The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 544 - 511: Surprise (Part 2)

Zhao Xi and Song Yuanbao arrived shortly.

Faced with the ministers’ friendly advances, Zhao Xi responded coldly and sat down in his spot.

When Song Yuanbao entered the hall, his eyes were darting around. Spotting his parents, he excitedly ran over. Seeing Wen Wan looking uncomfortable, he frowned, "Father, Mother is about to give birth, why did you bring her to the palace?"

Afraid that Song Wei might feel awkward, Wen Wan quickly explained, "I wanted to come myself. Since being granted the title, I haven’t attended a palace banquet. I wanted to experience it."

Song Yuanbao’s eyebrows nearly twisted into knots, "Mother...you are being reckless! At a palace banquet with so many people coming and going, with such a big belly, what if someone accidentally bumps into you and something goes wrong?"

Song Wei stopped him before he could continue, and called him over to a quieter corner outside Qingliang Palace to ask, "Did His Highness draw the mechanical beast you suggested?"

Song Yuanbao widened his eyes, "How does Father know?"

Apart from him and Zhao Xi, naturally there shouldn’t be a third person who knows.

"Just a guess." Song Wei paused, then asked, "What gift has His Highness prepared for the Emperor?"

Song Yuanbao thought for a moment and said, "It is a birthday congratulatory painting he painted personally. Oh, Father, let me tell you, this painting by His Highness is incredible. Upright and upside down, they are two completely different paintings, and he specially had a master frame it. I think it should amaze everyone present."

Song Wei responded, "You can see His Highness put a lot of thought into it."

For some reason, Song Yuanbao felt his father’s words implied "unsatisfactory, not surprising, too ordinary, quite typical."

Ordinary?

Song Yuanbao didn’t think so; he found it stunning.

Although this painting was created by Zhao Xi in a burst of inspiration.

To call it "a burst of inspiration" was somewhat casual. A more accurate description is that it was inspiration-driven.

Just like the time he drew the mechanical beast, it was a rush of inspiration in the quiet of the night.

However, the design drawing for the mechanical beast took him a long time with many late nights, while the birthday painting only took an hour.

Song Yuanbao could still recall the details of that night.

Zhao Xi suddenly got up at midnight and lit the lamp. Eunuch Sanbao grew anxious, scratching his ears and cheeks, but dared not push the door open. Instead, he went to the side hall to shake Song Yuanbao awake from his dreams, asking him to check on His Highness.

Song Yuanbao, still fuzzy from sleep, accidentally slapped the white doughy face of Eunuch Sanbao.

The little eunuch let him go, sat on the ground crying, saying Young Master Song had no heart. His Highness had taken care of him for so long, yet despite the issue, he could still sleep soundly without thinking to check on him.

The heartless Young Master Song’s sleep was lost due to the little eunuch’s crying. Yawning, he hurriedly pulled on his robes and rushed to Zhao Xi’s sleeping quarters, planning to give the door a kick. Only after one foot had landed did he realize the door wasn’t latched, but it was too late to retract it, causing him to stumble forward, face planting, and eye-to-eye with Zhao Xi who was quietly sitting under the lamp writing a painting.

Song Yuanbao: "..."

Song Yuanbao felt all his life’s awkward moments had been expended that night.

He nonchalantly got up, dusted himself off, cleared his throat, "So, uh... busy?"

Zhao Xi: "Is there something you need?"

Song Yuanbao found himself unusually short on words. After holding back for a long time, he squeezed out a sentence, "I just wanted to ask if you are hungry while busy at night?"

Zhao Xi: "..."

Despite the embarrassment, he saw the painting the next day. Besides expressing "awe-inspiring," there wasn’t much more to say—oh wait, he even shouted, "His Highness can accomplish anything!"

Which earned him Zhao Xi’s "are you an idiot?" look.

...

To stay up all night risking sudden death to sit under a lamp preparing a birthday gift for his father.

This is such a dedicated Prince, such a filial son, how could what he presents be anything but amazing?!

Song Yuanbao felt it necessary to explain to his father the wonder of the painting and Zhao Xi’s meticulousness.

Song Wei had no idea during this brief pause, Song Yuanbao had mentally added so much drama. He said, "Go and get His Highness’s design drawing."

"Huh?" Song Yuanbao’s brain couldn’t keep up.

He was awestruck for a long time, blinking twice, "Why the design drawing?"

"There’s a purpose to it." Song Wei replied.

Song Yuanbao hesitated, "But if I just take it, it’s like stealing, isn’t it?"

Song Wei nodded, "You can go in and tell His Highness."

"What if he disagrees?"

Song Wei: "You tell him I asked for it, he likely won’t stop you."

Song Yuanbao was still pondering when Zhao Xi had become so obedient to his father, and walked into the hall to stand beside Zhao Xi.

Seeing him motionless, Zhao Xi couldn’t help but ask, "Why not sit?"

Song Yuanbao regained his senses, bent down, and lowered his voice, "His Highness, my father asked you to take that drawing?"

"Which drawing?"

"The design drawing."

Zhao Xi furrowed his brows slightly, "Are you sure Song Sicheng asked for it, rather than it being your random thought?"

"How could I dare lie about such a thing?" Song Yuanbao expressed severe dissatisfaction with being distrusted, "If my father hadn’t spoken, even if I took it, it couldn’t be publicized, what use would it be?"

Zhao Xi glanced at Song Wei opposite.

Song Wei was engaged talking with Wen Wan, completely oblivious to the commotion over here.

Zhao Xi pursed his lips and sighed, "It’s in the highest box on the antique shelf in my sleeping quarters, go get it."

"Alright!" Before Emperor Guangxi arrived, Song Yuanbao quickly slipped away.

Just as Emperor Guangxi arrived, the small box was brought back.

Song Yuanbao sat beside Zhao Xi, exhausted and gasping for air, after paying respects with everyone to the Emperor.

Zhao Xi softly asked him, "You didn’t grab the wrong one, right?"

On the highest level of the antique shelf, there are two identical boxes.

Song Yuanbao asked, "What if I got it wrong?"

"Go ask Song Sicheng."

Zhao Xi left him with those five words and shifted his attention to Emperor Guangxi.

When people are happy, they are energized. Emperor Guangxi looked entirely refreshed today, full of smiles, appearing much less burdened than in recent days.

The first segment of such palace festivities is the presentation of gifts.

Hierarchically speaking, Eldest Prince Zhao Xi is supposed to be first. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Emperor Guangxi looked at him, seemingly expectant, "Last year Xixi gifted me a Longevity Screen, is there a surprise this year?"

Zhao Xi was about to speak when Song Wei suddenly said, "Emperor, His Highness has led all the subordinates from the Divine Soldier Bureau to prepare a surprise for you. I’ll have it brought in immediately."

Zhao Xi was confused, lifting his gaze to see the Black Clerk of the Divine Soldier Bureau carrying in half-person high chests back and forth, a total of twelve.