Chapter 176: Aged Three Years

At the start of the morning court, the Ningde Emperor wasn't really listening attentively; looking at the dignified eldest son standing below, he was in a good mood.

As he watched, he noticed something off—how come it's only him?

The second son got leave for his wedding; where's the third son?

He suddenly spoke up, interrupting, "Where is the You Prince?"

The You Prince was dozing off in the back—isn't that surprising?

The great king was attending his first court assembly; upon entering, he felt a bit unusually alert, he declined everyone's courtesies and kept staying in the back row.

First he stood properly waiting for the emperor; when the emperor arrived, he kowtowed with loud bangs, then some officials began reporting what happened where. The great king felt it was no different from his small court, relaxed, and soon started slacking off… he began to get drowsy again.

Children lack sleep.

As the emperor scanned the officials below, he momentarily didn't see the You Prince—had he not come? This unfilial son actually dares to defy the edict?

He spoke up to inquire, and noticed that some people toward the back were looking backward?

The great king dozed with half-closed eyes, hearing only chanting nearby; being far away, nobody could hear his father emperor calling him. Or perhaps the official in front of him whispered: "You Prince? Your Highness, the emperor is calling you!"

An old man beside him pushed him again, and the great king suddenly woke up.

The Ningde Emperor was about to lose his temper when he saw a small figure shuffle out from the main gate……

"You Prince, what are you hiding back there for? Why don't you just go stand outside instead!"

The great king thought being able to stand outside would be great—outside would surely be better ventilated—but he was now clear‑headed, and his survival instinct made him sensible: "I'm not hiding; I'm just short."

He's so humble, not pushing or shoving, standing at the back—shouldn't that be praiseworthy?

The Ningde Emperor didn't believe this unfilial son could be so obedient; he pointed to the steps below: "You're small, come, stand here. I let you attend court not only to learn something, but to see how difficult it is for the Great Jin—come over and listen carefully!"

The great king glanced at the display spot—ah! Not good for slacking off.

Even if unwilling, he had to move over.

Once he stood firm, the Ningde Emperor signaled for the court to continue.

The great king stood right under his father's gaze, much more honest; this guy strained to widen his eyes, "no silver here three hundred taels" to show he wasn't the least bit sleepy. Whenever someone raised an opinion and another echoed it, the great king also nodded along, showing he was listening attentively.

What's this about Huai River waterworks construction? Just nod and it's done—if the dikes break they must be repaired quickly; what's all the arguing? If a heavy rain comes, wouldn't we suffer?

"The You Prince also nodded—looks like you agree to the major repairs?"

The great king's spirits lifted—here we go, roll call.

"Yes, I agree."

"The Grand Minister of Finance says coming up with five hundred thousand taels is temporarily difficult—what do you think?"

The great king almost choked—"I'll just squint and take a look!"

With such a tricky question, why not ask your eldest son? Such a great Jin—how could it be short five hundred thousand taels?

And the Grand Minister of Finance—isn't he the new father‑in‑law of the second son?

This pit is deeper than the ocean's trenches—you really are his father!

"Five hundred thousand taels? That's quite a lot. The emperor also knows Youzhou is poor; the son has never seen that much silver, his experience is limited. Why not ask the Prince of Yu instead?" No choice—it's not that I'm playing favorites; who let the fourth fat one be absent? Otherwise I'd have to bring him along too.

In the hall a hush fell; the Prince of Yu stepped forward: "Reporting to Father Emperor, the Huai River dikes are a major matter; I think we should… other things can be set aside for now, prioritize repairing the dikes. The Grand Minister of Finance should distinguish priorities, first remove all obstacles to supply Huaizhou."

The Grand Minister of Finance's face said it all—is he unable to tell priorities, or is the treasury truly empty?

There are many places money goes—isn't he also preparing the emperor's fortieth‑birthday celebration? When foreign envoys and princes from all regions gather to watch him pinch pennies and lose face, those good days will truly come to an end.

"Your Highness Prince of Yu, your words are mistaken; I can distinguish priorities…"

No need to say more—let the arguing begin.

In the hall, aside from those supporting the Prince of Yu, there were certainly plenty backing the Grand Minister of Finance—swords flashed, blades clashed back and forth. The rest were the peanut‑gallery crowd, the more they watched the more interesting it got, nice to look at, nice to look at—this is truly… brotherly affection among siblings.

Everyone instinctively looked toward the front, where someone had first stuck out a foot to kick a ball and sparked a saliva‑filled brawl, and discovered the You Prince was studying the brick under his feet.

Oh dear, why is that brick flashing golden light? Could there be gold inside? Luxurious, truly luxurious!

As for the major affairs of court, they're not for an eight‑year‑old like me to decide—don't bother looking, you can't understand what the sharp‑tongued people are saying.

The great king's first time attending court: the first half he dozed off, the second half ended with him listening to others argue.

The great king walked out of Jianzhang Palace; the sky was already bright.

As he climbed into the carriage, he let out a deep sigh: "Alas! My last court appearance made me feel three years older."

Zhao Ba: ……

Returning to the Honglu Pavilion and seeing Wei Shen, the great king continued to sigh, walked off without saying a word, leaving his cousin utterly bewildered.

"What's going on?"

Zhao Ba: "In front of you is the eleven‑year‑old You Prince, Your Highness—rather deep‑thoughted?"

Wei Shen: "……Ha?"

That evening the great king early went to Myriad Realm to stroll, hoping to earn some money to heal his injuries.

Under Bai Ze's speechless gaze, this guy packed up all the portable little items from the Honglu Pavilion, "Hmph! How great is the harm to my spirit? What's wrong with taking a few broken trinkets from the father emperor? Nothing!" After his self‑question‑and‑answer, he became even more self‑righteous.

What candlesticks, brush rests, ink slabs, paperweights, teapots and teacups, bed curtains—he bundled them all up and walked off……

Upon arriving at Myriad Realm Baiyang and seeing the great king's get‑up, he laughed: "Today you're working so hard? Where'd all this stuff come from?"

The great king: "…Picked up." Picked up in my own courtyard at the Honglu Pavilion.

"Brother Bai, take a look—if you like something, it's yours." The great king gave away his father emperor's things quite generously.

Baiyang didn't stand on ceremony either, laying out the items one by one to admire; the great king sat nearby and complained about the mistreatment he'd suffered that morning.

Baiyang listened, then sniffed him: "Let me smell—what's this odor? This is the office vibe, hahaha~"

After hearing the explanation, the great king felt the description was spot‑on: "I'm already unhappy—unhappy waking up, unhappy at morning court! Standing under my father emperor's eyes, I can't even nap without being questioned, sigh…" How can this life go on, with countless pits waiting for him.

Upon hearing that, Baiyang laughed: "…Isn't that just like sitting under the lecture platform? That's usually the troublemakers' special seat—you already blended in on your first day? Hahaha, brother, you underestimated me."

Grand King: "I'm not a problem student at the academy..." No, he hasn't been there for a long time...

"Does taking long leave and not doing one's own homework count as being a problem student?"

Bai Yang: "What does 'not doing one's own homework' mean?"

Grand King: "It means having the officials and classmates from the prince's residence write it for you."

Bai Yang: …Envious. He's studied for fifteen or sixteen years and never experienced such a perk—this damned ruling class!

Upon hearing that, the ruling class's eyes lit up: "Exactly, I can take leave!"

At Weiyang Palace, because the first three were summoned to court, the four sons of the enfeoffed king—only the fourth son, Baili Hu, was left out; they've already replaced a batch of porcelain.

That night Empress Cui went to Emperor Ningde's Han Zhang Palace and cried her heart out; Emperor Ningde also felt a bit guilty, as the third son had been jumping around a lot lately, so he inevitably diverted some attention there, not realizing that the fourth son had also just been enfeoffed, and should have brought him along to court.

He immediately issued an edict that starting tomorrow, Prince Jing would also attend court to observe.

Who would have thought that some would rush ahead while others would try to avoid it at all costs.

The next day he received a leave note from Prince You claiming illness; Prince You said he got up in the middle of the night to go to court, opened the carriage curtain to sleep, caught a chill, and came down with a cold.

Leave for seven days.

Emperor Ningde calculated that the eighth day would be his birthday celebration.

Good, that's very much Prince You.

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