Chapter 088

After Zhao Youze's eye disease was cured, he went to the study every day to study, and he was no longer as free as before. In addition, Jiashan had not entered the palace for a long time. All in all, the two siblings had not seen each other for more than a month.

When Zhao Youze was a young man, he changed every day.

He was wearing a long, soft green jacket that had just been made for him by the Imperial Clothing Bureau, with smooth and delicate golden lines on it.

Although he is still young, he is already as tall as a bamboo.

Jiashan laughed and said, "Why do I feel like Yuankang has grown taller?"

Zhao Youze walked to the bedside and sat down. Seeing that Mrs. Pei was also there, he first called her "Aunt" in a friendly manner, and then answered Jiashan's question: "Probably."

"This month, Captain Cheng came to the palace every afternoon to teach me how to ride and shoot." Zhao Youze grinned and said in a happy tone, "Compared to the last time I saw my sister, I am much stronger."

Hearing the smugness in Zhao Youze's tone, Jiashan couldn't help but laugh and asked, "So how is Yuankang's archery training going now?"

Zhao Youze scratched his face and said, "It's just so-so."

It means that it’s not that good.

Several people understood his hidden meaning. Madam Pei smiled and comforted him, "We, Yuankang, started late. It is inevitable that we are not as good as other princes in riding and shooting. Don't be discouraged."

Zhao Youze nodded and said obediently, "I know, aunt."

"However," Zhao Youze changed the subject, straightened his back and said, "I can't always use Bu Wan as an excuse."

"So, I will work harder." Zhao Youze said seriously.

Mrs. Pei felt very relieved to see that he was serious about what he said, and couldn't help but praise him, "What a promising child."

Zhao Youze grinned and gave her a clear smile in response.

"Today happens to be the day off for the gentlemen, so I asked my father for permission to come out and see my sister." Zhao Youze's eyes were as clear as a stream. "I just found out after coming to the mansion that I will have a nephew soon. Is everything okay, sister?"

He said, "It's a pity that I came in such a hurry. I don't know if Sister will dislike me for coming empty-handed."

There was a hint of obvious joy in Jiashan's eyes, but he said, "Sister, of course you don't like it. Even if Yuankang buys a bag of sugar-roasted chestnuts in the south of the city, it will be good."

"Oh," Zhao Youze nodded and immediately stood up, "Then I'll go now."

"Alright, alright, don't be stingy." Madam Pei pushed Zhao Youze back onto the stool and said with a kind smile, "How can your sister not be good when you care about her so much?"

Hearing Mrs. Pei's words, Zhao Youze and Jiashan's eyes were filled with tenderness.

Jiashan stopped arguing with Zhao Youze and said with a smile: "When your brother-in-law comes back, you can ask him to teach you how to ride and shoot."

"Brother-in-law may be very busy today," Zhao Youze said calmly, "My father asked him to take over the post of the Nine Gates Commander this morning. He has to hand over all matters of the Jinwu Guard to Lord Lu, and also go to the Nine Gates Commander's Mansion to meet Lord Wei."

Not only Madam Pei, but Jiashan was also shocked and asked, "Father asked him to take over as the governor of the Nine Gates?"

"Yes," Zhao Youze nodded calmly, "Lord Wei was sent by my father to Yuzhou to eliminate bandits, so my father let my brother-in-law take over the vacancy."

"Is that so..." Jiashan couldn't be as calm as Zhao Youze. She was already thinking that Wei Ziqian had never made any major mistakes as the governor of the Nine Gates, and he was also a senior official. He should have more face in front of the emperor than Zhan Yue. Why would the emperor do this for no reason?

Suddenly a thought flashed through her mind. She pursed her lips and turned to look at Yuankang.

Zhao Youze was unaware of this and had already ignored the topic and started talking about something else: "My brother-in-law is extremely intelligent and brave, and his martial arts are one in a million. It would be great if I could get his guidance. Even if I can't be as good as my brother-in-law, it doesn't matter. I practice riding and archery to strengthen my body. I don't plan to be a general."

Mrs. Pei heard him speak in a serious tone and couldn't help but ask curiously, "What is Yuankang's ambition?"

"Zhang Zi of the Northern Song Dynasty said, 'Establish a mind for heaven and earth, establish a destiny for the people, inherit the lost knowledge of the ancient sages, and create peace for all generations.'" Zhao Youze said with a refreshing smile on his face, "If I can do one of these four, it's already good enough."

"Well said!" Madam Pei clapped her hands and laughed, her eyes full of admiration. She said softly, "Neither belittling oneself nor doing figure skating, this is the demeanor that a legitimate prince should have."

Zhao Youze smiled and did not keep being modest, but accepted the compliment disrespectfully.

"Aunt, are my cousin and his wife getting along well?" Zhao Youze asked with concern.

Jiashan also looked at Mrs. Pei and said, "Yes. Look at my brain. My aunt has been here for a long time, but I forgot to ask."

Talking about this, Mrs. Pei smiled with a complicated expression. She said, "It's better than I thought. But, they are not like an ordinary couple. The two of them...the way they get along is a little peculiar."

Unlike Mrs. Pei, who was in a state of distress, Jiashan smiled happily and said, "Don't worry, aunt. With my cousin's personality, if he didn't like my cousin's wife, he wouldn't even be able to get along with her and would have already made a scene."

Thinking of Pei Yuantang's arrogant and mean look, Madam Pei couldn't help but smile and nodded, "That's right."

Mrs. Pei's words made Jiashan curious. She had only met Gu once when Pei Yuantang got married, and she didn't know what kind of person Gu was. Could she subdue Pei Yuantang?

Jiashan winked at Madam Pei and said coquettishly, "Why not bring my cousin's wife with you next time my aunt comes to visit me?"

"It's not easy for my aunt to ask her, but I have nothing to do with it." Jiashan said with a smile, "I can just help my aunt find out how my cousin gets along with her."

Mrs. Pei glared at her and said, "You don't even want to help me."

Mrs. Pei poked Jiashan's chest lightly and said, "I'm afraid your curiosity has already made you burst your intestines."

Jiashan was not annoyed when Mrs. Pei saw through his thoughts. He just smiled and said, "Then consider it as my aunt fulfilling my wish."

Pei Yuantang and Jiashan had been close since childhood and were of the same generation. Mrs. Pei also understood that their conversations would be more lively than those between Gu and herself.

After thinking about it, Mrs. Pei replied, "Okay, I'm really scared of you."

Jiashan held Mrs. Pei's arm and smiled affectionately.

Zhao Youze rarely came out of the palace, and Mrs. Pei did not disturb them to talk privately. After leaving Mother Yuan and all the herbs, Mrs. Pei took the initiative to leave the princess's mansion.

Zhao Youze and Jiashan were the only ones left in the room.

After not seeing him for a few days, Zhao Youze's facial features seem to have matured a little.

He slowly took off his childish green clothes, revealing a smart and elegant side - this was a vitality that had not been seen on Yuankang's face in two lifetimes.

In his previous life, although Zhao Youze died at the age of 15, Zhao Youcheng had already ascended the throne. In order to avoid being envied, he could only continue to play the role of a weakling.

Now, Yuankang has the aura of being able to stand on his own. Thinking of what he had just said to his aunt, Jiashan couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.

She asked slowly, "How have you been in the palace recently? Are you getting along well with your father?"

"All good." Zhao Youze smiled, "My father also gave me a Qilin paper yesterday."

"Really?" Jiashan had always been most worried that Yuankang would not be appreciated by his father. He had not been much noticed by Emperor Zhanghe because of his eye disease since childhood. In addition, his mother passed away early, and his father was somewhat angry with Yuankang.

Now, hearing him say that Emperor Zhanghe had rewarded him with something, Jiashan finally smiled with relief.

She raised her eyes and said meaningfully, "Perhaps, your brother-in-law is still benefiting from Yuankang's influence."

Zhao Youze did not refute it, but nodded slightly and said, "Maybe, but maybe not."

Zhao Youze and Jiashan were not stupid people, and they both understood that the importance of the Nine Gates Commander was even greater than that of the Jinwu Guard Commander. Emperor Zhanghe made this move, but it was not as if he did not intend to pave the way for Yuankang.

However, Zhao Youze said: "Perhaps it is because my father truly appreciates my brother-in-law. After all, my father is not a narrow-minded monarch."

Jiashan looked at Zhao Youze again, not expecting him to comment on Emperor Zhang He in this way.

Zhao Youze paused and continued, "There is another possibility. I heard that my sister encountered bandits yesterday. Didn't my sister suspect that this was a coincidence? My father might suspect that someone was behind this, so he intended to give my sister and brother-in-law more honors to force the person behind the scenes to change their positions."

In a short time, Zhao Youze immediately analyzed three possibilities.

Jiashan looked at him gently and said with a smile: "Since when did Yuankang understand father's thoughts so well?"

"After I leave the palace, what I fear most is that no one will be able to take care of you." Jiashan stared at the brilliant and bright smile on Zhao Youze's face and said softly, "Don't think so. I was worrying too much."

"Sister." Zhao Youze called her softly.

He stared at Jiashan without blinking and said, "Yuankang said that he would support you, sister."

"Yuankang will not lie to Sister."

Unlike his previous weak voice, Yuankang spoke this time with a clear and powerful voice, and his words made a loud sound when he hit the ground.

He sat upright, his chest puffed out. The little brother who had always been behind Jiashan and needed her protection would probably grow into a healthy boy.

Jiashan's eyes suddenly became wet.

On this day, it was just as Zhao Youze said. Zhan Yue was really busy until the evening before returning home. Although before leaving the palace, Emperor Zhanghe asked him to go back early to accompany Jiashan, but the post of the Nine Gates Commander was a heavy responsibility for the safety of the capital, so he and Wei Ziqian communicated for about two hours.

When I returned home, Zhan Yue had not yet had dinner.

Jiashan had dinner with Zhao Youze in the evening. Zhao Youze wanted to wait for Zhan Yue to come back and see him before leaving. Jiashan was afraid that if he was late, the palace gates would be locked and he would be punished by his father, so he sent him out of the house at twilight hour.

Hearing that Zhan Yue hadn't eaten, Jiashan hurriedly asked Su Yu to heat up the dishes.

There were no servants around to serve him, so she helped him take off his outer robe herself. There was warmth in the corners of her eyes, and she smiled sweetly, "Congratulations to our Prince Consort. The emperor has shown great favor and has promoted him again."

Zhan Yue looked at her deeply and said softly, "How can I say that the emperor is so kind? The commander of the Nine Gates is more difficult than the commander. You have to get up early tomorrow."

"However," he spoke clearly, took a step forward, and gently held Jiashan's waist, "From now on, I can stay with you in the mansion every night."

Jiashan stared at him.

Zhan Yue's skin was as white as jade, and his eyes were full of affection. He raised the corners of his lips and said with a smile, "You are pregnant. I have informed my father and will stay in the princess's mansion to take care of you."

"Are you still happy, my princess?" Zhan Yue asked gently with his eyes like stars.