Chapter Twelve: Family Conflict Sparked by Candied Hawthorn Sticks

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The journey was peaceful and uneventful. When he returned to the residence, his father and mother were sitting inside, chatting about something. The moment they saw him, however, they fell silent.

“Father, Mother, I’m back.” Zhu Zhanhe was the first to salute his parents.

“It is good that you are home. Come, sit down and have some tea. Rest for a while; dinner will be ready soon.” Princess Wei looked at her tall, powerfully built son, and the more she looked, the more pleased she became. Her face was radiant with smiles.

“As long as you’re back, that’s enough. You only just returned, yet after coming home to see your parents, you ran straight to the Daoist academy. I should never have agreed to let you study Daoism in the first place.” Prince Han, Zhu Gaoxu, wore an expression of deep dissatisfaction. His son had only just returned from the campaign; after barely stopping home to see his parents, he had hurried off to the academy. What a headache! He might as well have gone to a brothel!

Of course, Zhu Gaoxu would never let his wife hear that thought. Otherwise, she would probably lecture him again. The dignified Prince Han had no wish to be reprimanded. He was a man who cared greatly about his dignity!

Hearing his father’s complaints, Zhu Zhanhe simply pretended not to hear them, filtering the words out automatically. Then, with a turn of his wrist, he brought out the candied hawthorns he had just bought on the street.

“Father, Mother, I was wandering around the street just now and brought you something. I thought they tasted quite good. Would you like to try them?” Zhu Zhanhe presented the item from behind his back as though offering a precious treasure. It was wrapped in bamboo leaves.

“What is it?” Princess Wei asked, delighted and surprised, her eyes brimming with interest as she looked at her beloved son.

“You brought something for us too? Come, let me see.” Prince Han was quite pleased as well. After all, this was the first time his son had ever brought him a gift. Yet, for the sake of his princely dignity, he still maintained an air of calm indifference. The anticipation written all over his face, however, could not be faked.

“Candied hawthorns! I just ate some, and they were delicious. Why don’t you try them?” Zhu Zhanhe opened the bamboo-leaf wrapping in his hand, revealing three skewers of candied hawthorns.

“Candied hawthorns?” Prince Han looked disgusted. He certainly had no intention of eating them. With a disdainful sidelong glance, Zhu Gaoxu turned his head away.

“If you won’t eat them, I will. They were brought to me by my son!” Princess Wei rolled her eyes at her husband. Then she looked wistfully at the candied hawthorns. It had been many years since she had eaten such a thing.

“Son, your father won’t eat them. Bring them to me quickly. I haven’t had any in years. Let me have a taste.” Princess Wei was deeply touched that her son had brought her a gift. Remembering how long it had been since she had tasted candied hawthorns, she was eager to try them.

“Mother, since Father won’t eat them, they’re all yours. Well, you can leave one skewer for Aunt Xiu’er.” Zhu Zhanhe hurried over to his mother, took out one skewer, and placed the rest on the table. Then he bent down and personally fed a candied hawthorn to his mother.

Princess Wei stared blankly at the candied hawthorn her son held out to her. Then, her face lit up with happiness, and she took a small bite.

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“Mmm, delicious.” After eating the candied hawthorn her son had fed her, Princess Wei felt as though sweetness had blossomed in her heart. She was so delighted that her gaze toward her son seemed almost to melt with affection.

Even so, Princess Wei did not forget to sneak a glance at Prince Han. He was sitting beside them, staring blankly at the tender scene between mother and son. His composure had already begun to crumble.

Prince Han held his teacup in one hand, utterly motionless, with no intention of taking another sip. Seeing her husband in such a state, Princess Wei became even happier. She cast him a provocative glance, then ate another candied hawthorn fed to her by her son. It was just as fragrant and sweet as the first.

“Ahem, ahem. Well, why hasn’t Xiu’er’s dinner arrived yet? I’m hungry.” In the end, Prince Han could bear it no longer and spoke up, directly interrupting the warm and harmonious scene of maternal affection and filial devotion.

“Father, if you’re hungry, I’ll go take a look. I’ll bring Aunt Xiu’er a candied hawthorn while I’m at it.” Hearing his father’s words, Zhu Zhanhe felt an inexplicable awkwardness. He glanced at his mother and decided to visit the small kitchen to see what delicious food might be available that evening.

“Father, Mother, I’ll take my leave for now.” Zhu Zhanhe casually picked up a skewer of candied hawthorns, informed his parents, and left.

“Prince Han, what was it you wanted to say?” Princess Wei slowly swallowed the candied hawthorn her son had just fed her. Unable to conceal the smile on her face, she reached out, plucked another one from the skewer, and put it into her mouth, savoring it carefully.

Yes, things bought by her son really did taste the best!

“What is so good about candied hawthorns? I’ve eaten the old emperor’s antler velvet, bear paws, and orangutan lips. Why would I care for this? It is something only children from common households eat. I, the dignified Prince Han, certainly do not eat such things.” Their proud Prince Han, Zhu Gaoxu, wore an expression of disdain and casually took a sip of his tea.

“Bah! Why is this tea bitter? It tastes awful.” With a look of disgust, Prince Han set the teacup down heavily on the small table before him. His entire face seemed to proclaim his dissatisfaction, yet his shrewd eyes remained fixed on the candied hawthorns resting before his wife.

Seeing her proud and stubborn husband, Princess Wei had no intention of indulging him. She reached over, plucked another hawthorn from the only remaining complete skewer, and, under Prince Han’s horrified gaze, popped it into her mouth.

“My son bought them, so of course they’re delicious.” After eating it, Princess Wei did not forget to cast Prince Han a contemptuous glance.

“What are you doing? What are you doing? How could you eat from that skewer? That’s mine! You—you—” The moment Prince Han saw his wife take a hawthorn from the other skewer, he became furious. He sprang to his feet and pointed at her, his brows knotting tightly together.

“Oh? What’s this? Didn’t Prince Han say that this was something only common folk ate? Surely bear paws taste better.” Princess Wei looked at her husband teasingly. Then she reached out again, intending to pluck another candied hawthorn. Since they had been bought by her son, she could never have enough.

“That’s mine!” When Prince Han saw that she was about to eat another one, he finally lost all restraint. In two quick strides, he reached Princess Wei and snatched his skewer away first.

Then, under Princess Wei’s astonished gaze, he shoved all the remaining candied hawthorns into his mouth at once, as though stripping them from the stick in a single bite. His cheeks bulged grotesquely.

Watching Prince Han chew with great enthusiasm, Princess Wei could no longer hold herself back. She burst into laughter.

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“Ha-ha-ha!” Clear, bright laughter rang repeatedly from Princess Wei’s delicate lips. She covered her mouth with a small handkerchief so that Prince Han would not see her smile, but there was no hiding that crisp, ringing laughter.

“Mm. The taste is nothing special.” After struggling for quite some time, Prince Han finally swallowed all the candied hawthorns crammed into his mouth amid his wife’s mocking laughter. Even then, he could not resist muttering that they were not particularly delicious.

Princess Wei looked at her husband with undisguised disdain. She stopped teasing him and continued savoring her own candied hawthorns.

“You need to take some interest in Zhanhe’s marriage. I’m going to start looking for a match. Think about what requirements you have, so that you won’t complain again when the time comes.” Princess Wei brought up her son’s marriage once more. That was the truly important matter.

“Mm. I’ll give it some thought.” At the mention of his son’s marriage, Prince Han also became serious.

“Also, I asked Xiu’er to arrange for Jian’er and Yun’er to attend upon you tonight. I thought I should inform you, as their father.” Princess Wei mentioned another small matter to her husband.

“You may decide such things yourself.” Prince Han had never concerned himself with matters like these. After all, his wife was more than capable.

“I’m going to see Eldest Brother tomorrow. I’ll go to the study and think over tomorrow’s affairs. Have someone call me when dinner is ready.” As Prince Han spoke to his wife, he secretly glanced at the candied hawthorns she had reduced to only two remaining pieces.

“All right, go ahead.” Princess Wei was displeased upon hearing that her husband intended to trouble Eldest Brother again, and she answered absentmindedly.

Seeing that his wife had agreed, Prince Han, Zhu Gaoxu, rose and leisurely shuffled over to her. Under Princess Wei’s astonished gaze, he snatched up the two candied hawthorns she had left and ran off, leaving her staring after him in shock.

“Prince Han!”

A moment later, Princess Wei’s thunderous voice shook the entire room.

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