The Li Family.
Wei Sijing entered through the side gate and followed the butler, walking through one secluded path after another. The Li Family estate looked like a small imperial palace, with numerous small courtyards hidden within. It was rich and imposing, yet not vulgar, truly worthy of its reputation as the number one noble family.
The night was a bit chilly as it was approaching late autumn. The path was covered with fallen leaves, which made a "crunch crunch" sound like a final wail when stepped on, and then all returned to ultimate tranquility.
Wei Sijing stepped on the fallen leaves, in a cheerful mood with a calm smile on his face.
"We're here, Your Highness the Prince of An." The butler bowed respectfully, pointing to the rockery in front, and then opened the door for Wei Sijing. "Your Highness, the family head has been waiting for you for a long time."
"Okay." A gentle smile appeared on Wei Sijing's gentle and elegant face. He said to the butler, "Thank you."
"Your Highness, you're welcome. Please come in." The butler didn't relax because of Wei Sijing's courtesy. He still bent over and respectfully pointed to the path.
Wei Sijing smiled faintly and followed the path to the secluded basement. There he saw the middle - aged man standing with his hands behind his back. The moment he saw Wei Sijing, the man calmly said, "Your Highness the Prince of An has come. Please sit down."
The smile on Wei Sijing's face remained unchanged, but his eyes darkened slightly. He sat down as the man indicated and then said gently, "Long time no see, Uncle. You're being too polite."
Li Changshuo didn't respond. He calmly looked at Wei Sijing.
Seeing this, Wei Sijing restrained the smile on his face and was silent for a moment.
What did Li Changshuo mean? It was clearly he who had contacted him and helped him deal with Wei Sinian's secret guards, allowing him to return to the capital ahead of time to plan his grand scheme.
It seemed that the situation was not as optimistic as he thought, and even the news from the queen mother was not so accurate.
"Your Highness the Prince of An." Seeing the change in Wei Sijing's expression, a faint smile flashed across Li Changshuo's eyes. His voice was a bit gentler than before. "It seems that Your Highness also has this intention."
Wei Sijing was still too young. Looking at him, Li Changshuo suddenly thought of Wei Sinian, who was the same age as Wei Sijing when the former emperor passed away a few years ago. Wei Sinian had always looked at him with the same calm gaze. Even when at a disadvantage, he still calmly dealt with others.
Wei Sijing had been protected too well. But it was good like this. For the Li Family, an emperor who was easy to control was always the best.
"Lord Prime Minister has helped me. I'm sure Mother also has a hand in it." Wei Sijing composed himself and continued, "Since my elder brother ascended the throne, the second prince was executed for treason, and the third elder brother has no ambition. He stays in his fief and didn't even dare to come to the capital for this autumn hunting. I'm the only one left among the four princes."
"No, you originally wanted to..." Li Changshuo's smile was a bit cold. So Wei Sijing changed his words but still continued, "Cousin was sent to the cold palace by Wei Sinian on the first day she entered the palace."
"Although part of it was due to cousin's arrogance, it also proves that Wei Sinian definitely doesn't want the next generation of the Li Family to enter the center of power again."
Li Changshuo looked at Wei Sijing, reached out to pick up the teapot on the table, poured him a cup of tea, and then motioned for him to continue.
"Uncle, I have the blood of the Li Family and the Wei Family. I'm the most suitable candidate." Wei Sijing's tone was a bit arrogant. He pursed his lips. "Otherwise, a noble family without the support of the royal family will only end up being liquidated. Or Uncle can take a desperate risk, but the ending may not be so good."
"Good." Li Changshuo clapped his hands and looked at him with a smile. "You're truly Qingying's child."
"Sijing, you can stay in the Li Family for a few days. I'll take you to meet some talented people." Li Changshuo pointed to the teacup. "The tea is getting cold. Sijing, have a sip and take a break."
"Thank you, Uncle."
The two had different thoughts but cooperated for the same goal.
However, they didn't know that both of their plans had been seen through by Wei Sinian, and the spies who had been turned had also been dealt with.
...
"Your Ladyship, where are we going..."
Wen Yu looked at Wen Fuyue with mud on her hands and fell silent.
"Oh." Wen Fuyue lifted the sweet potato in her hand for Wen Yu to see and then explained, "I'm trying to find out which kind of sweet potato tastes better when baked. I'll bring some for the autumn hunting."
Wen Yu: "..." She always felt it was strange, but if it was Her Ladyship who did this, it instantly seemed reasonable.
Wen Fuyue also looked at the sweet potato in her hand and couldn't help but sigh. This novel was quite good. It was a fictional world without referring to history. Otherwise, many seasonings and things like sweet potatoes that she needed could only be thought of in dreams.
"Let's go." Wen Fuyue put the sweet potatoes in the bamboo basket that Xiaofuzi had somehow found, washed her hands, and said, "Let's go. Let's go back to the small kitchen and try."
"Yes, Your Ladyship."
Wen Fuyue was in a good mood all the way. Wei Sinian had bothered her less these days. It should be because there were too many things to deal with for the autumn hunting. Every day, she saw him deal with a pile of memorials after dinner. Occasionally, he would summon some ministers and then return to the palace with a cold smile on his face.
They were going to the hunting ground tomorrow. Wen Fuyue had mostly prepared everything. After much thought, she decided to go to the imperial kitchen to see if there was anything good.
Thinking of this, Wen Fuyue looked at the sweet potatoes in Xiaofuzi's hand with satisfaction. They were really good. It was said that it was very cold in the hunting ground. The hot baked sweet potatoes would be a life - saving treasure!
When they returned to the palace, Liang Xinyue, who had been bored waiting for her under the osmanthus tree, immediately came up to her. "What did the Noble Consort Wen go to the imperial kitchen for?"
"Look!" Wen Fuyue pointed to the bamboo basket in Xiaofuzi's hand and then smiled at Liang Xinyue. "Come on, let's go bake sweet potatoes!"
Liang Xinyue's eyes went blank for a moment when she looked at Wen Fuyue, and then she followed her to the small kitchen.
"How about it? Delicious, right?" Wen Fuyue and Liang Xinyue had been busy for a long time and finally baked three decent - looking sweet potatoes.
Breaking them in half, the orange pulp was like flowing honey, steaming hot, and the sweet smell filled their nostrils.
"Delicious!" Liang Xinyue blew on it and then took a small bite. The sweet and warm sweet potato slowly slid into her stomach, making her involuntarily sigh with satisfaction.
"I'll leave first." Seeing that it was almost time for Wei Sinian to finish his court session, Liang Xinyue immediately finished the sweet potato in her hand and said goodbye to Wen Fuyue. "Remember to see you tomorrow."
"Okay, okay, okay." Wen Fuyue finished the sweet potato in her hand. Looking at the remaining one and touching her a bit full stomach, she suddenly felt a bit worried.
She still had to have dinner later. She had to save some room. So what should she do with this one?
Wen Fuyue thought for a while, picked up the cloth beside her, wrapped the still a bit warm sweet potato, and then said to Xiaofuzi, "Wen Yu and I will go find the Emperor first. You guys come slowly."
After saying that, she took Wen Yu and ran towards Wei Sinian's palace.
Run faster. Wei Sinian's palace wasn't far from here, but if she was too slow, the sweet potato would get cold and not taste good.
"Your Ladyship, slow down!"