Brat

Zhu Yunjian did not understand much. All he knew was that his second brother had told him not to let Zhu Yuntong come over, so he planted himself in Zhu Yuntong's way.

Seeing the brat's utterly serious expression, Zhu Yuntong decided not to force his way through. "Fourth brother, have you eaten?"

"Not yet."

Zhu Yunjian gave a little snort. "Dinner's been delivered. We're having delicious food tonight, and we can eat once Mother and second brother come back. But you're not getting any."

At those words, Zhu Yuntong knew he had found his dinner.

This none-too-bright brat had no guile at all. Zhu Yuntong had thought he would need to coax something out of him, but the boy had volunteered that there was delicious food. In that case, he would help himself.

After a moment's thought, Zhu Yuntong turned back toward his own quarters instead of barging in.

Thinking he had scared him off, Zhu Yunjian smiled smugly and went back to playing with his little toy. "Why aren't Mother and second brother back yet?" he muttered.

He was already starving and desperately wanted to sneak back for a bite, but Lü Shi was so strict with them that he did not dare. He could only keep waiting. Instead of Lü Shi, however, the person who finally appeared was Zhu Yuntong, returning after his departure.

"Don't come over here."

Zhu Yunjian moved to block him again.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Yuntong barely spared him a glance. He took out a sheet of paper and leisurely folded a paper airplane.

People in ancient times had no idea what a paper airplane was, but this little display successfully caught Zhu Yunjian's attention, and he edged closer for a curious look.

Zhu Yuntong lifted the paper airplane, breathed on it, and sent it sailing through the air with a firm throw.

To Zhu Yunjian's astonishment, the sheet of paper actually flew, and quite far at that. After flying for a while, it even turned, circling back to land beside Zhu Yuntong.

"W-what is that?"

Zhu Yunjian's eyes widened. He had never seen anything so fun.

Children were like that. In an instant, he was fascinated by the paper airplane and itching to try it. He desperately wanted to play but did not dare, so he gazed longingly at Zhu Yuntong.

"Want to play?"

Zhu Yuntong asked.

Zhu Yunjian instantly forgot how firmly he had stood his ground earlier and nodded repeatedly.

"You won't let me in, so I won't let you play," Zhu Yuntong said.

Then he picked up the paper airplane and launched it again. This time, it traced a larger circle before returning to land beside him.

Seeing such a fun toy just out of his reach, Zhu Yunjian wanted it so badly that his eyes reddened, and he nearly cried.

But on the third throw, Zhu Yuntong deliberately sent it over the wall.

"Oh... why did it fly out there?"

Zhu Yuntong feigned annoyance, then quickly added, "Forget it. I don't want it anymore. I'll fold another one."

With that, he walked away.

He made it look as though he was going back to fetch more paper.

Once Zhu Yuntong was far away, Zhu Yunjian's eyes lit up, and he dashed outside to find the paper airplane. Yet the moment he left, Zhu Yuntong returned, marveling at how easy the brat was to fool.

Zhu Yuntong went straight inside. Sure enough, dinner had been delivered, and its lavishness put his own meal to shame.

Stewed chicken, steamed fish, lamb casserole, vegetables... there was also a basin brimming with white rice and a pot of soup.

"They eat so well here. No wonder Zhu Yunjian's turned into a little fatty."

Zhu Yuntong sneered, then glanced at Liu Liu and barked, "Take it all back."

"What?"

Liu Liu was dumbfounded.

So this was what the third imperial grandson had been planning.

He served the Crown Princess. How could he do something like this?

Zhu Yuntong fixed him with an icy stare. "Are you taking it or not?"

Liu Liu instantly lost his nerve. Even if Zhu Yuntong killed him, the boy would receive no more than a scolding. He hurried to find a basket and packed the food to take back.

Just as they stepped outside, Dongqing finally returned.

"Your Highness, what are you doing?"

Dongqing asked.

"Do I need to report to you? Get out of my way!"

Zhu Yuntong barked.

"I..."

"What do you mean, 'I'?"

Zhu Yuntong strode out. "A pack of servants. Move!"

Dongqing opened her mouth. She had wanted to summon people to stop him, but then remembered that Zhu Yuntong was an imperial grandson. No one would dare stand in his way.

"Third brother, I broke mine. How did you fold it? I want to learn."

Having found the paper airplane, Zhu Yunjian finally came scampering back.

Zhu Yuntong was just coming out the door. Seeing Zhu Yunjian return, he smiled. "Fourth brother, thanks for treating me to dinner."

With that, he strode away.

"When did I treat you..."

As he spoke, Zhu Yunjian caught sight of the basket in Liu Liu's hands and instantly understood. "Zhu Yuntong, you stole my dinner! I haven't eaten yet! Give it back, give it back! Waaa..."

Seeing that Zhu Yuntong had stolen his dinner, the brat began yelling at the top of his lungs, then burst into loud sobs, leaving Dongqing and the other palace maids at a loss.

"What happened?"

Lü Shi finally returned, only to hear crying the moment she entered.

She had been thoroughly vexed all day.

And nothing was more vexing than crying.

"Your Highness."

Dongqing hurried over and explained what had just happened.

Lü Shi's expression turned frosty. "Zhu Yuntong is becoming more unruly by the day. What are you all standing around for? Have the Imperial Kitchen prepare another meal. Also, tell them to cut the food sent over there by another half."

Looking at the sobbing Zhu Yunjian only irritated Lü Shi further. She nearly lost control and gave him a loving lesson-and a childhood memory to treasure.

When Zhu Yuntong brought the food back, his two older sisters and two younger sisters cheered.

"We might have even less to eat tomorrow."

Zhu Lingyue felt a flicker of foreboding. They could enjoy tonight's meal, but tomorrow would surely be rough. That was simply Lü Shi's nature.

"Should we take it back?" Zhu Lingyi suggested after some thought.

Zhu Yuntong tore off a chicken drumstick and placed it in little Lingxiu's bowl. "Why should we take it back? If she won't feed us tomorrow, I'll take you somewhere else to find food. Oh, right! Wake me up early tomorrow morning, preferably before Imperial Grandfather's morning court."

"Thank you, third brother!"

Zhu Lingxiu said sweetly.

"Third brother, you eat first," Zhu Linghua said.

The two little darlings felt no sense of danger. All they knew was that they went hungry every day, and now there was finally something delicious to eat. They could not have been happier.

"Eldest sister, second sister."

Zhu Yuntong assured them, "Go ahead and eat. Everything will be fine!"

It had been so long since they had had this much food. If Zhu Yuntong said everything would be fine, then it surely would. Besides, he had already taken it.

"You've changed a lot lately, Yuntong."

His eldest sister, Zhu Lingyue, spoke with curiosity.

"I used to think I could endure it until I received my fief, then take you all away," Zhu Yuntong said. "Only recently did I realize we probably won't be allowed to leave. They must be wary of my status as a son of the principal wife, so I'm done enduring it, and I'm done hiding my abilities."

At those words, both older sisters felt an ache in their hearts, along with a surge of warmth. Their brother was so good to them.

They finished every dish on the table. It had been so long since they had eaten their fill that even if Lü Shi starved them to death tomorrow, the girls felt they would die satisfied.

Zhu Yuntong would not let them starve to death. Restoring their meals to a normal standard would be easy enough.

Before they knew it, night had fallen.