The little hand the child extended was gently swatted down by his father, who grabbed it to keep him still.

“Father…”

“Li’er, stop making trouble.” Minister Qi looked slightly embarrassed. “Your Highness, children speak without thinking. Please don’t take offense at a child’s words.”

Jingrong reached out and pinched the child’s chubby cheek without much force, the corners of his mouth carrying a teasing smile.

“This child is quite adorable.”

“Thank you for the praise, Your Highness.”

“His temperament is just like yours, Minister Qi—very stubborn. But being stubborn is good. Perhaps in the future, like you, he’ll also be a worthy minister of our Great Lin.”

It was unclear whether this was praise or criticism.

Minister Qi’s heart beat anxiously. Pulling at the corners of his mouth, he forced a smile: “I’ll take Your Highness’s auspicious words to heart. I hope my son, when he grows up, can continue serving the court.”

“Your honorable son is exceptionally intelligent. I’m certain he will.”

The little one didn’t understand those words. He just stared at him with those round bulging eyes, still looking huffily indignant.

Jingrong winked at him, deliberately teasing him.

Like father and son!

Minister Qi, seeing it was getting late and having found his son, bowed slightly: “Then I won’t disturb Your Highness any longer. This official takes his leave.”

He nodded.

Before Minister Qi left carrying the little one in his arms, the child made a face at him—pouting his mouth, scrunching his nose, his little hand pulling at his ear.

Like a smooth little piglet!

Extremely adorable!

Anyone who saw him would have their heart melted!

Jingrong thought to himself that he needed to hurry up and have one.

Thinking this, he actually smiled wickedly.

Only then did he lift his feet and enter Fuyang Hall.

Inside the hall, after Wei Yi finished discussing Commerce Guild matters with Minister Qi, he began reading through the memorials that had been sent in. Just in one day, the memorials had already piled up like a mountain.

He sat behind the desk, his expression serious, lifting his brush to write the character “approved” on the memorial before him. Now he was not only much more mature and steady, but his eyes also revealed wisdom. His entire person was very spirited. Dressed in a brownish-yellow dragon robe, he gained an additional air of heroism. These past six months, he had been diligent in governance and eager to learn, handling court affairs without the slightest carelessness. Moreover, with Jingrong constantly assisting by his side, he was like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon—completely renewed. From initially being at a loss regarding court matters to now being able to handle things independently, his progress had been enormous.

Seeing Jingrong enter, he closed the memorial in his hand and glanced toward the door.

He said: “I heard Minister Qi’s son went missing just now.”

For him, how could someone go missing in the palace?

So when this question was asked, it became an amusing matter!

Jingrong smiled: “That child ran off to play in the Imperial Garden. I captured him and have already had Minister Qi take him back to the manor. I must say, that little fellow is really quite adorable.”

“Then shall I have Minister Qi send the child to your manor for a few days, for you to raise?”

“Let’s forget it! That child doesn’t like me.”

Haha!

Indeed, the little fellow thoroughly disliked him. Wei Yi slowly stood up and walked toward him, saying as he went: “Back when Minister Qu of the Office of Transmission was demoted due to Prince Xian’s matter, I selected someone in court to fill that position. But you took a liking to that Minister Qi, promoting him from a local county yamen into the capital to take the position of Director of the Office of Transmission. You said that official rank doesn’t matter—character is what’s important. So I approved it. This Minister Qi truly is a good official. These past six months he’s helped me greatly. Your eye for selecting people is quite good.” “This Minister Qi is someone who treats money and power like dirt. He doesn’t distance himself from his relatives and is very filial. Moreover, he can’t bear to be far from his family. Some years ago when I passed through Nangu County, I stayed in his county yamen for a few days. At that time his mother was ill, so he stayed by her side day and night serving her. Furthermore, the common people of Nangu County all say he’s a filial son and also an honest and upright magistrate. It’s precisely because of this that I recommended him as Director of the Office of Transmission. Heaven hasn’t treated him poorly either—to have a son in his old age is a fortunate matter. So you see, goodness in people naturally receives its reward.”

After listening, Wei Yi nodded repeatedly.

He approved of his words!

The two sat down to the side and began drinking tea.

Actually Wei Yi didn’t like drinking tea—he preferred plain boiled water. But those young eunuchs always liked serving him tea. Drinking it once or twice was fine. He had tried not drinking it, but in the end he became so thirsty he drank it anyway.

And having drunk it like this for half a year, he had now gotten used to it.

“By the way, regarding this Commerce Guild, I’ve heard many people have come to the capital—much livelier than previous years.” Wei Yi said.

“There are indeed more people. But when there are more people, there’s also more danger. However, the Capital Magistrate and Patrol Censor have already increased manpower for strict vigilance and guard duty. Commander Xiao has also sent people to patrol inside and outside the capital everywhere.”

“That’s good then.”

“The Commerce Guild is held once every three years. All departments are being very cautious. Your Majesty need not worry.”

Wei Yi also breathed a sigh of relief and drank a sip of tea: “I haven’t left the palace in half a year. I wonder what it’s like outside now.”

There was a trace of lament in his tone.

Jingrong also perceived his thoughts and said: “On the day of the Commerce Guild Festival, I’ll accompany you out of the palace to take a look.”

“Is that possible?” His eyes brightened.

“Of course it’s possible. Wearing plain clothes naturally won’t be a problem.”

“That’s wonderful then.” Wei Yi could barely conceal his joy, then suddenly asked, “By the way, how is Shu’er lately? She hasn’t entered the palace in quite a while.”

Jingrong said: “The Ministry of Justice has recently taken on quite a few cases submitted from various provinces and counties. She can’t get away.”

“Oh.” He nodded lightly.

Then he went through the contents of today’s submitted memorials with Jingrong—nothing more than floods here, droughts there, or corrupt local officials somewhere, and so on. He also laid out solutions one by one.

For droughts, divert water from nearby sources!

For floods, dredge and drain!

For corrupt officials, send Ministry of Personnel officials to investigate!

Each department supervises, mutually checking and balancing.

After listening, Jingrong felt very gratified in his heart.

“I said before that you would be a good emperor. You truly haven’t disappointed my expectations. Even if in the future I’m not by your side, you can stand on your own. You can also independently decide and handle court matters.”

“Actually, these past six months I owe much to you.” Wei Yi spoke with slight apology. “Originally half a year ago you and Shu’er could have left the capital to go wherever you wanted, yet because of me it was delayed.”

But Jingrong said: “You need not say such things. As the saying goes, helping you is also helping the realm!”

Helping you is also helping the realm!

Actually, Jingrong had said this sentence many times. Wei Yi was the son of the rebel Duke Yuguo. He had never before been exposed to court affairs. Moreover, for the past twenty years he had been a simpleton. So having just ascended the throne, his foundation was inevitably unstable. If Jingrong didn’t assist by his side, the court would be like scattered sand. Fortunately, Wei Yi himself was also diligent and progressive. With his exceptionally intelligent mind, in half a year’s time he had already learned a great deal. As he said, if one day in the future he wasn’t there to assist, Wei Yi could also stand on his own.

And Wei Yi remained grateful in his heart, using tea in place of wine to toast him a cup.