"Come here."
Liyun turned around and looked at the maid, she was wearing a pristine white robe and a pink lotus badge. White was the Tang family color, and the pink lotus was Liyun's emblem.
"Y…Yes."
Li Mei stammered and approached the small prince. Liyun smiled and pointed her downwards, she understood and kneeled down on her knee and met his eyes.
"Good Girl"
Liyun patted her head with affection. These maids are not only here for money but also serve the royal house, Liyun to be specific. He has heard in the past Xin Wei has even placed a tournament to become a maid. These maids are fiercely loyal to him.
"Go call Ergou."
"Yes, Your Highness, thank you."
Li Mei stood up, her eyes were moistened because the prince was too cute, and getting acknowledged by him was no simple matter. She was also the daughter of the Li family, although they are not that prominent, but she was still noble-born.
"Managing people: use them when necessary, toss them when they are a burden. Sigh! Being a prince is a shit show, fuck it.
Liyun murmured, then saw Li Mei bringing Ergou over, he was looking as menacing as ever with his scarred face.
"Your Highness, you summoned me?"
Ergou asked, he kneeled before talking with Liyun.
"Yes, Ergou, send someone over to the Luo Mansion. I need information. Why is it getting decorated?"
Liyun said while watering the plant, he looked like an old sage, who was very wise.
"I will do it immediately."
Ergou responded, he finally felt like Prince was getting older.
"Go, send your best man. Ask around, and also find out who was taken inside like a hostage," Liyun said. He waved his hand to dismiss Ergou, then toddled toward his bedroom. After all, he was still a child and needed rest now and then.
"Li Mei, you're to follow me to bed and pat me to sleep," Liyun ordered, already tugging at his clothes. He climbed onto his bed and lay flat, arms and legs stretched out in every direction, his long pink hair glistening under the sunlight.
Li Mei smiled and followed. The prince was naughty for sure, but he rarely allowed any maid into his room. That privilege usually belonged only to Luo Yan. Today, Li Mei was given the honor, and it filled her with happiness and confidence. She silently vowed not to let jealousy sway her heart while serving her prince.
When Liyun opened his eyes again, he smiled—his little trick worked. Li Mei was still beside him, fast asleep, her lips curved in that rare, satisfied smile women only showed after deep rest.
"EMPEROR TANG ZHENLONG IS HERE TO VISIT HIS HIGHNESS PRINCE LIYUN!"
Liyun's peaceful grin froze instantly. He turned to see Li Mei snapping awake, eyes wide with shock. She leapt from the bed in panic, the soft smile vanishing from her face, replaced by horror.
Damn! This father of mine… He just had to come at the worst time.
"Dress me, quick. If he sees me naked, he'll get angry—and probably think I'm planning to pee on him," Liyun muttered.
"Yes, my Prince!" Li Mei said, fumbling to straighten her robes while helping him dress.
Once ready, Liyun walked out. His father was already in the garden, calmly sipping tea.
"Liyun greets Father Emperor."
he said obediently, giving a small bow before casually sitting across from him.
The emperor gave only a slight nod in acknowledgment and continued sipping.
"Leave us alone,"
the Emperor said flatly. At once, the soldiers who had followed him out dispersed, and Liyun's maids also slipped away.
"Liyun, my son, Sorry I had to use you to deal with the Wu family, those treacherous bastards were planning a coup in the military. Now that I've broken their morale, it will take some time for them to get a foothold in the military once again."
"Today I am here to congratulate you. You're a golden core realm cultivator now, at just a mere three years old. I hope you grow more and become someone that outshines everyone. I don't have resources to give you, but this—"
Emperor Tang looked at Liyun with fatherly affection. The boy was tiny compared to him, yet already a terrifying cultivation monster. Slowly, he pulled a robe from his storage ring. It was a double-layered robe—the outer part pure white, the color of the Tang family, while the inner lining was black, marked with a huge golden lotus at the chest. The sleeves shimmered with golden trim, a symbol only those who had stepped into the Golden Core Realm could wear. Anyone below that level would never dare touch such a robe.
"Eh! Thank you, Father."
Liyun Jumping down from his chair and snatching the robe in his hand, he was actually pleased seeing the robe, he didn't mind he was made use of. Princes are duty-bound, and he knows it, he was more interested in the robe. Even a Peak Foundation Building Realm cultivator would find it hard to blemish his clothes.
"This is perfect for me, hehe."
Liyun gleefully twirled in the air, flying in the air was also his flex. Only cultivators in the Spirit Severing Realm can fly, and even that is limited and awkward, so Liyun's seamless flying also makes him unique.
Liyun went back to his room and wore the new robe and came out. The emperor was happy seeing his son so excited about something other than peeing on people.
"Father, this thing is great."
"I know, I am actually here for something else. Come over here."
Emperor Tang gestured for Liyun to come back and sit down, because he was about to talk some serious business. Then he pulled out an invitation card from his storage ring and gave it to Liyun.
Liyun, taking the card, which said 'Luo' on top of it, sat on the wooden chair just opposite of the emperor.
"This is an invitation card from General Luo's clan. They are going to marry your maid to their young master. I already gave my permission, as the Luo family was nothing but loyal to us. General Luo's son is a bit, for lack of a better word, retarded, so it's the best we could do. Attend it in my stead."
Emperor Tang said he was a bit sentimental about his friend General Luo, and his son was retarded from birth, the best he could do was to give him a proper and very beautiful wife.
" Eh? "
Why does this trope feel familiar?