Chapter 45: Apology Gift

After finishing his thoughts, Feng Xiaohan realized that his daughter was not home today.

He sighed.

“Prepare the lotus root dish as planned.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After bathing and changing clothes, Feng Xiaohan came out and saw his two adopted sons sitting at the table.

“Greetings, Regent Prince.” The two stood up to pay their respects.

Feng Xiaohan nodded.

The three sat down to quietly enjoy their breakfast.

Feng Xiaohan looked at his adopted son on the left, then at the one on the right.

Sigh, when will my daughter be back?

“Lin Zhi, you stole my bun! Don’t you know to let your elder brother have some?” Zhao Yuan watched as Lin Zhi took a bun from his bowl.

“I don’t understand.” Lin Zhi innocently shook his head, indicating he didn’t get it.

Zhao Yuan: The younger brother is disobedient; it’s probably because the elder brother was too soft-hearted and didn’t hit him hard enough.

Feng Xiaohan ignored the chopsticks flying around the table, calmly finishing his breakfast before heading to the study to handle official matters.

Lin Zhi and Zhao Yuan continued their playful banter.

After their antics, the two followed Feng Xiaohan to the study.

“Wuyou, spread the word that this prince has invited a renowned physician who may be able to treat my eyes and legs,” Feng Xiaohan instructed.

“Regent Prince, won’t that be too risky?” Lin Zhi worried that the emperor would act out of desperation and devise some underhanded scheme against the prince.

“I don’t think it’s too radical; if we don’t push them a little, they will just hide like rats in the sewers,” Zhao Yuan remarked sharply.

“Only then will the emperor quickly trust Wuhen and Wuqing,” Feng Xiaohan laid out his plans.

The greater the threat he posed to the emperor, the more urgent the emperor would be to use Wuhen and Wuqing against him.

This way, they would have a chance to investigate what happened back then.

“Sigh, the emperor will surely resort to tricks against the Regent Prince again.” Lin Zhi expressed his concern.

That dog of an emperor would sacrifice thirty thousand troops and one of his generals just to scheme against the Regent Prince; he was truly insane.

“Wujie, do you remember what the Regent Prince told you? Why are poisonous animals usually weaker? Because fierce beasts like tigers and lions don’t need poison; they have absolute strength to suppress,” Feng Xiaohan said calmly.

Lin Zhi nodded, as if struck by a revelation.

Back then, the emperor’s tricks had cost the lives of thirty thousand troops but had not been able to eliminate the Regent Prince.

Now, it was even less likely.

The emperor, that venomous snake, had spent great effort to weaken the fierce beast that was the Regent Prince for a few years, but now the fierce beast had awakened, and soon it would seek deadly revenge against the snake.

“I will personally flay him alive and use his blood to honor my deceased kin,” Zhao Yuan’s eyes burned with vengeful hatred.

He and his people had lived carefree lives, but because of the dog emperor’s selfish desires, everything had been lost in an instant.

Lin Zhi patted Zhao Yuan’s shoulder in consolation.

“I’m fine.” Zhao Yuan shook his head, indicating that he was okay.

“Sometimes, I think, if my people and I didn’t have beautiful appearances and that unique talent, if we hadn’t saved them out of pity, would things have turned out differently…”

“Wuyou.” Feng Xiaohan interrupted his adopted son.

“Beauty is innocent, talent is innocent, and kindness is innocent.”

“The guilty ones are those filled with greed and malice.”

So, there was no need to blame oneself for the malice faced because of one’s beauty and uniqueness.

“Right.” Zhao Yuan’s gaze turned resolute.

He and his people had done nothing wrong; the fault lay with others.

The three of them discussed some more matters before Lin Zhi and Zhao Yuan left the study.

Upon exiting, Zhao Yuan seemed to remember something as he looked at Lin Zhi, who was leaning on his cane.

“What’s up?” Lin Zhi warily eyed Zhao Yuan.

What trouble was he brewing now?

“What did you get for my sister?” Zhao Yuan felt that the first meeting had ended on a sour note, so he wanted to bring something to apologize during their next encounter.

“Oh, just a simple pearl the size of a fist from the South Seas, a little trinket for my sister to play with,” Lin Zhi replied, indicating that his gift wasn’t anything extravagant.

“Oh, and I also brought a spirit mushroom.”

He didn’t have much money; that pearl had come from the consultation fee from a patient, and the mushroom was something he had dug up earlier.

“What about the others?”

“Jiang Gu gave her a vase, which she uses to hold candies.”

“Huo Rong gave her a small dagger.”

“Gu Zhu gifted her a box of gold and a safety charm.”

Zhao Yuan nodded in understanding.

“I won’t be back for lunch.” Zhao Yuan strode out decisively.

Lin Zhi replied with an “Oh,” and then leaned on his cane to return to his cool courtyard.

Zhao Yuan arrived at the Peony Pavilion in Sangdu.

“Pavilion Master.”

Zhao Yuan casually nodded, then went to rummage through the storeroom.

“Bring me a box.”

“Yes.”

Before long, the servant, Liuli, brought a box over.

Zhao Yuan stuffed things into the box with a bang.

“This golden peony is not bad.”

“What is this painting?” Zhao Yuan looked at the painting with disdain and tossed it aside.

Liuli silently picked up the painting, worth thousands of gold.

“Wait, give me the painting.” He would take it back to show his father.

Zhao Yuan placed the painting in the box.

“This bracelet is also good.” Zhao Yuan picked up a transparent jade bracelet and examined it.

Zhao Yuan filled several large boxes with rare and precious treasures.

“Liuli, where are the deeds?” Zhao Yuan searched for them.

“Wait a moment, young master.”

After a while, the expressionless Liuli carried a large box of deeds over.

“There are only these deeds in Sangdu; some are kept elsewhere.”

Zhao Yuan picked up a stack of deeds and sifted through them.

“This manor is good, with mountains and water nearby.”

“This shop is highly profitable.”

…

Zhao Yuan selected a stack of deeds and placed them in the box.

“Young master, are you planning to run away?” Liuli asked, looking at the young master who had collected a large amount of wealth.

The young master must have been attacked by his many pursuers; he was planning to flee with his belongings.

“Apology.” Zhao Yuan slung one large box over each shoulder.

Liuli silently carried the remaining two boxes.

How had the young master managed to offend people to the point where he needed to apologize with so many rare and precious treasures?

They arrived at the Peony Courtyard in the Regent Prince’s Mansion.

Zhao Yuan looked at the several large boxes of treasure; it should be enough, right?

“Young master, if the people you offended beat you up, should I intervene?” Liuli asked seriously with a deadpan expression.

“No need.”

Liuli acknowledged.

Feng Xiaohan had been counting down the days until his daughter came home.

He waited and waited, and finally, he heard that sweet and soft “Father.”

“Father, I’m back.” Yu Yu’s voice was slightly weak.

Feng Xiaohan looked at his daughter with joy.

“Yes, you’re back.” Feng Xiaohan pretended to be calm as he scooped up his daughter.

He was a mature and composed father.

“You’ve lost weight; you’re looking pale.” Feng Xiaohan looked at his daughter with concern.

“Father, I’m hungry.” Yu Yu hugged her father’s neck, her small head resting on his shoulder.

She looked a bit exhausted.

“Alright.”

Feng Xiaohan called Qing’an to prepare lunch.

“Remember to serve the lotus root dish.”

“Yes.” Qing’an replied.

Feng Xiaohan held his daughter, a thoughtful expression in his eyes.

What had his daughter been up to these past few days?

“Young master, the princess has returned, and the Regent Prince has asked you to join them for dinner.” Shanyao reported.

“My sister is back.” Lin Zhi happily leaned on his cane and headed to Wangchuan Courtyard.

“Young master, the guard, Wenshu, just said that the princess has returned, and the Regent Prince has asked you to join them for dinner.” Liuli reported.

“She’s back, huh?” Zhao Yuan stood up.

“How does this outfit look?”

“Looks good.” Liuli answered perfunctorily.

Zhao Yuan felt nervous and anxious.

After all, his first meeting with his sister had scared her to tears.

Maybe he should wear a padded undergarment beforehand; if Father and Lin Zhi attacked him with swords, it could provide some protection and prevent him from being crippled.

Liuli watched as his young master put on a padded undergarment, his head filled with question marks.

What was the young master up to now?

“Liuli, grab the boxes and let’s go.” Zhao Yuan carried two boxes and headed towards Wangchuan Courtyard.

Liuli silently carried the boxes and followed behind.

They arrived at Wangchuan Courtyard.

Lin Zhi was already there chatting with Yu Yu.

With a few thuds, Zhao Yuan and Liuli set down the boxes.

The siblings, hearing the noise, looked up.

Yu Yu, catching sight of Zhao Yuan’s captivating face, stood up immediately.

“The bad guy is here!” Yu Yu urgently reached out to pull her brother to escape.