Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

Indeed.

The two blood brothers were not nearly as close as they appeared on the surface.

But then again, that was to be expected.

Even blood brothers must keep clear accounts, to say nothing of something like the imperial throne.

Xiao Mo glanced at the little girl beside him.

’Perhaps this little princess is completely unaware of the relationship between her brothers.’

’But that’s for the best. At least she can have a happy childhood.’

“This grand hunt is hereby concluded! Remember, the Qin Kingdom was founded on martial prowess. We live in chaotic times. Make yourselves strong enough to devour others, or you will be the ones devoured by your prey! Do you all understand!”

The Sovereign of Qin scanned the crowd, his voice naturally commanding.

The young scions shouted in unison, “We understand!”

“Good. You are all dismissed.” The Sovereign of Qin nodded, then turned to the eunuch beside him and said, “Li Shen, as is tradition, distribute the game among the poor families of the Imperial City.”

Eunuch Li quickly replied, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Return to the palace.”

The Sovereign of Qin boarded the Dragon Chariot, and the Eldest Prince and Second Prince mounted their respective horses.

Qin Siyao glanced at the Dragon Chariot, then back at Xiao Mo, a hint of reluctance in her expression.

Although Qin Siyao and Xiao Mo had only spent a little more than half a day together, he was the first person her age she had ever met, not to mention they had just gone through a life-or-death experience together.

“Siyao, it’s time to go,” the Sovereign of Qin called to his daughter.

“Co… Coming…” Qin Siyao replied, her big eyes turning to Xiao Mo. “What Father rewarded you with is from him. The gift I’m giving you is from me, and I will definitely fulfill it.”

“Alright. Then I thank you for now, Princess.”

Xiao Mo just smiled faintly and nodded.

’What does a childhood promise really count for, anyway?’

’When this little girl grows up, she’ll probably forget everything from her childhood, let alone what happened today.’

“Well… I’m going now…” Qin Siyao said, fidgeting with her clothes.

“Farewell, Your Highness.” Xiao Mo cupped his fist in a salute.

Qin Siyao took one last look at Xiao Mo before walking toward the Dragon Chariot.

“We respectfully send off Your Majesty.”

Amidst the crowd’s unified farewell, the Dragon Chariot disappeared from view.

…

「An hour later, Qin Siyao returned to the Imperial Palace.」

Attended to by her Palace Maids, Qin Siyao took a comfortable hot bath and changed into a fresh set of clothes.

Because Qin Siyao hadn’t finished the homework her mother assigned, she could only sit in the courtyard, reciting poetry and prose.

But Qin Siyao held the book, unable to focus on it at all.

Her mind was still replaying the scenes of her and Xiao Mo hunting in the Imperial Hunting Forest.

Even though she and Xiao Mo had nearly ended up as food for the wolves, it had been so much fun.

HUUU…

Qin Siyao folded her arms on the table, resting her small, pointed chin on them.

’I really don’t want to be reciting this stuff. I really want to go play with Xiao Mo…’

’Xiao Mo told me there are so many fun things to do and delicious foods to eat outside the palace. I really want to go try them…’

“Siyao.”

Just as the little girl was feeling melancholy, the voice of the Sovereign of Qin drifted into the courtyard.

“Father!”

Seeing her father arrive, Qin Siyao happily ran over to him.

“Reciting your lessons?” The Sovereign of Qin glanced at the book on the stone table and said with a smile.

“Mhm.” Qin Siyao lowered her little head and said gloomily, “If I don’t, Mother will test me next time, and if I can’t answer, she’ll punish me.”

“Alright, then Father will read with you.” The Sovereign of Qin ruffled his daughter’s hair. “When you’ve finished memorizing, Father will give you a reward. You can have anything you want.”

“Really?” Qin Siyao looked up, her eyes blinking. “Father, you can’t lie to me.”

“Of course it’s real. When has Father ever lied to you?” The Sovereign of Qin chuckled. “But by the looks of it, it seems you already have something in mind?”

“Mhm!” Qin Siyao nodded her little head vigorously. “Father, if I finish my recitation, can I leave the palace?”

“Leave the palace?” The Sovereign of Qin was taken aback, not expecting his daughter to make such a request. “Why do you want to leave the palace, Siyao?”

“Because I want to go to the Xiao Mansion to play with Xiao Mo,” Qin Siyao answered excitedly.

“To find Xiao Mo?” The Sovereign of Qin paused, a hint of hesitation in his expression.

“Father, you just said I could have any reward I wanted. Please, Father, just say yes. Please?”

Seeing her father’s conflicted expression, Qin Siyao feared he might not agree, so she began to wheedle, shaking his large hand.

“If Father doesn’t say yes, I’m not going to talk to you anymore…”

When her father still didn’t agree, Qin Siyao pouted and turned her back on him.

“Alright.” The Sovereign of Qin found he couldn’t refuse his daughter. “Then you study hard, Siyao. Once you’ve finished your lessons, Father will let you go to the Xiao Mansion.”

“Yay!” Qin Siyao hopped with joy. “I knew you were the best, Father!”

Soon, Qin Siyao was sitting back on the stone stool, picking up the book from the table and focusing on her recitation.

Watching his daughter’s earnest expression, the Sovereign of Qin couldn’t help but wonder.

’How did these two children get so close?’

’Siyao, who has never liked studying, is actually focusing on her books just for a chance to play with Xiao Mo.’

“My dear daughter,” the Sovereign of Qin said, walking over and sitting beside her.

“Father, what is it?” Qin Siyao turned her head, her eyes full of clear, childish innocence.

“It’s nothing, really. It’s just that, back outside the Imperial Hunting Forest, when you and Xiao Mo were parting ways, Father thought he overheard you say you were giving Xiao Mo a gift that you would definitely fulfill in the future. What kind of gift was that?” the Sovereign of Qin asked with a smile.

“The same gift Mother gave to you, Father,” Qin Siyao said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“The gift your mother gave me?” The Sovereign of Qin was even more confused.

“Yep.”

Qin Siyao nodded her little head obediently.

“Remember when Mother beat the war drums for you while you were with the army? You said it was the best gift you ever received.

Now that Xiao Mo has saved me, I want to give him that same best gift in the future.”

“This…” For a moment, the Sovereign of Qin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “But Siyao, normally, only a wife beats the war drums for her husband. You two are just friends. Or are you saying that when you grow up, you plan to marry Xiao Mo?”

“Erm…” Qin Siyao nibbled on her finger, thinking it over seriously. “I guess that could work. Xiao Mo is very nice. When I grow up, if I still like him, I’ll marry him.”

HISS…

Hearing his daughter’s words, the Sovereign of Qin felt a pang in his chest.

“My dear daughter, listen to Father. Men… they’re generally no good. They love to trick girls. And you’re still little, you don’t understand a lot of things… When you’re older…”

“Father, you’re so noisy…”

As the Sovereign of Qin went on and on, Qin Siyao puffed out her cheeks.

“I need to study now. Also, you can’t say bad things about Xiao Mo, Father. He’s a good person and he’s my friend. If you say bad things about him, I won’t talk to you anymore!”

The Sovereign of Qin gave a helpless smile, but he still patiently tried to correct his precious daughter, “Father is telling the truth. A man must be tested many times before he can…”

“Okay, okay, Father, you should go now. I need to study. After I’m done, I have to go play with Xiao Mo.”

Qin Siyao hopped off the stone stool and pushed her father with her small hands, shoving him out of the pavilion. Then she sat back down on the stool, covered her ears, and continued reciting her poetry and prose.

“This girl…”

The Sovereign of Qin watched his daughter’s determined expression, his heart a tangle of emotions.

He was naturally gratified to see his daughter studying so diligently and of her own volition, but the fact that it was all for the sake of seeing Xiao Mo…

…made the Sovereign of Qin feel a little upset.

Why did he feel like the precious cabbage he had so carefully raised for years was about to be snatched away by a pig?