Xie Yanfang, huh? Qi Gonggong chuckled. That aloof young master.
"Your uncle is very capable, so he must be occupied with other matters," he reassured Little Highness. "Once he's finished, he'll come to see you. We'll be playing here for three days anyway."
Xiao Yu didn't nod obediently as he used to, but shook his head instead. "That's not true. You all say things like that. Father often says he'll come see me when he's done working, but he's never done. If he really wanted to see me, he'd come no matter how busy he is."
Children raised in the Imperial Palace aren't easily fooled. Qi Gonggong sighed. "There's another situation too. With Your Highness's status, not just anyone can see you. Your uncle is your uncle, but he's also a subject."
That was true. Xiao Yu thought for a moment and said, "But subjects can still see the sovereign. There are plenty of people who try every day to see Father and the Emperor. They always find a way if they really want to. If they don't come, it's because they don't want to."
The child was still resentful, but not as dejected as before.
Qi Gonggong smiled and nodded. "Indeed. This old servant will have Young Master Xie the Third come pay his respects to Little Highness later."
Xiao Yu's eyes lit up, and he tugged at Qi Gonggong's hand. "Can I summon him to the Imperial Palace?"
Instead of scolding Little Highness for overstepping, Qi Gonggong readily agreed. "Good! This old servant will personally summon him!"
A particularly radiant smile finally bloomed on Xiao Yu's face.
Children are so endearing, Qi Gonggong mused. No wonder the Emperor keeps Little Highness by his side. But then again, every adult was once a child—
He sighed inwardly, hoping Little Highness wouldn't grow up to be like those two princes.
"Alright now," Qi Gonggong said cheerfully, taking Xiao Yu's hand. "Let's return to camp, Little Highness. The mountain has many snakes and insects."
Xiao Yu lifted his head. "I'm not afraid of snakes or insects. I'm very brave."
Qi Gonggong laughed heartily and whispered, "Then shall we catch one and bring it to His Highness the Crown Prince? Let's see if it frightens him. What do you say?"
Xiao Yu giggled. "Father wouldn't be scared. Father is very strong."
Though he said this, the child was already excited, pulling Qi Gonggong along and calling to the surrounding attendants to catch snakes and insects.
The hillside soon grew lively as well.
......
......
Outside the capital, the civil and martial gatherings each had their own excitement, seemingly drawing half the city's population. The city itself grew unusually quiet.
The alley where Deng Yi lived was remote and usually full of idlers, but at this moment, all the idlers had gone out to see the excitement. It was rarely this peaceful—carriages could even drive through.
Unfortunately, they still couldn't drive through the gate.
The coachman examined the entrance with some regret. "Lord Deng ought to move to a better residence."
Deng Yi's servant rubbed his nose. "No need."
If they moved to a better place, they might have to pawn it off someday. Better to just hole up somewhere random—less trouble and worry.
The coachman wasn't there to critique others' homes, of course. He smiled and called to the servant to help unload the chest from the carriage.
The unassuming chest was heavy, and the frail servant struggled slightly. Through the cracks in the wooden box, glimmers could be seen—some kind of gold, silver, or jewels.
But the servant's expression remained indifferent as they carried the chest into a storeroom.
"Just toss it on the ground," he said.
The coachman glanced at the servant. With his rustic appearance, he seemed like someone who'd never seen the world. The coachman couldn't help but remind him, "The contents of this chest are very valuable."The servant boy gave an indifferent "oh," thinking, so what? It wouldn't be long before it was carried out again. He had seen far too many of these boxes coming and going, long since numb to it all.
On the other side—in the only sitting room of the house—Deng Yi sat opposite the scholar Ning Kun.
Ning Kun smiled and said, "This is a token of our prince's regard, to congratulate Lord Deng on your promotion."
Deng Yi chuckled lightly. "It's hardly a promotion—just a gatekeeper's post."
Ning Kun replied, "How is it not a promotion? Lord Deng has broken free from the constraints of the Zhao and Yang families to become an imperial attendant before His Majesty."
With that, he gave a meaningful smile.
Deng Yi picked up his teacup and took a sip. "The prince is indeed well-informed, to take note of such a trivial matter."
Ning Kun smiled without answering the question.
Deng Yi didn't dwell on Prince Zhongshan's operations in the capital either. If even a minor figure like himself had caught the prince's attention, how many others had Prince Zhongshan already won over?
"What does the prince want me to do this time?" he asked, setting down his teacup.
Ning Kun was equally direct. "The prince has only one request: if there ever comes a time of crisis, he asks that Lord Deng open the gate for the heir apparent."
Deng Yi was taken aback. What did that mean? Was he worried the heir apparent might be harmed by the crown prince or the third prince?
The heir apparent had indeed been gaining some renown in the capital lately.
Initially, he had kept to his lodgings, as if he didn't exist in this world. But later, he attended the Chu Garden Literary Gathering several times, even heroically saving someone there and receiving a maidservant from Miss Chu as a reward—
At this thought, Deng Yi couldn't help but smile. Others might not know, but he guessed immediately: the heir apparent likely wanted more than just a maidservant.
Now the entire capital was talking about the heir apparent. It was said the third prince was displeased with his visits to Chu Garden and his interactions with the Chu family, while the crown prince was unhappy about his involvement in the third prince's affairs. Even His Majesty, in his occasional moments of confusion, would sometimes ask the eunuchs, "Why is everyone talking about A Xun? Has A Xun come to the capital?"
With the conflict between the third prince and the crown prince now out in the open, it was highly likely that Xiao Xun would become the scapegoat—the chicken killed to warn the monkeys.
If it ever came to that, given the cruelty and ruthlessness of the crown prince and the third prince, seeking refuge with the emperor would indeed be the only way to save his life.
Deng Yi nodded. "Very well." Then he added, "But as per the usual arrangement, this payment is only for opening the gate. As for anything else—"
Such as whether the heir apparent could survive once inside, or even make it to the emperor's presence—
"That will require additional payment."
Ning Kun laughed. "Naturally."
With that, he stood and bowed in farewell. Deng Yi did not press him to stay but walked him out.
"A Er, oh A Er, you're back—" came the trembling voice of an elderly woman from a nearby room. "A Er, don't forget to repair your father's and brother's graves."
As she spoke, a blind old woman felt her way out.
Deng Yi answered loudly and went to support her. "Mother, I remember. I'll have A Cai send the money back right away."
The servant boy, A Cai, standing nearby, also nodded. "Yes, yes, don't worry, madam. Second Master has the money now."
The blind old woman finally relaxed, clutching Deng Yi's hand and reaching up to pat his head. "Good A Er—"
As if he were a mischievous child.
Deng Yi showed no trace of embarrassment. Instead, he bent down so his mother could reach his head.
"This is my mother," he said, holding the old woman's hand as he introduced her to Ning Kun. Then, to his mother, he added, "We have a guest. I'm just seeing him out."
The old woman quickly said, "A guest? Sir—sir, won't you stay for a meal?"The guest Ning Kun hurriedly bowed to the old woman: "Thank you, madam. I must return in haste this time, but I appreciate your kindness."
The old woman did not insist, her blind and aged face full of gentleness: "Very well, come for a meal next time."
Though the old woman could not see, Ning Kun still bowed earnestly once more, then gestured to Deng Yi that no further escort was needed before quickly walking out.
Deng Yi did not see him off further. As Ning Kun boarded the carriage, he heard lively noises from the small courtyard.
"—Mother, what would you like to eat? I'll have A Cai prepare it."
"That's right, madam. We have money today, let's eat well. Who knows if we'll have any tomorrow."
Ning Kun signaled to the coachman, who urged the horse forward. The carriage creaked its way out of the narrow alley.
OpenNovel