One month later.
Today was little Princess Xiyue's one-month celebration.
The palace was bustling.
Nobles and high-ranking officials flocked to the palace to offer their congratulations.
The consorts from the various palaces also came to congratulate the Empress.
The entire imperial palace brimmed with joy.
Yet at that moment, the atmosphere in the Imperial Study was fraught with tension.
The Imperial Study.
Neither Xiao Yu nor Emperor Jinyuan spoke.
They stood facing each other in a silent standoff.
Watching from the side, Dequan was on tenterhooks, terrified that he would be dragged into it next.
He slowly retreated to the doorway.
A little while later.
Xiao Yu finally broke the silence. "Elder Imperial Brother..."
He said to Emperor Jinyuan, "I'm already fifteen. It's time I moved out of the palace and established my own residence."
"What? Have you suffered some mistreatment living in the palace?"
Emperor Jinyuan sounded displeased. "Do you think just anyone can live in the imperial palace?"
"Other people don't even get the chance, yet here you are, thinking about leaving every single day!"
"Haven't I treated you well enough?"
"You have treated me very well, Elder Imperial Brother, but this goes against the rules," Xiao Yu replied.
Emperor Jinyuan said, "What rules? In this palace, my word is the rule!"
Xiao Yu was speechless.
Xiao Yu: "............"
Rank really did give a man the power to crush those beneath him.
He did not want to compromise.
Looking at Emperor Jinyuan, he said firmly, "I want to live outside the palace."
"I forbid it!"
Emperor Jinyuan refused outright.
Xiao Yu's gaze dimmed at his words.
Three years... Has Elder Imperial Brother still not let go of his suspicions toward Father?
What else do I have to do before he believes Father would never betray him?
Emperor Jinyuan fell silent.
This was no longer a question of letting go.
The imperial palace had always been a nest of scheming and deceit.
Besides, the princes were gradually growing up.
He simply did not dare trust anyone easily.
Only with Xiao Boy around could he feel at ease.
How could he allow Xiao Boy to leave his side?
He guiltily averted his eyes. "In any case, I will not grant your request. There is no need to say any more!"
Watching the tense exchange, Dequan broke into a cold sweat.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a familiar figure approaching the doorway.
He hurriedly announced, "Her Majesty the Empress has arrived-"
At his words, Emperor Jinyuan and Xiao Yu both reined in their hostility.
"Your Majesty, Little Xiyue was fussing to see you, so I took the liberty of bringing her here."
The Empress walked in, seemingly oblivious to the strange atmosphere between them.
"I haven't interrupted you, have I?" she asked.
"We weren't discussing anything important."
Emperor Jinyuan's expression softened a little at the sight of the Empress, and he took Little Xiyue into his arms.
He teased her, "Little girl, you only saw me this morning. Have you missed your Emperor Father already?"
I haven't missed you at all! Mother's using me as an excuse again.
My Crown Prince brother told Mother that Father and my young imperial uncle were arguing and asked her to come mediate, so she brought me along.
With her little scheme exposed, the Empress looked embarrassed.
She raised her eyes toward Emperor Jinyuan, her gaze evasive. "Your Majesty..."
"Empress, you needn't say anything. I know."
He settled Little Xiyue on his desk.
"My little princess," he told her, "today is your first-birthday celebration, and I don't have anything to give you."
"How about I find you a husband?"
No, no! Emperor Father, stop right there! Don't even think about it! Absolutely not!
Xiao Yu's eyelid twitched wildly, and he suddenly had an ominous feeling.
He was just about to speak when Emperor Jinyuan asked him-
"Qi'an, what do you think of Xiyue?"
The Empress was bewildered and did not immediately grasp what he meant.
Xiao Yu lost his composure.
His displeasure was clear in his voice. "What do you expect me to say, Elder Imperial Brother? She's a baby. How am I supposed to answer that?"
Has Elder Imperial Brother lost his mind? How old is that little girl Xiyue? And he's already arranging a marriage? Does he really take me for a beast?"Cough, cough..."
"Ahem..."
Emperor Jinyuan explained, "I'm only proposing a childhood betrothal..."
"You can marry Little Xiyue once she turns fifteen."
The corner of Xiao Yu's mouth twitched.
His Elder Imperial Brother certainly had some audacious ideas.
He refused firmly. "Elder Imperial Brother, by the time she turns fifteen, I'll already be thirty."
Forgive the disrespect, but I'd be old enough to be her father! And he wants us married!
Emperor Jinyuan was speechless.
Little Xiyue hardly needed a father.
I'm still alive.
He retorted, "What's wrong with thirty? Thirty is the prime of a man's life. Besides, Xiyue won't mind."
Xiao Yu had no words.
Well, I mind. Is that allowed?
Emperor Jinyuan ignored him.
He looked at Little Xiyue. "Little Xiyue, what do you think of the husband I've chosen for you?"
"Trust my judgment. Your Little Imperial Uncle may be a little older, but he'll certainly dote on you. Just look at his father."
The corner of Little Xiyue's mouth twitched.
You old geezer! How old am I? And you're already in a hurry to marry me off?
Emperor Jinyuan seemed to be answering her question.
He went on, "You won't have to move away when you marry. You two can live in the imperial palace. We're all family, so why make a distinction between inside and outside the palace? There are plenty of halls here. Pick whichever one you like and live there. There's no need to waste money establishing a residence outside."
"It'll also be easier for you both to visit me and your mother in the future. How does that sound?"
Xiyue was speechless.
She had only been born a month ago, and her father already had her entire life planned out.
Xiao Yu was speechless too.
Xiao Yu: "............"
His Elder Imperial Brother simply did not want him leaving the palace to establish his own residence.
He wanted him to live in the palace forever.
The Empress looked at Emperor Jinyuan. "Your Majesty, are you serious?"
Emperor Jinyuan did not answer directly.
Instead, he asked, "Do you think Qi'an isn't good enough for Xiyue, Empress? Or that Xiyue isn't good enough for Qi'an?"
The Empress was speechless.
Was this a question of whether they were good enough for each other?
Their ages were completely wrong.
Xiao Yu said helplessly, "Elder Imperial Brother, Xiyue is my niece..."
Please stop trying to make a beast out of me...
Emperor Jinyuan said, "She doesn't have to be."
At those words, Xiao Yu went rigid.
He said self-mockingly, "So, in your eyes, Elder Imperial Brother, these three years we've spent together mean nothing. I'm nothing to you..."
Emperor Jinyuan replied, "You were my imperial brother before. You can be my son-in-law in the future. Why not?"
Xiao Yu said, "Forgive me, but I cannot obey."
"How dare you!"
Emperor Jinyuan was angered. "In what way is Xiyue not good enough for you?"
"Your Majesty, I am not good enough for Xiyue."
A flash of resolve crossed Xiao Yu's eyes.
He abruptly replied, "To tell you the truth, Your Majesty, I prefer men... Please reconsider and withdraw your decree. Do not ruin the princess's happiness!"
Xiyue's eyes suddenly lit up.
My Little Imperial Uncle actually likes men!
Who is it? Who is it? Tell me so I can guess which of you is on top!
The Empress was speechless.
What on earth went on in this little girl's head?
Xiao Yu was speechless.
Could you please stop making things worse?
Emperor Jinyuan froze.
Then he blurted out, "I don't believe it!"
He stared straight at Xiao Yu, as though searching his expression for a flaw.
His voice softened. "Qi'an, you don't need to invent such an absurd excuse just to refuse me!"
Xiao Yu did not yield.
He said firmly, "Your Majesty, every word I just said was true."
Emperor Jinyuan asked, "Who is he?"
He would have the man killed!
How dare he lead his Qi'an astray!
"He is the former Southern Zhao Hostage."
Xiao Yu bit his lip, as though finding it difficult to speak.
"I fell in love with him at first sight and kept pursuing him. When he wouldn't return my feelings, I thought of forcing him... so he ran away..."
Emperor Jinyuan was speechless.
He didn't like you. Why were you still so hung up on him?
The Empress was speechless.
Did all men disregard other people's wishes like this?
Xiyue was speechless.
Who knew my Little Imperial Uncle was actually a street thug!
Dequan was speechless.
How had the refined young gentleman of the past become such a wastrel?
Morals really were declining by the day.
Thank goodness Qi Yunheng is no longer in the Jin Kingdom. How embarrassing would it be if he heard me making all this up!
I'd never be able to clear my name then!
After hearing that, Emperor Jinyuan, the Empress, and the others breathed a sigh of relief.
So he had made it all up.
Emperor Jinyuan could not help reflecting on his actions.
In the end, he had pushed Xiao Boy too hard.
He told him, "Very well. Let us never mention this again."
"As for leaving the palace and establishing your own household, we'll discuss it once Prince Yu's Residence has been built."
Before you continue