Even though the Emperor was in a good mood today, he quickly grew impatient with the bickering among the concubines. After spending so ti at the evening banquet, he rose and left. Seeing this, Noble Princess Consort Rong knew the Emperor was displeased and hurriedly went after him, leaving her al unfinished.
Empress Xie and Princess Consort De, noticing the Emperor's departure, also lost the mood to continue eating and got up to leave as well.
Zhao Yao and Liang Zhaoyi were not in a hurry to leave. They decided to finish their al first, as it seed wasteful to leave a beautifully spread table with barely a bite taken.
On the way back to Kunde Hall, Liang Zhaoyi and Yu iren kept silent, fearing that the walls might have ears.
"Mother Consort, I want to visit the Eighth Brother at Xingde Palace," Zhao Yao said, patting his chest, smiling brightly, "I brought so delicious snacks for him." Earlier during the banquet, Zhao Yao had collected a few tasty treats to keep warm in his clothes.
The Eighth Prince had caught a cold and had been recuperating at Xingde Palace these past few days, which is why he did not attend the banquet today.
"Go ahead, but don't stay long. You don't want to disturb your Eighth Brother's rest."
"I'll just drop off the snacks for Eighth Brother and co back," Zhao Yao said as he set off to Xingde Palace with Tong Xi.
Yu iren watched Zhao Yao's retreating figure and sighed softly, thinking about the Eighth Prince, who always lacked favor: "The Eighth Prince is indeed pitiable."
Liang Zhaoyi understood her aning but did not offer any comnts, instead saying, "Let's head back."
Yu iren said no more, taking the Fifth Princess's hand and following beside Liang Zhaoyi back to Kunde Hall.
Pan Cairen had been waiting for their return. Upon seeing them, she quickly asked if anything had happened or if they had been bullied.
Yu iren, silent throughout the banquet, beca quite loquacious upon returning to Kunde Hall as she animatedly recounted the events of the evening banquet to Pan Cairen.
anwhile, Zhao Yao had already arrived at Xingde Palace.
The Eighth Prince had not yet rested; he was leaning against the bed reading when Zhao Yao ca in, quite surprised: "Tenth Brother, why are you here?"
"I've co to see you, Eighth Brother." Zhao Yao approached the Eighth Prince's bed, carefully observing his complexion. Seeing that his brother looked much better than the previous days, he felt slightly relieved. "Eighth Brother, are you feeling any better?"
"Much better." The Eighth Prince gazed warmly at Zhao Yao before suddenly rembering sothing. He quickly asked, "Tenth Brother, shouldn't you be at the banquet in Qionglin Garden right now?"
"The banquet has ended." As Zhao Yao spoke, he took out a packet of snacks from his chest and handed it to the Eighth Prince. "Eighth Brother, I brought these snacks from the banquet. They're particularly delicious; you should try them right away."
Seeing that Zhao Yao had rembered to bring him snacks from the banquet, the Eighth Prince's eyes began to glisten with emotion. He reached for the snacks, still warm, and his eyes reddened slightly.
"Eighth Brother, the snacks are still warm. Eat them while they're hot, or they won't taste as good."
The Eighth Prince gave Zhao Yao a slight smile, picking up a piece and offering it to Zhao Yao: "Tenth Brother, you should have so too."
"Eighth Brother, I've already eaten. Hurry and eat up."
"Alright, I will." As the Eighth Prince ate, Zhao Yao eagerly asked, "Eighth Brother, aren't they delicious?"
The Eighth Prince nodded, "Delicious, truly exquisite."
"Eighth Brother, the food at the banquet was also quite good. It's just a pity you couldn't attend because of your illness." Zhao Yao then chatted animatedly with the Eighth Prince about which dishes at the banquet were tasty and why.
As Zhao Yao described the dishes, the Eighth Prince and the eunuch attending to him couldn't help but salivate.
Although Zhao Yao wasn't particularly bright in his studies or articulate, whenever he spoke about food, he beca quite eloquent. Even with the simplest of dishes, he could describe them as if they were the most delicious.
"Eighth Brother, when Second Brother returns, there's bound to be a celebration banquet, and there will be delicious food then too. You must get well before Second Brother cos back."
"You're right. I should hurry and recover so I can enjoy the food with you." While eating his snacks, the Eighth Prince casually inquired, "Did anything fun happen at tonight's banquet?"
"Nothing fun happened." Zhao Yao then sighed, "Ninth Brother and Seventh Brother got into another argunt."
"What were they arguing about?"
"Ninth Brother claid he wanted to be a hero like Second Brother in battle, and then Seventh Brother called him a coward..." Zhao Yao then recounted the squabble between the Seventh and Ninth Princes during the banquet to the Eighth Prince.
"Tenth Brother, did Ninth Brother bully you?"
"No." Bringing up the Ninth Prince, Zhao Yao couldn't help but complain, "Eighth Brother, you don't know how annoying Ninth Brother is. All morning he was bragging about Second Brother's victory, and he's sure to continue bragging tomorrow." Not just tomorrow, either; for a long ti, Ninth Brother would not stop bragging about Second Brother's victory.
"Let him talk; you don't have to pay him any mind." The Eighth Prince said and finished the few pieces of snacks Zhao Yao had brought.
"Eighth Brother, I won't disturb your rest any longer. I'll visit again tomorrow."
Although the Eighth Prince wished to chat with Zhao Yao a bit longer, it was already late, and the evening had turned much colder. He worried Zhao Yao would catch a chill if he returned too late.
"Be careful on your way back."
"Eighth Brother, you must sleep well and stop reading for a faster recovery." Using a tone one might use to coax a toddler, Zhao Yao persuaded the Eighth Prince, "Eighth Brother, if you behave, I'll bring you snacks made by the Fifth Sister tomorrow."
"I'll go to sleep right away."
The Eighth Prince asked the eunuch Yu Hai beside him to escort Zhao Yao back to Kunde Hall, but Zhao Yao declined. Yu Hai had to settle for seeing him to the gate of Xingde Palace.
When Yu Hai returned so quickly, the Eighth Prince, feeling a bit displeased, said, "Didn't I ask you to see the Tenth Brother to the gate?"
"Your Highness, the Tenth Highness sent back, saying I should quickly return to care for you and to watch whether you get proper rest." Yu Hai replied with a smile, "Your Highness, the Tenth Highness truly cares for you."
"Indeed, it's a blessing to have Tenth Brother and Lady Liang." In the palace, besides Lady Liang and the Tenth Brother, no one really cared about his wellbeing.
"Zhaoyi and the Tenth Highness are rare good people in the palace." Everyone in the palace disregarded the Eighth Prince, everyone bullied him, only Liang Zhaoyi and the Tenth Highness never did so. Thanks to the concern and help from Liang Zhaoyi and them, His Highness could endure the difficult days in the palace.
"Lady Liang and the Tenth Brother are different from others in the palace." The palace was a place full of hypocrisy, cruelty, and filth—a stark contrast to the purity of Lady Liang and the Tenth Brother. "How are things with the Crown Prince?"
"In response to Your Highness..."
After hearing Yu Hai's report, the Eighth Prince smirked with interest: "Noble Princess Consort Rong has a deft hand, actually suggesting that Prince Dai assist in quelling the chaos in Yangzhou."
"Your Highness, would the Emperor truly send Prince Dai to Yangzhou?"
"I would hope Father actually does send Prince Dai to Yangzhou, but unfortunately..." The Eighth Prince shook his head, "Father won't do it."
"Why not? Dispatching Prince Dai could quell the rebels in Yangzhou quickly."
"Although Father is displeased with the Xie family, it isn't ti to act against them just yet," the Eighth Prince said with deep implication, "Moreover, Prince Dai returning has made both the Crown Prince and the Xie family uneasy."
Yu Hai understood only a portion but chose not to ask further.
"Your Highness, the Tenth Highness reminded you to rest well and not keep reading."
The Eighth Prince handed the book to Yu Hai, laughing slightly as he scolded, "You're sure good at turning a minor order into a major command."
Yu Hai grinned pleasingly at the Eighth Prince, "Your servant only acts for your wellbeing."
On another note, Zhao Yao was t with a small surprise on his way back to Kunde Hall.
As he passed a tree, sothing suddenly leaped at him. It had a pair of bright green eyes that glowed like ghostly fires in the darkness, quite alarming and intimidating.
Tong Xi, startled, jumped in front of Zhao Yao, shouting, "Your Highness, danger!"
Zhao Yao remained calm, pulling Tong Xi aside, "It's okay."
"Your Highness..."
Only then did Tong Xi realize that what lunged at Zhao Yao was an eagle, not so ghostly apparition.
"Isn't this... the Emperor's eagle?"
Zhao Yao corrected Tong Xi, "It's a Sea Eagle. Lai Fu is the finest Sea Eagle."
Hearing the na "Lai Fu," Tong Xi's mouth twitched slightly as he corrected Zhao Yao, "Your Highness, the Emperor's Sea Eagle is nad Lingyun, not Lai Fu."
Embracing the Emperor's favorite pet, Zhao Yao stroked its feathers as he rebutted Tong Xi, "Lai Fu sounds much better than Lingyun." He then bent his head to ask the Sea Eagle in his arms, "Lai Fu, you agree Lai Fu is a better na than Lingyun, don't you?"
Lai Fu chirped softly at Zhao Yao: "Lai Fu sounds nice."
"See, Lai Fu thinks its na is better than Lingyun."
Tong Xi: "..." The Emperor would certainly be furious to learn that his beloved Sea Eagle Lingyun was called Lai Fu by His Highness.
Cradling Lai Fu, Zhao Yao asked, "Lai Fu, how did you end up here?"
With an arrogant tilt of its little head, Lai Fu answered: "Ca to see you."
"I knew you missed ." Zhao Yao said joyfully, then lowered his head to nuzzle Lai Fu's little head.
Lai Fu enjoyed the affection imnsely, though it protested: "I didn't miss you."
"Well, I missed you. I'll feed you so of the snacks Sister made for you soon."
Lai Fu stated: "I want five."
"Five is too many; I can only give you two..." Before Zhao Yao could finish, Lai Fu pecked his little face.
Zhao Yao quickly relented, "Alright, alright, five it is."
Lai Fu was satisfied and nuzzled Zhao Yao's face with its head.
"Your Highness, Sea Eagles probably shouldn't eat snacks..." Tong Xi's words trailed off as he noticed the docile Lai Fu in Zhao Yao's arms suddenly sported a fierce look. In that instant, he saw a glint of murderous intent in Lai Fu's eyes.
Although Lai Fu behaved taly around Zhao Yao, it was still a raptor through and through. Its sharp talons could kill not just beasts but people, too.
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