Wei Hong frowned as he watched her eat noodles from a bowl bigger than her face and asked, "Why didn't you tell me?"
Yao Youqing couldn't finish her noodles. She looked up from her bowl at him and then at Zhou's mother. In the end, she finished her noodles first. After Zhou's mother walked away with the empty bowl, she whispered, "You can't stop eating longevity noodles, or Zhou's mother will be unhappy."
Perhaps because the Yao family, from the madam to the two young masters, did not live long and passed away one after another for various reasons, Zhou's mother attached more and more importance to longevity noodles and always made sure that Yao Youqing ate them all in one go.
But Yao Youqing has a small appetite, so she made just the amount she could finish, and then changed the bowl for the noodles to a larger one, so that it would look like a lot from the outside.
Why didn't you tell me?
Seeing that she had forgotten about it, Wei Hong asked again.
Yao Youqing tilted her head: "Why should we tell the prince? It's okay if the prince doesn't remember."
They seemed completely indifferent and didn't care at all.
Just as Wei Hong was about to say, "I'll remember next year," she continued, "I don't remember the prince's birthday either."
Wei Hong: "..."
October 7th.
He said with a stern face.
Yao Youqing paused for a moment, then realized he was referring to her birthday. She nodded and smiled, "Okay, I'll remember."
...
That night, the group changed their route and entered a nearby city.
Yao Youqing thought Wei Hong had something to do that made him take a detour, but in the middle of the night, when she was already asleep, Wei Hong knocked on her door.
When Mrs. Zhou opened the door and saw that it was him, she asked what was the matter.
Wei Hong walked past her and went straight to Yao Youqing.
"Coming-of-age ceremony".
He reached out and handed her a wooden box, clearly giving her a gift, but he didn't look at her, turning his head to look elsewhere.
Yao Youqing took the gift groggily, muttering, "Your Highness, you went out so late to buy me a gift? Actually, it's really not necessary, I..."
"Open."
"oh."
She opened it as instructed, and inside lay a gleaming gold hairpin. The red gold hairpin was intricately carved with patterns, and several butterflies fluttered around the flowers at the top. Their thin wings were as light as cicada wings, and they swayed gently as she opened the box.
"So beautiful..."
Yao Youqing's sleepiness vanished instantly, and she was completely awakened by the exquisite hairpin.
Wei Hong coughed lightly: "I was out running errands and saw it on my way back, so I bought it on the spur of the moment."
Yao Youqing exclaimed in surprise, "Are there still shops open this late?"
Wei Hong: "..."
Chapter 29 The Scroll
It was the middle of the night, and the surroundings were already quiet. After Yao Youqing finished speaking, the room became even quieter.
Wei Hong looked at her for a while, then turned and left without saying a word.
Yao Youqing watched his departing figure, then looked down at the wooden box in her hand, and suddenly understood something. After Zhou Mama closed the door and came back, she asked, "Zhou Mama, did the Prince buy this gift especially for me?"
Mrs. Zhou looked at the exquisite hairpin in the wooden box and nodded: "It should be."
What shop would be open so late at night, and yet they're selling such exquisite hairpins by sheer coincidence?
Yao Youqing reached out and touched the butterfly wings fluttering on the hairpin, murmuring softly, "I wonder what grudge the prince and my father have. I don't think they are bad people. Maybe there is some misunderstanding... but neither of them is willing to tell me."
Mrs. Zhou sighed and patted her head: "Don't think about it anymore. Since they don't want to talk and you can't get anything out of them, just wait until they are willing to talk."
Yao Youqing nodded and asked her to help put the hairpin away. She added, "I will also give the Prince a gift when we return to the capital."
Mrs. Zhou said "okay," tucked the blanket around her, lowered the bed curtains, and stepped back.
...
In the capital, Yao Yuzhi had been restless ever since Ding Shou left. He was often absent-minded in court, which led to much discussion among the people. They all said that his daughter was not doing well in Shangchuan, which was why he was so absent-minded and looked much more haggard.
After the court assembly one day, Wei Chi kept him behind and asked with concern, "Grand Tutor, I've noticed you've been quite distracted lately. Has Sister Yao encountered some trouble in Shangchuan? If so, you must tell me, and I... I will stand up for her!"
Yao Yuzhi quickly shook her head: "No, Your Majesty is overthinking it. Besides... besides, my daughter is already married to the Prince of Qin, so Your Majesty should still call her Princess Consort of Qin."
Wei Chi lowered his eyes, his expression somber: "No matter who she marries, she will always be my Yao sister in my heart."
After saying that, he added, "But Grand Tutor, don't worry. I know what's important and won't address you like that in front of others, so as not to cause trouble for Sister Yao."
Yao Yuzhi sighed, remaining silent, her brow furrowed with worry.
Wei Chi pressed further, "Has she really not encountered any difficulties? Then why does the Grand Tutor look so worried all the time?"
Yao Yuzhi tugged at the corners of her mouth, revealing a bitter smile.
"Even if my daughter marries the King of Qin, I will not be happy, no matter what difficulties we encounter."
Upon hearing this, Wei Chi once again showed a remorseful expression: "It was I who failed to protect her. I have failed Sister Yao."
Yao Yuzhi hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please don't say that. This matter has nothing to do with Your Majesty."
The two men comforted each other with words, appearing very harmonious, but each harbored their own thoughts.
Wei Chi already knew the contents of Yao Youqing's letter to Yao Yuzhi, and even guessed what Ding Shou had said to him when he returned to Beijing. However, he pretended not to know in front of Yao Yuzhi and expressed concern.
Yao Yuzhi knew that he had poisoned her daughter, so she had someone follow him and copy the letters her daughter had written to him. She also planted spies in the Yao residence, but she pretended not to know and thanked him for his concern.
After leaving the palace, he returned to his residence still looking worried. Only after the door was closed and there was no one else in the room except him and the steward did he put away his previous demeanor, his eyes filled with resentment and coldness.
"If I didn't know what His Majesty had done behind the scenes, I'm afraid I would have believed what he said today."
"These are the students I personally taught...these are the students I personally taught!"
His voice was low and filled with grief and indignation, and in just half a month, the hair on his head had turned quite a bit whiter.
The steward whispered, "Master, please don't be angry. It's better to know than not to know. Now we are in the dark while His Majesty is in the light, which is a good thing."
Yao Yuzhi chuckled, her face full of self-deprecation.
"I just find it ridiculous. I used to despise people who were two-faced, but now I've become one of them myself..."
He lived his whole life, and in his old age, he had to put on an act in front of others, and he had to act with genuine emotion.
But he knew he wasn't good at acting. He could manage once or twice, but he couldn't be as good as Wei Chi, able to control his emotions and always put on the most appropriate expression. He would inevitably slip up over time.
"Master did it for Miss's sake."
The housekeeper offered words of comfort.
Yao Yuzhi ignored those words and suddenly asked, seemingly out of context, "The autumn hunt is almost here, isn't it?"
The butler nodded, his face showing worry: "Master, won't you reconsider? We don't necessarily... have to use this method."
Yao Yuzhi shook her head: "This is the best way."
Seeing his resolute gaze, the butler had no choice but to lower his head and say no more.
...
The first autumn hunt after Wei Chi ascended the throne was a grand affair, with civil and military officials and their families flocking to the royal hunting grounds, creating a massive crowd.
The young men from all families were eager to show off their talents before the new emperor, and those skilled in riding and archery charged ahead, striving to be the first to win.
Wei Chi was also quite skilled in archery and horsemanship, but he didn't enjoy it. He had only practiced diligently to please the late emperor.
Now that the late emperor has passed away, he no longer needs to curry favor with anyone. He symbolically participated for a while, hunted a few animals, and then returned home, awaiting the final judgment on which family's son was the most outstanding that day.
The pre-arranged campsite was bustling with people, with women leading their children who had stayed behind to socialize.
No one expected Wei Chi to return so quickly. A little boy was running around and was about to reach Wei Chi when a servant following behind him quickly grabbed him and apologized.
The child's mother also saw what was happening and rushed over to explain that the child was too young, which was why he had almost offended His Majesty.
Wei Chi looked at the child, remained silent for a moment, and instead of blaming him, asked, "How old is he?"
The woman replied, “Your Majesty, my son has just turned three years old this year. His father said that boys should not be spoiled and that he should be brought to the hunting grounds to broaden his horizons and see Your Majesty and the other young men hunting. Therefore, he asked me to bring him along.”
Wei Chi nodded: "Indeed, I also started my education when I was three years old."
"His Majesty has been intelligent since childhood, possessing both literary and military talents; this is a fact known to all the people of Daliang."
The woman continued.
Wei Chi did not show any smugness because of such flattery. His gaze remained fixed on the child. Just when the woman was trembling with fear, thinking that he was going to scold and punish her, he suddenly said, "This child looks intelligent. Reward him."
After saying this, he strode away, leaving the surprised and delighted woman behind.
He returned to his tent, his gaze heavy as the tent flap fell.
Uncle Fourteen will also have his own child in the future, and this child may be born to him and Youqing.
Although he didn't like Youqing, that didn't mean he wouldn't touch her.
The thought that his beloved woman would not only writhe and submit to another man, but also bear him children filled Wei Chi with uncontrollable rage.
His knuckles were turning blue as he gripped the teacup, as if he were about to crush it. Just then, someone walked in from outside the tent and told him that something had happened.
Yao Yuzhi was distracted while hunting and fell off her horse, breaking her leg. The imperial physician had already rushed over, but the extent of her injury was still unknown.
Wei Chi was taken aback, then immediately got up and walked out.
In early July of the first year of Chongming, Grand Tutor Yao Yuzhi resigned from his post after breaking his leg during an autumn hunt.
The new emperor refused several times, but finally agreed because Grand Tutor Yao was old and frail and could not bear the pain.
Although Grand Tutor Yao had left the court, his magnanimity remained. He not only received numerous rewards himself, but his daughter, Princess Qin, who was far away in Shangchuan, also received a reward to comfort his deep love for his daughter.
While everyone praised the new emperor's benevolence, the steward broke out in a cold sweat.
"His Majesty sent something to the young lady, I'm afraid... I'm afraid it's with ill intentions!"
Yao Yuzhi was naturally worried, but he was currently separated from his daughter and was being closely watched by the Emperor. Even the person who went to Shangchuan to deliver the message to his daughter was sent by the Emperor, so it was impossible for him to send her a message.
“It’s alright,” he reassured himself. “Mother Zhou and Steward Ding are both here; they know what’s going on.”