Chapter 80.2 â Picking You Up
When Qi Yang left the Eastern Palace, it was already mid-afternoon.
Before leaving the hall gates, she looked back and saw the familiar thin figure still sitting in front of the desk.
There were two tall piles of reports on the desk, one that had been reviewed and on that had not. The Crown Prince took a report and looked at it for a moment, then after some thought, seemed to have come to a decision.
He picked up his brush and wrote down some instructions, then put it on the reviewed pile and went to take another one.
This was the scene that Qi Yang saw most often at the Eastern Palace. Ever since the Crown Prince come of age, the Emperor handed part of the official reports he received to the Eastern palace, and the Crown Prince had been reviewing them for ten years.
But looking at this scene today, Qi Yang inexplicably felt a little sad. Ever since the Crown Prince returned from the northern border three years ago, his right hand had been injured and couldnât hold a brush for a long time, so he practiced writing with his left hand.
Qi Yang knew why the Crown Prince forced himself. There were many kings in the court looking at him with greedy eyes. His right hand being disabled was something that would be used against him, and his frail body and sickness drew criticism. If he was not cruel to himself, how could he keep a foothold in the court?
His position as the Crown Prince might seem to be stable, but in reality it was already in danger!
But the Crown Prince could not fall. There were too many people gathered around him, and no one could bear the shock his fall would cause. Plus, none of the kings in the court could take over the heavy burden the Crown Prince had been handling. They were all ambitious but talentless people.
Qi Yang stared at the Crown Princeâs figure for a long time, then finally withdrew her gaze and left the hall with the book in her sleeve.
Just after she left the hall, Qi Yang met another party before she exited the Eastern Palace.
The leader was a boy around 11 or 12 years old, wearing a small crown and a light-yellow robe. When he saw Qi Yang, he went forward and gave her a salute. âAuntie Qi Yang, I havenât seen you for a long time. You just met Royal Father, are you already going back?â
Qi Yang nodded as she looked at the young boy with gentle eyes, saying, âYes. Itâs getting late, so I should leave the palace. Go take a look at the front hall, donât let your father get too tired.â After a slight pause, she added, âYouâre no longer young this year, so you should be able to help.â
The young boy bowed his head and said yes, exchanged some greetings with Qi Yang, then bowed to see her off.
Qi Yang nodded and left, as the boy behind her kept watching her until she disappeared from sight. Then, he turned and walked to the front hall.
He was the Crown Princeâs oldest son, as well as the Emperorâs oldest grandson. Unfortunately, he wasnât the Crown Princessâs son, and the Crown Prince had never been too close to him. In the past two years, as he became a little older, the Crown Prince brought him by his side to teach him, and finally let him appear in front of everyone.
But in the end, he was just an 11 years old royal grandson â he had never shown particularly exceptional talent, nor was he favored by the Emperor due to his eldest grandson status. His appearance in the Eastern Palace and the royal court did not have any influence at all.
Qi Yangâs mind only lingered around the young boy for a while, and she took it off her mind when she left the Eastern Palace.
When she walked out of the palace gates, she was still in a bit of a gloomy mood. But as soon as she stepped out of the gates, she looked up and saw Lu Qipei standing beside the carriage waiting for her. Qi Yang was pleasantly surprised and quickly stepped forward to greet her. âWhy is Ah Pei here?â
Lu Qipei also took a few steps forward, saying with a smile, âThereâs not much to do today, so I came to pick you up in my spare time.â
When Qi Yang heard those words, her long depression was relieved. She stepped forward to take Lu Qipeiâs arm and smiled as she said, âSince itâs rare that we have a break, it would be boring to stay at home. Why wonât we have a walk outside?â
Seeing her in a good mood, Lu Qipei didnât refuse. In fact, everytime Qi Yang returned to the palace to see the Crown Prince in the past two years, she would return in a bad mood. It would be good to make her worry less for a bit today.
She looked down at the clothes they were wearing and said, âItâs not convenient for use to walk outside like this, letâs go back to the mansion to change first.â
This was natural, and Qi Yang happily pulled Lu Qipei into the carriage.
The wheels rolled over the road paved with blue stones, and drove them back to the princessâs mansion.
On the way, Lu Qipei casually asked her about the palace affairs, and Qi Yang told her about it. The Crown Prince was still pale and sickly as always, but he insisted on keeping busy on his desk and wouldnât listen to anyone. The Emperor brought up the issue of children today, something they had to care about.
âJust drag it on, what else can we do?â Qi Yang casually said as she tugged at the tassel of the jade pendant on Lu Qipeiâs waist.
The two also didnât want to get tangled on this topic â fortunately, the princessâs mansion wasnât far from the palace and they soon arrived. After returning to the mansion the two changed out from their official robes and palace attire, got into casual clothes, then tidied up a bit before going out.
Just as she stepped out of the courtyard, Lu Qipei who had been joking with Qi Yang suddenly stopped. She turned her head to the side, and sure enough she saw that little figure once again under the flower tree.
This time, Lu Sheng was bolder than before and didnât need to get call by the two. When she saw that Lu Qipei had found her, she took the initiative to run out from behind the flower tree.
Two maids followed her, telling her to run slowly, while carefully protecting her from falling down.
Lu Sheng was actually running very steadily, and with her two short legs moving back and forth, she soon arrived in front of them. She raised her head and look at them with bright eyes, calling out in a milky voice, âYour Highness, Uncle.â
The childâs eyes were clear and pure, and she was looking eagerly with endless expectation.
Qi Yangâs heart turned soft, and she looked at Lu Qipei, âWhy donât we take her with us?â
Author notes:
Lu Qipei (with mixed emotions): Your Highness, do you still remember who was jealous at a child yesterday?
Qi Yang (with righteous conviction): You!
Lu Qipei (â¦): I actually canât refute that.