Chapter 171: Grand Tutor’s Birthday Banquet
Leaving the Prime Minister’s Mansion, a group of people began to discuss.
“Hey, today I finally got to see the Prime Minister’s beloved daughter.”
“Chancellor Rong is such a reserved person, now he speaks a few words and has to mention his daughter. Those scarves and gloves were all given by his daughter. How could such a little person make those things?”
“It’s said that his daughter gave them, not necessarily that she made them. But those things do look warm and good-looking. I’ll have my wife make gloves too when I go back, but I don’t know what those scarves are made of.”
“I’ve been curious about Chancellor Rong’s daughter for a long time, and today I finally saw her. However, I didn’t see the red horse rumored. The young lady is as cute as jade, truly worthy of being Chancellor Rong’s daughter.”
Rong Zhi’s appearance was recognized as the top two not only in the Imperial Court but also throughout Jingdu.
As for why he was second, it was mainly because of the Imperial Advisor, whose appearance could rival his.
However, Rong Zhi has more fans, because the Imperial Advisor lives in seclusion and is in seclusion all year round, only appearing during the annual Heavenly God Festival. But he always stands on the altar from afar, and very few people can see his face clearly.
“Lord Rong’s family only has one daughter, and she doesn’t have many playmates, so it must be very boring. I wonder if I can suggest to Chancellor Rong that my children of similar age accompany her to play?”
The young lady is good-looking, even though she is young now, her little face is exquisite. She will definitely be a great beauty when she grows up. If her own juniors are capable, then being able to form a marriage alliance with Chancellor Rong’s family would be extremely fortunate. This kind of affection naturally needs to be cultivated from a young age.
The person next to him rolled his eyes. The intention was so obvious it was practically hitting them in the face.
“Why don’t you go and ask?”
Some people were also tempted and egged him on.
The man rolled his eyes: “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. Why don’t you go ask yourself?”
The first bird gets shot; he wasn’t going to!
On the other side, Qin Wanwan had no idea that someone was thinking of her.
She was fed a lot of food in the kitchen.
After eating until her little belly was full, she was holding a cup of boiled milk when Rong Zhi came over.
Qin Wanwan ran over holding her cup.
“Daddy, Daddy, did Wanwan disturb you? I didn’t mean to.”
The little Qilin obediently apologized with her soft, tender voice. Who could be angry?
Besides, Rong Zhi wasn’t angry at all.
“You didn’t disturb me.”
He bent down and took out a handkerchief to wipe the milky white ‘little mustache’ from the corner of the young lady’s mouth.
Then he picked her up.
Qin Wanwan sat in his arms, leaning against him slightly like a little sleepy pig, and told him in her baby voice about the play she watched today.
When she got thirsty from talking, she drank from her milk.
“Daddy, do you want a sip? It’s delicious!”
Rong Zhi: “You drink it yourself.”
Qin Wanwan: “Daddy Shang said he’ll find dozens of men for me to choose from in the future. What should I choose?”
Rong Zhi’s face darkened: “Don’t listen to his nonsense.”
“Oh.”
“But you are all my daddy, that’s what I heard?”
The little Qilin was very troubled and conflicted.
Rong Zhi squeezed her chubby little face: “You don’t need to listen to anyone. When you grow up, you’ll have your own judgment and choices.”
What kind of things was Shang Wuyang teaching her!
“Caw!”
Xue Hua’s call came from the sky.
Qin Wanwan looked up, and Xue Hua had already flown in front of her.
It handed Qin Wanwan a small box in its claws.
“Brother Yuanli sent it.”
Xue Hua could enter and leave the Imperial Palace freely, as Yin Yuanli had specifically informed the palace guards.
Every time Xue Hua delivered letters or things, Yin Yuanli would also have Xue Hua bring some items to Qin Wanwan.
Sometimes it was snacks, and sometimes it was toys, all small toys that children in the palace liked.
Qin Wanwan opened the small box. Inside, there was a letter, and the rest were some beautiful gemstones.
Qin Wanwan liked shiny things; she liked jade pendants, jade, gold, and gemstones.
Daddy Shang had already given her quite a few, and she even had her own little treasury.
Heh heh… Richer than Daddy Xie!
Qin Wanwan could understand quite a few characters now, but she wasn’t very good at writing.
Yin Yuanli said he received her gift, which was the scarf Qin Wanwan had her Daddy send.
Those gemstones were his return gift, and he also mentioned that he would be attending the Grand Tutor’s birthday banquet tomorrow, and if Qin Wanwan were to go, he looked forward to meeting her.
Qin Wanwan put away the letter, holding the box of gemstones, her eyes curved into little crescent moons, visibly happy.
“Do you want more?”
Rong Zhi held up the cup in his hand.
Qin Wanwan drank the remaining milk in one gulp from her Daddy’s hand.
“I’ll get to see Brother Yuanli tomorrow.”
“Daddy, what should I wear tomorrow?”
Rong Zhi: “Anything is fine.”
Qin Wanwan learned to play the zither with Father Rong for a while, and only ran back when it was dark.
Daddy Shang would be cold sleeping alone at night, so she had to go back to warm his bed.
It was the Grand Tutor’s sixtieth birthday, and his family had organized a grand celebration for him.
Nearly half of the officials attended.
In Rong Zhi’s carriage, Qin Wanwan was wearing a light pink skirt today, making her look like a little flower fairy.
The outermost layer was a fluffy red cloak.
She looked like a little immortal child bringing good fortune.
The carriage stopped at the Grand Tutor’s doorway. After Rong Zhi alighted, he turned and carried her down.
Officials who had just arrived or had not yet left greeted him politely or obsequiously. Their gazes inevitably fell on the little girl he was holding, and their expressions were somewhat shocked.
In this era, men rarely held children.
Even those who truly doted on their children would only hold them at home.
It was rare to see men holding children in public.
Rong Zhi’s action caused everyone to look at Qin Wanwan.
Being stared at by so many strangers made Qin Wanwan a little shy.
She hugged her Daddy’s neck, burying her beautiful little face in his neck.
“Daddy, why are they all looking at me?”
Rong Zhi’s voice was clear and gentle, with a smile: “Because you are beautiful.”
Qin Wanwan immediately straightened her little body again.
She was beautiful, so let them look. She couldn’t lose face for Daddy.
Rong Zhi’s eyes held a smile, and his aloofness lessened, making him appear much more approachable.
Many unmarried women who had come with their elders saw his smile and blushed.
Although they knew he already had a daughter, they still wanted to marry him.
Moreover, he looked even better and gentler holding a child, making them want to marry him even more. They really didn’t mind him having a daughter at all!!!
After entering, Rong Zhi finally put the little chubby cub down and held her hand.
Along the way, he nodded and greeted people he knew.
Grand Tutor Gu’s eldest son personally came out to welcome Rong Zhi to the banquet.
Originally, children were supposed to be taken to the women’s quarters by the women, but since Rong Zhi’s family had no women, Qin Wanwan stayed by Rong Zhi’s side and mixed in with a group of officials.
