“There was no other way. Your gates aren’t exactly easy to get through, Big Brother!” Prince Rui said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Big Brother, I only did it for your own good!” Prince Rui added pointedly.
Xiao Yi stared at Prince Rui for a long while before slowly nodding.
“Then I suppose I should thank you for your concern.”
Prince Rui looked somewhat awkward. He picked up the teacup beside him and lowered his head to take a sip, using it to hide his embarrassment.
“Big Brother, I came today because there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
Since things had come to this, Prince Rui decided to get straight to the point.
Xiao Yi said nothing, but neither did he stop him.
Prince Rui glanced at Duoduo, who was sitting nearby with her ears perked up, listening to their conversation.
“Changle, why don’t you go play outside with the maids?”
He wanted to send Duoduo away.
Duoduo leaned against the wheelchair, looking aggrieved.
“No! I don’t want to be away from Papa!”
Xiao Yi glanced at Duoduo, his eyes filled with affection.
“You little thing. Your Fourth Uncle has something important to say. Go play outside.”
Duoduo shook her head and reached out to hug Xiao Yi’s arm.
“Papa promised to spend the whole day playing with me today!”
“Fourth Uncle, why don’t you come back another day to see Papa?”
The corners of Xiao Yi’s lips curved upward. He pressed them together, forcing the smile back down.
Prince Rui froze. He hadn’t expected Changle to have the nerve to ask him to leave.
Big Brother had clearly heard her, yet he wasn’t even scolding her?
Big Brother really spoiled Changle!
But then again, it made sense. Since Big Brother could no longer have children, Changle was his only child.
Having figured this out, Prince Rui smiled.
“Changle’s temper is just like Danyang’s. They’re both mischievous little girls!”
He brought up his daughter first, hoping to draw himself closer to Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi did not respond. He gestured for Duoduo to sit nearby.
Duoduo obediently sat down.
After all that groundwork, Prince Rui finally came to the point.
“Big Brother, the border is in urgent danger. How do you think we should deal with it?”
Duoduo blinked.
“Fourth Uncle, isn’t that the Ministry of War’s responsibility?”
“Why are you asking Papa what to do?”
When Prince Rui saw that Xiao Yi did not stop Changle from speaking, he understood that his elder brother shared the same opinion.
“Big Brother, the people in the Ministry of War are all opposed to my supervising the state.”
“They’ve collectively taken leave, and now I have no one I can use!”
“I was thinking… You had tremendous prestige in the military in the past. Do you think you could help me persuade them?”
“No.”
Xiao Yi rejected him without hesitation.
Prince Rui’s expression turned extremely ugly.
“The idea of asking me to step in came from your father-in-law, didn’t it?” Xiao Yi asked bluntly.
Prince Rui’s face flushed bright red.
“No, it was…”
Xiao Yi cut him off.
“You should understand the principle that once someone leaves, the tea grows cold.”
“The people in the Ministry of War have already been replaced several times.”
“Even if they hadn’t been, do you really think they’d still show me any respect in my current condition?”
“Changle is right. If you have a problem with the Ministry of War, you should naturally go to the Ministry of War!”
Prince Rui hesitated as he glanced at Xiao Yi’s legs.
“Big Brother, you truly can’t stand at all?”
“I mean, can’t you even ride a horse?” Prince Rui hurriedly tried to clarify.
Xiao Yi’s gaze darkened.
“If I could ride a horse, why would I be stuck in this blasted wheelchair?”
“I’m sorry, Big Brother. I misspoke.”
Prince Rui had come to ask Xiao Yi for help, so he immediately apologized.
Xiao Yi’s expression turned grim.
“Is there anything else? If not, you can leave.”
“You’re the future emperor now. My little temple cannot accommodate such a great Buddha.”
“Big Brother, how can you say that?”
“We’re brothers!”
“Your sister-in-law’s niece is also engaged to be married to Vice Minister Wang’s future son-in-law.”
Xiao Yi raised his eyelids and glanced at Prince Rui.
Prince Rui quickly put on a warm smile.
“The marriage between the two families has already been arranged. When the time comes, we’ll all be waiting to attend the wedding banquet!”
“Big Brother, what do you think we should do about the floods in the south and the drought in the east?”
Nearby, Duoduo bit her lip.
Fourth Uncle was using Mother’s family to pressure Papa, forcing him to take his side and help him deal with these problems.
Xiao Yi gently stroked his knee.
“Fourth Brother, do you know why I gave up supervising the state back then?”
Instead of answering Prince Rui directly, Xiao Yi changed the subject.
Prince Rui was taken aback.
“Why, Big Brother?”
In truth, he wanted to know as well.
Xiao Yi lowered his gaze and stared at his knees.
“Because I’ve lost my ambition.”
“Now, all I want is to spend the rest of my life peacefully with my family.”
“As for the empire and the common people, they have nothing to do with me.”
Prince Rui’s eyes flickered.
“Big Brother, I happened to meet a renowned physician.”
“His medical skills are exceptionally impressive.”
“Why don’t I write him a letter and ask him to come examine you?”
A trace of mockery appeared on Xiao Yi’s face.
“Father said the same thing to you, didn’t he?”
Duoduo cut in from the side.
“Grandpa found a Doctor Zhang, and he’s still staying at our residence!”
“But Papa’s legs haven’t improved at all!”
After saying that, Duoduo puffed out her cheeks angrily.
“He can’t cure Papa’s legs, yet he refuses to leave!”
“So annoying!”
Xiao Yi turned his head and glanced at Duoduo. She shut her mouth with a huff.
Prince Rui thought for a moment and understood what Xiao Yi meant.
It seemed he wasn’t going to get any answers today.
Still, this was within his expectations.
Prince Rui rose to his feet and cupped his hands toward Xiao Yi.
“Big Brother, I’m afraid I’ve disturbed you today.”
Xiao Yi gave a slight nod, then looked at Duoduo.
“Go call someone and have them take that painting down.”
Duoduo looked extremely reluctant.
“Papa, that’s your favorite painting!”
“You said that whenever you looked at those horses, you remembered the carefree days you spent riding across the world!”
“Go at once!” Xiao Yi suddenly snapped.
Duoduo pouted and ran outside.
Prince Rui felt rather embarrassed.
“Big Brother, I didn’t know it was your favorite painting.”
“A gentleman doesn’t take what another man loves. Forget it.”
Xiao Yi waved a hand.
“Don’t take Changle’s behavior to heart. She’s only a child and doesn’t know how to behave properly.”
“It’s only a painting. If there’s anything else you want, just say so!”
“You said it yourself—we’re family.”
Yunxiao knocked on the door and entered.
Carefully, he removed the painting from the wall, rolled it up, and respectfully handed it to Prince Rui.
Prince Rui took the painting with satisfaction and left with his attendants.
Duoduo came in from outside and winked at Xiao Yi.
“Papa, what a performance!”
Xiao Yi looked at Duoduo, the corners of his lips curling upward.
“Likewise.”
Duoduo immediately broke into a wide grin.
“Papa, do you really think Fourth Uncle came today just to ask you for advice?”
