novelraw Chapter 345 - 313: Infuriating Enough to Kill
Chapter 345 - 313: Infuriating Enough to Kill
Taking advantage of lunchtime, Yuanbao followed Zhao Xi to Yutang Palace to take a look at his residence.
The side hall was very large, at least twice the size of his room at home. Inside, there was a lacquered golden big cool bed, said to have the effect of being warm in winter and cool in summer. Made of boxwood, it had bonewood inlays, and the opulence exuded an air of elegance.
Honestly speaking, Yuanbao had never seen such a lavish place before. He was not a high-minded person indifferent to fame and fortune; he didn’t hide his bright-eyed appreciation of this new room from the Eldest Prince.
Zhao Xi didn’t have a good impression of this new companion.
Before meeting him, he had summed up from Mr. Cui that he was a scoundrel.
Now that they had met, he found that this new companion of the same age was not only a scoundrel but also greedy.
But whether scoundrel or greedy, this new companion was personally chosen by him with his eyes closed.
Standing in the doorway against the light, most of the young prince’s face was hidden in shadow, except for the pair of eyes looking at Yuanbao, already showing an adult’s depth, "Have you seen enough? I’m going to the training ground."
Yuanbao replied with an "Oh," reluctantly leaving the big bed, and followed Zhao Xi out of the Yutang Palace gates.
Zhao Xi, who practiced martial arts all year round, walked with a vigorous and steady pace. He thought the little scoundrel must have been left far behind, but when he turned his head, there he was, only a step away.
The little scoundrel’s face was rosy, and his breath was steady, unlike the Su Family’s young master who would gasp after walking a bit.
Same age, comparable in stature, even their handsome faces shared an even charm; the scene of their eyes meeting was somewhat awkward.
Zhao Xi frowned slightly, "You walk without making a sound?"
Yuanbao asked, "What volume does His Highness like? I’ll make it for you in a while."
Zhao Xi: "..."
He said nothing, turned around, and continued forward.
Yuanbao continued to follow, but this time obediently, his steps noisy, making the biggest commotion on the way.
At first, Zhao Xi endured it, but eventually couldn’t stand it anymore, turned his head with a dark face, "Be quiet!"
Yuanbao looked innocent, "Does His Highness want noise or quiet?"
Zhao Xi’s eyes grew darker; he felt that if it went on like this, his thirteen years of good upbringing might be defeated by this little scoundrel.
Taking a deep breath, he said, "Since you don’t know martial arts anyway, just stay behind and rest!"
Yuanbao shook his head, "I don’t know martial arts, but I can watch His Highness practice."
Zhao Xi: "I don’t like people watching when I practice martial arts."
Yuanbao was firm, "I am not ’people’; I am the companion personally chosen by His Highness."
Zhao Xi: "... Are you going back or not?"
Yuanbao: "Since His Highness insists on being considerate of a commoner like me, should I... cooperate?"
Luckily, Zhao Xi had received a high standard of education and good manners, or he might have let a "get lost" slip out.
After Yuanbao left, Zhao Xi found the calm of silence and the comfort of his eyes.
Regaining his composure, he quickly headed to the training ground.
...
Yuanbao returned to the side hall, doing nothing but deliberately lying on the big cool bed.
To be honest, it did have the effect of being warm in winter and cool in summer. In the midday heat, lying on it gave his back a pleasantly cool feeling, not too cold, just right.
"Everything in the Imperial Palace is wonderful!" Yuanbao sighed and comfortably fell asleep.
When he woke up, it was already evening, opening his eyes to see a figure standing by the bed.
Yuanbao looked closely and found it was Zhao Xi, arms crossed, leaning on a bedpost, looking at him with a half-smile.
Yuanbao was startled, sleepiness vanished, and he got off the bed to salute, "Has His Highness returned from the training ground?"
Zhao Xi stared at him for a moment, then slowly spoke, "You sure slept soundly."
Yuanbao nodded, "It’s an order from His Highness; how could a commoner not obey?"
Zhao Xi, expressionless, "Since you’re well-rested, it’s your turn to attend the evening class."
"Me?" Yuanbao pointed to himself.
Zhao Xi said, "Tonight, the teacher is lecturing on ’Spring and Autumn Annals.’ Go listen, and jot down the key points for me."
Yuanbao cast a concerned glance at him, "Is His Highness unwell?"
Zhao Xi inclined his head, quite honestly, "Seeing you makes my heart uncomfortable."
Yuanbao seized the moment, "In that case, in the future, I’ll accompany His Highness to class in the mornings, skip the afternoons at the racetrack and training ground, stay in the side hall to nap, and attend the evening class on His Highness’s behalf, highlighting the key points for you. This way, His Highness will only endure a few hours of me every day, hopefully avoiding a heart ailment."
Zhao Xi: "... You wish!"
Yuanbao felt glum, "His Highness chose me personally, yet now says he doesn’t care for me. I can’t leave the palace, nor can I show any consideration for you, this commoner feels quite troubled!"
Looking at his expression, Zhao Xi, usually devoid of emotions, felt the muscles twitch slightly at the corners of his lips.
When Emperor Guangxi summoned Song Wei, Zhao Xi was sometimes present and had seen the latter’s infuriating knack for speaking. However, now Zhao Xi felt that this little scoundrel before him was even more adept than his father.
...
That evening, it was Yuanbao who went alone to the Study Room for the class, while Zhao Xi stayed in his chamber to rest.
For the Eldest Prince not to attend class in the Study Room without being ill was a rare occurrence in seven years. When Mr. Cui saw him, he paused, asking, "Does Your Highness have no class tonight?"
Zhao Xi spoke truthfully, "I’m unwell, so I let Song Hao attend on my behalf."
Mr. Cui didn’t forget his purpose, "The Emperor sent me to ask His Highness how he finds the new companion."
Zhao Xi smiled, "Couldn’t be better."
The three words seemed forced out from between his teeth.
Mr. Cui twitched at the corners of his mouth and asked quietly, "Your Highness, could it be he’s getting the better of you?"
The Emperor even remarked that Song Hao was a smaller version of his father.
But this smaller version might be all essence.
Refined and slick.
It was said that when he first entered the Imperial College, someone intentionally picked a fight with him and was swiftly dealt with in a few words.
The Emperor had a love-hate relationship with Song Hanlin, admiring his talent but loathing his sharp tongue.
As for the smaller version...
Mr. Cui thought the Eldest Prince’s feelings wouldn’t be much better than the Emperor’s.
Knowing that the Eldest Prince was not one to engage in idle chatter, Mr. Cui didn’t expect a response, quickly saluted, and took his leave.
...
Rising early in the morning, the evening class wasn’t long, just over half an hour.
When Yuanbao returned, he had a sheepskin booklet in hand, which he immediately handed to Zhao Xi.
Upon taking it, Zhao Xi’s expression turned peculiar.
The booklet wasn’t a compilation of any important points; it was essentially a verbatim record of the teacher’s lecture, complete with Yuanbao’s questions and the teacher’s responses, all meticulously documented.
Zhao Xi pointed at the booklet, "Is this what you call key points?"
Yuanbao said, "The teacher covered so much; with our differing intellect, how could I tell what is key for His Highness or what is obvious? So, I wrote it all down for you. If there’s anything unclear, ask me, I remember everything!
Zhao Xi: "Do you plan on going easier on me?"
Yuanbao looked upset, "Your Highness picked me personally, yet you say you don’t like me. You won’t let me leave the palace, and now you won’t let me consider your perspective. It’s quite frustrating for a commoner like me!"
Zhao Xi looked at him, and for once, the rarely expressive look on his handsome face broke into a slight twitch at the corners of his lips.
When Emperor Guangxi called Song Wei, Zhao Xi was sometimes present, and he often witnessed the former’s talent for infuriating others without paying the price. However, Zhao Xi now felt that this little rascal in front of him was even more formidable than his father.
...