Chapter 178: Forcing Me to Kick You

“Our imperial family is blessed. Our Tiansheng Dynasty has received divine blessings and a little ancestor.” The late emperor grew more excited as he spoke, wiping tears as he held the Great Tyrant.

That little ancestor was a reincarnated Yama!

Having been in the underworld for so many years, he had learned other information. This little ancestor had a remarkable background, and being a living Yama was just one of her identities. How wonderful!

“Little ancestor? Father, are you talking about… Ah Bao?”

“Don’t call her Ah Bao. She’s a deity, not just Ah Bao.”

The Great Tyrant’s mouth twitched. “Father, that’s my daughter.”

“She’s a little ancestor! An ancestor! An ancestor even higher in rank than me!”

“Alright, alright, Father, I understand. She’s an ancestor. I got it.”

“Then get yourself moving.”

The Great Tyrant was dumbfounded. “Do what?”

“The little ancestor is still small. You need to coax her. You can’t let the little ancestor bump into anything; that would bring divine punishment. Our Tiansheng Dynasty can’t afford that. Go, she must be going to sleep soon. She’s still so young. As her father, how can you let her sleep alone? Go, tell her a story and put her to sleep.”

The Great Tyrant: “…”

“Did you hear me? I’ll kick you if you don’t!”

The Great Tyrant felt as if his rear had been kicked and suddenly woke up.

He sat up abruptly, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead. Realizing it was all a dream, he still felt that his backside was sore, making it hard to believe it was just a dream.

The Great Tyrant got up, threw off the covers, dressed himself, and went to Yihe Palace.

The Concubine De was already in bed. Hearing noise at the door, she looked over and saw a dark figure moving in the room.

Concubine De: ??

“There’s an intruder…” The Concubine De had just begun to call out when the figure rushed over and covered her mouth. “Shh, my beloved, it’s me.”

The Concubine De was confused. “Your… Your Majesty? Why are you sneaking around in the middle of the night?”

“Don’t mention it. Has Ah Bao gone to sleep?”

“She just fell asleep.” She had just managed to get Ah Bao to sleep and was resting herself, so she would have noticed the Great Tyrant entering otherwise.

“From now on, you don’t need to worry about Ah Bao’s bedtime. I’ll take care of it.”

The Concubine De was surprised. “Your Majesty, is something wrong?”

The Emperor was so busy with state affairs during the day and had to calm the child at night that his energy was inevitably running low.

Historically, no emperor had ever put a child to sleep at night.

“Something big has happened!” The Great Tyrant sighed. “An ancestor appeared in a dream and told me to tell Ah Bao a bedtime story.”

The Concubine De’s face stiffened. “Huh?”

…

A few days passed in the blink of an eye.

“Little sister, today is the Lantern Festival!” Di Zian burst into Yihe Palace. He had been staying in the palace these days, fearing bad luck if he went out, and had been waiting for today to leave the palace.

[Lantern Festival! There must be lots of delicious food outside the palace.]

Di Zian said, “It’s quite lively outside the palace today. Shall I take you out to play?”

“Concubine De.” While the siblings were talking, Concubine Chun arrived with the Ninth Prince, Di Rongjing.

The Concubine De welcomed them into the hall and served a bowl of hawthorn-filled tangyuan to the Ninth Prince, who praised it repeatedly.

The Concubine De smiled and said, “Recently, Jing’er has become much more cheerful.”

In the past, this boy rarely left the palace and was always by the side of the old nurse.

Concubine Chun, smiling, went over and picked up Ah Bao. “Yes, it’s all thanks to little Ah Bao. Come, let Auntie Chun hold my little treasure.”

Since Ah Bao and Rongjing had been taken out of the palace by Feng Sheng last time, Rongjing had undergone a big change. He had become reclusive, standing at the palace gate every day, wanting to find Ah Bao.

“Ah Bao, can I ask you a favor today?”

[Huh?]

Ah Bao was puzzled, [I’m still under one year old. What can I do for Auntie Chun?]

Di Zian leaned in. “What favor does Madam Chun need from little Ah Bao? I’m curious too.”

“It’s about Jing’er going to the Imperial College for registration today.”

Di Zian was surprised. “Ninth Brother is going to the Imperial College?”

Over the years, Ninth Brother had only studied in the palace and never interacted with anyone.

“I want him to go to the Imperial College for some experience. It’s not good for him to stay cooped up in the palace all the time. As he grows older, he needs to go out. The Imperial College is a great opportunity.”

The teacher there is a former imperial tutor, and being under his guidance is a rare honor.

“Jing’er has been too scared to go and said he wants to go with his sister. I don’t know if little Ah Bao can accompany Jing’er on his first day at the Imperial College?” Concubine Chun asked with a smile.

“Sure…”

[Ah, going to the Imperial College sounds fun.]

The Concubine De covered her mouth. “Ah Bao must want to go. As long as she can leave the palace, she’s willing to go anywhere.”

[My dear mother truly understands me.]

“Seventh Brother, shall we go together?” Ah Bao, almost one year old, was becoming more articulate, though she still struggled with a few words.

Di Zian took Di Rongjing and Ah Bao out of the palace.

With time to spare, he first took the two children around the Lantern Festival before heading to the Imperial College in the evening.

“Di Zian!” The teacher came out with a solemn expression.

Di Zian, who was called out, stiffened. “Teacher…?”

“What time is it? Why are you only bringing the Ninth Prince for registration now? You have no sense of time!” The teacher was angry.

Di Zian was stunned.

Luo Zifeng, Luo Qiuyu, and Lan Moxiu were all present. “It’s over. Seventh Prince is going to get scolded by the teacher again.”

“I guess the Seventh Prince must have just come out of the palace. His bad luck is acting up again.”

“We’ve told him many times to spend less time in the palace and more time outside. Oh, he just doesn’t listen. His constitution… sigh, it’s really worrying.”

The teacher held a disciplinary whip. Di Zian’s pupils constricted. “Teacher, you wouldn’t really use that, would you?”

“Of course! No pain, no gain.”

“Little Nine, little sister, I have urgent business and need to leave first. I’ll come back to pick you up later. Actually, I might be too busy, so let Luo Zifeng take you back to the palace.” Di Zian hurriedly made his escape.

Behind him, the teacher’s angry voice came. “Di Zian! Don’t run, come back here!”

“Little Princess, come here, let me hold you.” Luo Zifeng was overjoyed. Di Zian had finally left quickly, and now no one was competing with him for Ah Bao.

Ah Bao was still munching on a small string of candied hawthorns, just a couple of hawthorns on the stick. Luo Zifeng held her, and it didn’t interfere with her enjoying the candy.

The syrup stuck to her little milk teeth, and Ah Bao happily licked her lips.

“Ah Bao, grow up quickly. In the future, we’ll go to school together, and we’ll be able to play with you every day,” Luo Zifeng said with a grin.

Luo Qiuyu next to him sneered. “Princess, the older brothers usually don’t play with me. Once you’re here, I’ll follow you and play with them.”

Ah Bao was stunned. “What (⊙_⊙)?”

[Going to school? No, no, no, I don’t want to!]