But this good opportunity, he didn’t want to miss.
So he licked his lips and said.
"This son wishes to dine at Lady Lin’s courtyard."
The Emperor was a bit surprised to hear this.
However, upon second thought, the small kitchen in Lin Wanyi’s courtyard indeed cooks well.
It seems the child had a good meal at noon, perhaps he’s thinking of it again now.
He looked at the sky outside and then said to Dong Yuzhong.
"Immediately send someone to Huifang Courtyard to deliver this message: I and the Second Prince are going to dine there, let Lin Changzai prepare."
He didn’t bother whether Huifang Courtyard had enough dishes, he just needed to give the order.
Upon hearing they could go to Huifang Courtyard again, the Second Prince was so happy he almost jumped up.
Seeing his excited expression, the Emperor’s eyes flickered with a trace of pity.
Then he recalled Doctor Dou’s words.
"The poison has been in the Second Prince’s system for a long time, so it would be best for Your Majesty to replace everything around him that he might ingest."
Merely replacing the things he ingests is addressing the symptoms but not the root cause.
Replacing the palace attendants serving as well would fundamentally eliminate hidden threats.
With this thought, the Emperor formed a plan.
Looking at the Second Prince’s expression, he gradually felt more at ease.
In Huifang Courtyard, Lin Wanyi wore a responsible smile, waiting at the door.
She thought the Emperor had grown tired of coming the past few days, and she could have some leisure.
Unexpectedly, a command was sent over again.
Having dinner wasn’t complicated.
But it was unfortunate for Chunqi and Xiao Luzi, who were busy in the small kitchen, unable to stop for a moment.
If she ate alone on normal days, one meat dish, one vegetable, and one soup would suffice.
But today, since the Emperor and the Second Prince were coming.
The minimum was six dishes to start with.
Luckily Chunqi usually prepared in advance, so they were busy but not in chaos.
The night gradually darkened.
When Lin Wanyi saw lanterns leading the way, she knew the Emperor and the Second Prince had arrived.
"This maidservant Lin greets His Majesty, and has seen the Second Prince."
The Emperor responded with an "Um," then raised his hand.
When Lin Wanyi stood up, she saw the Second Prince respectfully greeting her.
"Health and peace to Lady Lin."
"No need for formalities, Second Prince."
This child, when seen at noon, had a defiant look, how come after only half a day, he became much more polite.
As the Emperor and the Second Prince entered the room, she glanced at Qiu Ming.
Qiu Ming immediately leaned to her ear and whispered.
"The nanny serving the Second Prince was negligent and stole on duty, she took her own life."
These two charges are indeed serious.
Logically, the Second Prince is precious to Princess Consort Lan, so the nanny arranged to care for him should be top-notch.
How could such a big mistake happen?
But on second thought, the Second Prince sneaked out for so long without anyone coming to search.
It seems the people arranged by Princess Consort Lan aren’t necessarily satisfactory.
Thinking thus, she walked inside.
She attended the Emperor’s handwashing, while Xia An took care of the Second Prince.
After wiping them clean, they had the soup brought in.
"Today’s soup is carp stew with tofu, freshly served shortly before Your Majesty arrived, perfect to drink now."
The soup was milk-white, the fish tender and fresh, the tofu melting like water within it.
With a sprinkle of fine scallions on top, it was mouthwatering at first sight.
The Emperor and the Second Prince took it and tasted it.
The taste was indeed fantastic.
Even the temperature was just right, neither scalding the mouth nor cold and fishy.
The Second Prince had a small bowl but found it insufficient.
But fearing overeating might displease the Emperor and Lin Changzai, he merely licked his lips and refrained from having more.
Though Lin Wanyi hadn’t had children, she was quite a few years older than her brother.
She grew up watching him, and could more or less guess the temper of a boy a few years old.
So she comforted him saying.
"Second Prince, this fish soup is nourishing and aids digestion, so having two bowls in the evening is not an issue. Would you like some more?"
The Second Prince’s eyes shone brightly.
Seeing Lin Wanyi’s expression, his mouth couldn’t help but curve upward and he said.
"Of course, but Chunqi has made many delicious dishes. If you fill up on soup, you might not eat much of the meal later, how about just half a bowl more?"
The Second Prince nodded immediately.
The words on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down.
Otherwise, he would have said he could eat even after two great bowls.
Xia An, seeing this, quickly served another half bowl.
This time the Second Prince didn’t gulp but tasted it slowly.
The tender fish and tofu washed away the bitterness in his mouth completely.
His joyful appearance made the Emperor secretly sigh in his heart.
Before the fish soup was finished, Xiao Luzi and the others brought all the dishes to the table.
A dish of stir-fried conch slices, a dish of snow movement soup, seasonal vegetables in a three-flavor stew, and a grilled chicken strip dish.
With eggplant and winter melon made into a cold salad dish.
There wasn’t much, and they were common, but the fragrance was extremely appetizing.
Lin Wanyi served the Emperor, while Xia An arranged the dishes for the Second Prince.
Father and son ate heartily, but Lin Wanyi barely ate a bite.
It wasn’t that she wasn’t hungry, but she had a bowl of noodle soup when the decree arrived.
Her stomach was still full now.
The Second Prince hadn’t eaten so many dishes for a long time.
Lin Wanyi was concerned he might eat too much and harm his digestion.
So she had Chunqi cook some sweet soup, to be drunk half an hour after the meal.
To aid digestion likewise.
Patting his rounded belly, the Second Prince was extremely satisfied.
Thinking how wonderful it would be to stay at Huifang Courtyard forever.
The thought of returning to Zeping State, or to Princess Consort Lan, made him unwilling.
One place was cold and indifferent, the other full of insincere scheming.
He was reluctant to choose either side.
After the table was cleared, the Emperor ordered someone to take the Second Prince out to play.
In this pitch darkness, playing anything was just pretense.
It was just an excuse to have a private conversation with Lin Wanyi.
Thus, Xia An considered and went to the study, opened a box, and took out some peculiar items.
Smiling, he said to the Second Prince.
"Second Prince, would you like the servant to take you to play with these, next door?"
The Second Prince recognized at once that these items seemed to be made by the same person who crafted the wooden oxen and horses his father had gifted him days ago.
Eyes filled with delight, he said.
After the group left, Dong Yuzhong closed the door behind them.
Then he stepped back three paces, stood under the corridor, and gazed at the moonlight outside.
It was the time when the silver waves were spread over the earth.
Lin Wanyi glanced at the Emperor, then spoke.