Chapter 75 Drunken Immortal Pavilion

Chapter 75 Drunken Immortal Pavilion

Xue Yubai moved the lamb chopsticks in front of Xie Yan without making a sound, but Shen Nanzi, who was about to pick up a lamb chopstick, had to give up and put away her chopsticks.

Cheng'er also loves to eat it.

Xie Yan glanced at the half-eaten plate of lamb chops, then called over the waiter and whispered a few words to him.

Xie Yu was nearby, and he had seen Shen Nanzi picking up chopsticks.

She picked up a piece and put it in Xie Chengze's bowl, saying, "You've been studying all day, eat more!"

Xie Chengze snapped out of his earlier emotions, and his face flushed slightly.

He gazed at the sizzling lamb chops in the bowl, their aroma filling the air.

"Sixth Imperial Uncle, eat this! Cheng'er knows you like it."

He picked up a white porcelain spoon, gently scooped up a piece of golden-cup shrimp, and placed it in Xie Yu's bowl.

The golden, crispy orange-shaped cups contain peeled, white shrimp, as white as jade.

Accompanied by plump, tender corn kernels and drizzled with glossy sauce, it's refreshing and delicious.

Xie Yu smiled broadly and patted his head: "I didn't feed you for nothing, you know how to be filial to your royal uncle."

"Sixth Imperial Uncle, teach Cheng'er archery and horsemanship again next time!"

"Yes! Don't forget your apprenticeship ceremony."

Xie Yan gazed at the heartwarming scene across from him, feeling a sense of harmony between father and son.

It stirred up a strange sadness in his heart, mixed with a hint of jealousy.

He picked up the wine cup and took a sip in silence.

Xue Qingning glanced at it out of the corner of her eye, then lowered her head and silently ate her rice in small bites.

At this moment, the waiter brought over a plate of lamb chops and placed it in front of Xie Chengze.

The rich, crispy aroma wafted up, and Xie Chengze's eyes lit up.

Shen Nanzi was also a little surprised. Did they order two plates?

She glanced at Xie Yu, her eyes filled with gratitude; he knew Cheng'er loved lamb chops.

Xie Yu did not meet Shen Nanzi's gaze, but instead gave Xie Yan a deep look.

Xue Qingning glanced at it casually, seemingly without any emotion, and continued eating in small bites.

Only the part of my fingers that were holding the chopsticks was a little white.

"Mother, Hong'er is full." Xie Hongrui put down his chopsticks.

"Mm!" Xue Qingning responded in a deep voice, a hint of warmth appearing on her usually cold face. She whispered, "Sit still and don't move. Wait until everyone has finished eating."

Xie Hongrui sat obediently, but his eyes were fixed on Xie Chengze.

At this moment, Xue Yubai raised his cup, took a sip with Xie Yu, and then said, "Sixth Prince, you are as leisurely and carefree as ever, making others envious!"

Xie Yu put down his wine cup, picked up a piece of shrimp, put it in his mouth and chewed it gently, his posture carefree and relaxed.

"When it comes to fame and fortune, everyone takes what they need. When one is free from desires and wants, one can face everything with equanimity."

"I am a lucky prince, I have no worries about food and drink, and I have no ambition to govern the country."

"Power is like fleeting clouds to me. I can't take it with me when I'm born, and I can't take it with me when I die. Fighting for it is not as good as drinking and playing with birds."

“However…” He changed the subject, glanced at Xie Yan, and then looked away, “Everyone’s circumstances are different and cannot be compared.”

Xie Yan held the wine cup, his fingers gripping it a little too tightly.

Xue Yubai seemed to agree with Xie Yu's statement, a hint of alcohol flushing his fair face, and nodded:

"Indeed, some people are born lucky, have no worries about food and clothing, and can win without even sitting down."

"And some people are also lucky, born into good families, but unfortunately, their destiny is to compete."

"There are also people who have nothing, suffer all kinds of hardships, and have to fight with all their might just to survive."

"Moreover, fate can change in stages, catching people off guard, and no one knows how long good luck will last."

As Xue Yubai spoke, his throat tightened and his eyes reddened slightly.

Xue Qingning picked up some green vegetables and placed them in his bowl. "Brother, eat some of this. You've been a bit irritable lately."

Xue Yubai lowered his head, picked up the green vegetables that Xue Qingning had placed in the bowl, and put them in his mouth, chewing them vigorously.

At the same time, Xie Yan also took a bite of mutton, his eyes lowered, biting down with difficulty.

Shen Nanzi only saw his cheeks puff out forcefully and then retract, the mutton seemingly a mechanism to conceal his emotions.

It evokes a powerful sense of suppressed sorrow, as if one might burst into tears at any moment.

"Xie Chengze, where's your crossbow?"

Xie Hongrui broke the silence, tilting his little face up and staring at Xie Chengze.

On his wrist, a small wooden crossbow had appeared at some point.

While he was talking to Xie Chengze, he was fiddling with a crossbow bolt.

Wei Jizhou looked at the crossbow with envy and asked, "Why do you have a crossbow too?"

Xie Hongrui smiled with satisfaction but did not answer.

Looking over, Shen Nanzi saw that the crossbow was extremely exquisite, almost a miniature version of a real crossbow.

He recalled that day at the birthday banquet when Xie Hongrui threw himself into Xie Yan's arms, and Xie Yan whispered a few words to him.

Xie Hongrui immediately stopped crying; presumably, this was the condition Xie Yan had agreed to.

This crossbow clearly took a lot of effort to make; no wonder Xie Hongrui wanted to show it off.

Xie Yan really went to great lengths.

In the past, she might have minded or gotten angry. But now, she doesn't feel much of an emotion.

However… Xie Chengze is perceptive, and Shen Nanzi is afraid he will guess.

He picked up a piece of lamb chop and gently tried to distract him, saying, "Have another one."

Xie Chengze had indeed guessed it. He gave a somewhat indifferent "hmm" and then lowered his head, eating listlessly.

Xie Yan looked at Xie Chengze's expression, rubbing his fingers together, his face filled with undisguised guilt.

Xue Qingning glanced at Xie Yan, her face turning cold, and then whispered a reprimand:

"Hong'er, didn't I tell you that this is not allowed to be taken out of the manor? Why are you so disobedient, child?"

Xie Hongrui wanted to argue back, but seeing Xue Qingning's expression, he had no choice but to keep quiet and hand the crossbow to the maid behind him.

Somewhat reluctantly, he compromised, "Then can I play with the bow for a while?"

Xue Qingning did not stop him, so Xie Hongrui got off the table and picked up the bow from the maid's hand.

Xue Yubai then asked Xie Yu, "When you were attending to the sick prince that day, did the Sixth Prince receive any news?"

Even though Shen Nanzi was ignorant of court politics, she could tell that Xue Yubai was asking about things he shouldn't be asking.

Xie Yu put down his chopsticks, picked up the damp cloth beside him, and slowly wiped his fingers.

"The matter of secretly designating an heir?"

Xie Yu's candid remark surprised everyone present.

Shen Nanzi ate her food with her head down, looking completely indifferent.

Xue Yubai waved his hand cautiously, signaling the servants who were attending to him to file out one after another.

Xie Yu looked relaxed and glanced at everyone. "There's no need for that. When I went in, Father was sleeping, so I didn't say a word before finishing my duties."

Xue Yubai tapped the table with his finger, his expression unchanged, but a hint of disbelief lingered in his eyes.

“Inside information has been leaked, saying that the Emperor’s act of attending to the sick that day was a pretense, and that the real reason was to decide on the heir apparent. One of the princes who was able to enter Yongxi Palace has already been secretly designated as the heir apparent.”

Shen Nanzi lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly. Why had she and her brother never heard of this matter?

Since Xie Yan has not entered Yongxi Palace, doesn't that mean he doesn't even have the qualifications to be the heir apparent?

Shen Nanzi raised her eyes and glanced at Xie Yan, whose expression was solemn and whose hands were clenched tightly.

It seems she's heartbroken!

That day, all the princes who had come of age were met, but he was the only one excluded.

He deserved it for his reckless behavior!

“Grand Master of Ceremonies,” Xie Yu said, “the rumors circulating outside are all unfounded. As far as I know, the matter of choosing an heir has not yet been decided.”