Emperor Chengde gazed intently at the young girl before him, his eyes brimming with anticipation for her answer.

Fujujio thought for a moment, actually if there were no major disasters, she wanted everything to be achieved through her own efforts.

This is a rare opportunity, she could consider herself, but at the moment she doesn't really want anything. Her parents love her dearly, and her siblings treat her well too. She has money and clothes.

Suddenly, she thought of something important.

I want to read a book.

The little bun's answer surprised the Emperor of Chengde once again.

"Do you want to read?" he laughed immediately, "This is easy, let your seventh brother teach you, he reads very well."

"My older brother has been teaching me, but many little girls can't read."

Emperor Chengde took a deep breath.

Fujujiao's heart also started to beat faster. Could it be that she got too carried away and lost sight of herself?

No matter how candid or approachable he may be, he is still an emperor who holds the power of life and death over others.

“Did I…say something wrong?”

Emperor Chengde didn't speak, just shook his head lightly. "Jiu Jiu, you tell Uncle why you want to read? Do you also imagine being like your older brother and taking the imperial examination?"

Fu Jiaojiao was startled, the two-year-old baby couldn't hear it, but she understood the meaning behind the words.

The Emperor had long been familiar with the affairs of his own household; otherwise, how could he have known about his sixth brother's matter.

Can't you be the top scholar?

Emperor Chengde smiled, "That's just what a child would say. Of course not, little girls can't be the top scholar."

Why?

"Hmm..." That actually stumped the Emperor Chengde. Why was it always like this since ancient times?

The little girl is very smart too.

"This matter has nothing to do with intelligence."

"What does that have to do with anything? Just because it's a girl doll? But girl dolls can be really helpful, too."

Chengde Emperor didn't expect that he would be asked again.

He had to admit, there were many talented women in this world who had been overlooked simply because they were women.

Just like this little girl in front of me, when she grows up, she will probably be more beautiful than ten men.

"That Chi-Chi, tell Uncle, why do you want to read books?"

The emperor is the emperor. When the topic becomes unfavorable or embarrassing to him, he will throw the question out.

"I want to learn calligraphy." Fu Jiujiu originally thought it was something her adoptive mother had said, but she wasn't sure about the elderly emperor's preferences. What if she caused trouble for her adoptive mother?

After learning characters, you can read books, and after reading books, you can understand many principles.

The Emperor of Chengde nodded, "Chiu Chiu now understands many things, even more than ordinary toddlers."

He is better than his several daughters. No wonder the seventh...

But I have brothers to teach me, other little girls don't have brothers to teach them, not even one character.

Emperor Chengde smiled,

this topic was a bit heavy and not suitable to discuss with a young child.

"Chirp chirp, uncle has a lot of money, you can have delicious food and fun toys, uncle will buy them all for you."

Fu Jiu Jiu shook her head, "I also have a lot of money, I'll buy what I want myself."

The Emperor of Chengde laughed. This little kid from the Fu family is truly interesting; he's not greedy for wealth at all.

How much money does Niujiao have?

"There are a lot, and there will be more in the future." Fu Jiujiu felt she wasn't wrong. Now she was already a little rich girl.

Emperor Chengde nodded like he was coaxing a child, "So Jiujiu has a lot of money, huh?"

He looked at the cute little dumpling, this child is really growing up well. He picked all the good-looking features of his parents, like a little fairy.

"Chirp chirp, has your big brother Tang Qi ever mentioned me?"

He never talks about family matters.

It seems there's some kind of conflict between them.

However, this is just Fu Chu Chu's guess.

Looking at this emperor now, he doesn't seem like a bad ruler, quite reasonable actually.

"No, but Qi Ge definitely misses you."

"How did you know?" the Emperor Chengde asked with interest.

"When I am away at my foster mother's for three or five days, I will miss my biological parents."

"Qinghe County Magistrate?"

Thanks to the tribute strawberries, he learned about such delicious food.

This matter was handled quite well.

"Yes, my godfather is a good official who loves the people dearly." Fu Jiujiao didn't forget to praise her godfather. He got promoted, and she benefited from it too.

Emperor Chengde said nothing. The quality of an official cannot be judged by a child's words; one must see what they do.

Fu Baiman's carriage came to a stop, and the Emperor Chengde's carriage behind it had no choice but to stop as well. Fu Jiujiao lifted the curtain and looked out, only to find that they had arrived.

It's truly like walking with a tiger by your side. She hasn't even noticed the time.

"Tang Qi lives here. The money I earn as a father isn't enough." Fu Bai Wan looked at the Emperor Chengde, still unaware of the other party's identity, and put on an elder brother's air, starting to impart experience.

Fu Jiujiu secretly glanced at the emperor, luckily, he didn't seem angry.

"Brother Fu, I understand. You guys... why don't you sit down?"

Tian Guihua still didn't give him a smile, "It's alright, the child is tired, we won't bother you."

"And you?" Emperor Chengde looked at the little ball of fluff, the others didn't matter, he actually hoped that the little one would go with them too.

Fu Jiujiu wouldn't go, she's sick.

"I'm going home."

The Emperor of Chengde didn't force the young girl, who had already spoken to him all the way. Although her words were childish, they couldn't help but make one think deeply.

"Okay, Chirp, see you next time."

Fu Jiujiu just wanted to leave this place quickly. Only after walking for a while did she ponder the meaning of "magnificent."

It's not about seeing each other tomorrow or another day, but about the next time.

So he's leaving soon?

What about that little boy?

"Girl, what are you thinking about? Watch the road."

Fu JiuJiu suddenly came to her senses, realizing she had walked all the way to the wall. If she didn't watch where she was going, she would bump into it.

"Tang Qi's father looks like a normal person, not someone who's afraid of his wife," Tian Guihua thought. "Tang Qi has no mother, and his father doesn't care about him because of his stepmother."

Fujujijiu wants to say, that's the monarch of a country, afraid of his daughter-in-law?

This does not exist.

But it's best not to say this, lest my parents be frightened and the news spread.

Just let it be your own little secret.

Fu Baiwan followed with an "Mmm" and said, "I don't know if he understood what I just said?"

He should be able to, he doesn't look stupid.

"Well then, poor Tang Qi, ah…"

Fu Jiujiu listened to her parents' chat, feeling utterly speechless.

She only hoped that the emperor would take her words seriously, allowing for every girl in the world to have access to books, knowledge, and wisdom, breaking free from the confines of the inner court.

Fujujiao let Jijijia go take a look, no need to listen to the secrets between the father and son, just see if Xiao Zhengtai wants to leave.

If she's leaving, I'll see her off.

Fortunately, JiJiZhaZha told her that the little boy wasn't gone, but it seemed like father and son had a pretty unpleasant fight.

Because the guards were too intimidating, they dared not approach and chattered nervously.

Even birds are afraid of bad people.

Fu Jiujiu brought a yogurt fruit salad to Xiao Zhengtai in the evening.

The Emperor has already done it, and Fu Jiu Jiu suddenly felt much less pressure.

But when I think of him as a little prince, it doesn't feel quite right.

First published on the Traditional Chinese Novel Network.