"Your big sister shall apologize." Wei Yi Yi laughs out loud. "Don't worry, I shall put maximum effort to pull you up in exchange."
Wei Yi Yi wink at Jiang Liu.
Although still grumpy at the injustice he suffered, Jiang Liu obediently followed Wei Yi Yi's every word.
After picking up her shoes, he then carried Jiang Chen. The child keeps on glaring at him, obviously failing at hiding his emotion and dislike. Jiang Liu shamelessly stooped low at a child's level to meet Jiang Chen's temper. Deep in his heart, he questions the addition of this tail.
Jiang Liu put the unhappy child and sat him on his shoulders. He heard Wei Yi Yi saying something like 'look only at me' and 'It's alright, I'm holding you', to encourage Jiang Chen.
How nice. Jiang Liu pursed his lips. His big sister is only nice to delicate things. But then, isn't he also one? This is a blatant show of bias! Thinking about it, maybe he's not even comparable to that maidservant, Tang Mei, in his sister-in-law's eyes.
Jiang Chen, with the use of his other free hand, grabbed his uncle's hair. Jiang Liu's internal crisis came to a full stop then.
"Hey!" Jiang Liu reacted.
Mustering all his strength, Jiang Chen leaned his weight on Jiang Liu's head to help him stand. Wei Yi Yi hold his hand firmly to keep balance.
"Ouch!" Jiang Liu complained.
Once Jiang Chen secured his foothold on Jiang Liu's shoulders, after his aunt's reassurance, kicked the 'stool' and lift to the air.
Wei Yi Yi caught him and then pulled him up. The two successfully climbed the wall while Jiang Liu was left below, still couldn't believe how a prince such as him got dishonored to such degree.
Seeing him opening his mouth, Wei Yi Yi immediately interrupted whatever complains he's going to voice out. "You wanted to sneak in right? You asked for it. We're doing dirty work here, it's normal to suffer a few consequences."
"..." Jiang Liu.
Getting Jiang Liu up is a lot easier as the man himself is tall. Wei Yi Yi only bends down a little to reach his hand to pull him. What she didn't expect is how heavy he is and how he doesn't even know how to use his feet to ease his weight.
Wei Yi Yi felt like her back is going to break. She end up using to much strength, she limped over once Jiang Liu successfully landed on the roof. She pumped a few times to catch her breath.
"Dirty work your face." Wei Yi Yi mocks herself. That was too much.
"Big sister, hide lower. There might still be guards patrolling the area. Even if you're the empress, you're not exactly allowed to roam the outer palace without proper reason. This place is also too close to the walls outside." Jiang Liu warned Wei Yi Yi. What he didn't know is that the empress already goes as far as to run away from the inner palace and returned unpunished by the emperor.
"Got it... wait, you said women are not allowed to this area, right?"
"Not exactly 'not allowed'. If royal brother came here to practice, the consorts can come to watch, cheer and bring stuff. But we're not here to do that big sister. Did you comprehend me poorly? Are you even listening? You should perk up your ears, like those rabbit apples you're eating." Jiang Liu put both his hands on his head and flap them like long ears. "Like that. It will help you listen more big sister. Maybe that way you could understand more when people are talking."
Is he calling her stupid? Wei Yi Yi finally realized. What's scary about Jiang Liu is not exactly his talkative manners. Rather, it's his ability to throw insults without even trying.
"I know that! This sister wouldn't go with you if this isn't about playing. Who would go do such boring acts like watching?" Wei Yi Yi pinched his cheeks again. "What I want to know is, if you can enter to the front doors, why make me suffer!"
"You're accusing this brother again! When did I said that I'm allowed here? I'm not even allowed to enter the palace, what more of entering the outer or inner palace and going to the martial hall." Jiang Liu struggles out from Wei Yi Yi's claws.
Receiving two questioning gaze, he explained. "The emperor grounded this prince to his palace..."
He was told to not go out and finished all the portraits assigned to him. From the ones he's already working to the ones he's going to redraw. There might even be a chance that it will continue up to his pending assignments.
Jiang Liu doubts whether he'll be out after a month. There's a high chance of getting stuck for years in his own palace.
And so, he runs to his big sister to seek some fun and probably create another trouble to add on his punishment.
"Royal brother is being straight-laced again. The ministers always have something to complain. He doesn't always need to listen seriously to them! Ah, big sister, you're not allowed to tell that I called him a stick in the mud." Getting caught in the mouth once again, Jiang Liu laughs awkwardly. He stood up and walk a few steps on the roof tiles. He tried to save the situation and shamelessly rain Wei Yi Yi some praises.
"It's just some creative portraits. They are being too much, right? This brother thinks that big sister's painting skills are unique and out of what normal person could achieve. Those worm-like things you add on are quite cute if I must say--- YOUR MOTHER!"
A large crash sounded as the roof tile that Jiang Liu step on, slips and carry him down with it. In a blink of an eye, he was sprawling on the ground. After the first one, few more tiles fell down. One of them drops between Jiang Liu's legs. It was so close, he forgot about the pain of falling and was drain of color.
Wei Yi Yi commented, "I see that you like to live dangerously."