Chapter 650: Add More Sugar
It was already New Year's Eve, and the students of the Northern Border Academy had long gone on holiday; only the Mountain Chief and a few teachers who stayed on campus were still holding their posts. Xie Che planned to go down the mountain in the afternoon to return home and keep the year-end vigil.
At that moment, Xie Che and Lu Jia's father were studying the
Xie Che didn't hear it clearly and waved his hand absentmindedly, thinking it was again someone coming to see the Great King. 'No one is allowed into the Source Thought Pavilion; just say His Majesty is in seclusion studying.' He wasn't Xie Yuan, so saying that caused him no guilt.
'No, it's not like that—His Majesty really came! He really came to our academy!'
Xie Che raised his head slowly and asked, 'What?' He had been shouting 'Wolf!' for days, and this time the wolf really came.
'What are you doing here?'
The little page boy didn't know, so Xie Che had to go out to greet him. Who knew the Great King's legs were fast; he rushed out but still didn't meet him, and the guards told him he had already gone inside. Several teaching halls were already empty and closed; the students who hadn't gone home for the New Year were either playing in town or staying in the dorms. Xie Che went all the way over, checking the Library Pavilion, the Source Thought Pavilion, the Tranquil Mind Studio—none had him… As he walked past the dining hall, he faintly heard voices. He went over and saw the Great King directing the head chef to brew him a cup of fresh milk tea…
At that moment Xie Che felt a little sympathy for Xie Yuan, believing this guy truly didn't like studying. Such a grand academy, with everything one could want and pleasant scenery—yet this fellow hadn't come in hundreds of years, and when he did, he headed straight for the dining hall…
He glanced inside and saw His Majesty the Emperor leaning against the back kitchen window, talking to the head chef inside.
"Yeah, I'm not going home for New Year's—it's too far, and there's no one at home waiting for me to come back for the holiday.... I'm a son of a concubine; my mother is already gone, so who cares whether I return home or not?.... Yeah, living here is pretty good.... Not pitiful, still fine~.... If you feel sorry for me, add more sugar, give me more sugar~.... People say milk tea isn't fragrant without extra sugar~"
Xie Che, who had listened to the whole thing: …
He slowly approached the figure bearing the labels 'Not going home for New Year's, concubine's son, poor little thing, His Majesty the Emperor', stood there speechless for a moment—offering a greeting now would be inappropriate, a bit tactless, as they were in the middle of being coaxed into drinking extra-sugar milk tea.
The Great King heard the footsteps, turned his head, and saw Xie Che with a complex expression; this guy quickly blinked his eyes to signal Xie Che to watch what he said.
'You… how did you come here?'
'... I just got tired from studying and wanted something sweet and hot…'
Xie Che: …… Only a fool would believe that.
The cook heard the voice, looked up, and recognizing the Supervisor of Sacrifices, hurriedly greeted him and explained, seeing that this student was young and also wanted something hot, he made an exception and prepared it.
Xie Che nodded. 'Not bad, give me one too.' After saying that, he looked at the Great King and said, 'Let's wait by the window.' You'd better not hang on the kitchen window, it'll hurt your eyes.
To ease Xie Yuan's eye strain.
The extra-sugar milk tea was quickly brought up; the Great King took a sip and felt delighted, while Xie Che took a sip and almost spat it out—so sweet! The cloying sweetness made his head spin.
'When did you return from You Prefecture, and why didn't you go straight to the Purple Forbidden Palace?'
The Great King was in a good mood, looking out the window: 'As soon as I returned, I heard that I was studying earnestly at the academy, so of course I came right away!'
Xie Che: ……
So earnest that he went straight to the dining hall?
As a result, the frolicking Tiger-eating Beast and eagle outside noticed the Great King's mouth moving—he must be eating something good behind their backs! The two creatures rushed in, vying to be first, shouting, 'What did you eat? Let us see… no, let us taste!'
The Great King held up his milk tea and shouted, 'Don't come over!'
Unfortunately, to the Tiger-eating Beast and eagle, that shout sounded just like, 'Hurry up and come!'
Their bulky frames were hardly suited for cutesy writhing; the densely packed tables and chairs in the dining hall were shoved askew, overturned in a clatter of crackling noises. Xie Che dodged repeatedly, avoiding being drenched in the cloying sugar water, and after squeezing out of the window-area battleground he let out a hard exhalation.
Just as he relaxed his breath, his younger brother and Manager Zhao appeared, panting, at the dining hall entrance.
Xie Yuan had come with Zhao Bao to meet the Great King.
Xie Yuan was used to messing around with the Great King and the pets; he could turn a blind eye and a deaf ear, so it was no big deal. Just his elder brother's look was rather complicated?
Tsk!
He thought it over, then went over and asked doubtfully, '…In such a short time, you've already stirred up new trouble?' Having heard that the Great King had returned, he and Zhao Bao came without delay. Even those who came to report the news didn't dare delay—no matter how you calculate it, the Great King had just arrived.
Xie Che looked at the dining hall, now a chaotic mess… So this doesn't count as a problem?
He patted his younger brother's shoulder with deep meaning, saying, 'You're not having it easy either. When you're done, go home early to keep the year-end vigil.' It's the New Year, so you should also rest properly.
Xie Yuan: ……
End of Chapter
