Chapter 415: Chapter 240 Birthday_3
"Madam, if you’re reluctant, you can just forbid His Highness from going to Lingnan," Gui Xing comforted, "If you tell His Highness not to go, he surely won’t."
"But, indeed, Lingnan is a very safe place," Liang Zhaoyi said, conflicted in her heart, "If Yao Yao goes to Lingnan, he can do what he desires, and most importantly, he can stay away from the city’s troubles."
"Madam, His Highness wants to go to Lingnan, but the Emperor may not agree. You don’t need to worry," Gui Xing reassured Liang Zhaoyi, "Besides, there are still ten years before His Highness reaches adulthood and is crowned a king. Isn’t it a bit early to worry about this now?"
"You are right." Liang Zhaoyi hoped the Emperor would agree to Zhao Yao going to Lingnan, yet she also didn’t want the Emperor to agree.
"Madam, you have to rise early tomorrow to make long-life noodles for His Highness. You should rest early."
"Alright." Liang Zhaoyi lay down, but she remained unable to sleep for a long time.
The next day, just as the sky started to lighten, Liang Zhaoyi woke up and, after freshening up, began kneading the dough and making noodles in the kitchen.
At the beginning of the hour of the hare, Tong Xi woke Zhao Yao.
Actually, Zhao Yao didn’t need to get up so early today, because it was his birthday, and he didn’t have to attend classes in Wende Hall, but the Eighth Prince had to go study today.
To have breakfast with the Eighth Prince and eat long-life noodles together, Zhao Yao had to get up early, just like on regular days.
On the Eighth Prince’s birthday, Zhao Yao accompanied him for long-life noodles. Likewise, the Eighth Prince naturally had to accompany him on his birthday. It had been like this for several years.
On his way to the dining hall, Zhao Yao coincidentally met the Eighth Prince, who had just arrived at Kunde Hall. He hurried forward with a bright smile to greet the Eighth Prince.
"Brother Eight, you’ve arrived."
The Eighth Prince’s face naturally broke into a smile upon seeing Zhao Yao.
"Brother Ten, happy birthday." With that, he took a brocade box from Yu Hai’s hand and handed it to Zhao Yao, "This is your birthday gift."
"What kind of gift is it?" Zhao Yao’s eyes sparkled instantly, and he eagerly accepted the brocade box from the Eighth Prince’s hand. When he first received the box, his hands involuntarily drooped, and the brocade box almost fell to the ground, only then did he realize it was somewhat heavy. "Brother Eight, what is this, why does it feel a bit heavy?"
"You just need to open it to know."
Zhao Yao impatiently opened the brocade box and found a golden Ruyi inside. He was so shocked that his eyes widened, and his lips parted in disbelief as he looked at the Eighth Prince: "Brother Eight, this... this is a golden Ruyi?"
Standing next to Zhao Yao, Tong Xi gasped in surprise upon seeing the golden Ruyi.
The Eighth Prince is indeed generous!
"Yes, a golden Ruyi, though it is somewhat small," the Eighth Prince said apologetically, "I intended to give you a larger one, but..."
Zhao Yao hurriedly interrupted, "Brother Eight, this golden Ruyi is not small." The golden Ruyi given to Zhao Yao by the Eighth Prince was ten inches long, smaller than usual, but not small for Zhao Yao. "However, Brother Eight, where did you get this golden Ruyi? It must be quite valuable."
"It was given by Eldest Brother. This golden Ruyi was indeed among the things the Crown Prince gave me after I saved his life at Hulong Temple," the Eighth Prince explained. To be honest, he thought this golden Ruyi was too small. He wished to give Zhao Yao a "normal" sized golden Ruyi, but he couldn’t; after all, he was the unappreciated Eighth Prince. It would be unusual for him to have a normal-sized golden Ruyi.
"Brother Eight, I can’t accept this," Zhao Yao, though fond of wealth, wasn’t one to take advantage unfairly. "Brother Eight, this was a gift to you from Eldest Brother, something you earned with your life; I can’t take it..."
The Eighth Prince interrupted Zhao Yao, his face stern, saying: "This is my birthday gift to you; you must accept it."
"But, Brother Eight..."
"I don’t like the golden Ruyi. If you like it, it’s yours," the Eighth Prince said with a smile, "Besides, this golden Ruyi is useless to me, better to give it to you."
Zhao Yao wanted to say something more, but the Eighth Prince interrupted him again.
"If you don’t accept it, I’ll be upset with you."
"I’ll take it, I’ll take it!" Zhao Yao quickly said, "With Brother Eight giving it to me, of course, I’ll accept."
Hearing Zhao Yao say this, the Eighth Prince smiled contentedly: "That’s more like it." In reality, the Eighth Prince had a pair of Jade Ruyi, but it wasn’t suitable to give to Zhao Yao.
Zhao Yao put the golden Ruyi back into the brocade box and handed it to Tong Xi.
He playfully gave the Eighth Prince a grand gesture of gratitude: "Your younger brother thanks Brother Eight for the gift!"
The Eighth Prince was amused by Zhao Yao’s antics: "Alright, little birthday star, hurry on to eat your long-life noodles."
Liang Zhaoyi had just finished making the long-life noodles and personally brought them to the dining hall.
The Eighth Prince hurried to greet Liang Zhaoyi, and she quickly told him to rise.
Liang Zhaoyi had also personally prepared some pie pastries.
After accompanying Zhao Yao to finish the long-life noodles, the Eighth Prince left for Wende Hall to attend classes.
Zhao Yao saw the Eighth Prince to the door and invited him to Kunde Hall for lunch.
The Eighth Prince knew that the Emperor would come to Kunde Hall for lunch, so he declined Zhao Yao’s invitation. He knew the Emperor disliked him, and his presence would only anger the Emperor. Besides, even if he came for lunch at Kunde Hall, he would be driven out by the Emperor.
"Your Highness, Eighth Highness is so kind, why does the Emperor dislike the Eighth Highness so much?" Truly, the Emperor despised the Eighth Highness to the point of not even wanting to look at him. "Is it just because of Eighth Highness’s mother consort..."
"Brother Eight’s mother consort is a taboo; if you don’t want to die, don’t bring this up," Zhao Yao warned Tong Xi.
Tong Xi was so frightened he quickly shut his mouth, eyes full of fear.
"The servant won’t speak of it again."
"Tenth Highness." Wei Mian approached, hurriedly bowing to Zhao Yao, "Tenth Highness, my lord requests your presence at Lanyuan Pavilion later."
"Sure, I’ll go visit Fourth Brother later." Zhao Yao wondered what birthday gift Fourth Brother would give him, hoping it would be a rare edition.
At this moment, the Fourth Prince was attending the morning court session. Zhao Yao planned to visit Lanyuan Pavilion to see the Fourth Prince after the session ended.
Zhao Yao returned to Kunde Hall, seeing Liang Zhaoyi examining the golden Ruyi given by the Eighth Prince.
"Such a valuable item, how could you accept it?" Liang Zhaoyi disapproved of Zhao Yao accepting this golden Ruyi, "At noon, you should return this golden Ruyi to the Eighth Prince."
"I already refused, but Brother Eight insisted on giving it to me. If I didn’t accept, he’d be upset," Zhao Yao said, "This golden Ruyi was originally a gift from the Crown Prince to Brother Eight."
Liang Zhaoyi poked Zhao Yao’s forehead with a finger, "Isn’t it because you often talk about liking valuable things, that’s why the Eighth Prince gifted you the Crown Prince’s golden Ruyi?"
"Mother Consort, rest assured, this golden Ruyi is nothing to Brother Eight." Zhao Yao recalled the expression on the Eighth Prince’s face when he gave the golden Ruyi, "Brother Eight seemed quite disdainful of this golden Ruyi."
"What’s the matter?"