Part 4
Seeing Zong Hao, the Emperor hurriedly waved him over. “A-Hao, look, Second Son is eating food I fed him with my own hands. This new delicacy from the Capital Planet is truly not bad. Mr. Bai is indeed a great talent.”
Ning Yunyi lowered his eyes. “Your Majesty overpraises me. It was just a stroke of luck to obtain a secret recipe.”
The Second Prince’s eyes lit up immediately upon seeing Ning Yunyi. He stopped eating the kebabs and stared longingly. He only calmed down when Zong Hao and Ning Yunyi walked over.
The Emperor thought his son was looking at Zong Hao, and his heart felt heavy. Especially since he heard an expert had saved the Second Prince and given him and the energy stone to Zong Hao, thereby avoiding an imperial crisis.
He looked at the foolish Second Prince, then at his loyal official. His eyes grew moist. Looking at Patriarch Hermann and Mr. Bai, a bold idea suddenly occurred to him.
The Emperor took a handkerchief from an attendant and wiped his hands clean. Then, he had them bring seats and smiled at the Patriarch. “I heard tonight’s banquet was for the engagement of Mr. Bai and that child Yousi? It was delayed because A-Hao needed to save me and expose the Prince’s crimes. Fortunately, I have woken up, so this joyous occasion cannot be simply dismissed.”
The several people present had been listening with lowered eyes, but they were stunned by his words. [??]
Ning Yunyi and Zong Hao both whipped their heads up, a bad premonition rising. No way? Is the Emperor going to continue playing matchmaker?
The only one happy was likely Patriarch Hermann. His eyes lit up as he looked expectantly at the Emperor. He thought the marriage was gone, but it had taken a turn for the better? If the Emperor was still willing to arrange a marriage, it meant he wouldn’t take his anger out on the Hermann family!
As expected, the Emperor spoke: “Since Yousi and Mr. Bai are interested, this marriage cannot be broken. Coincidentally, I also feel the Second Son and Marshal Zong are a good match. The Marshal saved him, and the Second Son is only close to him now. Why don’t we have a double celebration?”
Zong Hao: “…………”
Ning Yunyi: [??] He looked at the Second Prince with a strange expression, then at Zong Hao. Good god, this isn’t just a random pairing—this is blind matchmaking!
This was a pairing he had never even considered.
The Emperor was certainly planning to do something big as soon as he woke up.
Ning Yunyi actually didn’t mind. He had initially intended to act with Yousi anyway. At most, it would just be an engagement first. They hadn’t mentioned marriage, and since it was fake, they could just stall until the matter eventually faded.
The Emperor had spoken now, but who would be the ruler of the Empire in the future was uncertain. So his words wouldn’t necessarily count later.
Zong Hao’s expression under the mask was stiff. “Your Majesty, the Second Prince and I… are not a good match. Furthermore, the Second Prince would not agree.”
The Emperor shook his head. “Who says so? Second Son has been calling you ‘Master’ and is exceptionally happy whenever you arrive. It’s just an engagement for now, not a marriage. If you truly don’t like each other later, it can be cancelled. It’s just for spending time together first.”
He had been traumatized by the news of his son’s condition. He feared that if he passed away one day, the Second Son would need a benefactor; otherwise, he might be eaten alive by others.
The only one he could trust was Marshal Zong. This incident had proved the Marshal’s loyalty, and he was the only one to whom the Emperor could entrust his son.
If he was lucky enough to wake up later and there were no feelings, it could be cancelled. But feelings could be cultivated. If he really stayed foolish until the end, even if they couldn’t be lovers, feelings would ensure he was taken care of.
Zong Hao’s face was stiff as he spoke in front of the only happy person, Patriarch Hermann: “But I like Mr. Bai and would rather be engaged to him.”
Patriarch Hermann’s grin froze. He blinked, and it took a long while before he stared stiffly at the Marshal. Confirming that the words had come from the Marshal’s mouth, he went numb. N-no… their Yousi had finally taken a liking to someone; how could the Marshal just come and snatch him? How great is the Second Prince? Wouldn’t becoming a match with him be the icing on the cake?
Ning Yunyi was even more numb. He looked at Zong Hao with a complex expression: What kind of mess are you making?
At that moment, the Second Prince fumbled a kebab out of the food box, stood up, and lunged toward Ning Yunyi with precision. He looked up as if presenting a treasure. “Eat! It’s delicious and smells so good!”
Sky-blue eyes looked up, and strands of hair wrapped around Ning Yunyi’s wrist. The Emperor could clearly see the light in his son’s eyes—they were full of the other person.
The Emperor froze. “Second Son… why are you hugging Mr. Bai? Don’t you want your Master anymore?”
The Second Prince was slow to react, but he still followed the thread. “Smells good. Want him. Master, want him too.”
The Emperor was shocked. Son, you’re already foolish; why do you still want to have your cake and eat it too?
He understood. His foolish son wanted this sweet-smelling Mr. Bai, and he wanted his “Master,” Zong Hao, as well.
Zong Hao grabbed the Second Prince’s back collar and pulled him away. When the Second Prince was about to cry again, Zong Hao frowned. “Do you want to try crying again?”
Hearing the threat, the Second Prince recalled the instructions from before and released his hand piteously.
Ning Yunyi stared at the scent of cumin on his sleeve, feeling numb.
The Emperor hurriedly spoke: “Second Son isn’t thinking clearly, and I, his Imperial Father, didn’t think things through. Second Son is indeed not suited for an engagement right now, so let’s… drop that for now. But A-Hao, about you and Mr. Bai and Yousi… you three families should discuss it yourselves. Confirm later who is getting engaged to whom.”
Patriarch Hermann was heartbroken that the opportunity had slipped away, but he didn’t dare say anything at this moment and could only respond dejectedly.
Zong Hao also cupped his hands in response. His goal had been achieved.
The Emperor had endured too much trauma tonight and wasn’t in good spirits. He waved his hand to dismiss them.
As Ning Yunyi and Zong Hao walked out, the Second Prince immediately fumbled to follow them. The Emperor hurriedly called out, “Second Son! Come here to Father! You cannot go with them.”
However, the Second Prince ignored him and trotted after them.
The Emperor’s heart was filled with complex emotions.
When Ning Yunyi and Zong Hao stopped, the Second Prince stopped as well.
Zong Hao spoke: “Your Majesty needn’t worry. The Second Prince is likely just used to being with us these past few days. Why don’t I take him back to the Zong estate first? He can be brought back once he has adjusted.”
Looking at his son, who didn’t recognize him at all, and thinking that he would cry if he couldn’t see the Marshal, the Emperor could only wave his hand in pain. “Fine. There is too much going on in the palace anyway; it’s better for him to go to the Zong estate first.”
Zong Hao responded, then stepped aside to walk out with Ning Yunyi. They didn’t separate once they were outside, only stopping when they reached the hall where Ning Yunyi had stayed previously. “Mr. Bai, please look after the Second Prince for me. We’ll leave the palace together later.”
Ning Yunyi agreed and took the Second Prince and his elder brother back into the hall.
When the news was reported to the Emperor, his eyes remained red for a long time, and he didn’t speak. “Let it be for now.” It was the sibling betrayal in the palace that had traumatized him into this state. Staying in the palace would likely only make things worse. Furthermore, the Prince’s men hadn’t all been caught yet; he would be more at ease with the Marshal looking after him.
After arranging the palace affairs, Zong Hao returned to the Emperor’s bedchamber. After he bowed, the Emperor opened his eyes, not surprised to see him. He waved the attendants away and sighed.
“You came after all.”
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