The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity

Chapter 341 - 309: The Eldest Prince’s Companion (Part 2)

Empress Su wanted to see Zhao Nuo, but naturally couldn’t. Emperor Guangxi guarded against her more fiercely than against thieves, preferring to hold Zhao Nuo himself until his arms were sore, rather than letting her touch him.

In fact, to protect the safety of Princess Consort Duan and her son in Yonghe Palace, Emperor Guangxi ordered Chu Feng to lead a team of Inner Court Guards to stand outside Yonghe Palace’s gate, forbidding anyone from entering without his order.

After hearing this, Empress Su didn’t argue with Emperor Guangxi. She did not go out of her way to seek information about Yonghe Palace, nor did she rack her brains on how to deal with Princess Consort Duan. Instead, she often went to the Study Room to see the Eldest Prince, Zhao Xi, during this time.

The entire Imperial Palace had only this one Prince, attending and leaving school alone every day.

Zhao Xi and Song Yuanbao were the same age, both were thirteen years old.

The children in the Imperial Palace were all of good appearance, and Zhao Xi, at a young age, already carried the handsome and composed demeanor of a youth.

That day, just as Zhao Xi walked out of the Study Room, the attendant student serving him closely whispered, "Your Highness, the Empress has come again."

Zhao Xi closed the folding fan in his hand, flipped it in his palm, "Go and tell her, I plan to go to the Upper Garden for archery and horse-riding practice today and have no time to see her."

Just as he finished speaking, Empress Su’s voice, lighthearted and joking, came from behind, "No matter how busy the Eldest Prince is, surely he has time for a word from me?"

Hearing this, Zhao Xi’s eyebrows furrowed imperceptibly, he turned around, and with a bow, greeted, "Your son greets the Empress Mother."

Empress Su looked at him benevolently, "No need for formalities."

Zhao Xi straightened up, his tone indifferent, "Is there a matter the Empress Mother wishes to discuss with your son?"

Empress Su signaled to the palace maid behind her and the attendant student beside Zhao Xi to withdraw.

Zhao Xi said, "Please speak directly, Empress Mother. I will be heading to the Upper Garden shortly, my tutor awaits, and time is a bit tight."

Empress Su was not oblivious to the cold and distant tone in his words.

She paused for a moment and got straight to the point, "You go alone to school daily and alone to learn horse-riding and archery at the Upper Garden, don’t you find it dull?"

Zhao Xi did not respond, waiting for Empress Su to continue.

"I am considering finding a companion for you, what do you think?"

Zhao Xi smiled, "Everything I have is granted by the Emperor. If the Emperor agrees, I have no objection."

In a word, he shifted the responsibility onto Emperor Guangxi.

There were no simple-minded people in the palace, and Empress Su was not surprised that Zhao Xi, at such a young age, was already adept at handling people and affairs. She smiled, "Then, I shall take it as you agreeing."

After Empress Su left, the attendant student looked worriedly at his master, "Your Highness, what should we do?"

Even the blind could see that the Empress, losing the support of her family and having her position threatened by the one in Yonghe Palace, had now shifted her target to the Eldest Prince. Most likely, she intended to take the Eldest Prince under her wing.

Zhao Xi watched the direction in which Empress Su had left, his lips slightly pursed, and remained silent.

——

Unable to wait for Emperor Guangxi to stay overnight at Kunning Palace, Empress Su went directly to Qianqing Palace to find him.

Emperor Guangxi did not avoid her and asked Mr. Cui to invite her in.

"Why is the Empress so eager to see me, is there something?" Emperor Guangxi, sitting on the dragon throne, tapped the armrest with his finger absentmindedly.

Empress Su got straight to the point, "Recently I’ve been to the Study Room and saw the Eldest Prince attending and leaving school alone without siblings. It must be lonely, so I thought of finding a companion for him. What does the Emperor think of my suggestion?"

Emperor Guangxi understood, "It seems the Empress already has a suitable candidate in mind."

Empress Su nodded, "My brother’s fourth son, still studying at the Imperial College, is not much older than the Eldest Prince and is a very well-behaved child. Last year’s year-end examination results at the Imperial College were also good. I believe he could serve as a suitable companion to aid the Eldest Prince in studying more diligently."

With a seemingly casual suggestion, there was a reasonable pretext to win over the Eldest Prince, justify placing her own people around him, and more importantly, give the Duke Mansion a chance to merit—should Zhao Xi become Emperor in the future, he would be unlikely to harm his own companion and would instead reward merit.

A triple win.

Emperor Guangxi squinted his old eyes.

It must be said that his Empress was very shrewd and clever.

With a slight smile, Emperor Guangxi said, "It’s rare for the Empress to show such care. Find some time to bring him into the palace for me to meet him."

Empress Su did not expect things to go so smoothly. While her heart was filled with joy, it did not show on her face. She bowed slightly, "Tomorrow is a rest day for the Imperial College. Then, I will have someone deliver the order to the Duke Mansion."

Emperor Guangxi picked up his tea cup, slightly lowered his eyes, and the sharp glint in his eyes quickly vanished.

——

Tomorrow, being a rest day, Su Yaoqi and his classmates organized a gathering, planning to hold it on the paintings boat at Mirror Lake.

At the end of school, Su Yaoqi specifically stopped Song Yuanbao to tell him about this and asked if he would like to go tomorrow.

Song Yuanbao initially wanted to refuse, but remembering his father’s advice to communicate more with others, he hesitated for a moment and nodded in agreement.

Su Yaoqi patted his shoulder, "Let’s settle it then, see you at Mirror Lake tomorrow at Chen Shi."

After speaking, he enthusiastically escorted Song Yuanbao back to their family carriage.

This year, having grown a year older, Su Yaoqi had matured mentally quite a bit. When he saw Wen Wan, he no longer acted impulsively like the previous year but instead showed a smile and greeted her naturally.

Wen Wan returned a polite smile. After Song Yuanbao got on the carriage, she instructed Uncle Lin to set off.

Inside the carriage, mother and son sat opposite each other.

Wen Wan asked him, "What were you two talking about just now, looking so happy?"

Song Yuanbao replied honestly, "They are going to have a gathering on a painting boat tomorrow and invited me."

Wen Wan was a little worried, "You’re planning to go alone?"

"After all, we’re all classmates; there shouldn’t be any big issues, right?"

"That’s not possible." Wen Wan shook her head, "It’s too dangerous."

"But father told me to spend more time with my classmates!" Yuanbao said, "If you’re not comfortable, I can bring Duan Yan and Hui Ink along."

Duan Yan and Hui Ink were attendants specially bought by Song Wei to serve Yuanbao, and the names were personally given by Yuanbao.

The household had recently added quite a few new servants and a carriage.

The new residence wasn’t as close to the Hanlin Academy as the old one, so Song Wei had to walk far to the government office each day, while the only carriage had to pick up and drop off Wen Wan and Yuanbao.

Hearing this, Wen Wan was silent for a while, "Alright, take them with you then!"

At most, tomorrow Wei Qian could assign a few people to follow them secretly.

——

Rarely having an outing coupled with such a fine sunny day, Yuanbao rose early, bathed and dressed up nicely, donning a moon-white soft robe, exuding the nascent poise of a graceful young man.

When Wen Wan saw him as she was leaving, she praised him, saying Yuanbao was growing up nicely.

The gradually maturing young boy blushed slightly at his ears upon hearing this.

He was eagerly looking forward to the lake outing with his classmates, but unexpectedly, shortly afterwards, someone from the Duke Jing Mansion came, saying their fourth young master was summoned to the palace by the Emperor, and couldn’t go to Mirror Lake, so they were there to inform and apologize.

Song Yuanbao felt a small tinge of disappointment, though it wasn’t too evident, and he asked the messenger, "Did the Emperor summon him for something specific?"

The messenger was Su Yaoqi’s Attendant Student, and knowing how close his young master was with the Song family member, he didn’t hide anything, saying in a low voice, "It seems to be for selecting a companion for the Eldest Prince."

"I see." Song Yuanbao realized.

After sending the messenger away, he returned to his room to change out of the soft satin robe and put on a usual blue robe.

In the hall, Granny Song, hearing Jinbao shouting for his brother at the doorframe, came out to see her eldest grandson approaching and asked him, "Weren’t you going to a classmate gathering, why are you back?"

Song Yuanbao didn’t explain in detail, only saying there was a temporary change and he couldn’t go.

After saying this, he bent down to pick Jinbao up and lifted him high.

The two-year-old little fellow, chubby, was somewhat heavy. Yuanbao lifted him twice, then put him down and whispered in his ear, "Do you want to learn to paint, Jinbao? Brother will teach you."

Jinbao looked up at his brother, his eyes bright and shiny.

Yuanbao said a word to Granny Song, carried the little one to his own study in the outer court, and started arranging practice paper.

The young attendant ground the ink on the side.

Yuanbao let Jinbao sit at the writing desk, dipped the brush in ink, handed it to the little fellow to hold, then guided him by holding his hand, sketching slowly on the practice paper. Initially, it was a picture of a floor-standing blue and white vase beside the bookshelf. The little fellow, painting for the first time, like discovering a new world, scribbled randomly under his brother’s guidance. In the end, Yuanbao looked at the messy clump on the practice paper: "..."

——

When Emperor Guangxi met Su Yaoqi, he casually asked him a few questions.

Although it wasn’t his first encounter with the Emperor, facing such majestic authority, the young man inevitably felt nervous and answered a bit haltingly.

Emperor Guangxi had heard of Su Yaoqi, a child raised in purity by the Imperial Uncle, who never allowed him to be involved in any internal family affairs.

Empress Su was also present.

Emperor Guangxi did not directly comment on whether Su Yaoqi was good or not, instead called for the Eldest Prince to be brought over, telling him that from today Su Yaoqi would be his companion, "This young master from the Su family is good at studying but not adept at riding and shooting. Xixi, when you go to the Upper Garden, you must be considerate towards him."

Upon receiving the instruction, Zhao Xi’s eyes slightly moved, and he slowly curled his lips, "I obey, father."