On the last night before their so-called company trip, the famous autumn hunt, Wei Yi Yi make one last check on the arrangements.
A few ministers from the Ministry of ceremonies paid their last visit to her just this afternoon for finalization. Facing these old people, Wei Yi Yi put on her best business smile.
It"s the first trip that she"s managing since coming here and so she swears to do a good job for the sake of her boss.
She doesn"t know about others, but for her, whenever life throws something in her direction, Wei Yi Yi has been ducking ever since.
And Jiang Yu, although fickle when it comes to his love affairs, has been a willing victim to be sacrificed and be hit.
Hearing her excuses, most of the time he would just sigh so helplessly at her face.
It makes her guilty. Although just a tiny little bit guilty.
"Good reviews for Boss. Sent."
With all her powers, she did all she could to summon "Wei Yi Yi"s" poor memory.
"I just ordered a whole case worth of BL materials with this month"s income. This bro cannot disappoint Boss. I need some bonus to pay for my addiction!"
Recalling how she sent Tang Mei on a quest to the bookstore to place the order, Wei Yi Yi consoled herself, "at least it"s not drugs."
Her reading habits will be the death of her.
Pa.s.sing thru the halls, she was concentrating on her inner chants when she noticed the mess on the floor.
Pieces of clothes lead towards her chamber. Picking one at a time in pa.s.sing, Wei Yi Yi followed the path until she was face to face with an open wooden chest.
Inside, Jiang Chen, while hugging his legs, sat unmovingly.
"...I did say pack the necessities but I didn"t say that includes you," unamused, Wei Yi Yi commented.
Jiang Chen, "..."
"Although long, patience is still valuable. I don"t mind spending them all on you but you"ll regret it if your shares run out."
"Auntie..." Jiang Chen turned his gaze downwards.
"I know you fit the box but you still can"t come. Come on, up, up."
Even when his aunt leans down to carry him out, Jiang Chen remains unmoving. He sat there, face expressionless, yet, his eyes starting to moisten.
For the past few days, he"s been in a dilemma.
The emperor frequently visits Xian Feng Palace. It must be a happy occasion for the Empress. But for him, it was horror.
In just a few words, the emperor took him away from his parents before he could remember their appearances. And now, in just a few words, the emperor could take him away from his aunt"s care.
"He"s been eyeing me. He"s definitely eyeing me. Maybe he thought I"m in the way once again."
Jiang Chen being able to reside at the Empress" palace was because of the emperor"s lack of care for the both of them.
But now the empress is in favor and the emperor is finding a way to pa.s.s him back to the servants.
He heard his aunt groaned. She then sat next to the wooden chest and picked a random piece of silk robe to wrap around him until he couldn"t move anymore.
Jiang Chen calmed down a bit.
"If there"s something to say then say it. Your aunt cannot do magic and guess," Wei Yi Yi leaned until she was face to face with Jiang Chen.
"Auntie..."
"Yeah. I"m here Lil" one."
"Eldest Imperial Uncle...he..." Jiang Chen finds it hard to say.
"What about Boss?"
Trying a way around it, Jiang Chen mumbles, "I"m cuter..."
Despite Jiang Chen"s inaudible voice, Wei Yi Yi heard it and giggled as a result.
"Even more than sixth uncle and the consorts," he added. "So... choose me instead."
These words, Wei Yi Yi was suddenly taken aback.
Retrieving her playful smile, she mustered her most doting expression.
Wei Yi Yi climbed over and join Jiang Chen inside the wooden chest. She gathered him close to her and caress his back. "Ah Chen, you"re still young. Worrying is for adults. Whatever you"re afraid of, we"ll beat it until their parents can"t recognize them."
"It sounds like I"m afraid to be bullied when you leave the palace," he said disappointedly. While it is also one thing to worry about, it"s not something so big that he"ll act as desperate as he did the past few days.
"Isn"t that the case? Don"t worry I"ll be taking your two uncles with me so that"s less reason to be afraid. And even if you pick a fight with the concubines while we"re gone, I"ll take your side."
Suddenly, Jiang Chen understood the emperor"s helplessness with the Empress.
Jiang Chen stuttered a bit before finally, he tested the waters. "What if Eldest Imperial Uncle has set a different arrangement for me after you"re gone?"
"What arrangements?"
"Like changing my sleeping quarters."
"Where could he take you? The whole inner palace is under me," Wei Yi Yi said with confidence.
Although it doesn"t show, as Wei Yi Yi rather want to remain civil with the consorts by minding their own business and staying in their territory, it"s not like she doesn"t know to what extent her authority is.
"Auntie, you"re amazing!" Jiang Chen brightened up.
Wei Yi Yi pats his head in reply. Taking advantage of the atmosphere, Jiang Chen tried to act more spoiled like a child should be and asked, "Can I sleep in here?"
Wei Yi Yi didn"t even think that Jiang Yu might come and immediately replied, "En," to Jiang Chen"s request.
Suddenly, a shrieked sounded and when they both turn around, they saw Tang Mei ready to pa.s.s out with just a poke.
Wei Yi Yi almost forgot that the clothes that Jiang Chen threw in the floor were things that Tang Mei painstakingly packed to bring for tomorrow"s trip. Also, they are still sitting inside the now empty chest.
"This prin--- Ah Chen apologizes to Miss Tang," rigidly, Jiang Chen was made to apologize with Wei Yi Yi.
Two members of the royal family are apologizing to a maidservant?
Fear crawl up even more in Tang Mei"s skin.
Despite the servant"s protesting, Wei Yi Yi made Jiang Chen help clean up his mess. Although in the end, Xiao w.a.n.g Xi and Xiao Yuan Xi came to help finish the job faster.
Near midnight, Jiang Yu came to Xian Feng Palace. He intends to spend the night with Wei Yi Yi so that they could have the morning together before they set out for the journey for the next day.
When he entered the inner chamber, Wei Yi Yi is already fast asleep. Not only she didn"t wait for him, but also to her side, a small child occupied his supposed to be place in the bed.