全程露脸东北老女

"What’s this? You’ve been burning holes in that direction. Fourth Brother, who did you take a fancy to?" Sui Yuan advanced towards Situ Yu and directly mocked him just like how Xu Tu had in the plot.

Situ Yu was startled. He subconsciously took a step to the side. This kind of dishonest feeling of having just found his ’new flame’ and rid himself of the influence of his ’former lover’ only to be caught in the act by his ’former lover’ even made Situ Yu, who had always been calm and cautious, unable to help but change his expression upon being startled.

Sui Yuan stared at the protagonist gong who appeared as if he had seen a ghost, baffled. He subconsciously touched his own face. Was there something wrong with him? How come he unexpectedly scared Situ Yu into acting like this?

Sui Yuan sunk into self-doubt on his side. Meanwhile, on the other, Situ Yu’s heart was beating wildly. His mind was completely blank. Only a long time later was he able to gradually come back to himself.

Since becoming aware of the strange emotions he had towards Xu Tu, Situ Yu had always avoided him. Even if they couldn’t avoid crossing paths in public venues, he did not speak to him at all. All of a sudden, the person he was enamoured with ran up to him, taking the initiative to speak with him. Although his tone was not good, it was enough to make Situ Yu embarrassed and end up at a complete loss for what to do.

Making a supreme effort to control his own tone and prevent it from sounding too fervent or too cold, Situ Yu slightly frowned, "Third Brother, watch your tongue. Do not sully another’s clear reputation."

"Heh, if I had someone I liked, I would naturally say it with confidence, unlike people like you who hide it away, pretending to be aloof. It makes people tired just by looking at you!" Sui Yuan ridiculed coldly. He raised his eyebrows and cast a sidelong glance at him, looking extremely gorgeous.

Situ Yu’s heart shook. He cut a sorry figure, being unable to look away, as if he was in a panic after having been seen through.

He should reprimand Xu Tu for his non-compliance with etiquette. However, he felt guilty and thought that the other’s words expressed what he deeply felt inside. He wanted to deride himself for not being able to admit his own admiration, and instead, surprisingly went to look for someone else to transfer his affection to. It was simply unbearable.

"Third Brother’s personality is unruly, not in compliance with common customs. Naturally, you are very magnanimous," Situ Yu maintained a proper bearing with much difficulty, agreeing indifferently. Soon after, he speedily took his leave, uncaring about etiquette, and did not even inquire as to whose family that lady he had just focused his attention on belonged to.

Sui Yuan who was abandoned by the protagonist gong："........................"

——This feeling of being disliked by the protagonist gong, it has truly been a long time since he experienced it. For some inexplicable reason, he felt a little sick at heart, ne...it felt as if Situ Yu loathed him even more than the original Xu Tu? Clearly, there were still a few words that needed to be spoken between them. Is there really no problem with hastily ending this? He still hasn’t mocked the protagonist shou for being mediocre and jeered at the protagonist gong for having bad eyes, ne!

"...Why is our Fourth Brother so strange today?" While Sui Yuan was silently feeling sick at heart, Situ Gui who had been spectating the whole time from close by walked over, tone skeptical, "It couldn’t be that he’s a bit afraid of you so he’s using positive words to describe you? What did you do to him?"

"...How would I know?" Sui Yuan raised his lips into a smile. Only, he very quickly threw the matter to one side. In any case, he was already used to the protagonists not following the routine in all sorts of ways when before him. As long as the general direction was not bad, whether the lines were increased or decreased probably wouldn’t be too serious an issue...right?

"Right, I just heard some news from Gugu. She said that Emperor Father intends to come to the Flower Appreciation Banquet and that we should prepare well," Situ Gui was too lazy to bother asking about what ailment his brother has been afflicted with and switched topics, telling Sui Yuan the reason he came looking for him.

Once Sui Yuan heard this, he instantly felt quite helpless. He just knew that Zhao Xihe would not be well-behaved and would very likely be unable to feel reassured and end up running on over here to butt in.

"Truly a rare occasion for Emperor Father to be interested in this kind of ’arranged marriage interview’ banquet," Situ Gui raised his eyebrows, laughing as they chit chatted, "Who knows if there will be a few more beauties in the harem after this banquet has ended."

Once he said this, Situ Gui’s expression sank, "It is nothing for a few more beauties to enter the harem. I just hope that there won’t be any more little brothers coming out to ’fight for favour’ with us. Emperor Father’s attention has already been stretched so thin, if there were anymore people to split it, too, the others would definitely be unable to attain any of it."

Situ Gui never wore a mask when talking to Xu Tu. He exposed all of his ambition for the throne and his fear of his other brothers to him. Their Emperor Father was not considered old. If a younger brother were to be born now, by the time Emperor Father was old, that younger brother would have already come-of-age. As soon as he thought of how that brother would be younger, more favoured, and be even more talented and energetic than they who had come before, Situ Gui felt his teeth itch.

——Historically, it wasn’t that there hasn’t been a thirty or forty year old crown prince. However, the ends of these princes were not typically good.

Sui Yuan glanced at Situ Gui with some pity and extended his hand to pat him on the shoulder, "Emperor Father has his own plans, you need not overthink things."

He couldn’t say ’according to the plot, your Emperor Father doesn’t have much longer to live and also wouldn’t be able to produce any little brothers or sisters’ could he? As for now, Zhao Xihe also didn’t touch any of the women in his harem, so it was even less likely that a son would pop out....

After bantering and receiving comfort from his good brother, Situ Gui finally felt his mood brighten and went back to his original elegant demeanor. He pulled Sui Yuan over to begin preparations in receiving the carriage.

Because he was wearing plain clothes and did not want to shock people too much—in order to not affect the plot—Zhao Xihe only let Princess Zhang alert a few select people. Amongst them was, naturally, Sui Yuan.

Under the ignorance of the masses— or rather, even if some became aware of it, they dared not speak— Princess Zhang called a few people within the imperial household together and respectfully welcomed the Emperor upon his arrival.

As soon as he stepped foot into the garden, Zhao Xihe quickly locked onto Sui Yuan who stood together with several other princes. He beckoned without any politeness, "Xu Tu, come here!"

Sui Yuan’s scalp felt numb and he helplessly met with the crowd’s surprise and envious gazes as he walked over to the plain-clothed Emperor. His shoulder was intimately pressed down on, "Zhen is tired of staying in the palace and came out to relieve his boredom. It is enough for Xu Tu to accompany Zhen. The others may disperse."

The other people, who were openly disdained, felt all sorts of distress but did not refute in any case. They only watched on helplessly as the Emperor took Sui Yuan and slowly strolled away. In their minds, the little abacuses went ’clack clack’.

Since that time the Emperor had reprimanded Xu Tu’s wives, the people of the Capital had all conjectured that the adopted son had lost favor. However, it now seemed that he had not lost favour at all but had gained favour instead! After all, never before had the Emperor thrown aside his own children, not even sparing them a single glance, and instead pointed out only Xu Tu to accompany him!

The people of the Imperial household have always had sharp minds, or in other words, they ’think too much’. At any sign of trouble from the Emperor, they can imagine many kinds of possibilities. In an instant, the complexion of the people within the crowd became vast and various in the way it turned into many different colours.

Xu Tu was very blatantly within the Second Prince’s faction. Aside from the Second Prince, he did not give face to anyone else. Right now, he was doted on so much, it could not be helped that the Emperor would be swayed towards the Second Prince’s side. This was not something the other princes wished to see.

The Fifth Prince Situ Zhang felt a wave of unadulterated worry. He sensed that Second Prince Situ Gui’s, odds of success were even greater. Furthermore, Situ Gui was the best candidate in the hearts of many people. Xu Tu was so favoured, the Second Prince would surely profit. As long as this youngster did not mess up and anger the Emperor, then there would be no problem. As for Situ Yu, his thoughts were the most complicated.

As the prince with the most meticulous thoughts and the most adept at discerning somebody’s thoughts from their body language, Situ Yu subconsciously felt that the atmosphere had indeed changed between Emperor Father and Xu Tu, and it was not a momentary illusion on his part. If one were to say that Emperor Father’s conduct before was more like he was praising Xu Tu in a way that would only disadvantage him, right now, no matter if it was his words or bearing, or even his gaze when he looked at Xu Tu, it was without a doubt that of pure, unadulterated parental doting love—perhaps even greater than that of parental doting love.

Just when did this kind of change occur? And for what reason?

Situ Yu instinctively felt that this situation was not too encouraging. Regardless of whether it was because Emperor Father’s doting love for Xu Tu would affect his odds of seizing the throne, or whether he instinctively felt vigilant against the man for being so excessively close to the Xu Tu he admired, everything caused a ’danger’ signal to go off in Situ Yu’s head.

Whether in public or private, he did not want to see the two people be this intimate. Unfortunately, as a prince that was not particularly favoured, aside from fretting in secret, Situ Yu could not do anything.

Regardless of what the Princes thought, Zhao Xihe’s goal for his action this time was very simple. Aside from meeting with his family’s sweetheart and having a little date, it was to pin a ’private property’ sign onto Sui Yuan before everyone, so as to prevent him from attracting admirers and causing the bud of love from sprouting inside the hearts’ of the people he flirted with.

As outstanding talents that had been invited by Princess Zhang, many of the people here have had the fortune to be invited into the palace and meet the Emperor. However, they could only catch a glimpse from afar as there would not be anyone foolish enough to directly stand before the Emperor. Thus, they were unable to recognize him.

There were practically no stupid people who could enter the palace. Even if they were feeling rather impulsive, there were astute people by their side who would stop them in time. Thus, even if there were quite a few people who did recognize His Majesty, everyone shared a tacit understanding to not point it out. They only acted more respectful and displayed their talents in a discreet manner even more.

——If it was for the purpose of attracting the gaze of women before, right now, it was for the purpose of fighting for their own future prospects. As long as they were able to catch His Majesty’s favour, or even just leave a vague impression on him, that would mean that their future would be like a clear sky. Such an opportunity must not be missed; if missed, it shall not appear again. How could everyone not try their best?

With haste, little groups of all sizes formed, not far from where Sui Yuan and Zhao Xihe were. They were either competing in poetry recital battles and displaying their outstanding literary grace, or chatting about politics and quoting classics. Sui Yuan was listening to them, full of interest, but Zhao Xihe was getting increasingly impatient.

Right now, there were people everywhere within the garden. Furthermore, Zhao Xihe’s identity was extremely special. It was very difficult to be able to find a quiet and secluded place when the people weren’t paying attention, where he and Sui Yuan could be in their own little world.

In order to avoid making Sui Yuan discontent, Zhao Xihe had no choice but to endure the noise made by the surrounding people. Unfortunately, even if he didn’t go provoking other people, other people would come provoke him on the contrary. To be exact, it was to come provoke Sui Yuan who was by his side.

Xu Tu was bossy and domineering. He had more enemies than friends in the Capital. The people who disliked him envied how he was able to righteously stay by His Majesty’s side. Several IQ-deficient people wanted to use this as a pretext to make him lose face. Even if he wouldn’t lose all favour, if they could make His Majesty ’see his true face’, it would make him quite disappointed in him.

Therefore, as Sui Yuan was becoming engrossed in listening, he was mentioned. The one that named him was enthusiastic and sincere but a flash of contempt and disdain flitted through his eyes. As for those with working IQs, they happily watched as Xu Tu was humiliated. In any case, if this brought dissatisfaction to the Emperor, his anger would not fall upon their heads. It was advantageous and without harm, so why not watch?

Sui Yuan naturally knew what kind of idea they had. He was also too lazy to feign civility with this crowd of passersby. Although he was an Actor and was proficient in all sorts of verses and songs, it was a pity that Xu Tu did not have this kind of skill. Sui Yuan thus straightforwardly raised a brow and spoke lazily, "Write poetry? Ben gongzi cannot do that kind of pedantic task. You should look for someone else, ba!"

The people who were mocked wore unresigned expressions but because the Emperor was here, they could not directly speak malicious words. They could only tactfully point out how he was ignorant and incompetent. Sui Yuan himself had no qualms with vividly and thoroughly portraying Xu Tu’s unbridled arrogance. He happily mocked and ridiculed all the people who planned to turn him into a joke. His might was like a large-scale AoE attack skill.

No matter what Sui Yuan did, Zhao Xihe found it novel and interesting. He had never seen his family’s sweetheart so eloquent and sharp. He was not lenient in the least and was full of zest. He watched with folded arms, eyes full of appreciation as he spectated the bustling scene. The only fly in the ointment was that this kind of unbridled and arrogant Sui Yuan who ’used powerful connections to intimidate people’ was too dazzling and attracted the gaze of too many people.

Zhao Xihe casually swept a glance and could ferret out the fellows whose eyes were shimmering with an inexplicable radiance as they fixed their unwavering attention onto Sui Yuan. Each and every one of them were respected story characters.

Sui Yuan’s halo was rather strange. Even if it affected passing cannon fodder, it would only make them conjure up a vague feeling of goodwill towards him. Meanwhile, the more important the character, the more it would influence them. This was probably the work of ’fate’.

Although once they were created by the Original World, they became their own worlds and operated independently, the characters whose fates were stipulated by the ’plot’ were the backbone of the worlds. They had a more formidable ’fate’ than other people and could be affected by ’the Origin of Creation’ via this connection to ’fate’.

Because Zhao Xihe, who was part of the ’Origin of Creation’, loved Sui Yuan more and more, this directly caused the people who possessed ’fate’ to develop goodwill towards Sui Yuan. The greater their fate, the deeper they were influenced by the Origin of Creation and the more they would like Sui Yuan. This was basically a vicious cycle.

Although Zhao Xihe was the source, it wasn’t like he could not like Sui Yuan and not care about him. Therefore, it was a tragic situation.

Zhao Xihe slightly narrowed his eyes and warned himself to stay calm. He wrapped his arm around Sui Yuan’s shoulders and smiled gently as he stopped him from continuing to attract other people’s gazes, "Alright. What is there to argue about here? How can they compare to you? Zhen likes you, not because you are talented. Even if you are ignorant and incompetent, you are the best in Zhen’s eyes."

While saying this, the expression in his eyes was imposing as he swept his gaze all around. He coldly glanced at the people who had been bouncing about the most joyfully and his extremely formidable pressure made everyone keep quiet out of fear, afraid that the Emperor who was backing up his adopted son would hold grudges.

The effect of Zhao Xihe’s single utterance far surpassed that of a hundred thousand of Sui Yuan’s combined. Immediately, everyone fell silent. People who did not know Zhao Xihe’s identity were shocked to hear him use ’Zhen’ to address himself. Meanwhile, those that did know were shaken by how favoured Xu Tu was.

Weren’t they working so hard for the Emperor to cast even just one more glance at them? If they warned him repeatedly yet were only regarded as noise in the gallery to the Emperor while Xu Tu, who was considered the worst of the lot, was still his precious darling, this kind of clear-cut and ruthless division simply made people want to fall into despair!

One’s own child was always the best. Even if he needed to be taught a lesson, it was not the place of someone else to teach it. His Majesty the Emperor so nakedly revealed his unreasonable fierce protectiveness and skill to protect his son. He forced everyone to stop with their criticism against Xu Tu!

The Emperor is their God. If the Emperor says that it’s good, then it must be good, even if it’s unreasonable. Even if one wanted to directly admonish him, one had to consider their own importance and consider the pros and cons.

Since Zhao Xihe put a stop to it, Sui Yuan stopped before going too far. Anyway, he was not that interested in bickering. Only, Xu Tu’s settings made it so that he could not suffer in silence.

He flashed an extremely satisfied gaze at the crowd of people. Out of Sui Yuan’s lips were the words ’many thanks to Emperor Father for your generous love’ though his tone made it seem like he was used to this kind of treatment. This directly made everyone so envious that their teeth itched. He was then taken into Zhao Xihe’s arms. He raised his chin slightly, flaunting as he left, sitting atop of his rightful position as ’the favourite’.

"This is the Xu Tu that is rumoured to be the Capital’s most domineering and bossy figure? Indeed, he is willful and arrogant, but his arrogance is rather cute and candid," the scholar dressed in green, who was standing beside Situ Yu, smiled, his tone full of interest, "It’s just a pity that he is truly close to the Second Prince. Otherwise, if we coax this doted on youth over to our side, we could reap many benefits."

Situ Yu："........................"

——Do you think that I don’t want to?! (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

——When I had first developed amorous feelings towards him, I had seriously pondered over this issue. In the end, I could only give up in despair, did you know?!

On Situ Yu’s other side, a man dressed in martial arts styled clothes nodded along, "Although his bearing is insolent, his words resonated in my heart. I don’t like the strict customs those literati follow. Nor do I understand the ’sophistication’ attributed to reciting poetry and the like. If I have the opportunity to make friends with that Xu Tu, that would be wonderful. Perhaps we’d get along!"

Situ Yu："........................"

——But Xu Tu belongs to the enemy’s faction! Make friends, your sister! Get along, your sister, ah!

——Come, look at my mouth. Say it with me: Belongs. To. The. Enemy’s. Faction!

Situ Yu was extremely conflicted.

He had just realized that he liked someone. The result was that he discovered that he was destined to lose his love. Was there something that was any more crushing?

The answer was—of course there was!

For example, the capable scholar and martial artist he had racked his brains and had gone out of his way to enlist as his assistants had been snatched away by the one he was destined to love but never attain in an instant. Situ Yu would simply be bullied to tears by this heartless world!

Xu Tu, could it be that he was the destined bane of his existence?!

Eve: The truth of SY’s halo has finally been revealed. I nearly choked. This is truly a case of digging a pit for yourself. LMAO. I don’t know whether to laugh at his misery or feel bad for him. So I’ll do both. With that said...aww..we can trace it back to exactly when ZXH truly fell in love with SY (arc 4) though I guess it’s obvious considering ZXH nearly succumbed to his inner demons haha.

Wuxian: No use in turning back now, ZXH. It’s time to sleep, albeit uncomfortably, in your self-dug pit. *lights a candle for ZXH*

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