Chapter 50
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The Sixth Prince told Xue Yao honestly, “Eldest Brother may not be willing to take me to procure grain in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. This is a matter of national importance. Eldest Brother does not allow us to inquire about it.”
The Seventh Prince relaxed upon hearing this, calmly lowering his head.
Xue Yao: “Because it is a matter of national importance, Your Highness should worry on behalf of the Crown Prince. When brothers unite, their strength is unparalleled!”
The Seventh Prince once again looked at Xue Yao with vigilance.
The Second Prince noticed the unease on the Seventh Prince’s face and seized the opportunity. “Don’t worry, I will make sure Eldest Brother takes the Sixth Prince with him, even if he can’t be of help. It’s good for the Sixth Prince to gain some experience. Xue Yao, if you want to come along, start preparing your luggage when you return.”
The Seventh Prince’s face grew even more panicked!
He eagerly awaited Xue Yao’s response.
Thanks to the Sixth Prince’s careful consideration, he asked Xue Yao, “After the grain procurement, it needs to be transported to the disaster-stricken counties. It’ll take at least a few months for the round trip before we can return to the palace. With you gone for so long, who will take care of the Seventh Prince?”
The Seventh Prince looked at Xue Yao with a face full of agreement.
Who will take care of His Highness?
Xue Yao turned to look at the Seventh Prince.
Immediately, the Seventh Prince put on a pitiful and helpless expression. He even slightly opened his mouth, trembling his lips.
It seemed like he was imitating the wretched appearance of the Second Prince being chased by a wild boar.
Remarkably lifelike, a budding acting talent!
However, Xue Yao wasn’t swayed by the Seventh Prince’s performance.
The reform had begun, and it concerned the future of the Eldest Prince as well as the Seventh Prince.
If this step went wrong, all the previous efforts would be in vain. Xue Yao couldn’t indulge the Seventh Prince’s whims.
Xue Yao couldn’t afford to be soft-hearted at this moment. Maintaining a serious face, he advised, “Your Highness is already a young man. You don’t need me to look after you. You can take care of yourself, right?”
The Second Prince burst into laughter. “Old Seventh is still Big Brother’s little darling, what’s being a young man got to do with it!”
The Seventh Prince’s eyes turned sharp, glaring angrily at Second Brother, and then looking at Xue Yao.
His Highness wanted to be a man but didn’t want to helplessly watch as the Sixth Prince walked away with Yaoyao.
So, the Seventh Prince leaned in and quietly confided a fake secret to Xue Yao, “Real men all need an attendant.”
“I don’t believe you,” Xue Yao heartlessly rejected the chubby cub’s reliance.
With a big event at hand, this cub couldn’t keep clinging on like this. It wouldn’t do.
In the novel, the twelve-year-old Seventh Prince was already a semi-finished Long Aotian, just lacking encounters with sword and martial arts masters to impart lifelong skills, a stark contrast to today’s Seventh Prince.
It was time to get the chubby cub used to being independent.
“Procuring grain for disaster relief is a significant matter for the court and for the Crown Prince, Your Highness. Since I have the chance to contribute, it’s my duty. Your Highness is the most formidable one. You can surely take care of yourself.”
After saying this, Xue Yao maintained a stern expression, focusing on the Seventh Prince.
He had expected the chubby cub to throw a tantrum, as he did in his younger years, but it didn’t happen.
The Seventh Prince just looked at him with a lost expression, his long eyelashes partially shading the setting sun, and a cloud of sorrow brewing in his light brown eyes.
This cub’s joy and pain were both highly infectious, capable of making even the most hardened hearts falter under such a gaze.
Nevertheless, with no way out, Xue Yao had to turn away and resolutely avoid eye contact.
Despite all his efforts, Xue Yao couldn’t persuade the stubborn Seventh Prince. His Highness was unhappy, unwilling to dig any further for rabbit holes, and suddenly began to display a bit of a sulking attitude, retreating to a shaded spot, refusing to cooperate with the hunting party.
The Sixth Prince hurriedly led the horses and carriages over, soothing his younger brother with gentle words, “Are you hungry? Let’s rest here for a while. There’s a small stream to the west. I’ll roast a wild rabbit for you, just to satisfy your cravings. How does that sound?”
Xue Yao also felt a pang of reluctance. He turned to fetch his luggage from the carriage, took out a packet of cumin and star anise seasoning he had prepared, and ran to the shade, smiling at the Seventh Prince. “Today, I’ll roast a beggar’s rabbit for Your Highness. Ever had one before? It’s exceptionally delicious!”
The Seventh Prince remained silent, keeping his head down, sulking.
The considerate Sixth Prince continued the conversation, “How do you make beggar’s rabbit? I’ve only heard of beggar’s chicken.”
“Your Highness knows about beggar’s chicken?” Xue Yao hadn’t expected the warm baby to be so knowledgeable about cooking. “You’ve had it before?”
“I’ve even made it myself,” the Sixth Prince grinned, “Stuffed the chicken’s belly with spring onions and ginger for flavor, brushed it with sauce, wrapped it in fresh lotus leaves my aunt helped me pick, sealed it with clay, buried it in the ground, lit a fire on top, and when it’s done, the chicken comes out tender and flavorful.”
“Your Highness is quite the expert. My beggar’s rabbit has an extra step and some secret spices that regular beggar’s chicken doesn’t have. Your Highness must not have tasted anything like it.”
Quietly listening to the joyful discussion about cooking skills between the bad Sixth Brother and Silly Yaoyao, the Seventh Prince lowered his head, his chubby cheeks growing rounder and rounder.
The creation of gourmet dishes had always been a small hobby of the Sixth Prince. Now, upon hearing Xue Yao’s remarks, he grew curious and ignored the pouting warning from his younger brother, excitedly sharing some of the secrets behind making beggar’s chicken with Xue Yao.
Before long, the attendants traveling with them prepared the rabbit meat and rushed back from the streamside with lotus leaves, following Xue Yao’s instructions.
After double-checking the ingredients and sauces, Xue Yao confidently began showcasing his culinary skills with a snap of his fingers.
The three princes sat in the shade, eagerly awaiting their meal. The attendants served refreshing mountain spring water and freshly picked sweet farm fruits as appetizers.
The Seventh Prince remained gloomy and took a sip of the mountain spring water with a frown.
The Second Prince immediately raised his cup with a mischievous grin, teasing his younger brother, “This toast is for Xue Yao’s culinary skills!”
The Seventh Prince lowered his head and spat out the water!
His Highness didn’t need to toast!
In an effort to cheer up his younger brother, the Sixth Prince looked around, plucked a few tree vines, returned to the Seventh Prince’s side, and skillfully wove a vine flower crown. He then playfully placed it on the Seventh Prince’s head.
However, even with the crown made of vines, the Seventh Prince remained unhappy.
The Second Prince mimicked the Sixth Prince’s approach and personally crafted a vine crown.
However, he accidentally made it too large, and when he placed it on his own head, it slipped down to cover his face entirely.
The giggles of the palace maids around them filled the air.
The Second Prince also burst into laughter. He removed the vine crown and tossed it aside. “What on earth did I create!”
“Put it on, Big Brother. Eldest Brother might need it for inspecting the prey later,” the Seventh Prince reminded nonchalantly.
The Second Prince looked at the large vine crown he had crafted and asked in puzzlement, “What’s the use of wearing this?”
The Seventh Prince revealed his mischievous side, “Big Brother, you’re left with only three wild rabbits to hunt. If you cover your face with this crown, Eldest Brother won’t recognize you, and he won’t scold you.”
“You little rascal!” The Second Prince raised his fan, ready to give his younger brother a light knock.
The Sixth Prince, who was drinking water at the moment, burst into laughter, choking and coughing.
Xue Yao had just finished handling the wild rabbits and hurriedly patted the Sixth Prince’s back.
After a while, the Sixth Prince finally managed to stop his coughing, but then the Seventh Prince began to cough.
Having long been accustomed to the chubby cub’s attention-seeking tricks, Xue Yao sternly said, “You’re not allowed to imitate others and cough!”
The Seventh Prince immediately lowered his head and fell silent.
He felt particularly aggrieved.
Silly Yaoyao only patted Sixth Brother, ignoring His Highness!
After the morning hunt, the Seventh Prince refused to participate in the hunt and instead sequestered himself in his own tent, playing chess alone.
Xue Yao had no choice but to go and console him.
“Is the Crown Prince good to Your Highness?” Xue Yao gently prodded.
The Seventh Prince lowered his head, making a move on the chessboard without replying.
The chubby cub was seldom this “icy” towards him, indicating that he truly wasn’t accustomed to being apart from his brother.
“Is what’s important to the Crown Prince also important to Your Highness?” Xue Yao persisted in trying to counsel him.
The Seventh Prince stared at the chessboard and softly countered, “Is Your Highness good to Yaoyao?”
Xue Yao was momentarily taken aback by the question.
The current attitude of this little fellow surprisingly carried a hint of the novel’s flavor.
This meant that the chubby cub’s mood was far from good.
In the novel, Lu Qian’s character was actually one of the worst manifestations of personality deterioration.
Xue Yao was quite worried that his years of favor might be in vain. However, regarding the matter of the reform, he had to monitor it closely. Missing even a small detail could lead to an irreversible and tragic outcome.
He had no choice but to steel his heart and maintain a stern expression.
“If Your Highness is kind to Yaoyao, you should also consider Yaoyao’s wishes.”
However, the Seventh Prince remained unmoved. “Is what’s important to Your Highness also important to Yaoyao?”
“What important matters does Your Highness have? With so many attendants in the palace, I’ve arranged for them to prepare everything Your Highness needs daily, including your milk. I’ll return after a few months, and nothing significant will happen.”
A moment of silence followed.
The Seventh Prince moved a white stone and proposed a solution, “Your grandpa will go with you.”
“That’s not possible!” Xue Yao became anxious. “You’re not of age, and the Emperor won’t allow you to travel so far and endure such hardships. The Crown Prince won’t agree either.”
The Seventh Prince lifted his eyes, his gaze clear and resolute. “Eldest Brother will agree.”
Seeing his persistence, Xue Yao stopped arguing.
Now, there was only one pressing matter — the deadline to open the Ren and Du meridians, which was less than three months away.
According to the Second Prince, the ships for transporting grain for the Crown Prince were already prepared.
If he could smoothly join the grain procurement team, Xue Yao would have to follow the fleet straight to Jiangsu and Zhejiang once the autumn hunt concluded.
In other words, he had only three to five days to complete his task.
There was no other choice but to face it head-on.
He had already planned for this before coming. Xue Yao knelt on a cushion beside the Seventh Prince, speaking earnestly, “Outside the tent, there are many guards accompanying the Fifth Prince in wrestling and martial arts matches. Your Highness, would you like to go out and test your skills with me?”
The Seventh Prince calmly placed another black stone on the board. “I’m very tired.”
“Your Highness!” Xue Yao impatiently grabbed the little Gudetama’s arm and tugged it upwards with force. “Just go out and test your skills, you haven’t left the tent all afternoon today. A man can’t stay cooped up indoors all the time. It’ll waste away your strength!”
“Your grandpa won’t allow you to speak ill of Second Brother.” said the grudge-holding Seventh Prince, always ready to take a swipe at his big brother.
That was because Second Brother deceived and took away Silly Yaoyao.
“The Second Prince doesn’t stay inside all the time. He won’t waste away!” Xue Yao was on the verge of being infuriated by this sly little scamp, defending the Hermit God Second Prince, “The Second Prince is usually practicing martial arts, and it’s more strenuous than what we do! Come on, Your Highness, let’s go outside for a match, just one match with me.”
The Seventh Prince remained unruffled. “Your grandpa won’t play with you.”
Xue Yao resorted to provocation, “Your Highness, are you afraid of losing to me?”
The Seventh Prince let out a low, mocking chuckle, not even bothering to lift his head, his laughing eyes filled with arrogance.
He was unexpectedly adept at sarcasm.
Xue Yao: “……”
Who does this little runt think he is, looking down on people!
What right does he have to act this way when he has not even unblocked his Ren and Du meridians!
It was unbearable.
Xue Yao narrowed his eyes, finally employing his trump card, “The Sixth Prince just won several rounds in a row, making him the ‘most formidable’.”
The Seventh Prince’s slender fingers halted in mid-air.
Time seemed to freeze for a moment.
An exhilarating fighting spirit spread in all directions.
The very tired Seventh Prince stood up.
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