Сhаpter 16: Thаnk Yоu, Third Brоther, for thе Раstriеs
“Соnsort Сhеn hаs sеnt this servant tо bring the little princеss bаck tо Вihuа Раlaсе. It is timе for the рrinсess tо take her mеdicinаl meal.”
Shangguаn Lin frownеd slightly.
Аlthоugh he alsо wanted Suisui to sреnd mоrе time with him, her hеаlth wаs thе prioritу.
Seеing Qing Ping, Shangguаn Sui’s eyеs immediatеly lit up.
[Yaу, уаy! Моther has cоme tо рick me uр!]
[I miss Mothеr so muсh~]
Shаngguаn Lin handеd Shangguan Sui оver to Qing Рing аnd instruсted Eunuch Chen, “You follow аlоng and escort thе рrincess baсk tо the palace.”
Eunuch Chen nodded, inwardly sighing with admiration.
The Emperor truly dotes on the Fifth Princess.
He cherishes her like the apple of his eye.
Having served the Emperor for so long, this was the first time he had seen him so fond of a child.
Qing Ping held Shangguan Sui’s hand, with Eunuch Chen following behind them. As they were passing through the Imperial Garden on their way to Bihua Palace, Shangguan Sui suddenly stopped in her tracks.
What was that sound?
It seemed like someone was playing the xiao, and it sounded quite pleasant!
Although Shangguan Sui didn’t understand music, she could still tell whether something sounded good or not.
She turned to Qing Ping and pointed in the direction from which the xiao music was coming.
Qing Ping tentatively asked, “Does the princess want to see who is playing the xiao?”
Shangguan Sui nodded eagerly.
[Qing Ping truly lives up to being Mother’s favorite maid—she’s really clever~]
[Someone who can play the xiao so beautifully must also be very good-looking! I can’t miss out on any good-looking people in the palace!]
Holding Shangguan Sui’s hand, Qing Ping quickly arrived at the source of the xiao music.
By the Clear Lake in the Imperial Garden stood a young man, tall and graceful like an immortal, his profile elegant and refined.
His slender, well-defined fingers held a jade xiao as he played a tune with great concentration.
Shangguan Sui was mesmerized.
[Oh my! The last time I saw someone this handsome was… the last time!]
[Not only is he this handsome, but he also plays the xiao so beautifully!]
What was that sound?
Hearing the commotion nearby, Shangguan Huai stopped playing the xiao.
He turned around and found a delicate, jade-like little girl standing behind him.
The little girl was staring at him without blinking.
After their eyes met, the little girl even waved at him.
[Hello, handsome~]
Shangguan Huai’s brow twitched slightly.
Her lips hadn’t moved, so why could he hear her voice?
How very strange…
Eunuch Chen quickly clasped his hands and explained.
“Greetings, Third Prince. This is the Fifth Princess, but she has been suffering from a sore throat recently and is temporarily unable to speak.”
“Fifth Princess, this is the Third Prince. He has been traveling in Shu for some time and only returned to the capital last night.”
Shangguan Sui nodded eagerly, her eyes shining even brighter.
“Abah abah—”
[So you’re my Third Brother! Hello, Third Brother!]
The corner of Shangguan Huai’s mouth lifted slightly.
This Fifth Sister of his, whom he had never met before, was actually quite adorable.
So what he had just heard were Fifth Sister’s inner thoughts?
Shangguan Huai glanced at the people around him and noticed their expressions were perfectly calm.
It seemed only he could hear them.
Interesting.
[My Third Brother plays the xiao so well!]
[I’ve never heard such beautiful xiao music before!]
Shangguan Huai felt quite pleased hearing this.
Just as he was about to smile faintly, he heard—
[It’s just a pity that two years from now, sigh…]
Shangguan Huai’s ears perked up.
What about two years from now? What would happen to him in two years?
But after listening for a while, he heard nothing more.
When he regained his composure, he saw Shangguan Sui take the maid’s hand beside her and prepare to leave.Shangguan Huai quickly called out, “Fifth Sister, wait a moment!”
He hurried closer, pulling a packet of pastries from his sleeve and handing it to Shangguan Sui before him.
“Fifth Sister, these cloud-slice cakes are for you.”
Shangguan Huai looked at her with gentle eyes, trying to build a closer relationship with her.
These cloud-slice cakes were originally promised to Fourth Imperial Brother.
But he was simply too eager to know what would happen two years from now, so he could only apologize to Fourth Imperial Brother.
Seeing the pastries in front of her, Shangguan Sui’s eyes immediately lit up.
“Ababa—”
[Thank you, Third Brother! You really are handsome and kind-hearted~]
[It’s just a shame that two years later, sigh…]
Shangguan Huai’s heart was once again gripped with tension.
He watched the little girl before him nervously.
Fortunately, this time, Fifth Sister said a bit more.
[It’s such a pity that my wonderful Third Brother ended up beheaded by my father~]
Shangguan Huai: What?!
He was beheaded?!
[Two years later, Consort Xian and Marquis Zhenbei rebelled. My Third Brother wasn’t involved at all, but in the end, he was implicated along with them…]
Shangguan Huai: What?!
His mother and maternal grandfather actually rebelled?
Shangguan Huai felt as if he had been struck by a heavy blow and urgently needed a moment to recover.
He had always known that his mother held expectations for him, hoping he would contend for the supreme throne.
But outright rebellion…
This was truly going too far!
Having gotten something delicious to eat, Shangguan Sui’s inner complaints began to multiply.
[I suppose Consort Xian also knew Third Brother would never agree to rebel, so she never intended to tell him from the start. She planned to have Third Brother ascend the throne directly after the rebellion succeeded.]
[It’s just a shame my Third Brother truly has no interest in politics—he genuinely lacks ambition.]
[My Third Brother is exceptionally talented. He has a natural gift for painting and music, and he genuinely loves these things.]
[Every painting he creates, every piece of music he composes, is a masterpiece for the ages. He truly has extraordinary talent.]
[He is a born genius, yet almost no one recognizes this.]
A wave of bitterness welled up in Shangguan Huai’s heart.
He never expected that the person who understood him best in this world would turn out to be a three-year-old child.
The ministers considered him an unqualified prince.
His mother scolded him for being useless.
None of them were willing to believe that he truly loved these things.
Shangguan Sui only felt sorrowful for a moment before quickly snapping out of it.
After all, the current Plot development was already different from the original book.
Father had already discovered Marquis Zhenbei’s intention to rebel, so the rebellion two years later would surely be avoided, and Third Brother would definitely be safe.
Shangguan Sui took out a cloud-slice cake and took a big bite.
[Wow, so delicious!]
Watching Shangguan Sui eat with such satisfaction, a faint smile appeared on Shangguan Huai’s refined and elegant face.
“Thank you, Fifth Sister.”
Knowing that there was still someone in this world who could understand him—
For him, that was enough.
Qing Ping and Eunuch Chen, standing nearby, were stunned.
Why was Third Prince thanking Fifth Princess?
For eating his pastries?
Fifth Princess hadn’t done anything at all, had she?
Shangguan Sui didn’t really understand why Third Prince was thanking her either.
Perhaps artists were just this strange.
But she still looked up and smiled at Shangguan Huai.
[Then I’ll thank you for the pastries too, Third Brother~]
[Bye-bye~]
Then, Shangguan Sui took Qing Ping’s hand and turned to leave.
Watching Shangguan Sui’s wobbly walking posture, Shangguan Huai couldn’t help but smile again.
But at that moment, the voice of his attendant, Qin Yun, sounded in his ear.”Your Highness, Consort Xian knows you entered the palace today and summons you to Linqing Hall.”
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Huai’s previously upturned lips immediately flattened.
His voice was cold: “Understood.”
Shangguan Huai, accompanied by Qin Yun, soon arrived at Linqing Hall.
He looked at the exquisite building before him, his brow twitching slightly.
As a child, he would always rush here excitedly, eager to play the new tune he had just learned for his mother.
But what often awaited him was his mother’s harsh scolding.
He thought it was because she felt he didn’t play well enough.
Until that time when his mother, right in front of him, used a sword to shatter that jade flute…
Shangguan Huai took a deep breath and pushed open the heavy wooden door of the hall.
Thwack—
A bamboo scroll flew straight toward his face, striking his forehead heavily.
It was followed by a sharp, furious shout.
“You unfilial son! How dare you show your face here!”