Chapter 264: Counter-Productive (1/2)

Without another word, Jun Huang handed Qi Yun an osmanthus cake. He took a bite and realized that it was delivered here by Nan Xun.

Even before Jun Huang came to Northern Qi, he was on friendly terms with Nan Xun. He'd been invited to Nan Xun's manor and had the chance to sample meals prepared by Nan Xun's cook.

The next day, Qi Yun brought some food to the emperor's chamber as Jun Huang suggested. Not surprisingly, the emperor didn't let him enter.

Jun Huang had told him that the emperor might react this way. He quickly recovered and said to the eunuch, “Royal Father must have gotten tired of the taste of medicine. I know he dislikes bitter things. However, Royal Father has forbidden me from visiting him. I can't bring him desserts myself like I did before. Still, I should fulfill my duty as his son. Please take this to him for me, gong gong.”

His tone was genuine but insistent. The eunuch hesitated, his eyes s.h.i.+fting from Qi Yun to the door. In the end, he nodded and sighed. “We are in no place to make guesses about the emperor's thoughts. Rest a.s.sured that this old servant will take this in to His Majesty. However, I can't guarantee that he will have any.”

“That's fine. Please just bring it in for me.” Qi Yun handed the eunuch the box of desserts he'd prepared and gave him a gentle smile. With that, he walked away.

The eunuch sighed. When he brought the box in, the emperor was sitting up with the help of a servant. The eunuch hurried to him and put a robe around his shoulders.

The emperor's gaze landed on the box the eunuch had placed on the table and raised an eyebrow. “Was it Qi Yun?”

The eunuch didn't immediately respond. He carefully considered the emperor. Only once he made sure the emperor wasn't angry did he nod and respectfully say, “The fourth prince is considerate enough to have some desserts prepared. This servant has taken a look. They're all Your Majesty's favorite. He's put in a lot of care.”

“Ha, I don't know when he's learned to buy my approval rather than earn it. He should be trying to improve himself rather than giving me such useless things.” He took a look at the inside of the box and added, “Take this to the ninth prince. He'll like it.”

The eunuch blinked in surprise. He nodded and obediently left with the box of desserts.

Qi Yun had planted his own people at the emperor's side. What the emperor said soon reached his ears. He forced himself to calm down. Jun Huang reminded him to be patient as well. He mustn't get reckless at time like this.

Autumn had come, but it could get a little hot at noon. Qi Yun went to the royal kitchen himself and had a bowl of lotus seed soup prepared. He brought it to the emperor's chamber. Instead of entering, he asked the eunuch about the emperor's condition and told him to take good care of the emperor before leaving.

The eunuch relayed Qi Yun's words to the emperor, leaving the bowl of soup in the emperor's room.

After some time, the eunuch returned to the room to find that the bowl of soup completely untouched. He sighed and chucked it.

Qi Yun knew all about what had happened, but he kept on bringing food to the emperor. He'd also completed the task the emperor a.s.signed him.

The emperor wasn't as angry at Qi Yun as he had been. He began to think that perhaps Qi Yun shouldn't be blamed for the officials' action.

Qi Yun had continued to be a caring son without complaint despite being turned away every time. At the end of the day, he was of the emperor's blood. The emperor sighed, pus.h.i.+ng aside his wariness of his son. He was a little regretful of how he'd scolded Qi Yun. Perhaps he should grant his son some agency in compensation.

As usual, Qi Yun came to the emperor's chamber early in the morning. He was going to leave after handing the desserts to the eunuch, but the eunuch stopped him.

“Your Highness is finally here,” the eunuch said with a smile. “His Majesty is still asleep. Please wait outside for a moment. This old servant will notify him once he's awake.”

Qi Yun frowned and waved a hand in denial. “There's no need. Royal Father doesn't want to see me. I'm only going to anger him. Gong gong should bring this in. Royal Father has started to have some of the desserts I brought him lately. I think I've figured out his preferences. I'll bring more tomorrow.”

The eunuch's smile deepened. “Your Highness misunderstood. This servant wouldn't dare ask you to wait here without the emperor's say-so. Last night, His Majesty said himself that he'd missed Your Highness and wanted you to stay when you came in the morning. It'll be good if Your Highness can chat with him a little.”