Chapter 201 - Bad Dad!
On a typical autumn morning, with the sun casting its gentle warmth and the breeze carrying the gentle touch of fall, Tang Yue arose, intending to take his newfound family members for a stroll.
Having a deep understanding of the hardships faced by children in their early years, Tang Yue wanted to expose Little Luoyuan to the world as much as possible before the child embarked on a formal education.
After changing the attire of the little one and planting a loving kiss on his soft and tender face, Tang Yue carried him out of the courtyard. Yet, even before reaching the doorstep, he received word that someone was seeking his presence.
“Who might it be?” Tang Yue pondered, considering whether the visitor was significant enough to disrupt his plans for the day.
The butler responded, “It's a young man named Wei Yan.”
“Wei Yan…” Tang Yue mused on the name for a moment until the butler added, “He hails from Yellow Flower Village.” Only then did Tang Yue's memory click into place.
Yellow Flower Village, the place afflicted by malaria, and Wei Yan, the devoted eldest son who refused to be separated from his father and brother.
“Ah, him. Summon him in,” Tang Yue remembered that this young man was literate and that the villagers of Yellow Flower Village had been relocated to Crown Prince Zhao's horse farm on the outskirts, where they enjoyed better lives with assigned tasks, but Wei Yan's whereabouts remained unknown.
Wei Yan entered with a humble demeanor, his gaze lowered in nervous anticipation of meeting his benefactor.
“Greetings, Crown Princess,” he greeted, bowing deeply.
Tang Yue, covered in a robe of icy blue, responded, “No need for formalities. Raise your head. We are no strangers.”
Wei Yan's anxiety gradually subsided in the presence of this soothing voice, prompting him to lift his gaze and regard the individual who closely resembled his memories, his eyes filled with admiration.
“What brings you here today?” Tang Yue inquired directly.
Wei Yan set aside his swirling thoughts and respectfully saluted, “Crown Princess, the Grass People are currently stationed in the accounting room of the carriage in Xiping. We have come to bring Your Highness some wonderful news.”
While Tang Yue found it slightly unusual that an accounting team was delivering the news, he motioned for Wei Yan to continue.
Wei Yan's face brightened with a joyful smile. “His Highness has successfully trained a warhorse that meets your criteria in terms of physique and endurance. However, this initial batch comprises only 300 horses.”
“This is truly splendid news,” Tang Yue exclaimed with enthusiasm. He promptly instructed the nearby butler, “Summon His Highness back, and let us go and inspect these horses immediately.”
“Yes.”
Tang Yue requested someone to bring refreshments for Wei Yan and inquired about his recent life. He learned that Wei Yan had now assumed the role of a teacher and had been studying and working as an accountant while living a fulfilling life.
“All of this is thanks to the Crown Princess, who saved our entire village. The Crown Prince provided us with a new place to live, and everyone is immensely grateful. They only wish to contribute something in return to His Highness.”
Tang Yue humbly responded, “It was merely a small gesture; please don't think too much of it.” Tang Yue never considered himself their savior. Ultimately, it was their connection to Yellow Flower Village that had put the entire village in danger, nearly leading to its destruction. Their real motive was to frame Crown Prince Zhao.
Wei Yan added, “While it might have been effortless for His Highness, it meant the world to us. Unfortunately, we have limited means to repay such a significant favor.”
Tang Yue nodded thoughtfully and remarked, “Every individual has their unique purpose. Even ordinary people have their roles to play. It's been noted that the quality of the horses in the royal stable has significantly improved, thanks in part to the villagers of Huang Village enhancing the quality of the grass they cultivate.”
Tang Yue carefully observed the young man in front of him. Wei Yan's words and actions were much more polished than their first encounter. Despite a hint of nervousness in his eyes, he appeared genuine and sincere, making him a commendable and virtuous young man.
Tang Yue had an idea brewing in his mind. He contemplated suggesting to Crown Prince Zhao to select individuals from the common folk who possessed both moral integrity and talent to serve in the Imperial Court. The current imbalance in the Imperial Court stemmed from an overrepresentation of noble-born individuals.
Tang Yue was aware that Crown Prince Zhao maintained a mental list of talented young people from noble families. He had discreetly identified those with potential. This served as a reserve force for the future Imperial Court.
If these individuals ascended to official positions, Crown Prince Zhao would have a cadre of loyal officials with whom he had a personal connection.
An hour later, Crown Prince Zhao returned, resplendent in court attire, exuding an air of majesty. Wei Yan, who had just settled his nerves, suddenly felt anxious.
It was uncertain whether Crown Prince Zhao had forgotten Wei Yan or simply had a limited recollection of him, as he did not display any particular warmth. Even when Tang Yue disclosed Wei Yan's background, Crown Prince Zhao merely nodded.
To modern observers, Crown Prince Zhao's demeanor might appear arrogant and haughty, but in this era, it was quite ordinary.
For Wei Yan, being able to enter this mansion and receive personal attention from Crown Princess was already beyond his wildest expectations. The tea, pastries, and polite exchanges exceeded his imagination.
From Wei Yan's perspective, Crown Prince's behavior was entirely customary.
Crown Prince Zhao changed into ordinary clothing and instructed Wang Dingjun to fetch his armor. He then exited with confident strides.
The carriage awaited them, and Crown Prince Zhao glanced at his horse before tossing the reins onto the carriage, causing the horse to neigh in protest.
As he lifted the curtain, Crown Prince Zhao noticed the little child sitting in Tang Yue's lap. He furrowed his brow and inquired, “Why have you brought him along?”
Tang Yue fed a soft cake to Little Luoyuan and explained, “Today, we had agreed to take Luoyuan out for some fun. We couldn't go back on our word.”
Crown Prince Zhao sat beside them and playfully pinched his son's tender cheek, eliciting disapproving glares from both father and son. Crown Prince Zhao found it amusing and pinched the child's nose once more.
Little Luoyuan sneezed and buried his face in Tang Yue's chest, privately thinking, “I prefer my gentle and caring little father. He can make delicious food, create fun toys, and play with me. Royal Father doesn't understand anything!”
“He is unaware of the arrangement you have with a young child.”
Tang Yue countered, “Education entails guiding and teaching a child. How can you be certain he doesn't comprehend? Perhaps he simply struggles to articulate his emotions effectively.”
Crown Prince Zhao acknowledged that he had a point but still attempted to debate, “Do you have knowledge of his early years?”
Naturally, Tang Yue had no recollection of his own infancy. Just as he was about to deliver a lecture on parenting, he observed Little Luoyuan turning his head from his embrace and giving Crown Prince Zhao an expressive look. He mumbled two words indistinctly, “Bad… father…”
Tang Yue was momentarily stunned, then burst into hearty laughter. This caught the attention of the guards outside the carriage and Wei Yan, who looked at him in astonishment.
Crown Prince Zhao, on the other hand, regarded Little Luoyuan as though he were a marvel once he grasped the meaning behind his words.
He thought, “It must be Tang Yue. It must be!”
Otherwise, how would a one-year-old child know the difference between good and bad?
The carriage continued along the main road, departing from the western gate. After covering another ten kilometers, they reached the Xiping horse farm. Originally owned by the Imperial Court, Crown Prince Zhao had acquired it after making a significant contribution due to the quality of its horses, which had saved many soldiers in a battle.
Since then, he had vowed to establish his own horse farm to breed top-quality horses.
This aspiration had been realized surprisingly swiftly. Initially, he had intended to request some horses from the King of South Jin when the one thousand horses from North Yue arrived.
Given his status, securing a hundred or eighty warhorses would be a certainty.
Upon entering the horse farm, the landscape opened up before them. Despite late winter in South Jin, the grass remained lush and green. Scattered across the grassland were horses of varying hues, radiating vitality.
The person in charge of the horse farm had waited for quite some time. He had initially believed that Wei Yan might not even get a glimpse of His Highness's party. It came as a surprise when Wei Yan actually brought them here.
This young man had started off inconspicuous but, thanks to his literacy skills, had been assigned to the accounting room. In less than two years, he had become a crucial figure in the accounting department. He had also made numerous valuable recommendations for the construction of the stables, revealing his hidden talents.
“This humble servant extends a warm welcome to Crown Prince and Crown Princess, wishing them eternal prosperity, eternal prosperity, eternal prosperity, eternal prosperity, eternal prosperity.”
“Stand up.”
Crown Prince Zhao descended from the carriage, carrying Little Luoyuan, and then assisted Tang Yue in getting down. Such actions were commonplace within the Crown Prince's Palace. Those familiar with them had witnessed their closeness, but outsiders often regarded Crown Princess as the favored male consort.
Rumors had circulated that the Crown Prince cherished this male consort, yet the extent of his affection remained a mystery to all.
In the eyes of men of this era, doting on one's wife typically meant providing her the role of a household manager, the chance to bear children, and a comfortable and prosperous life.
Nonetheless, in terms of displaying affection, Crown Prince Zhao and his consort surpassed all others.
As soon as Little Luoyuan touched the ground, he eagerly sprinted toward the nearest horse, earning him praise for his spirited enthusiasm.
Tang Yue entrusted a skilled guard with equestrian prowess to entertain the boy and then turned her attention elsewhere. It was best to allow him the freedom of a young boy.
The group followed the horse farm's owner and ventured deep into a valley.
The Imperial Court kept a comprehensive record of the number and condition of horses at Xiping Horse Farm. However, the breeds cultivated here belonged exclusively to Crown Prince Zhao.
Upon entering the valley, the sound of horses neighing and galloping reverberated, echoing throughout the expanse.
After a brief walk, Tang Yue's view expanded to reveal a river, stretching ten meters across the valley. Lush green grass flanked both sides of the river's meandering path.
Horses approached on the water, emitting occasional whinnies. Their hooves splashed in the shallow water, refreshing their bodies.
The aura and appearance alone set these valley horses apart from their counterparts outside. They exuded vigor, possessed robust limbs, and their eyes gleamed with wildness.
“Indeed,” Crown Prince Zhao nodded with satisfaction.
During his time at the border, he had encountered many North Yue warhorses. Though not the absolute finest, they rivaled the average quality in North Yue.
The horse farm owner's joy was palpable when he heard these words. “These horses are exceptional, but they are quite wild. Were it not for His Highness sending a few capable individuals, they wouldn't have been tamed.”
Crown Prince Zhao nodded in approval at Wang Dingjun, who immediately leaped forward. He advanced through the air and approached the lead horse.
His capabilities assured that he would have no trouble subduing a horse. In no time, he had the horse under control, and before long, everyone witnessed him riding it back.
Tang Yue watched him with admiration as he rode the horse with exuberance. She thought to herself, “What a handsome and tall young general! If only he were more interested in women, I would introduce him to Ah Wan.”
Little did Tang Yue know that the young general she admired had no inclination toward women.
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