Chapter 196
Chapter 196
“Putting that aside, what do you intend to give Imperial Father for his birthday?” Weiqing Song waved for all the attendants to withdraw, closed the book in his hands, and asked.
Shengsheng Zhou dropped onto the seat beside him, snatched the book, and flipped through it. Sure enough, it was a storybook wrapped in the cover of another volume.
“What does Imperial Brother plan to give him?” she countered.
Weiqing took the book back, rolled it up, and tapped her head. “Mind your manners. What I give him is none of your concern.”
Shengsheng pouted. “Then why does Imperial Brother care what this princess gives him?”
Weiqing sneered. “If you were capable of giving him a normal gift, I would naturally be at ease.”
Shengsheng, struck in a sore spot: “…” To be fair, she genuinely planned to give him something abnormal.
“Don’t worry, Imperial Brother. Sheng’er would never hurt Imperial Father. I will definitely restore his vitality!” Shengsheng declared, raising a fist.
Weiqing silently considered whether he should warn Imperial Father tomorrow to feign illness and faint when Shengsheng presented her gift.
“Did you give the State Preceptor that servant?” At the mention of this matter, he sat straighter and shed his earlier frivolous expression.
Shengsheng nodded. “Xiaosui? What about him?”
Weiqing raised a brow. “Wasn’t that the parrot’s name? Come to think of it, I haven’t seen that bird in quite some time.”
Shengsheng laughed awkwardly. “It’s a coincidence. Sheng’er didn’t expect them to have the same name.”
*As if I could let you know he’s that very parrot. Oh, Imperial Brother, never in this lifetime will you guess that parrot Xiaosui and servant Xiaosui are the same person~*
Weiqing: “…” Thank you. Now he knew.
“That person is not simple. Stay away from him. Don’t let him sell you and then make you count the money,” he warned gravely.
When Xiaosui had been a stupid parrot, Weiqing noticed nothing. But when he saw the gray-robed youth a few days ago, the man remained inconspicuous and silent from beginning to end, yet Weiqing’s instincts insisted that he was no harmless person.
He was extremely dangerous.
“Don’t worry, Imperial Brother. I know what I’m doing,” Shengsheng said seriously.
*I know something is wrong with him too. The problem is that I truly can’t tell what.*
For once, Shengsheng’s thoughts matched her words. Weiqing said no more. It was enough that she understood the gravity of the matter.
After they ate dinner together, Weiqing returned to the Eastern Palace. Before leaving, he reminded her again, “Imperial Father’s health is poor. Whatever you do, don’t try anything too exciting.”
Shengsheng made an OK sign.
*If the plot doesn’t change, Imperial Father dies next spring, doesn’t he?*
That was also a major turning point in the story.
The Zhen Kingdom’s new emperor ascended the throne, and Weiqing took his seat as sovereign.
When Weiqing suddenly stopped, Cui’er glanced at Shengsheng.
Shengsheng shook her head and jogged over. “What’s wrong, Imperial Brother? Did you forget something?”
Without turning around, Weiqing kept his back to her and answered, “Mm.”
Then he left with hurried steps.
Shengsheng frowned.
Was it her imagination?
Had that answer sounded slightly hoarse?
After returning to the Eastern Palace,
the eunuch removing Weiqing’s cloak felt his heart jolt. He lowered his eyes and pretended to see nothing.
The Crown Prince’s eyes… were actually red?
Weiqing took a deep breath, drove everyone from the room, and stood alone by the window, his gaze dim.
Had he not prepared himself when the imperial physician said Imperial Father would not survive the winter?
But hearing someone give a definite answer was different after all.
A new emperor ascending the throne…
Weiqing Song had paid for that position with his freedom from the moment he was born, preparing for it throughout his life. Of course some part of him yearned for it.
But that did not mean he wanted to lose Imperial Father.
Meanwhile, inside Shuanglin Palace,
next spring…
Shengsheng Zhou sat up hugging her quilt, her eyes unfocused.
*A-Pang, can it truly not be changed?*
A-Pang had been nodding off but instantly woke. *Mm. Ordinary characters like NPCs don’t matter much. But an important character like the male lead’s father absolutely cannot have his predetermined fate altered.*
Shengsheng sighed.
This Imperial Father treated her very well.
If possible, she truly did not want him to die.
How fragile people were. Their lives lasted only a few short decades. No matter how powerful someone was in life, death still brought the same inevitable withering.
In the end, everyone was the same.
She fell asleep in restless irritation and woke the next morning with two freshly baked dark circles under her eyes.
Cui’er jumped in fright and hurriedly asked whether she felt unwell.
Shengsheng waved her off, said she was fine, and asked whether the Ninth Prince had already left for the Imperial Academy.
Cui’er nodded, still looking worried.
After a simple breakfast, Shengsheng forced herself to rally and visited the Second Princess’s palace.
When Shengsheng asked why Xiaosui was nowhere to be seen, the Second Princess said he had served her poorly, so she sent him back.
Nothing in her words or behavior appeared unusual. But when Shengsheng tried to ask how exactly he had served poorly, the Second Princess changed the subject.
Looking at Shengsheng, the Second Princess suddenly had an idea.
As an ordinary princess, she could not easily leave the palace.
But Mosheng Song was different. She was the princess most beloved by Imperial Father and Crown Prince Brother, and the Second Princess had lent her something.
When they visited that establishment, the Second Princess could make up an excuse to send Shengsheng elsewhere, then personally see the young courtesan who resembled Crown Prince Brother.
Mm. As expected of this princess. Truly brilliant.
The Second Princess’s smile suddenly grew more sincere. “Sixth Sister…”
Shengsheng narrowed her eyes and looked at her sharply. “Your little sister refuses.”
The Second Princess: “???” Why did she never follow the usual rules?
…
“Your Highness, Shuzhong has gone twenty-nine days without rain. The people are suffering greatly from drought.”
The minister lowered his head and held his breath, waiting for the Crown Prince to erupt in anger.
But after waiting, he heard only an extremely calm, “Oh.”
It sounded as though the man had mentioned dinner, not a terrifying drought.
Gathering his courage, the minister raised his head. The Crown Prince sat in the seat of honor with an indifferent expression and showed no reaction.
The minister: “…” Could His Highness have failed to hear him?
“Your Highness, Shuzhong has gone a full month without rain. The people are suffering greatly from drought,” he repeated.
This time the Crown Prince reacted, raising his head with a slight frown.
The minister thought, *That’s more like it.*
“Lord Zhang, do you believe I have reached an age where every sentence must be repeated twice?”
Lord Zhang dropped to his knees. “This subject would not dare! This subject had absolutely no such intention!”
Weiqing set down the memorial in his hand. “I am aware of the drought. You may withdraw.”
Lord Zhang’s pupils contracted.
Did His Highness mean to ignore it?!
“Your Highness, please reconsider! Once word spreads, hearts will waver throughout the nation! Think how many common people will be bitterly disappointed!”