Chapter 163: Little Beggar Jing

Prince You, assassinating feudal lords is no trivial matter; do you have any evidence?

Of course, my son reports to the authorities each time, and the assassins' bodies have been entrusted to the local officials for handling; Father Emperor can investigate. The assassination yesterday, the scene probably hasn't been cleaned up yet; Father Emperor, please check quickly!

The Great King blinked his big eyes, matching his little flowery face, as if words were written on his forehead: Innocent victim.

The chief steward who had gone out came in and reported in a low voice to Emperor Ningde: "Prince You's men are all outside the palace gates, about two hundred of them, all… covered in blood, dirt, and ash. Obviously they've just gone through a fierce battle; the smell of blood can be smelled from afar. The two that Prince You brought in, after taking off their armor, their collars and cuffs are stained with blood, and they are standing outside Jianzhang Palace."

Emperor Ningde glanced again at the rebellious son sitting on the ground; really, someone wants to kill him?!

I understand, go back and behave yourself! Prince You, you are a feudal lord of a state; from now on watch your words and deeds.

The Great King paid no heed to his father's warning, eyes wide open he asked: "Father Emperor, but Father Emperor, I haven't returned to Chang'an for two years, I haven't seen Father Emperor for two years…"

Emperor Ningde thought of how this fellow's usual memorials aren't memorials, his family letters aren't family letters, and feared he would blurt out a sappy line any moment: "I miss Father Emperor~"

He hurriedly interrupted: "Speak properly! What are you like! Go see the Fifth Princess, tidy up a bit, and after paying respects to the Empress, then leave the palace."

See the older sister?

That works too.

The Great King decided to come here first today.

Who knew that upon entering Consort Wei's Palace, these two women each grabbed one of his hands and wept.

One wept, "Sorry for failing to look after my older sister's son, causing Prince You to suffer"; the other wept for her ill-fated brother, making a proper feudal lord look like a little beggar.

Bai Li Xiao Qigai Jing: ……

A mistake; I should have tidied up beforehand before coming over.

Consort Wei didn't have any clothes the Great King could wear here, so she sent someone to fetch some from outside, and also brought the gifts for the imperial consorts; at least the Great King washed his face, changed clothes, and had the Fifth Princess apply some medicine to him.

After chatting with his older sister and snacking, the Great King took the gift for the Empress to Weiyang Palace. Seeing his older sister again later today, he couldn't delay too long, as everyone and their horses were waiting for him outside the palace.

He has lived here since birth; stepping into Weiyang Palace once again, the Great King felt no sense of home.

It seemed he had never regarded this place as home; his sense of belonging was even less than that of the old princely residence in Youzhou City.

The Great King waited before the main hall for palace personnel to report; a plump little fellow led a procession of palace staff rushing past, then stopped and turned to glance at him, sizing him up for a moment: "Bai Li… Jing?"

It seemed he understood the distinction.

No one would wait at their own gate after reporting to be allowed in; this person doesn't need to, so this is Bai Li Hu's home.

Now the Great King is dressed neatly, no longer the ruffian from Jianzhang Palace; he holds his head high, determined to outdo Bai Li Hu in arrogance.

"Impolite, call me Elder Imperial Brother!"

"Huh, is Youzhou that poor? They've starved their Great King to look like a consumptive ghost!"

Upon hearing this, the Great King wasn't angry but rather pleased; seeing the envy directed at him, it proved that he is indeed truly thin now!

The Great King, just having emerged, heard for the first time such great praise of his physique.

But the Great King couldn't lose; he glared fiercely at the little eunuch beside Bai Li Hu: "Take good care of Prince Jing, why are you running about recklessly! Don't let him fall—if he does, who knows where he'll roll off to, fat as a ball!"

Little eunuch: ……

"Bai Li Jing, you! … No wonder you got beaten like this, you deserved it!" With that mouth of his, any beating would be fitting.

"Bai Li Hu, you! I hope it wasn't you who hit me, or I'll investigate and make you return it, humph!" The Great King mimicked his tone.

"You!"

"I'm doing great!"

The primary school chicken's war was about to break out, fortunately the Empress's senior palace maid personally came out to greet the Great King.

The Great King followed politely, then suddenly turned and made a face at Bai Li Hu; seeing the other's shocked expression, the Great King happily followed the palace staff into the main hall, "Immaturity doesn't die, you!"

After the Great King's silhouette disappeared, Bai Li Hu let out a soft scoff: "Is this the guy who is a major threat to my heart?"

Empress Cui, upon seeing the wound on the Great King's face, pulled him close and shed a few tears, then kept saying the Great King had grown thin.

The Great King listened obediently, willingly took out the jewelry he had brought and presented it to the Empress. The Empress personally received it, immediately inserted a hairpin into her hair, and asked how it looked.

"Whatever the Mother Empress wears looks good."

"Just your sweet talk—you're all grown up, and the Mother Empress is getting old…"

After the perfunctory mother‑son routine ended, the Great King immediately took his leave, saying his attendants were still waiting outside the palace gates; the Empress personally saw him to the gate of Weiyang Palace.

Stepping out of Weiyang Palace, the Great King let out a heavy sigh: "It's been too long since I last performed; I'm really out of practice."

When the Empress shed tears…… there was no emotion in her eyes.

The Great King quickened his pace, no longer feeling any attachment to the place where he grew up.