Chapter 40: 这宫里不是只有两位娘娘吗? 

In this palace, aren’t there only two Niang Niangs?

Want to compete with him for a favor? Moreover he is still a novice. 

Ji Wu Jue raised his eyebrows and glanced a faint look over but there was a coldness in his eyes, “What do you want from her?”

Little Prince Rui cleared his throat and said, “It’s like this, Second Brother, I feel that the eunuch is quite clever. I have a shortage of such clever and intelligent servants. Second Brother, how about sending that eunuch to my residence?”

As soon as Little Prince Rui finished speaking, Cao Zhong Quan, who was serving at the side, his entire body trembled in fear.

The moment this little prince Rui opened his mouth, he wanted to take away this imperial harem Niang Niang. Moreover, the person he wanted was the one that the emperor cared about the most these days.

Cao Zhong Quan couldn’t help but feel worried for Little Prince Rui.

“Resourceful and clever?” Ji Wu Jue’s expression sank slightly, “You should tell us properly, how is she ‘smart and intelligent’?”

Little Prince Rui’s heart rejoiced. His Second Brother did not reject it out of hand, that meant there was hope in this matter.

But smart and intelligent is an excuse that he just said casually. Smart and intelligent, how can he say such words? 

But since his second brother had asked, so naturally, he had to explain it well, “It’s like this, Second Brother, that ‘smart and clever’ is just a casual remark I made. The main reason is that I think that the eunuch’s face is remarkably handsome, and is comfortable to look at. Second Brother, you also know that I am very strict with my servants and I don’t ‘fancy’ anyone easily…”

Before Little Prince Rui could finish his words, Ji Wu Jue threw the chess piece or shogi piece heavily onto the chessboard, his face clouded with gloom.

Little Prince Rui’s heart kept thumping as he looked at that gloomy face. 

Second Brother, what’s wrong? 

Did he just say the wrong thing?

Ji Wu Jue swept a glance at him, “Zhen (I) remember, you as a prince with a fief, you have stayed in the capital long enough, isn’t it time for you to return to your Shang Yuanzhou?”

“Second brother, didn’t you say before that I could stay wherever I wanted?” Little Prince Rui was puzzled, why was his Second Brother, when everything was perfectly all right, suddenly driving him back to his fief? 

Ji Wu Jue swept him a glance, “It’s fine if you don’t want to go back, you can pick one of the court minister’s daughters, select an auspicious date and get married.”

Marriage?

Well, he would rather go back to his land (held as a vassal in feudal society) and stay there.

But even if he went back to the manor, he wanted to take that little eunuch with him!

“I can go back to Shang Yuanzhou, but I’ll take that little eunuch with me!” Little Prince Rui spoke with extreme determination.

He didn’t believe it, in his second brother’s heart, that this little eunuch could be more important than him.

Cao Zhong Quan simply couldn’t do anything about this young prince.

How come he still has not figured it out by now? 

This little eunuch is not an ordinary person, she’s out of reach ah! 

Sure enough, after these words were said, Ji Wu Jue’s expression suddenly turned cold as he looked at Little Prince Rui, “Within a year, do not set foot in the capital!”

Little Prince Rui was dumbfounded!

He wouldn’t even be allowed to enter the capital for a year? What kind of condition is this? 

“Go down!” Ji Wu Jue’s tone is already becoming unpleasant. 

“Second Brother…” Little Prince Rui still wanted to say something else, but at that moment, Cao Zhong Quan had already come to him in an inviting gesture.

“Little Prince Rui, please!”

Little Prince Rui eventually looked helplessly at the indifferent Ji Wu Jue and walked out of Yang Xin Hall with a reluctant look on his face.

He wouldn’t understand even if he thought about it until his brain was damaged. He himself couldn’t understand why his second brother suddenly drove him back to his fief?

After Cao Zhong Quan had respectfully escorted young Prince Rui out, he saw Eunuch Lǚ from the respectful service room carrying a mahogany tray to the entrance of Yang Xin Hall on which only two wooden plaques were placed, one for Lan Guiren from Liu Yun Palace and the other for Yao Guiren from Li Xia Palace.

Cao Zhong Quan frowned slightly, “Why are there only two pieces?”

That Eunuch Lǚ had a puzzled look on his face, “In this palace, aren’t there only two Niang Niangs?”