Chapter 76: Chapter 76 Fourth Update In Wende Hall, Zhao Yao occasionally glanced at the Third Prince. The Eighth Prince noticed that Zhao Yao had been secretly watching the Third Prince, so he softly asked, "Tenth Brother, why are you staring at Third Brother?" He suddenly thought of a possibility and quickly asked with concern, "Is Third Brother bullying you?" "No, Third Brother is not bullying me." After Zhao Yao said this, seeing the Eighth Prince’s look of disbelief, he added, "Really, Third Brother isn’t bullying me. Besides, Third Brother wouldn’t even bother to bully me." Among all the elder brothers, only the Ninth Prince bullied him; the other brothers did not. The Third Brother and the others didn’t bully him not because they were kind-hearted, but because they completely ignored him as their younger brother. To them, bullying him would be beneath their dignity. In other words, as their younger brother, he wasn’t even worthy of being bullied by them. The Eighth Prince also knew what kind of person the Third Prince was, so after hearing Zhao Yao’s words, he felt relieved. "Then why are you staring at Third Brother?" "Eighth Brother, what kind of person do you think Third Brother is?" This question made the Eighth Prince slightly pause, then he asked puzzledly, "Why are you asking this?" "Just asking casually." The Eighth Prince did not believe Zhao Yao’s words. He frowned slightly and asked, "Did you hear something?" Zhao Yao wore an expression of "Eighth Brother, how did you know". The Eighth Prince lowered his voice and asked, "What did you hear?" Zhao Yao looked at the Eighth Prince, then discreetly glanced around at others. Seeing that no one was paying attention to them, he whispered to the Eighth Prince, "Eighth Brother, I heard that Third Brother likes..." "Likes what?" "I heard that Third Brother likes eating stinky tofu," Zhao Yao said with a straight face. The Eighth Prince: "!!!!!" He thought Zhao Yao was going to mention something serious, but to his surprise, it was about food. Zhao Yao continued gossiping with the Eighth Prince: "Third Brother always smells so fragrant, even more so than my mother’s concubine. I was wondering why Third Brother smells so good, turns out it’s to cover up the stinky tofu’s odor." As he said this, he clicked his tongue, "Tsk tsk tsk, really never thought Third Brother loved eating stinky tofu." The Eighth Prince felt both amused and exasperated after hearing Zhao Yao’s words. "Where did you hear this from?" "From those eunuchs," Zhao Yao said, glancing at the Third Prince again. "Third Brother usually dresses up like an immortal, I thought he looked down upon the mundane, but he actually likes eating stinky tofu. You really can’t judge a book by its cover." The Eighth Prince sneered, "He always likes putting on an act." "I’m a person who loves to eat, yet I can’t handle stinky tofu. How could Third Brother eat it?" I’ve heard that stinky tofu tastes really good, the stinkier the better. But I really can’t stomach that smell. Just smelling it makes me want to vomit. "Stinky tofu smells as bad as feces, how could Third Brother eat it..." After saying this, he suddenly thought of something and covered his mouth, giggling secretly. The Eighth Prince saw his mischievous smile and knew Zhao Yao was thinking of something. He poked Zhao Yao’s cheek where there was no dimple, saying in exasperation, "You little rascal." "Eighth Brother, how am I bad? I didn’t say anything at all." Zhao Yao innocently widened his eyes, "Don’t wrong me." "You..." "Eighth Brother, don’t tell anyone about this." Zhao Yao said with a frightened look, shrinking his neck, "If Third Brother finds out we know he likes stinky tofu, he definitely won’t spare us." "I didn’t hear anything just now." The Eighth Prince saw Zhao Yao staring at the Third Prince again, pinched his little cheek, and warned him, "If you keep staring at Third Brother, he’ll notice." This scared Zhao Yao into quickly lowering his head, not daring to look at the Third Prince again. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂 The Fourth Prince, sitting in front of Zhao Yao and the Eighth Prince, nearly couldn’t help but laugh after hearing Zhao Yao and the Eighth Prince’s exchange. "Eighth Brother, do you think Second Brother will invite us to his mansion for a meal?" Upon hearing this, the Eighth Prince knew what Zhao Yao was up to: "You’re thinking of going to the Prince Dai Mansion to eat beef?" Realizing his intentions were exposed, Zhao Yao sheepishly smiled, "I also want to take the opportunity to go out of the palace and have fun. Speaking of which, I’ve never been to the Prince Dai Mansion, and neither have you, Eighth Brother." "What’s so great about that," the Eighth Prince doused Zhao Yao’s hopes, "Even if Second Brother invites us for a meal, there won’t be any beef on the table." Hearing this, Zhao Yao remembered that beef wasn’t allowed outside the Imperial Palace. "Oh right, there’s no beef at Second Brother’s place." With that, he lay on the table, his face full of disappointment, and said, "Alas, I have to wait for the Dragon Boat Festival to eat beef." "Stop thinking about beef and hurry up with your writing, or the tutor will punish you." Zhao Yao quickly sat up straight, picked up his pen, and started copying the lesson the teacher had just taught. Just as Zhao Yao was eagerly anticipating the Dragon Boat Festival, Sun Kui came to Kunde Hall with cooked beef from the Imperial Kitchen, along with some fabrics and imperial books. Sun Kui’s arrival greatly surprised Liang Zhaoyi and Yu Meiren. "Lady Zhaoyi, this box contains beef, specially bestowed by the emperor to His Highness the Tenth Prince." "Beef?" Liang Zhaoyi looked surprised and then asked in confusion, "Why would the emperor bestow beef to the Tenth Prince?" "The emperor saw that His Highness enjoys eating beef, so he decided to give all the leftover beef from yesterday to His Highness." Liang Zhaoyi: "..." For a moment, she didn’t know what to say. "Mr. Sun, did Yao Yao ask the emperor for beef at the banquet yesterday?" This was a thing her son would indeed do. He could do anything for food. "No, but at the banquet yesterday, the Tenth Prince was eating beef the whole time, and the emperor noticed, so he decided to grant the leftover beef from yesterday to His Highness." Sun Kui added, "Lady Zhaoyi, the emperor has a fondness for the Tenth Prince." Liang Zhaoyi curtsied towards the direction of Chengguang Hall, "I thank the emperor for the Tenth Prince." "Lady Zhaoyi, these fabrics and books were specially ordered by the emperor; he said they are all to your liking." Liang Zhaoyi, flattered, said, "Your Majesty... I thank the emperor." Sun Kui did not say more, "Lady Zhaoyi, this servant shall take leave." "Mr. Sun, have a cup of tea before you leave." "Lady Zhaoyi, this servant must return to serve in the Imperial Study, so I cannot accept your tea." Sun Kui bowed to Liang Zhaoyi and said, "This servant takes his leave." "Thank you, Mr. Sun. Please take your time." Liang Zhaoyi gave Gui Xing a look, and Gui Xing understood, personally escorting Sun Kui out of Kunde Hall and giving him a wallet filled with some money, saying it’s for tea. Sun Kui did not refuse and accepted it openly. Inside Kunde Hall, Yu Meiren, Princess Five, and Lady Pan stared at the food box of beef. "Really never thought the emperor would bestow beef to Yao Yao." Lady Pan said, "It’s the first time I’ve seen the emperor bestow beef." The Fifth Princess sharply commented, "Only Tenth Brother has the ability to get Father to bestow beef to him." Liang Zhaoyi found it somewhat amusing, but also interesting. "To Yao Yao, nothing is better than beef. The emperor’s bestowal of beef is what pleases him the most." Yu Meiren laughed, "That’s true." Lady Pan, chuckling, said, "Although bestowing beef is a bit... this shows the emperor’s fondness for Yao Yao, otherwise, how would he know Yao Yao likes beef." Liang Zhaoyi instructed Gui Xing, "Take the beef to the small kitchen and have it cooked for lunch." "Yes, my lady." Liang Zhaoyi looked at the fabrics on the table and said to Yu Meiren and the others, "Take some fabric back to make new clothes." "Sister, these were bestowed to you by the emperor, how can we take them?" "Sister, you should keep them for yourself." "I can’t use all this fabric by myself, just take some back," Liang Zhaoyi said as she personally selected fabric for Yu Meiren and the others, "Don’t be polite with me." Yu Meiren and the others no longer stood on ceremony and accepted the fabric. After Yu Meiren and the others left, Gui Xing asked, "My lady, why did the emperor suddenly bestow gifts upon you?" The emperor wasn’t scheduled to visit Kunde Hall, and the lady hadn’t seen the emperor lately. Why did the emperor suddenly decide to bestow gifts? "I was a bystander," Liang Zhaoyi replied, "The emperor probably felt it wasn’t appropriate to give only beef to Yao Yao, so he conveniently bestowed some things to me. I’m benefitting from Yao Yao’s good fortune." "But the emperor remembers that you like plain fabrics and that you enjoy local chronicles," Gui Xing said with a giggle, "My lady, the emperor holds you in his heart." Liang Zhaoyi just smiled at these words. "My lady, should these fabrics be stored away, or made into new clothes for you?" "Make them into new clothes." "Yes, my lady." Gui Xing took the fabrics and left. Liang Zhaoyi picked up the imperial chronicle book, gently caressing the cover, and couldn’t help but show a sweet smile. Meanwhile, Sun Kui had just reached the entrance of the Imperial Study when he saw Prince Dai and Official Kong walking out together, both looking displeased. Sun Kui was puzzled: What happened to make Prince Dai and Official Kong look so upset?