Chapter 1251: YeXi Bets (2/2)

Did this mean Tang Tang could take as much as she want?

“Thank you, little brother!” Tang Tang was overjoyed. “I like you, little brother!”

Rui’er had already started ignoring her to examine the other items on the ground. Meanwhile, Tang Tang took the food first, filling her basket with all sorts of pastries, before adding in toys. Nobody had placed these things on their slips because Rui’er didn’t like them. Thus, none of them paid attention to Tang Tang as they continued to watch Rui’er.

Rui’er tossed aside a few more things including a string of coins, a ruler, and some hanging ornaments. Abruptly, Tang Tang picked up a stamp and asked, “Little brother, this thing, gimme?”

Everyone looked over and Ning Jing’s face turned white. Gu Qishao was the first to guffaw with Han Yunxi following. If this had happened at the birthday banquet today, the Tang Clan might have been ruined. However, in the privacy of their own company, Han Yunxi didn’t mind it a bit. Long Feiye’s unruffled features showed that he didn’t care either. Still, Ning Jing had a fright. She was about to scold Tang Tang when Han Yunxi stopped her.

“It’s only a game,” she murmured, “Let them do as they want.”

Tang Li felt it was inappropriate as well, but Long Feiye only glanced over and said, “See what Rui’er’s intentions are, there’s no harm.”

Tang Li and Ning Jing relaxed somewhat at their words, but they were still worried! Suppose...supposed Rui’er refused to give her the stamp but Tang Tang insisted on keeping it? They were both young children. Although they had been taught, their childish natures were far from obedient.

Little Tang Tang raised the stamp up high while Rui’er looked over dubiously. As soon as he spotted the item, he ran over and cried, “Not giving! Not giving not giving!”

His determination was clear by repeating the same thing three times. He stopped in front of Tang Tang but didn’t snatch the item from her hands, choosing to extend his palm instead. “Give, me!”

Tang Tang was scared by his temper and quickly handed over the stamp, “Don’t want it! Don’t want don’t want!”

She wasn’t gonna keep something like that!

Long Feiye laughed while the others were amused. Their mirth filled the hall while Tang Li and Ning Jing finally relaxed. Tang Tang had a backbone though, and retreated to her father’s side with the basket of sweets and toys instead of taking any of Rui’er’s other things.

Rui’er placed the stamp back in its original position before picking through the other items again.

“Looks like I’ve won,” Gu Beiyue smiled.

“Heheh, I haven’t lost either,” Gu Qishao disdained him. Just as he finished speaking, Rui’er picked up the gold ingot that Gu Qishao had written for his slip. Seeing this, Gu Qishao’s eyes widened. Mu Linger tensed as well as she stared at the boy.

The gold ingot was huge and required Rui’er to pick it up with two hands.

“How could this child not love money?” Gu Qishao muttered to himself. His own father had cheated the officials out of so much cash, so why wouldn’t he like money?

Why wouldn’t Rui’er like money? He might not recognize silver drafts, but he knew what this big shiny piece of gold was. Cradling it in his hands, he ran to Han Yunxi and said, “Imperial mother, for you.”

Han Yunxi was amused. “Rui’er, don’t you want it?”

“Don’t wanna. For imperial mother,” Rui’er said seriously.

After stealing his mother’s silver drafts, he gave her a gold ingot. This child really made one unsure of whether to cry or laugh. How would he feel after growing up and looking back on his dastardly ways?

Han Yunxi openly accepted it and stroked his head before planting a kiss on his forehead. “Son,” she said seriously, “You’ll have to give all the gold you see in the future to imperial mother, understand?”

Rui’er immediately nodded. “Okay!”

Gu Qishao looked at Han Yunxi with an equally serious expression. “Poison lass, you can’t trick a little kid like that! Hurry and give it back to him.”

Han Yunxi really did return the gold ingot to Rui’er, but he stuffed it back to her again.

“Rui’er, you really don’t want it?” Han Yunxi asked.

“Don’t wanna!” Rui’er was determined.

Han Yunxi glanced at Gu Qishao, who had already wilted in his seat. He hugged his knees on the chair and looked at Rui’er grievously before his eyes drifted towards Mu Linger sitting nearby. He had lost, but that didn’t mean Mu Linger would win. The terms of her bet already made his hairs stand on end as he hoped dearly for her loss.

Rui’er resumed picking out the things he didn’t like, amassing a sizable pile. Han Yunxi’s abacus, Long Feiye’s hidden weapon, Ning Jing’s sword, and Gu Beiyue’s stamp all survived the weeding along with books of classic prose, the Four Treasures of the Study, and some porcelain. Zhao mama looked hopelessly at the collection. Could this really count as a proper raffle?

“Rui’er, do you want all of these things?” Han Yunxi silently sighed to herself. So it turns out my son’s a little greedy boy.

Rui’er didn’t reply immediately, but he did circle around the items before picking up the abacus again, startling Han Yunxi!