Troublemaker Prince Chapter 10
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 10
You Yusui had been copying books for most of the night and was already exhausted. Not wanting to get up and return to his room himself, he patted Huo Xiling beside him, instructing him to carry him back to his room.
"If Your Highness is tired, please sleep first. I'll hold you," Huo Xiling said as he lifted You Yusui horizontally into his arms.
You Yusui closed his eyes and nodded casually, allowing Huo Xiling to carry him.
In the inner chamber of the Crown Prince's sleeping quarters, that golden nanmu wood coffin still stood there. Huo Xiling found it somewhat irritating to look at, so he turned his head, walked around the coffin, and placed You Yusui on the soft bed.
The attentive palace servants had already warmed the bedding with braziers. When You Yusui lay down, he only felt warmth all around him. Huo Xiling was very satisfied—such a person should stay in soft, warm places, not sleep in cold, icy coffins.
"Your Highness, please extend your feet," Huo Xiling said as his hand reached into the warm bedding to grasp You Yusui's ankle.
You Yusui closed his eyes and let Huo Xiling move as he wished, feeling those slender hands with slight calluses remove the snow-white foot coverings from his feet. The calloused fingertips sliding across You Yusui's sole caused a slight tickling sensation, making You Yusui unconsciously curl his feet, but the young man in front of him gripped them firmly, not allowing him to withdraw even half an inch.
"Your Highness, let me wash your feet before you sleep," Huo Xiling said, looking at You Yusui who lay on the bed in extreme exhaustion.
"Mm," You Yusui nodded absently, letting him proceed.
"Young Master, hot water," Eunuch Fubao at the side handed the hot water in a copper basin to Huo Xiling, along with a silk cloth.
Huo Xiling dampened the silk cloth and then carefully wiped You Yusui's feet. This was Huo Xiling's first time serving someone, so he was exceptionally careful. If it had been anyone else asking him to serve them in this manner, he would have long since smashed the basin, but for You Yusui, he was willing and glad to do it. By the time Huo Xiling finished everything, it was already past the third watch of the night.
"Sweet dreams, Your Highness," Huo Xiling said. After speaking these words, he thought for a moment and hung a sachet filled with osmanthus fragrance on You Yusui's bed curtains.
Eunuch Fubao at the side smiled upon seeing this—His Highness had indeed not given his affection to the wrong person after all. With this thought, Eunuch Fubao carefully extinguished the candles, and the Eastern Palace fell into darkness.
Thanks to the osmanthus fragrance by his bed, You Yusui slept well, dreamlessly until dawn.
"Your Highness, it's time to get up," Eunuch Fubao called beside You Yusui's bed, holding medicine.
You Yusui helplessly opened his eyes upon smelling the medicinal aroma nearby. Because of yesterday's incident with Cui Yan, Fubao was now prepared to personally supervise him drinking the medicine.
"Your Highness, drink the medicine first. This old servant must watch you drink it," Eunuch Fubao said, holding the medicine bowl, to prevent his master from pouring the medicine into the room's potted plants again when he got busy.
Seeing Fubao's determined stance, You Yusui could only take the medicine and drink it all in one gulp.
After rinsing his mouth, You Yusui glanced at the small couch by the window where the bedding had already been neatly folded and asked, "Where is Xiling?"
"Attendant Huo went to practice swordsmanship early this morning. He should be finished by now," Fubao replied as he collected the medicine bowl.
Just then, a young man in black martial attire with his hair tied in a high ponytail entered the inner chamber carrying a sword, drawing all of You Yusui's attention.
It must be said that Huo Xiling had an extremely handsome face—refined features, flying eyebrows, eyes like cold stars, carrying an air of rebellious youth. The black martial attire made his waist appear slender and his legs long, full of heroic spirit. He was exactly You Yusui's type aesthetically, which was why he had taken a liking to him at first sight.
"Come here," You Yusui beckoned to Huo Xiling.
"Your Highness," Huo Xiling put down his long sword, walked to You Yusui's side, and stood obediently.
"Go fetch the finished clothes and let him try them on," You Yusui instructed the palace servants nearby.
You Yusui had ordered the spring clothes to be made rather urgently, so only simple styles could be completed, but these actually made the young man before him appear even more handsome and extraordinary.
"Your Highness?" Huo Xiling looked at You Yusui in confusion after being made to change clothes more than ten times.
"This one will do," You Yusui said decisively after glancing at the outfit Huo Xiling was wearing.
"Change into proper clothes, and you'll accompany me to the banquet later," You Yusui said while drinking tea.
"But..." Huo Xiling was stunned—an outsider like him attending a royal family banquet?
"Don't worry. Whatever trouble you cause, this prince will handle it for you," You Yusui smiled and had Fubao prepare his Crown Prince's court robes.
Most of his old clothes had been thrown away, and the new ones would take several more days to complete. Moreover, You Yusui didn't want to dress too plainly for this birthday banquet with ulterior motives, so he could only wear his Crown Prince's court robes to sting everyone's eyes.
While the Eastern Palace prepared for this family banquet, the Imperial Harem was also very busy. Ordinary concubines prepared to take this opportunity to attract the Emperor's attention, while the Empress Dowager, Noble Consort Xian, and the eldest princess prepared to carry out their plans through this family banquet and embarrass the Crown Prince.
In the Empress Dowager's Changle Palace, Princess You Fengxue pulled her spoiled daughter Ji Shuang, saying, "Good Shuang'er, do you remember what mother told you?"
Ji Shuang replied nonchalantly, "Mother asked me which brother I like, and I should say I like Third Brother."
Actually, she didn't like Third Brother at all. Third Brother only knew how to wield swords and spears, even more boring than that boy from the General's mansion, and she couldn't even bully him. If her mother hadn't promised to buy her the most luxurious peacock feather dress in all of Chang'an, she wouldn't want to say such things.
"Good child, just say it like that later," the Princess nodded with satisfaction.
Noble Consort Xian on the side instructed the palace servants to arrange the venue, her every movement displaying her triumphant manner of wielding power over the harem.
Soon, the princes, princesses, and concubines arrived in succession. Noble Consort Xian looked at the First Prince who came alone and said, "It's a pity that Imperial Noble Consort cannot come, otherwise she could also feel this atmosphere of family reunion. Don't you think so, Your Highness the First Prince?"
Noble Consort Xian wore a smile on her face, but her words struck directly at the First Prince's sore spot. Imperial Noble Consort had first lost her power over the harem, then was confined by the current emperor to copy books. The greatest beneficiary of this was Noble Consort Xian, who gained control of the harem. How could the First Prince not be angry?
But First Prince You Yuyi had always been more composed than his mother concubine. He gently bowed to the triumphant Noble Consort Xian and said, "As the late Empress's memorial day approaches, Mother Concubine is copying scriptures in the palace for the late Empress by imperial command and cannot come. Though regrettable, this shows respect for the late Empress."
Noble Consort Xian snorted coldly upon hearing this. Everyone knew that Imperial Noble Consort was punished for damaging the late Empress's belongings, but with the First Prince's eloquent words, it became that the current emperor cherished the memory of the late Empress, so Imperial Noble Consort was commanded to copy books, making her appear virtuous and gentle.
"Enough, let's take our seats first," Noble Consort Xian said and turned to leave.
The little eunuch behind the First Prince couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, Noble Consort Xian, she..."
"Shut up, is the master someone you can gossip about?" the First Prince rebuked in a low voice.
Originally, when his mother concubine's power was taken away, he wanted his mother concubine to apologize to Father Emperor and act coquettish. Who knew that the Crown Prince would emerge halfway and use a pre-set trap to get his mother concubine confined, ruining all plans to win back the imperial heart.
He hated that his mother concubine wasn't steady enough, but he hated You Yusui, who set the trap, even more.
"Let's take our seats," the First Prince said.
As soon as he finished speaking, the little eunuch beside him immediately helped his master sit down.
"I heard the Crown Prince is also coming today?" the Sixth Prince looked at the Third Prince beside him and asked, "Hasn't he been staying indoors these days?"
"Imperial Grandmother summoned him, he dare not refuse," Third Prince You Yushan said while drinking the wine before him.
The Sixth Prince smiled upon hearing this. Everyone in the palace knew that the Crown Prince was supposed to copy scriptures for the late Empress today and not celebrate birthdays, but this family banquet also had the meaning of celebrating the Crown Prince's birthday, which was tantamount to slapping the Crown Prince's face hard.
While the Sixth Prince waited for the Crown Prince to appear, he noticed that everyone had arrived but the Crown Prince still hadn't shown up. Looking again at the Emperor sitting in the main seat, the Sixth Prince was secretly delighted—if he didn't come, it would be even better, as the Crown Prince would then be unfilial.
Just as the Sixth Prince was thinking this, the Crown Prince's party entered Changle Palace.
The Crown Prince's face was pale, with only his eyes bright. The black and red Crown Prince's court robes appeared somewhat oversized on him, making the Crown Prince look frail and delicate.
As soon as You Yusui entered, before You Fengyun could question him, he knelt down and performed a grand bow to You Fengyun, then requested punishment. "This son was late because he copied scriptures for Mother Empress until late at night. Humble asking Father Emperor to punish this son."
After speaking, You Yusui coughed several times, his form swaying slightly, as if he could barely maintain his kneeling position.
Huo Xiling at the side felt heartache watching this. He really wanted to pull the person up from the cold, icy palace floor and leave this place, not to deal with these disgusting people.
But he couldn't, and he could only survive under the eldest princess's hands by relying on the Crown Prince. With this thought, Huo Xiling couldn't help but clench his fists.
At this moment, You Fengyun sitting in the main seat smiled. Being late to a banquet because of copying scriptures for his deceased mother until late at night—how could he punish this? Not only could he not punish, he had to praise the Crown Prince's filial piety and give him rewards. Noble Consort Xian and the Empress Dowager used filial piety to pressure the Crown Prince, but the Crown Prince also used filial piety to make it impossible for Noble Consort Xian and the Empress Dowager to find fault.
"The Crown Prince is truly filial. Anhai, help the Crown Prince up. Go open Zhen’s treasury and bestow that eight-hundred-year-old ginseng to the Crown Prince," You Fengyun said, hoping the Crown Prince wouldn't stew it with chicken this time.
Noble Consort Xian couldn't help but grit her teeth upon seeing this, and the Sixth Prince also showed an expression of disbelief.
Soon, You Yusui was helped to his seat, and this family banquet with everyone harboring ulterior motives began.
The Empress Dowager sitting beside You Fengyun said, "This is a family banquet, everyone need not be formal."
After she finished speaking, You Yusui looked at Noble Consort Xian, who had organized this family banquet, and said, "Noble Consort Xian, you said earlier that organizing this family banquet was also to celebrate my birthday. Is that true?"
"Naturally it's true," Noble Consort Xian didn't lie, as everyone in the palace knew the meaning of this banquet, and she had indeed prepared dishes eaten during birthday celebrations.
"Since it's to celebrate my birthday, I wonder if Noble Consort Xian and the brothers and sisters present have prepared gifts for me?" You Yusui showed a gentle, harmless smile and said, then fixed his gaze on Sixth Prince You Yuliu.
"Sixth Imperial Brother still owes me eighty-eight thousand taels of silver. Since it's my birthday today, I won't collect any other gifts from Sixth Imperial Brother. Let's round up this eighty-eight thousand taels—Sixth Imperial Brother can give me one hundred thousand taels of silver."