Chapter 1124: Playing Off

Knowing Qi Haoran well, Fan Zijin did not believe that he would get up early in the morning to watch the sunrise. As for riding a horse, how was one supposed to ride a horse when it was pitch-dark outside?

Moreover, as he came to accost Qi Haoran 15 minutes earlier than usual, he was confident that Qi Haoran would still be at home.

Mu Yangling personally came out to see him. She looked at him and said speechlessly, “Haoran went out long ago, saying that he was going to bring the children out to watch the sunrise. Didn’t he ask you to help him apply for leave?”

Hearing this, Fan Zijin glared at her and turned to leave, gritting his teeth.

Mu Yangling sighed. Qi Haoran had been too energetic recently. So it turned out he’d deliberately woken up so early to let Zijin make a wasted trip.

Mu Yangling shook her head and turned around to go back to sleep.

Meanwhile, Qi Haoran, who was riding on a horse with Baozhu in his arms, looked back smugly as he smugly led a group of guards out of the city towards the West Mountain.

Fan Zijin did not expect Qi Haoran to dote on the children so much that he would wake up so early to bring the children to watch the sunrise. Qi Xiuyuan also did not expect Qi Haoran to be such a bastard. It was fine if he did not report to the palace on the first day he entered the capital, but he did not even come to the morning court assembly the next day.

Meanwhile, those who were eager to be rewarded glared at Fan Zijin’s back.

Under everyone’s fiery gazes, Fan Zijin calmly went forward to help Qi Haoran apply for leave. Of course, he wouldn’t say that Qi Haoran was applying for leave to bring the children out to see the sunrise. He only said that it was because Qi Haoran had been traveling for days and his injuries hadn’t healed completely. However, he assured that Qi Haoran would definitely attend the Imperial Study meeting afterwards.

Other than Qi Xiuyuan, the ministers’ expressions softened. Everyone had heard about Qi Haoran’s injuries. It was said that he almost couldn’t be saved and his heart meridians were injured.

Heart meridians. Since he was injured in such a vital spot, it was understandable that he hadn’t fully recovered.

However, Qi Xiuyuan stared fixedly at Fan Zijin for a while before letting out a soft snort. He said calmly, “I hear you. I’ll approve his leave.”

After the court meeting ended, he led Fan Zijin to the Imperial Study first. With his eyebrows raised, he asked, “Tell me honestly, where did that kid go?”

Fan Zijin lowered his head and whispered, “Little Leopard and Baozhu kind of didn’t recognize him. In order to please the children, he promised to bring them to the West Mountain to watch the sunrise in a moment of excitement last night, so he left the house early in the morning…”

Fan Zijin took a careful look at the Emperor’s expression. Seeing that his expression had softened slightly, he knew that the Emperor wasn’t that mad. He hurriedly said, “Previously, when he wanted to carry Little Leopard and Baozhu, the two children were so startled that they burst into tears. With their arms spread open, they only wanted to be carried by Tiger Head and Little Lion. Haoran’s eyes immediately turned red…”

Fan Zijin tried to sculpt the image of Qi Haoran as a guilty and benevolent father. As expected, Qi Xiuyuan’s expression improved.

Fan Zijin heaved a sigh of relief. Qi Xiuyuan sighed and said, “Forget it. However, since a few ministers will be here soon, Haoran mustn’t be late for this meeting. Go to the palace gate and take a look personally. Once he arrives, quickly bring him in.”

Fan Zijin agreed and went to pick him up personally.

At this moment, Qi Haoran had just finished watching the sunrise with the children and was happily strolling back. When he reached the bend, he handed Baozhu to the guards behind him and coaxed the children. “Daddy is going to work now. When I come back tonight, I’ll bring you guys to watch the sunset, okay?”

The four children nodded excitedly. Reluctant to part with their father, Baozhu and Little Leopard widened their round eyes and looked at him pitifully. “Daddy, can we enter the palace with you?”

Qi Haoran agreed on impulse.

Tiger Head and Little Lion quickly expressed their willingness to enter the palace as well to take care of their younger siblings.

At the thought that he would have to visit the Empress when he entered the palace anyway, Qi Haoran readily agreed and decided to leave the four children in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.

Hence, the group that was originally going to split into two teams merged again and headed for the palace together. Fortunately, Qi Haoran still remembered Mu Yangling, who had stayed at home, and asked someone to inform her so that she would not be anxious.

There were quite a few people in the group, and with the four noisy children, the commotion was not small. After entering the Imperial City, it was difficult for everyone not to know.

However, some people were surprised to see Prince Rong entering the Imperial City at this time. Shouldn’t Prince Rong have just finished his court meeting? Why did he come in from outside now?

This was what the officials who were not qualified to participate in the court meeting but had official business to travel to and from the Imperial City thought.

Meanwhile, the officials who were lucky enough to attend the court meeting widened their eyes and looked at Prince Rong, who had a rosy face and was riding valiantly on his horse. They thought to themselves, ‘So is this Prince Rong, who couldn’t attend the court meeting because of his injuries!’

An official raised his voice and asked fearlessly, “Your Highness, where did you come from?”

Qi Haoran bragged, “I came back from outside the city. I had no choice. When the children saw me, they made a fuss, asking me to bring them to watch the sunrise…”

The ministers: “…”

Hearing the commotion, Fan Zijin rushed out of the palace and glared at Qi Haoran. Having chatted briefly with the left and right ministers on the way, Fan Zijin lazily decided to just stand at the entrance of the palace and not the entrance of the Imperial City. Qi Haoran was such a troublemaker!

Fan Zijin was the one who personally applied for leave on Qi Haoran’s behalf today!

Qi Haoran looked at the furious Fan Zijin and shut up decisively. He got off the horse with Baozhu in his arms and ran to his side. “Baozhu, this is Uncle Fan. Quickly greet him.”

Ignoring his cheeky smile, Fan Zijin gritted his teeth and said, “I applied for sick leave on your behalf and said that your old injuries had relapsed, which was why you couldn’t attend the morning court assembly. In the end, when you showed up, you told everyone that you accompanied the children to see the sunrise?”

Qi Haoran retracted his smile and said solemnly, “Who said that I accompanied the children to watch the sunrise? They made a fuss and wanted me to bring them there, but I was unwell, so I asked the guards to bring them there. However, when I was about to enter the palace, I bumped into them when they were coming back from watching the sunrise. Recalling that I had yet to meet the empress, I brought the kids into the palace.”

Qi Haoran deliberately raised his voice so that the officials who stopped nearby or passed by could hear him.

The ministers: “…”

Fan Zijin: “…”

Although it was shameless, Fan Zijin’s expression still softened slightly. He turned around and said, “Alright, His Majesty and the ministers are waiting for you. Let’s hurry into the palace.”

Qi Haoran hurriedly handed Baozhu to a guard and asked the guards to bring the four children into the palace. Someone would naturally come to fetch them to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.

News spread quickly in the Imperial City. Soon, the news of what had just happened there spread throughout the palace, except for the Imperial Study, which was in the midst of a political discussion.

Hence, when the important ministers in the Imperial Study saw the solemn Qi Haoran, all except Qi Xiuyuan looked at him with a friendly smile and gaze.

The important ministers in the Imperial Study could not receive news from the outside, but the Emperor was different. Eunuch Wan had just carefully entered and reported what had happened outside the palace gate in the Imperial City to the Emperor.

Hence, Qi Xiuyuan glared at Qi Haoran the moment he entered. Fortunately, the officials here did not dare to look directly at the Emperor, so no one noticed.

Qi Haoran gave his big brother a fawning smile before finding his seat and standing properly.

Qi Xiuyuan snorted secretly, but he had no choice but to get the eunuch to bring chairs over for the ministers to sit on.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.