Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator.

Two plates?!

Seeing the maid turn to leave, Li Xiang finally started to panic.

It wasn't that he couldn't afford two plates of pastries, but he was worried this was just the beginning.

Immediately, Li Xiang couldn't help but roll his eyes, looking around, thinking of finding an excuse to escape from Li Ji's side.

But while Li Ji refocused his attention on the classics in his hand, the corner of his eye still took in all of Li Xiang's little actions.

'This little guy's composure is still not good enough...'

Li Ji smiled inwardly.

But this was also normal. Even if Li Xiang was precocious, he was still just a young boy.

Realizing his little trick had been seen through, Li Xiang instinctively felt a little guilty and flustered, which was the most normal reaction.

'Well, then let me, as his father, properly cultivate Xiang'er's ability to remain calm in the face of adversity. Isn't this also a kind of fatherly love?'

Li Ji thought this way, definitely not because he had a childlike heart and simply wanted to see the moment his good son, Li Xiang, broke down.

After pondering for a while, Li Xiang carefully sized up Li Ji, who seemed to be engrossed in studying the classics, and said softly.

"Father, I have an appointment with A Dou today, it's almost time to go to Uncle's mansion."

"Oh, is that so..."

Li Ji said casually.

"Speaking of which, I haven't seen the Young Lord in a long time. It just so happens that I will send someone to invite the Young Lord to our mansion as a guest, so Xiang'er doesn't have to make a special trip to the Lord's mansion."

Li Xiang's eyes couldn't help but widen slightly, and he felt even more flustered in his heart.

The failure of one excuse often requires more excuses to cover it up.

If A Dou really came, with A Dou's naivety and honesty, he would definitely not know to secretly cover for Li Xiang.

As long as Li Ji asked, A Dou would definitely clarify that there was no appointment.

At this moment, even though the autumn weather was much cooler, Li Xiang couldn't help but start sweating on his forehead. A sense of oppression, as if his father had inadvertently seen through all his thoughts, made Li Xiang break out in a cold sweat.

It's just that Li Xiang's social circle was so small. In Wu Commandery, there was no shortage of aristocratic children who wanted to get close to Li Xiang, but obviously, they didn't have the qualifications.

Objectively speaking, there were not many who were qualified to be Li Xiang's childhood sweetheart.

Among them, the descendants of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were naturally qualified, but unfortunately, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei got married relatively late, and Guan Yu went to Yizhou to guard for several years, and Zhang Fei also followed Li Ji on an expedition to Yingzhou.

This led to the fact that the descendants of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were only born not long ago, and A Dou and Li Xiang had not even had other playmates for the time being.

And if he was really exposed by his father for lying, Li Xiang would feel a sense of panic for no reason.

Even though Li Xiang had never been personally beaten by Li Ji since he was a child, Li Xiang undoubtedly admired and revered his father, which made Li Xiang a little scared even if Li Ji frowned slightly.

Would his father be disappointed?

Or would he be furious?

And with a younger brother or sister about to be born soon, wouldn't his father's already limited attention be completely transferred to his younger brother or sister?

It's just that Li Xiang, who was still a considerable distance away from being able to hide his emotions, didn't know that his violently fluctuating heart was almost completely revealed through his unconsciously changing expression.

This made Li Ji, who was observing from the corner of his eye, feel very amused.

Even the Sichuan opera face-changing technique hadn't appeared in the Sichuan region yet, but Li Xiang had already mastered the essence of it at an age when he couldn't even hold bamboo slips steady.

"What's wrong? Xiang'er, aren't you happy that the Young Lord is coming to the mansion to play with you?" Li Ji asked.

"No, no, I'm very happy," Li Xiang replied with some difficulty.

Li Ji raised an eyebrow and asked. "Then why don't you smile?"

Li Xiang's face stiffened slightly, and then, while sweating profusely, he forced a smile, revealing his obviously missing front teeth.

Looking at this contrasting scene, Li Ji, who was pretending to be serious, almost couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Just then, Li Qin rushed over in a hurry and shouted.

"Lord, Lord, the Madam has a stomachache..."

Immediately, Li Ji almost jumped up from the rattan chair in an instant, changing his usual unhurried style, and rushed towards the backyard in a hurry, constantly asking Li Qin about the relevant situation in a hurried voice.

"Is she about to give birth? Have you called the midwife over? Are the hot water and towels ready?"

"These have always been prepared, please rest assured, Lord."

"Where is Zhang Zhongjing? Send someone to invite Zhang Zhongjing over as well..."

"Yes."

In less than a few breaths, Li Xiang hadn't even recovered his senses, and his father's figure had completely disappeared.

At this moment, Li Xiang realized what it meant for fatherly love to be like a landslide, fleeting and never to return...

However, after Li Xiang reacted, his expression also changed slightly.

After all, even though he had made full preparations early on, the risk of childbirth for pregnant women in this era was still extremely high.

Even the very young Li Xiang had secretly learned about this, which made Li Xiang couldn't help but worry about his mother, and subconsciously followed Li Ji's direction.

However, Li Xiang had just run two steps when he hurriedly turned back, stuffed one of the pastries that Li Ji had just given him into his mouth, then picked up another one, wrapped it up, and put it in his arms, and then his two short legs chased after Li Ji's direction at a very high frequency.

When Li Xiang arrived at the small courtyard where Zhao Ji lived, a group of maids were already busily preparing, going in and out, and the midwife who had been arranged to wait in the mansion had already entered.

Subconsciously, Li Xiang wanted to rush into the house to see Zhao Ji's condition.

However, before Li Xiang could get close, he suddenly felt the collar of his neck being grabbed, and then his feet left the ground and he was lifted into the air, forcibly pulled back by Li Ji with one hand.

"Don't make trouble!"

Li Ji scolded in a low voice before putting Li Xiang down.

Li Xiang subconsciously looked up, but saw an unprecedentedly serious and dignified expression on his father's face.

At this moment, Li Ji was indeed quite nervous.

Even though this was not the first time, Li Ji, who knew the uncertainty and danger involved, was equally nervous.

Only in this kind of matter, no matter how resourceful Li Ji was, he was helpless.

And Li Ji's expression, which was like a towering mountain in Li Xiang's heart, made Li Xiang's heart tense up all of a sudden.

Suddenly, a scream of pain from Cai Zhao Ji rang out in the house, making Li Xiang's face visibly pale. He tugged at the corner of Li Ji's clothes and asked.

"Father, will Mother be alright?"

"It's alright."

Li Ji also lost the mood to joke. While placing a hand on Li Xiang's head, he said softly.

(End of this chapter)