A Suggestion
Xiao Lingpu used to think his younger brother was too clingy and not manly enough, and worried that he would rely too much on him in the future. But now that his brother is independent, he feels a little uneasy.
His father had many sons, but he only had one brother from the same parents with whom he had a close relationship. If the two brothers became estranged, he would never have a true brother again in his life.
"Nothing's wrong," Xiao Lingyan.
After he finished speaking, seeing that his elder brother was still looking at him, he had no choice but to turn around and say very seriously, "But people always change. Brother, I've grown up."
Xiao Lingpu stood there without saying a word.
Xiao Lingyan, seemingly oblivious to the scrutiny in his gaze, remained unmoved and asked calmly, "Aren't you leaving?"
Xiao Lingpu smiled, a smile that seemed somewhat relieved.
He walked over and patted Xiao Lingyan on the shoulder. Only then did he realize that Xiao Lingyan had grown taller and was now as tall as him.
He remarked with emotion, "I never imagined my little brother would grow up like this."
Xiao Lingyan also laughed, revealing his snow-white teeth.
Upon closer inspection, Xiao Lingpu indeed discovered that his younger brother was different from before.
His eyes became a deep pool, calm and still, containing all his emotions, making them unfathomable. He had grown taller and thinner, his facial features were more defined, his nose more prominent, and he seemed to have become more resolute, even his demeanor was quite different from before.
It seems my younger brother was right; he really has grown up after running the errand on his own.
Xiao Lingpu was momentarily dazed, recalling how he had grown up overnight and shouldered heavy responsibilities because of a cold remark his father made to his mother. He could now understand his younger brother's transformation.
He breathed a sigh of relief, affectionately put his arm around his younger brother's shoulder, and pushed him towards the door. "Let's go back."
After the two left the villa, Xiao Lingyan originally wanted to return to his own carriage, but Xiao Lingpu insisted on pulling him into his own carriage.
Xiao Lingyan helplessly, "You used to always scold me for being immature and clingy. Now, who's clinging to whom?"
Xiao Lingpu patted his shoulder, deeply moved, "Now I finally understand my mother."
The brothers had grown up and loved to run away from the palace, disliking staying inside. Every time, Noble Consort Cen would lament, blaming them for being heartless. Xiao Lingpu couldn't understand it before. Now, seeing his younger brother ignoring him, he finally understood the emptiness and loss in his mother's embrace.
The fledgling bird is about to fly on its own; he's really not used to it. Xiao Lingpu thought to himself with a self-deprecating smile.
The two disembarked at the palace gate in a carriage, handed over their passes, and walked in.
The palace was divided into a front court and a rear residence. Princes over the age of seven would move to the Prince's Residence, which was located between the court and the palace. Xiao Lingpu and Xiao Lingyan lived in palaces next to each other. Xiao Lingpu lived in the Concealed Benefit Palace, while Xiao Lingyan lived in the Concealed Splendor Palace.
At the crossroads, Xiao Lingyan stopped and said to his elder brother, "I need to go see Mother."
"What are you going to do?" Xiao Lingpu, puzzled.
The imperial harem is filled with concubines and maids, and it's getting dark. To avoid any appearance of impropriety, these adult princes generally wouldn't go to the harem at this time.
"Do you remember? When Mother Consort learned that someone could paint portraits that looked exactly like the real person, she said she wanted to commission that person to paint her portrait. Today, seeing Cousin Song's painting reminded me of this, so I thought I'd ask Mother Consort about it. If she still has this idea, I'll send someone to invite that Miss Zhao to paint Mother Consort's portrait."
"There's no rush to go tomorrow," Xiao Lingpu, unable to understand.
Xiao Lingyan seemed unwilling to discuss this issue with him, waved his hand, and walked straight towards the inner palace.
Xiao Lingyan's eunuch, Xiao Liuzi, quickly followed.
He walked beside Xiao Lingyan, accompanied by two Imperial Guards, his eyes wide open and his nerves on edge.
It's important to know that the Fifth Prince's former personal eunuch wasn't him, but someone named Xiao Shunzi. It was because the Fifth Prince Fifth Prince was almost bumped into by a palace maid when he entered the inner palace to visit his mother that he was enraged, feeling that Xiao Shunzi was incompetent in his protection, and transferred him away. This allowed the Xiao Liuzi to rise to his position.
With the lessons of the past still fresh in mind, Xiao Liuzi naturally had to be extra vigilant to prevent such a bad thing from happening again.
Fortunately, they had a smooth journey. Although they encountered people along the way, everyone was very well-behaved, keeping a distance and bowing their heads in greeting, not daring to overstep their bounds in the slightest.
Seeing her youngest son arrive at this time, Noble Consort Cen was very surprised. "What happened?"
"It's nothing."
Upon hearing Xiao Lingyan Xiao Lingpu, Noble Consort Cen laughed and scolded, "You silly child, I thought it was something important. I was just mentioning it casually, and you took it seriously? Is the palace so easy to enter?"
As she spoke, she let out a soft sigh.
Xiao Lingyan understood Noble Consort Cen's meaning.
Emperor Xiao Ge favored Consort Jin and rarely visited Noble Consort Cen. The only reason he would occasionally come here was because the Cen Family was powerful, Noble Consort Cen held a high position, and had two adult sons.
Noble Consort Cen had nothing to do except attend to palace affairs. Without her husband's company, she couldn't go out for walks or visit relatives and friends. The long days passed by, and she sat alone in the palace, feeling extremely lonely.
Because she knew all too well that staying in the palace was not a good thing, she gave up the idea as soon as she learned that the painter was a girl from a noble family.
If that girl caused trouble by going to the palace and was kept there for life, Noble Consort Cen would probably blame herself for the rest of her life.
"It's alright," Xiao Lingyan. "That person has already been taken in as a disciple by Mister Kumu, so she won't have any trouble entering the palace. Besides, we'll be careful not to cause her any trouble."
"Oh?" Noble Consort Cen became curious upon hearing this.
After thinking for a moment, she smiled and said, "I'd like to meet this child. I heard she's only fourteen years old and was switched at birth, growing up in the countryside. For Mister Kumu to take a liking to her, she must be an extremely intelligent and gifted child."
Bored in the deep palace, any gossip from outside would quickly reach the palace, providing fodder for the concubines and palace maids to chatter about. When Wei Qiu's daughter, Lady Wei, did such a bizarre thing, everyone in the palace was talking about it, Noble Consort Cen knew even more about it than Xiao Lingyan.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Lingyan was immediately delighted. "Great! Then shall we summon her to the palace tomorrow?"
"No rush," Noble Consort Cen waved her hand. "It's not good to ask for nothing without a reason. My birthday is in two months. I'll ask your father then to allow me to ask that child for a portrait."
A hint of disappointment flashed in Xiao Lingyan's eyes.
However, he also understood Noble Consort Cen's decision.
Noble Consort Cen may seem to hold a high position, but she is actually walking on thin ice. Because she has blocked Consort Jin's path, she doesn't know when Consort Jin will seize on her weakness and make the Emperor banish her to the Cold Palace. Therefore, she is always cautious, for fear of implicating her two sons.
Although Xiao Lingpu and Xiao Lingyan were not afraid of being implicated by her, they knew that the palace was a dangerous place. In order to put their mother at ease, they could only be careful with their words and actions and not cause trouble for their mother.