Chapter 88

Chapter 88

By the time the group reach Chang’an it was already passed December. Chengqian led the ministers out to the city gate to welcome them home. He ended up being shocked by young uncle. They had a prior agreement to meet up quietly after this as young uncle shared that he needed help to carry things. Things referred to all the presents he got for them from Louyang!

Initially Chengqian didn’t pay much attention but when he looked towards the direction that young uncle was pointing at, he was startled by the multiple carts of gifts. He glanced towards father but seeing that the Emperor is silent, he ordered his men to get enough manpower to move Yuanying’s things back to the palace and then to deliver them to their right recipient according to a name list.

After Li Yuanying met his eldest nephew, he happily went home to meet with mother.

Lady Liu had not seen her son for more than half a year and misses him dearly. She kept pulling onto him to get a closer look and then instructed that food she had personally cooked be served to him. With her child gone, Lady Liu studied the recipes sent back by Yuanying. As these are her child’s favourite food, she had a goal in mind. Now that he’s back, she naturally prepared a whole table full of delicious food for him to try.

When it comes to food, Yuanying welcomes it. Whichever dish mother wanted him to try he gladly comply and kept praising her for the taste.Yôur favorite stories at novelhall.com

“Mother, when we go to our own land I will get someone to open a big shop on your behalf. We will sell all the dishes that you have invented and call it Liu’s recipes. When someone mention these delicious dishes in the future , they will think of you right away!”

“Alright, I’ll write down all the recipes. You find someone to open the shop.”

Yuanying tasted all the dishes available contentedly and then took another bite of the smoked egg. This dish is first simmered with Lady Liu’s secret ingredients, air dried and then cut into balanced thin slices at the right timing. It has a salty fragrance and a unique taste. The boy ate several pieces before he was satisfied.

Mother and son chatted while eating and time passed by quickly. Yuanying decided to take a nap in his room and realized that his bedding had been replaced with new ones that were warm and soft. He got into bed thinking about how to torture his brother into allowing him to leave for his fief earlier. He slowly drifted into sleep soundly and had a particularly beautiful dream.

It was approaching the year end and officials from all over the country had returned to the capital city. Princes who were sent away also obtained the Emperor’s permission to return and celebrate his birthday. One such vassal prince was third Prince Li Ke. After returning, he visited his father and then his mother Consort Yang.

Consort Yang was a princess from the previous Sui Dynasty. She was given to Li Er when he was still Prince Qin and gave birth to the third Prince Li Ke. As Li Er became the Emperor, she also entered into the imperial harem and birthed another son – sixth Prince Li Yin. Even as a princess in Sui she was not given much attention. Therefore, her sons were sent out into their own lands at an early age of 12 or 13.

Knowing that Li Ke is back, Consort Yang was looking forward to meeting him. According to local customs, vassal princes had to reside in a special mansion and is not allowed to stay overnight in the palace. Consort Yang felt bittersweet and held onto Li Ke’s hands while chatting.

Li Ke and Li Yin were in similar situation whereby they would be picked on if they commit the smallest mistake. He would even be scolded for something small like going for a hunt. However it was rare to meet mother and so he only talked abut happy things.

After meeting Consort Yang, Li Ke asked for her help to send gifts to his younger brothers and sisters who he got along with. Since he is stationed far away, he cannot take care of Consort Yang. Since he is back now momentarily, he naturally brought gifts in hopes that someone would stand up for mother when the situation arises.

Consort Yang looked at her son who thought of everything and her nose felt a little sore.

Although Li Ke was the third prince, he was actually born in the same year as crown prince Li Chengqian and second prince Li Kuan. Li Kuan passed away early and was adopted by another son of the late Emperor. With that, Li Ke is actually next in line to the throne after Li Chengqian. If he weren’t birth by a lowly princess of the previous fallen dynasty he would not have to live so humbly and under such harsh criticism. Look at the fourth and ninth prince, both were cherished by the Emperor to the point that he was reluctant to send them away.

But that’s just life. Parents can’t choose their children and children can’t choose their parents. Consort Yang responded in agreement to all of Li Ke’s requests. While they were parting, she raised her hands to gently caress his cheek with tear stained eyes.

“There’s nothing lacking in the palace and the servants are attentive. Don’t worry. Listen to your father and do things that make him happy.”

Li Ke nodded but when he left for home alone he started thinking. If he were to follow his father’s wishes then he should behave like the meaning behind the name he was given. Abide by his duties only, don’t think about more or do anything more.

Gao Yang wasn’t aware that Li Ke is back until she received his gift. She still had a little memory of this older brother as he was kind to her when she was much younger. He is quite unlike brother Chengqian who always felt distant.

Gao Yang has been very well-behaved lately and has been bored out of her mind. Early next morning she ran out looking for young uncle. She wanted him to bring her out to meet this great older brother who remembers to bring her a gift despite them being apart for so long.

Yuanying thought deeper and realized that since he has close to no contact with princes that has left for their own territory, he had no idea what is to be expected when he reaches his own fiefdom. In addition, he has been playing the role of the good son lately and often accompanied Lady Liu. He agreed to Gao Yang’s proposal immediately.

Yuanying informed his mom and then got a group of friends together to go visit Li Ke. He mainly wanted to bring Li Zhi along because he is now 13 and is almost of age to be independent. He should get to know everything about being in their fief early.

Since Yuanying has been brainwashing Li Zhi for a long time, he now has less resistance about leaving Chang’an. Instead, he really wants to be independent and do some good for the country. He will not be a useless moth who harms the country by leeching off the wealth of the Royal family while waiting to die. He followed Yuanying out to visit Li Ke, but they bumped into other vassal princes by coincidence.

Yuanying thought that since customs are different in different locations he wanted to know more. Therefore he eagerly sat down and chatted with them as they were all either his “brothers” or “nephews”. Yuanying is great at making new friends. With every mention of “brother” or “nephew” and even though they have never met, he managed to trick all of them with his enthusiasm and shameless attitude.

Li Er approached the small study.

Yuanying ran forward to welcome him and asked in surprise, “Brother, why are you here?”

Before Li Er could answer, Yuanying began to express his opinion again: “It’s such a beautiful night, you should visit the imperial harem. You have at least a hundred concubines waiting for your love. How can you pamper them with so few visits?!”

Li Er glared at him.

Li Yuanying immediately changed his tune: “But it’s also right that you go less. Master Sun said that too much of anything will hurt the body, especially that. He even advise me to keep my child like innocence for a few more years , otherwise it will be bad for my health!”

“Don’t simply talk about everything!” Is the Imperial Harem something that a prince can talk about? Even with Wu Mei’s incident, he hasn’t learn. Is the harem something he should talk about?!

Li Yuanying shut up obediently.

Li Er picked up Li Yuanying’s writing about his “experience”. Upon close look, the Emperor found that it was written in an orderly manner. He finished the whole article.

“Not bad. You finish this early and send it to me before my birthday. I’ll ask someone to duplicate a few more copies and share it with your brother and nephews. Even those who didn’t return this time.”

If it was another person they would be extremely happy to get Li Er’s affirmation but not Li Yuanying.

“I worked so hard to collect and organize this. Why should I give it to you!”

Li Er glared at him.

Li Yuanying is never afraid of the Emperor and so he took this as an opportunity to take advantage of him with a brave face.

“Lord Brother, I heard that there is a hill in the southern suburbs that belongs to the royal family and there are bamboos all over the mountains. Can you give me all the bamboos? I don’t want the mountain, just the bamboo will do!”

“What do you want bamboo for?”

“Can’t tell you now!” He then leaned close to Li Er and secretly whispered to him. “If you promise to give them to me, I will give you a treasure in spring in return!”

Li Er glanced at Li Yuanying who was approaching him and readily agreed.

“Okay, I will give you all the bamboo.”

Notes from the author:

Little Prince: Brother can you give me this!

His Majesty Li Er: Take it!

Little Prince: I want that too!

His Majesty Li Er: Take it!

Little Prince: And——

His Majesty Li Er: Get out! ! !