Chapter 85
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After a moment of awkward stillness, Xue Yao casually continued washing with soap, pretending to be oblivious to the chubby cub standing behind him. “How could I possibly hear His Highness’ voice? Probably because I forgot to feed the baby at night and can’t let it go in my heart.”
However, his flattery did not earn forgiveness from the person behind him.
One of Long Aotian’s paws landed on his left shoulder, forcibly turning him around.
So, the two people who secretly bathed in the middle of the night finally met.
The water level in the bath reached just below Xue Yao’s belly button. As they candidly faced each other, Xue Yao noticed that the chubby cub was almost as tall as him. However, the water level was a bit lower than the chubby cub’s belly button.
As clever as Xue Yao was, he quickly noticed the discrepancy: their leg lengths were different.
Upholding the dignity of an old father, he couldn’t have shorter legs than the chubby cub!
So, in this moment of silent eye contact, Xue Yao slowly dipped beneath the water, tiptoeing to ensure his belly button remained above the water surface.
“What a coincidence, Your Highness also came for a bath?” Smiling, Xue Yao greeted while on tiptoe.
“Who’s the chubby cub?” The little tape recorder’s eyes, seen through the misty water vapor, revealed a sharp and stern edge.
Level one danger alert!
“Since Your Highness discovered it, I’ll be honest,” Xue Yao restrained his smile and spoke with a resigned tone, “Chubby cub is my childhood nickname!”
The Seventh Prince’s chilly eyes shifted from Xue Yao’s face to his entire figure.
Xue Yao’s slender frame clearly couldn’t convince anyone of the nickname “chubby cub.”
Xue Yao slowly pushed out his stomach, attempting to display a small belly, determined to deny it. “When I was a child, I always ate a lot. My mother used to call me chubby cub. I originally agreed to not bathe for two months with Your Highness, but I couldn’t hold out tonight. So, when I said my chubby cub self is covered in jam, how could I last two months? Sigh~”
The Seventh Prince stared impassively at Xue Yao.
Xue Yao steadied himself, his expression calm.
The Seventh Prince stepped closer to Xue Yao, settling on the stone steps by the pool, continuing his leisurely bath.
The alarm lifted!
Xue Yao breathed a sigh of relief, happily joining the stone steps, reaching for the soap to wash the chubby cub’s face himself.
“Your grandpa doesn’t want to bathe.” The Seventh Prince, cleansed by the little reader-in-waiting, drooped his head, regretful for not enduring the full two months. “But jam doesn’t dry.”
Using a towel, Xue Yao wiped off the soap from the chubby cub’s face, then washed it again. Afterward, he cleaned his shoulders and neck, comforting him as he washed, “Only His Highness who obediently takes a bath will become the most handsome. Everyone likes the handsome and obedient His Highness.”
“But Yaoyao doesn’t come back.” The Seventh Prince hung his head. “Even though Your Highness practices powerful baguazhang, Yaoyao doesn’t come back to see Your Highness.”
Xue Yao’s hands, rubbing the soap, paused.
Looking at the chubby cub’s sad profile, he suddenly felt that the child had grown so much. Returning two months late did owe him a reasonable explanation.
If he revealed the true situation of his battle against the plague, the chubby cub’s sense of security would probably instantly plummet, and his corruption value would skyrocket.
Yet inexplicable broken promises would also leave the chubby cub without a sense of security.
Xue Yao decided to craft an explanation that was half true and half false.
“It’s because of the Crown Prince’s business.” Xue Yao grabbed the chubby cub’s little paw, carefully washing it with soap, while explaining softly, “Originally, I was supposed to return soon, but halfway through, I learned that the people in the county where the Crown Prince’s new policy was being implemented had encountered a major problem. I could not just stand by and do nothing, so I had to stay for two more months to solve the problem and take care of these Great Qi citizens for the Crown Prince.”
“Your Highness is also a citizen of Great Qi,” the Seventh Prince turned to look at Xue Yao, “Your Highness also needs care.”
Xue Yao smiled. “Your Highness is the Great Qi’s Prince. Taking care of the citizens is also taking care of yourself.”
“But Your Highness is scared.” The Seventh Prince wore a displeased expression.
Xue Yao whispered comfortingly, “How could the brave Your Highness be scared?”
The Seventh Prince pouted and answered with a hint of grievance, “Your Highness dreamed that Yaoyao was locked in a dark cage, surrounded by many nasty mice wanting to bite Yaoyao. Yaoyao was scared and crying. Your Highness killed many mice to rescue Yaoyao, but Yaoyao still didn’t come back in the morning. Your Highness is so scared.”
Xue Yao shivered, looking at the Seventh Prince in disbelief.
The warm steam brushed over Xue Yao’s heated eyes.
“Is Your Highness afraid that Yaoyao will be bullied by mice, not that there won’t be anyone to feed you?”
The Seventh Prince nodded with a pout.
Xue Yao’s clenched fist trembled slightly.
The chubby cub, dreaming that he was surrounded by many mice.
For four whole months, he was surrounded by a dreadful plague, too afraid to face the fear in his heart.
The chubby cub actually saw in his dream the real Yaoyao, surrounded by fear every night, unable to sleep peacefully.
What was this?
Was this the most delicate telepathy of the hearts?
This emotionally challenged child seemed to have a unique way of seeing into people’s hearts.
“Thanks to Your Highness killing those bad mice,” Xue Yao smiled through tears, “Yaoyao can safely come back.”
The Seventh Prince tilted his head, looking confused.
Due to a series of nightmares, His Highness had tried to escape the palace to save the little reader-in-waiting, but failed three times and was caught back each time.
His Highness did not kill those bad mice.
Xue Yao put down the towel and soap, reaching to embrace the chubby cub, whispering with closed eyes, “Thank you, Lu Qian, my little knight in my dreams.”
The thirteen-year-old youth no longer retained the entirely soft touch of childhood on his arms. The contours of undeveloped muscles had quietly formed beneath the fair skin of the little chubby one, giving rise to a sturdy sensation.
Xue Yao opened her eyes as if waking from a dream, looking at the peaceful profile of the chubby cub. Suddenly, there was a feeling of not wanting him to grow up.
But he also seemed to be looking forward to his growth, anticipating him to become a truly astounding Long Aotian.
Held by the reader-in-waiting, the Seventh Prince felt a long-lost sense of ease. Curiously, he picked up the soap Xue Yao brought for bathing, bringing it close to his nose to sniff.
Fragrant and tempting, His Highness playfully stuck out his tongue and licked.
It seemed like it was not edible.
Xue Yao: “……”
Forget it, don’t expect the chubby cub to grow up to be extraordinarily wise. At least, he shouldn’t eat random things and poison himself!
The long-lost clean and milky fragrance on the Seventh Prince made the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Prince “tearful.”
“You’re not allowed to leave the capital to visit relatives again! If you must go, take Seventh Brother with you!” The Fifth Prince burst into tears.
The Sixth Prince, looking pitiful, said, “Take me with you too!”
After comforting the Sixth Prince, the Fifth Prince started to feel wronged again. “Why hasn’t Fourth Zhang returned to the palace? Is he not planning to teach us martial arts anymore?”
Xue Yao frowned slightly, also troubled by this matter.
The Fifth Prince looked at Xue Yao with eager eyes.
After all, Fourth Zhang left the capital to protect Xue Yao. Now that he hadn’t returned, Xue Yao hadn’t provided any explanation.
“Even if he doesn’t want to teach us martial arts, he should at least inform us. Disappearing without a word, my Mother Consort…” The Fifth Prince paused, muttering to himself, “My Mother Consort is ill, I wonder if it’s because of worry.”
“Consort Hui is ill?” Xue Yao exclaimed.
The Fifth Prince nodded. He had wanted to inquire about Fourth Zhang’s situation with Xue Yao a few days ago, but his Mother Consort expressly warned him not to ask, saying it would be unpleasant. So, he didn’t dare to ask.
When Fourth Zhang accompanied Mother Consort for those few months, Mother Consort behaved like a willful young lady, nitpicking at Fourth Zhang every day, threatening to send him away.
Each time, Fourth Zhang would smile and apologize, trying his best to seek forgiveness from Consort Hui.
The Fifth Prince originally found Fourth Zhang clumsy and always causing displeasure to Mother Consort. However, he gradually discovered that when Fourth Zhang was around, Mother Consort seemed like a different person —beasier to make laugh, carefree.
Different from the facade Mother Consort had put on in the palace for all these years.
The Fifth Prince didn’t know what was different, but he could feel it.
In the short time they spent together, Mother Consort often found opportunities to throw small tantrums, and Fourth Zhang patiently comforted her. It seemed like Mother Consort could find a sense of security in this.
A sense of security that brought Mother Consort back to life.
That was the feeling.
The Fifth Prince felt that the Mother Consort taken care of by Fourth Zhang was the vibrant Mother Consort.
No longer the Mother Consort who passed time by gambling with eunuchs and palace maids, shooting arrows.
She became the Mother Consort who enjoyed earthly pleasures, dressing up meticulously every day.
Such a Mother Consort only appeared when Fourth Zhang was around.
During the days when Xue Yao returned to the palace and Fourth Zhang did not, with each passing day, Consort Hui seemed to age a year.
The naive Fifth Prince realized that every time Mother Consort threatened to send Fourth Zhang away, she didn’t actually want to send him away. She wanted to hear Fourth Zhang repeatedly promise not to leave.
But now, Fourth Zhang was gone.
The Fifth Prince suddenly realized how crucial this mysterious master was for both himself and Mother Consort.
Where could he find another skilled expert to teach him spear practice?
Recognizing the rarity of Fourth Zhang, the Fifth Prince no longer dared to display the airs of the master. When inquiring about Fourth Zhang from Xue Yao, he became cautious, “Does he not want to return to the palace to serve anymore?”
Xue Yao hadn’t figured out how to explain Fourth Zhang’s disappearance.
If the truth were revealed, the three young princes might go to the Crown Prince to demand him back, and the Crown Prince would surely suspect that he leaked the secret.
However, if he didn’t betray the Crown Prince, he could only say that Fourth Zhang didn’t want to return to the palace. This would undoubtedly sadden the young princes and perhaps make the ailing Consort Hui even more upset.
Xue Yao glanced at the expectant eyes of the young princes and ultimately decided to betray the Crown Prince.
“The Crown Prince has already investigated Fourth Zhang’s background and found out that he is a fake eunuch.”
“A fake eunuch?!” The Fifth Prince was astonished!
“Did Eldest Brother lock him up in the dungeon?” The Sixth Prince looked full of concern.
“Eunuchs can be fake?” The Seventh Prince looked puzzled. “Is he actually a palace maid?”
“I’m not sure about the details.” Xue Yao sighed. “But the Crown Prince said he won’t harm him. He just can’t let him serve in the palace. One, because his martial arts are too advanced to control, and two, because… His purpose for approaching Consort Hui is unclear.”
The Sixth Prince looked disappointed. “I’ve only practiced two moves of my baguazhang…”
The Fifth Prince sighed. “It’s better that he’s not a eunuch. With his skills, if he joined the military, he could certainly kill many Khitan dogs plundering the border and harming the common people.”
Lately, the Seventh Prince, feeling like he had mastered unparalleled martial arts, looked down at his powerful palms, a smirk forming on his lips. “Your Highness can also drive away those Khitan dogs.”
The Fifth Prince couldn’t help but lower his head in disappointment. “I also want to gallop on the battlefield, defending our home and country. Finally, I have a handy weapon…”
The Sixth Prince’s eyes lit up. “Why don’t we go find Eldest Brother? Let’s ask Fourth Zhang to come back and teach us martial arts!”
Xue Yao, fearing the princes would cause trouble with the Crown Prince, quickly intervened. “Given Fourth Zhang’s situation, it’s indeed inconvenient for him to stay in the palace. The Crown Prince won’t agree.”
The Fifth Prince clenched his fist. “Eldest Brother will agree!”
The Sixth Prince furrowed his brow seriously. “If he doesn’t agree, we’ll make Seventh Brother roll at Eldest Brother’s feet!”
Speaking of which, the two mature big brothers turned their heads, looking sternly at the little treasure of Eldest Brother—
Seventh Prince: “? ? ?”
The Fifth Prince entrusted a heavy task. “Seventh Brother, if Eldest Brother doesn’t agree, you must forcefully bang your head against the wall!”
Seventh Prince: “? ? ? ? ?”
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