ASTRP -Chapter 129 The Little Emperor Is Becoming More and More Steady

Knowing Xu Shu might get angry, the little emperor still answered with a smile.

“I can break promises when it comes to play and entertainment. But as the emperor, I cannot break my word to the common people or to the civil and military officials.”

Eunuch Chen’s heart trembled, surprise flashing across his face.

Even Feng Jingge was stunned. She hadn’t expected Xiao Yu to say something like that.

The little emperor turned around and heavily patted Xu Shu on the shoulder.

“Go have fun first. Once I’m done with work, I’ll come find you.”

Xu Shu pouted. He had originally been quite upset, but after hearing those words, he couldn’t really stay angry anymore.

He slapped away the hand on his shoulder and said unhappily, “So boring. I’m leaving the palace and heading home to practice spear techniques.”

The moment the little emperor heard the words “practice spear,” his eyes lit up. He immediately grabbed Xu Shu’s robe.

Xu Shu turned back in dissatisfaction. “What now?”

The little emperor hesitated for a moment before asking, “How about next time you enter the palace, you bring that red-tasseled spear with you? I want to learn a few moves from you too.”

“Learn from me?”

Xu Shu froze.

After seeing the little emperor nod, a crafty idea immediately popped into his mind, and he grinned.

“Sure, you can learn from me! But shouldn’t you call me ‘Master’ first?”

Little Emperor: “???”

Feng Jingge: “…”

Eunuch Chen: “!!!”

The surrounding attendants: “…”

Unable to hold back, Eunuch Chen spoke up.

“Young Master Xu, if word of you becoming the emperor’s teacher reaches the old marquis, just imagine what he’ll say…”

Xu Shu’s expression instantly darkened.

He glared at Eunuch Chen and huffed, “Eunuch Chen, I heard before that you’re extremely stingy. I didn’t believe it at first.”

“But after seeing you today, it’s exactly as everyone said—you really are petty.”

“I was just joking with Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu himself isn’t even angry, yet you’re the one getting worked up.”

“Hmph! Truly, the emperor isn’t anxious, but the eunuch is.”

“…”

Eunuch Chen tightened his grip on the whisk in his hand.

This brat from the Xu family actually called him stingy?

Who in the palace didn’t know that Eunuch Chen was the most generous person around?

And what nonsense was that about “the emperor isn’t anxious, but the eunuch is”…

This Xu Shu!

He was truly going to anger him to death!

Seeing Eunuch Chen’s face darken and knowing his goal had been achieved, Xu Shu felt extremely smug.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

He made a face at Eunuch Chen.

“Bleh bleh bleh! Stingy old man! Eunuch Chen is a stingy old man!”

The moment he finished speaking, he quickly greased the soles of his feet and ran before Eunuch Chen could explode in anger.

By the time Eunuch Chen snapped back to his senses and wanted to go after him, he looked up and realized the boy was already gone…

How was he supposed to cause trouble for someone who had already disappeared?

The corners of the little emperor’s lips curled upward as he smiled and comforted Eunuch Chen.

“Eunuch Chen, Xu Shu was only joking with you. Please don’t argue with him.”

Eunuch Chen chuckled.

“Your Majesty, this old servant is already quite old. How could I possibly stoop to arguing with a child?”

He really wasn’t that angry.

He just thought the Xu boy was too mischievous.

And his mouth was far too slick.

“Mm.”

Seeing Eunuch Chen say that, the little emperor merely responded softly before turning and returning to the imperial study.

Once the doors closed, the little emperor returned to his seat.

After sitting down, he turned his head and looked at Feng Jingge, who was focused on reviewing memorials.

“Imperial Uncle…”

Without even lifting her head, Feng Jingge responded, “Mm, speak.”

The little emperor took the initiative to admit his mistake.

“What happened with Xu Shu today was my fault. Tomorrow, when I go to the academy, I’ll explain things clearly to them. In the future, I won’t let them come to the imperial study looking for me.”

“To recognize one’s mistakes and correct them is the greatest good.”

Feng Jingge put down her brush and met the little emperor’s gaze.

“But the part about not breaking promises to the common people—was that truly your own thought? Or was it taught by your grand tutor?”

The little emperor shook his head.

“Neither.”

“Before I said those words, I suddenly remembered something Chu Ning once told me.”

“Chu Ning said that although I’m young, I’m still the emperor—the emperor of all Great Jin. The common people don’t care that the current emperor is young.”

“They only care whether the new emperor is good or not, whether he can govern the country well, whether he can let them eat well and dress warmly.”

“After thinking about what Chu Ning said, those words naturally came out.”

Feng Jingge pressed her lips together silently, her gaze deepening into something extremely complicated.

If she remembered correctly, Chu Ning was only nine years old this year, wasn’t he?

And yet, at nine years old, he already understood things so clearly…

This child truly had limitless potential…

“Imperial Uncle?”

The little emperor’s voice interrupted Feng Jingge’s thoughts.

“Mm?”

“Is the way Yu’er is doing things now… alright?”

A smile curled onto Feng Jingge’s lips.

“Mm. Yu’er is doing very well. You’ve improved greatly. I believe that under Yu’er’s rule, Great Jin will one day enjoy peace and prosperity, with favorable weather and abundant harvests.”

The little emperor beamed.

“Yu’er thanks Imperial Uncle for the auspicious words.”

“Continue reviewing the memorials.”

Feng Jingge picked up another memorial and added, “Once we finish reviewing them all, this prince will give you something interesting.”

Hearing that his royal uncle was going to give him a gift, the little emperor was both surprised and delighted. After responding obediently, he lowered his head and focused on the memorials.

The “interesting thing” Feng Jingge referred to was a paper airplane and a paper frog.

When she had given these things to Liu Qingqing before, even an adult like her had treasured them like precious jewels.

So for a little kid like Xiao Yu, wouldn’t he be so happy he’d practically leap into the sky?

However, when the folded paper airplane was placed in front of Xiao Yu, his expression remained calm. There was none of the excitement Feng Jingge had imagined.

For a moment, Feng Jingge was dumbfounded.

This was completely different from what she expected!

The little emperor was this calm?

Looks like he’s someone who’s seen the world~

A thought stirred in Feng Jingge’s mind, and she asked,

“What? You don’t like it?”

“If you don’t like it, Imperial Uncle can make you something else.”

“Imperial Uncle, wait!”

The little emperor hurriedly stopped her.

“Imperial Uncle, please forgive Yu’er’s stupidity, but I truly cannot tell how this object is supposed to be played with.”

“It’s fine. Imperial Uncle will teach you.”

Feng Jingge picked up a sheet of paper, her slender fingers slowly folding it into the shape of a paper airplane.

“Like this.”

“And then…”

She tossed the finished paper airplane forward.

“Throw it!”

Feng Jingge personally taught the little emperor how to play with paper airplanes.

The paper airplane flew powerfully through the imperial study in a large circle before finally dropping to the ground.

Seeing this, the little emperor excitedly jumped down from his seat and rushed over to pick up the paper airplane.

Following what his royal uncle had taught him, he threw it forcefully and watched it make a huge loop through the air.

The little emperor became so excited that he jumped in place and clapped both hands.

“Imperial Uncle, this is so fun!”

See?

Even adults liked these things. As a child, the little emperor would naturally like them even more.

“If you like it, then play for a while.”

After all, no matter how mature he acted, he was still just a child. Hearing Feng Jingge say that, the little emperor completely let loose and happily played.

He entertained himself endlessly with the paper airplane.

Meanwhile, Feng Jingge sat quietly on a stool, watching the little emperor play.

She thought that if those other little brats were here too, the little emperor would definitely be having even more fun.

Unfortunately, an emperor was still an emperor after all.

He could not frequently play together with ordinary children.