Xia Ruqing touched her stomach, sighing in her heart.
She was so easily satisfied, not seeking fame that lasts for eons, only wanting to eat well, drink well, and live a warm and happy life. In the future, when she grew old, she would still have children. Whether a Princess or a Prince, they surely wouldn’t be unfilial to her, and no matter what, she wouldn’t fall on hard times. In this life, eating and drinking well, feeling physically and mentally content—what a wonderful life this is!
...
The day before the martial examination, the Emperor sent someone to the palace to fetch several Little Princes.
They were all his half-brothers from the same father.
He had six brothers.
The eldest, second, and fourth had all gone to their fiefdoms.
Only Little Fifth, Little Sixth, and Little Seventh remained in the palace.
The youngest, Seventh Prince, was only nine years old that year.
And the oldest among them, Fifth Prince, was only thirteen years old.
All underage, they were still under the care of the Imperial Noble Consort, living in the palace.
Daily, they went to the Study Room to learn or to the training field to practice martial arts. Their academic loads were heavy, leaving no room for idleness.
They were hardly allowed to leave the palace for anything but serious matters and were never permitted to slack off.
This was the case when the Late Emperor was alive. After he passed and Zhao Junyao ascended the throne, his demands on his brothers did not decrease.
The dictionary of the Royal Family’s Offspring never contained the word ’easy’.
So, when the three Little Princes heard they were allowed to leave the palace to participate in the martial examination, they were overjoyed.
Coming out from the Study Room, Seventh Prince threw his bookbag aside and, like a leaping monkey, sprang towards Li Shengan.
"When do we leave?"
His movements were so swift that he created a gust of wind, which sent Li Shengan’s feather duster flying high.
Li Shengan hurriedly smiled.
"The sooner the better, the carriage is already waiting outside the palace!"
"Could the three Little Princes quickly get ready and follow this old servant there?"
Seventh Prince waved his hand dismissively.
"Hey! What’s there to get ready for? And what’s the need for a carriage?"
"Aren’t we just going to the suburban training field? This Young Prince will ride there on horseback later!"
With that, he turned and ran off like the wind.
Fifth Prince and Sixth Prince, left behind, looked at each other as the atmosphere turned awkward.
After a moment, it was Fifth Prince who spoke.
"Thank you, Eunuch Li. If Seventh Brother won’t take the carriage, we will. We brothers will inform our mother of this. Please wait a moment, Eunuch Li!"
Li Shengan smiled and agreed.
...
「Out here in the suburbs.」
The afternoon sun was neither intense nor faint, as a young man clad in black, with wheat-colored skin, rode a maroon steed as if carried by the wind.
The boy had strong, rugged features and bore a striking resemblance to Zhao Junyao, with sharp eyebrows, starry eyes, and thin, tightly closed lips.
One hand firmly gripped the reins, the other held a riding crop. Mounted on the horse, his thick black hair, like black silk, flew freely in the wind.
He was the Late Emperor’s Seventh Prince, the current Emperor’s Seventh Brother, Zhao Junyan.
Zhao Junyan, nine years old, had lost his mother at a young age. Due to his mother’s low status, he was hardly favored in the palace.
They say the eldest brother is like a father.
If it hadn’t been for Zhao Junyao’s protection over these years, a young child like him might not have survived to grow up in the palace.
Now at nine, having learned a few tricks by Zhao Junyao’s side, even the average person in the palace dared not bully him anymore.
The horse quickly stopped at the gate of the temporary palace, and Zhao Junyan dismounted with agile movements.
After handing the reins to the Little Eunuch, he strode into the temporary palace.
"Imperial Brother!"
"Imperial Brother!"
He shouted twice in succession.
Zhao Junyao, who was in the Study Room reviewing memorials, instantly curled his lips into a smile.
Little Seventh is still as impetuous as ever, his voice arrives before he even appears!
Just as he was thinking this, a dust-covered young man in black rushed in.
Looking around, his eyes settled on his Imperial Brother, and he broke into a grin.
He approached, bowed with hands clasped, and knelt on one knee.
"Greetings, Imperial Brother!"
Zhao Junyao set aside the memorials he was reading, stood up, and walked over to him, lifting him to his feet with one hand.
"You rascal, how come it’s just you? Where are the other two?"
Zhao Junyan chuckled.
"Imperial Brother, Fifth Brother and Sixth Brother are probably still on their way. I came on horseback!"
Zhao Junyao smiled and didn’t say much more.
Seeing that he was tired, he told him to go rest first.
By midafternoon, Li Shengan arrived with two horse-drawn carriages.
The Fifth Prince and the Sixth Prince stepped down from the carriages.
It was the same routine as before, going to the study room to greet their Imperial Brother.
However, compared to the unruly Seventh Prince, these two were clearly much more reserved and followed protocol to a much greater extent.
Zhao Junyao was even less inclined to say more.
These two brothers were born to Empress Dowager Zhen and held high status; no one in the palace dared to bully them, and there was no need for him to step in and protect them.
After all, they were not full siblings, so their relationship wasn’t very close.
When they came of age, it would be nothing more than bestowing titles, granting land, and assigning respectable duties.
There was nothing that required special attention!
...
「When it was time for dinner.」
Dinner was being prepared in Zhao Junyao’s front courtyard. It was a rare occasion for the four brothers to dine together, as they were out of the palace.
However, before the royal meal was even completely served, Little Zhuzi rushed in, his face pale with panic.
"Reporting... Your... Your Majesty!"
Zhao Junyao threw down the book in his hand, a frown creasing his brow.
"What’s the matter! Such a fuss over nothing!"
Li Shengan, who was beside him, looked somewhat exasperated, glaring at Little Zhuzi several times in quick succession.
Little Zhuzi, terrified, knelt down abruptly.
"Your Majesty, in the front side hall, Fifth Master, Sixth Master, and Seventh Master have started fighting!"