CHAPTER 23: CHAPTER 23: I STILL PREFER AH XIAO

Tang Jiaojiao snorted with a laugh, dismissively saying, "I even snatched him, what right does he have not to like me? Does Zhao Jing dare not to like me? Can he afford not to? Who gave him all that glory and favor? It’s just because Pingyang Princess is still willing to favor him now, so he’s allowed to throw a tantrum. The day the Princess’s novelty wears off, let’s see what he can do then."

Tang Xiaobai: ...

Why does this actually make so much sense?

"Aren’t you just like this too?" Tang Jiaojiao looked at her with a faint smile, "Didn’t you also go through great lengths to bring Ding Shiqi by your side, did you ever ask if he was willing?"

...

"I brought you to my side, are you willing in your heart?" Tang Xiaobai eagerly looked at Qin Xiaoshao.

Tang Jiaojiao’s words were truly enlightening.

She was focused on recruiting people to her side, offering them up, but never asked if they were willing, assuming they would surely be delighted to accept.

Perhaps Pingyang Princess thought the same of Zhao Jing?

But what is the truth?

Luckily, she still had time to ask—

The young girl looked at him with her grape-like eyes full of expectation.

Li Mu felt that this question... came quite suddenly, and he wondered what had provoked Second Miss Tang to ask it.

But seeing the anticipation in Miss Tang’s eyes, he nodded without much thought: "To attend on Second Miss is my fortune."

Look at how dull that statement is!

Tang Xiaobai sighed, saying, "If you have any thoughts, you can always tell me. I promise not to force you to do anything you don’t want to—" she thought for a moment, "Except for studying!"

The young man was slightly surprised, asking, "I can study?"

What does that mean?

Tang Xiaobai was slightly puzzled, "Why not?"

About studying, didn’t she mention it last time? Why does the child look like he’s hearing it for the first time?

The young man lowered his eyes, speaking with a gloomy tone, "I thought Second Miss only planned to bring Ah Yuan with her."

Huh?

Tang Xiaobai was stunned for a moment before realizing the bitterness in his words, nearly bursting into laughter.

She lightly coughed to stifle her laughter, and said solemnly, "Nothing like that at all, you’re overthinking it. Yesterday... yesterday that sort of occasion was quite dull, you’re still not fully recovered, no need to go."

His face turned somewhat red, and his expression became a bit embarrassed, answering stiffly, "This one’s body is weak, afraid I have no strength to accompany Second Miss to study."

Tang Xiaobai couldn’t hold back any longer, laughing heartily.

Li Mu also realized he misspoke, but since the words were uttered on impulse, he could only keep a straight face to ease the childishness from before.

Tang Xiaobai saw him holding a tightly red face, seemingly struggling, so she tried to rein in her laughter and softly coughed twice, saying, "I wasn’t planning on you attending, I wanted to bring you along to study together!" Suddenly hesitating, she asked, "I’m arranging for you to study, don’t you want to?"

Not every child likes studying. If Little Qin doesn’t want to study—

Then some good education is needed! How can children not study!

"This one is dull-witted, not as clever as Ah Yuan, afraid of failing Second Miss’s expectations." The young man’s tone was cold.

Those words, Tang Xiaobai didn’t like to hear, her lips twitched slightly, raising her volume, "If you’re dull-witted, then work harder!"

You little brat, is there no end to it?

The young man lowered his eyelids, his thin pale lips pressed into a stubborn line.

Tang Xiaobai looked and felt her heart soften again.

This really is an ancestor!

Tang Xiaobai sighed, speaking softly, "You don’t know this? I initially only wanted you, but the eldest lady said you weren’t suitable, so I reluctantly picked Ah Yuan, I don’t even know if he’s clever, just saw he’s obedient and won’t bully you..." Seeing the young man look up, she smiled and winked mischievously at him.

The young man blushed suddenly, nervously averting his eyes, his expression still awkward, but his gaze was glimmering, his brows had softened a lot, like a cat finally smoothed down.

Ah, her little ancestor is really adorable!

Tang Xiaobai’s eyes smiled into slits, reaching to rub his head.

The young man frowned and turned his head to avoid, looking increasingly childish in disdain.

Tang Xiaobai didn’t insist, smiling again, continuing, "We’ve already confirmed with the Gu Family’s academy, originally said to start school next month, but yesterday the eldest lady said to move it earlier, it might be in the coming days—"

Just yesterday, because she spoke one more sentence with Pingyang Princess, she returned to be reprimanded by Tang Jiaojiao, and the conclusion was—

Hurry and send her to school! Save her causing daily troubles for the family!

The Gu Family heard that the Zhenzhou Imperial Court had already searched, so they agreed to advance the schooling schedule.

Tang Xiaobai was, of course, more than happy.

Who has the patience to watch the melodrama next door? She only wanted to study, okay?

Can’t even recognize all the characters, how to protect her little ancestor? How to be an omnipotent transmigrated protagonist?

"I’ve already inquired, the elementary teacher of the Gu Family’s academy is named Mr. Sun, he is alone in the Capital City, born into poverty, usually taking extra care of those students from poorer backgrounds—" Tang Xiaobai grabbed the young man’s hand, her gaze bright, lowering her voice, "Perform well! If Mr. Sun takes a liking to you, I’ll free you from slave status..."

Li Mu felt a rush, a sentence suddenly popped into mind: Parents love their children, thus plan far ahead for them—

He vigorously shook his head, casting away the inappropriate phrase from his mind.

"What? You don’t like it?" Tang Xiaobai was taken aback.

Li Mu felt quite conflicted, "Second Miss has such high expectations for me?"

"Of course!" Tang Xiaobai replied without hesitation, "I believe you can do it!" As the brother of the heroine, your talent must not be lacking!

Li Mu felt even more complicated.

He knew this little girl liked him a lot and treated him well.

But this... is too much, isn’t it?

Studying, literacy, liberating from slavery, even arranging the path after liberation.

Is it appropriate for a nine-year-old girl to raise him as a child?

And not just him—

"Is Ah Yuan the same?" Although knowing it was childish, Li Mu couldn’t help but ask.

The little girl paused, nodded, "Since he’s come to my side, I’ll give him the same opportunities, he can seize the chance, and I’ll happily send him off," her tone paused, then lowered her voice, "No one is born to be a slave..."

Li Mu felt slightly moved as something melted a corner of his heart.

Though he hadn’t interacted with many people, he knew some were born into slavery.

Second Miss Tang truly is a kind-hearted child...

Tang Xiaobai saw him deep in thought, unsure what he was pondering, and decided to smooth things over: "Though with reading, I’m treating both of you the same," she whispered near his ear, "but in my heart, I do like Ah Xiao a bit more..."

The youth’s dense lashes trembled slightly, lifting to see the girl’s smile like a crescent, flowing with charm, shining brighter than waves...