Eunuch Qingxi's heart skipped a beat. He immediately shot a look at the palace attendants, telling them all to quickly withdraw. As the saying goes, see no impropriety, speak no impropriety. No matter what those two were up to, it was hardly something the palace attendants could just gawk at. Why weren't they leaving already?!

Ji Weiqiu was still completely oblivious. It wasn't his intention to tease the other person; it was just that he was holding their hand and happened to offer a casual compliment.

He felt the hand in his palm stir, as if trying to pull away. On second thought, his brother's attitude had been too strange recently, so he decided he had to solidify his reputation for being absurd. Thus, he tightened his grip on that hand and teased, "Be careful not to let me fall~"

No matter what might happen in the future, things couldn't change overnight. If, after a word from his brother, he suddenly became wise, martial, and exceptionally intelligent, wouldn't that make it seem like he had been pretending all along to deceive his brother? Wouldn't that be deceiving the emperor?

Being a bit absurd would, at most, earn him a scolding or two, or at worst, a few blows. Deceiving the emperor, however, could lead to death by a thousand cuts. Ji Weiqiu knew how to weigh the consequences.

The owner of the hand did not struggle again.

Ji Weiqiu, pushing his luck, held onto the person's arm, his fingertips resting on their sleeve. He suddenly felt something was off and touched the sleeve again, muttering, "This embroidery..."

This embroidery pattern felt so familiar! It was round, with seemingly chaotic lines on the outside, and a thick, winding line in the middle...

Ji Weiqiu released his hand and said with feigned heartlessness, "I don't need you anymore. Xiao Zhuo, come here!"

The summoned Eunuch Xiao Zhuo was about to brace himself and step forward when Eunuch Qingxi pulled him back. Ji Weiqiu didn't have the courage to actually pull off the silk blindfold. He let go of the person's arm, turned his head, and started to walk away. But just as he took a single step, a hand grabbed him squarely by the nape of his neck.

The back of Ji Weiqiu's neck was rather sensitive. Being grabbed made him shiver instinctively, and he couldn't help but flinch away. But the grip was firm. A wave of dizziness washed over him, and Ji Weiqiu felt momentarily unsteady. He subconsciously took a step back, bumping right into the embrace of the person behind him.

It was the very hand he had just praised, with its lustrous knuckles and slender fingers. With a grip like that, it could perfectly pinch the two major meridians on the side of his neck, and a firm squeeze could cut off the flow of qi and blood in his body.

Ji Weiqiu froze. He heard his brother's faint voice say, "Be careful not to fall."

"...Brother," Ji Weiqiu managed to say. "Imperial Elder Brother, you're finished with court...? So early... hahaha..."

Ji Su placed a hand on his waist to steady him and casually untied the ribbon at the back of his head. A great burst of light suddenly assaulted him, and Ji Weiqiu couldn't help but squint.

The sunlight was brilliant. Ji Su stood against it, his nearly perfect features outlined with a golden halo. His gaze was cold, and his pale lips were pressed into a thin line.

Though he stood in the light, he seemed to be its very antithesis.

Ji Weiqiu swallowed hard, wondering whether he should explain that this was all a misunderstanding.

If it weren't for feeling the Coiled Dragon Cloud Pattern, he really wouldn't have recognized it was his brother! He had wanted to act absurdly, but he never expected to direct his absurdity at his brother!

He was in a complete panic, wondering if he should just kneel and beg for forgiveness right now.

Ji Su saw Ji Weiqiu's darting eyes, his cramped and uneasy posture, and thought to himself, 'So this little thing does know what it means to be afraid?'

"Imperial Elder Brother..." Ji Weiqiu called out in a low voice. He felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles. Ji Su's hand was still on his neck, making him shiver uncontrollably. An itch began to spread from the back of his waist, making him unbearably uncomfortable.

Just then, Ji Su finally released his neck, acting as if nothing had happened. "Have you taken your medicine today?"

Ji Weiqiu nodded repeatedly, afraid of squandering the opportunity his brother had given him. "I took it this morning before dawn. Imperial Physician Hu told me to get some sun around the chen hour... but I was worried the sun would hurt my eyes, so I covered them. Imperial Physician Hu's medicine is truly effective; my appetite is much better after taking it today..."

Ji Su nodded. "That is good."

He began to walk at a leisurely pace, and Ji Weiqiu had no choice but to follow, with the palace attendants trailing behind them. Ji Weiqiu breathed a sigh of relief. His brother must have accepted his legitimate reason and decided to let the matter drop.

In the time it took to exchange a few words, Ji Weiqiu had unknowingly followed Ji Su to the entrance of the main hall. Ji Weiqiu stopped and asked tentatively, "Will you be busy now, Imperial Elder Brother? Should I return to the side hall...?"

Ji Su nodded, gave him a single glance, and stepped into the main hall. Ji Weiqiu let out a huge sigh of relief. Eunuch Qingxi, following behind, gave him a meaningful smile. Ji Weiqiu instinctively smiled back. It wasn't until he returned to the side hall that he realized the smile meant, 'Your Highness is truly impressive!'

Ji Weiqiu was utterly dumbfounded.

Having been caught in the act by his brother today, he didn't dare do anything else to test his nerves and began to seriously read the memorials. The matter was actually quite simple. Regarding the assassination attempt on the canal, while the assassins themselves were primarily to blame, the fact that they managed to board the imperial boat meant the prefects of the two nearest prefectures were also guilty of lax governance.

He only saw memorials about Qian Zhiwei because his brother had only given him those... From a certain perspective, his brother had already determined that Qian Zhiwei was responsible, which was why he could say that Ji Weiqiu could pass whatever judgment he pleased, and it would be legitimately carried out.

Knowing that fifteen of the forty-five memorials already denounced Qian Zhiwei, Ji Weiqiu rested his chin on his hand. "Xiao Zhuo, can you read?"

Eunuch Xiao Zhuo nodded. "This servant knows a few characters."

"Then sort these for me first. Pick out the ones pleading on Qian Zhiwei's behalf," Ji Weiqiu instructed. Eunuch Xiao Zhuo obediently agreed and swiftly got to work. Ji Weiqiu began reading himself. He had to admit, reading was different from listening. When listening, the information passed through his mind and was gone, but reading gave him more room for thought. With a sweep of his eyes, he could find something he had read before. Ji Weiqiu asked, "These won't be sent back, will they?"

Seeing Ji Weiqiu holding the brush, Eunuch Xiao Zhuo said, "Your Highness can rest assured. There is always the option of retaining the memorials within the palace."

Feeling reassured, Ji Weiqiu used a vermilion brush to mark the spots he found problematic. Before he knew it, it was mealtime. Xiao Zhuo had reminded him three times that it was time to eat, but Ji Weiqiu had just found a suspicious point and was engrossed in comparing texts. He looked up and realized it was nearly the beginning of the wei hour. No wonder he was starving. He asked, "Xiao Zhuo, has my Imperial Elder Brother ordered his meal yet?"

By protocol, Eunuch Xiao Zhuo was not supposed to reveal the Emperor's movements, but when faced with Ji Weiqiu, he answered without hesitation, "The Emperor is busy with official duties..."

Which meant he hadn't eaten.

Ji Weiqiu thought that wouldn't do at all and said, "Help me change."

The palace attendants at the side were already prepared and about to step forward to serve him, but they saw Ji Weiqiu casually take off his outer robe and toss it onto the arhat bed. He then grabbed a new outer robe from an attendant's hands, threw it on, and walked out, not even sparing a glance for his inner clothes. Just like that, he headed for the main hall!

Who didn't know the Emperor was a stickler for cleanliness? And His Highness was just going to wing it like that?!

Eunuch Xiao Zhuo waved his hand. "Hurry and tidy up."

He followed in a few quick steps. By now, Ji Weiqiu was already out the door of the side hall. He had intended to ask an imperial attendant to announce him, but upon stepping outside, he saw an unexpected person—Gu Yunhe, Prime Minister Gu.

Prime Minister Gu was over forty, with a scholarly appearance and a gentle disposition. Seeing someone striding out from the side hall of Qingning Hall, he assumed it was one of the Emperor's favorites and lowered his eyes to give way. But to his surprise, the person spoke first, "Ah? Prime Minister Gu, you're here? Why aren't you going in? Have you eaten?"

Prime Minister Gu looked up and saw it was Ji Weiqiu. A flicker of astonishment crossed his eyes, but having navigated the court for twenty years, he showed no trace of it on his face. He simply cupped his hands in a salute to Ji Weiqiu. "Your Highness, this subject has not yet eaten."

Ji Weiqiu was not surprised. Prime Minister Gu was his brother's closest confidant, a core member of his ironclad faction. Since he was living here, and his brother had neither forbidden Prime Minister Gu from entering nor told him to make himself scarce, it meant he didn't mind the prime minister knowing. He said, "Perfect. I heard..."

Ji Weiqiu had intended to say, 'I heard Imperial Elder Brother hasn't eaten either,' but remembering that he had just been shown the Li Yunxiu Case yesterday, he stopped himself. Prime Minister Gu, being astute, didn't ask what was meant to follow the half-finished sentence, simply pretending he hadn't heard. He said, "It is quite late. Has Your Highness also not eaten yet?"

Ji Weiqiu nodded. Thinking of the memorials from earlier, he figured since this was his brother's confidant, it should be fine to ask. So he inquired, "I wonder if Prime Minister Gu knows anything about Qian Zhiwei, the prefect of Quanzhou Prefecture?"

Prime Minister Gu asked tactfully, "Why does Your Highness ask about him?"

Ji Weiqiu said in a low voice, "Imperial Elder Brother had me read the memorials impeaching him. He said it is my own affair, and that I must understand it myself."

Prime Minister Gu pondered for a moment. "What does Your Highness think of this man?"

Ji Weiqiu answered without a second thought, "A bold and reckless corrupt official."

"In that case, Your Highness..." Prime Minister Gu was mid-sentence when Eunuch Qingxi opened the door and came out. With his head bowed respectfully, he said, "Your Highness, Lord Prime Minister, the Emperor summons you both for an audience."

"Thank you, Eunuch." Prime Minister Gu smiled and nodded, then finished what he was saying to Ji Weiqiu: "However Your Highness thinks, that is how you should pass judgment."

The implication was that Ji Weiqiu had not guessed wrong.

"Thank you, Prime Minister Gu." Ji Weiqiu gestured for Prime Minister Gu to go first, but the prime minister stepped back, so they ended up entering side by side. Ji Weiqiu took the opportunity to whisper, "Prime Minister Gu doesn't have anything urgent to attend to later, does he?"

Prime Minister Gu nodded slightly. "Nothing urgent."

Ji Weiqiu indicated that he understood.

Ji Su was still reviewing memorials. Seeing the towering stacks on his desk, Ji Weiqiu shook his head, thinking to himself, 'No wonder so few emperors in history lived long lives. Who could possibly endure reading so many of these things!'

After Ji Weiqiu and Prime Minister Gu paid their respects, Ji Su first asked him, "What is it?"

Ji Weiqiu said with a perfectly straight face, "Imperial Elder Brother, your younger brother is hungry and has come specially to beg a meal from you."

Eunuch Qingxi also seized the opportunity to add, "Your Majesty, it is already past the beginning of the wei hour..."

Hearing this, how could Prime Minister Gu not understand? He also cupped his hands and said with a smile, "May the Emperor not take offense. This subject was busy in the Grand Secretariat and missed the mealtime. After some thought, I decided to come here to beg a meal from the Emperor as well."

Ji Su looked up. Prime Minister Gu was his usual self, his conduct proper, with nothing amiss. Then he looked at Ji Weiqiu standing nearby, staring at him expectantly, his face a little pale. He was most likely truly hungry.

Ji Su frowned slightly. 'He hasn't eaten yet? Why?'

But with Prime Minister Gu present, he did not ask further, only saying, "Serve the meal."

Eunuch Qingxi felt as if he had been granted a pardon. The dishes had already been reheated three times. The Emperor had delayed for so long that the Imperial Kitchen was frantic with worry. If he still didn't eat, they would inevitably have to alarm the Empress Dowager!

Ji Weiqiu said with a beaming smile, "Thank you, Imperial Elder Brother!"

Author's Note:

hhhh yesterday I saw a comment about Ji Su checking the surveillance footage and seeing the puppy tearing up the sofa. I laughed for a long time. I finally found it today and pinned it.

Also, some people said Quanzhou is more than eight hundred li from Yanjing. Actually, my Quanzhou is based on Jinan. A Baidu search said that because Jinan has many springs, it's also called the City of Springs. It's about eight hundred and twenty li to Beijing, right? I rounded it down to eight hundred li.

Ahem... the geography in this text is purely fictional! Any resemblance to actual places is purely coincidental