Chaotic World Book

"Did you purposely leave Bao Qin there to entertain me?" Zhao Changhe asked Tang Wanju in a low voice on the way to the palace.

"Sigh..." Tang Wanju sighed, "She shoved The Romance of the West Chamber under my nose, lost in daydreams most of the time. If I don't give her a chance, that little girl will resent me to death."

Bao Qin hung her head and kept silent.

Tang Wanju continued, "Your personality, you're not likely to take the initiative to pursue someone out of the blue; you'd just ignore them for a long time, eventually hurting their feelings. If you really need a temporary companion, I'm even more afraid that if you refuse, something might go wrong. You might not understand... It's better to give it a chance, I knew Bao Qin would have you settled once she scolds you a bit. Look, isn't this quite straightforward... Treat her well in the future; she's my sister, not just a maid."

Zhao Changhe lifted Bao Qin's hand, "Who said she's a maid? She's also my sister."

Tang Wanju couldn't help but laugh, "You're even happier slotting another identity, right?"

Zhao Changhe also laughed, "I've only piled identities to chase you, not to play tricks."

"What other tricks do you want to play?" Tang Wanju glanced around and whispered, "Sometimes I really wish you weren't so accomplished outside. Every time I get news about you, it feels like you're saying to me: Is it time to fulfill that... But every time I think of Huangfu, I get annoyed. It makes me uncomfortable thinking about it; she would never agree. You really don't know how long we've been at this tussle."

Zhao Changhe smiled wryly, "Those things, you can't force beauty by pushing the boat along to the dock. Like today, I've already said there's no need to rush me into the palace; you can't just dwell on those matters all the time."

This time, Tang Wanju and Yue Hongling both glanced at him. It felt like just a while ago, you were eager to do all sorts of combinations; today it feels off. Could it be you're not up to it? If you're not, what will we do...

Zhao Changhe sighed, "I don't know if you've noticed that every time you argue, I feel helpless, not knowing what to do. I'd be grateful if you could stop fighting. I can't dare to anticipate conquering Shu without first getting Guanlong. It's like when you two first met, how could you think I would be considering those things, really."

Everyone laughed, realizing it was true. He was always helpless when facing their arguments, quite different from his adept performances outside.

So the family feast tonight must be more of a headache for him, with so many people gathered from all sides. At least Tang Wanju knew she would find it hard to be pleasant with Huangfu Qing, thinking "that silly bird sees me like this."

Upon reaching the banquet hall, they immediately saw Xia Chichi was speaking to Huangfu Qing, with Huangfu Qing lightly sipping tea and nodding with satisfaction.

Whatever they were discussing was unknown, but their seats were typically shameless, being closest to the opportunity.

This was a large round table, the position directly opposite the decorative wall was obviously the "main position", currently empty, seemingly reserved for the "Family Head". Despite one being the Empress Dowager and the other the Emperor, even the little palace maids knew who the true Family Head was.

The positions flanking the main were already taken by Huangfu Qing and Xia Chichi, effectively pre-empting both sides of Zhao Changhe. Others could only sit further down.

More amusingly, Xia Chichi was not dressed in a dragon robe but a casual white robe, while Huangfu Qing was still in red. Thus, the scene was conveniently two reds and two whites, like predestined groups, with Bao Qin like a small green cabbage, most unique.

The cheerful, chatting expressions of Tang Wanju and Yue Hongling vanished.

No matter how close you are, you can't be so direct, can you? Are you implying to make us the smaller ones?

Tang Wanju stared straight at Huangfu Qing. Fine with Xia Chichi, after all, she's the Emperor; but you, Huangfu Qing, aren't truly the Emperor's mother. You were a fake Imperial Concubine from the previous dynasty, yet you still breathe so confidently? Come, our 16-year war isn't over. Do you think the Imperial Realm is impressive?

Yue Hongling glared at Xia Chichi. Huangfu Qing was excusable, at least there was camaraderie in arms. But who are you, Xia Chichi? Yue Hongling was generally broad-minded and didn't get jealous, except recalling the time Zhao Changhe stood between her and Luo Qi, almost falling out with her. The more she got close to Zhao Changhe, the more bitter she felt. Many times, she held back from asking, if now I fought Luo Qi, would you shield her and fight me?

Is today the day to test it out!

As the two glared, the other two stopped their conversation and looked back with seemingly smiling but challenging gazes. No one backed down...

Bao Qin released Zhao Changhe's hand, starting to grind her teeth, ready to rally for her mistress.

The family banquet hadn't started, and the atmosphere in the hall was already thick with tension, scaring the nearby little palace maids to retreat far away, as Zhao Changhe held his head, speechless.

He knew it.

He couldn't afford to be helpless this time. Today's Zhao Changhe was capable outside, certainly no longer the same easily bullied kid from before. He quickly spoke up before both sides could speak: "What were you two discussing just now?"

Upon his inquiry, Xia Chichi, showing respect, said, "Discussing with Mother the various situations, like the sweet potatoes you mentioned before. They were indeed found overseas, and we are now sourcing trial planting sites. Also, regarding the special exotic beasts you mentioned in letters, the palace already has one or two species. We have already dispatched envoys with national seals to Dali, and it should arrive soon. Other searches are underway as well. As for funding, Mother mentioned Guanglong has the Silk Road; our maritime trade is no less impressive. They are now disrupted by Ying Wu, but we are thriving. If it comes to a lasting battle, we will have more and more advan... Hey! What are you doing?"

As Xia Chichi spoke, Zhao Changhe had already advanced beside the table, first glancing at the seat opposite the main position, intended as a demonstration that all seats were equal, then immediately abandoned this plan.

The primary concern for them wasn't the order of seats, but who sits on either side of him. Once he sits there, it conveniently allows Wanju and Hongling to take the sides, which would be blatant favoritism, causing Chichi and Huangfu to go berserk, so it was not an option.

With nothing to lose, he boldly went to Chichi's side, lifted her up, and sat her on his lap. Before she could finish speaking, she was now reporting to everyone while sitting on his lap.

Held like this, Xia Chichi, although inwardly happy by this public intimacy, felt slightly embarrassed under the others' hot gazes and struggled lightly, "What are you doing..."

"Admiring our Emperor's confidence in state affairs, bringing joy to my heart." Zhao Changhe kissed her on the cheek, "You've worked hard."

Xia Chichi quickly peeked at the others around, her heart still joyous, and quietly said, "This is nothing. Tang Qing helped a lot... You've endured hardships on your campaigns. Alright, put me down, what kind of scene is this."

Zhao Changhe amiably placed her back on the main seat, "Today's family banquet is also a state banquet. Let the Emperor take the seat to host."

He then gestured, "Bao Qin come, sit here."

Bao Qin, with three streaks of oil on her face, bewilderedly took a few steps forward, pointing at her own nose, "I'm a maid, no seat for me."

"Who says you have no seat? In our house, is this even a concern?" Zhao Changhe reached over and, without any rejection, pulled her to sit beside him.

Bao Qin sat there dumbfounded... Does this count as sitting at the same table as the Emperor?

But turning to Zhao Changhe's smiling face, how come she felt like crying inside...

Zhao Changhe beckoned Tang Wanju and Yue Hongling, "Sit wherever, what are you standing there for."

Now Xia Chichi, as Emperor, sat in a daze on the main seat, with Zhao Changhe and Huangfu Qing on either side, and Bao Qin sitting bewildered on Zhao Changhe's right. There was no sense of hierarchy or main-occupant feeling, all completely nullified.

The tense atmosphere from before had vanished without a trace. Tang Wanju and Yue Hongling were both slightly amazed, certainly not going to stir things up, so Tang Wanju sat beside Bao Qin, and Yue Hongling sat beside Huangfu Qing, and a potential intense clash dispersed into nothingness.

Zhao Changhe lifted his cup, smiling, "Zhao Changhe, a wanderer of the Worldly Society, rarely has opportunities to gather with family. It's a rare New Year's reunion, with even Hongling here, truly delightful. I hope to soon settle the world so we can reunite every day. Cheers!"

Everyone's eyes lingered as they watched him lead the first drink, each having a feeling that couldn't be put into words.

Recalling the moments of acquaintance, it's like step by step witnessing the transformation of a boy into a man.

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PS: Small chapter, more tonight. Also, about yesterday's issues, I've realized the key misalignment between opposing perspectives, written in the author's notes, not in PS to avoid disrupting the flow, but it's important, take a look.