At noon, after school was over, Zhao Yao bolted outside like a gust of wind. He ran so fast that he stumbled on the steps and nearly fell. Luckily, Tong Xi caught him in time.
"Your Highness, you..."
Zhao Yao clung tightly to Tong Xi's neck and hurriedly urged him, "Go quickly! Go quickly!"
Hearing this, Tong Xi carried Zhao Yao and started running swiftly.
Don't be fooled by Tong Xi's frailty. He was incredibly strong, carrying the six-year-old Zhao Yao without the slightest difficulty, sprinting like the wind.
"Yao Yao!" Lai Qian arrived with its brothers to pick him up after school.
"Lai Qian, let's go quickly."
Lai Qian and its brothers hurriedly flew behind Zhao Yao and Tong Xi.
They sprinted all the way to the vicinity of Kunde Hall, ensuring that the Ninth Prince didn't catch up. Only then did Zhao Yao ask Tong Xi to stop.
Tong Xi set Zhao Yao down, panting slightly, and asked, "Your Highness, why did we have to run?"
"Afraid of being caught by the Ninth Brother." Zhao Yao's little face showed complete disdain, "You don't know how the Ninth Brother keeps bragging endlessly about the prowess of the Second Brother. If I don't run fast enough and he catches me, he'll go on and on. I can't stand it."
Lai Qian flew onto Zhao Yao's shoulder, gently pecking at his little face.
"Yao Yao, my brothers and I want to eat apples."
Zhao Yao cheerfully replied, "No problem. When I return to the palace, I'll peel apples for you all."
Lai Qian and its brothers immediately praised Zhao Yao, "Yao Yao, you are the best person in the world!"
Basking in the compliments, Zhao Yao smiled very happily, merrily heading toward Kunde Hall.
Lai Qian and its kin flew beside Zhao Yao, protecting him like bodyguards.
Tong Xi walked behind them, not missing the chance to chuckle at the sight. Not just these sparrows; all the cats and dogs particularly liked His Highness, often surrounding him.
Before reaching Kunde Hall, Lai Fu and Lai Cai ran toward Zhao Yao.
Zhao Yao crouched down and hugged them both, showering them with kisses and affection.
Every noon and afternoon, Lai Fu and Lai Cai would come running to meet Zhao Yao. If Zhao Yao allowed it, they would go to Wende Hall to fetch him.
The Ninth Prince was a mischievous child, fond of chasing cats and dogs and throwing rocks at them. Lai Fu and Lai Cai had been bullied by the Ninth Prince before, and since then Zhao Yao instructed his animals to stay away from the Ninth Prince.
"Mother Consort, Second Mother Consort, Third Mother Consort, Fifth Sister, I'm back." Zhao Yao ran into Kunde Hall, loudly announcing his arrival.
The Second Mother Consort he mentioned was Yu Meiren, who lived in Kunde Hall with them, while the Third Mother Consort was Pan Cairen, and the Fifth Sister was the Fifth Princess. She was Yu Meiren's daughter.
The Fifth Princess ran out first, "Tenth Brother's back, huh? Did the teacher scold you this morning, or hit your palm?"
"Fifth Sister, I'm so obedient, how could the teacher possibly scold or hit me?" Zhao Yao glared at the Fifth Princess, pouting with dissatisfaction and said, "Fifth Sister, somehow it feels like you're eager for me to be punished?"
"I'm just worried for you. If you study well, you won't be punished." The Fifth Princess held Zhao Yao's hand, leading him to the dining hall. "This morning, Mother Consort and I made some snacks. After lunch, I'll allow you to have two extra pieces."
Upon hearing about the snacks, Zhao Yao's eyes sparkled instantly with joy, and he said with a full heart, "Thank you, Fifth Sister." Fifth Sister was very skilled at making snacks, better tasting than those from the Imperial Kitchen.
"What did the teacher teach you today?" the Fifth Princess asked as they walked.
"Today we studied..." Zhao Yao carefully recounted everything he learned that morning to the Fifth Princess. Then he also talked about the Ninth Prince's boasting. "Fifth Sister, you wouldn't believe how annoying Ninth Brother is. He chirps nonstop."
"Just pretend you didn't hear him."
"But, he kept speaking right next to my ear!"
The siblings arrived at the dining hall and respectfully saluted their three Mother Consorts.
Yu Meiren and Pan Cairen touched and kissed Zhao Yao's adorable little face.
Gui Xing brought a basin of warm water for Zhao Yao to wash his hands.
While washing his hands, Zhao Yao couldn't help but complain about the Ninth Prince's bragging regarding Prince Dai's victory.
"Now everyone in the palace is talking about Prince Dai's victory." Yu Meiren personally served a bowl of soup for Zhao Yao. "Yao Yao, drink some soup first." She said as she scooped a spoonful of soup to feed Zhao Yao.
Pan Cairen said, "It's already spreading throughout the palace that the Emperor wants to depose the Crown Prince and name Prince Dai as the Crown Prince."
"Here we go again." Every time the news of the Second Brother's victory arrived, rumors about deposing the Crown Prince would follow. This had been happening for years; they never tire of spreading it, though he was fed up listening.
"It's already widely circulated." Yu Meiren gently used a handkerchief to wipe the soup from the corner of Zhao Yao's mouth.
"Every time Prince Dai wins a battle, rumors spread that he'll become the Crown Prince," Pan Cai Ren commented sharply, "They've been saying it for so many years, yet Prince Dai is still not the Crown Prince."
"Third Mother, it's called a propaganda tactic. Repeating it enough makes everyone unconsciously believe it," Zhao Yao said, "Also, it serves to intimidate the Crown Prince."
Just then, a clap of thunder erupted outside the window, booming with an especially loud noise.
Yu Meiren frowned and said, "It's thundering again."
Pan Cai Ren asked, "Is it going to rain soon?"
Once again, there was a loud "boom," followed by a flash of lightning.
The sky grew darker and darker, with bolts of lightning racing to tear the sky apart.
In a short while, it started pouring rain.
Liang Zhaoyi watched the heavy rain outside the window and remarked calmly, "The weather has changed!"
Yu Meiren and Pan Cai Ren nodded in agreement, "Indeed, the weather has changed."
Yesterday was sunny, but today it turned rainy, just like the deceptive calm in the palace and court was shattered by the news of Prince Dai's victory reaching the capital.
After this, Liang Zhaoyi and the others didn't talk about Prince Dai and the Crown Prince anymore, as it was not their concern. Besides, loose lips cause misfortune, and speaking too much is not advisable.
After attending classes all morning, Zhao Yao felt a bit hungry. At lunchtime, he kept eating without stopping.
Seeing Zhao Yao eating with such relish, Liang Zhaoyi and the others couldn't help but eat another half bowl of rice.
After lunch, Zhao Yao ate the pastries made by the Fifth Princess, feeling very satisfied. The happiest and most joyful thing in life was eating delicious food.
It was still raining heavily outside, becoming more intense. Such weather in March was indeed peculiar.
Watching the pouring rain outside, Zhao Yao chuckled, "It's raining so hard, there's definitely no need to study in the afternoon. I can take a nap." In his past life, he worked too hard; in this life, he didn't want to be the same, only wanting to be a carefree prince who knew nothing but eating and drinking.
Seeing Zhao Yao's overly delighted look about not having to study, Liang Zhaoyi and the others were both helpless and amused.
"I'm going to feed Lai Fu and the others," he said, then ran to the next room to feed Lai Fu and the others their meal and give Lai Qian and the others some apples.
In Zhao Yang Palace, the Empress and the Seventh Prince had just finished their lunch.
At this time, they were drinking tea while watching the heavy rain outside the door.
The Seventh Prince asked, "Mother, with the rain coming down so hard, are we still going to Qionglin Garden tonight?"
Qionglin Garden was the place specially designated in the harem for hosting banquets.
"That depends on your father's decision," Empress Xie said with a smile, setting down her teacup, "I, for one, hope tonight's banquet will be held."
The Seventh Prince understood Empress Xie's meaning and grinned mischievously, "I also hope it will be held, that way we can watch a good show."
Suddenly thinking of something, Empress Xie's expression turned disgusted as she frowned, "That vile Noble Princess Consort Rong will surely be gloating again." Recently, the Emperor would stay overnight at Yongxin Palace again. "This morning, your father awarded many gifts to her, and when I sent Jiang Chuan to deliver gifts, everyone at Yongxin Palace was filled with pride."
Whenever the Emperor bestowed gifts upon a concubine or a prince in the harem, Empress Xie would also follow with her rewards.
"Arrogant soldiers face defeat, let them have their moment," the Seventh Prince comforted Empress Xie, saying, "Mother, we don't need to mind this matter, let the Crown Prince worry about it."
"I heard the Crown Prince threw a big tantrum in the Eastern Palace."
"Second Brother's victory this time was not insignificant, so naturally, the Crown Prince is uneasy."
Empress Xie laughed, "Let the Crown Prince and Prince Dai fight, the fiercer the better; it benefits us here."
"Mother is right."
"The rain is so heavy; you should rest this afternoon instead of going to Wende Hall to study."
"Mother, I'd like to read for a while first."
Seeing her son's diligence, Empress Xie felt gratified. She spoke tenderly, "If you get tired, take a nap."
"Okay." The Seventh Prince bowed to Empress Xie and turned to go to the study.
Empress Xie stood up and walked to the window, looking at the heavy rain outside. She curved her lips into a sinister smile and said, "Noble Princess Consort Rong, Prince Dai, don't let this palace down this time."
She called, "Nanny Sun."
Nanny Sun, waiting nearby, stepped forward with a respectful demeanor, "I am here, Your Majesty."
"Tell them to give the Marquis Xuanping their support during the early morning court tomorrow." Surely, tomorrow's morning court would bring up the matter of deposing the Crown Prince and installing Prince Dai as the Crown Prince again. She didn't mind giving them a hand. "Also, let the news of Prince Dai's victory spread throughout the capital, so the common people will know how extraordinary he is."