Li Meiren was indeed anxious. Since hearing the news, she had been extremely tense. But she couldn't think of a good way to avoid being chosen, so she could only pace back and forth in Jingfu Pavilion.
After thinking for a long time, she finally instructed Ban Xia: "When Xiao Qi returns later, make sure he doesn't find out about this matter." She didn't want the child to worry unnecessarily.
However, Zhao Yan had already learned about it in the Imperial Study.
During breakfast, Sixth Prince approached him and mysteriously asked, "Xiao Qi, do you know why Second Brother didn't come to study today?"
Zhao Yan guessed, "Same as before, he's sick?"
Sixth Prince asked again, "Do you know why Second Brother got sick?"
Zhao Yan still shook his head: If he's sick, he's sick. Why does there have to be a reason?
Sixth Prince lowered his voice: "Father Emperor is sick. The National Preceptor said one of us needs to go to Tianquan Temple to pray for him, for ten whole years. Third Brother said Second Brother probably pretended to be sick because he doesn't want to go."
"Ten years?" Zhao Yan's eyes lit up.
Such good fortune?
If he went, wouldn't he escape his mother's daily pressure to study?
In ten years, the throne would surely be decided, and the turmoil of seizing the throne definitely wouldn't affect him.
He must be the chosen one!
Zhao Yan quickly whispered, "Did Father Emperor say who he would choose?"
Sixth Prince shook his head: "No, but my mother said she can't bear to let me go so far away." He held his face, looking quite conflicted: "If Father Emperor chooses me and I don't go, will Father Emperor's illness never get better?"
He didn't want to lose Father Emperor, but he also didn't want to leave his mother.
Zhao Yan patted his shoulder, speaking quite righteously: "Then I'll go in your place."
Sixth Prince was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes, clinging to his arm and refusing to let go: "Wah, Xiao Qi, you're the best. After Father Emperor and my mother, you're the third person I like most."
Zhao Yan awkwardly rubbed his nose: No need to be so moved – no matter who was chosen, he wanted to go in their place.
Children don't overthink things, simply feeling that Xiao Qi's willingness to leave Father Emperor and his mother for his sake was truly noble.
He decided he would always be good to Xiao Qi from now on.
For the rest of the class, Zhao Yan couldn't focus on studying, his mind occupied with how to get chosen.
Should he boldly recommend himself?
But if he did that, Li Meiren would probably be heartbroken.
But there was no other way – who told Li Meiren to pressure him so much? And since he was destined to be cannon fodder, he naturally had to stay far away.
Zhao Yan pursed his lips, his dark eyes darting around. Judging by his other brothers' expressions, they probably all knew about this matter.
Ah, could it be that someone might foolishly want to compete with him?
As the hour approached, the princes gradually left the Imperial Study to go to the next study hall for meals. Sixth Prince pulled Zhao Yan toward his own residence, saying as they walked: "Xiao Qi, come eat with me. My mother specially made me some delicious food, I'll share half with you."
The Imperial Kitchen had specific portions and fixed menus for the princes' daily meals. The princes couldn't eat too well or too full.
Eating too well was hard to digest, and eating too full would make them complacent.
Each prince had their own food preferences and dislikes, while the Imperial Kitchen's offerings were generally balanced. Therefore, the various palace consorts would occasionally prepare separate meals for their own sons.
Jingfu Pavilion was impoverished to the point of destitution. Zhao Yan's daily breakfast pastries were only made possible by Li Meiren scrimping and saving from her own meals, supplemented by silver sent into the palace by the Duan family.
Thus, Zhao Yan had no choice but to eat whatever meals were delivered from the Imperial Kitchen, taking whatever was provided.
When faced with dishes he disliked, he had to force down a few mouthfuls to avoid going hungry.
When the Sixth Prince invited him to share a meal, he was naturally willing.
The Fifth Prince, seeing them holding hands, made a disgusted face at Zhao Yan: "How shameful, even mooching meals."
The Sixth Prince glared at him, annoyed: "Fifth Brother, if you keep bullying Xiao Qi, I'll tell Father Emperor that your assignments are all written by the eunuchs."
The Fifth Prince shrank back, stammering: "H-how did you know?"
The Sixth Prince looked triumphant: "I also know you wet the bed a few nights ago…"
The Fifth Prince rushed over and covered the Sixth Prince's mouth, his face dark: "Don't say it… If you dare tell anyone, I'll… I'll…" His little face flushed red.
The Sixth Prince pulled his hand away, lifting his chin: "You'll what?"
"I won't bully him anymore…" The Fifth Prince kicked at the stones underfoot in frustration, then trailed behind them resentfully.
Zhao Yan looked at the Sixth Prince with admiration: "Sixth Brother knows everything!"
"Of course!" The Sixth Prince puffed with pride: "I know lots of things…" He was about to continue when he noticed an old matron standing ahead, hands folded solemnly, staring at him sternly.
The Sixth Prince immediately wilted, mumbling: "Matron Li…"
Matron Li nodded, her gaze sweeping over Zhao Yan before saying impassively: "Fifth Prince, Consort Xu has ordered this old servant to personally supervise your meal consumption. Not a single grain may remain."
Did this mean no meal sharing?
Zhao Yan quietly released the Sixth Prince's hand: Indeed, the original host wasn't favored by his cheap Father Emperor, his mother was out of favor, and none of the other consorts in the palace wanted to be associated with Jingfu Pavilion.
The Sixth Prince made a pained face, glanced at him, and was ultimately led away by Matron Li.
As soon as the Sixth Prince left, the Fifth Prince sidled up to Zhao Yan. Pouting, he whispered: "My mother said Father Emperor dislikes you most, so you'll definitely be chosen this time. Then you won't see your mother anymore, or Father Emperor either." He stared at Zhao Yan with a gleeful expression, expecting him to burst into tears.
This wretched child, always asking for trouble.
And he'd just promised not to bully him.
Zhao Yan blinked twice, feigning innocence: "But Sister Chen Xiang said Tianquan Temple is really fun, and Tianquan Palace is wonderful too. We can climb trees for bird nests, go fishing in the rivers, there are lots of flowers and plants, and we can even go down the mountain to play. With Mother and Father Emperor not around, no one will force us to study. We'll never have to memorize the 'Three Character Classic' or practice calligraphy again." His clear eyes shone with yearning: "New Year will come soon, and ten years will pass quickly. Then I can return."
The Fifth Prince was dumbstruck: "R-really?" No studying, no memorizing texts, no calligraphy practice.
The temptation was overwhelming.
At the traveling palace, he could go wherever he wanted.
Oh no, suddenly he wanted to leave the palace too.
Zhao Yan continued: "If Father Emperor chooses me, I'll miss Fifth Brother. What gift would you like? I'll send it to you from Jiangnan."
The Fifth Prince looked on with eager eyes and immediately said, "I want dough figurines, and tanghulu, and also, also…"
Before he could finish, Zhao Yan let out a heavy sigh. "Ah, forget it. Fifth Brother has to study every day in the palace—reciting texts, practicing calligraphy, and taking exams. When you're older, you'll have to learn policy essays and strategic essentials like the Crown Prince and the others. There's so much to learn, you definitely won't have time for these snacks."
The Fifth Prince's young heart shattered with a thud.
Zhao Yan, his eyes curved into a smile, continued, "After I leave the palace, I'll be able to sleep until Chenshi every day. I'll grow tall, even taller than you, Fifth Brother!"
The more he spoke, the more the Fifth Prince felt his own misery.
His eyes began to sting uncontrollably. Just as Zhao Yan was about to say more, the Fifth Prince let out a wail, burst into tears, and ran away.
By the end of the school day at Shenshi, the Fifth Prince returned to Yunxiang Palace, tossed his bookbag aside, and threw himself into Consort Yun's arms, fussing and demanding that she speak to Father Emperor about letting him go to Tianquan Temple to pray for blessings.
Consort Yun thought her son had lost his mind and frowned, asking, "Who put such ideas in your head?"
The Fifth Prince whined, "I don't care, I don't care! I just want to go pray for Father Emperor's blessings!"
The matron by Consort Yun's side hurriedly tried to dissuade him, "Oh, my little master, Tianquan Temple is no good place. If you go, you'll never see Consort Yun again!"
"You're lying!" The Fifth Prince shoved the matron away. "Father Emperor said it's for ten years! I'll come back when I'm grown up!"
"That's ten years, not ten days!" Consort Yun was exasperated.
He kept throwing a fit, and no amount of reasoning could get through to him.
Furious, Consort Yun raised her hand and spanked his little bottom, giving him a sound thrashing.
The Fifth Prince cried until his face was a mess, his small shoulders still trembling with sobs.
Consort Yun scolded, "You stay put and study properly! If you ever mention going to pray for blessings again, I'll spank your bottom until it blooms!" With that, she stormed out of the room.
The old matron reached out to comfort the Fifth Prince, but he dodged her.
He snorted, crying as he ran to his own Imperial Bedchamber, threw himself onto the bedding, and wailed loudly.
Wahhh, Xiao Qi really hadn't lied to him. His mother just wanted him to study hard, which was why she said praying for blessings was bad and wouldn't let him leave the palace.
Such a great opportunity—he wasn't about to let Xiao Qi have all the advantages alone.
He would go find Father Emperor. He absolutely had to go to Tianquan Temple.