As soon as the four children entered the palace, they clamored to find their big brother, and An Jing and Xiao Changyi had no choice but to take the four children to the East Palace.
But they found it empty.
Ning Wenxian told them that since they didn’t know when they would arrive, Su Muchen had already gone to the Upper Study Room to read.
Originally, Ning Wenxian wanted to send someone to call Su Muchen back, but An Jing stopped her, saying she and Xiao Changyi would take the four children directly to the Upper Study Room to find Su Muchen, and take the opportunity to tour the Imperial Palace.
When An Jing and Xiao Changyi led the four children to the Upper Study Room, Su Muchen was inside studying policy theory, incredibly focused, giving an impression of particular steadiness, not at all like a nine-year-old child, truly resembling an adult, also quite dignified and imposing.
Standing in front of the Upper Study Room window, An Jing first signaled her four children not to speak, then, through that open window, she looked at Su Muchen inside, and finally, she turned to her husband with a smile.
As for the look in her eyes, it obviously conveyed: Whether it was the Emperor of Xiyun or Su Chengyu, both regarded Su Muchen as being groomed to be the future successor.
Xiao Changyi didn’t say anything, just slightly nodded his head.
Eventually, it was the Grand Tutor inside who first noticed An Jing and Xiao Changyi standing outside.
When Su Muchen saw An Jing and Xiao Changyi, he was not so thrilled, but upon seeing the four little ones at the feet of An Jing and Xiao Changyi, his calm eyes instantly lit up, filled with joy.
An Jing watched all of Su Muchen’s reactions, her face bearing a smile, but deep inside she sighed heavily.
Being born into the Imperial Family really doesn’t guarantee a good life.
Then, Su Muchen took the four children off to play.
Before long, Su Muchen brought the four children back to find An Jing and Xiao Changyi.
Stuttering, Su Muchen asked An Jing and Xiao Changyi if the four little ones could stay overnight at the East Palace and sleep with him.
And the four little ones all looked up at An Jing and Xiao Changyi with faces full of anticipation, clearly wishing to spend the night playing with Su Muchen. Not just sleeping, but playing.
Seeing these five children together like true siblings, An Jing couldn’t bear to disappoint them. After exchanging a glance with Xiao Changyi, she nodded in agreement.
Then, Su Muchen joyfully took the four little ones off to play again.
An Jing and Xiao Changyi first went to see the Emperor of Xiyun, who was in his quarters, then they went to the East Palace to inform Ning Wenxian that their four children would be staying there overnight.
Ning Wenxian was delighted, "Rest assured, your Imperial Highnesses, Wen Xian will take good care of Jing’er and them, and I assure you they will be safely returned to you tomorrow."
"We’ll be troubling you, then."
Xiao Changyi had already prepared the bamboo raft, and An Jing had been planning to try it out; now, having entrusted the four children to Ning Wenxian, An Jing and Xiao Changyi left the palace and returned home.
Xiao Changyi and An Jing carried the bamboo raft down to the riverbank.
An Jing did not know how to maneuver the bamboo raft, but Xiao Changyi did. He took a long bamboo pole and, propelling it bit by bit, moved the raft slowly away from the riverbank towards the middle of the river.
An Jing stood on the bamboo raft, exhilarated to see it moving farther from the riverbank.
Seeing the landscape from the water surface rather than from land, the sensation, indeed, was quite different.
"My dear, how well can you swim?" suddenly, An Jing asked the person propelling the raft.
Xiao Changyi replied calmly, "If we were to fall in from here, I should be able to bring you back by swimming."