"Sixth Highness?" The palace servants nearby spotted Wei Mingxiu.
For a moment, they looked at one another.
But they all served the empress and were not as overbearing as Noble Consort Shu's people. Whatever they thought of Wei Mingxiu, they remained respectful to him on the surface.
They bowed to him.
Wei Mingxiu continued, "I'm looking for Xiao Wu, the eunuch who serves in my palace. I was passing by and saw you all in a commotion. Have you run into some difficulty?"
"Your Sixth Highness, the Second Highness's cat, Xuexue, climbed up a tree this morning. When the Second Highness woke up and couldn't find her, he searched everywhere. He's anxious to get her down now, so he's lost his composure a little."
A palace maid said, "The Second Highness loves Xuexue very much. He holds her in his arms to sleep every day, so that's why..."
The maid was halfway through speaking when the eunuch beside her glared at her. Realizing she had said too much, she quickly shut her mouth.
But once she fell silent, Wei Zeyu caught sight of Wei Mingxiu and looked as though he had found a savior. He stepped forward, grabbed Wei Mingxiu's hand, and pointed up the tree with his other hand. "Big brother, big brother, help me! Save Xuexue!"
He was clearly Wei Mingxiu's older brother and stood half a head taller than him. Hearing him say such a thing now was rather comical to everyone watching.
The palace servants' expressions turned grim. They were terrified that Wei Mingxiu would insult Wei Zeyu and make the Second Highness cry, bringing the empress's punishment down on them.
But they saw no trace of disgust or contempt on Wei Mingxiu's face. Instead, he gently patted Wei Zeyu's hand and said, "Second Brother, you're older than me. You shouldn't call me big brother. You should call me Sixth Brother."
"Sixth Brother?" Wei Zeyu had become a fool after falling into the water at age five and running a high fever for three days after he was pulled out. In his eyes, Wei Mingxiu was older than him.
But since Wei Mingxiu had told him to call him Sixth Brother, he would, as long as he could help him save the cat!
"Okay, okay, Sixth Brother, help me!" As he spoke, he pulled out the malt candy he had secretly hidden in his robes and pressed it into Wei Mingxiu's hand. "I'll give you candy. If you save Xuexue, I have even more candy for you!"
Wei Mingxiu looked momentarily stunned.
Holding the bag of candy, he looked at Wei Zeyu again, a faint glimmer appearing in his eyes.
"All right. Since I've accepted your gift, Second Brother, I'll help you."
He tucked the candy bag at his waist and climbed the large tree with his bare hands, gripping the branches until he could sit on the one closest to the cat.
He stretched his arms out to Xuexue. "Xuexue, come down."
He had sprinkled catnip powder on his cuffs and collar beforehand, and it was irresistibly attractive to cats. Xuexue was wary at first, but after catching the scent, she grew a little dazed.
She padded over to Wei Mingxiu and sniffed his collar. After a little while, she jumped into his arms and rubbed against his neck and shoulders.
She also began to purr.
Wei Mingxiu breathed a sigh of relief.
After all, although this had all been a plan devised by Consort Xian and him, carrying it out depended on the cat's reaction.
Now that this step had gone without a hitch, it could be considered a complete success.
He took off his outer robe, made it into a sling, and placed the cat inside before tying it around his waist.
He slowly climbed down the tree.
The moment he landed, Wei Zeyu threw himself at him.
He pulled both him and the cat into his arms. "Thank you, Sixth Brother!"
"You saved Xuexue! You're amazing!"
Wei Mingxiu stiffened. He was just about to push Wei Zeyu away when the latter released him on his own and took Xuexue into his arms instead, rubbing his cheek against her. He clearly adored the cat.
Hugging and speaking like this were his ways of expressing affection.
Wei Mingxiu watched, emotions surging in his eyes before slowly fading away.
He said, "Now that I've helped you rescue your cat, Second Brother, I still have to find Xiao Wu, so I won't stay any longer."
The palace servants were all taken aback.
They had thought Wei Mingxiu would use this incident to claim credit before the empress, but he showed no sign of any such intention. Instead, he turned and left.
This was clearly beyond their expectations.
"Sixth Brother, where are you going?" Wei Zeyu hurried after him. "I haven't given you more candy yet. How can you leave now?"
Before Wei Mingxiu could speak, Xiao Wu appeared carrying a food box.
"Sixth Highness! I went to fetch breakfast and forgot to tell you. When I got back to the Southern Spring Courtyard, I heard the palace servants say you were looking everywhere for me, so I hurried out. I've finally found you!"
"You certainly made me search for you." Wei Mingxiu shook his head helplessly, then turned to Wei Zeyu. "Second Brother, after breakfast I have to attend Junior Preceptor Zhou's class at the Imperial Academy. If I'm any later, I won't make it in time. So keep the rest of the candy for yourself. You don't need to give it to me."
"The Imperial Academy?" Wei Zeyu's eyes lit up, just like a child who had discovered an interesting place. "Is it fun there?"
"Can I go with you?"
After Wei Zeyu became simple-minded, the empress feared the other princes would bully him, so she had never let him go to the Imperial Academy.
So the Imperial Academy was a new and intriguing place to Wei Zeyu.
But his words frightened the palace servants beside him. A eunuch hurriedly said, "Second Highness, Her Majesty the Empress said you're still too young to go to the Imperial Academy. Perhaps you shouldn't go!"
"I'm not too young!" Wei Zeyu pointed at Wei Mingxiu. "He said I'm older than him and that I should call him Sixth Brother. If Sixth Brother can go to the Imperial Academy, why can't I?"
Even a fool had his own logic.
The palace servants couldn't find a word to refute Wei Zeyu's argument.
"But, but Her Majesty the Empress said..."
"Mother loves Yu'er most. She'll definitely let me go!"
Wei Zeyu cut them off, grabbed Wei Mingxiu's hand, and looked down at the cat by his feet. "Come on, Sixth Brother, Xuexue, let's go to the Imperial Academy together!"
The palace servants had no choice but to follow them.
So when it was time for class,
Zhou Ye, Wei Chengye, and Wei Yuanshi watched as Wei Zeyu marched into the Imperial Academy with eight palace servants in tow, holding Wei Mingxiu's hand with one hand and leading the cat with the other.
The cat didn't want to walk, so Wei Zeyu coaxed her in a high-pitched voice. "Be good, Xuexue. Just a couple more steps and we'll be there~"
It was quite a comical sight.
The corners of Zhou Ye's lips kept rising as he watched.
Having to suppress his laughter and put on a serious face was truly uncomfortable.
His gaze fell on Wei Mingxiu.
Wei Mingxiu noticed and raised his eyes to meet his gaze. For a moment, the two shared an unspoken understanding.
They both knew that their move to lure Wei Zeyu to the Imperial Academy had succeeded.
All that remained was to wait and watch the show.
Wei Zeyu's gaze wandered before settling on Zhou Ye's face. "Are you Junior Preceptor Zhou?"
"I am."
Zhou Ye stepped forward and found that Wei Zeyu was nearly as tall as he was.
It was just that his eyes were a little too innocent and pure.
"I want to attend the Imperial Academy too, together with Sixth Brother and my Xuexue!"
Wei Zeyu picked up Xuexue and moved close to Wei Mingxiu, looking earnestly at Zhou Ye with his watery puppy-dog eyes.
"May I?"
Zhou Ye answered, "If Her Majesty the Empress agrees, I naturally have no objection."
"I agree on my mother's behalf!" Wei Zeyu said excitedly to Wei Mingxiu, "Come on, Sixth Brother, let's go to class!"
Wei Mingxiu brushed past Zhou Ye.
He smelled neither alcohol nor perfume on Zhou Ye.
He knew that Zhou Ye had not returned to the Jade Fragrance House that night.
For some reason, something eased in his heart.
He attributed it to concern for Zhou Ye's health.
Otherwise, if Zhou Ye drank until he was dizzy again and had no one to look after him, Wei Mingxiu would worry.
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I successfully signed the contract today, so now I can ask everyone to send some free little gifts!! Please send little gifts, love you all (* ￣3)(ε￣ *)!!