Chapter 1002: Chapter 996: Before and After (1)
"Your Highness!" Chief He approached, bowed, and said, "The hour is near, the Emperor is still waiting for you."
Min returned to his natural demeanor, nodded, and said, "Yes." He then turned and headed towards the Imperial Study Room, asking as he walked, "Are my Second and Third Brothers already there?"
"Yes." Chief He was Min’s personal eunuch, managing all affairs on his behalf. "But the two princes arrived a bit early, Your Highness is arriving at just the right time."
Without expression, Min responded, "Yes." He was still thinking about Xiqiu’s appearance, wanting to tell her that he wasn’t underfed; it’s just the palace food doesn’t taste as good as the food at home, he’s simply not used to it...
"Your Highness." Another little eunuch, about eight or nine years old, came over with a bright smile, holding a hand warmer: "I lit this hand warmer for you, warm yourself up!"
Min moved his fingers hanging by his side, his gaze lingered on the hand warmer, furrowing his brow, he said, "No need." The cold can quickly calm one down.
As he spoke, he turned outside the Imperial Study Room. The door was ajar and voices could already be heard from inside. The little eunuch guarding the door opened a sliver and reported inside, to which someone went and informed Chief Chang, who softly whispered in the Emperor’s ear, "Your Highness has arrived."
"Yes." The Emperor was listening to the Second Prince, nodded upon hearing this, and Min entered the room, greeted the Emperor, "Father!" and then turned to look at his two brothers.
The Second Prince’s gaze fell on Min, and he bowed respectfully, "Brother!" The Third Prince also said, "Brother!" The three brothers exchanged greetings.
Chief Chang personally brought tea to Min, who accepted it and thanked him, then turned to the Second Prince, "Second Brother, when I went to Wenhua Hall to fetch something, I saw a copy of ’Zhongyong’ that seemed to be yours, so I brought it back with me. I will have Chief He deliver it to you later."
The Emperor looked at Min and nodded slightly.
The Second Prince inwardly sneered, but outwardly responded respectfully, "Thank you, Brother. It’s a damaged copy, so I didn’t often read it and left it in the hall. Since you’ve brought it back, I’ll retrieve it from your place later."
The Emperor slightly raised an eyebrow, and Min had already nodded in response, "Alright!" Then he turned to the Third Prince, smiling, "Third Brother, the lantern you wanted is already made, I’ll send it to you later."
"Really!" The Third Prince immediately beamed, but upon realizing he was still in the Imperial Study Room, he composed himself and clasped his fists, "Thank you, Brother."
The Emperor looked at the harmony among the three brothers and joyfully said, "Since Hong’er likes lanterns so much and Rui’er can make them, why don’t we host a lantern-shooting competition during the Lantern Festival this year? What do you all think?"
"I think it’s wonderful." The Third Prince’s eyes sparkled brightly, "If we shoot them down, are they ours?"
The Emperor smiled and nodded, turning to Chief Chang, "Should there be a prize?" Chief Chang laughed, bowed, and replied, "It’s the palace’s first lantern-shooting competition, but I think a prize would make it more interesting since it’s a competition."
The Emperor nodded slightly, "Rui’er, what do you think?" Min thought for a moment before replying, "This is the first time I’ve heard of such a game, and thinking about it makes it seem very interesting." He then saluted the Emperor, "Thank you, Father, I’m sure my brothers will be delighted... As for creativity..." He sheepishly shook his head, "I’m always a bit dense and don’t know what suggestions to make." He then looked at the Second Prince, "Second Brother is the smartest, what ideas do you have?"
The Emperor’s gaze fell on the Second Prince, who thought for a while and replied, "Not only the prize, but many things need to be confirmed, like who will compete, what the rules will be... Everything needs to be carefully arranged."
"Yan’er makes a good point." The Emperor appeared enthusiastic, "Then it’s decided, you three brothers will prepare together." He then turned to Chief Chang, "Assist them, and if there are any decisions that can’t be made, come ask me."
The three brothers looked at each other, and Min first clasped his fists to accept the order, followed by his two brothers who also saluted, "Understood!" Chief Chang’s gaze swept over them but said nothing!
"There’s still time, take your time to discuss later." The Emperor looked at Min, "Rui’er, as the eldest brother, lead your two brothers."
Min acknowledged!
The three brothers exited the Imperial Study Room, and the Third Prince approached Min, "Elder Brother, I’ll go back with you. I want to get the lantern." He said, looking at Min with hopeful big eyes.
"Alright!" Min smiled, and the Second Prince paused his gaze, turned to look at the Imperial Study Room, and also said, "I’ll go with you, I’ll get the book from Elder Brother too." The three of them then walked side by side towards the West Five Houses. On the way, the Third Prince asked a bit confusedly, "How do we do the lantern-shooting competition, is it by hanging many lanterns in the Imperial Garden and then shooting them down with arrows?" He didn’t know how to shoot arrows: "Can I ask someone to help?"
Min furrowed his brows and uncertainly replied, "Father hasn’t mentioned any restrictions, so you can ask someone to help you then." The Second Prince snorted coldly and said, "If you ask someone to help, what’s the fun in that?"
Min’s gaze fell on the Second Prince’s left arm, he still hadn’t told the Emperor about it, nor had he let anyone know... The Second Prince saw him looking and his expression froze.
The Third Prince worriedly said, "But I don’t know how!"
The three of them reached the west side of the Imperial Garden, and before they could enter, an eunuch hurried over, "Second Prince." The three stopped, the newcomer saluted, leaned close to the Second Prince’s ear, and whispered, "The Empress requests you to return for a moment."
The Second Prince frowned upon hearing this, replied, "I’m busy now, I’ll go later." He waved his hand and walked away without looking back.
The eunuch couldn’t say much in front of the other two princes, so he quietly followed the Second Prince to the West Five Houses, lingering for a moment before exiting. Upon leaving, the Second Prince asked, "What’s the matter this time?"
"The Empress just vomited blood, and Nanny Mao asks you to visit." Pausing, he added, "Madam Shen sent something for the Empress, but we can’t go out, so could the Second Prince secretly send someone to fetch it!"
The Second Prince nodded, the eunuch cautiously glanced at him again, and added, "The two Mr. Shen are going to Yangzhou after the New Year, will Your Highness send them off?"
"No need!" The Second Prince replied impatiently, "They’re not leaving forever." He already had many things to do, no time or energy to deal with other matters...
Before there was the mother, grandmother, and uncle... now he’s alone, with this disobedient arm...
He narrowed his eyes, tightly clenched his right fist, determined that one day he would overlook the world, with everyone beneath his feet!
