The Emperor’s Bridal Gift to the Regent - Chapter 3

During lunch, Mei Jinshu sat at the head of the table. The table was expansive, so he pointed to the chair opposite him and said, “You are my foster son in name, which makes you half a master of this Prime Minister’s Manor. There is no need to be so restrained.”

Meng Xueran said nothing and sat obediently across from him.

Mei Jinshu continued, “Although I struck you today, as an elder, how can I not educate a child? Is that not so? I hit you so that you may have a complete life without regrets. Which child has never been beaten?”

“You must understand my well-intentioned efforts.”

“From now on, although you cannot show yourself as a Prince, I, your Imperial Father, will do my best to protect you.”

“I understand,” Meng Xueran replied with an awkward nod. Facing the young man before him who was lecturing him so seriously, he could not help but ask out of curiosity, “What is your advanced age, Imperial Father?”

“Cough, cough!” Mei Jinshu choked on a mouthful of soup. He quickly wiped the corners of his mouth and said, “I am in my early twenties.”

Meng Xueran asked again, “Then does Imperial Father have a wife or children?”

“Naturally not!” Mei Jinshu found the question baffling. He picked up a bun and stuffed it into the boy’s mouth. “Eat your food properly. Do not speak while eating or sleeping. I am at the age to establish my career. Why speak of personal romances?”

Meng Xueran took a bite of the bun and pointed at the youth standing beside Mei Jinshu. “Why has this person been staring at me?”

“Ah? My apologies!” Mei Shiyi quickly looked away and moved to stand closer to Ye Ting.

Mei Jinshu explained, “He is an orphan I picked up. I named him Mei Shiyi. He is skilled and clever, and he is four years older than you. It would be good for him to stay by your side to look after you.”

“In the future, the two of you must get along well.”

He thought to himself: Two venomous snakes. It is perfect to put you two together.

Was the boy not a cut-sleeve? He would pair Mei Shiyi and Meng Xueran together early to cultivate their feelings. Childhood sweethearts sharing the same fate; it would be best if they were locked together for a lifetime.

In this life, that scoundrel Meng Xueran could be with whomever he wanted. He would act as the matchmaker and put in every effort to bring them together. In short, the boy should not even think about coveting him for a single second.

Meng Xueran politely declined, “Actually, there is no need. Being by Imperial Father’s side is enough to make me satisfied.”

“It is settled. You are not allowed to refuse!” Mei Jinshu brushed the objection aside, then adopted a gentle expression. “I cannot let the Emperor and Empress feel that I am mistreating you.”

“Shiyi, get along well with the Young Master.”

Mei Shiyi nodded. “This subordinate obeys your command.”

Night fell, and the summer wind was sweltering. Mei Jinshu tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Thinking about the massive debt of system points made it even harder to rest. He clicked on the points page and suddenly discovered that one hundred points had been repaid.

Mei Jinshu cried out excitedly, “System! System!”

The System replied, “I am here.”

Mei Jinshu asked, “Is there a fast way to earn points? If I do not clear this debt and save up some capital soon, it will be a huge problem if I encounter something difficult.”

The System said, “Since the host is currently a villain, you can earn points by gaining the hatred value of cannon fodder and the trust value of the male lead.”

“It seems this twin task is not difficult at all.” Mei Jinshu felt a secret joy. It was truly simple. Tomorrow, he would take Meng Xueran to please Meng Changqi, hitting two birds with one stone. He could assist the male lead while making the cannon fodder, Meng Xueran, give up hope.

As a villain, he was indeed a bit wicked.

However, Meng Xueran would likely feel very lost and resentful. Then, he would let Mei Shiyi go and comfort him. It was a perfect plan to hit three birds with one stone. Mei Jinshu could not help but laugh out loud. That ten thousand points had not been spent in vain.

In the middle of the night, while he was sleeping soundly, he suddenly heard a rustling sound. This was the Prime Minister’s Manor; where would a thief come from? Mei Jinshu did not react but closed his eyes to feign sleep. He wanted to see who was so bold.

In the next second, he heard the sound of shoes being removed. A figure crawled into the bedding, burrowed around in the covers for a long time, and then pressed against his face.

“What are you doing!”

“Imperial Father, I do not want to sleep alone. I am afraid.”

“So you sneak around in the middle of the night trying to scare someone to death?” Mei Jinshu pinched the flesh of the boy’s cheek, tugging and squeezing the small face as he prepared to kick him out.

But then he had a second thought. He moved further into the bed and patted the empty space beside him. “How pitiful. Unloved by your father and unwanted by your mother. You must remember who is being good to you at this moment, do you understand?”

Meng Xueran nodded and lay on his side next to him. The cheek that had been pinched red was still aching slightly. “I know. It is Imperial Father.”

Mei Jinshu said, “Since you are a sensible child, let us agree on three rules.”

“First, although you are staying at the Prime Minister’s Manor, I will not mistreat you. You shall be the young master of this house, living without worry for food or clothing. When you turn sixteen, our entanglement regarding status will end. You will no longer call me Imperial Father, and I will no longer need to raise you. At that time, I will enter the palace to ask the Emperor for a marriage decree. I will find a good match for you so you can start a family and live your own life.”

Meng Xueran’s eyes widened. He was speechless for a long while and could only listen intently to every word.

“Second, it is said that the debt of upbringing is greater than heaven. I do not expect you to repay me, but no matter what happens in the future, you must not harbor even the slightest transgressive or improper intentions. Otherwise, you shall be struck by lightning. Have you remembered that?”

Meng Xueran felt an indescribable discomfort in his heart. His watery eyes filled with tears as he stammered a reply, “Imperial Father, do you despise me that much?”

Mei Jinshu sat up, wondering if his words had been too harsh. The boy was only nine years old; was he being too cold-hearted? He kept a stern face while using his sleeve to wipe the boy’s tears.

“No crying. You only need to answer whether you remember it or not.”

“I remember, Imperial Father.”

“It is good that you remember. Fine, go to sleep.”

“Then what about the final rule of the three?”

“The last one?” Mei Jinshu already had an answer in his heart, but he felt there was no need to deal the boy another blow just yet. He replied perfunctorily, “I will tell you once I have thought it over.”

“Fine,” Meng Xueran agreed, leaning close to him as he fell asleep.

The next day, after returning from the morning court session, Mei Jinshu removed his jade crown and purple silk belt. He let his hair fall loose and felt refreshed after bathing. He dressed in a white inner robe with a purple overshirt and hung a piece of jade at his waist. His long hair was pinned with a silver hairpin as he walked toward the storehouse.

He wanted to pick a gift for Meng Changqi, preferably a treasure that would make others envious.

“Ye Ting, what do you think would be a unique gift?”

“The Crown Prince likely lacks nothing,” Ye Ting replied. He was stumped and casually suggested, “How about bringing something that is not found within the Imperial Palace?”

Mei Jinshu tossed a bag of silver coins over and instructed, “Then go out of the manor and buy some random snacks. After all, this trip is about showing sincerity.”

Back in the main house, a maid brought several outfits for Meng Xueran to choose from. His eyes lingered for a moment before he picked up a purple outer robe. Just as he was about to put it on, he was suddenly interrupted.

“You are not allowed to wear that one; it is too ostentatious.” Mei Jinshu snatched the purple robe and picked up a pale green one instead. “Purple is for the noble. Your current identity is not worthy of wearing purple. Green is good; it looks youthful. Go and change quickly!”

“Yes.” Meng Xueran did not dare to act aggrieved. He took the clothes and changed quickly.

Mei Jinshu stared at the boy’s face, looking left and right. He pulled him to the bronze mirror and dotted many freckles on his face, then put a veil on him. Once he was sure everything was foolproof, they boarded the carriage.

Meng Xueran asked, “Do I have to be this ugly?”

Mei Jinshu replied, “The uglier you look, the longer you live.”

The carriage soon arrived at the palace gates. Mei Jinshu said, “If anyone asks for your name, say it is Mei Jiu. Do you remember?”

“Yes.” Meng Xueran followed behind him, unwilling to say more.

This was a place he had never stepped foot in during his nine years of living in the palace. Clearly, he and Meng Changqi were identical, yet their statuses were worlds apart. He was a shadow that could not see the light, while Meng Changqi presided over the Eastern Palace. He could only see his Imperial Father and Mother once a year. His Mother said that seeing Changqi was the same as seeing him. How ironic.

The Eastern Palace was beautiful, with pavilions, small hills, and flowing water. Palace servants moved to and fro, busy at their posts. Contrasting this with the deathly silence of the Still Shadow Tower made it difficult for him to accept.

Mei Jinshu looked at the Crown Prince, who was practicing calligraphy. When their eyes met, the figure immediately put down his brush and ran toward him. “Prime Minister!”

“This official greets Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

“No need for such ceremony.” Meng Changqi pulled him toward the eaves and picked up the poetry collection he had just copied. “Imperial Father said my handwriting is not handsome enough, so I have been practicing. What does the Prime Minister think?”

Mei Jinshu said, “Your Highness has a fine hand for such a young age. I dare not praise you too much, for fear Your Highness might become complacent.”

Meng Changqi said, “Prime Minister, do not hide it anymore. Quickly tell me what good things you brought today.”

Mei Jinshu took out a wooden box and handed it to him. “Nothing rare, just two famous paintings I wish to discuss with Your Highness.”

“Wow, candied hawthorns!” Meng Changqi was delighted.

Meng Xueran found it incredibly boring. He stood far off to the side, watching. The Mei Jinshu before him was so strange that he thought the person he had stayed with for the past few days was a fake. Feeling sulky, he turned and went toward the rockery. He picked up a pebble and threw it into the water to vent his frustration.

Mei Jinshu checked the points notification: negative 9800, negative 9700, negative 9500.

Meng Xueran muttered under his breath, “I hate you! I hate you!”

“Hey, where did you come from?” The eldest Prince, Meng Shaolin, appeared in the Eastern Palace. He grabbed Meng Xueran and yanked him down. “I am asking you a question. Are you mute?”

Meng Xueran said coldly, “I am not mute, and I do not know you.”

“Oh? It turns out you are just blind.” Meng Shaolin suddenly ripped off his veil and shouted, “What an ugly freak!”

“You! Give it back!” Meng Xueran was furious, but the person before him was a head taller and insisted on mocking him. The two of them began to scuffle.

The palace servants quickly pulled them apart and scolded, “How bold! You dare to be disrespectful to the Eldest Prince!”

“Fine, you are thirsty, are you not?” Meng Shaolin ordered his men to grab Meng Xueran’s arms. He slammed Meng Xueran’s head into the pond. “Let His Highness drink his fill!”

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