My Emperor Father Can Read Minds

The Eighth Prince’s banquet for opening his manor was quite lively.

That day, Wei Yu was the first to arrive.

To freeload a good meal—saving one meal is still saving a meal. Though he wasn’t exactly poor, food at someone else’s place always tasted better than food at his own.

“Who’s that behind you?”

The Eighth Prince immediately noticed Du Xing, who was following behind Wei Yu.

After all, it used to be Xiao Anzi who followed Wei Yu around. Now there was a new face—even if it was just a guard, it still warranted a question.

Wei Yu replied, “Oh, my personal guard, Du Xing. A gift from Royal Father.”

“…Since when was Royal Father so nice to you?” the Eighth Prince muttered with a hint of jealousy.

Wei Yu actually thought about it seriously. “Probably when Royal Father finally realized I’m a once-in-a-generation talent. It’s alright, Eighth Brother—even if I rise to greatness in the future, I won’t forget you.”

The Eighth Prince: “…Thanks, I guess.” Wei Yu glanced around the layout of the front courtyard. “I forgot to ask—Eighth Brother, who all did you invite?”

“I gave you the list, didn’t I?”

Wei Yu blinked. “Forgot to look.”

The Eighth Prince: “Why don’t you just forget about me too while you’re at it? You really came here just for the food, huh?”

He understood him—his Eighth Brother really understood him.

As the two walked toward the main hall, they chatted about the guests who were expected.

Of course, a few of their elder brothers had to be invited. Then there were the court ministers—even if they didn’t come, invitations had to be sent. And finally, the slightly more special guests: the family of the Eighth Prince’s mother.

The Eighth Prince’s mother was Consort Rong. Her father had been the Prefect of the Capital, a proper Third-Rank official. But five years after her passing, he had retired due to illness and returned to his hometown with the family.

If not for that, the Eighth Prince and the Third Princess wouldn’t have had such a difficult childhood.

Wei Yu asked, “Eighth Brother, wasn’t your maternal family from Hexi County in Xuzhou? How’d they get here so quickly?”

The Eighth Prince replied calmly, “I sent word at the end of last month. Five days ago, my maternal family arrived in the capital.”

Wow—even he didn’t know that.

Wei Yu gave him a look of accusation. “Eighth Brother, I must not be your favorite Ninth Brother if you didn’t even tell me about this.”

The Eighth Prince: “…You know now, don’t you? What good would it have done if you’d known earlier?”

Fair enough.

The Eighth Prince added, “My grandfather’s been in poor health for years, and he caught a chronic cough before the New Year. He’s still not recovered. The ones who came are my grandmother, my uncle, and two cousins. My older cousin is quite steady—he’s preparing for the imperial exams next year. If you’ve got time today, I can introduce you.”

Wei Yu nodded indifferently.

—

The banquet was held during the day. Since Wei Yu got bored waiting, he hid out in a small courtyard, eating snacks and reading a novel while guests started arriving one after another.

Aside from Wei Yu, the Fourth Prince was the first of the brothers to show up and offer congratulations.

It was a joyous occasion, so of course the Eighth Prince welcomed his Fourth Brother with a smile and sent someone to fetch Wei Yu.

By the time Wei Yu came out, the front courtyard was packed with guests and buzzing with excitement.

He didn’t spot his Eighth Brother right away, but he did see his Fourth Brother talking to an official.

Wei Yu walked over and greeted him.

“Hey? Ninth Brother, what took you so long?”

Seeing Wei Yu, the Fourth Prince lit up. He pointed to the official he’d been speaking with and said, “This is Lord Feng Zhicai from the Ministry of Works—he’s currently in charge of the glass production at the kilns. You ought to get to know him well.”

Wei Yu looked over.

Feng Zhicai bowed. “This humble official, Feng Zhicai, greets Your Highness the Ninth Prince.”

Wei Yu: “Please rise, Lord Feng.”

Feng Zhicai straightened up with a perfectly measured smile. “It is only thanks to Your Highness’s ingenuity that I have the opportunity to oversee the glasswork. I’ve long heard of Your Highness’s reputation—now that we’ve met, it truly lives up to the name.”

The Fourth Prince smiled. “Indeed. My Ninth Brother is extremely clever. Those design drafts you saw the other day were all drawn by him. Whether or not they can be brought to life depends on your craftsmen.”

Wei Yu glanced back and forth between them.

He wasn’t quite sure what his Fourth Brother was trying to do by saying all this.

Was he trying to build connections for him?

The Fourth Prince continued chatting with Feng Zhicai for a while, until more guests arrived and Feng Zhicai took his leave.

Once Feng Zhicai was gone, the Fourth Prince gave Wei Yu a judgmental look. “I really can’t tell if you’re actually slow or just pretending.”

Insulted, Wei Yu looked confused. “Why are you scolding me?”

The Fourth Prince stared at him for a moment, then sighed, shook his head, and walked off with his hands behind his back.

Watching him leave, Wei Yu turned abruptly and asked Du Xing, “What do you think he meant? Was he seriously trying to introduce me to useful people? Has he lost it?”

Du Xing: “…This subordinate doesn’t know.”

That was fine—Wei Yu was used to answering his own questions anyway.

He rubbed his chin, feeling vaguely disturbed, and muttered, “Is he trying to win me over, or did my friendly gesture end up drawing him in instead? No way, it’s just a glass business—why would a career-driven prince give up so easily?”

Du Xing: Maybe don’t say it so bluntly right in front of the person.

Because of the Fourth Prince’s odd behavior, Wei Yu didn’t dare get too close for the rest of the event, afraid he’d get introduced to more “important people.” Anyone watching might think he was plotting for the throne or trying to build his own faction.

So he stayed near his Eighth Brother, helping out.

Since the Eighth Prince was the host, Wei Yu naturally ended up meeting quite a few officials as guests were received.

Aside from the Fifth and Sixth Princes who came in person, the other princes all just sent gifts.

The reasons were nothing new—either they were busy with duties or feeling unwell. All just variations of the same excuse.

The brotherly bonds weren’t that deep to begin with, so their absence wasn’t surprising. The Eighth Prince didn’t seem particularly disappointed or resentful—he just made sure to entertain those who did come.

The Fifth and Sixth Princes were both good-natured, only a few years older than Wei Yu. Back in the palace, they used to play together often.

“Mmm, the pastries here at Eighth Brother’s manor are really good. Sweeter than the ones at my place.”

In a quiet little courtyard, Wei Yu was sitting in a gazebo with his three older brothers.

The Sixth Prince loved to eat and drink—he was the chubbiest among them.

He sat on a stone bench, holding a pastry in his hand, poking at his double chin while looking utterly content.

The Fifth Prince took a sip of tea and advised him to ease up. “You just ate a full meal. Don’t eat so many sweets—the Imperial Physician told you to cut back, remember?”

The Fifth Prince was elegant and refined. He always wore a shabby folding fan at his waist, regardless of the season.

Wei Yu often suspected it was just for show.

But the Fifth Prince claimed it was to embody the spirit of ancient scholars and poets.

…Basically, he was just being pretentious.