Chapter 92: Gossip to Chew On

"Gao Sheng, take it all!" The emperor turned and said to Eunuch Gao.

"Yes!" Eunuch Gao immediately waved his hand and called over his subordinates to collect all the gold, silver, and jewels.

Yu Dehai’s eyebrows twitched. He felt that this emperor was different from the one he had met years ago.

The cold, proud, and rebellious emperor was gone. This emperor before him seemed deep and calculating—would he really covet such a small amount of gold and jewels?!

Just as Eunuch Gao was collecting the gold and jewels, the Kang Prince finally ran over from the front courtyard.

"The Kang Prince's Mansion is so large; I bet you have to eat lunch by the time you walk from your bedroom to the front yard every morning," Xiaoyue said, looking at the panting Kang Prince who looked like he was sawing wood.

"Princess... cough, cough, Princess, you jest. This prince, this prince just ran too hastily. My body can't handle it anymore!" The Kang Prince panted heavily, with several servants and maids rushing to pat his chest and help him catch his breath. It took quite a while for him to recover.

"My father has been unwell these past few days and hasn’t left his room for a month. But today, for the sake of welcoming Your Majesty, he truly..." Yu Dehai finished, sighing.

"Tsk, this son isn’t very filial. His old father is in such a state, yet he still sits there." Ruo Xi pouted and took another bite of her rice porridge.

Xiao Yin leaned back in his chair, supporting his head with one hand. As the Kang Prince approached, he suddenly raised his hand.

Beside him, Yu Dehai reached out abruptly but was grabbed by Xiao Yin.

"Your Majesty, you..." Yu Dehai winced in pain but dared not move again. His wrist was gripped tightly by Xiao Yin, and the bones felt like they were about to break, making his face turn red.

The Kang Prince’s expression turned icy, and even his heavy breathing stopped.

"Kneel down!" Xiao Yin barked, flipping his wrist. Yu Dehai, no match for Xiao Yin, fell to his knees unwillingly, despite Xiao Yin barely exerting any effort.

"Your Majesty, what are you doing?" The Kang Prince stood firm, his expression cold, with one hand behind his back.

Mo Jingyu looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly, and a cold aura emanated from him.

Ruo Xi was only slightly surprised by her uncle the emperor’s actions. She continued eating, thinking that if an emperor couldn’t handle an old man like this, he wouldn’t be much of an emperor.

Of course, she couldn’t say that aloud. If her uncle heard it, he would likely explode with anger.

The Kang Prince’s fingers twitched as he rubbed the jade ring on his thumb.

Outside, in the shadows, figures moved.

"Since ascending the throne, I have always upheld filial piety. Seeing the Kang Prince in such distress, yet Prince Hai remains calm, such unfilial behavior must not upset you, Kang Prince!" Xiao Yin said, applying slight pressure and then releasing, causing Yu Dehai to fall.

"Ah! You... Father, your son knows his mistake!" Yu Dehai was about to lash out at the emperor, but a faint hum from his father made him restrain himself. He then turned and bowed to his father, apologizing.

"Indeed, since ascending the throne, the emperor has truly practiced filial piety. Your Majesty is the most filial person I have ever seen!" The Kang Prince nodded, then turned and scolded, "You, you are too spoiled by me. Go away and tidy up the courtyard properly for the emperor and the Princess Royal to stay!"

"Yes, yes!" Although Yu Dehai was in his forties, he did not dare defy his father and quickly got up, limping away.

Xiao Yin picked up his tea, gently scraping off the foam, brought it to his lips, and took a sip.

His elegant movements irritated the Kang Prince.

He had given birth to sons who were all useless. Look at how capable and smart others were.

Ruo Xi, having eaten her fill, didn’t care for the old man’s pretentious talk and fell asleep on her own.

Meanwhile, Yu Dehai had tidied up the courtyard, and the emperor’s entourage settled in.

Night fell.

The Kang Prince invited all the wealthy and influential people of Yude County to a grand banquet at the Kang Prince's Mansion.

"This old guy must be doing this on purpose. He didn’t even inform us and sent out invitations already. If the border troops find out, they’ll criticize my brother!" Xiaoyue stood at the entrance of the garden arranged by the Kang Prince, hearing the noise outside, and gritted her teeth.

"Has Xi'er woken up? Once she’s fed, let’s go meet those wealthy gentlemen!" Xiao Yin glanced into the room and said.

"I’ll go check." Xiaoyue turned and went to the side room to feed Ruo Xi.

Xiao Yin waited outside. Without Ruo Xi in his arms, he felt uneasy.

"Tell the Imperial Tutor to come for a drink!" Xiao Yin turned to Baiyu.

Baiyu responded and immediately left.

Ruo Xi, after being fed and satisfied, was carried by her uncle to the opulent banquet hall.

"Hmph, almost rivals the Moon Palace, doesn’t it?" Ruo Xi surveyed the banquet hall.

Compared to the imperial banquet hall, this palace was equally magnificent.

Xiao Yin knew that the Kang Prince, entrenched in the old imperial city, was essentially ruling a small kingdom. These opulent decorations could not be hidden, so he might as well flaunt them openly.

"Pay homage to the Emperor!" The Kang Prince rose first, followed by everyone else.

"Hmm!" The emperor’s cold gaze swept over everyone, walking past them without a word.

"Hmph, this is starting? Interesting!" Ruo Xi, who had planned to sleep after eating, realized that as a baby, she needed plenty of sleep to grow tall.

However, her uncle kept waking her up, either for court sessions or to solve various problems. Being a baby was exhausting!

But if there was gossip to chew on, she was happy.

"Emperor, please sit!" The Kang Prince gestured to the main seat.

"I hear the Kang Prince has been unwell. Take the seat; I can sit anywhere!" Xiao Yin said, moving to another seat.

"...” The Kang Prince’s face flushed red.

Those wealthy gentry below were momentarily stunned, and then they knelt even more obediently than before.

King Kang said that he was merely there to attend the banquet.

King Kang also had someone convey to a few of the closer associates among the wealthy gentry that once they arrived, they should act according to the situation and follow the prince's lead.