The Emperor Reads Storybooks Hidden in His Official Reports 69

Chapter 69: Beautiful Mommy: Genius Baby and Overbearing Dad

In the seventh year after Li Jianyu and Zhao Linxu’s marriage, the Great Gong was still blessed with favorable weather, and the relationship between the Emperor and Empress was as sweet as ever.

“His Highness the Crown Prince is truly a prodigy!”

“Yes, yes! I’ve heard that too!”

This was the talk of the town now.

“The Great Gong is truly blessed! The Crown Prince will definitely be a good emperor in the future!”

The cause of this was that Zhao Linxu had brought Zhao Lang to the morning court to listen to the proceedings. And while Zhao Linxu was discussing matters with several ministers, Zhao Lang had suddenly spoken up, his words astonishing, offering many clear analyses and opinions.

And Zhao Lang was only six years old this year!

The common folk were bustling with excitement, and the palace was also in an uproar. At this moment, the Emperor and Empress, whose relationship was rumored to be harmonious, were arguing heatedly in the main hall. The Empress was just short of throwing things.

“Zhao Linxu, I’m warning you! If you really dare to do this, I’m not done with you!”

“I am your husband and also the master of this palace. I have the final say in this matter!”

“Husband my ass! Who doesn’t have a dick? Let me tell you, don’t push your luck.” Li Jianyu was trembling with anger. He pointed at Zhao Linxu and warned, “If you send Little Leopard to the military camp, I’m not done with you!”

Zhao Linxu insisted, “Little Leopard will be an emperor in the future, a true man. At his age, I was already one with the military camp. Our Zhao family won the world on horseback, and we must also defend it on horseback!”

“Little Leopard is only f-ing six years old!”

“He’s already six. Does he still need to nestle in your arms and drink milk?”

Li Jianyu almost fainted from anger.

This was definitely the biggest generation gap between him and the ancient people! Damn it, his precious baby was only six years old, a tiny little thing… alright, although he was tall for a child, he still had a milky voice when he spoke to him! To be sent to the military camp to suffer and fight? Absolutely not!

Suffering was one thing, but swords have no eyes. What if he got hurt or bumped? Little Leopard wasn’t even as tall as Zhao Linxu’s shoulder!

Absolutely, absolutely not!

Li Jianyu looked at Zhao Linxu with resentment in his eyes, then pounced forward and hung on him like a koala, shouting, “You are not allowed to send Little Leopard away! You heartless, cruel father!”

When Zhao Lang entered the main hall, leading the Thousand-Li Wolf, what he saw was the scene of his daddy hanging on his imperial father.

“Wow…!” Zhao Lang covered his eyes with his hands, leaving a small gap, and smiled. “Shame, shame!”

At the side, the Thousand-Li Wolf twisted its neck and looked at the two of them with disdain in its eyes.

Li Jianyu was startled and immediately jumped down from Zhao Linxu. He rubbed his nose and said, “No manners.”

Zhao Lang was six years old this year. Although he was the Crown Prince, he was as wild as Zhao Linxu and didn’t wear any imperial robes, just a cloak suitable for practicing martial arts, looking quite like a little Linxu.

The only difference was that this little Crown Prince was not only good at kung fu, but his skills in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting were also better than those of his peers. He was truly skilled in both literary and martial arts.

“What does Imperial Father want with me?” Zhao Lang said with a smile and a slight bow.

“You’ve come at the right time.” Zhao Linxu directly drew his whip and sneered. “Little Leopard has grown up. His wings have grown strong, right? That speech in the court today has made the whole capital know.”

So Zhao Lang puffed out his chest, looking proud as a peacock.

“I think your f-ing skin is itching!” Zhao Linxu was so angry he laughed. He leaped up, and with a flick of his long whip, he swung it at Zhao Lang.

Zhao Lang’s eyes widened.

Huh…?!

Just as the whip was about to hit him, Zhao Lang reacted extremely quickly. Taking advantage of his small and agile body, he quickly dodged it.

“Why is Imperial Father hitting me! Imperial Father is unreasonable!”

“How do I usually teach you?! You are just a little brat now, yet you are so reckless and don’t know how to hide your talents! Do you know how much jealousy you will attract with your show-off today?”

Looking at the big and small figures chasing each other in the main hall, with the Thousand-Li Wolf even causing trouble at the side, Li Jianyu rubbed his forehead.

They had taught Zhao Lang various skills and raised him to have an indomitable spirit, but Zhao Lang was still too young and didn’t understand what it meant to be truly capable. He naturally didn’t know how to hide his talents.

“Waaah—Daddy, save me!!”

Zhao Lang was running around, in a very sorry state.

Li Jianyu couldn’t help but smile.

With a smack, Zhao Lang’s butt was hit by the whip, and he cried out in pain.

“That’s for doing things without considering the consequences! That’s for being proud!”

“Waaah—waaah—Imperial Father, you’re a bad guy!”

“You f-ing say that again!”

“Wuwuwu!! Imperial Father, if you hit me again, I’ll tell Daddy your secret from the night before last!”

Zhao Linxu’s eyes widened.

This was rebellion.

“Waaah—”

Zhao Lang was carried outside by Zhao Linxu.

Li Jianyu stood at the side, his arms crossed, his eyebrows raised.

Very good, very good. The secret from the night before last? The night before last… Zhao Linxu didn’t come back all night.

Heh. The seven-year itch is no joke.

Li Jianyu stroked his chin, planning how to settle the score with Zhao Linxu.

XXXXXX

At night, the cold of early winter was even heavier. The son and wife both had phoenix blood, so Zhao Linxu had someone add more charcoal to the fire in the bedchamber.

Zhao Lang was lying on the bed with his bare butt, and Li Jianyu was applying medicine for him. The Thousand-Li Wolf was by the bed, its eyes closed in rest.

Zhao Linxu’s blow during the day had naturally not been heavy, so it had only left a faint red mark, which would probably disappear after a night’s sleep.

“Little Leopard,” Li Jianyu said, pinching Zhao Lang’s ear with a smile. “Come, tell Daddy your Imperial Father’s secret from the night before last.”

Zhao Lang’s body trembled. He turned his head away and said aggrievedly, “Imperial Father said not to tell.”

I’ll get a beating if I tell!

Li Jianyu sighed. “Little Leopard, this is what you don’t understand.”

Zhao Lang blinked.

Huh?

“Come and tell Daddy, who does this palace and the Great Gong listen to?”

“They listen to Imperial Father!” Little Leopard said, a hint of pride and worship in his voice.

“Then who does your Imperial Father listen to?”

“…”

Huh?

Zhao Lang thought for a moment. “He listens to Daddy.”

“Then that’s it,” Li Jianyu said, spreading his hands. “You see, so what do you think you should do?”

“…”

Zhao Lang rubbed against Li Jianyu pitifully. “Then Daddy must not tell Imperial Father that I said it.”

“Alright.”

“The night before last… I saw Imperial Father go to see the Empress of the Great Chai.”

Li Jianyu crossed his arms and nodded with a smile.

“I know.”

Very good, very good. A private meeting with the Empress of the Great Chai in the middle of the night. So impressive, huh?

“But Imperial Father and that Empress definitely have nothing going on!” Zhao Lang felt that he had probably caused trouble. He stood up and spread his arms, defending his Imperial Father. “The distance between them was thiiis big!”

Li Jianyu rubbed Zhao Lang’s head and smiled. “Go to sleep.”

After Zhao Linxu returned from washing up, he saw Li Jianyu holding Zhao Lang, the two of them snuggled on the wide, soft bed, asleep.

Zhao Linxu smiled, lay down behind Li Jianyu, and wrapped his arm around him, holding Zhao Lang. The three of them were squeezed together, very warm.

The night grew deeper.

XXXXXX

The next day, Zhao Linxu was going out to inspect the progress of the waterway project outside the city. Li Jianyu stayed in the palace with Zhao Lang, reading and teaching him historical allusions.

It was not until evening that Zhao Linxu returned late.

Zhao Lang had already gone to have dinner. Li Jianyu had originally wanted to wait for Zhao Linxu in the study, but he had fallen asleep while waiting.

He woke up in a daze and saw Zhao Linxu lifting him in a princess carry.

“You’re back?” Li Jianyu wrapped one arm around Zhao Linxu’s neck and stretched with the other. “Just in time. I have something to tell you.”

Time to settle the score!

“Later. Can you accompany me somewhere first?”

Zhao Linxu carried Li Jianyu out of the study and towards the lotus pond in the palace.

“What’s wrong?” Li Jianyu frowned.

“Shh…”

And after arriving at the lotus pond, Li Jianyu was immediately stunned.

There were already some ice shards on the surface of the pond, and the lotus flowers had not yet bloomed. But the originally silent pond was now filled with colorful and brilliant lights.

“This…” Li Jianyu was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and smiled. “You’re up to your tricks again. New tricks every year. How do you come up with them?”

“Today, seven years ago, was our wedding day. You told me before, this is… an anniversary… yes, an anniversary. It’s to be celebrated and commemorated,” Zhao Linxu said with a grin.

One after another, paper lanterns floated on the surface of the pond, creating ripples that gently tugged at Li Jianyu’s heartstrings.

“It’s beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like it.” After a pause, Zhao Linxu took out a small bag from his robes and handed it to Li Jianyu as if he were presenting a treasure. “A gift.”

Li Jianyu raised an eyebrow, took the bag, and opened it. Inside was a pearl.

The white pearl was dim in the bag, but as soon as Li Jianyu held it, it began to glow slowly.

“This is a Fire Bird Pearl. You’re afraid of the cold and like fire, and this pearl has a magical secret art. It has accumulated heat energy inside. Holding it can warm your blood and body.”

Holding the pearl, Li Jianyu indeed felt a stream of heat spreading from his palm throughout his body.

“I specially got this from E Zhu the day before yesterday,” Zhao Linxu said proudly. “I just wanted to give you a surprise.”

Li Jianyu was stunned.

Tsk.

Some surprise.

Li Jianyu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Thank you. I like it very much.” The warm current also warmed his heart. Li Jianyu put away the pearl and also took out a small box.

“I also prepared a gift for you.”

This day was their anniversary, and Li Jianyu hadn’t forgotten either. Although there had been a lot of friction recently, the two of them had still prepared gifts for each other, rain or shine.

Zhao Linxu opened the box and saw a jade hairpin carved with a dragon pattern. The design was elegant and simple, but noble. Zhao Linxu rarely used hairpins, but Li Jianyu thought he would look very good with one occasionally.

“It’s a jade material that my father brought me. It’s said to be very rare.”

Zhao Linxu raised an eyebrow. The wandering Yun Jian had returned? When?

“You can’t fly, so you naturally wouldn’t know,” Li Jianyu said, flicking Zhao Linxu’s nose.

Zhao Linxu shook his head and very simply put it on.

“Am I handsome?”

Li Jianyu rolled his eyes.

“Let’s just listen to you about Little Leopard’s matter,” Zhao Linxu said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. “I know you can’t bear to part with him.”

Li Jianyu smiled.

Zhao Linxu really listened to him.

“I’ll see how it goes next year. In any case, Little Leopard will have to go sooner or later,” Zhao Linxu said with a humph. “This year, I’ll watch him in the palace and have him improve his martial arts.”

Today’s events also showed that Zhao Lang’s temperament was a bit too arrogant and impatient. Zhao Linxu wanted to polish him a little first, to teach him in a different way.

“Alright,” Li Jianyu said with a grin.

He was still a modern parent after all, and he couldn’t bear to see his child suffer.

“Like you, I naturally hope that Lang’er will be a good emperor who can defend the empire, but I also hope that he will be healthy and happy.”

“Mm.”

Zhao Linxu had someone bring wine and snacks, and the two of them sat in the pavilion by the pond, chatting while watching the lights.

The surface of the pond seemed to be filled with stars, and the evening breeze was gentle.

“It’s been seven years.”

“Mm.”

It wouldn’t change for many years.

These noisy days were very happy.

-THE END-