The pitied Zhao Yao happily accepted the title and rewards. He was genuinely happy, although others thought he was forcing a smile.
Zhao Yao didn’t care what the ministers thought; he was truly delighted because he would soon leave the capital to go to the eagerly anticipated Lingnan.
As an unfavored prince, his coming-of-age birthday naturally wasn’t celebrated grandly. The Emperor instructed Sun Kui to send Zhao Yao so items according to customs, and that was it. There wasn’t even a birthday banquet for him.
On the noon of his birthday, Zhao Yao dined at Kunde Hall. Lady Liang and Pan Cairen personally cooked a table of dishes that Zhao Yao loved.
The Emperor showed so courtesy by appearing at Kunde Hall at noon, accompanying Lady Liang and Zhao Yao for lunch.
After eating for a while, Zhao Yao sensed the atmosphere was off and lifted his head from the bowl, looking curiously at the Emperor and Lady Liang. Seeing their eyes full of reluctance, he straightened slightly.
"Why are you looking at like that?"
The Emperor glared at Zhao Yao, "You ungrateful brat."
Zhao Yao glared back, "Should I hug you all and cry, shouting I don’t want to leave, I can’t bear you all—would that an gratitude?"
The Emperor nodded, "Yes, that would count as gratitude."
Zhao Yao simply rolled his eyes at the Emperor, "You think I’m like you, always acting."
"Xiao Xiao, I told you this brat has no gratitude." The Emperor pointed at Zhao Yao, complaining to Lady Liang, "Look, he has no sad expression at all."
"Why should I be sad?" Zhao Yao deliberately smiled at the Emperor, "I’m very happy now, I can’t wait to go to Lingnan."
"I knew you had no heart."
"What, you want to stay?"
The Emperor imdiately gave an expression of disdain and waved at Zhao Yao, "Get lost, go to Lingnan right away, so you don’t bother ."
Zhao Yao showed the sa disdainful look, "I don’t want to see you either."
"You brat..." The Emperor felt wronged and pitifully looked at Lady Liang, "Xiao Xiao, look at him..."
"Alright, you two stop arguing and eat properly." Lady Liang served dishes to both the Emperor and Zhao Yao.
Zhao Yao put away his playful deanor and beca serious, "I’ll pack tomorrow, once everything’s ready, I’ll set off for Lingnan."
Lady Liang nodded, "Alright, I’ll have Gui Xing and the others help you pack, which will put my mind at ease."
"Great, Gui Xing Sister and the others are ticulous; with their help, I’ll feel relaxed."
Lady Liang said nothing more. She dared not say much, fearing that the more she spoke, the more reluctant she would feel.
"Mother Consort, everything is arranged over in Lingnan; I won’t have issues there." Zhao Yao knew Lady Liang was pretending to be calm, "As for the journey to Lingnan, the man next to you has arranged hidden guards to protect , so you don’t need to worry."
The Emperor discontentedly said, "What do you an by ’the man next to you,’ who are you referring to?"
"Who else but you."
The Emperor’s face turned serious, "I am your father, show so respect."
Zhao Yao replied dismissively, "Oh."
"Brat, itching for trouble, are you?"
Zhao Yao couldn’t be bothered to argue with the Emperor, glaring twice at him.
"Shut your mouth, let talk to my mother consort."
"You hold your words, let Yao Yao speak."
The Emperor could only obediently shut his mouth.
"Fourth Brother and Eighth Brother are worried about ; mainly they don’t trust Father to send protection for , so they sent their trusted aides to escort to Lingnan."
The Emperor huffed with displeasure, "What do they know."
"Fourth Brother and Eighth Brother prepared several boats of supplies for ." Zhao Yao wouldn’t take a carriage over land to Lingnan but would take a boat to Swamp Prefecture. First from the capital to Quanting County, then by sea from Quanting County to Swamp Prefecture.
Everything in Quanting County has long been arranged, just waiting for him to arrive.
With Zhao Yao’s ticulous arrangents, Lady Liang felt reassured.
"Rember to write." The things needed to be said, Lady Liang had already ntioned, not needing to repeat.
"Rest assured, I’ll have Xiao Jin frequently send letters to you."
"Alright."
Under the table, the Emperor reached out and tightly held Lady Liang’s hand.
"Brat, it’s your own wish to go to Lingnan. If you don’t achieve anything there, I’ll call you back to the capital." The Emperor had nothing special to tell Zhao Yao. He couldn’t bring himself to speak those mushy words.
"To avoid seeing you again, I’ll surely develop and improve Lingnan."
"Then I’ll be waiting to see that."
Three days later, Zhao Yao left the capital and headed for Lingnan.
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