Chapter 231: Then What Are You?
The few little brats who were stunned to the side all looked in unison at Li Yi, who usually spent the most time with them.
This was the big brother in their hearts who understood everything.
“Brother Yi, your dad is a Prince, so what are you?” Datou asked innocently.
Xie Anyi beside him also had a face full of curiosity. Only Jin Xiuyi was full of smugness at this moment, raising his hand. Having stayed in the capital before, he knew.
“I know, I know.” Under the curious gazes of his companions, Jin Xiuyi’s vanity was satisfied to the maximum. He then made a bow to Li Yi: “A Prince’s son is an heir apparent. Greetings, Big Brother heir apparent.”
“Ah? A persimmon?” Xie Anyi was dumbfounded by the homophone.
Datou beside him couldn’t watch any longer. This muddlehead still clamored to learn how to do business every day. He whispered, “heir apparent. The ‘heir’ as in hereditary succession.” After speaking, he also imitated Jin Xiuyi’s manner and bowed to Li Yi.
“Greetings, Big Brother heir apparent.”
Xie Anyi scratched his head and sheepishly followed along: “Greetings, Big Brother heir apparent.”
Li Yi smiled and patted the heads of the three, instructing: “During the time I am away, you three must listen to the teacher well. If there are parts of your homework you don’t understand, go ask Mr. Qiu. I will write to you after I go back. If you miss me, you can also write to me and hand it to your master; he will have someone deliver it to my hands.”
The three little fellows nodded.
Li Yi then looked at Wen Fa and Wen Jin. These two were close to his age and usually mingled together frequently as well.
“You two take care as well.”
Wen Fa scratched his head, the awkwardness on his face still present, but he still said, “You too. Have a safe journey, and remember to send us a letter when you arrive.”
Wen Jin gracefully made a bow. “Thank you for Brother Li’s guidance during this period. Safe journey.”
In the eyes of the children, they didn’t care whether you were a Prince or an heir apparent; you were just their friend, the friend they spent time with from dawn to dusk.
After bidding farewell to the few of them, Li Yi looked back at Wen Yao.
“Yao’er, that milk ice cream of yours…”
Wen Yao: “You guys are leaving so suddenly that there’s no time to write down the recipe and the method. Just head back first. Once I’ve written it down, I’ll have Big Brother Xun Feng deliver it to you.”
Li Yi smiled contentedly.
“Then take care, all of you. If anything happens, just have Xun Feng send me a letter.”
“Mm, safe journey.” Wen Yao waved her hand, then thought of something: “Right, wait a moment.” As she spoke, she ran back into the house. Before long, she walked out carrying two bags. Li Yi quickly stepped forward to help carry them.
“Here. Didn’t you say your mother loves to eat them? It just so happens you can take them back.” These were the sunflower seeds Wen Yao had just bought from her space; the small stock at home had long been depleted.
In any case, the sunflower seeds had already made an appearance before, and she was usually the one keeping them. So how much there was was entirely up to her word, wasn’t it?
Li Yi hefted them. These two bags weighed at least twenty catties. This time, his Imperial Mother should be able to eat to her heart’s content.
For a moment, the two stood opposite each other, actually not knowing what to say.
“Thank you…”
“That orchard…”
The two spoke at the exact same time.
“You speak first.”
“You speak first.”
“…”
Wen Yao didn’t stand on ceremony with him either, directly cutting in: “Forget it, I’ll speak first. Don’t worry about the orchard; we will definitely take good care of it. When we make money in the future, I’ll have Big Brother Xun Feng send it to you. Just wait for me to lead you to fortune.”
Carrying the two bags of sunflower seeds, Li Yi looked as comical as could be at this moment. Regarding the orchard, he actually didn’t care about it at all. But since Wen Yao had said so, he accepted it: “Alright. If you encounter any trouble, you can also have him send word to me. The two pigeons raised outside my room are carrier pigeons; I’ll leave them to you.”
Wen Yao had been coveting those two carrier pigeons for a long time. Her eyes lit up: “You’re not taking them away?”
Li Yi wanted to exchange news with the Wen family, so he naturally wouldn’t take them away. “Mm.”
Wen Yao’s smile grew even more sincere this time. “Rest assured, I promise to raise them white and plump for you.”
Li Yi was full of disdain. “That’s for pigs. If pigeons are raised too fat, they won’t fly fast.”
Wen Yao was amused by him. The chasm brought by status between the two seemed to vanish instantly, returning to the two people who would make food in the kitchen and blatantly steal bites.
Li Yi thought for a moment, then added, “Previously, Imperial Grandmother gave you a reward. I estimate it should arrive right around the time we leave. No matter what was given, just accept it. There’s no need to feel embarrassed; this is what you deserve.”
The Wen family members had their own backbone, and Li Yi was worried Wen Yao would think it was too much. After all, he understood his Imperial Grandmother all too well.
Wen Yao: The more of this kind of ‘too much,’ the better! Bring it on!
“Mm, thank you, Empress Dowager, for me when you go back. In the future, whatever she wants to eat, just send word, and I’ll make it and have Xun Feng deliver it.”
With Wen Yao saying this, Li Yi instead felt whether he should leave two more guards for the Wen family. After all, how could the courier station deliver things as fast as royal guards?
But on second thought, he dropped the idea.
On the other side, Li Fu had also finished instructing Old Madam Luo and the others. Wen Yao watched as Wen Xiuyi led people to load a large amount of potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn from the storehouse.
Old Man Wen was muttering details beside him: “Just this little bit? Is it enough? If it’s not enough, load some more.”
Li Fu had said he wanted to take them back for the Emperor to see.
The things from their house were going to be seen by the Emperor.
Li Fu shook his head. “It’s enough. It’s merely to take back for Imperial Brother to see, to let him understand the benefits of these items. In the future, these things will inevitably play a massive role. So, Uncle Wen, you all must plant more of them.”
Old Man Wen nodded. “Rest assured, rest assured. There will definitely be no shortage.”
Only then did Li Fu feel at ease. Casting a glance at everyone, although he was reluctant, he still held it in.
It was time for them to set out as well.
The main gate opened once more, and Li Fu walked out, followed by Li Yi and the members of the Wen family.
Magistrate Chen was waiting respectfully.
Li Fu looked back at them, and suddenly, in front of everyone, untied a jade pendant from his waist and placed it into Old Man Wen’s hand.
“Uncle Wen, this is this Prince’s personal jade pendant. Hold onto this jade pendant. In the future, if anyone bullies you, just take the jade pendant and strike back. If anything happens, this Prince will bear it.”
Old Man Wen was in a daze—should he accept it or not?
Old Madam Luo quickly spoke up: “Prince, this won’t be necessary. This is far too precious.”
“Auntie, take it.” Li Fu stuffed the jade pendant into Old Madam Luo’s hand and turned to walk toward the carriage.
He did it on purpose—in front of everyone, handing the jade pendant representing his identity to the Wen family.
Old Madam Luo wiped the corners of her eyes, gripping the jade pendant tightly as she watched the father and son pair of Li Fu leave, with her eldest son following behind them.
To the side, Steward Tong was still carrying a bundle in his hand; those were the new clothes she had made for Li Fu and Li Yi.
“Let’s go.” Li Fu took one last look at everyone and climbed into the carriage.
Wen Xiuyi also bid farewell to his parents and the children: “Dad, Mom, we are leaving first.”
Old Madam Luo nodded and instructed, “Look after the Prince and the heir apparent on the road.”
“Ah, I know. Then I’m off.” Wen Xiuyi followed up, but he didn’t enter the carriage, standing beside it until Li Fu lifted the curtain and looked at him strangely: “Why aren’t you coming up?”
Wen Xiuyi: “…” You are a Prince now; would I dare come up before you speak?
“Hurry up and come up, hurry up and come up.” Li Fu waved his hand repeatedly.
Wen Xiuyi had no choice but to ‘reluctantly’ board the carriage.
