CHAPTER 85: CHAPTER 85 WOODEN OX AND HORSE

The rear hall of Qiqing Hall, where the Second Prince resides.

At this moment, the room was filled with people.

Nanny Chai was respectfully attending inside the room, once again donning her usual amiable demeanor.

The Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, beside the bed, watching Doctor Cheng carefully conduct his diagnosis.

After a moment, Doctor Cheng finally spoke.

"The illness of the Second Prince is nothing serious, but he still needs to rest quietly and think less."

"Indeed, indeed, the servants always advise the Second Prince to be at ease, take his medicine well, and rest properly, not daring to delay for a moment."

Nanny Chai spoke with full confidence.

The Second Prince gave her a glance, then closed his eyes.

Not making another sound.

Nanny Chai was long used to it; after all, no one in this palace truly stood up for the Second Prince.

So if you want to make a living under her hand, it’s best to keep your mouth shut.

In this respect, she was quite reassured.

Looking at the weak son in front of him, the Emperor’s brows were knitted so tightly they seemed about to burst.

Recalling how he himself fell ill in his youth, he did not know how to offer comfort.

"I figure you dislike crowds when unwell, so I brought you a mechanical toy to ease your boredom on ordinary days. Your recovery depends on having a light heart; don’t keep yourself bottled up all day, understand?"

The Emperor deliberately slowed his speech.

The Second Prince opened his eyes and nodded, yet his face remained expressionless.

Seeing him like this, the Emperor felt unsettled inside.

He had been thrust onto the throne since a young age; without strong resolve, he wouldn’t have stayed there for long.

Hence, in his mind, only strength could protect oneself and those around them.

The Second Prince’s apparent lack of interest in the world was most displeasing to him.

But with the prince being ill, he dared not reprove him.

So after instructing a few lines, he left.

Nanny Chai properly saw off the Emperor, then glanced at the items placed on the table.

Sneering, she said,

"It’s just a pile of wood; does the Second Prince want to play with it? If not, this old servant will put it away."

The attitude was arrogant, a stark contrast from before.

"Give it here!"

It was rare for the Second Prince to show anger, his gaze on Nanny Chai like a hungry wolf cub, eyes flashing green.

Nanny Chai, startled by his look, trembled, dropping the wooden ox and horse to the ground.

In an instant, the pieces scattered, no longer resembling the lifelike form it once had.

"This is because the Second Prince startled this old servant, causing the slip."

Adopting the stance of a villain preemptively making an accusation, which simply enraged the Second Prince, who picked up the pillow beside him and threw it.

The pillow was soft, causing no pain upon hitting.

Yet, Nanny Chai hissed fiercely,

"Hmph, if the Second Prince wishes to throw a tantrum, do it alone; this old servant will not serve."

With that said, she turned and left the sleeping quarters.

Leaving behind nothing but a floor full of wooden fragments.

Looking at these, the Second Prince could no longer suppress a whimper from his throat.

Unfortunately, this sound went unnoticed in the vast traveling palace.

Since the two princes moved to Qiqing Hall, the Emperor had been accompanying them daily.

Especially as the not-yet-five-year-old Third Prince had already shown exceptional intelligence and courage.

When the Emperor looked at him, his eyes were always filled with approval and affection.

But sometimes, there were more complex emotions, as if he wished the prince weren’t so outstanding.

Meanwhile, the Second Prince spent most of his time lying in his room recuperating.

Over time, he naturally received even less attention.

He had grown accustomed to such loneliness since being housed in Lanfei Palace.

It was no different now.

Only his small hands continuously attempted to piece together the wooden fragments, hoping to reassemble the wooden ox and horse.

But try as he might, it seemed to be in vain.

Just like his body, still in such disrepair, akin to a pile of trash.

The more he thought, the angrier he got, and the more restless he felt confined in the sleeping quarters.

So he seized the moment when Nanny Chai was absent to quietly slip out.

Just like how he used to frequently wander alone in the Imperial Garden for solace.

He had a good memory and was quite small in stature.

Though it was his first time at Zeping State, he inadvertently found his way out, unnoticed.

Yet once outside Zeping State, he felt somewhat bewildered.

He hadn’t been to this area before, so everything seemed unfamiliar to him.

Wanting to turn back, he felt he would return in disgrace at this point.

So he gritted his teeth and kept moving forward.

Under the blazing sun, with his frail body, he walked a while longer without seeing anyone.

Darkness encroached upon his sight, and he was about to collapse to the ground.

This fall was surely going to leave him bruised and battered.

Wanting to dodge, but powerless, he had to leave it to fate.

Who knew that just as he was about to hit the ground, he was lifted up by a little eunuch.

That person was Xiao Luzi.

"Who are you?"

The Second Prince, despite being saved, wore a sullen expression, which explained why palace people avoided approaching him lightly.

Xiao Luzi had seen the Second Prince twice.

Once when the Inner Court Department happened to deliver things to Princess Consort Lan’s Yong’an Palace.

Once more during an imperial banquet, when he was serving tea and water.

So Xiao Luzi recognized him at once.

"This servant is Xiao Luzi, a eunuch at the Xianyi Palace in Yihua Palace."

"What are you doing here?"

"Not far from here is Huifang Courtyard where Lin Chang resides. Shouldn’t the Second Prince be at Zeping State? How did you end up here?"

Having been caught, the Second Prince naturally couldn’t maintain his arrogance.

Looking at Xiao Luzi, he reverted to his past cold demeanor, trying to intimidate him.

"Mind your own business."

Alas, Xiao Luzi had endured even Eunuch Qiu Ming’s cold demeanor, not to mention the posturing of a mere child.

So he felt no fear.

Seeing no reaction from Xiao Luzi, the Second Prince snorted coldly and prepared to leave regardless.

But Xiao Luzi guessed the Second Prince probably sneaked out alone after observing that no one was around.

If something went wrong, it would be a disaster, so he trailed behind closely.

After walking about ten meters, the Second Prince realized he was being followed.

Turning around, he saw it was still Xiao Luzi.

Suddenly, he felt trapped.

"Do you wish to die? Why are you following me?"

"This servant doesn’t wish to die, but if I don’t follow the Second Prince, it would truly be courting death."

"You!"

It was the first time the Second Prince was left speechless by someone’s retort.

Looking at Xiao Luzi’s calm demeanor, he suddenly had no solution.

In the past, when he wore a cold expression, not even the palace attendants nor that old Nanny Chai dared to approach.

Yet this little eunuch was so "oblivious."

The Second Prince, too lazy to bother with him, continued walking forward.

As he walked, he spotted a small courtyard in the woods.

A troubled expression appeared on his small face.