Chapter 986: Chapter 570: Deploying Troops (Fifth Update)

"Mother!" In the harem garden.

An Youyou’s face was flushed.

It was already midsummer, and after a run in the harem garden, her little face was covered in sweat.

Seeing the appearance of An Ning, she got very excited and was about to throw herself into An Ning’s arms.

An Ning showed obvious disdain and blocked An Youyou from getting close with her hand, "You’re all sweaty, don’t rub it on me."

"Mother, you’re despising me!" An Youyou looked displeased, her little face twisting in frustration.

"Just look at how dirty you are."

"Father doesn’t mind." An Youyou protested, "Father says my sweat smells sweet, I’m definitely not your birth daughter, bad mother!"

"..." An Ning couldn’t help but glance at Xiao Jinxing under the pavilion.

Xiao Jinxing was dressed in dark green clothes, with a cool breeze brushing his face, looking elegant and handsome.

"I’m not playing with you anymore." An Youyou left An Ning.

The little short legs quickly ran towards Xiao Jinxing.

Her chubby body fell directly into Xiao Jinxing’s embrace, deliberately rubbing her small face against his chest, as if to tell An Ning that her father didn’t mind her at all.

An Ning was somewhat speechless too.

This little brat Youyou, was truly vengeful.

At that moment, she saw Xiao Jinxing not only didn’t push An Youyou away but also picked her up and placed her on his lap, personally feeding her watermelon to cool off.

An Youyou ate the watermelon while making faces at An Ning.

An Ning rolled her eyes.

Sometimes she really didn’t want to argue with An Youyou; she even felt like spanking her chubby little butt to vent her frustration.

"Mother, come and have some watermelon with us." Anqi emerged from the pavilion, walked to An Ning’s side, and respectfully bowed to her.

Compared to Anqi, An Youyou really seemed like a wild child from the street.

An Ning smiled and nodded.

She didn’t reject such a family gathering.

She walked into the pavilion.

In ancient times, summer wasn’t as hot as the apocalypse. In fact, the apocalypse had long been swept by the heat, with no spring, summer, autumn, or winter; temperatures never below 35 degrees, constantly above 43 degrees, making the harsh climate uninhabitable for life.

In the Daxuan Kingdom, the summer temperature was about 35 degrees. It felt warm under the sun, but in the pavilion, there was a refreshing coolness entering the heart, combined with Palace Attendants fanning nearby, and by the lakeside, there was a sense of elegance.

An Ning sat before a chair, and the Palace Attendant promptly offered her seedless watermelon.

She took a bite, and the imperial meals were naturally top-notch, the taste surprisingly good.

Of course, An Ning wasn’t surprised.

Because in Fengqi Palace, these fruits and pastries were all available.

At this moment, however, the slight heat made them refreshing and pleasant, indeed uplifting her spirits.

"Sister Anqi, I want to play jianzi over there. Will you join me?" An Youyou jumped off Xiao Jinxing’s lap, holding Anqi’s hand and coquettishly requesting.

Anqi smiled slightly, "Sure."

She couldn’t refuse An Youyou’s request anyway.

She turned to glance at Xiao Luming who was writing nearby and asked, "Luming, do you want to take a break and join us in playing jianzi?"

"I don’t like that." Xiao Luming refused outright.

Playing jianzi was a girl’s game.

As the Crown Prince, he couldn’t be so unruly.

"Oh." Anqi responded softly.

Feeling somewhat disappointed, she took An Youyou’s hand and left together.

As they left, she couldn’t help quietly asking Youyou, "Doesn’t Luming like me?"

"I don’t think so." With An Youyou being so straightforward, she didn’t notice so much, "He’s just got a bad temper. I’m worried if he grows up like this, what girl would marry him!"

"..." Youyou, you’re not even five yet; isn’t your thinking a bit too mature?!

Are you considering things too far ahead?!

Anqi and An Youyou played jianzi in the harem garden.

The Palace Attendants chased after them, shading and fanning them, busy as ever.

In the harem garden, Anqi and An Youyou’s melodic laughter echoed constantly.

However, in the pavilion, it suddenly became quiet.

An Luming liked reading and writing and was accustomed to not speaking much.

Between Xiao Jinxing and An Ning, it often remained like this for a long time; unless discussing official matters, they might not say more than ten sentences a day, even though they were together from morning to night.

"When does Your Majesty plan to set out?" An Ning took the initiative to speak.

She felt that if she didn’t speak, the father and son could be so quiet they seemed nonexistent.

"In three days." Xiao Jinxing said straightforwardly.

"Is it decided?" An Ning was still a bit surprised.

She also received news that most of the officials in court were requesting His Majesty to personally lead the troops.

With the increasingly urgent situation at the border, it’s only natural that civil and military officials were unsettled.

But Xiao Jinxing suddenly deciding to send troops to battle in three days still left her a bit... unable to accept.

Was it too abrupt, or...

Something else.

Was this why Xiao Jinxing spent more time with the children the past couple of days?!

"Is everything ready?" An Ning asked.

"More or less." Xiao Jinxing nodded, "The day after tomorrow, I’ll send Luming and Youyou to the Minister Mansion."

Xiao Luming, hearing his name, couldn’t help but lift his head.

He asked respectfully, "Father, are me and my sister going to Grandfather’s house?"

"The border is in crisis, and your father must personally lead the army to war. I’ll send you and your sister to the Minister Mansion for a few days. When your father triumphantly returns..." Xiao Jinxing paused, then naturally added, "Of course, don’t be afraid. Your father is sending you to the Minister Mansion because both your father and mother will be leaving the palace, and having your grandparents take care of you there gives us peace of mind."

"What about Anqi?" Xiao Luming blurted out.

"Anqi grew up in the palace, more accustomed to palace life. She won’t be going to the Minister Mansion." Xiao Jinxing said straightforwardly.

"Oh." Xiao Luming seemed slightly disappointed.

He then couldn’t help but ask.

"Father and Mother, will you be gone long?"

"No." Xiao Jinxing replied straightly, "Though your father might be away for a while, your mother will certainly come to fetch you soon."

"Okay." Xiao Luming nodded heavily.

His face finally showed a hint of a smile.

An Ning pressed her lips together, silently listening to Xiao Jinxing’s words.

At this moment, she had nothing to say.

"Your Majesty." Grand Eunuch Ping respectfully said suddenly.

"Hmm?" Xiao Jinxing responded.

"Lord Song requests an audience, waiting for you in Qiankun Hall, likely to discuss plans for deployment." Grand Eunuch Ping reported.

Xiao Jinxing nodded slightly.

He stood up and asked An Ning, "Want to come along?"

"If it’s just the routine deployment arrangements, I won’t go. I want to spend some time with them." An Ning looked at the two children playing jianzi, saying, "Spend time with Anqi."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com