My Emperor Father Can Read Minds
Chapter 12

Thank you, MiBR, for the Ko-fi treat! This chapter has been released early thanks to MiBR’s support!

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Of course, he hadn’t actually managed to hit his younger brother.

It wasn’t that he didn’t dare to, but that he couldn’t.

At least not in this place.

After all, this was the Emperor’s territory. Every move they made was surely being watched. If the princes were to lay hands on each other, someone would definitely report it to the Emperor.

If that happened and it wasn’t explained properly, he’d probably end up with a reputation of being unbrotherly and cold-hearted.

The Eighth Prince called Wei Yu up.

Since Royal Father had told them to read, slacking off was not an option.

His Ninth Younger Brother was lazy, so as the elder brother, he had to supervise him properly.

When he was woken up and seated at the desk, with a book shoved into his hands, Wei Yu nearly burst into tears.

The years of being forced into the study hall had been a traumatic experience for him, and even now, just thinking about it left him bitter.

A top student from the modern era, reduced to a prince—and still a functional illiterate.

Why illiterate?

Heh.

As if being a prince in ancient times was easy. He had cursed countless times that he wasn’t born as some good-for-nothing playboy from the capital.

That way, he wouldn’t have to study so much!

When he started school, he had to learn Three Character Classic, Hundred Family Surnames, Thousand Character Classic, Poems of a Thousand Masters, Classic of Filial Piety…

Read ten times, write ten times, recite ten times.

Once he could recognize and write characters, he moved on to Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean, Book of Rites, Admonitions, Five Classics with Commentaries, Commentaries on Books… Forget it, there were too many to list.

Modern China’s strict college entrance exams hadn’t beaten Wei Yu, but the education system for princes in Great Wei had him ready to puke.

Traditional characters were hard to memorize and write. The texts had no punctuation or annotations. And as if the rigid way of learning wasn’t enough, there were only five holidays in a year—New Year’s Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, the Emperor’s birthday, and his own birthday!

From the age of three, he had to wake up at 5 a.m. every day to review his lessons in the study hall. From 7 to 9 a.m., he studied etiquette and culture. From 9 to 11, he learned characters and read books with the Grand Tutor. From 11 to 1, it was lunch and rest. From 1 to 4 p.m., he trained in martial arts, archery, and horseback riding. From 4 to 6, it was self-study and homework.

From three years old to now, fifteen.

Those were the best years of a young life!

So perfect for slacking off and playing around, but his innocent youth had been mercilessly destroyed.

Grievances were grievances, but Wei Yu still had some sense.

He knew Eighth Brother meant well, so even though he was yawning nonstop, eyes filled with tears, he still forced himself to keep his eyes open and hold the book properly.

He had no idea how much time had passed. The pastries brought in by the palace servants had already been eaten—two plates, all by Wei Yu himself. Just as he was thinking of going to the restroom, some noise came from outside.

The young eunuch who had led the two of them in earlier came over, bowed, and said, “Greetings, Your Highnesses. His Majesty instructs Eighth Prince to attend to the reading.”

Aha.

Wei Yu blinked and looked at the Eighth Prince, stifling a yawn.

The Eighth Prince looked at him and opened his mouth.

Wei Yu spoke first, “Eighth Brother, go on. I’ll read quietly and properly. Don’t worry.”

Go already!

Once he left, Wei Yu could finally go to the restroom too.

The Eighth Prince shut his mouth, gave Wei Yu a look, then followed the young eunuch out.

—

On one side, Wei Yu was lazily reading.

On the other, the Eighth Prince had been summoned by Emperor Wei and was now obediently standing, utterly confused, as he listened to the Emperor ask about him.

“Your Imperial Mother has been gone for nearly eleven years now, hasn’t she?”

Unlike the weakness he’d shown while seated on the bed yesterday, today Emperor Wei sat upright at the head seat. He wore a formal hat and robe—crimson crossed-collar robe with wide sleeves, and a pleated skirt tied front and back.

In his forties, he might appear approachable at first glance, but upon closer inspection, there was an unspoken air of authority. The aura of an emperor wasn’t in his words but emanated from within—restrained, yet commanding.

This casual, almost chatty inquiry felt like something from an ordinary household, a kind of closeness the Eighth Prince had never experienced before.

For a moment, the Eighth Prince was stunned.

“Yes, Royal Father has a good memory. It has been eleven years since Mother passed away.”

Emperor Wei glanced at him, not needing to hear what he was thinking. “These past years, have you been doing well?”

The Eighth Prince was startled, and he couldn’t help but lift his head.

[Royal Father actually asked if I’m doing well!]

That shocked expression, that incredulous thought—it felt like he was questioning the Emperor, or perhaps questioning himself.

Seeing this, Emperor Wei felt a twinge of guilt.

All these years, he really had neglected this child and the Ninth one too.

Sigh.

Just look at how touched the boy was—he’d only asked a simple question, and the child was already this surprised…

Only yesterday, Emperor Wei had discovered how unfilial and disloyal the Eldest Prince and the others were. Now, seeing the Eighth Prince’s reaction, he felt a subtle sense of comfort.

He was just about to speak a few comforting words when the Eighth Prince’s inner voice popped up again.

[Does he really not know how I’ve been? And he still dares to ask? I’m embarrassed to even answer!]

Emperor Wei: …

The comfort in his heart suddenly withdrew.

However, the Eighth Prince’s inner voice continued recounting those unspeakable memories.

[Back then when Imperial Mother passed away, Jing’an and I so desperately hoped Father would step forward to comfort us—but what came instead was Consort Xian’s promotion and your complete disregard! If it weren’t for Ninth Younger Brother, I don’t even know if Jing’an and I would be living as freely as we do now… And Royal Father actually has the face to ask me if I’ve been well?]

This accusation was truly treasonous.

But no matter how treasonous it was, Emperor Wei had already heard worse just yesterday. Compared to that, what the Eighth Prince said now didn’t even count for much.

After hearing it, Emperor Wei couldn’t help but feel guilty all over again.

Yet inner thoughts were just that—inner. Outwardly, the Eighth Prince still bowed his head and responded with respectful humility, “The Empress was gentle and treated this son very well. As a Prince, I have naturally lived quite well in the palace all these years.”

A lie!

Even though it was a lie, Emperor Wei had no choice but to pretend it was the truth.

After all, some things, some people, some relationships—even if understood clearly—can only be treated as if they’re unknown.

Emperor Wei was silent for a while. “I recall that you and the Ninth are only a year apart?”

“Yes, Royal Father has a good memory. This son is already seventeen by nominal age this year.”

“Seventeen,” Emperor Wei let out a sigh. “Seventeen is not young anymore—it’s already the age to establish your own household. In the blink of an eye, you and the Ninth have both grown so much. It was my negligence.”

After so many years without this kind of closeness with his father, and to now hear such sincere and self-reproachful words, the Eighth Prince felt a mix of emotions. He made a show of being alarmed and bowed deeply, saying, “This son would not dare. With court affairs keeping you busy, Royal Father toils tirelessly for Great Wei—how could such a trivial matter as your son warrant your concern?”

[It really was neglect. Seventh Brother had Consort Xian’s support, so opening his own household early was expected. But even Sixth Brother managed it—yet it’s just me and Ninth Younger Brother, the little cabbages, left with no one to care for us.]

Emperor Wei: …

What he says and what he thinks—truly two entirely different things.

Emperor Wei felt conflicted: some resentment, some anger, and some guilt.

But he did not blame the Eighth Prince for his bitterness.

The child’s thoughts were truthful.

Truths may be unpleasant to hear—but they were rare.

To be fortunate enough to hear a person’s true thoughts, to receive so many blunt truths, truly was a blessing.

He did not blame the Eighth.