Chapter 4, the Crown Prince was teased

Seeing Li Hong shiver suddenly, Li Xian knew well that he was apprehensive about the Empress Wu's reprimand, and could not help but chuckle to himself. After adjusting the crown on his head, he instructed him on how to walk and how to avoid trouble, then gestured for him to follow behind.

This... is not very good, if the Emperor, Empress, and several masters were to find out...

Sister Rong, Sister Rong

Alas, both masters are ill today

In the distance, walking at the forefront is a tall and elegant woman. Although she is no longer young, she radiates a mature charm. The wide hem of her skirt sways with her movements and the gentle breeze, producing a melodious jingling sound. Her face, untouched by the passage of time, is also full of vitality, and with every gesture, she outshines the young and beautiful yet somewhat inexperienced maidens behind her

What a coincidence? Li Xian tilted his head and glanced at his brother, feeling that there was a hint of schadenfreude in his sigh. However, it was understandable; Li Hongcai had only recently moved into the Eastern Palace, and he looked noticeably thinner, with little sparkle left in his eyes. This clearly indicated the depth of his suffering, and it was no wonder that Master would become like this after falling ill.

He turned his head and saw Li Hong, and couldn't help but murmur to himself, "Speak of the devil, and he appears." He quickly greeted him with a cheerful smile, "Fifth Brother, aren't you studying today?"

Although Li Hong was somewhat hesitant, he found it hard to pass up a rare day of leisure. Therefore, he quickly concocted an excuse to send the eunuch away. Once it was just the two of them, Li Xian led Li Hong in circles before slipping into an inconspicuous room. When they emerged, both were dressed in the attire of eunuchs.

With Li Hong diving headfirst into a courtyard, Li Xian began to shout loudly. Soon, heads started to peek out from several doorways, and upon recognizing the visitors, someone laughed and said: "Rong Niang, the younger brother you know has come to see you!"

In this splendid season of bright spring, the women throughout the palace have donned light spring garments. However, aside from the consorts and female officials of the seventh rank and above, most are dressed in the common palace attire that is fitted at the waist and loose at the hem. Since the deaths of Empress Wang and Consort Xiao, the number of consorts in the palace has dwindled, and with Empress Wu's ascension, there has been a strong emphasis on frugality, leading to palace attire that is less resplendent and extravagant than in previous times.

Bending low and hurrying through several palaces, Li Hong had reached the deepest part of the inner palace, panting and unable to move further. Seeing his frail demeanor, Li Xian couldn't help but sigh. Indeed, the Eastern Palace is truly not a good place; back when Li Hong had not entered the library, he had always been in good health and full of vitality.

"I was just about to go over, who knew this little fellow would arrive so early!" Rongniang reached out and flicked Li Xian's head. Seeing Li Hong standing there in a daze, she couldn't help but feel even more affectionate, and gently patted his right cheek. "By the way, he has also recently been assigned to serve His Highness the Prince of Lu? Truly handsome, he would surely be a treasure in a humble household, it's really a pity for him to become a palace eunuch!"

Hearing this disheartening remark, Li Xian turned around and shot Li Hong a fierce glare. When he turned back, however, Lady Han and her party had already walked far away. Noticing that several eunuchs had kept their distance, he chuckled and said, "Fifth Brother, since you have nothing to do, let's drive them all away. I will take you to a wonderful place"

Li Xian sneaked out the day before yesterday. Although he was quickly brought back by someone his mother sent, the prosperity of Luoyang is indeed not inferior to that of Chang'an. In recent years, due to the grain supply issues in Guanzhong, not only have his parents collectively moved here, but almost the entire government team has also relocated. After the Spring Festival, his father took his mother and others on a trip to Bingzhou to return home in style, but in the end, they still returned to Luoyang.

Poor Li Hong had been raised as the crown prince since childhood, with his master teaching him etiquette and the rules of literature and propriety every day. This was the first time he had been so lightly treated by a woman, and his face turned bright red in an instant. Meanwhile, Li Xian, indifferent to his embarrassment, chuckled and said, "Today I saw Lady Han enter the palace. Did you not ask Sister Rong to attend to her?"

Soon, a young woman hurriedly emerged from a room and shot a fierce glare at the onlookers, saying: "What are you looking at? Haven't any of you ever had a younger brother? Why do you all come here to laugh at me!" The crowd chuckled for a moment, but most of them quickly withdrew their heads.

Since spending the Spring Festival here and becoming familiar with the surroundings, Li Xian has used sweet words to deceive two sets of attire. During his free time, he wanders around the palace dressed in them, and no one ever realizes that he is the Prince of Lu. Of course, this is also thanks to his robust physique at the age of eight, which is comparable in height to that of a teenager, and the palace indeed has a group of young attendants serving the princes and princesses.

Cursing aside, in the end, he had no choice but to drag Li Hong along, secretly cursing himself for bringing such a burden. In this palace, the eunuchs must cultivate the skill of walking swiftly, while leisurely strolling is the privilege of the nobility. If one does not pay attention to this distinction, it is obvious to everyone that they have sneaked out.

At this moment, Li Xian stood idly in the center of the western gate, his eyes wandering over the palace maids, while his mind was busy calculating how to spend the day.

Fifth Brother, do you really want someone to go to Father and Mother to report you

Why do we have to wear this?" Li Hong said, pulling at the ill-fitting garment, his face filled with confusion and discomfort. Having been born into luxury, he had never worn clothing made from such inferior materials.

His elder brother, Li Hong, had long been designated as the Crown Prince. Now only ten years old, he was confined daily within the Eastern Palace, subjected to relentless bombardment from ministers and scholars day and night. He had once sneaked in to take a look and was particularly grateful that his father understood the importance of seniority and did not make him the Crown Prince; otherwise, the one suffering inside would be himself now.

The child is truly incorrigible! Li Xian instinctively rolled his eyes; what nonsense. If Li Hong were to wander around the palace dressed in the attire of a crown prince, would there be anywhere he could go without someone reporting to Empress Wu? He lacks even the awareness to disguise himself discreetly. In the future, he really cannot rely on this brother of his for anything.

Of course, at this moment, he can only look but not eat, because ... ...

Do you want to go out and have some fun with me, Fifth Brother?

Fortunately, the goal was already in sight, and he let out a significant sigh of relief, easing the tension in his hands. Turning back to see Li Hong exhausted to the point of near collapse, he couldn't help but shake his head. Indeed, it was necessary for this prince to strengthen his training in the future. Although later generations claim that Li Hong was driven to death by his mother, if things continued this way, it was indeed possible for him to pass away at such a young age.

Li Xian rolled his eyes; this truly was a well-behaved child. Well, having encountered such a one today, his plan to slack off was ruined. Just as he was weighing whether to drag someone down with him, he suddenly caught sight of a large group of people entering from that direction. He quickly pulled Li Hong behind a stone lion to hide, and the few eunuchs following Li Hong also wisely concealed themselves.

However, Li Xian felt that this was even more irritating to the eyes. A woman's beauty is composed of three parts appearance and seven parts adornment, and when this adornment is reduced to three parts or even less, her natural beauty is completely revealed. He wished he could ask his mother to issue an order prohibiting the use of cosmetics throughout the palace, so that he could discover more beauties and thus have more visual enjoyment

"Liulang, don't bother with them... Oh, you brought a companion today?" She exclaimed in admiration, pinching Li Hong's cheek with her delicate hand, "What a handsome young man!"

You are meant to be the crown prince, yet you cannot even take a few steps forward!

I can no longer walk

He clenched his fists, gritting his teeth, filled with deep sorrow and anger at the slow pace of his growth. Spending his days mingling among the crowd of beauties, he truly managed to pass through the garden of flowers without a single petal touching him, yet this was not his own choice! He was only eight years old, eight years old!

Sixth brother

Ah, it is the concubine