Chapter 13: The Mischievous Child

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Zhu Yun-jian did not understand much. He only knew that his second elder brother had instructed him not to let Zhu Yun-tong come over, so he planted himself in front of Zhu Yun-tong and blocked his way.

Seeing the earnest look on the boy’s face, Zhu Yun-tong decided not to force his way in. Instead, he asked, “Fourth Brother, have you eaten yet?”

“Not yet.”

Zhu Yun-jian gave a small snort. “Dinner has been brought in. We’re having something delicious tonight. We can eat as soon as Mother and Second Brother return—but you’re not getting any.”

At those words, Zhu Yun-tong felt that his dinner had been settled.

This foolish little bear of a child had no cunning whatsoever. Zhu Yun-tong had thought he might need to trick him a little, but since the boy had volunteered that there was good food inside, there was no need to be polite.

After pondering for a moment, Zhu Yun-tong did not barge in. He turned and headed back toward his own quarters.

Zhu Yun-jian assumed he had been frightened away. He smiled smugly, then went back to playing with his little toys, muttering under his breath, “Why haven’t Mother and Second Brother come back yet?”

He was already very hungry and desperately wanted to sneak in and eat, but Consort Lü was exceptionally strict with them. He did not dare steal any food and could only continue waiting.

Before Consort Lü returned, however, the Zhu Yun-tong who had just left came back.

“Don’t come over,” Zhu Yun-jian warned, moving to block him again.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Yun-tong did not even spare him a glance. He took out a sheet of paper and leisurely folded it into a paper airplane.

People in this era had no idea what a paper airplane was, but the action immediately caught Zhu Yun-jian’s attention. Curious, he edged closer to watch.

Zhu Yun-tong lifted the paper airplane to his lips, blew on it, and flung it forcefully into the air.

To Zhu Yun-jian’s astonishment, the sheet of paper actually flew—and quite far, at that. After gliding for a while, it even turned, circled around, and came back to land beside Zhu Yun-tong.

“What… what is that?”

Zhu Yun-jian’s eyes widened. He had never seen anything so entertaining.

Children were like that. In an instant, he became fascinated with the paper airplane. He wanted desperately to play with it, yet did not dare ask. His longing little eyes turned toward Zhu Yun-tong.

“Want to play?” Zhu Yun-tong asked.

Zhu Yun-jian instantly forgot how resolute he had been a moment ago and nodded repeatedly.

Zhu Yun-tong said, “If you won’t let me in, I won’t let you play with it.”

Then he picked up the paper airplane and sent it flying again. This time, it made an even wider circle before returning to land beside him.

Zhu Yun-jian was consumed with envy at the sight of such a delightful toy. But since he was not allowed to play with it, his eyes reddened and he was on the verge of tears.

On the third throw, Zhu Yun-tong deliberately sent the airplane over the wall.

“Oh no… How did it fly out there?”

He pretended to be annoyed, then quickly added, “Never mind. I don’t want it anymore. I’ll just fold another one.”

With that, he walked away, putting on a show of returning to fetch more paper.

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Once Zhu Yun-tong had gone some distance, Zhu Yun-jian’s eyes lit up. He hurried outside to look for the paper airplane.

The moment he left, however, Zhu Yun-tong returned, inwardly exclaiming that the little fool had been astonishingly easy to deceive.

He entered the room and found that dinner had indeed been delivered. The meal was so lavish that it could not possibly compare with his own.

There was stewed chicken, steamed fish, mutton hotpot, vegetables, a full basin of white rice, and an entire pot of soup.

“They eat this well here. No wonder Zhu Yun-jian has grown into such a little chubby boy.”

Zhu Yun-tong gave a cold laugh, then glanced at Liu Liu and ordered, “Carry everything back.”

“What?”

Liu Liu was stunned.

So this was the Third Imperial Grandson’s plan.

Liu Liu belonged to the Crown Princess. How could he possibly do something like this?

Zhu Yun-tong looked at him coldly. “Are you going to carry it or not?”

Liu Liu instantly lost his nerve. Even if Zhu Yun-tong had him killed, at worst he would merely receive a scolding. He hurriedly found a basket and began transferring all the food.

Just as they reached the outside, Dong Qing finally returned.

“Your Highness, Third Imperial Grandson, what are you doing?” Dong Qing asked.

“What I do is none of your concern. Get out of my way!”

“I…”

“You what?” Zhu Yun-tong strode outside. “A bunch of servants, and you dare block my path? Get lost!”

Dong Qing opened and closed her mouth. She had intended to call someone to stop him, but Zhu Yun-tong was an imperial grandson. No one dared lay a hand on him.

“Third Brother, I ruined mine. How did you fold it? I want to learn.”

Having found the paper airplane, Zhu Yun-jian came running back with eager little steps.

Zhu Yun-tong happened to be leaving just then. Seeing Zhu Yun-jian return, he smiled and said, “Fourth Brother, thank you for inviting me to dinner.”

With that, he strode away.

“When did I ever invite you…”

As Zhu Yun-jian spoke, he caught sight of the basket in Liu Liu’s hands. Understanding dawned on him in an instant, and he shouted, “Zhu Yun-tong, you stole my dinner! I haven’t eaten yet! Give it back! Give it back! Waaah…”

The little bear of a child saw that Zhu Yun-tong had stolen his dinner and immediately burst into loud wails. For a while, Dong Qing and the other palace maids had no idea what to do.

“What happened?”

Consort Lü finally returned, but the moment she entered, she heard the crying.

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She had been in a foul mood all day.

And nothing irritated her more than the sound of crying.

“Your Highness.”

Dong Qing hurried over and explained what had just happened.

Consort Lü’s expression turned icy. Furious, she said, “Zhu Yun-tong is becoming more and more undisciplined. What are you standing around for? Have the Imperial Kitchens prepare another meal. And tell them to cut the portions sent over there in half again.”

Then she looked at the sobbing Zhu Yun-jian, and her irritation deepened. She nearly lost her temper and gave him a thorough lesson in affection—along with a truly unforgettable childhood.

—

Zhu Yun-tong brought the food back, and his two elder sisters and two younger sisters immediately cheered.

“We may have even less to eat tomorrow,” Zhu Ling-yue said, feeling a trace of unease. They were enjoying themselves tonight, but tomorrow would certainly be difficult. Such was Consort Lü’s nature.

Zhu Ling-yi thought for a moment. “Why don’t we send it back?”

Zhu Yun-tong tore off a chicken leg and placed it in Little Ling-xiu’s bowl. “Why should we send it back? If she refuses to feed us tomorrow, I’ll take you somewhere else to find food. Oh, right—wake me early tomorrow morning. Ideally, before Grandfather holds court.”

“Thank you, Third Brother!” Zhu Ling-xiu said sweetly.

Zhu Ling-hua asked, “Third Brother, you should eat first.”

The two adorable girls had no sense of danger. They knew only that they had gone hungry every day, and now there was finally delicious food to eat. They were beside themselves with happiness.

“Eldest Sister, Second Sister,” Zhu Yun-tong assured them, “eat without worry. Nothing will happen.”

They had not enjoyed such an abundance of food in a long time. Since Zhu Yun-tong said everything would be fine, they believed him. Besides, the food had already been taken.

“Yun-tong has changed so much lately,” Eldest Sister Zhu Ling-yue said curiously.

Zhu Yun-tong replied, “I used to think I could endure everything until I received my fief, then take you all away. But recently I realized that we may not be able to leave at all. They must be wary of my status as a legitimate imperial son. So I’m done enduring—and I’m done hiding my abilities.”

At those words, the two sisters felt a pang in their hearts. They were moved and thought their little brother was truly wonderful.

They finished every dish on the table. It had been so long since they had eaten their fill that even if Consort Lü starved them to death tomorrow, they would have considered themselves satisfied.

Zhu Yun-tong would never let them starve to death. Restoring them to a normal standard of living would be easy enough.

Before they knew it, night had fallen.

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