CHAPTER 385: CHAPTER 353: HIS HIGHNESS’S DESIRE FOR ACCEPTANCE

Song Yuanbao arrived at the main hall, noticing Zhao Xi’s expression towards him was a bit strange. He scratched his head and found a place to sit down. "Did Your Highness have something for me?"

That carefree demeanor, as if he had no idea how he "mistreated" the little palace maid Lian Chun over the past three days.

Eunuch Sanbao and the other servants had already been dismissed, leaving only the two of them in the hall. Zhao Xi spoke without much reservation, "What was your purpose in taking Lian Chun from me?"

Song Yuanbao was taken aback, "Didn’t I explain to Your Highness that day? I’ll have to stay in the palace for a long time and can’t return home, so I needed someone in my room. I had no choice but to ask Your Highness for a favor."

"So, are you really taking Lian Chun?"

Upon hearing this, Song Yuanbao’s handsome face turned slightly red. He lowered his head "bashfully," "Not yet, not yet. I want to adapt for a few days first."

There was nothing wrong with what he said. Zhao Xi pondered for a moment, "Maybe Lian Chun isn’t suitable for you."

"Why?" Song Yuanbao asked in surprise.

"She’s timid."

Song Yuanbao defended himself, "I just wanted her to keep me company at night, it’s not like I want to eat her."

Zhao Xi’s eyes reflected indifference, "Is there a difference?"

"..."

The more he listened, the more it sounded like he was some sort of unsavory beast.

Song Yuanbao sighed, "Just be straight with me, Your Highness. What do you want?"

"Tonight, you will keep watch at the main hall."

"What?" Song Yuanbao opened his mouth in mock surprise.

"Not willing?"

"No, no, I just feel it’s too much of an honor."

"I couldn’t see even a hint of honor on your face."

Facing Zhao Xi’s cold gaze, Song Yuanbao cleverly replied, "I’m so honored that I’m shocked."

"..."

Shocked was an excuse; surprised was the truth.

Song Yuanbao knew the plan his father suggested worked, but he didn’t expect it to work so effectively.

That night, Song Yuanbao was indeed asked to keep watch at the main hall.

In those years he teamed up with Wen Wan to trick people, he had honed his acting skills long ago. Pretending to kick off the quilt or snore while asleep was no challenge for him.

So Song Yuanbao acted very committed, starting with just snoring, then sleeping with the quilt wrapped around him, and eventually not only kicking the quilt off but also turning himself, his head nearly falling off the edge of the bed.

When he "woke with a start," he noticed a dark shadow standing nearby.

Zhao Xi didn’t like to sleep with the lights on, so the hall was dark. Only the moonlight filtering through the window allowed Song Yuanbao to barely make out it was a person.

Even though he had anticipated Zhao Xi would supervise personally, suddenly seeing this scene was still a test of psychological stamina. Song Yuanbao let out an "ah" and sat up in shock, reaching for the flint at the bedside to light the oil lamp.

Seeing clearly it was Zhao Xi in front of him, Song Yuanbao, pale-faced, patted his chest. "What is Your Highness doing wandering around at night without sleeping?"

Zhao Xi pulled over a chair to sit down, "You woke me up."

"Really?" Song Yuanbao awkwardly tugged at the corners of his mouth, "Our servants say I have many quirks when I sleep, but I’ve never noticed it myself. I thought they were joking. Could it really be true?"

Zhao Xi directed his gaze to the brocade quilt on the floor, "Are you sure you always had this quirk?"

"I have no idea!" Song Yuanbao spread his hands, "How would I know when I’m asleep?"

"Yet that’s not what I saw last time."

Back then, he slept very tidily; it was the best sleeping posture Zhao Xi had ever seen.

Song Yuanbao’s heart skipped a beat, "When did Your Highness peek at me sleeping?"

Seemingly stumped, Zhao Xi was silent for some time.

To break the awkward atmosphere, Song Yuanbao spoke, "It’s no big deal anyway, I don’t really care."

Zhao Xi asked, "Aren’t you afraid people in the Imperial Palace will laugh at you?"

Song Yuanbao said, "I’ve been laughed at by countless people since I was young, and I’m still living just fine, aren’t I? Besides, those who mocked me haven’t exactly struck it rich or led great lives."

This reasoning...

Zhao Xi found himself speechless.

Glancing at the sky, Song Yuanbao yawned, "Does Your Highness have anything more? If not, I’m going back to sleep. I have to get up early; time is precious!"

Zhao Xi bent down, personally picking the quilt up for him, watching Song Yuanbao take it and cover himself. He suddenly said, "Actually, I don’t sleep so orderly either."

Huh?

Song Yuanbao thought it must be that night makes people let their guard down. Otherwise, hearing such a blunt truth from Zhao Xi’s mouth seemed as hard as having his grandma not criticize someone.

Another wave of drowsiness hit, and Song Yuanbao yawned repeatedly, "What’s there to make a fuss about? You’re not the only one with bad sleeping habits."

"But..."

Song Yuanbao interrupted him, "Are you trying to say that your sleeping habits don’t align with your usual disciplined self?"

Zhao Xi didn’t deny it.

He hated everything that lacked order, including himself when he slept.

Song Yuanbao suddenly laughed, "Why do I find His Highness’s poor sleeping habits somewhat cute?"

Cute?

Zhao Xi furrowed his brow.

Song Yuanbao continued, "His Highness is meticulous about rules, and usually maintains a distant attitude towards everyone. It’s rare for you to ’indulge’ yourself in your sleep. Don’t you think this kind of contrast is not annoying but actually makes you seem more approachable?"

"Approachable?"

In all his years, it was the first time someone described him with such words.

Zhao Xi couldn’t quite explain how he felt—perhaps a bit delighted by the acknowledgment—but he forced himself to deny it, as it was not a sentiment befitting a Prince.

"Well, I personally think there’s nothing wrong with it. As for how you feel, that’s up to how you handle your own mindset."

After a pause, he added, "Actually, I’ve always thought that someone like His Highness wouldn’t care what others say. After all, you’ve always done as you please. Not to mention, you are a prince; no one in the Imperial Palace would dare ridicule you. Even if someone did, what of it? They would gain nothing but a beating or even a death sentence, while His Highness wouldn’t lose a thing. Besides, at just fourteen years old, you’re still a child at heart. Who would laugh at a child for having bad sleeping habits?"

Zhao Xi still couldn’t get past it, "You say fourteen, but what about ten years from now?"

Song Yuanbao smiled, "In ten years, the only person with the opportunity to tease you would be your spouse. Do you think someone capable of becoming a Prince Consort would be of that caliber? In other words, you wouldn’t have such poor judgement, right?"

Zhao Xi gave him a silent, lingering look, then got up and returned to the inner hall.

...

Song Yuanbao found that his persuasion was quite effective because the next night Zhao Xi had the palace maid Wan Qiu guard the night.

Wan Qiu adjusted Zhao Xi’s quilt three times and his pillow once. At dawn the next day, he squinted at Wan Qiu and asked if his sleeping habits were really that bad.

Wan Qiu smiled, "This servant has attended to several princesses before, and their sleeping habits were not ideal. Compared to them, Your Highness is quite good."

Even a fourteen-year-old Prince, no matter how mature, cannot escape certain emotional phases of that age.

For example, yearning for acceptance and understanding.

After hearing Wan Qiu’s words, Zhao Xi did not deny that he felt comforted.

With a long-standing knot in his heart untied, Zhao Xi was in a good mood all day and gave Song Yuanbao a day off.

Song Yuanbao was flattered, "Is His Highness sure he’s fully awake?"

Zhao Xi gave him a sidelong glance, "If you don’t want the day off, I’ll take back what I just said."

"I do, I do, just thinking His Highness seems a bit unusual today."

"Isn’t this the approachability you wanted?"

One sentence left Song Yuanbao choking, his neck stretching as he forced out a smile, "It is quite approachable."

Just feels particularly awkward.

——

The servants sent to find Su Yaoqi that day didn’t see him; he was brought back by people arranged by Song Wei.

Seeing her son safe and sound, the Duchess was so overwhelmed she almost cried. She looked him over carefully and asked where he had gone and whether he had any conflicts with the Song Family.

Su Yaoqi said no, he just went out to play, and that the Song Family was quite polite.

The Duchess said, "You’re just too kind, believing everyone."

"I’m not a three-year-old child." Su Yaoqi disagreed with his mother, "I can judge who is good and who is bad myself."

Seeing that his mother was about to ask more, Su Yaoqi waved it off, "Mother, I’m tired and want to rest. Please leave."

The Duchess had to swallow her words, later sending dinner and urging him to cover himself well at night to avoid catching cold.

After dinner, Su Yaoqi took a bath. Once done, he lay on his bed, staring unblinkingly at the canopy, replaying the scenes from the manor in his mind, until sleep finally overtook him.

...

Due to the anger stifled in his chest, Duke Su didn’t visit Su Yaoqi. After the Duchess returned, he inquired about the situation.

The Duchess said, "He seemed fine to me, nothing amiss."

Duke Su also believed Song Wei wouldn’t dare harm his son blatantly, but caution was still necessary, "Little Four is already nineteen; it’s time to arrange a marriage for him."

As he spoke, Duke Su turned to look at the Duchess, "You should carefully choose a bride for him, don’t bring home someone with bad intentions to avoid harming Little Four."

The Duchess replied with difficulty, "Most of those who would marry into our family are for benefits. How many are truly sincere? Unless you retract your words from all those years ago and marry Little Four without regard to benefits, otherwise your requirements are too high for me to fulfill."

Duke Su: "..."