Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality - Chapter 356 - 308: How About I Beat the Drum for You?
“Xiao Mo…”
The little girl repeated Xiao Mo’s name, her large eyes blinking gently.
“So, Xiao Mo, are you willing to be my guard?” after repeating his name a few times, the little girl asked expectantly.
“If the Princess does not mind,” Xiao Mo replied.
“Of course I don’t mind!”
As soon as she finished speaking, Qin Siyao grabbed Xiao Mo’s sleeve and ran to her father.
“Father Sovereign, Mother Empress, Siyao has chosen. I want Xiao Mo to be my guard.”
“Xiao Mo…” Empress Shi looked at the young boy before her and asked, “Are you a son of the Xiao Mansion?”
“Yes, Empress,” Xiao Mo answered, cupping his fist.
“What is your Realm?” Empress Shi asked again.
“The Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, Empress,” Xiao Mo responded truthfully.
Hearing he was at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, a flash of surprise crossed Empress Shi’s eyes.
’To be at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer at his age… his talent is truly remarkable.’
“Very well. Since you were Siyao’s choice, I will say no more.” The Sovereign of Qin deferred to his daughter, then spoke seriously to Xiao Mo. “Xiao Mo, you must protect my daughter well. If you do a good job, I will reward you.”
“Please rest assured, Your Majesty, Empress. I will do my utmost,” Xiao Mo promised.
“Good.” The Sovereign of Qin waved his hand. “You two, go and prepare. Depart when the time comes.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“Yes, Father Sovereign…”
Hearing her Father Sovereign and Mother Empress agree, Qin Siyao happily pulled Xiao Mo aside by his sleeve again, asking him about all the fun things to do and good things to eat outside the Imperial Palace.
“If I recall correctly, a Xiao Mo of this age should be that son of a concubine from the Xiao Mansion?” Once her daughter and Xiao Mo had left, Empress Shi looked at the Sovereign beside her.
“Precisely.” The Sovereign of Qin nodded and said with a smile, “The first and second young masters of the Xiao Mansion are both away studying martial arts. Only a few sons of concubines remain in the Xiao Mansion, and Xiao Mo is the eldest among them.”
“I see.” Empress Shi nodded. “Still, I’m surprised Xia Qingke would send a concubine’s son.”
Although Xiao Mo was only serving as a guard, this was an excellent opportunity to grow closer to the Royal Family and, more importantly, appear before the Sovereign.
Normally, even the lowest-status child sent would be one born to a secondary wife.
It was extremely rare for a son born to a mere concubine to be sent.
The Sovereign of Qin just smiled. “This wasn’t approved by Xia Qingke. The reason Xiao Mo is here is because of that Elder Huang.”
“Elder Huang…” Empress Shi paused, stunned, but she quickly realized who the Sovereign was referring to. “Xiao Mo is that Elder Huang’s…”
“His disciple.” The Sovereign of Qin stroked his beard, the corners of his mouth lifting into a smile. “I invited Elder Huang to come, but he slighted me by sending his disciple instead. I am quite curious as to why this Xiao Mo was accepted as Elder Huang’s disciple.”
The Sovereign of Qin gave Xiao Mo one last look, then turned his gaze to his two sons.
He wasn’t particularly concerned with his daughter and Xiao Mo, two eight-year-old children. For them, this grand hunt was really just a chance to play.
But for the Eldest Prince, Qin Jingsu, and the Second Prince, Qin Jingyuan, it was a different matter.
The Sovereign of Qin had not yet named a Crown Prince, and while the two brothers appeared amicable on the surface, they were constantly locked in a fierce, hidden struggle.
The guards they had chosen had long been decided—all of them Military Generals who supported their respective bids for power.
After the time it took for two incense sticks to burn, the auspicious hour arrived.
The three children of the Sovereign of Qin, along with the other Royal Family and Relatives, all entered the Imperial Hunting Forest.
Carrying two longbows and two quivers on his back and holding a long spear in his hand, Xiao Mo followed behind the Third Princess, Qin Siyao.
Qin Siyao walked ahead of Xiao Mo, as happy and expectant as if she were on a field trip, her single ponytail swinging back and forth behind her head.
Xiao Mo, however, vigilantly scanned their surroundings, watching for any wild beasts.
Suddenly, Xiao Mo took a bow from his back, drew the string, and loosed an arrow.
“WHOOSH!”
In the distance, a wild rabbit was pierced by the arrow, pinned fast to a tree.
Qin Siyao quickly ran over, a hint of sadness in her eyes. “The poor bunny…”
“…”
Xiao Mo explained.
“Princess, we are here to hunt. In these chaotic times, if we don’t hunt, we become the hunted. Furthermore, the game we take will help some of the poor survive.”
Qin Siyao turned her head and looked at Xiao Mo, blinking slowly.
“Is something wrong, Princess?” Xiao Mo asked.
“It’s nothing.” Qin Siyao shook her head vigorously. “It’s just that what you said sounds a lot like my Father Sovereign. He says the same thing.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes,” Qin Siyao replied.
“But Xiao Mo, how does the game we hunt help the poor survive?” Qin Siyao asked.
“My mother told me that by custom, the game from the hunt is given to the poor. It isn’t much, but it allows some people to have a few full meals,” Xiao Mo said.
“Oh, I see…”
Qin Siyao lowered her head, seeming to hesitate over something.
After a moment, Qin Siyao raised her head and held out her small, fair hands.
“Princess?” Xiao Mo asked, confused.
“I want to hunt, too.” Qin Siyao seemed to have made up her mind. “I can’t just rely on you to hunt for me, Xiao Mo.”
Xiao Mo was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. “Alright.”
Xiao Mo handed one of the longbows from his back to Qin Siyao. As for the rabbit he had shot, someone would come to the Imperial Hunting Forest to collect and tally it.
