Chapter 518: The Clumsy Sima Yi (Happy New Year!)

Seeing that Liu Ying didn’t dare to speak, Lu Lingqi asked Liu Xie again, and Liu Xie briefly told Lu Lingqi what he had just seen in the imperial garden.

Liu Ying sobbed, lowered her head and didn’t dare to look at Lu Lingqi. Her little hands tightly grasped the corner of her clothes, and her voice was as thin as a mosquito: “I… I was just playing…”

“Play?”

Lu Lingqi frowned and spoke in a more severe tone, “You ride on the eunuch and beat people with a stick, is this called playing? You are the eldest princess, how can you be so ignorant of the rules!”

Liu Ying became even more frightened by her mother’s scolding, and her tears couldn’t stop falling. But she didn’t dare to cry out loud. She could only bite her lips and her shoulders trembled.

Seeing this, Zhen Mi couldn’t bear it and hurried forward to persuade her: “Sister, Ying’er is still young, it’s normal for her to be ignorant. And His Majesty has already reprimanded her, so don’t scare her anymore.”

When people are sad, they fear sudden concern the most.

With Zhen Mi’s support, Liu Ying cried even more and threw herself into Zhen Mi’s arms sobbing.

“Godmother…”

My mother was too fierce, only my godmother’s chest still had some warmth.

Lu Lingqi snorted coldly and said, “She’s still young? She’s already over two years old. If she’s not disciplined, won’t she make a scene in the future? Your Majesty is usually busy with state affairs and has no time to take care of her. As a mother, I naturally have to discipline her strictly!”

Liu Xie stood aside and watched Lu Lingqi scold Liu Ying. Although he felt a little reluctant, he also knew that Lu Lingqi’s approach was right.

As the eldest princess, if Liu Ying is not strictly disciplined from a young age, she will inevitably develop a spoiled character in the future, and may even cause greater trouble.

It is very important to shape children’s views on good and evil and their values.

Children may be ignorant, but adults cannot be ignorant.

However, as an old father, he still felt sorry for his daughter. Liu Xie sighed, walked to Liu Ying, squatted down and gently wiped the tears from her face. His tone was slightly softer: “Ying’er, it’s not that your father doesn’t allow you to play, but as the eldest princess, you have to behave like an eldest princess.”

“It is wrong to rely on your status to bully others. This is not what a virtuous person would do. Your mother has always been kind to others, and everyone in the harem respects her very much.”

“You should learn more from your mother.”

Liu Ying nodded while sobbing, her voice choking: “Father, Ying’er knows she was wrong…”

Liu Xie patted her head and spoke in a gentler tone: “It’s good that you know you were wrong. You must listen to your mother in the future and stop making trouble. Do you hear me?”

Liu Ying nodded again, but her tears still couldn’t stop falling.

Seeing this, Lu Lingqi’s heart softened a little, but she still kept a straight face and said, “Ying’er, your mother will forgive you for today’s matter.”

“But if it happens again, I will not let you off easily!”

Liu Ying nodded quickly, her voice starting to cry out in fear: “I won’t dare to do that again, Ying’er won’t dare to do that again…”

Seeing that the atmosphere had eased a little, Zhen Mi hurried forward to smooth things over, saying with a smile, “Okay, okay, Ying’er and godmother go wash your faces, okay?”

Liu Ying recognized Zhen Mi as her godmother very early on.

In return, Zhen Mi also asked Liu Jue to recognize Lu Lingqi as his godmother.

Liu Ying glanced at Lu Lingqi timidly, and seeing that she had no objection, she followed Zhen Mi to the inner hall.

After Liu Ying and Zhen Mi left, Liu Xie said to Lu Lingqi, “Lingqi, Ying’er is still young, you don’t have to be too strict.”

“She is our daughter after all, so it’s normal for her to be a bit lively.”

He originally just wanted Lu Lingqi to teach Liu Ying well, but he didn’t expect Lu Lingqi to be more strict than he imagined.

Lu Lingqi shook her head and said, “Your Majesty, Ying’er is the eldest princess and has a special status. If she is not strictly disciplined from a young age, she will inevitably cause trouble in the future. I am doing this for her own good.”

Liu Xie nodded and said, “I understand your painstaking efforts…but Ying’er is still young after all, so don’t be too harsh on her.”

Lu Lingqi smiled slightly and said, “Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I know what to do.”

Liu Xie nodded and said nothing more.

He knew that although Lu Lingqi was strict, her love for Liu Ying was unquestionable. As a mother, she just hoped that Liu Ying could become a sensible and responsible princess.

After a while, Zhen Mi brought Liu Ying out of the inner hall. Liu Ying had already washed her face, and although her eyes were still a little red, her mood had stabilized a lot.

Zhen Mi smiled and said to Liu Xie and Lu Lingqi, “Your Majesty, sister, Ying’er has already known that she was wrong, so you should stop being angry.”

Liu Xie nodded, stretched out his hand to pick up Liu Ying, and said with a smile: “Ying’er, father will take you to the Imperial Garden to play, okay?”

Liu Ying blinked and asked timidly, “Is Father no longer angry?”

Liu Xie smiled and shook his head, saying, “Father is not angry anymore, but Ying’er has to promise Father that she will never bully others again, understand?”

Liu Ying nodded quickly and said in a baby voice, “Ying’er got it! Ying’er will be obedient in the future!”

Liu Xie smiled and pinched her little face, saying, “Okay, then father will take you out to play.”

Seeing the father and daughter having fun together, Lv Lingqi also smiled. Although she was strict with Liu Ying, she felt warm in her heart when she saw how much Liu Xie loved his daughter.

Zhen Mi walked up to Lu Lingqi and said softly, “Sister, Ying’er is still young, just teach her slowly, don’t be too anxious.”

Lu Lingqi nodded and said, “I know what’s going on.”

Zhen Mi said, “When Jue’er grows up a little, I will send him to you for teaching. I am not as good as my sister in teaching children.”

“Sister, you must be strict with Jue’er when the time comes.”

Liu Ying is a princess, so there is no need to be so harsh on her; but Liu Jue is the crown prince and will inherit the throne in the future, so it is okay to be a little strict.

Lu Lingqi couldn’t help but smile when she heard this, and said, “Jue’er is just a little older, and I’m already thinking about teaching him.”

“I think Jue’er is a very quiet child. He will definitely not be as naughty as Ying’er when he grows up. Don’t worry, sister.”

“Of course, if he is really naughty, I will not relax my discipline.”

Zhen Mi was relieved after hearing Lu Lingqi say this.

……

Liu Xie held Liu Ying in his arms, and took Lü Lingqi and Zhen Mi with him to the Imperial Garden. The sun shone on the Imperial Garden of the Weiyang Palace, reflecting a peaceful and warm atmosphere.

Children are the type who only remember food but not beatings.

In Liu Xie’s arms, Liu Ying quickly forgot her previous unhappiness. She smiled until her eyes narrowed into slits and pointed at a flower and said, “Father, look! That flower is so beautiful!”

Liu Xie smiled and nodded, saying, “Yes, that flower is very beautiful. Does Ying’er like it?”

Liu Ying nodded vigorously and said, “I like it!”

Liu Xie smiled and said, “Then father will pick it for you, okay?”

Liu Ying shook her head and said, “No, the flower will die if it is picked, and Ying’er doesn’t want it to die.”

After hearing this, Liu Xie smiled with relief and touched her head.

At this time, Lu Bu also entered the palace and came to the garden to pay his respects: “Your Majesty!”

Seeing Lu Bu, Liu Xie was the first to smile and said, “Mr. Wen is here just in time. Let’s play with Ying’er together.”

As soon as Liu Ying saw Lu Bu, her eyes suddenly lit up. She struggled to get out of Liu Xie’s arms, shouting, “Grandpa, Grandpa!” Liu Xie gently put her down, and Liu Ying ran towards Lu Bu happily with her short legs.

“Hey! My wonderful granddaughter!”

Lu Bu squatted down, opened his arms, and steadily caught Liu Ying who rushed over. He picked her up and asked with a smile: “Ying’er, do you miss grandpa?”

Liu Ying nodded heavily and said in a baby voice, “Yes! Ying’er misses grandpa so much!”

Lu Bu laughed heartily, appearing to be very happy.

Even the wrinkles on his face were smoothed out.

Then he looked at Lu Lingqi again, his eyes full of love, and said, “Qi’er, I haven’t seen you for a long time, how are you?”

He hadn’t visited Lu Lingqi and Liu Ying in the palace for a long time.

Lu Lingqi bowed slightly and said respectfully, “Father, I am fine. But you, please take good care of yourself.”

At this time, Zhen Mi also walked forward and saluted to Lu Bu and greeted him.

Lu Bu returned the greeting and then praised: “Your Excellency has become more dignified and beautiful. Didn’t the Crown Prince come today?”

Zhen Mi smiled slightly and said modestly: “Thank you for the compliment, Lord Wen. Jue’er is still resting in the palace. I will take him to see Lord Wen when I have time.”

Lu Lingqi had no children, so Liu Jue recognized Lu Lingqi as his godmother. In the future, Lu would be Liu Jue’s helper, so it was right for her to be on good terms with Lu Bu.

As for her relatives, the Zhen family, they could not play any role.

Because after the incident of burning the imperial envoy, although the Zhen family was lucky enough not to be exterminated, they were also deprived of their power.

Today, his influence in the court is no longer as great as before.

Lu Bu held Liu Ying in his arms and sat down on the stone bench in the garden.

Liu Ying excitedly told Lu Bu about the butterflies and flowers she saw in the imperial garden. Lu Bu listened with great interest, nodding in response from time to time, and even made Liu Ying giggle.

The principle of closeness between generations is immutable. It is obvious that Liu Ying is much closer to Lu Bu than to Liu Xie and Lu Lingqi.

Liu Xie watched this scene from the side and couldn’t help feeling helpless.

He just hoped that Liu Ying would not learn Lu Bu’s character in the future.

After a while, Liu Xie asked Lu Lingqi and Zhen Mi to take Liu Ying out to play, and then asked Lu Bu, “How is the recent voting going? Lord Wen should have a lot of votes.”

After he gave the order to vote for the vice-president of the Han Royal Academy, he didn’t pay much attention to it and didn’t know how the progress was now.

Lu Bu scratched his head and said, “I have received more than 4,100 tickets so far, which only puts me in third place.”

“The second place is Wenyuan, who has more than 4,600 cards. The first place is Sima Zhongda, who has dozens more than Wenyuan.”

Hearing this, Liu Xie, who was drinking tea, almost spit it out.

He looked up at Lu Bu and said in astonishment, “The first place is Sima Yi? Where did he get so many votes?”

It’s not that he looked down on Sima Yi, but in terms of seniority, merit and even personal charm, Sima Yi could not rank first.

But why did Sima Yi get the most votes?
Lu Bu shook his head and said, “I don’t know. His votes have suddenly increased in the past few days. Originally, his votes were ranked behind Zhuge Kongming.”

Hearing this, Liu Xie raised his eyebrows.

I suddenly understood.

He put down the teacup in his hand and said to Lu Bu, “I understand… Lord Wen, please stay here with Ying’er. I have things to do.”

After saying this, Liu Xie got up and left the imperial garden.

From what Lu Bu just said, he roughly guessed the reason – Sima Yi must have played tricks in this vote.

Otherwise, how could the number of votes suddenly increase?
“Sima Yi has always loved competing with Zhuge Liang. This time he must be hoping to outshine Zhuge Liang by running for the position of vice president.”

“Poor Sima Yi.”

Liu Xie shook his head. Sima Yi would do anything to win, even resorting to cheating.

However, this time I am running for vice president, and I definitely cannot let Sima Yi continue to act like this.

Liu Xie summoned Gao Lan and asked him to go and summon Sima Yi into the palace.

……

At this moment, Sima Mansion.

Sima Yi was alone in the study. He stared at the election vote count on the table. His hands trembled slightly and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, soaking the paper in front of him.

“I’m almost there. Just a few more votes and I can win the election and completely defeat Zhuge Liang!”

He gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with unwillingness and madness.

He went to great lengths to campaign for votes, using a large amount of money to bribe the officials in charge of counting the votes, and secretly getting people to vote for him.

It’s all about winning!

But he also knew that doing so was very risky, and if he was discovered, the emperor would punish him.

This scandal is enough to ruin his future!
He didn’t know whether it was worth it or not. He just wanted to defeat Zhuge Liang once. This thought was like a nightmare that haunted him and made him insist on cheating.

It’s too late to regret now.

He stood up suddenly and paced around the study in panic, each step being quick and heavy.

“No, I must not be discovered!”

He clenched his fists, trying to give himself courage, but found that his fingertips were turning white.

Suddenly he stopped, a trace of determination flashed in his eyes: “Maybe there is a way to remedy the situation, as long as… as long as we shut up those key witnesses…”

But as soon as the thought came to his mind, reason brought him back to reality, because he knew that doing so would be like covering one’s ears and stealing the bell. His votes had increased so rapidly in the past few days, how could others not have noticed?

“Master! Master!”

At this time, the housekeeper’s hurried footsteps were heard outside the door.

Sima Yi’s heart suddenly hung in his throat, his breathing became rapid, and he looked towards the door.

The door was pushed open with a creaky sound, and the housekeeper walked in quickly and reported to him: “Master, His Majesty has sent someone to summon you to the palace immediately!”

When Sima Yi heard the butler’s report, he was struck by lightning. He froze in place, his eyes wide open with fear.

My heart almost stopped beating.

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He just felt his throat was very dry, as if it had been rubbed by sandpaper.

“Your Majesty summoned me?”

He squeezed out these few words with great difficulty, his voice trembling so badly that even he could hear the despair in it.

Could it be that his behavior… was discovered by the emperor?
(End of this chapter)