Chapter 984: 462 Untie the Heart Knot (Part Two) Chapter 984: 462 Untie the Heart Knot (Part Two) Little Jingkong suddenly conjured up a flower as if by magic, and, like a proper little gentleman, presented it to Princess Xinyang, “Only such a beautiful flower is worthy of someone as beautiful as you.”

This little tyke’s mouth must have been smeared with honey.

But why does this flower look a bit familiar…

Did Long Yi mess with her Flower Room again!!!

Picking Princess Xinyang’s flowers to give to Princess Xinyang, nobody does it quite like that.

Afterward, Little Jingkong invited Princess Xinyang to his west chamber and boastfully showed her his homework, which was nearly faultless except that the handwriting was not neat enough.

The real reason for the untidy handwriting was that he was still too young, lacking in wrist and hand strength, and Gu Jiao didn’t allow him to write too much for fear it would affect his growth.

He really was an incredibly smart child.

Xiao Hen came from the next room and what he saw was Little Jingkong showing off and puffing himself up in front of Princess Xinyang.

He only acted like this with people he liked; he was very aloof with those he didn’t.

For instance, whenever Gu Jinyu visited, he completely ignored her.

Of course, while bragging, Little Jingkong didn’t miss the chance to smear his ‘bad brother-in-law,’ making Princess Xinyang stifle her laughter.

When she heard Little Jingkong reluctantly say– “Really, Princess, you might not believe this, but the bad brother-in-law, who is already eighteen years old, still wets the bed! And after doing it, he even blames it on me! How can adults nowadays be so irresponsible?”

Princess Xinyang almost cried from laughing.

Xiao Hen’s handsome face, however, had turned utterly dark.

Little Monk, you can’t go a day without bad-mouthing me, can you!

“Have you finished practicing your Chen Country character copybook?”

“Have you memorized the ancient Liang Country poems?”

“Have you read the Yan Country Three Character Classic?”

Little Jingkong, with a humph and a pout, said, “Jiaojiao said I can do it tomorrow.”

Xiao Hen raised an eyebrow, “Oh, so did you tell Jiaojiao about all the homework you have for tomorrow?”

Little Jingkong, in order to have a lazy day today, had cunningly concealed tomorrow’s catch-up tasks.

The little fellow blinked guiltily.

Ultimately, the fear of being discovered by Jiaojiao and her disappointment in him prevailed.

Reluctantly, he hopped down from the chair, tiptoed to grab the books on the table, and trudged over to his uncle-by-marriage to do his homework.

Princess Xinyang still had a smile lingering on her lips.

She hadn’t laughed like this in a long time; the little guy reminded her of Ahen in his younger days.

“Jingkong is just like you were as a child,” she said with a smile.

Xiao Hen snorted, “I wasn’t nearly as pompous as he is.”

Princess Xinyang retorted, “Oh? And who was it that had to show off in Jinluan Hall after reciting just one poem?”

Xiao Hen’s expression suddenly stiffened, as an embarrassing memory burst forth from the abyss of his conscience– a little chubby toddler toddling behind the emperor, scrabbling up the steps on hands and knees, panting heavily, with his crown askew by the time he reached the top.

He stood up, clumsily straightened his little lopsided crown, looked out at the sea of officials, and said in a babyish tone, “I, I’m going to recite a poem, today I will recite…”

That wasn’t him!

He wouldn’t admit it! Couldn’t remember it! It never happened!

…

Princess Xinyang stayed until late night before departing; Xiao Hen walked her to the door.

Everything that had to be said, she had said; and what didn’t need to be said, with Xiao Hen’s intelligence, he probably had already guessed. Yet she still felt somewhat uneasy.

Before climbing into her carriage, she took a deep look at Xiao Hen and said, “You, now…”

“I understand,” Xiao Hen nodded knowingly, “There’s no need to worry about the future; I will handle it.”

He couldn’t reveal his identity to the world just yet, but there would come a day when he could stand proudly before everyone as Xiao Hen!

He would seize the mastermind behind the poisoning and the arson, whether it be an individual or a power, no matter the hardship, he would no longer retreat or evade.

If it was a mountain, he would chisel through it!

If it was a river, he would fill it in!

Even a mayfly, small as it is, can shake a tree!

Watching the determination bursting forth from Xiao Hen’s eyes, Princess Xinyang finally felt assured that he had grown up. Over the past four years, she was incessantly worried about his circumstances and had many times regretted her past decisions, especially when she learned that Xiao Su had contracted leprosy not long after leaving the capital, and Xiao Hen had loyally looked after him for two long years. Her heart nearly stopped.

But now, at this moment, she realized that every step had been worth it.