Jiang Yu was taken aback. He unconsciously counts back the days thinking, 'when was the last time Wei Yi Yi gave him something?'
But he cannot recall it, for it has been too long.
Feeling a bit out of it, he waves for Xiao Lin Xi to put away the scrolls, no longer interested in them. He then thoughtlessly pick a memorial to read instead.
Jiang Liu was not done with him though.
"How sad brother! Only now did I realize that the empress is as attentive as a lion to its prey when caring. Who knew such sister exist?!"
And the emperial nephew monopolized that sister! Jiang Liu sighed in sadness. He bit hard on the candied fruit, quite depress. If only he could get any younger.
"We could have shared every passing moment but end up wasting a whole year in isolation." Jiang Liu instantly turns dramatic.
By this time, Xiao Lin Xi is desperately signing him to stop. Praying gravely for this young ancestor to shut up.
Jiang Yu hands tighten. It was one of the rare occurrences in where he has an itch to beat up this younger brother.
"Brother sure is free," he said, his smile twitching in irritation.
Day in and day out, memorials pour in endlessly in the palace. He's occupied with the court, so much that all he has with Wei Yi Yi are but passing moments.
And yet this brother of his round around the whole day inside his inner palace!
How brazen his brother has become!
An immediate danger threatens Jiang Liu. Without wasting any breath, he interrupted the emperor.
Xiao Lin Xi facepalm at the side.
"How could you say that brother. This younger brother is very busy thinking of ways to earn sister-in-law's good grace!"
Jiang Yu's smile turns dark.
"About the beauty selection----"
"Ah! Ah! Brother! Don't you feel a little bit hungry?! Care for some snacks?" Jiang Yu offers. Damn, his brother is about to torture him with continues work.
For quite some time now, Jiang Yu has been eyeing the tanghulus. He coughs away his true intentions and hesitantly said, "Alright, I'll have some of those."
They were made by his own empress and it's only natural that he could have them.
Jiang Liu 'smartly' grab the one he least like and offers it to his brother.
After accepting them, Jiang Yu observed it first. It has a crystal-like surface and inside--- from what he could hardly see, resembles a small cherry. It smells sweet and fruity.
Jiang Yu copied Jiang Liu's action and bite at it.
Instead of a 'crunch', a deafening 'crack' echo within the room.
A moment of silence temporarily swallowed them. All three of them seems lost on what occurred.
"Ummm... it's not supposed to be eaten that way?.." Jiang Liu is also unsure of himself.
This tanghulu is repeatedly soaked and coated by multiple layers of thick syrup in Wei Yi Yi's attempt on making a 'lollipop'.
Of course, she failed. They don't taste exactly as expected and hard. Wei Yi Yi let Jiang Liu take the failed ones.
And now, Jiang Yu bite hard on this so-called 'lollipop'.
An irony taste spread through inside his mouth. Jiang Yu was stone in place as his gums were bleeding!
"The dragon body... have been harmed!!" As if he was the one injured, Xiao Lin Xi faint over.
"How about a handkerchief?" Jiang Liu flash his most innocent smile. Sadly, the emperor won't buy it.
With gritted teeth, the emperor roared at the sixth prince. "Jiang Liu!"
"Royal brother!" "Emperor!"
A eunuch from the outside echoed Jiang Liu. Turning their sights, they saw a flustered and disheveled eunuch, panting from the long run.
"What is it?" Jiang Yu asked sternly.
The eunuch bobbed down in greeting. "Re--reporting to the emperor! A mishap between the concubines occurred at one of the palace gardens. The empress requires your assistant immediately!"
The emperor abruptly stood up. Without asking for further details, he walked up to the door. His steps are quick and his strides are wide.
Since the assassination attempt, Wei Yi Yi gave the impression of someone valiant. Jiang Yu still remember how she came running fast, with a sword in her hand, to intercept a full strike. Her eyes are fierce, focus, and determine.
And she came for him.
Jiang Yu cannot exactly think of something she could be afraid of. If such a person calls out for help, it must be very grave.
And so, he will come for her too.
In a blink, the Emperor reaches the door of the imperial study and walk out. Not waiting for any of his servants.
The other eunuch runs in to assist Xiao Lin Xi from the ground while the others run up to follow the emperor.
'Older sister can summon the emperor?' Playful thoughts sprew out inside Jiang Liu's head. He slowly fans himself as he leisurely follows. He smiled to himself when he thought how amazing his sister-in-law is.
It might be a good show.
Disappointingly, the sixth prince was stopped on his track.
"Stay here for Zhen!"
"Wh---?! Why?! Your Majesty, how could you leave this small prince alone?! With no one to cry on?!" Jiang Liu gape at his brother.
What he witnessed is a flick of a sleeve and the emperor completely ignoring him.
Xiao Lin Xi slowly walk up to him and said with an annoying formality, "It would be improper for the sixth prince to involve himself with the inner palace issues. This servant will send someone to escort your highness."
The eunuch then follows after his emperor.
'This prince cannot be involved with the harem issues? But this prince can make them livelier for big sister!'
Jiang Liu abruptly got inspired to start painting the portraits of the ladies joining the selection. He needs to show off his skills to sister-in-law.