AMLFS Chapter 118

Chapter 119: Not Allowed

Chapter 119: Not Allowed

Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district’s official duties kept him busy, and he spent most of his time in the Imperial Study. The new emperor’s enthronement ceremony was still under intense preparation. The common people were greatly weakened after the war.

The already hollow dynasty was now even more precarious, and with foreign tribes coveting it, Zhao Fangye could not relax for a moment.

He not only had to rectify the bureaucracy but also start selecting officials to revitalize the court. As for the people, they needed to recuperate and have their taxes reduced.

Song Huaixi had very few opportunities to see Zhao Fangye in the sleeping quarters each day, but he wasn’t worried. He took his things and ran to the Imperial Study, curling up there and playing by himself.

Gradually, a small table, a daybed, and many odds and ends appeared beside Zhao Fangye’s desk. They were all brought by Song Huaixi.

Because of his arrival, the solemn Imperial Study became more approachable.

Song Huaixi nestled on the daybed not far from Zhao Fangye, which was padded with thick fur and very soft.

Attentive servants had also thoughtfully prepared a thin blanket for him, and several exquisitely crafted pastries were placed on a small table next to the daybed.

They were all carefully developed by the imperial kitchen according to Song Huaixi’s tastes. Not only the flavors but also the patterns were different every day.

Song Huaixi was very interested in these pastries, but Zhao Fangye wouldn’t let him eat too much.

Lying on the daybed, Song Huaixi flipped through his picture book while picking up the pastries beside him and putting them in his mouth. His cheeks were bulging, looking very comfortable.

Today’s jujube paste rolls were very sweet and sour, and Song Huaixi unknowingly ate a whole plate. Just as he was about to take more pastries, a low voice stopped him.

“You’re not allowed to take any more.” Zhao Fangye’s eyes were clearly fixed on the memorial in his hand, but it was as if he had eyes on the side of his head. He was very clear about Song Huaixi’s every move. “You had so many snacks this afternoon, you won’t be able to eat much for dinner. And then you’ll be crying about being hungry in the middle of the night again?”

His tone was unhurried and gentle, without any reprimand. But Song Huaixi obediently retracted his hand.

He put down the book in his hand and looked at Zhao Fangye with his big, blinking eyes. He actually wanted to eat one more, but since Zhao Fangye didn’t allow it, he would just forget about it.

Sensing his gaze, Zhao Fangye helplessly put down the vermilion brush in his hand and looked at those pleading eyes. He compromised and said, “Alright. Just one last one.”

“Hehe!”

Song Huaixi’s bright eyes curved into crescents, and he quickly reached out and took one, taking a bite. Then, he wriggled off the soft couch, jumped off the couch barefoot, and ran to Zhao Fangye’s side.

“Here, you try it. It’s really delicious. No wonder I ate so much. It’s just that this pastry is too delicious.” He handed out the remaining half of the pastry in his hand, defending his gluttony.

Pinching his hand and eating the half pastry, Zhao Fangye was unmoved by his statement and said seriously, “Making it so delicious that you don’t eat your meals properly. The cook should be punished! Someone come!”

As soon as Song Huaixi heard this, he became unhappy. He hurriedly grabbed his sleeve, frowned, and complained, “How can you do this? It’s my own gluttony, you can’t punish the cook. The cook is very good and always makes me delicious pastries.”

Zhao Fangye remained unmoved, his eyes quietly falling on that anxious face.

“You can’t punish the cook, Zhao Fangye…” Seeing that he was ignoring him, Song Huaixi squeezed in between Zhao Fangye and the desk, straddling his lap and looking up at him, pleading, “Don’t punish… okay?”

If the cook was punished, he wouldn’t have delicious pastries to eat, and besides, was it wrong to make the pastries too delicious? It was really strange.

Letting him squeeze in, Zhao Fangye’s strong arms wrapped around his slender waist. Song Huaixi obviously didn’t understand Zhao Fangye’s true intention of punishing the cook. He reached out and pinched his bare feet. Zhao Fangye frowned slightly.

He asked in a calm tone, “Are you still going to be gluttonous?”

“No, no!” Song Huaixi shook his head like a rattle drum, hurriedly assuring him, “I will eat properly in the future.”

“Mm.”

Zhao Fangye relented, then pinched the soles of his feet again, causing him to shiver. “Not wearing shoes? How are the servants serving you? Where are Chun Hua and Zhao Lu? They should be punished!”

“Ah?…” Song Huaixi was almost in tears. Why was Zhao Fangye punishing so many people today?

“I’ll wear them! I’ll wear them! Don’t punish them…” Song Huaixi said anxiously, repeatedly assuring him.

Seeing that the person had learned his lesson, Zhao Fangye didn’t scare him anymore. He reached out and pinched his nose, his tone slightly serious: “In the future, if you don’t listen, I will punish the people around you. Do you understand?”

“Understood…”

Song Huaixi was naturally simple and did things according to his own nature. He did whatever he wanted without considering the consequences, often doing things that harmed his body.

For example, he loved to sleep in, and sometimes he would be listless all day after getting up too late. Later, Zhao Fangye ordered Chun Hua and Zhao Lu to wake him up on time.

Also, if he liked to eat something, he wouldn’t be restrained. Last time, before dinner, the imperial kitchen presented a bowl of fermented glutinous rice wine, and he really liked the glutinous rice balls in it. He ate two big bowls in one go, and then he cried half the night saying his stomach was bloated and he couldn’t sleep.

Zhao Fangye shook his head and sighed. He was clearly of age but still like a child, making people worry.

When the two were in the Imperial Study, there were usually no servants in the hall. Zhao Fangye held him in that position and went to get his shoes and socks.

After putting them on, he held him and sat back at the desk. Song Huaixi wrapped his arms around his neck, leaning against him with his back to the desk, his feet dangling by his legs.

He had been in the palace for several days and felt that he was too leisurely. He had nothing to do, and Zhao Fangye was too busy to be with him all the time.

He used to have his parents and siblings with him, but now he only had Zhao Fangye. The days were plain and dull, and he was really bored. He was tired of the picture books he used to love to read, and the stories were always the same.

Holding Song Huaixi in one hand and reading the memorial in the other, Zhao Fangye noticed that the person in his arms was not in high spirits. Usually, he would be talking to himself at this time. It was rare for him to be so quiet.

He quickly finished reading the memorial and threw it aside. Zhao Fangye lowered his head and looked at the person leaning on his chest: “What’s wrong? So listless.”

Song Huaixi looked in one direction. In fact, he didn’t understand his own emotions. His eyelashes fluttered slowly and finally he muttered: “I miss my parents a little…”

So he was homesick, Zhao Fangye’s eyes showed a trace of pity.

He had been busy with official duties these past few days and probably hadn’t spent enough time with him. In addition, there were very few people in the palace that Song Huaixi could talk to. It was normal for him to feel lonely.

Thinking of this, Zhao Fangye felt a little apologetic. He was the one who brought Song Huaixi into this cage of a palace, and all he could do was make it up to him.

He lowered his head and kissed him on the forehead: “Missing home? Huaixi can go back to the Song Mansion to visit tomorrow. Okay?”

“Really!”

The originally listless face immediately shone with radiance, and Song Huaixi couldn’t wait to go home.