Chapter 3: Seeing Your Face

  "Hey little brother."

  "Brother Situ." Xia Jingting and Chancellor Situ Bi exchanged greetings that were both warm and distant.

  "Minhuai has seen Uncle Xia." The woman beside Situ Bian bowed slightly.

  Xia Jingting smiled and casually waved his hand, praising: "Brother Situ is so lucky to have such a virtuous and intelligent daughter who understands books and reason!"

  Situ Min stepped forward with a gentle smile: "Uncle Xia is overpraising me."

  Situ Bo burst out laughing, patted Xia Jingting's shoulder with his hand, and although his eyes were full of pride, he showed boundless envy: "I only have this one daughter, but you, Xia Laoxiong, have three daughters! If we're talking about good fortune, you have more than me!"

  "My three useless little girls have all been spoiled by me. If they could be half as sensible, I would worry less."

  The three of them were chatting, when they suddenly felt the surroundings quiet down. Sutu Min Hui looked puzzled and tilted her head to one side, her eyes flashing as she couldn't help but let out a soft "hmm".

  Xia Yang and Xia Tian walked together in the crowd.

  Situ Bo's expression was slightly surprised when he saw Xia Tian, his eyes quickly glanced at Situ Min Hui and then returned to Xia Tian. But seeing Xia Yang and Xia Tian holding hands, he seemed to let out a sigh of relief.

  Xia Jingting's gaze also fell on the brother and sister's tightly clasped hands, first stunned, then quickly his eyes flowed with warm smiles and relief.

  He walked up and called out "Dad", then bowed to Situ Bi with a polite but distant greeting, asking how he was doing.

  In the summer, seeing Xia Jingting also here, the fear in her heart dissipated a bit more, she smiled and reached out to grab his sleeve, leaning against him.

  "Big Brother Xia." Sito Min Hui gave a slight bow of her head in greeting to Xia Yang.

  Xia Yang didn't look at her, but bowed slightly in the direction she was in.

  Xia Jingting patted Xia Tian's hand and smiled, reminding him: "Tian'er, don't you hurry up to pay respects to Uncle Situ?"

  Under the faint and thin eyebrows, a pair of small eyes were half-closed, carefully sizing her up. Although Xia Tian didn't know who this person was, since he could appear here, he must not be an ordinary person! Moreover, the official uniform he wore had golden patterns embroidered on it, so his rank must not be low. Imitating the gesture of Xiāo Tú Mǐn Huì giving Xia Yang a courtesy, she gave Xiāo Tú Bó a half-courtesy.

  Situ Bi originally opened his half-closed eyes wide when he heard that one word "Tian Er", and now seeing Xia Tian like this, the ends of his eyebrows were even more angrily raised.

  "Heavens!" Xia Jingting rebuked with some indignation, "How can you be so rude!"

  Summer jumped in surprise, looked back at him with a puzzled and wronged expression.

  Xia Jingting sighed softly, feeling heartache and helplessness.

  "Fourth sister has just recovered from a serious illness and is still feeling a bit dizzy. My younger cousin is here to apologize on behalf of Fourth Sister to Uncle Situ, and please don't blame her!" Xiaoyang said as he bowed deeply to Situ Bo, his head touching the ground.

  Xia Yang is usually proud and indifferent, although he never lacks courtesy in front of people, but to anyone, he is neither cold nor hot, neither far nor near. Except for the Emperor, when has he ever given such a big gift to others? Sito Bi was stunned and didn't dare to argue with Xia Tian anymore.

  Seeing Xia Yang like this, the anxiety and tension between Xia Tian's eyebrows became even more intense. She knew nothing about the etiquette rules here, and she didn't even get it right when she imitated others. In her heart, she couldn't help but complain: If she had known it would be like this, she wouldn't have entered this unlucky palace even if she was beaten to death.

  She could feel her father's gaze wandering between herself and Xia Tian, and Sutu Min Hui felt a little uncomfortable in her heart. Although she had never seen the Fourth Miss of the Protector General's Manor before, her arrogant and domineering personality was well-known beforehand, and today's encounter proved it to be true. She didn't expect that Xia Tian would be so arrogant as to not even put the Prime Minister in her eyes. However... She looked at Xia Tian and silently lowered her head. She wasn't unaware of what her father was comparing or worried about; she just wasn't someone who belittled herself, let alone having already made up her mind and even looking forward to losing this smokeless battle.

  "Little Xia," she stepped forward two steps and affectionately took hold of Xia Tian's hand, "I was just like you the first time I entered the palace, so nervous that I forgot everything. But don't worry, little sister, just watch me and do as I do, and you won't go wrong."

  Are you still learning? Xia Tian's face was guarded as he retreated a bit, turning his head to look at Xia Jingting, as if asking: Is it okay?

  Xia Yang glanced at Sutu Min Hui with a faint smile and nodded: "Thank you for your kindness, Miss Sutu. With your care, Fourth Sister will certainly not make any more mistakes. I'll entrust Fourth Sister to you now."

  She heard the warning hidden in his words, but Shi Tu Min Hui pretended she didn't understand anything and smiled as she agreed.

  A stormy wave rolled up in his eyes, and instantly calmed down without a ripple. Sutu Mou slightly hooked the corner of his mouth and sighed: "It's really a deep brotherly love! Xia Laoxiong, your son is filial and your daughter is virtuous, you should be comforted at old age."

  Xian Yang has been protecting Xiatian all along, and Xia Jingting is indeed very relieved. Just as he was about to say a few humble words, he suddenly heard the eunuch Zhang Deshun's announcement: "The Emperor has arrived, Concubine Zhen has arrived, Your Highnesses have arrived~~"

  Hula! Everyone in Changzhen Hall immediately knelt down and shouted: "Long live Your Majesty!"

  In the summer, Xia Tian was kneeling on the ground with her father and brother, curiously wanting to turn her head to look, when a big hand that had been waiting there pressed down on her head. "Don't be rude," her father's low voice reminded her in her ear.

  A warmth in her heart, she knelt down honestly, unable to help but purse her lips and smile secretly.

  The sound of footsteps was heard, and it seemed that many people had passed by. The footsteps stopped, and the crowd hastily knelt down with their heads bowed, holding their breath and waiting.

  "Cough, cough, cough!" Before he could even speak, several coughs were heard, "All of you, bow down."

  "Long live Your Majesty! Long live for ten thousand years!" The mountain calls sounded again, as if they had been planned in advance, uniform and consistent.

  "Cough, cough, I've had one birthday less than expected!" Emperor Zhaojian sighed and said with a bitter smile.

  "Your Majesty!" The soft and gentle voice was like an oriole singing in the valley, with three parts of resentment and seven parts of blame.

  In the summer, he couldn't help but want to raise his head again. Before his head was raised, Zhao Qian Emperor lazily laughed: "Have the maids of the Prime Minister's house and the General's house come? Come out and let me take a look."

  My blood ran cold, could it be the young lady from the Guardian General's household? It can't be that coincidental, it must be myself!