Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 782: Chapter 383: Will Not Have Children

"What if the future Princess has a bad temperament?"

"Then just change her." Zhao Yao stood up, raised his hand, and patted Tong Xi on the shoulder. "Your Lord is going to Lingnan; there’s a pile of things waiting to be done. I have neither the time nor the energy to waste on romantic entanglements."

"Your Highness, perhaps you just haven’t experienced it yet." While other princes had bedchamber maids at eleven or twelve, his Highness had none—not even a palace maid to attend him personally.

"It’s not that your Lord refuses to open up, but rather that his ambitions lie elsewhere."

"Once you get married, you’ll understand the merits of a woman; by that time, you’ll surely fall in love."

Zhao Yao kicked Tong Xi’s rear and cursed angrily, "Get lost! Your Lord is not a lecherous man."

"You say that now, but if your future Princess is exceedingly beautiful, you’ll surely change your tune." In Tong Xi’s view, all men were amorous and wouldn’t fail to appreciate a pretty girl.

"Speaking of beauty, do you think my eighth brother is handsome?"

Tong Xi nodded without hesitation, "Handsome, indeed."

"And do you think anyone in the world could be more handsome than him?"

"Well..." Tong Xi thought for a moment, "I don’t think anyone could surpass Lord Wei in looks."

"I face my eighth brother’s peerlessly handsome face every day, so do you think I’ll ever be moved by a woman who’s less attractive than him?"

"That’s true," Tong Xi had to admit, then suddenly thought of the fact that Lord Wei only had one Princess, no concubines, and not even bedchamber maids, making his expression peculiar. "Your Highness, could it be that Lord Wei chooses to have only Princess Consort Wei because he himself is too good-looking?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao also thought of how there was indeed only Princess Consort Wei as the sole female figure in Prince Wei Mansion, and how Prince Wei always seemed indifferent to her, without even a child between them.

"What nonsense are you thinking?" Zhao Yao tapped Tong Xi on the back of the head, saying irritably, "My eighth brother’s mind is fully devoted to his affairs, lacking any dalliance for romantic indulgences."

"That’s true, as well."

"Hurry up and help me wash and change clothes."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Meanwhile, in Prince Wei Mansion, Prince Wei was in the study handling important matters.

Knock, knock, knock... A gentle knock at the door, followed by a soft voice from Prince Wei Mansion.

"Your Highness, it’s me."

Prince Wei’s brow furrowed slightly, and then he said in a cold tone, "Enter."

Princess Consort Wei came in carrying a food box, "Your Highness, I had the kitchen prepare a late-night snack for you."

Prince Wei replied without raising his head, "Just leave it there, I’ll eat it later."

Princess Consort Wei looked at Prince Wei, wanting to say something, but out of shyness, held her tongue.

Noticing Princess Consort Wei still standing, Prince Wei finally lifted his head from the book to look at her.

"Is there anything else?"

Princess Consort Wei’s face turned slightly red with shyness, biting her lip before speaking softly, "Your Highness, it’s getting late, you should..."

Before she could finish, Prince Wei interrupted, "I’m still busy, you go rest first."

Upon hearing this, Princess Consort Wei’s eyes dimmed, "Your Highness, don’t work too late, I’ll head back to my room first."

Prince Wei nodded slightly and then instructed Yu Hai at the door, "Escort her back."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Princess Consort Wei paused at the door, turning to look at Prince Wei. Seeing him lower his head back into the book without glancing at her, a pang of sadness struck her heart.

"Princess, I’ll escort you."

"Thank you, Eunuch Yu."

"You are too kind, Princess."

A moment later, Yu Hai returned to the study.

"Your Highness, the Princess wanted me to remind you not to work too late at night and to take care of your health."

Prince Wei said nothing.

Yu Hai glanced at the food box on the desk and reminded him, "Your Highness, the late-night snack the Princess brought will get cold if not eaten soon."

"Throw it away."

"Your Highness, the Princess is sincere to you, you..." Yu Hai felt that Prince Wei treated Princess Consort Wei too coldly, "You’ve not visited the Princess’s quarters, nor taken meals with her for a long time..." Before he could finish, he received a chilling glance from Prince Wei, silencing him instantly.

"I’ll dispose of the late-night snack immediately."

Meanwhile, Princess Consort Wei returned to her room.

Her maid, noticing her distressed expression, hurried to comfort her, "Princess, the Prince is just too busy, you shouldn’t overthink."

"Yes, indeed, the Prince is very busy," Princess Consort Wei wanted to believe this reason, but now found it hard to convince herself.

"Princess, you know the Prince is a cold-natured person, indifferent to everyone, you shouldn’t take it to heart." Her maid continued to console, "Besides, the Prince has only you and entrusts all affairs of the mansion to you, which shows he cares for you."

"Does he truly care?" In the beginning, Princess Consort Wei thought so, but as years passed since their marriage, she slowly realized the Prince always remained distant.

"Princess, the Prince is just naturally cold, don’t dwell on it."

"The Prince isn’t cold to His Highness the Tenth," Princess Consort Wei had never seen Prince Wei smile but once saw him laugh warmly in front of His Highness the Tenth.

"Princess, His Highness the Tenth is the Prince’s brother."

Princess Consort Wei wanted to say she was Prince Wei’s wife, which should mean more than a brother.

"Princess, it’s late, you should rest."

Princess Consort Wei nodded slightly. Moments later, with her maid’s assistance, she lay down. However, she couldn’t fall asleep, lying there with her hands on her flat stomach.

The Prince hasn’t visited her chamber; when will she ever conceive?

Back in the study, Prince Wei continued his work. Yu Hai served him a cup of herbal tea.

"Your Highness, have a sip of tea to rest."

Prince Wei took the cup from Yu Hai and slowly sipped it.

"Your Highness, there’s something I’m unsure whether I should say or not."

"Speak."

"Your Highness, the mansion needs a young Princely Heir." As soon as Yu Hai spoke, he was met with a sharp gaze from Prince Wei, causing his heart to quiver in fear. "His Highness the Tenth always says he wants a nephew, have you forgotten?"

Prince Wei said coldly, "Leave."

He would never have a child—a child sharing the blood of Southern Wei!