"No matter if I am a shrewish scold or as gentle as water, you slow down and tie your cloak properlyācatching a cold means having to take medicine."
Yang Chuxia took the little cloak from Mingcuiās hands and tied it securely for him.
"Look how obedient your brother is, he wrapped himself up nicely before leaving."
Yangyang looked at Lele, who indeed had gotten himself ready, and at some point had already been taken by the hand by Ye Ziāan.
"Alright, alright, Iāll behave, okay?"
As soon as Yang Chuxia stood up, he proactively reached for her hand, "I wonāt run anymore, Iāll walk slowly with mother."
The carriage outside was already prepared. After Yang Chuxia and the two children boarded, Ye Ziāan also squeezed in; on such a cold day, he certainly didnāt want to ride a horse.
"Father, last time I forgot to tell you something." Once the carriage started moving, Lele snuggled into Ye Ziāanās embrace, then suddenly blurted out.
"What could you possibly forget?" Ye Ziāan raised an eyebrow, saying it was more likely he purposefully didnāt tell.
"When the Emperor asked me which character I liked the other day, he also asked me an additional question."
"What question?"
"He asked me whether I think being a Prince is better or a Provincial Prince."
Ye Ziāan turned the boy around to face him, "And then? Your answer?"
"I naturally said being a Prince is better. Who would be foolish? A Provincial Prince is clearly a rank lower than a Prince." He paused and then continued, "But the Emperor laughed and scolded, saying itās not good for a child to be so greedy."
Upon hearing this, Ye Ziāan and Yang Chuxia exchanged a glance, their hearts stirring slightly.
"What happened next?" Ye Ziāan thought to himself that based on his understanding of his son, he surely wouldnāt have said nothing at all.
Indeed, he heard him giggle crisply, "I said that if I didnāt want to become the most awesome prince among the princes, I certainly wouldnāt be a good prince."
"You sure are clever," Ye Ziāan laughed pinching his cheek, "Itās fine to say these things to your mother and me, but donāt mention them to other people."
"Dad, am I foolish?" Lele retorted proudly, then, touching his chin, he whispered in Ye Ziāanās ear, "Iām thinking that perhaps he also wants to bestow on me the title of prince. So Iām giving you a heads-up in advance, just in case itās true so that you wonāt be startled. If it turns out to be false, I donāt really mind; after all, Iām still young, and itās okay to misunderstand."
While he spoke, his little hand continued to smooth things over for Ye Ziāan.
Ye Ziāan was stunned speechless.
He stared at him for a long time before finally managing to suppress his surprise.
He then roared, "How many times have I told you not to call me old man? Have you ever seen such a young old man?"
"I have, isnāt it just you?" Lele responded calmly with another quip.
"..."
Suddenly, Ye Ziāan found himself not wanting to speak anymore, his heart aching!
The carriage soon arrived at the palace gate. Mu Shaoling and Commandery Princess Dongyang had already arrived but hadnāt gone in yet.
"Did you come to Capital City today?" After alighting from the carriage, Ye Ziāan asked.
"I arrived this morning. I didnāt want to attend the palace banquet at first, but then the Third Prince sent a message saying that the Emperor had also granted you permission to attend the banquet, so here I am waiting."
In the Great Zhou Dynasty, those eligible for the palace banquet were at least from the third rank and above. Ye Ziāan, however, was only a fourth-rank official and ordinarily wouldnāt qualify to attend. Yet now, he had received the Emperorās special decree to participate. Although it was a good thing, most of those officials were high-and-mighty, with minds sharp as needles; without someone to look after him, they might just cause some trouble.