Wei Yi Yi plucked out the peony ornament from her hair. Looking at it, she commented, "Women"s peonies can be s.n.a.t.c.hed as well as men can have their chrysanthemums stolen."
Sprawling his head on the table, Jiang Liu refused to move. Instead, he turned his gaze upward and asked, "What do you mean?"
"...It"s nothing if you don"t understand," Wei Yi Yi closed her eyes a bit guilty, "Please hold on to that innocent tightly."
Once the final preparation for the Autumn hunt came into the end, all that is left is to wait for the day to come.
Wei Yi Yi was also done with her preparation for the inner palace.
Who is coming, how many servants are allowed for them to bring, how many guards, carriages and the amount of baggage they could bring.
The empress runs thru the list at least a few times.
As the empress and the following high-rank consorts are going out of the palace, Wei Yi Yi distributed work and responsibilities to others to take care of in her absence.
Delegating tasks, this part, Wei Yi Yi found it the easiest. As part of her natural instincts, she always unconsciously observed other people when they work.
Spotting their efficiency, weakness, and strength when it comes to their tasks, Wei Yi Yi mind would automatically take note.
When picking a person to pa.s.s her responsibilities into, Wei Yi Yi found these pieces of information to be useful.
As for Jiang Chen... hopeless is an understatement for the situations.
He has stuck himself to Wei Yi Yi for real.
Clinging to her tights when walking, climbing into her when standing, refusing to move when asked, crying when forcefully removed.
Whether she is writing or eating, Jiang Chen sat unmoving from her lap. It resulted in numb muscles every time.
That kid who refused to bath with Wei Yi Yi for he is no longer a kid would now follow her until to the tub.
Wei Yi Yi, "...People need peace when doing business in the restroom, Lil one!"
The only peace she was offered was the nights where Jiang Yu would come. Actually, no. It was not peace. Far from it. The person bothering her just changed.
If she"s allowed to say, less cute too.
That guy, despite his bad sleeping habit, would shamelessly sleep next to her. Wei Yi Yi would wake up in the middle of the night with him cuddling her, blocking the air, and leaning his heavy legs on her.
"We don"t have aircon! This is torture! Remain on your side of the bed. If you"re not used to sleeping with others, please sleep alone then!"
Jiang Chen in the morning then Jiang Yu at night. Jiang Liu suddenly looks so nice in her eyes.
Except for Tang Mei and his personal eunuch, Xiao w.a.n.g Xi, Jiang Chen would pick a fight with any servant that came close to him.
Xiao Yuan Xi cried his share for the whole week in just a single day.
"I just blink and the puppy turned into a fighting dog! Did a vulgar climbed the walls of Xian Feng Palace that this one is acting like a fierce guard dog?!" Jiang Liu shoots off his mount once again.
Wei Yi Yi wondered why the little sus.h.i.+ finally run off only to find him blocking Jiang Liu.
Looking menacingly, Jiang Chen steps closer to Jiang Liu who is still crawling midway from another dog hole.
This idiot! Dug! Another! One!
"Sixth imperial uncle, you"re the only vulgar here!" Jiang Chen said with a "hmph".
"Woah! Woah! Who sharpened his fangs?! What happened to the puppy?! Big Sister! Jiang Chen got exchanged!"
Wei Yi Yi picked Jiang Chen up. "I"m sorry. He just entered his rebellious phrase."
No matter what she did, Jiang Chen didn"t like the old servants. Wei Yi Yi has yet to find something to rea.s.sure the child and so, he continues to act up.
"Too early for him!"
"He"s right though. Stop acting like a vulgar and use the freaking door!"
"Hehehe. Big Sister there"s trill in doing things out of expectations. Breaking rules, going against the customs, not listening to the elders. I know you understand, we"re the same kind aft...."
Jiang Liu suddenly went silent.
Wei Yi Yi, "Hmmm?"
"...Your Majesty..." Jiang Liu called out politely. A tone out of his usual character.
Both Wei Yi Yi and Jiang Chen raised their brows.
"...Ummm... Can the empress please lend a hand? Th--this prince is stu---stuck..."
Jiang Liu wiggled a bit but his b.u.t.t remained on the other side of the wall.
"That"s what happens to people who kept making holes at my walls," Wei Yi Yi said as she smirked.
"Are you admitting to closing them then?!"
"Uh--huh." Wei Yi Yi kneeled down next to Jiang Liu and whispered, "At the back, near the small kitchen side, there"s a random magnolia tree that grew pa.s.s the walls. If it"s younger brother, you could easily climb that one to enter."
"Oh," Jiang Liu let out a sound of understanding.
Seeing that her intentions were understood, Wei Yi Yi smiled, stood up and left with Jiang Chen.
"Wait! Wait! Big sister pull me out of here first!" Jiang Liu cried.
Jiang Chen turned around and peek over his aunt"s shoulder. He then let out his tongue to show Jiang Liu.
"Yo--you brat! I"m cuter than you! Hey! If you have guts don"t hide behind Big Sis---"
Wei Yi Yi suddenly stops just before she stepped inside. Teasingly, she said, "Don"t worry sixth younger brother, this sister-in-law will call Xiao w.a.n.g Xi to pull you out."
"No! Big Sister think about this brother"s face! Where would I put them if the servants saw me in this state!"
"My servants lost count how many times they witnessed your shamelessness," she said as she rolls her eyes.
"True... but shamelessness is different from embarra.s.sment..."
"I"m more shock that you have anything left to feel embarra.s.sed about."
"Just help me already," Jiang Liu start showing tears and Wei Yi Yi end up pulling her out.
At the side, Tang Mei and the others witness it all from the start. When there are commotion and shouting, surely they will find their mistress at the center of it.
They have come. And they have seen. And now they feel embarra.s.sed for the prince.
Without words, they all agree not to show themselves.