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Wang Xi replied, “It was Consort Xian. In a few days, Consort Xian is planning to host a flower-viewing banquet at Jianjia Terrace. The Fourth Princess specifically asked for osmanthus cakes, so Her Ladyship had the Imperial Kitchen set so aside.”
This—this this this.
Wei Yu was at a loss for words after hearing that.
Did Consort Xian have no brains?
The Emperor had just been struck by lightning!
He only woke up today—surely she didn’t give this order right after he regained consciousness?
She must’ve said it back when the old man was still unconscious!
The Emperor’s life or death had been uncertain, and no one even dared to laugh out loud. This woman, as an imperial consort in the harem, not only failed to pray for or inquire about the Emperor’s condition, but she even had the nerve to plan so nonsense flower-viewing banquet?!
Was she really just not that bright, or did she think her son’s claim to the throne was already secure?
“Hiss—”
Wei Yu sucked in a cold breath. He asked Wang Xi, “Does the Empress know about this?”
Wang Xi considered for a mont. “Most likely, yes. Eunuch Wang Yu even ca by the Imperial Kitchen yesterday.”
Wei Yu blinked.
Oh no.
Wang Yu was the Chief Eunuch at the Empress’s side. If he went to the Imperial Kitchen, soone would’ve definitely ntioned this to him—and if Wang Yu knew, that ant the Empress surely knew too.
She knew but didn’t intervene. Was she deliberately keeping out of it, or did she want to act but didn’t dare?
After all, the Empress had no sons, and while the Emperor was unconscious, the Eldest Prince and Second Prince had been secretly vying for the throne.
If the Second Prince were to take the throne, then Consort Xian’s position…
Having watched plenty of palace intrigue dramas with his elders in his past life, Wei Yu silently shook his head.
What a ss.
But it had nothing to do with him.
At most, he just wouldn’t get to eat osmanthus cake for a few days.
“Whatever, if there’s none, there’s none. It’s just for a few days.”
Wei Yu did so quick calculations with his little stash of money, estimated the cost of other pastries, and finally settled on one with similar value for money.
“Eunuch Wang, is there still any dan’yu milk cake left?”
Wang Xi replied, “Yes. If Your Highness wants so, this servant will bring it to you tomorrow.”
Only then did Wei Yu smile in satisfaction. “Great. Just bring it with tomorrow’s supper. And please also send a portion to the Eighth Prince and Third Princess.”
“Yes, this old servant understands.”
Wei Yu turned and waved to Hong Zhong, who was waiting nearby, to go get so silver.
You can’t get anything done in the palace without spending money—especially when it cos to food and clothing. Even though the masters all had their allotted rations, if they wanted better quality, they had to pay for it.
Fortunately, Wei Yu had earned a decent amount over the years as a middleman.
Once Hong Zhong went inside and fetched the money, he handed Eunuch Wang Xi a dark blue embroidered pouch. Only then did Wang Xi take his leave.
Once the man left, Wei Yu lay back down again.
—
The Eighth Prince returned after talking with the Third Princess and, upon seeing Wei Yu lounging on the rocking chair with his eyes closed, leisurely munching on sunflower seeds, he imdiately yanked him up.
“What ti do you think it is, and you’re still lazing around? Father will definitely check your studies tomorrow. You’re not even using this ti to catch up, and instead you’re just lying around like you’ve got nothing to do. You’re going to drive
mad!”
The Eighth Prince was clearly fuming. Normally he only drank hot tea, but now he picked up a cup of cold tea from the table and downed it in one gulp.
“Think about it—when we entered the hall earlier, I told you again and again not to let your mind wander. What did you do? Father called your na several tis and you didn’t even respond! If he hadn’t been unwell today, I’m sure he would’ve punished you by making you kneel and copy scriptures!”
Wei Yu’s head was spinning from the scolding.
“Eighth Brother, please have rcy! Don’t say any more—I was wrong, I really know I was wrong. I’ll go to the study and read right now!”
Don’t argue with Mom.
Especially not a man mom.
You had to treat them like a girlfriend—admit fault imdiately and never talk back!
Wei Yu’s instant surrender gave the Eighth Prince nowhere to vent his anger—it just dissipated on its own.
He cald down a little, gave Wei Yu a sideways glance, and said gruffly, “You’re only good at talking. Fine, I won’t say more. It’s not like you’ll do any better next ti anyway.”
Wei Yu gave him a cheeky grin and chuckled.
But the Eighth Prince didn’t look at him again. Instead, he seed lost in thought. “I really don’t know what was going on with Father today. He lectured a few of our older brothers but didn’t punish anyone. And Fourth Brother, who’s usually his favorite, was completely ignored. Yet he paid quite a bit of attention to the two of us… really strange.”
Wei Yu picked up a sunflower seed and cracked it lazily. “If you ask , Eighth Brother, you’re overthinking it. Father is the Son of Heaven—who knows what’s going on in his head? You’d be better off thinking about how to deal with him tomorrow.”
Just as the words left his mouth, a slap ca down on his head.
“Ah!”
Wei Yu yelped in pain, clutching his head and looking at the Eighth Prince with grievance.
See? Told you—you can’t talk back.
This “man mom” might actually get physical if things go wrong!
The Eighth Prince scolded, “No manners. Be careful soone doesn’t overhear what you just said.”
It was just the two of them in the courtyard, plus Xiao Anzi standing at the gate—who could possibly overhear?
What, soone with super-hearing?
Wei Yu gave a begrudging “oh.”
The Eighth Prince had co over specifically to warn Wei Yu, reminding him not to drift off and slack again tomorrow.
After getting Wei Yu’s promise, the Eighth Prince didn’t stay long and returned to his own quarters.
“Sigh.”
Wei Yu let out a long sigh.
This is hard.
He still had to stand watch in front of Emperor Dad tomorrow. So exhausting.
—
The Emperor’s quarters were divided into a front hall and a back hall.
The back hall was where the Emperor lived; the front hall functioned like a reception area.
Because it was such a rare chance to be close to Emperor Dad, the Eighth Prince dragged Wei Yu over early in the morning to pay respects.
At that ti, Emperor Wei had just barely woken up. Upon hearing the two brothers had co, he didn’t let them in imdiately but told them to wait in the side hall.
The side hall was a small study, with lots of books inside.
The young eunuch leading them brought them to the door and respectfully said, “Your Highnesses, His Majesty has instructed you to read here in the side hall for a while.”
“Thank you, young eunuch.”
The Eighth Prince thanked him. Once the eunuch left, he started looking around to take in the surroundings of the side hall.
Wei Yu didn’t have that kind of energy.
As soon as the eunuch left, he slumped down, squinting as he collapsed onto the nearby couch.
No helping it—he’d stayed up too late reading novels the night before. Even though he knew he’d be seeing Emperor Dad today, he kept thinking “just ten more minutes,” “last ten minutes,” and so on—ten minutes after ten minutes, and it just never stopped.
All those endless “ten more minutes” added up, and before he knew it, it was after two in the morning when he finally fell asleep.
Woken up at six, he’d only had a little over three hours of sleep.
He was truly exhausted.
Wei Yu lay down and was out like a light almost instantly.
By the ti the Eighth Prince turned to call him, he found Wei Yu already fast asleep, dead to the world.
Eighth Prince: ……
A vein popped on his forehead.
Seriously.
He wanted to hit his little brother.
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