Blissful Days After Widowhood - Chapter 362

The following day, Gu Ye hummed a cheerful tune as he entered the palace.

Emperor Zhengyuan was accustomed to seeing him first thing each day. They would spend time together before the emperor attended court and the prince embarked on his studies. As they sat down to breakfast, the smile on the young prince’s face was infectious, and his short legs dangled in the air, still swaying.

Emperor Zhengyuan playfully raised his leg and lightly kicked him under the table, saying with a smile, “Sit properly.” The kick lacked any force, but it caused Gu Ye to startle, and the braised chicken wings in his hand clattered onto his plate.

Gu Ye protested, “What are you doing? Even dogs aren’t scolded while they eat!”

Emperor Zhengyuan couldn’t help but chuckle. “Enough with the complaints. Tell me, what good news do you have?”

The corners of Gu Ye’s mouth curled upward once more. “I’ve got plenty of good news. Remember Feng Yu? His grandparents arrived yesterday, and they reunited with his mother and him! And of course, there’s more good news – I’ve chosen my study companion.”

Emperor Zhengyuan inquired, “You’ve decided on Feng Yu? Did he agree?”

Gu Ye responded with a casual “uh” and continued, “Yesterday, Feng Yu felt indebted to me. I mentioned that his mother and grandparents had expressed gratitude to my mother, but he insisted that it was a matter between the elders and that we, as children, had a separate matter. I told him I wanted him to be my study companion, and he agreed.”

Pausing for a moment, Gu Ye asked, “That doesn’t count as a favor, does it?”

Emperor Zhengyuan shook his head and assured him, “No, it’s a good choice to have him as your companion. However, think about this – if you choose someone else, you could have his family’s influence. By selecting Feng Yu, you’re relying solely on his merits.”

While Feng Yu held the position of the eldest son in Duke Lu’s family, it was essential to note that Mrs. Qin was Concubine Feng’s biological mother, and Feng Yuan her elder brother. Due to these blood ties, the Duke Lu household naturally favored the prince.

Of course Gu Ye knew that. Nevertheless, he boasted about Feng Yu, saying, “You haven’t met Feng Yu yet; once you do, you’ll understand how remarkable he is. He’s just like me, a child who hasn’t fully grown yet; otherwise, he’d surpass many others.”

He boasted Feng Yu to the heavens, and then he had to add “Like me”, which was to praise himself. 

Emperor Zhengyuan was amused by him. He shook his head helplessly and said, “There are thousands of people you can choose from, but you prefer the child of the Feng family. Aren’t you afraid of upsetting the Fengs or even displeasing me??” 

Gu Ye looked puzzled. “I understand if Concubine Feng would be upset, but why would you be unhappy?”

Emperor Zhengyuan sighed and then patted Gu Ye’s head gently. “Are you genuinely naive or pretending to be? It’s clear that Feng Yu was originally intended for your brother by the Feng family, but you’ve taken him. People will say you’re competitive, accuse you of snatching others’ opportunities, and this might continue in the future…”

Gu Ye nodded in understanding but then said, “I’m not snatching anyone. I discussed it with Feng Yu and wanted to seek your opinion as well. If you disagree, I’ll drop the idea. Besides, Feng Yu isn’t an object; he has his own thoughts.”

After he finished speaking, he paused and wiped his small mouth, which was glistening with food. “Besides, I recently learned a new word. It’s called the difference between honor and inferiority. As an emperor, when others raise points about what you have approved, it is questioning your decision, which is fine. In my family, you are the father of the family, I am the elder brother, and Xiao Lu Xu is the younger brother. The family affairs are also decided by the head of the family, what does it have to do with others?”

Emperor Zhengyuan was still listening to his profound insight, but he couldn’t recall the details at the end. He just asked him with a smile, “What am I?”

Gu Ye’s face turned slightly red, but he had already said it, and it would be pointless to backtrack. So he simply replied, “You are the emperor and my father, am I wrong?”

“That’s right.” Emperor Zhengyuan laughed heartily. “Since Feng Yu wants to be your companion and his grandparents were kind to you, I will make time to invite them into the palace in the next few days, and I must see them. You should inform them beforehand and get them prepared.”

The emperor certainly didn’t make such decisions lightly, and there were likely benefits involved, so Gu Ye agreed to assist.

Later that day, after leaving the palace, Gu Ye didn’t wait for Feng Yu. Instead, he went to ‘Food of Heaven’ and brought a food box to visit another friend of his in Beijing – Brother Xiao Feng.

Recently, tickets for the opera performance “Kindness” were selling like hotcakes. The theater owner was surely raking in the profits. Now there were not only three screenings, but also a late-night show.

After the evening show concluded, with curfew looming, time was tight. It meant that Xiao Feng and his companions barely had time to catch their breath before they had to start.

In that manner, the night hall was nearly packed.

Xiao Feng was still quite young. Perhaps due to exhaustion or a persistent sore throat, his voice wasn’t as clear as before. Even after seeking medical advice, the cause remained elusive.

However, he played a crucial role in the play, that of the daughter of the wicked mother-in-law.

This character’s role wasn’t easy, so he couldn’t take a break.

As he was about to apply his makeup, the theater owner approached Hua Dan with a teacup.