CH 28

Ch 28 “My older brother is the cutest.”

The riots of the victims of the outer city quickly subsided, and the establishment of a new outer city guard was imperative. Soldiers could be recruited on the spot, but there was still no conclusion on who to lead the army. Everyone with their own interests wanted to get involved, and Emperor Qianming didn’t express his opinion, so no one knew what the old man was thinking.

Xie Chaoling also tentatively asked Xie Chaoyuan about this matter: “Others want to get a share of this. Since Your Highness has an idea, why don’t you try to do something?”

At that time, they were drinking tea and playing chess. Xie Chaoyuan raised his eyelids and looked at him, and said indifferently: “His Majesty made it clear that it is something that he wants to hold in his hands. If others tried their best to grab them, wouldn’t it just create grudges?” .

Xie Chaoling stared at Xie Chaoyuan’s eyes. He knew this kid’s ambition, and was even more suspicious of his identity as a spy of Xirong, if Xie Chaoyuan really dared to betray Daliang, he would not be lenient.

Xie Chaoyuan seemed to have read his mind, and said with a smile, “What is Linlang thinking?”

Xie Chaoling put away the emotions in his eyes, and then his eyes fell back on the chessboard, and he made a move: “It’s nothing, His Highness looks good, so I just took a second look.”

In the end, Xie Chaoling won this game of chess. He did it unconsciously. Xie Chaoyuan played chess in an eclectic style. Even if he was not good at chess, he was full of confidence with every move as he charged across. Caught off guard, Xie Chaoling had to expend extra effort which was where the fun lay.

Xie Chaoyuan didn’t care if he lost, he set up the chess game again, and wanted to do it again.

In the middle of the chess game, Wang Rang came in to report a matter, saying that His Majesty had just issued an imperial decree of marriage.

Xie Chaoling paused the hand with the chess piece for a moment, and Wang Rang, who was panting heavily, continued: “His Majesty has appointed Princess Leping to the eldest grandson of King Xiao, and they will get married after the princess reaches marriageable age*.”

* girl’s fifteenth birthday

Xie Chaoling was taken aback, Princess Leping and the eldest grandson of King Xiao? How did His Majesty come up with these two people who can’t even be placed together?

Xie Chaoyuan laughed directly.

Princess Leping was the only daughter left by the former crown prince. Emperor Qianming appointed his granddaughter to the eldest grandson of Wang Xiao, which was a very strange thing in itself. The Xiao family made great contributions to the country when the country was founded. It can be said that half of the country in Daliang was brought down by the Xiao family. None of the descendants became officials and they never asked about the disputes in the court, which ensured the safety and prosperity of the Xiao family for a hundred years. But now, Emperor Qianming suddenly pushed this long-forgotten king with a different surname to the cusp of the storm, intending for them to marry in by the daughter left by the former crown prince who died of treason.

No one knows what kind of medicine was sold in the emperor’s gourd. Not mentioning other things, the two little babies, Princess Leping was only eight years old, and the eldest grandson of the Xiao family was only seven years old. How can they propose marriage now? As soon as this decree was announced, there was a lot of discussion in the court, and it was really lively.

Xie Chaoling looked at Xie Chaoyuan inexplicably: “What are you laughing at, Your Highness?”

Xie Chaoyuan shook his head, his eyes did not miss the change in Xie Chaoling’s expression. He did not remind Xie Chaoling and just said: “His Majesty is never swept away by sudden impulses. Just watch and you will see.”

Xie Chaoling naturally knew that, he already had a vague guess.

“Princess Leping…” Xie Chaoyuan stopped after saying these words, as if there was something in his words.

Xie Chaoling felt even more inexplicable. He had seen the little princess before. The princess was not yet three years old when the crown prince accident happened. She was a quiet little girl. Later, because of her embarrassing status, she was sent to another palace in the northern suburbs by Emperor Qianming. Her life probably was not easy.

Facing Xie Chaoling’s puzzled gaze, Xie Chaoyuan smiled: “I just thought of something fun, I’ll tell Lin Lang next time.”

A few days later, Xie Chaoyuan went to the palace to go to court, and after the morning court, Emperor Qianming had him stay for breakfast.

Emperor Qianming now showed some kindness to his two youngest sons, Xie Chaoyuan and Xie Chaoyi, and today only the two of them were left. After asking about Xie Chaoyi’s homework, the topic turned to Xie Chaoyuan. Emperor Qianming said bluntly to him: “The Empress Dowager told me that she wanted to marry her family’s grandniece to you. I know you don’t want to. You can blame me for this matter. If I had chosen a concubine for you earlier on, you won’t have so many troubles, but the Empress Dowager has made up her mind, and I don’t want to disobey her. If you don’t like Zhao family’s daughter, you can marry two more side concubines in the future.” 

The Empress Dowager Zhao’s plan, it’s not that Emperor Qianming didn’t know about it, he couldn’t clearly disobey his aunt’s will. At the same time, he also didn’t think that the Empress Dowager Zhao could handle this brat Xie Chaoyuan. Whether entering King Ke’s mansion can allow her to successfully conceive Xie Chaoyuan’s heir in the future remains to be seen.

Xie Chaoyuan said indifferently: “It’s all up to Royal Father.” 

Emperor Qianming was very satisfied with his obedience, but secretly regretted that even though this kid was clever and witty, he was born of low status, otherwise, he would definitely focus on training him.

Xie Chaoyi, who was sitting across from him, glanced at Xie Chaoyuan and lowered his head in silence.

When the breakfast was about to run out, subordinates came in to report; the chief eunuch of the Eastern Palace came to ask to see His Majesty, saying that he had something important to report.

Emperor Qianming frowned when he heard the words, and announced the people to come in.

Liao Zhi, the chief eunuch of the Eastern Palace, entered the door and knelt down. Xie Chaoyuan glanced at him, then heard him talk about the matter in a deep voice. The storehouse of the Eastern Palace has been robbed, and more than ten kinds of valuable treasures were missing, including tributes from the imperial court. Liao Zhi came here specially to plead guilty. His Royal Highness was still unconscious, so no one could make decisions on the big and small matters in the East Palace, they could only report to the emperor.

Emperor Qianming’s expression darkened at the moment: “Robbed? How could the East Palace storehouse be robbed?”

Liao Zhi could only plead guilty. This matter was indeed their negligence, and now it was unclear whether someone outside went in to steal it, or it was the people in the East Palace who guarded it themselves. They only found out that something was missing this morning, so they had to ask Emperor Qianming to send someone to investigate.

Afterwards, Emperor Qianming had a fit, and then asked someone to investigate the matter.

Xie Chaoyuan narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at Liao Zhi thoughtfully.

It was already Chen Shi after leaving the palace, and just after walking for a while, they bumped into a carriage of King Ding’s mansion. Xie Fengzhen opened the window in the carriage and smiled at Xie Chaoyuan: “Sixth nephew, since we have met, why don’t you go to my mansion to have a drink?” 

King Ding’s Mansion was near the palace, Xie Chaoyuan didn’t mind, and went straight there.

“I didn’t have a meal with you at your house last time. You can stay today. I have just gained a few cooks from the south in my palace. Let them show you their skills at noon.” Xie Fengzhen smiled and invited Xie Chaoyuan to stay and have lunch together. 

But Xie Chaoyuan didn’t give him face, saying that there was still something to do in his residence: “Nephew will come and talk to Royal Uncle next time.”

When he went out early in the morning, he promised to go back and have lunch with Xie Chaoling, he did not want to miss the appointment.

Xie Fengzhen did not force him to stay, and ordered someone to bring two things. One was the milk honey fruit for Xie Chaoyuan to take back to eat, and the other was a set of the Four Treasures of the Study. Xie Chaoyuan lifted the lid of the box and took a look. It was the best product among the best, a good item that was hard to buy even if you have money. He raised his eyebrows: “What does Royal Uncle mean with this?”

Xie Fengzhen smiled and said: “A few days ago, this king’s people bought it from the south, and there were only two sets in total. I don’t need so many sets, I’ll give you a set, Sixth Nephew should study more when he has time, don’t think about playing all day.”

Xie Chaoyuan laughed for a while, then cupped his hands and said: “Nephew has been educated. “

Since Xie Fengzhen wanted to send it, he will accept it.

Back at the mansion before noon, Xie Chaoyuan ordered someone to take out the fruit given by Xie Fengzhen and put it on a plate. Xie Chaoling knew it was from King Ding’s mansion at a glance, and asked him: “Your Highness just went to King Ding’s place?”

“Yes,” Xie Chaoyuan said casually, nodding, “We met on the street and went to have a sip of tea. This snack was given by Royal Uncle, and he told me to take it back to eat.”

He looked at Xie Chaoling with a half-smile. Xie Chaoling was already putting a piece in his mouth. What he loved the most was the dim sum served in King Ding’s Mansion. In the past, when Royal Uncle saw him occasionally, he would bring it to him. For the rest of the time, in order to hide his preference in the Eastern Palace, he would never show too much enthusiasm for certain food and dim sum, his day quite boring and meaningless.

The smile in Xie Chaoyuan ‘s eyes deepened, and he said: “Royal Uncle also gave me a set of Four Treasures of the Study, saying that I should study more when I have time, and don’t just think about playing all day long.” Presenting it, he opened the lid and showed it to him: “It’s a waste of such a good set for me to use.”

Xie Chaoling coughed softly: “Your Highness doesn’t want to use it, so give it to me, I want to write and draw.”

Xie Chaoyuan just smiled: “Okay.”

Xie Chaoling was happy, and thanked Xie Chaoyuan: “Thank you, Your Highness.”

He reached out to pick up a pen and played with it in his hand. He was not used to these pens and inks in King Ke’s mansion. There are indeed only two sets of the Four Treasures of the Study, one set was in his study in the East Palace, one set was left in the warehouse, and now it was in his hands again.

He himself was the one who guarded it.

Xie Chaoyuan asked him: “Did Lin Lang just say that he wanted to draw?”

“En, to pass the time.”

Xie Chaoling took out a piece of paper, laid it out on the desk, pressed it with a paperweight, and took out a pen and ink.

Xie Chaoyuan watched his movements silently. Xie Chaoling did all the preparations unhurriedly, polished and moistened the brush with his own hands, and then raised his eyes to look at Xie Chaoyuan.

Xie Chaoyuan stood there the entire time, with handsome eyebrows and a smile in his eyes, but his demeanor cold.

Xie Chaoling stared at the person in front of him for a moment, then dropped his first stroke.

Xie Chaoyuan watched him, Xie Chaoling was very serious when painting. The sunlight coming in from the window reflected half of his profile, blurring on the temples and brows; it was like a painting itself.

Two quarters of an hour later, Xie Chaoling put down his pen and admired the painting, feeling satisfied, with a smile on his lips.

Xie Chaoyuan went up to look. Xie Chaoling drew him, him when he braved the wind and rain to rush to the island in the middle of the lake that day in the villa of King Ding’s Mansion.

In the painting, Xie Chaoyuan no longer had that fake smile on his face, and there was anxiety and worry in his eyes, more like a real person.

Xie Chaoyuan looked in silence for a moment, then lightly embraced Xie Chaoling’s waist.

“The painting is pretty good.”

Xie Chaoling looked back at him and smiled: “His Royal Highness Ke is still cuter.”

Xie Chaoyuan helped him put away the drawing paper, then remembering Xie Chaoling’s sudden kiss to himself that day, the corners of his lips rose: “Older Brother is the cutest.”