Chapter 272: A Strategy Exposed Yet Goes Unchecked
The Eighth Prince shook his head and refused, "I’m not interested in reading storybooks."
"It’s really interesting, Eighth Brother, won’t you give it a try?"
"No." The Eighth Prince raised his hand and gently patted Zhao Yao’s little head, "Aren’t you going back to Kunde Hall for lunch?"
"I’m not going back to Kunde Hall for lunch, I want to go to Lanyuan Pavilion to get a book from Fourth Brother." Zhao Yao waved to the Eighth Prince, "Eighth Brother, I’m heading to Lanyuan Pavilion first." With that, he hopped away merrily.
The Eighth Prince furrowed his brow slightly, then headed back to Xingde Palace with Yu Hai.
The Fourth Prince was waiting for Zhao Yao, and when he saw him, he took him to the dining hall for lunch.
During lunch, Zhao Yao shared his idea of making a birthday gift for Liang Zhaoyi with the Fourth Prince and asked for any suggestions.
The Fourth Prince suggested Zhao Yao make a wooden hairpin. After Zhao Yao refused the idea of making a wooden hairpin, he then proposed making a comb.
The suggestion of making a comb was good, and Zhao Yao decided to consider it.
"Fourth Brother, I’m taking a day off tomorrow and plan to go out, is there anything you want that I can bring back for you?"
"No need, I also plan to go out tomorrow."
Hearing this, Zhao Yao quickly asked, "Fourth Brother, you’re going out tomorrow too, where are you going?"
"I plan to visit the maternal family tomorrow," the Fourth Prince said as he placed food on Zhao Yao’s plate, "I’m going there to find some books, would you like to come with me?"
"Fourth Brother, what kind of books are you looking for?"
"Books related to historical records," the Fourth Prince said, "My maternal grandfather’s home library has many books related to historical records." Lanyuan Pavilion’s historical records are incomplete. When they were revising the previous dynasty’s history, they found a portion of historical records missing, which weren’t at Lanyuan Pavilion. He and his cousins thought of their Li Family’s library and planned to go and have a look.
Hearing about the Li Family’s library, Zhao Yao’s eyes lit up instantly: "Fourth Brother, I heard from Mr. Xiao that your maternal family’s library is a treasure trove, with many precious books; is that true?"
"It’s true, the library at my maternal grandfather’s house has a vast collection. Many books lost to the public can be found in my maternal grandfather’s library," the Fourth Prince said, "They have been collecting books for generations and have kept them very well."
Zhao Yao, upon hearing this, calculated his little plans in his mind.
"Fourth Brother, when I’m older, can I borrow those precious books to read?"
The Fourth Prince agreed readily: "Of course." The Li Family’s treasured books generally weren’t lent out, but to the Fourth Prince, Zhao Yao isn’t an outsider.
"Thank you, Fourth Brother." The treasured books of the Li Family are true gems, and he must read them carefully.
"Are you coming with me to my maternal family tomorrow?"
"Fourth Brother, it’s rare for you to visit your maternal family, so I won’t intrude," Zhao Yao said cheerfully, "However, I can come by in the evening for dinner."
The Fourth Prince smiled, "Alright, then come over for dinner in the evening."
"Fourth Brother, are you returning to the palace tomorrow night?" Zhao Yao asked, "I won’t be returning to the palace tomorrow night; I plan to stay outside the palace for a couple of more days."
"I can stay overnight at the maternal family’s house and return to the palace in the morning after next," the Fourth Prince said, "Since you’re not returning to the palace tomorrow night, why not stay over with me at the maternal family’s house?"
Zhao Yao’s plan all along was: "Sure, sure, then I won’t be polite." Saying that, he turned to look at the Minister of the Ministry of Rites and the Junior Minister, "Two cousins, I’ll trouble you tomorrow night then."
The Minister of the Ministry of Rites and the Junior Minister said, "Your Highness, the Tenth Prince, it is our honor to have you as a guest at our Li Family."
Zhao Yao quite unabashedly requested, "Two cousins, I expect a great meal."
"Rest assured, Your Highness, we will prepare a splendid feast for you."
"That’s wonderful." Zhao Yao said with a beaming smile.
Seeing Zhao Yao so pleased, the corners of the Fourth Prince’s mouth couldn’t help but turn up.
Zhao Yao’s maternal grandfather resides in Yangzhou, and to date, he has never met his maternal grandfather and grandmother. The Fourth Prince had long noticed Zhao Yao’s envy of his bond with his two cousins. He wanted Zhao Yao to have more interaction with his maternal family and to experience the familial love from them.
"I’ve never been to the Chief’s home," Zhao Yao said with eager anticipation.
By "Chief," he meant the Fourth Prince’s maternal grandfather. The term "Chief" refers to the head of the Imperial College.
The Minister of the Ministry of Rites smiled and said, "Your Highness, the Tenth Prince, you can visit our home often in the future."
The Junior Minister chimed in, "We will be very welcoming."
The Fourth Prince said, "I will frequently take you there in the future."
"Fourth Brother, with you saying this, I won’t be shy, and will indeed visit often," Zhao Yao said.
"Your Highness, the Tenth Prince, you’re always welcome to come and have fun at our home." The Minister of the Ministry of Rites and the Junior Minister, having interacted with Zhao Yao for some time, grew increasingly fond of him.