Volume 1 Chapter 18: You dare to bite Ben Gong's fingers?

  Inside the imperial study of Emperor Xiaoguo Zhāo Jìn, the atmosphere suddenly became somewhat strange.

  Empress Liu, supported by several palace maids, stepped excitedly into the imperial study and looked at Xia Jinhan kneeling on the ground. She helped him up excitedly, "Imperial son..."

  Xia Jinhans expression also softened when he saw Empress Liu, and he bowed politely to her, "Your son pays his respects to the empress dowager."

  "See Her Majesty the Empress." Left Chancellor Han Xiran and Third Prince also bowed politely.

  "Ah." Upon hearing Xia Jin's cold and distant voice, Empress Liu finally realized her identity and the situation, immediately recovering her elegant demeanor. She nodded slightly and smiled, "Your Imperial Highness need not be so formal, nor do you, Left Chancellor and Third Prince." After finishing speaking, she turned to Xia Jin again, "Your father is currently discussing matters with several ministers, he should be out soon."

  The queen's words had just fallen when a sharp voice was heard from within the palace, "His Majesty has an edict, please ask the Crown Prince to enter the palace." After that, he bowed to the queen and politely nodded to the third prince and Zaixiang.

  "Thank you, Your Majesty." Xia Jinhan nodded and stood up, giving the Empress a reassuring glance before walking into the inner palace under the intense gaze of the crowd.

  Inside the inner hall, the ministers who had discussed matters with the emperor had already left from another large gate. At this time, only Emperor Zhaojin, wearing a big yellow dragon robe, stood with his back to Xia Jinhuan, staring at a magnificent landscape painting in front of him.

  "The son greets the emperor and wishes him good health." Xia Jinhan's voice was faint, respectful yet distant.

  The Emperor didn't let Xia Jinhan get up, still with his back to Xia Jinhan, gazing at the long scroll painting, he said with a hint of emotion, "In my youth, I was also sixteen when I went onto the battlefield, following the previous emperor, cutting down generals and capturing territories, establishing this vast empire. Now, you, my imperial son, are protecting this land for me, it brings me great joy."

  Emperor Zhaojin sighed, turned around and looked at Xia Jinhans single-kneed kneeling on the ground in a white long gown. His voice was somewhat desolate, but more relieved, "Get up quickly, son. The border conditions are harsh, can you still get used to it after these few months?"

  Zhuo Jin Emperor personally helped Xia Jincheng up, looking at this increasingly mature and steady son, his eyes were filled with kindness.

  Emperor Zhao was only around forty years old, in the prime of his life, and had been immersed in the imperial palace for many years, wielding great power, with a million people below him. Even when he spoke in a gentle tone, one could still sense an aura of majesty.

  Xia Jin Han had always been highly valued by the emperor, and when facing him, he was always like this, neither humble nor arrogant.

  Xia Jin Han slightly lowered his head and said calmly, "I have not disgraced the imperial edict and have not disappointed Father Emperor's expectations. Although the border situation is a bit harsh, it has taught me many things."

  "That's good, as the Crown Prince of Xia Guo, you should indeed go out and hone your skills more." Emperor Zhaojin patted Xia Jinhans shoulder in satisfaction, then began to ask about his experiences over this period.

  Xia Jinhan replied politely one by one, but at the end, when mentioning that they encountered an ambush on the road, Xia Jinhan's voice paused for a moment, and he said calmly, "I led more than 200,000 troops back to the capital, but unexpectedly there were still people who dared to covet, and actually set up an ambush on the road. If it wasn't for a merchant's family member who happened to save my life halfway, I'm afraid I would never see Father Emperor and Mother Empress again."

  His voice was very low, somewhat suppressed, and also... melancholic, as if he still had lingering fears about those scenes.

  The Emperor's face turned pale, his eyes narrowed, and an aura of majesty emanated from him, "Oh? Who has the audacity to lay hands on my crown prince?"

  "Your son has been left alive and is being held in the Imperial Clan's prison, awaiting your majesty's interrogation and judgment," Xia Jin said calmly.

  "Han'er, as long as you're fine, that's all that matters. You can rest assured, I will not let those treacherous officials go unpunished." Emperor Zhaojin said, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

  Xia Jin Han saw the change in Emperor Zhao's expression and replied in a low voice, "Your son thanks Your Majesty for your kindness. However, I still have one more thing to request."

  "What? What's going on?" Emperor Zhao Jin looked at Xia Jinhuan with a puzzled expression and asked faintly.

  "That merchant who saved me was killed by the bandits along with his whole family, leaving behind only a three-year-old child. I have brought her back to the palace and hope that Father Emperor will allow me to raise her to adulthood as a way of repaying the debt of gratitude for saving my life." Xia Jinhan's voice was faint, but when thinking of Shangguan Qing'er, a hint of warmth flashed in his eyes.

  Zhao Jin Emperor naturally agreed. The royal family attaches great importance to reputation, and the child saved the crown prince's life, so it is only right that the crown prince should raise her.

  The father and son talked for a while longer, before Emperor Zhaojin finally let Xia Jinhan leave, telling him to go back and rest well, in preparation for attending tonight's victory banquet.

  It was a long time later that she returned to the East Palace, and after changing into another set of clothes in her room, Xia Jincheng walked into Shangguan Qing'er's room.

  But at the door of the house, I saw Lihua carrying a tray and walking out with a helpless expression, so I asked, "What's wrong?"

  The pear blossom immediately bowed and paid respects, "Greetings, Your Highness."

  "What's wrong with that girl again?" Xia Jinhans saw the helpless expression on Lihua's face and knew that Shangguan Qing'er had done something to make people worry, so he asked Lihua in a low voice.

  "Replying to Your Highness, Miss Qing'er is probably exhausted. She fell asleep as soon as she returned and hasn't woken up yet." Lihua replied politely, fearing that Xia Jinhan would blame her for not taking good care of Shangguan Qing'er and letting her go hungry.

  Unexpectedly, Xia Jin Han simply waved his hand and let Li Hua retreat, then walked into the room himself, coming to the bedside, looking at Shangguan Qing Er who was still snoring loudly on the bed, without any semblance of elegance. A faint smile appeared on his icy face. He sat down beside the bed, his fingers gently pinching Shangguan Qing Er's pale and delicate little face.

  Shangguan Qing'er fell asleep on an empty stomach, but now that she's sleeping, she's dreaming of the delicious chicken legs made by the imperial kitchen.

  At this moment, Xia Jinhuan stretched out his hand to her, and she felt a fragrant smell coming over, and involuntarily opened her mouth and took a bite of the fragrant "chicken leg".

  Xia Jinhan's hand was about to land on Shangguan Qing'er's face, but it was suddenly covered by Shangguan Qing'er's small mouth. The warm and wet feeling made him tremble all over, and his face involuntarily flushed with two red clouds. A pair of cold eyes looked at Shangguan Qing'er with slight annoyance.

  But then she saw Shangguan Qing'er still closing her eyes, a look of enjoyment on her face, as if savoring some delicious food. The expression was too cute, and Xia Jincheng's mouth corner revealed a faint smile, muttering, "Gluttonous cat."

  But as soon as the words left his mouth, his face immediately turned ugly, and he flung away Upper Official Light Swallow's lips. Looking at his index finger, which was full of saliva and had two deep tooth marks on it, a wave of pain came over him, reminding him of what had just happened.

  Xia Jin's face turned cold as she gritted her teeth, grabbing Shangguan Qing'er who was "playing dead" on the bed. "You dare to bite this princess's fingers, you little wretch?"

  Digression

  Recommend a new article, "Phoenix goes crazy in the world, alone on top of the demon king" by Fu Yao Shi Liu. Let's see how she covers the sky with one hand and holds a baby with the other, with the demon king following behind her. http://info/