Did the Seventh Prince attend court today?

After a moment of distraction, Cang Shuyue frowned slightly, turned around and left.

Lu blinked in confusion. He was just about to find out what this person was up to, so why did he leave?

He didn't hesitate and quickly slipped away before Eunuch Kang came looking for him.

After leaving the Imperial Garden, Cang Shuyue went straight out of the palace and took a carriage back to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

Inside the study, the shadow guard knelt on one knee and truthfully reported the day's court events: "His Majesty brought the recently found Seventh Prince to court today, insisting on holding a sacrificial ceremony despite the ministers' advice. It seems he dotes on the Seventh Prince. There is a flood in Xiangyang, and His Majesty intends to send people to provide disaster relief, but the candidates have not yet been decided."

"The emperor's favoritism is not a good thing for a prince without a background." Cang Shuyue frowned, and the bright and cheerful smile of the boy involuntarily appeared in his mind.

The shadow guard took out a portrait and a secret letter and presented them, saying, "This is a portrait and intelligence about the Seventh Prince."

Cang Shuyue didn't take it, closed his eyes, leaned back in his chair, and said calmly, "I've met him."

Anyone who has seen that face would recognize it; it's just a pity that it belongs to that person's child.

On the other side, unable to find anyone, Eunuch Kang had no choice but to return to the Imperial Study to report. Emperor Wulong, who had been waiting for a long time without seeing anyone, flew into a rage and smashed the inkstone on the table, frightening all the eunuchs and palace maids who were serving him into trembling.

Xu Zheng hesitated for a moment, then said, "Perhaps His Highness the Seventh Prince has already gone back to rest."

These words were like a wake-up call. Emperor Wulong immediately led his men back to Yixin Palace in a huff. When they arrived at the side hall, they found that the person that Eunuch Kang had been searching for was indeed lying on the bed, fast asleep. His lazy, snoring manner infuriated Emperor Wulong.

"You unfilial son!" Emperor Wulong's eyes reddened with rage. He roared and yanked the man up, shouting, "Your father hasn't slept all night, toiling for the country, and you dare to sleep in broad daylight? Get up!"

Just as he drifted off to sleep, he was woken up. Youlu thought he was still in the celestial realm and instinctively hugged the hand that was holding him, whining, "I'm so sleepy, waaaaah! I'm still a child, I'm still growing, I won't grow taller if I don't sleep, waaaaah..." He thought it was the God of Destiny coming to drag him to his morning lessons again.

Emperor Wulong was startled and instinctively tried to shake off the person in his arms, but stopped when he saw the child's innocent face. He stiffly raised his hand and patted his youngest son's head, hesitatingly saying, "Well, alright then, we'll talk about it when you wake up."

Youlu contentedly crawled back into bed and continued his great sleep, without even opening his eyes from beginning to end.

Emperor Wulong stood by the bedside for a while, then awkwardly left the side hall.

Back in the imperial study, Emperor Wulong picked up a memorial, opened it, and said solemnly, "Let's first talk about the tribute from the Xia-Sui envoys."

Prime Minister Su and Xu Zheng exchanged a glance, pretending not to notice that His Majesty the Emperor had held the memorial upside down.

Youlu slept until noon, feeling refreshed and ready to go out to forage for food. But as soon as he stepped outside, he was met with Eunuch Kang's mournful face. Startled, he clutched his chest and said with lingering fear, "Eunuch Kang, have I offended you?"

That pale face and red lips are terrifying.

Eunuch Kang looked aggrieved. "Seventh Prince, what are you saying? How could I dare to offend you? It's His Majesty who has been waiting for you all morning, and now he's throwing a tantrum in the Imperial Study."

Youlu touched his nose guiltily.

Rushing to the Imperial Study, he could hear Emperor Wulong roaring from afar. Youlu glanced at Eunuch Kang blocking his way and pushed open the door of the Imperial Study with a death-defying spirit.

With a creak, the door opened, and three pairs of eyes stared straight at you from inside the imperial study, sending a chill down your spine.

Behind his desk, Emperor Wulong gritted his teeth and asked, "Did my son sleep well?"

Lu chuckled dryly, stepping over the threshold under the resentful gazes of the three men, and said with a forced laugh, "Everyone's here. Looks like you're quite busy. It's good to be busy, it's good to be busy."

"Get over here!" Emperor Wulong roared.

Youlu blinked innocently and trotted to the desk.

Snapped--

A memorial was thrown in front of him, and the weary voice of Emperor Wulong rang out: "Disaster relief is of utmost urgency. Money and manpower must be in place as soon as possible. These are the suitable candidates we have come up with so far."

When Youlu opened the memorial, he immediately saw Xiao Yunli's name, as well as Xiao Yunheng and the Gu brothers. What surprised him most was that Xu Ruohuai's name was also there.

Although Xu Ruohuai was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), he did not hold any official position. Logically speaking, it was impossible for him to be given a task like disaster relief. Moreover, the emperor had always been dissatisfied with Xu Zheng, so why did he suddenly start promoting Xu Ruohuai?

If this matter is handled well, Xu Ruohuai will be able to take off immediately.

Could it be that because Xu Zheng found him, the Emperor changed his opinion of Xu Zheng and began to give him important responsibilities?

That makes sense, otherwise Xu Zheng wouldn't be in the Imperial Study right now.

After a moment's thought, Youlu feigned innocence and said, "Your subject doesn't understand these things. Such important matters can be discussed and decided by Father and Prime Minister Su."

Emperor Wulong gave a half-smile.

With a clear, innocent gaze, You Lu thought to herself, "The most ruthless are those in the imperial family. You just found me, and now you're taking me to court and arguing with ministers over me. I don't believe you truly love me. There's definitely some conspiracy. This is probably just a test, and I won't fall for it. I must bide my time and amaze everyone!"

Upon hearing his thoughts, Emperor Wulong was speechless for a moment. He flicked the man's forehead and said slowly, "You grew up in the streets, haven't you ever heard any rumors about the officials in the court? Besides, aren't you good at fortune telling and physiognomy? Can't you tell good from bad and evil? Stop talking nonsense and help me see if these people are suitable."

Youlu covered his forehead and hissed, then his eyes lit up. Oh right, he could also take the charlatan route!

An idea immediately came to mind, and he said, "It's not that I can't figure it out, but I'm worried that Father Emperor won't believe me, so I dare not speak recklessly."

"Speak freely and boldly. Even if you are wrong, I will not blame you." Emperor Wulong waved his hand, granting him special privileges.

With these words, Youlu felt relieved and pointed to the eldest prince's name, saying, "Judging from the faces of the people I've observed, the eldest prince is kind-hearted and indeed suitable for disaster relief. However, he is too soft-hearted and may lose sight of the bigger picture. If he were to go to provide disaster relief, I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to keep things under control."

"Oh?" Emperor Wulong became interested, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Continue."

You Lu then pointed to Xu Ruohuai's name, "Although Xu's older brother is clever, he is stubborn. Like Lord Xu, he is inflexible and easily offends people."

Xu Zheng thought of Bai Qingqing, who had been brought home by his eldest son, and nodded in agreement, "What the Seventh Prince said is quite right."

"As for the Third Prince," Youlu pointed to the Third Prince's name again, "the Third Prince has a high opinion of himself and is very competitive. If he goes to provide disaster relief, he may disregard public opinion. And if he fails to go, he may secretly sabotage the disaster relief efforts."

"As for the Gu brothers, the eldest is simple-minded and physically strong, while the second is cunning and ruthless, so neither is very suitable. I haven't met the others, so I don't know."

Prime Minister Su stroked his long beard and nodded repeatedly, "Indeed."

Emperor Wulong rolled his eyes at Youlu, "Speaking so bluntly, are you courting death?"

Youlu shrugged. "I only said it because my father told me to."

Emperor Wulong was both amused and annoyed. He raised his hand and flicked him on the forehead again. Then, he directly picked up his pen and crossed out the names of the Third Prince and Gu Zheng from the list, writing the three characters "Cang Shuyue" instead.

You Lu was surprised that the Third Prince had been removed from the disaster relief list so easily.

What he didn't know was that Emperor Wulong, who could hear his thoughts, had no intention of sending Xiao Yunheng to provide disaster relief; the name was deliberately written down for him to see.

As for why Gu Cheng was kept, as You Lu said, Gu Cheng is simple-minded and physically strong. Even though he is the Third Prince's man, he wouldn't have the brains to do anything bad. He can do hard labor. Besides, it's also a way of giving the Third Prince face. To sideline the Third Prince, we have to take it slowly.

Before Youlu arrived at the Imperial Study, Emperor Wulong and his two comrades had already reached a consensus on weakening the Third Prince and the forces behind him.

Youlu looked curiously at the name that Emperor Wulong had just written.

Cang Shuyue—this was the man he saw in the Imperial Garden that morning; his name sounded rather nice.

He couldn't help but silently repeat it to himself.

Emperor Wulong put down his writing brush, rubbed his youngest son's head, and said, "You will go with me then."

There's nothing to say, but why is he everywhere?