TNIBFT -Chapter 253 More Difficult Than National Affairs

The cheerful, childish voice of his daughter rang out.

Ye Tian froze.

Minister Meng?

It was Qin Fengyi who had arrived!

Ye Tian looked down at the light-colored tunic he was wearing and, in a panic, hurriedly grabbed a garment from the hanger to put on. Duan Qingshan cast a strange look at him—he truly hadn’t expected that Ye Tian, who normally never cared about others’ opinions, would react like this.

“How do I look?”

“Is my hair okay?” Ye Tian adjusted his hair and looked at Duan Qingshan.

Duan Qingshan stared blankly for a moment, then numbly shook his head: “N…not messy!”

Ye Tian smiled confidently.

“Duang!”

“Duang…”

The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder and louder. Just as Ye Tian finished speaking: “Bang!” There was a loud crash as the door to the room was violently pushed open.

Ye Tian and Duan Qingshan both turned their heads.

At the doorway, his daughter’s large eyes shone brightly, her small hands frozen mid-air, her face full of excitement: “Dad, Minister Meng really came! Look!”

The little girl was genuinely happy. Her lips curved upward, the small cowlick on her head stood on end, and every strand of hair radiated joy.

She couldn’t wait and turned to pull Qin Fengyi along.

Duan Qingshan glanced briefly, then bowed his head and cupped his fists: “Master, I’ll go handle my work first.”

“Alright. And don’t forget the important task I just assigned you.”

Ye Tian emphasized the words “important task.”

Duan Qingshan nodded and finally left the room.

Ye Shuangxue furrowed her little brows, curiously staring at Ye Tian: “Important task?”

“Aren’t you just getting up?”

“Getting up?” Ye Tian sneaked a glance at Qin Fengyi. Seeing her expression relaxed and unbothered, he continued: “I am the city lord now, managing endless affairs every day. Can I, like a child, sleep until the sun is high in the sky?”

“I am not…” Ye Shuangxue protested, pouting.

Before she could finish, Ye Tian deliberately ignored her and turned to Qin Fengyi: “Why did you come so early today?”

Qin Fengyi wore a light blue robe, her long hair tied up, a matching ribbon on her bun. She looked immaculate and ethereal, graceful and elegant, impossible to look away from.

A faint smile played on her lips: “Didn’t we agree that the children would be with me these days?”

“I thought about it last night,” she said earnestly. “You were right—whatever we do, we must be consistent, and the same applies to education. That’s why I brought some primer books today, intending to personally teach Shuangxue.”

Ye Shuangxue, who had just sat at the edge of the bed, looked on full of caution.

Bang! Qin Fengyi placed a large bundle from her shoulder onto the floor.

A huge bundle.

Seeing it, Ye Shuangxue’s face changed dramatically, and her smile vanished instantly.

“Um… my stomach hurts. I need to go to the bathroom first,” she said, sliding off the bed and dashing toward the door, but she didn’t forget to remind Ye Tian: “Dad, don’t wait for me. I might take a long time.”

With that, she was gone in a flash.

Watching his daughter’s retreating figure, Qin Fengyi took a couple of steps after her, her face full of helplessness.

Educating children is far harder than running state affairs!

She felt an intense headache coming on.

Once the child left, only Ye Tian and Qin Fengyi remained in the room.

Their eyes met.

The two of them immediately shifted their gazes, and a subtle tension began to linger in the air. Ye Tian cleared his throat and said, “When it comes to the children, we can’t be hasty.”

Qin Fengyi lowered her head. How could she not know that? But her heart was anxious. She looked up at Ye Tian and said, “The children know I’m their real mother, but every time we meet, although they’re happy, they still call me ‘Lord Meng.’”

Ye Tian was momentarily stunned.

That was indeed the case. He turned to look at Qin Fengyi, seeing her delicate brows slightly furrowed, a deep worry etched across her features.

“I know. I’ve been absent for too long and have done too little for the children. Over the years, they’ve grown used to their life as it is. Suddenly having a mother, it’s normal that they can’t bring themselves to call me that. I just want to do more for them… but the children don’t feel the same way,” Qin Fengyi said anxiously.

Ye Tian could understand her.

He could also understand the children, which was why he never forced them to do anything. If they wanted to interact with Qin Fengyi, he would do his best to create opportunities.

“Let’s put aside the lessons for now,” Ye Tian said. Qin Fengyi’s tension eased. She turned to him, and Ye Tian smiled mysteriously: “Winning over two five-year-old kids? That’s easy.”

“Food, fun, and games—once you get the routine right, you’ll become good friends in no time.”

“And don’t treat yourself as their mother who has to control everything for their own good. Doing so only makes children rebellious. Treat them as little adults, interact with them as equals, and you’ll find it much easier to get close to them.”

Interacting as little adults?

But they were only five years old!

Qin Fengyi looked at Ye Tian in confusion, but upon thinking about it, she realized he made perfect sense.

After a moment of thought, she suddenly came up with a good idea: “Why don’t I take them to the shops today, cater to their interests, and get closer to them first? Then tomorrow, we can start the lessons.”

They agreed to this plan.

The eldest had gone to the government office with Tao Lichun, leaving only the daughter at home.

Seeing Ye Tian and Qin Fengyi preparing to go out, Ye Shuangxue peeked from behind the door for a long time. She noticed that no one mentioned lessons and that the two seemed about to leave.

“They really aren’t taking me?”

Her little face drooped, her tiny hands clutching the doorframe, her chubby cheeks puffed in anger.

“No way! If I’m not going, I’m going anyway.”

The next moment, Ye Shuangxue dashed out from the doorway, squeezing between Ye Tian and Qin Fengyi, her little face smiling brightly: “Daddy, where are you going?”

“I’ll protect you!”

“It’s not safe these days. I can’t not follow you.”

Her little face looked worried as she naturally held Ye Tian’s large hand.

Ye Tian and Qin Fengyi exchanged a smile. Qin Fengyi said, “I want to go out and stroll today. Can you show me around?”

“Of course!”

“There isn’t a place in Sifang City I don’t know. I know lots of fun spots…”

Qin Fengyi took the opportunity to hold her daughter’s soft little hand. A warm surge flowed through her chest—such tiny hands, so adorable and soft. She gently stroked Ye Shuangxue’s fingers with her own, feeling as precious as a rare treasure.

Along the way, Ye Shuangxue chattered nonstop.

Qin Fengyi patiently listened to every word, responding to each one. For now, she was indeed proving to be a capable mother.

Ye Tian followed behind the mother and daughter.

The streets were bustling, and many people greeted Ye Tian. He exchanged polite words with them.

Small vendors lined both sides of the street, the steam from cooked food rising into the air, their calls and songs cheerful and melodic.

This was the living, vibrant atmosphere of the ancient city.

Ye Shuangxue pulled Qin Fengyi here and there, sometimes dashing one way, sometimes peeking the other, her head and hands full of small trinkets.

“This dress is really pretty.”

Following her daughter’s gaze, they saw a worn embroidery shop displaying two ‘matching mother-and-child outfits,’ one large, one small.

Ye Shuangxue stared blankly, lost in thought.

Seeing the hand her daughter held tightly, Qin Fengyi felt a pang in her heart. The beauty wasn’t in the clothes—it was in her daughter’s longing for her mother. She knelt down gently and said, “I think it’s really pretty too.”