CHAPTER 237: CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY-ONE

Noble Princess Consort Rong was about to mediate when she heard the Emperor say, "Second son, in your heart, is Ninth Brother the only one who is your brother, and everyone else isn’t?"

He then looked at the Ninth Prince, "Little Ninth, what did you just say? Is that what you should be saying as a younger brother?"

The Ninth Prince turned pale with fright. He said anxiously, "Father Emperor, your son knows his mistake."

Noble Princess Consort Rong reached out and held the Emperor’s hand, "Cousin..."

The Emperor looked at Noble Princess Consort Rong, his expression softening somewhat.

"I hope you brothers get along, understand?"

Prince Dai smiled ingratiatingly at the Emperor: "Father Emperor, your son understands."

The Ninth Prince said obediently, "Your son understands."

Noble Princess Consort Rong personally served the Emperor a bowl of snake soup congee, and said gently, "Cousin, have another bowl of congee."

The Emperor did not reprimand Prince Dai and the Ninth Prince further, took the congee, and continued eating.

Walking out of the Emperor’s tent, Zhao Yao noticed the Fourth Prince looking unwell and gently shook his arm, asking with concern, "Fourth Brother, what’s wrong?"

The Fourth Prince smiled faintly at Zhao Yao, "I’m fine." After speaking, he looked at Zhao Yao, wanting to say something but ultimately not saying anything. "Tenth Brother, go pay respects to Zhaoyi. Afterward, we can go hunting together."

"Sure, Fourth Brother, let me go find my mother first."

"Go ahead."

"See you later, Fourth Brother." Zhao Yao headed towards the tent where Liang Zhaoyi and the others were, accompanied by Tong Xi.

Seeing the Fourth Prince looking unwell, Wei Mian promptly asked with concern, "Your Highness, what’s wrong?"

"I am worried Tenth Brother feels upset."

"Tenth Highness is upset?" Wei Mian was initially puzzled, but quickly realized the Fourth Prince’s concern, recalling the scene of the Emperor and Noble Princess Consort Rong having breakfast together. "Your Highness, do you think Tenth Highness feels upset seeing the Emperor and Noble Princess Rong having breakfast together?"

The Fourth Prince nodded, "Yes."

"I didn’t notice Tenth Highness caring about that."

"Tenth Brother just didn’t show it." The Fourth Prince could understand Zhao Yao’s feelings. After all, at Zhao Yao’s age, he too eagerly wanted to see the Father Emperor every day and dine with him.

The Fourth Prince was overthinking it. Zhao Yao was not saddened by the scene he just witnessed. He had long accepted that he and Liang Zhaoyi were not favored and never expected anything from the Emperor.

Empress Xie nearly fainted from anger upon learning that the Emperor had breakfast with Noble Princess Consort Rong and her sons. She was even more infuriated by the Crown Prince’s indifferent attitude.

"The Emperor and Noble Princess Consort Rong and her sons are the true family; we are outsiders."

"Mother Empress, it was just an early breakfast after all."

"Just an early breakfast?" Empress Xie listened to the Crown Prince’s indifferent tone, her eyes filled with disappointment, "You are the Crown Prince. Did the Emperor invite you to join him for breakfast?"

The Crown Prince did not answer Empress Xie’s question.

"Not just today, ever since Prince Dai returned from Liangzhou, he’s been dining with the Emperor frequently, and what about you?" Empress Xie asked with a stern face, "How long has it been since you dined with the Emperor?"

The Seventh Prince remarked sarcastically, "Ever since Prince Dai returned, Father Emperor only sees Prince Dai as his son, no other sons."

"Since Prince Dai came back, he’s been showered with the Emperor’s affection, and as for you, the Crown Prince..." Empress Xie said mockingly, "If this continues, you will be replaced by Prince Dai sooner or later."

The Crown Prince looked somewhat troubled by Empress Xie’s words, "Mother Empress..."

Empress Xie impatiently interrupted the Crown Prince, waving him off, "Go back and think it over."

The Crown Prince stood up and saluted Empress Xie, "Your son takes his leave."

The Seventh Prince did not leave with the Crown Prince and stayed in Empress Xie’s tent.

Empress Xie felt dizzy from anger. She leaned back on the bed, closed her eyes, and composed herself.

"Mother Empress, you should not get angry right now." The Seventh Prince took the tea cup from Jiang Chuan’s hand and handed it to Empress Xie. "Have some tea to calm down."

Empress Xie took the tea cup, drank a few sips, and felt her anger subside slightly.

"The Emperor has never had breakfast with us mother and son, not once in all these years."

The Seventh Prince feigned nonchalance, "Having breakfast together means nothing."

"In the Emperor’s heart, I fear he truly considers only Noble Princess Consort Rong and her sons as family." Empress Xie’s eyes filled with jealousy, her already ill complexion worsened by anger. "I am the Empress, his wife, and you are his legitimate son."