My Emperor Father Can Read Minds
Chapter 29

What do you mean I’m trying to support the Ninth Prince? That I want him to side with the Ninth Prince?

The Emperor cast a glance at Qi Tishou, thinking on one hand that the man wasn’t very bright, and on the other that perhaps he was too clever for his own good.

As for Wei Yu—

Upon hearing that his father would grant him a promise, his first reaction was sheer joy—

“Then I want a six-month vacation!”

The Emperor’s face darkened immediately.

“As a prince, how can you be so lazy and idle!”

Being scolded? No problem.

It was like getting chewed out by your boss for slacking off—you just nod along and pretend to accept it humbly on the surface. But inside? Ha!

Wei Yu looked aggrieved, eyes wide and pitiful. “Royal Father, you’re the one who said it! You promised your son a reward.”

[A ruler must never go back on his word!]

The Emperor wasn’t having it. “I did say that—but I only promised a reward, not for you to run your mouth with this nonsense.”

Qi Tishou, on the side: So this is how you use ‘run your mouth with nonsense’? Noted.

Wei Yu felt his father was being unreasonable.

How could a perfectly proper and legitimate request be considered “running his mouth”? He’d been up before dawn and to bed past midnight for fifteen years—he worked so hard, and he still couldn’t be allowed a long vacation???

Year-end leave and merit combined should be worth at least half a year, right?!!

Feeling fully justified, Wei Yu began arguing his case.

“How is this nonsense, huh? Royal Father, be reasonable! This request is simple and even saves you money! I’m not asking for any of the treasures from your private vault—I didn’t even ask for a reward!”

“Then I’ll allow you to ask for treasure. I can even give you a noble title in advance.”

“I don’t want that! I want vacation!”

“I do not permit it.”

“You won’t even give me six months?”

“No.”

“That’s just cruel—unbelievably cruel… Three months! At least give me that!”

“Absolutely not.”

“This is outrageous, really outrageous… One month! One month, come on!”

“Denied.”

Wei Yu clutched his chest in dramatic pain, looking like he might keel over.

Qi Tishou on the side: …

You don’t have to ignore me this completely, seriously. I’m right here.

Wei Yu was genuinely so frustrated with his father’s uncooperative, constantly dismissive attitude that it gave him chest pains. The way he just flat-out denied everything was outrageous—unforgivable!

Why promise a reward if he wasn’t going to follow through?! This was no different from a stingy boss dangling dreams in front of employees, only to hand out empty promises—it just got his hopes up for nothing!

So Wei Yu asked his father bluntly, “Just say it plainly—how many days can I get off?”

The Emperor looked at Wei Yu, just as furious.

People say the greatest desires are for rank and wealth.

He had nine sons—every one of them either fought for his trust or schemed for more power. But this kid? He was so useless he didn’t even care about gold, silver, or jewels—he wanted time off?!

It was enough to make their ancestors turn over in their graves.

He was nothing like a proper son of the Wei family!

The Emperor took a deep breath and didn’t answer directly. Instead, he asked again, “You’re sure you don’t want to change it? This opportunity only comes once. If you make your request, you can’t take it back.”

Wei Yu was firm and certain. “I won’t change it! I just want vacation. Just say how many days off you’ll grant me.”

“Three days.”

Wei Yu: !

From three months to three days—could his father be any stingier?

As it turns out, yes. Yes, he could.

The Emperor heard Wei Yu grumble internally about how stingy he was.

The Emperor gave a cold smile and dialed the stinginess up a notch. “Too much for you? Fine—two days. You look perfectly energetic. No need for a break.”

Wei Yu quickly backtracked. “No no no! Not too much, not too much! Three days is perfect. Royal Father, wise and mighty, your word is as good as gold! You can’t just change it at will—that’s a bad habit! Don’t bring it up again, alright? We agreed on three days, no changes!”

The Emperor ignored his lack of decorum and simply gave him a sideways glance.

“You’re sure?”

Wei Yu nodded furiously. “Absolutely sure.”

“You’re not being forced?”

Wei Yu forced a smile. “Not at all, not at all.”

“You won’t regret it?”

Wei Yu, face blank: “Definitely won’t regret it.”

And so, Wei Yu returned to his quarters with a thoroughly miserable expression.

—

After both he and Qi Tishou had left the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Eunuch Li Cheng poured tea for the Emperor with a smile. “Your Majesty seems to be in a good mood.”

The Emperor took the cup, sipped lightly, then exhaled deeply with a relaxed expression. “Yes. That boy Wei Yu… he’s quite capable. With him here, I feel that a golden age for Great Wei is just around the corner.”

Li Cheng was startled.

[Is His Majesty implying… he wants to make the Ninth Prince Crown Prince?!]

That brought the Emperor to a sudden halt.

What he had said just now had come from the heart. After Wei Yu’s frankness yesterday, he had caught a glimpse of that flourishing future era.

A peaceful and prosperous age: the country rich and the people content, not even picking up what others dropped on the road; everyone well-clothed and well-fed, living in peace, with good governance and harmony… That thriving, harmonious future was something the Emperor hadn’t even dared to dream of before!

Compared to that world, his own people still struggled to stay warm and fed. Not even a fraction of that prosperity had been realized yet. The Emperor couldn’t help but feel both ashamed and envious.

And with that sharp contrast, the ambition befitting an emperor had been stirred within him burning bright.

Yes, the current Great Wei may not be as prosperous as the future one, but who says the Great Wei of the future cannot be as flourishing as the one to come?

In the past, the founding Emperor could rise from being a mere salt merchant, breaking through the ranks of many powerful figures to establish Great Wei. There’s no reason why he, now sitting at the throne of the world, with the “mind reading ability” to discern people’s hearts, cannot surpass the founding Emperor and create an unprecedented golden age for the empire!

Moreover, he has a son who comes from the future and is knowledgeable and well-traveled.

Li Cheng’s voice interrupted the Emperor’s thoughts.

“His Highness the Ninth Prince is indeed a good person. As I move about the palace, I often hear people say that His Highness has the demeanor of a gentleman.”

The Emperor came back to his senses and looked at Li Cheng. “The demeanor of a gentleman?”

That lazy, useless boy has the demeanor of a gentleman?

It must be insulting the very term.

Li Cheng grinned and said, “Yes, Your Majesty. You’re busy with state affairs, unlike me who often moves through the harem. His Highness the Ninth Prince is kind and approachable. I’ve seen it several times—he stands up for the small palace servants who are bullied.”

Upon hearing this, the Emperor was quite surprised.

That lazy boy, Wei Yu, would actually stand up for palace servants? Doesn’t he mind the trouble?

The Emperor, curious, asked Li Cheng to recount everything he had seen.

Li Cheng told the story in detail.

How the Ninth Prince had seen a small palace maid crying in a corner and had asked about it, how he stood up for palace servants who were bullied by the stewards, and how, upon hearing about a servant’s family troubles, he had lent them silver…

After listening, the Emperor was deeply shocked.

The boy actually had such a pure and kind heart?

It seems he had misjudged him after all.