The holiday ended, and Wei Yu returned to the capital from the estate.

He first went back to his residence to change clothes, then sneaked into the palace to find his father to discuss some matters.

Coincidentally, as Wei Yu was passing in front of Taihe Gate, he spotted the figure of his second brother.

Wei Yu quickly walked up to greet him, “Second Brother, what a coincidence.”

The Second Prince turned his head, saw Wei Yu, and smiled with a slight nod, “Ninth Brother.”

“Second Brother, did you come to the palace to see Father?”

It was already past noon, and most people entering the palace at this time were there to discuss matters with the Emperor.

Wei Yu thought he could accompany his second brother on his way, but to his surprise, the Second Prince said:

“No, I came to the palace to request leave from Mother Empress.”

“Request leave?”

Wei Yu was stunned. “Second Brother, are you leaving the capital? When will you go?”

“Father’s order. I must leave tomorrow.”

The Second Prince smiled but did not say what the matter was about.

When Wei Yu heard this, he knew that it was likely something confidential that couldn’t be revealed.

Whether the Second Prince did not want to share, or if the Emperor had ordered him not to, Wei Yu didn’t plan to press further.

The Second Prince asked in return, “Did you come to the palace to see Father? Is it for tomorrow’s court session?”

“Ah, sort of.”

Just as the Second Prince was unwilling to reveal his departure from the capital, Wei Yu was also reluctant to mention the school he was planning to establish at the estate, or the collusion between the officials and bandits in Ji Prefecture.

“You, being the first time attending court, it’s natural to feel nervous, but don’t worry. There will be higher-ups looking out for you…”

The Second Prince smiled, offering his brother a few comforting words.

Wei Yu nodded in response, symbolically acknowledging his words.

The two walked together for a short distance before parting ways.

Wei Yu went to Yangxin Hall.

This time, there were no ministers in the hall. When Wei Yu entered, he saw his father sitting at the desk, grumbling as he reviewed memorials.

[How pitiful.]

No days off, always waking up to work on memorials, and even before going to bed, still reading political affairs, locked away in the palace with nowhere to go… this life was truly unbearable to think about.

Wei Yu silently shook his head at his father, his expression filled with sympathy.

Emperor Wei could no longer hold back himself.

“You’ve been quite comfortable these past days, even running off to the outskirts. I see you’ve become a bit too carefree and have forgotten about the court sessions…” He put down his brush, coldly glancing at Wei Yu. His words had an underlying sarcastic tone.

A little alarm went off in Wei Yu’s mind. Knowing his father’s petty nature and that he couldn’t stand seeing others happy, he immediately became serious.

“Father, this is not true. How could you slander me like that? I didn’t go out to play. I went for the talent cultivation plan for Great Wei!”

Wei Yu began counting on his fingers all the things he had done at the estate.

He had given shelter to a few homeless children, moved land on his own estate to prepare for a primary school, and even reduced the rent on the land so that tenants could have more resources to think about their children’s future…

It sounded pretty convincing, as though Wei Yu’s purpose was indeed to do all this. When Emperor Wei heard it, he believed it and was even somewhat pleased that his Ninth Son had finally become diligent!

But the truth was far from this.

By covering up some parts and altering the order of events, what he said was all truthful… These were just verbal tricks, a kind of montage in conversation.

It was like editing a video to create a false narrative!

A typical move for a trickster.

Emperor Wei felt a sense of relief, but when he heard about the rent reduction, his face remained neutral, though he asked Wei Yu:

“Have you considered how others might react if they find out about this rent reduction?”

Wei Yu remained calm and shared his suspicions with Emperor Wei.

“You’re indeed clever.”

Emperor Wei gave Wei Yu a deep look, both surprised and unsurprised by his response.

He had long known that this son had a sharp mind, but he preferred to hide his talents and pretend to be useless. Now that he realized his son actually understood things, Emperor Wei said nothing more, only adding:

“Since you’ve thought everything through, you should be able to handle the consequences. I won’t interfere, but don’t make a big deal of it.”

Wei Yu was shocked. He leaned forward quietly, “Father, you really won’t interfere? Aren’t you worried that it will cause trouble with the ministers?”

Emperor Wei scoffed, picked up a memorial, and arrogantly said, “You’re the one who reduced the rent on your own estate. What does that have to do with me or anyone else? The tenants aren’t slaves bound by a contract. If they want to stay, it’s up to them to solve the problem. What can I do? The land deed isn’t mine!”

This was a truly masterful way of deflecting responsibility.

Wei Yu was greatly impressed by his father’s thick skin.

He leaned in closer, “Oh, so you mean the consequences are all mine to deal with? Even though I brought this upon myself, aren’t you worried that they might retaliate and send an assassin to kill your precious son?”

Emperor Wei responded nonchalantly, “Then you can just raise the rent back again.”

Wei Yu gave his father a six using his finger.

This gesture was the second time Emperor Wei had seen it. The first time, Wei Yu had explained that it was a compliment to his intelligence, and Emperor Wei had believed it. But the second time, he wasn’t so sure.

Emperor Wei glared at him, “Are you insulting me?”

Wei Yu’s eyes widened, “No, I didn’t! Don’t misinterpret me! This is very scary, you know?”

Not hearing an insult, and finding no evidence, Emperor Wei snorted coldly and turned back to the memorial he was reading.

Wei Yu glanced at his father’s side profile, still thinking about the Gray Guards. He wanted to ask for more…

“Impossible! Stop dreaming!”

Emperor Wei spoke in a heavy tone, “I gave you a hundred men. The Gray Guards are still not fully replenished, and now you want more? What do you need them for? To rebel?”

“Shh, shh, shh!”

Emperor Wei didn’t find anything odd in what he said, but Wei Yu was very displeased.

He glared at his father, “Why are you saying such things? It’s bad luck! Don’t curse me! I’m not rebelling! If I become emperor, I’ll be just like you, sitting at a desk all day from dawn till dusk, living a life without light! Who would want that? I certainly don’t!”

Emperor Wei: …

See? Finally, the truth comes out.

Facing his father’s complicated gaze, Wei Yu pretended to cough a couple of times.

“Uh, Father, let’s set aside the matter of helping people and the land purchase for the school…”

Wei Yu wanted to mention the Ji Prefecture Governor’s matter, but before he could say anything, Emperor Wei interrupted him.

“Wait, what do you mean by buying land with money? When did I ever say I would buy land with money?”

“What!”

Wei Yu suddenly clutched his chest, looking at his father in disbelief, and said with a string of sharp remarks, “I’ve worked tirelessly for the talent program, using my own estate, and in the end, you’re not even willing to spend a little money to buy a few hundred acres of land?!”

Emperor Wei fell silent.

A few hundred acres of land…

Was that really just “a little money”?

Well, it seemed like a small amount to him, at least.