Sun Zhao didn’t stay long at the residence. After telling Wei Yu about their recent movements, he took the book and left.

After this episode ended, Wei Yu could finally rest easy and stay at home.

Using the excuse that his father hadn’t summoned him to work, Wei Yu lazed around the residence for three days. In the end, he was still dragged to the court by the diligent Eighth Prince.

The autumn wind was bleak and especially cold early in the morning, just like Wei Yu’s mood at the moment.

Chilly to the bone.

Wei Yu, wearing court robes and with his hands tucked in, stood by his own carriage, half-asleep, watching an old minister with graying hair and trembling steps walk toward the Meridian Gate. He sincerely thought his father was cruel.

Look at this: for attending the morning court session, this old minister had to get up at two or three in the morning! If it were just poor sleep, fine, but it was also so cold outside. Usually, you might endure it, but what about when heavy snow covers the roads in winter?

Huh?

Isn’t he afraid the old man might accidentally fall and die?

Wei Yu wasn’t thinking about himself at all; he was simply kind-hearted and couldn’t bear to see an elderly person suffer. Yes, exactly like that…

So when will his father change this morning court session?

Can it be moved to the afternoon court meeting?

If not, even once every three days would be fine!

He reached out and gave a push to the person standing still. Fang Sheng, wearing a stern face, reminded him, “Your Highness, you should go inside.”

Wei Yu took a breath of cold air.

Right, he should go in.

These days of paying respects at the tombs were really hard to endure.

Wei Yu tucked his small hands and went into the court chamber.

Except for the Second Prince, who was still in Ji Prefecture, his elder brothers were already seated inside.

Without the initial cautious glances around, this time as soon as Wei Yu entered, he was ready to lie down and nap. Unfortunately, the Seventh Prince stopped him.

The Seventh Prince was sitting right across from Wei Yu.

A pale and handsome youth with a cold face, when squinting suspiciously, his fox-like eyes looked even more cunning and gloomy than usual.

“Ninth Brother just returned from Jiaozhou; looks like you’ve become a lot more sensible than before.”

Wei Yu froze, eyes half-shut, then forced out a smile.

“Seventh Brother flatters me. I’m still young and inexperienced. This trip to Jiaozhou was all thanks to Eighth Brother’s guidance, really.”

Eighth Prince: ?

Several princes present glanced at the Eighth Prince but said nothing.

The elder princes looked down on getting involved in their younger brothers’ disputes. Compared to trying to mediate or reconcile, as long as it didn’t reach the Emperor, they preferred to watch the drama.

The Seventh Prince glanced at the two, then sneered suddenly, “I’m just worried about Ninth Brother. After all, you promised the officials you would make money in Jiaozhou to fill the treasury. I’m just afraid you didn’t fulfill that promise and might embarrass yourself in front of the officials later.”

Wei Yu squinted, smiling, “No problem. As long as Father Emperor knows clearly, that’s enough.”

He really wasn’t in the mood to beat around the bush after a bad night’s sleep.

He didn’t know whose temper his Seventh Brother inherited—he was quite a troublemaker. Except when it came to his own parents, he would basically jab at others whenever things happened.

If it weren’t for his good looks, Wei Yu might have had to catch him in the middle of the night and beat him up!

The Seventh Prince’s face darkened, just about to speak, when the Fifth Prince laughed.

“You two really are brothers. Talk nicely now. Ninth Brother, Seventh Brother cares about you, he just doesn’t speak well. Actually, I’m quite curious too. How much money did you really make in Jiaozhou? Give your brothers the inside story.”

With the Fifth Prince’s interjection, the eldest prince also joined in.

The eldest prince chuckled lightly, “Ninth Brother’s business with the white salt in Jiaozhou is already well-known. White salt is state-operated. Although Father Emperor has not ordered its sale in other regions yet, it must be expensive. The money Ninth Brother made in Jiaozhou probably came from the white salt, right?”

Ha.

Wei Yu could only say his eldest brother was really money-minded.

He smiled at the eldest prince and slowly replied, “Not really. This white salt is actually extracted from rock salt. Rock salt itself is cheap; even if white salt is good, its price wouldn’t be higher than blue salt.”

Hearing this, the princes were all surprised.

Only the Eighth and Fourth Princes looked calm.

One had been involved from the start and naturally knew the truth; the other had recently heard from several merchants from Jiaozhou visiting the capital to buy glass, so he had learned some information about Jiaozhou.

“Extracted from rock salt?”

The Third Prince frowned and whispered to Wei Yu, “How is it extracted? Is it like washing it, putting it in water to clean, then boiling dry?”

Tsk—

This Third Prince really knew his stuff!

Salt boiling wasn’t something Wei Yu wanted to explain in detail to others, so he just laughed it off.

“I’ve given the method to Father Emperor. If Third Brother wants to know, you could privately ask Father Emperor and see if you can visit the Salt Affairs Office yourself.”

The Third Prince frowned, considering the possibility.

The eldest prince pressed on, “What was the price of the white salt you sold in Jiaozhou?”

“Three hundred wen for two jin.”

“So cheap!”

This was said by the Fifth Prince.

Pulling a folding fan from his sleeve, the Fifth Prince waved the handle and looked at Wei Yu curiously, sincerely impressed: “I really admire you, Ninth Brother, for turning rock salt into white salt and setting such a low price. Looks like the day when everyone eats white salt isn’t far off.”

“Haha, Fifth Brother, you’re joking!”

Wei Yu forced a smile, wishing he could sew his fifth brother’s mouth shut with a needle!

What was he saying? Didn’t he notice the eldest brother’s eyes were starting to look weird?

He really was making enemies.

To prevent the elder brothers from saying more unpleasant things, Wei Yu quickly used the excuse of asking for the time and slipped out.

As soon as he left, the lively court room fell silent again.

The Fifth Prince glanced around at the brothers present, sighed silently, and then folded his fan with a somewhat dispirited expression.

Forget it, they’re all not fun… Ninth Brother is the only interesting one.

—

Back in court again, Wei Yu took his usual seat.

But this time, sitting beside him was not his superior, but a Ministry of Rites official named Peng Chun.

Peng Chun was round in figure, with a kind face, and sitting next to Wei Yu gave off a strong sense of security, like having a great Buddha beside him.

When Wei Yu stared at him, Peng Chun smiled and nodded.

“Ninth Prince, I hope you are well. Eunuch Li Cheng instructed me to remind you carefully during morning court. Rest assured, I will not fail my mission.”

Wei Yu: …

He turned his head expressionless.

This was obviously arranged by his father, for what purpose? Surely to prevent him from falling asleep during the morning court session.

What kind of person!

Wei Yu took a breath and straightened his back.

Luckily, after arguing a bit with his brothers in the court chamber just now, his mind was clear and he wasn’t sleepy.

If he got too tired later, he’d just perform some fancy dozing tricks to nap.

Not even a bit guilty!