At noon, Zhao Yao sprinted out as soon as the lessons were over, like a gust of wind. He stumbled slightly when he rushed down the steps and almost fell, but luckily, Tong Xi caught him just in ti.
"Your Highness, you..."
Zhao Yao clutched Tong Xi's neck tightly and urged him frantically, "Hurry! Hurry!"
Upon hearing this, Tong Xi started running quickly with Zhao Yao in his arms.
Don't be fooled by Tong Xi's frail appearance; he's actually very strong. Holding six-year-old Zhao Yao, he ran effortlessly and swiftly.
[Yao Yao!] Lai Qian ca with its brothers to pick him up after school.
"Lai Qian, we need to hurry."
Lai Qian and its brothers quickly followed Zhao Yao and his entourage, flying after them.
They ran non-stop to the vicinity of Kunde Hall, and once Zhao Yao confird that the Ninth Prince hadn't caught up, he had Tong Xi stop.
Tong Xi put down Zhao Yao, slightly panting as he asked, "Your Highness, why were we running?"
"Afraid that the Ninth Brother would catch up." Zhao Yao's face was full of disdain, "You know, the Ninth Brother keeps bragging endlessly about the heroic deeds of the Second Brother. If I don't run faster and he catches , he'll continue to nag, and I can't stand it."
Lai Qian perched on Zhao Yao's shoulder, pecking his little face gently.
[Yao Yao, my brothers and I want to eat apples.]
Zhao Yao agreed readily, "No problem, once I return to the palace, I'll peel so apples for you to eat."
Lai Qian and its brothers imdiately praised Zhao Yao: [Yao Yao, you are the best person in the world!]
Zhao Yao, pleased by the praise, smiled very happily and walked joyfully towards Kunde Hall.
Lai Qian and its kin flew alongside Zhao Yao, protecting him like bodyguards.
Tong Xi walked behind, seeing this scene, and couldn't help but laugh. Not only those sparrows, but also the cats and dogs all loved His Highness, often surrounding him.
Before they reached Kunde Hall, Lai Fu and Lai Cai ran up to Zhao Yao.
Zhao Yao squatted down and hugged the two, kissing and patting them affectionately.
Every noon and afternoon, Lai Fu and Lai Cai would co out to et Zhao Yao. If not for Zhao Yao's disapproval, they would even go to Wende Hall to fetch him.
The Ninth Prince was a brat, enjoying the chase of cats and dogs, even throwing stones at them. Lai Fu and Lai Cai were bullied by the Ninth Prince before. Since then, Zhao Yao instructed his animals to stay away from him.
"Mother Concubine, Second Mother Concubine, Third Mother Concubine, Fifth Sister, I'm back." Zhao Yao called as he ran into Kunde Hall.
The Second Mother Concubine he referred to was Yu iren who lived in Kunde Hall, the Third Mother Concubine was Pan Cairen, and the Fifth Sister was the Fifth Princess, daughter of Yu iren.
The Fifth Princess was the first to run out, "Tenth Brother, you're back. Did the teacher scold you this morning? Did he hit your palm?"
"Fifth Sister, I'm so obedient. How could the teacher scold or hit ?" Zhao Yao glared at the Fifth Princess, pouting unhappily, "Fifth Sister, why do I feel like you were hoping I'd get punished by the teacher?"
"I was worried about you. If you study hard, you won't get punished." The Fifth Princess took Zhao Yao's hand and led him towards the dining hall, "I made so pastries with Mother Concubine this morning. After lunch, I'll allow you to have two extra pieces."
Upon hearing there would be pastries, Zhao Yao's eyes sparkled brightly, and he said happily, "Thank you, Fifth Sister." Fifth Sister was very skilled at making pastries, even tastier than those made in the Imperial Kitchen.
"What did the teacher teach you today?" the Fifth Princess asked while walking.
"Today I learned..." Zhao Yao explained in great detail what he had learned that morning to the Fifth Princess, then recounted the Ninth Prince's boasting encounter. "Fifth Sister, you have no idea how annoying Ninth Brother is, chattering nonstop."
"Just pretend you didn't hear him."
"But he speaks right into my ear."
The siblings reached the dining hall and saluted the three Mother Concubines for peace.
Yu iren and Pan Cairen gently stroked and kissed Zhao Yao's adorable little face.
Gui Xing brought a basin of warm water for Zhao Yao to wash his hands.
While washing his hands, Zhao Yao didn't forget to complain about the Ninth Prince's bragging about Prince Dai's victory.
"Now everyone in the palace is talking about Prince Dai's victory." Yu iren personally served a bowl of soup for Zhao Yao, "Yao Yao, have so soup first." With that, she spooned so soup to Zhao Yao's mouth.
Pan Cairen said, "It's already rumored that the Emperor is considering deposing the Crown Prince and establishing Prince Dai as the Crown Prince."
"Here we go again." Each ti news of the Second Brother's victory cos back, the rumors of deposing the Crown Prince quickly spread. It's been like this for years; they're not tired of spreading it, but he's tired of hearing it.
"The rumors are rampant." Yu iren gently wiped the corner of Zhao Yao's mouth with a handkerchief.
"Every ti Prince Dai wins a battle, they say he'll beco the Crown Prince," Pan Cairen sniped sharply, "They've been saying it for years, and yet Prince Dai hasn't beco the Crown Prince."
"Third Mother Concubine, that's called a public opinion strategy. If you say it enough, everyone will eventually believe it." Zhao Yao explained, "Also, it can scare the Crown Prince."
At this mont, a clap of thunder bood outside, resounding very loudly.
Yu iren furrowed her brow and said, "Another thunderstorm."
Pan Cairen added, "Is it going to rain soon?"
Another boom of thunder followed, and then a flash of lightning.
The sky darkened quickly, with streaks of lightning racing one another to tear the sky apart.
Soon, it began to rain heavily.
Liang Zhaoyi looked at the heavy rain outside the window and said calmly, "The weather's changing!"
Yu iren and Pan Cairen nodded in agreent, "It is changing."
Yesterday was bright and sunny, but today the weather turned and it began to rain heavily. It's like the apparent peace within the palace and court was shattered by the news of Prince Dai's victory returning to the capital.
After that, Liang Zhaoyi and the others didn't ntion anything about Prince Dai and the Crown Prince anymore, for it really had nothing to do with them. Plus, speaking too much could lead to trouble.
After a morning of classes, Zhao Yao felt sowhat hungry. While having lunch, his little mouth kept eating without stopping.
Seeing Zhao Yao eating so heartily, Liang Zhaoyi and the others couldn't help but eat an extra half bowl of rice.
After lunch, Zhao Yao also enjoyed the pastries made by the Fifth Princess, feeling very satisfied. The happiest and most blissful thing in life is to eat delicious food.
While the rain outside continued to pour harder and harder, such weather in March was truly unusual.
Watching the torrential rain outside, Zhao Yao chuckled, "With such heavy rain, there definitely won't be any afternoon classes. I can take a nap." His previous life was too intense, but in this life, he didn't want to be intense again. He only wanted to be a lazy prince enjoying food and drink.
Seeing Zhao Yao's super happy look about not having to study, Liang Zhaoyi and the others were helpless yet amused.
"I'm going to feed Lai Fu and the others." After announcing, he ran to the next room to feed Lai Fu and the others, and gave Lai Qian and the others apples.
In Zhao Yang Palace, the Empress and the Seventh Prince had also just finished their lunch.
At this mont, they were sipping tea and admiring the heavy rain outside the door.
The Seventh Prince asked, "Mother, with such heavy rain, do we still have to go to Qionglin Garden tonight?"
Qionglin Garden was the place in the harem specifically used for hosting banquets.
"That depends on what your father decides." Empress Xie put down her teacup and smiled, "I hope tonight's banquet will go on."
The Seventh Prince understood Empress Xie's intention and chuckled mischievously, "I also hope it goes on, so we can enjoy the show."
Suddenly thinking of sothing, Empress Xie's expression turned disdainful as she said, "That Noble Princess Consort Rong is going to be smug again." Recently, the Emperor favored Yongxin Palace once more. "This morning, your father bestowed many gifts on her, and when I sent Jiang Chuan to deliver sothing, the whole Yongxin Palace was as proud as peacocks."
Every ti, when the Emperor bestowed gifts to one of the concubines or princes in the harem, Empress Xie would follow up with gifts of her own.
"Pride cos before a fall, let them be smug," the Seventh Prince comforted Empress Xie, "Mother, we don't need to worry about this, let the Crown Prince be troubled."
"I heard the Crown Prince threw quite a fit in the Eastern Palace."
"Second Brother's victory this ti is a great achievent, naturally, the Crown Prince can't sit still."
Empress Xie laughed, "Let the Crown Prince and Prince Dai fight, the fiercer the better, it's beneficial to us."
"Mother is right."
"With such heavy rain, there probably won't be classes in Wende Hall this afternoon. You should rest well."
"Mother, I'll read for a while first."
Seeing her son's diligence, Empress Xie felt very gratified. She said gently, "If you get tired, take a nap."
"Alright." The Seventh Prince bowed to Empress Xie and turned to go to the study.
Empress Xie stood up and walked to the window. Watching the torrential rain outside, she curled her lips into a wicked smile, "Noble Princess Consort Rong, Prince Dai, don't disappoint this ti."
She called out, "Nanny Sun."
Nanny Sun, waiting by the side, stepped forward with a very respectful deanor, "At your service."
"Inform them to give Marquis Xuanping and the others a hand at tomorrow's morning court." It's certain that at tomorrow's court, Marquis Xuanping and his group would once again bring up the issue of deposing the Crown Prince and appointing Prince Dai. She wouldn't mind giving them a hand. "Also, spread the news of Prince Dai's victory throughout the capital, let the people know how remarkable Prince Dai is."
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