early, especially boys.
Beside them, Yeye crossed his arms, gloating at his third brother.
"Mother, Third Brother is thin-skinned!"
"You can touch me instead!"
He said, and then happily extended his head.
Xia Ruqing helplessly tapped his forehead.
"You, you! Your third brother has become a little adult, yet you’re still a little troublemaker!"
She was just praising their mature behavior, and now it’s a slap in the face!
Yeye’s mischievousness is exactly the same as when he was little.
When they were younger, Henger was alright, just not liking being confined indoors, always wanting to go out and run.
As for Yeye, nothing more should be said.
He used to bounce all around, never settling for a moment.
The Sisters and the Wetnurse Nanny who looked after him must have shed tears of hardship while raising him this big.
Sometimes, Xia Ruqing felt sympathy for them.
It’s said that three years old shows a lifetime.
Now that Yeye is six and still like this, perhaps... he’ll always be like this.
Xia Ruqing rubbed her temple, slightly headache.
’Fortunately, I don’t expect much from them! As long as they’re happy, that’s enough! Let it be!’
Facing her complaints.
Yeye giggled and ran ahead.
Xia Ruqing and Henger walked leisurely from behind.
Soon, they arrived at the Study Room.
After sending the two children there, Xia Ruqing went to check Chenchen’s residence in the front palace.
After confirming supplies were ample and everything was well, she returned.
Meanwhile, in Duanning Palace, Yue Er had just woken up.
When Xia Ruqing entered, the Wetnurse Nanny was serving, helping her dress and wash her face.
Seeing her come in, the little girl excitedly yelled.
"Mother, Mother, you’re up! You didn’t sleep in late, oh!"
Xia Ruqing: "..."
Today, two kids had already mentioned her sleeping in.
These little rascals sure know how to meddle.
She sank her face and walked over to sit beside her.
"Yue Er, do you still want to go out of the palace?"
Yue Er quickly changed her tune upon hearing.
"I do!"
"Mother, I do!"
"Mother, you’re so good; you care for Yue Er the most, you’re the most diligent, you don’t sleep in at all!"
The little girl puffed up her cheeks, speaking grand sentences, her face turning red.
Her heart warmed, and she giggled.
"Alright, alright!"
"Quickly wash up and eat!"
After breakfast, they had to leave the palace.
"Alright!"
The little girl eagerly jumped next to her.
She kissed her cheek before going to find the Wetnurse Nanny.
Xia Ruqing covered her cheek, internally drowning in sweetness.
Though Yue Er’s nature was expressive and loved to show affection, often kissing here and there.
Her heart was still melted; at this moment, it felt worth dying for.
...
Once Yue Er was done washing up.
Mother and daughter finished breakfast and left the palace.
Since they were in plainclothes, not many followed openly.
Zhao Junyao secretly sent over twenty Hidden Guards, making security unnecessary to worry about.
The carriage swayed, traveling leisurely along the way.
But Yue Er was restless, tiptoeing to lift the curtain.
Her big eyes glimmered as she wanted to jump out to explore.
Xia Ruqing propped her head, quite helpless.
But she didn’t stop her, rather finding it amusing.
"Yue Er, tell Mother what you see?"
Yue Er pointed excitedly, babbling about everything outside.
"That one!"
"And that one!"
"Wow, and that one over there!"
The little girl, unfamiliar with things outside, used ’this and that’ since she didn’t know their names.