Chapter 173: Willful Father

Da Wang wanted to boldly ask what tribute was, but seeing his father's desk had not only books but also a paperweight, he swallowed the question back.

"Son... do your best?"

As expected, Emperor Ningde picked up the book beside him and threw it over; Da Wang nimbly dodged in his second brother's astonished gaze, then hurriedly picked up the book and sent it back to his father...

Looks like his work skills are quite proficient?

Da Wang: "Tsk tsk, he still dares to complain about his poor studies, and what his father is reading isn't exactly a proper book—throwing it at him turned out to be an ancient music score."

While picking it up, Da Wang stole a glance and silently complained in his heart.

Emperor Ningde had already pointed at him and scolded: "What have you handed over since you were enfeoffed? As if giving you Youzhou is the same as giving you nothing."

Da Wang's eyes widened, "Pah pah pah! Take it back! Father Emperor, you can't randomly say such things; it's an ill omen, the son fears this on the border! What do you mean 'none'? If Youzhou is gone, your son is gone too!"

Even the always-favored second son looked at him with astonishment, and you say 'pah pah pah' to the father emperor?

You unfilial son! How dare you interfere with what I say!

"Father, don't be willful, let's discuss things!" Da Wang said solemnly, but then he started personal attacks again.

Bai Li Heng really couldn't hold back; he wasn't afraid of his father either, and he laughed loudly at the side. This third son is indeed interesting. He's never heard anyone directly tell the emperor not to be willful before, and he's just a little bean.

Even the emperor himself was stunned there, making it even funnier, the comedic effect maxed out.

Emperor Ningde came to his senses, glared at the second son, "Still laughing! With sons like you, how can the future of the Great Jin be good?"

Da Wang: "Oh oh, starting to pass the buck."

The second son swallowed his laugh: "When the son goes to Guangling, he will surely govern his fief well, pay tribute on time, Father Emperor, rest assured."

Da Wang pouted, "How is this still dragging down? Give me Guangling Commandery and I'll surely pay tribute on time. It's not near the border, and the population is large—just thinking about it makes Da Wang almost drool, son compared to son... infuriating!"

So Da Wang became more and more at ease.

What happens if we don't pay? Does it delay Father's meal?!

On the other hand, the nobles of Chang'an live lives of decadent luxury; a table needs a hundred taels of silver worth of food, daily fully booked, and even his father has grown fatter than two years ago.

Emperor Ningde scolded Da Wang above, while Da Wang secretly muttered about his father below. "Dad, just watching song and dance and drinking—can you not get fat? Why don't you come down and dance a bit? I hear being too fat is unhealthy."

Bai Li Heng glanced sideways and felt the third son's expression was interesting, changing momentarily, obviously not taking it to heart. He figured it out: this guy is just putting up with the scolding.

After Emperor Ningde finished scolding him to exhaustion and stopped, Da Wang immediately perked up again. This guy never stops, opening his mouth to ask for compensation: "Father Emperor, on this journey the son has been assassinated, the imperial guard lost eight hundred men; see if you can make up for it for the son."

"Unfilial son! Are all my words wasted? And you still ask me for people?" This guy has already been compensated once, the first instance among the feudal princes.

"Well... it's not because you summoned the son to Chang'an that we lost so many people! The son built a high wall in Youzhou, sitting inside it's very safe; originally it wouldn't have..."

Seeing his father inspecting the desk, Da Wang changed his tone: "... Okay, okay, don't get excited, this can all be negotiated! Come to think of it, there's also the second brother! I came to Chang'an also for the second brother's big wedding; why don't you and the second brother together give..." make up for it?

Bai Li Heng simply couldn't believe it, astonished by Da Wang's shameless logic.

He rolled his eyes, "I didn't even lift a finger in the assassination, yet we're already brothers-in-arms, alright!"

Emperor Ningde finally still threw down the paperweight that Da Wang had been guarding against; fortunately he still had a bit of sense and didn't directly smash the son's head, but threw it in front of them as a threat.

Get out! Get out for me!

That'll do.

Da Wang was just about to reply 'Sure, hurry up and scram', when Emperor Ningde suddenly remembered why he had them come: '... Wait, the lantern? Bring it up for me to see.'

Da Wang: '... Truly lives up to being my fun-loving, blessing-enjoying father.'

My father's character setting is really sturdy and won't fall.

Bai Li Heng quickly had the palace servants bring the lantern in, unfortunately it's currently off.

Emperor Ningde asked: 'How to turn it on?'

Bai Li Heng looked at Da Wang, he didn't know; when it was sent to the bridal chamber yesterday, it was lit.

Da Wang gave him a look of confidence and shouted: 'Turn on the light!'

Then, the lamp had no response...

Da Wang:...

Bai Li Heng:...

Emperor Ningde: 'Not like the little night lamp you gave me, which has a button?'

Da Wang stepped forward, stuck to the lantern and shouted: 'Hey! Turn on the light~ turn on the light turn on the light!' The palace attendants at the door couldn't help but boldly glance sideways...

Pop! And this time it really turned on!

Everyone present except Da Wang was extremely surprised; Emperor Ningde didn't understand at all: 'What's the reason for this?'

Da Wang thought to himself: 'This is complicated... I don't understand either.'

'It's just that the sound is loud; when you shout, the vibration it feels makes it light up. Eh, they all say it's an overseas rarity, but my second brother doesn't even appreciate it.'

Emperor Ningde tsk-tsked in amazement, walking around it twice: 'Isn't this quite nice to look at? Second brother, what were you fussing over at the Honglu Temple early this morning?'

Bai Li Heng recalled and got angry: 'If it's only like this, the son wouldn't even get angry; this lantern is defective!'

After saying that, he coughed once; the lantern didn't pick it up, so he imitated Da Wang by getting close and coughing hard, and then the big red lantern instantly turned into a flashing light ball...

'Father Emperor, do you understand? This thing looks a hundred times brighter at night; in the middle of the night it suddenly sings, startling the son!'

The whole study was filled with the hymn of joy; the music-loving Emperor Ningde listened closely and smiled: 'This tune is indeed quite celebratory.'

Da Wang raised his little neck: 'Right, right! Second brother doesn't know good stuff!'

The next second they heard his father ask: 'How was it put in? Third son, why does it sing a tune by itself?'

'Poor-student Da Wang:... You all say I'm illiterate, yet you ask such a profound question.'

'It's just like a music box, right? The merchant who sold it to me doesn't know either. Not even one son was willing to take it apart, Father Emperor, didn't you notice anything else?'

Emperor Ningde had already started keeping the beat: 'Don't say, this percussion is totally different from our Great Jin's musical style, and quite exotic... What do you see?'

Da Wang: '... Dad, foreigners can already make this kind of thing, while we don't even know how to make it—are we too backward?' Da Wang deliberately brought it up himself to see his father's reaction.

'Frivolous tricks, not fit for the elegant hall.'

Da Wang: '... Relieved. Given up.'

His father would never worry needlessly.

What made Bai Li Heng incredulous was that his father actually took a liking to this thing, knowing how to turn it on, he then chased the two of them away, saying he wanted to see how bright it would be at night.

The king had no choice but to give a preventive shot, telling his father that this thing is one-time use and can stay lit for several days.

He had to take precautions beforehand; whoever lights a lamp in broad daylight, if it later goes dark, don't come looking for him.