"Xiao Mo! Xiao Mo! I’m here to play~"
A sweet, childish voice reached Xiao Mo’s ears.
All the children in the training grounds turned to look. A gorgeously dressed, doll-like little girl was happily running toward Xiao Mo.
The little girl ran up to Xiao Mo and skidded to a halt. Her small hands windmilled as she struggled to regain her balance. Once steady, she blinked at Xiao Mo, her big, sparkling eyes filled with delight.
"Princess." Xiao Mo saluted with his spear.
"Xiao Mo, we haven’t seen each other in so many days. Did you miss ?" Qin Siyao asked happily.
"Of course I did."
Xiao Mo smiled and nodded.
And Xiao Mo wasn’t lying to Qin Siyao.
Over the past few days, while lying in bed recovering with nothing to do, he had indeed found himself occasionally thinking of the cute, innocent girl.
"Really?" Qin Siyao asked again.
"Of course it’s true," Xiao Mo replied.
"Hee hee hee, that’s great! You missed , and I missed you, so now we’re even. It would be so unfair if I was the only one thinking about you every day." Qin Siyao’s eyes curved into little crescents.
"Big Brother, who is this little girl?"
Just then, Xiao Yang and the others walked up and asked.
It was the first ti they had ever seen such a pretty little girl. She was much prettier than their own sisters.
"I already called her a princess. Who do you think she is?" Xiao Mo said, introducing her to his followers. "This is the Third Princess of our Qin Kingdom."
"Huh?" The boys stared blankly for a mont, then quickly mimicked their elders, bowing and saying, "We pay our respects to the Princess."
"There’s no need for all that," Qin Siyao said cheerfully, waving her hand.
"And Xiao Mo, you don’t have to call Princess. We’re friends, so just call Siyao," Qin Siyao said to him.
"Princess... that... might not be appropriate," Xiao Mo said, trying to refuse politely.
"It’s fine, it’s fine! Go on, call Siyao. Aren’t we friends? If you don’t call Siyao, it ans you don’t want to be my friend, and I’ll tell my Imperial Father that you’re bullying ," Qin Siyao said, looking at Xiao Mo with anticipation.
"Then forgive my discourtesy." Xiao Mo could only give in to the little girl’s whims and softly called out, "Siyao."
Hearing her na called by soone other than a family mber for the first ti, Qin Siyao froze for a second. Then, a smile blood on her face like a little flower as she answered with a resounding, "Yes!"
Seeing how well their "Big Brother" got along with the Third Princess, the other Xiao Family disciples standing by felt their admiration for him grow even stronger.
’Maybe the Third Princess will even make him a high-ranking official soday.’
’And as his followers, they could just tag along and beco minor officials, which would be great.’
Watching the innocent conversation between Xiao Mo and the little princess, Huang Shan couldn’t help but break into a doting smile. ’Kids really are amusing,’ he thought.
’This kid is really sothing else, though.’
’He was only the little princess’s guard for a single day, and he already has her coming to his doorstep to find him.’
’Not bad, not bad at all. He takes after his master——in my younger days.’
"Alright, everyone, dismiss." Huang Shan clapped his hands. "Xiao Mo, don’t practice with the Godslaying Spear when you get back. Your body won’t be able to handle it, understand?"
"Yes, Master," Xiao Mo replied.
Huang Shan tossed the Long Spear in his hand back onto the wooden rack, then swaggered out of the training grounds.
Although the other Xiao Family disciples wanted to chat with the Princess—it wasn’t every day you got to see her, after all—they didn’t want to disturb their Big Brother and the Princess, so they had no choice but to leave one by one.
"Xiao Mo, let’s go play together?" Qin Siyao said happily.
"I don’t mind, but Princess—"
"Hmph."
Just as Xiao Mo was about to say the word "Princess," Qin Siyao’s eyes narrowed into a glare, her pink cheeks puffing out.
"But, Siyao," Xiao Mo corrected himself, "I have to go ho first and tell my mother, or she’ll worry."
"Huh?" Qin Siyao blinked, looking a little nervous. "Am I going to et your mother? But Xiao Mo, I didn’t bring a gift today. Wouldn’t that be terribly rude?"
"You can wait for , Siyao. You don’t have to co. Of course, it’s fine if you do; my mother won’t mind," Xiao Mo said, smiling to himself. ’It’s not like I asked you to co along,’ he thought.
"Umm... Xiao Mo, wait a second..."
Qin Siyao thought for a mont.
Then she started patting herself down, feeling around in her sleeves and on her clothes.
Finally, Qin Siyao actually managed to pull out a small pearl. "My Imperial Father gave this little pearl to play with. It glows at night and can light up a whole room! Can I give this to your mother?"
"Isn’t this too valuable?"
"It’s fine, it’s not valuable at all! I have more than a dozen pearls just like this one," Qin Siyao said, waving her little sleeves.
"..." Xiao Mo looked toward the Maid who was always by Qin Siyao’s side.
The Maid imdiately understood what Xiao Mo ant; he wanted her to try and talk the Princess out of it.
The Maid, whose na was Hua Sheng, found the eight-year-old boy quite interesting.
’He’s as sensible as a little adult.’
"Rest assured, Young Master Xiao. This Little Night Pearl is indeed not too valuable," Hua Sheng said.
"Alright then." Xiao Mo nodded. "In that case, Siyao, let’s go."
"Yay!"
Qin Siyao skipped happily behind Xiao Mo.
Soon, Xiao Mo led Qin Siyao to the entrance of his family’s courtyard.
Since it was already evening, smoke was rising from the small courtyard’s kitchen, where Zhou Ruoxi and Cuicui were busy cooking dinner.
"Mother, I’m ho!"
Xiao Mo called toward the kitchen.
"Mo’er, you’re back."
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