Chapter 106

Chapter 106

"Your Highness, what's wrong?" Danzi quickly asked.

Xiao Yuanping, his chubby hand tugging at his collar, cried out in fear, "There's a bug! It's crawling ahh!"

Minghe immediately asked, "Where's the bug?"

"On my neck, ah ah, so many, they're biting me!" Xiao Yuanping was terrified.

Xiao Yu quickly approached, reached into Xiao Yuanping's collar, and pulled out two peanut shells.

Danzi and Minghe said, "They're peanut shells."

Xiao Yuanping was stunned, "Oh, it's peanuts, not bugs."

Pei Yiyang burst into laughter.

Minghe pointed at Pei Yiyang, "It must have been you who put them there."

"That's what he gets for not listening." As they all packed the dry goods to give away, each item in a small bag, Xiao Yuanping insisted on mixing peanuts, sunflower seeds, and broad beans together despite being told otherwise. Pei Yiyang decided to teach him a lesson.

Xiao Yuanping defiantly asked, "Why should I listen to you?"

Pei Yiyang patted his chest, "I'm your uncle."

Xiao Yuanping retorted, "Nonsense uncle!"

"You insult me, I'll spank you," Pei Yiyang threatened, raising his hand as if to strike.

Although Xiao Yuanping looked soft on the outside, he was fiery inside. He immediately grabbed Pei Yiyang's arm, twisting it, "I'll hit you, I'll hit you!"

"Let go of me!" Pei Yiyang pushed Xiao Yuanping away.

Xiao Yuanping clung tighter, "I'll bite you!"

"Let go!"

"I'll bite until you cry!"

“……”

The two children, one older and one younger, started wrestling.

Before Xiao Yu could separate them, Minghe and Danzi had already joined in to help Xiao Yuanping.

The four children quickly became entangled in a fight, accidentally knocking the dry goods off the table.

"Oh no!" Xiao Zhongzi ran over in alarm.

"Don't help them, let them fight it out!" Pei Yanli sat upright, unfazed.

"The second young master is already getting beaten." Although Minghe, Danzi, and Xiao Yuanping were younger and plumper, Minghe and Danzi had recently learned some martial arts from their teacher, quickly overpowering Pei Yiyang.

This wasn't unusual, as Minghe, Danzi, and Xiao Yuanping often tussled like this, and Xiao Yu usually didn't intervene. However, he was unfamiliar with Pei Yiyang and worried about the children getting hurt.

Pei Yanli, who knew Pei Yiyang well, said, "He earned this on his own, he'll handle it himself."

Xiao Yu tentatively asked, "So we're not going to intervene?"

Pei Yanli confidently replied, "No, we won't."

Xiao Yu thus decided to leave them be.

Xiao Zhongzi, unlike Pei Yanli and Xiao Yu, was anxious, watching nervously, worried now about one child getting hit, then another, wanting to say something but not knowing what would be helpful.

The four children had gone from standing to rolling on the ground, tumbling back and forth until they finally tired out and stopped, sitting breathlessly.

Pei Yiyang, wiping his nose, asked, "Who poked my nose?"

Xiao Yuanping said, "Not me!"

Minghe pointed at Pei Yiyang, "You pulled my belt!"

"It wasn't me, it was him!" Minghe pointed at Danzi.

"I didn't, you pulled my collar!" Danzi accused Pei Yiyang.

"Humph! I'm not playing with you guys anymore!" Pei Yiyang quickly got up from the ground.

"Where are you going?" Pei Yanli finally spoke.

Pei Yiyang turned and said, "I'm going to find Mom."

"First, pick up the dry goods from the ground."

Pei Yiyang, still petulant but obedient to his brother, muttered, "Fine, I'll pick them up," and then squatted down to gather the peanuts, walnuts, and other items from the ground.

Pei Yanli looked at Minghe, Danzi, and Xiao Yuanping.

"We'll pick up too." Without waiting for Pei Yanli to say anything, the three children squatted down to gather the scattered goods.

"Wow, this peanut has four kernels!" Xiao Yuanping suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

Pei Yiyang quickly scrambled over, "Let me see!"

"Yeah, really four kernels!" Danzi said.

Minghe also came to look.

The four children gathered around the peanut, engrossed in conversation and completely forgetting their recent scuffle. Xiao Yu was reassured, realizing that although Pei Yiyang was mischievous, he was open-hearted and knew how to enjoy himself, unlike the capricious Zhu Shizi. He felt comfortable letting the four children play together.

At noon, they all had lunch together in the Eastern Palace.

In the afternoon, they delivered the packed dry goods to the Cihe Palace, as gifts for the Empress Dowager and others.

Danzi said, "Empress Dowager Grandmother, these were personally fried by my Uncle."

"And what did you do?" the Empress Dowager asked.

"Brother, the Crown Prince, Uncle Yi, and I all helped pack them!" Danzi replied.

"We spent a long time packing them!" Minghe added.

Xiao Yuanping chimed in, "Yes, yes."

"Crown Prince, Minghe, Xiao Ziqing, Yiyang, Yuanping, you all have put in much effort. I am very pleased," the Empress Dowager, the biological mother of Emperor Yongxi, who lacked neither gold nor jewels and was used to exotic plants and herbs, cherished such thoughtfully prepared gifts the most.

The Princess Regent opened a brocade bag and peered inside, curiously pulling out a dirt-stained cooked peanut, "Why is there mud on this?"

"Great Aunt Princess Regent, those brocade bags were personally packed by Uncle Yi. He got into a fight with us, spilling the dry goods. We picked them all up cleanly, but he didn’t!" Xiao Yuanping quickly added.

Empress Zheng also opened a brocade bag and took out a walnut, noticing it had bits of grass on it.

Pei Yiyang, seeing this, cheerfully retorted, "Second Prince, you're messy too!"

Xiao Yuanping was momentarily speechless, blinking his bright eyes at Empress Zheng.

"It's alright, we don't eat the shell anyway," Empress Zheng said gently.

"Right, Great Aunt Princess Regent, we don't eat the shell, don't, don't—" Xiao Yuanping struggled to find the right words and turned to Danzi for help, pleading, "Brother."

Danzi took over, "Don't mind these small details."

"Yes, don't mind these small details!" Xiao Yuanping said, "Brother, you are so smart! The smartest!"

Danzi was at a loss for words.

The Empress Dowager and others all burst into laughter.

The Princess Regent said, "Alright, we won't mind these details. It's the thought that counts."

The Empress nodded.

The Empress Dowager examined the brocade bags in her hands, one from Danzi and the other from Minghe, both spotlessly clean, a testament to their carefulness. She became even more pleased with the two children, rewarding them with smiles and then said, "The day after tomorrow is New Year's Eve. You all should celebrate well on your own. I will have a quiet time too. Come visit again after the first day of the New Year."

"Yes," the Empress and others responded.

They all chatted for a while longer.

Minghe, Danzi, Xiao Yuanping, and Pei Yiyang bickered again, their chubby and rosy cheeks flushed with the quarrel, looking like they would never get along. But when it was time to leave, Xiao Yuanping said reluctantly, "Uncle Yi, come to the palace again in a few days."

Pei Yiyang nodded, "I definitely will! I'll bring something fun for you guys."

Minghe, Danzi, and Xiao Yuanping all nodded together.

Xiao Yu scratched his brow, thinking, "It's you who argue, you who fight, and also you who can't bear to part."

"Xiao Yu," Pei Yanli called out.

Xiao Yu turned his head, "Take good care of your injury!"

"I'll come to see you tomorrow," Pei Yanli said.

"You must not," Xiao Yu refused, "Take this opportunity to rest at the Pei Mansion."

"But I—"

"No objections. Your injury is important!" As Pei Yanli's wound had reopened several times, Xiao Yu was firm about him resting: "Otherwise, I won't pay attention to you anymore."

His tone was as adorable as Pei Yiyang and the others, making Pei Yanli whisper in his ear, "I'll miss you."

"You all will come to the palace on the second day of the New Year. We'll see each other then." Seeing the Princess Regent and Pei Yiyang looking their way, Xiao Yu felt a bit embarrassed and said, "Yiyang really admires you. As his brother, don't always scorn him. Mutual respect among siblings leads to joint progress, and it sets a good example for Minghe, Danzi, and the Second Prince."

"I'll do as you say," Pei Yanli responded.

Xiao Yu urged with a smile, "Hurry back now."

"Alright."

Pei Yanli and his family left the imperial palace.

Xiao Yu, Minghe, and Danzi returned to the Eastern Palace.

The Empress sent servants to deliver clothes for Danzi and Minghe.

Xiao Yu asked in surprise, "When are these clothes to be worn?"

"Wear them tomorrow," Nanny Ning answered, "The Empress said that tomorrow is the 29th day of the year. The Crown Prince will accompany the Emperor for the ancestral rites, and Minghe will join them. So, they need to wear something more formal."

Danzi, being raised under the Empress's name, had everything well arranged by her. Xiao Yu gratefully said, "Alright, we'll remember that."

"The day after tomorrow at noon, the Crown Prince is to dine alone with the Empress at the Shunning Palace. In the evening, he will join the Empress at the Cihe Palace for a family reunion dinner with the Emperor and the Empress Dowager," Nanny Ning continued to relay many more arrangements.

After Nanny Ning left, Xiao Yu remarked, "There are so many rules in the palace."

"Without rules, there's no standard. Some rules are necessary," Danzi said seriously.

Minghe nodded in agreement, "Sometimes, rules signify progress."

Xiao Yu looked at the children in surprise, "You two have grown up so much."

As soon as he finished speaking, the two children clung to Xiao Yu's arms like spoiled children, clamoring for candied haws. So, they were still just kids after all. Xiao Yu then personally made them candied haws.

The next day, Danzi and Minghe began ancestral rites, followed by various busy activities, with Xiao Yu assisting.

After the New Year's Eve passed, the first day of the new year also quickly went by.

On the second day of the new year, Pei Yanli and Pei Yiyang came to the palace to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager, but they were busy with other matters and didn't stay long.

Xiao Yu and the others hardly had a few words with them.

Starting from the third day of the new year, Danzi and Minghe accompanied Emperor Yongxi in meeting various important officials.

Xiao Yu, having almost finished his duties, was somewhat worried about Pei Yanli's injury. On the sixth day, he obtained permission from Emperor Yongxi and went to the Pei Mansion.

The gatekeeper, recognizing him by appearance, immediately invited him in upon hearing his name was Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu presented the small gifts he brought to the Princess Regent, which were some trinkets.

The Princess Regent was very pleased and chatted with Xiao Yu for a while before saying, "Yanli and Yiyang are in the study, you should go see them."

Xiao Yu followed the servant to the study, and from afar, through the open doorway, he saw the two brothers huddled together looking at something. As he approached, he heard their conversation.

"Brother, this crossbow is so small, it's like a slingshot," said Pei Yiyang.

Pei Yanli responded, "Yes, it's convenient to carry."

"Is it for me?" Pei Yiyang asked his brother with anticipation.

Pei Yanli decisively answered, "No."

Pei Yiyang then asked, "You... who are you giving it to?"

Pei Yanli didn't hide anything, saying, "It's for Xiao Ziqing."

Pei Yiyang sounded displeased, "Why are you so good to him?"

Before Pei Yanli could answer, the servant spoke up, "General, Second Young Master, Xiao Ziqing has arrived."

Pei Yanli and Pei Yiyang both turned their heads.

Pei Yanli immediately stood up, "Xiao Yu!"

Xiao Yu offered a slight smile.

Pei Yanli hurried out of the study, grabbing Xiao Yu's hand.

Xiao Yu withdrew his hand, "There are many people here."

Pei Yanli, overjoyed, said, "Come in quickly."

"Xiao Ziqing!" greeted Pei Yiyang.

Xiao Yu looked at Pei Yanli, "You two seem to get along well now?"

Pei Yanli responded, "I've been following your advice." In recent days, Pei Yiyang had been following him around like a shadow, and he hadn’t driven him away.

Xiao Yu smiled.

Pei Yanli turned to Pei Yiyang and said, "Yiyang, go and play."

Pei Yiyang was reluctant.

Pei Yanli said, "Once this crossbow is finished, I’ll make one for you too."

Pei Yiyang's eyes lit up, "You promise?"

"I promise."

Pei Yiyang ran off like the wind.

Pei Yanli immediately pulled Xiao Yu to sit on his lap.

"What are you doing?" Xiao Yu tried to get up.

Pei Yanli, holding his waist, said, "Don’t worry, there’s no one around."

Xiao Yu then sat down and asked, "How’s your wound?"

"It’s healed," Pei Yanli replied.

"Tell me the truth." Xiao Yu knew that Pei Yanli often neglected his own injuries, but he was aware that in this era, even a fever or cold could be life-threatening, so he was extra cautious.

"It’s already scabbed over. I’ll show you if you don’t believe me," Pei Yanli said.

"Alright," Xiao Yu said decisively.

Pei Yanli was taken aback, not expecting Xiao Yu to actually want to see it. His eyes deepened, and with a crooked smile, he asked, "Really want to see?"

"Yes, just a glance at the wound will do." Wanting to be reassured, Xiao Yu began to lift Pei Yanli's outer garment.

Pei Yanli actually began to undo his belt.

The wound was on the left chest, so Xiao Yu lifted the left side of the garment, seeing for the first time a bloody scab on Pei Yanli's solid chest. He couldn't imagine how dangerous it had been and felt a pang of sympathy.

Suddenly, Pei Yiyang’s voice echoed from outside the study, "Brother, Mom and I have brought you oranges—"

Pei Yanli panicked slightly and shifted.

Xiao Yu panicked even more, losing his balance and falling onto Pei Yanli, his lips pressing against Pei Yanli's bare chest.

Pei Yanli let out a muffled grunt.

The Princess Regent's eyes widened in shock.

Pei Yiyang paused, then pointed at them, exclaiming, "Oh, no wonder you didn’t give me the crossbow and are giving it to Xiao Ziqing. You two! You’re having an affair!"