"If it were a princess, would His Majesty agree to a marriage alliance?"
"This isn’t a marriage alliance, after all, our Great Zhou hasn’t lost." The eighth prince corrected Yu Hai, "It’s our Great Zhou’s princess marrying downwards."
"Your Highness is right, then do you think there’s a princess who could marry the eldest prince of Annan Country?"
The eighth prince did not answer immediately; after pondering for a moment, he said, "Perhaps, perhaps not."
Yu Hai wondered why His Highness spoke so ambiguously. However, he did not dare to ask.
"Your Highness, tomorrow is the Longevity Festival, we must rise before dawn. You should stop reading tonight and go to bed early."
The eighth prince, hearing this, put down the book in his hand, stood up, and said, "Then let’s sleep."
Before going to bed, Yu Hai had already placed several hot water bottles in the eighth prince’s bed to warm it.
The eighth prince was physically weak and afraid of the cold. Every year, as soon as winter arrived, he would wrap himself up into a ball.
This year’s winter, the eighth prince felt much more comfortable and at ease.
The cloak he wore daily was given by Zhao Yao, the cotton-padded jacket was also from Zhao Yao, and the hot water bottles for warming his hands and bed were also provided by Zhao Yao.
Zhao Yao arranged for people to make hot water bottles using pig bladders, which worked excellently for warming hands, though they were quite troublesome to make. The source of this content ɪs novel fire.net
Since Zhao Yao had someone make the hot water bottles, the eighth prince became inseparable from them, taking them wherever he went. Thanks to them, the eighth prince wasn’t as afraid of the cold this winter as he was before.
Seeing that the bed warmer wasn’t warm anymore, Yu Hai hurried to change the hot water.
"Your Highness, keep your hands warm."
The eighth prince leaned against the bed, holding the hot water bottle to warm his hands. Yu Hai also placed a hot water bottle at his feet.
"Your Highness, the tenth prince is truly considerate, making hot water bottles for you," Yu Hai said with a smile, "The hot water bottles made by the tenth prince are much warmer than traditional bed warmers."
"Indeed, thanks to the hot water bottles made by my tenth brother, I haven’t been afraid of the cold since winter began." The eighth prince held the hot water bottle with both hands, feeling the warmth spread from his hands to his heart. After winter started, not only his hands and feet were warm, but his heart was also very warm. "It’s thoughtful of him to think of using pig bladders to make hot water bottles."
"Your Highness, the tenth prince is not particularly bright with his studies, but he’s quite ingenious in making these odd things. Take cotton for example; everyone thought it’s just a flower, but the tenth prince used it to make quilts, clothes, and shoes." Yu Hai was full of admiration for Zhao Yao, "The clothes and shoes made of cotton are genuinely warm to wear." Thanks to the tenth prince, they palace attendants were also able to wear cotton clothing this winter.
"My tenth brother is indeed very clever and capable," the eighth prince said with a light laugh, "However, using cotton to make clothes and quilts isn’t something anyone would think of."
"In the end, the tenth prince also made hot water bottles and cotton clothing for your sake." In this world, besides him, only the tenth prince truly cared about His Highness, always worrying about him. His Highness has been unfortunate since childhood, but fortunately, he has the tenth prince. "Your Highness, the tenth prince has been anxiously concerned about your health."
The eighth prince did not speak, but a smile spread across his face.
Yu Hai brought a bowl of hot sheep’s milk: "Your Highness, please have some."
The eighth prince showed a hint of disdain but still reached out, taking the milk and drinking it in large gulps.
Zhao Yao instructed him to drink a bowl of sheep’s milk every morning and evening. Seeing that the eighth prince was weak and that tonic medicine had little effect, he recalled a habit from his dream where Zhao Yao drank milk from a young age. However, the eighth prince had poor digestion, and milk caused diarrhea, so Zhao Yao thought of using sheep’s milk.
The eighth prince had diarrhea from cow’s milk, but sheep’s milk was fine. Zhao Yao instructed Yu Hai to cook a bowl of sheep’s milk for the eighth prince every morning and evening and to ensure he drank it.
Zhao Yao also advised the eighth prince to eat more mutton in winter, as it was good for his health.
After seeing the eighth prince sleep, Yu Hai did not leave but stayed by the bed.
At this time, in a certain mansion in the capital, the third prince was spending the night with the Princess of Annan. However, if you looked closely, the expression of the Princess of Annan seemed a bit off.
The next day, before dawn, Zhao Yao in Kunde Hall was awakened by Tong Xi.
After washing up and hastily having breakfast, Zhao Yao headed to Zhonghua Palace. Halfway there, he encountered the eighth prince.
Zhao Yao hurriedly and caringly asked the eighth prince if he felt cold.
As they were about to attend a memorial ceremony, the eighth prince couldn’t bring the hot water bottle or hand warmer.
The eighth prince said he wasn’t cold with his cotton-padded jacket, but when Zhao Yao touched his hands, they were icy cold.