Chapter 249: Things That Lead to Waste of Life

"The food is cold; it's not fit for Your Majesty's palate."

Chu Wanrou gently placed her hand on his, saying, "If Your Majesty wishes to eat, I will have them prepare another meal. There is no reason for Your Majesty to suffer any injustice."

"I don't tolerate everyone's grievances."

Yu Hao reached out and pulled her into his arms: "Are you still angry with me?"

Chu Wan leaned against him like a little bird, and upon hearing this, she quickly shook her head in denial: "Your Majesty, I'm too busy wanting to see you, how could I be angry?"

Chu Wan downplayed the issue, only saying that Yu Shiyan had left a perfectly good meal uneaten, which fooled the emperor, who completely forgot that she was still under house arrest.

"I was in a state of confusion earlier, and it was because you lacked discretion and had no respect for your subordinates that you caused such a foolish thing to happen."

It's only a three-day ban; just bear with it and it'll pass.

As he spoke, Yu Hao's hand kept stroking her shoulder, his eyes full of tenderness.

Seeing that her plan had finally succeeded, Chu Wan couldn't help but smile.

In the past, such gazes would have lingered only on Chu Huan, but things are different now.

Chu Huan is dead. She and Chu Huan were half-sisters, so they would have looked somewhat alike; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to take this position.

"Has Your Majesty visited Rong'er recently?"

Chu Wan sat up straight, picked up a piece of walnut pastry, and brought it to the emperor's lips.

Yu Hao pondered for a moment: "It has been a while since I've been to Chonghua Palace. Let's summon him."

Li Yuande, who was listening intently outside, immediately summoned his disciple upon hearing this: "Go and invite the Eighth Prince here."

Xiao Minzi responded and hurriedly went to Chonghua Palace. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, she brought the person back. However, the person's face was dirty, as if they had been smeared with ink and had not had time to wipe it clean.

Li Yuande wanted to remind him, but then he thought that he was the Empress's man and that meddling in other people's business might not please him, so he waved his hand and let the person in.

Anyway, the anger won't be directed at him, so it's fine to keep a low profile, accept the money, and be a good sitting duck.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty and Your Majesty."

Yu Yuanrong had just raised her head after paying her respects when she noticed her father staring intently at her with a frown. She was so frightened that she didn't know what to say.

Chu Wan stood up, clutching her handkerchief, and walked over to him in a few steps. Her tone was reproachful: "What have you been doing? Your face is all black. Your father summoned you, and you didn't even bother to tidy yourself up first."

Yu Yuanrong touched her face somewhat embarrassedly, "Your subject forgot."

"You can forget this?"

After wiping the ink off her face, Chu Wan straightened his clothes with a hint of annoyance before pulling him to sit down beside her: "You have no manners. If you're going to write, sit up straight. Who's like you?"

"It's not writing..."

Before she could finish speaking, Yu Yuanrong seemed to remember something and obediently shut her mouth.

"Oh? If you're not writing, then what are you doing?"

Yu Hao squinted and took a leisurely sip of tea.

"Your subject... Your subject..."

"Why are you stammering? Your father is asking you a question."

Chu Wan felt a sense of disappointment and frustration.

She's not exactly young anymore, so how come her personality is still so easy to manipulate?

"Your subject is...is drawing." Yu Yuanrong lowered his head somewhat awkwardly, his fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of his clothes.

His mother never allowed him to touch these paintings and calligraphy, saying they were all frivolous and distracting. Whenever his mother found out, he would get a good scolding.

What kind of painting?

"I have copied some of the calligraphy and paintings by famous artists, including landscape paintings and bird and animal paintings."