The decade-long estrangement has all melted away

"In the years you were away, I had to follow the orders of my uncle, Deputy Minister Tian, in the capital for everything. You know, my mother was just a low-ranking concubine in the palace. When she passed away, I was still young, and I grew up by the side of the empress dowager. My mother's family only knew about this one uncle, who was just a puppet under Minister Cui, in charge of the Ministry of War. After the empress dowager passed away and you were taken to the southern frontier by our maternal relatives, I had already become the King of the northern frontier with my own fiefdom. But Minister Cui used all means to keep me in the capital, essentially controlling me to meddle in affairs of the northern frontier. My maternal relatives, and even me as the king of the northern realm, were all just pawns in his hands. With my mother gone and even the imperial younger brother gone, I miss you all so much."

"Brother, you've always been the big brother to Mo. When our mother passed away, I was still young. Our grandmother initially wanted to take me to the southern frontier to soothe my emotions, but soon after, there was no place for me to stand in the capital. You have Deputy Minister Tian to look after you, but I, I..."

"Mo, doesn't need to say it; I already know. By the way, speaking of Deputy Minister Tian, I remember that I went south after visiting his mansion several months ago. I remember passing by his study unintentionally, and overheard him talking to Minister Cui. After hearing their conversation, I didn't even return home; I came straight to the south to find you, wanting to tell you what they were discussing. But all the way, someone was chasing me, and the pursuit was relentless, until I fell off a cliff in the mountains. The conversation must have been extremely urgent and important, but I just can't remember what they said? Ah—Ah—, my head hurts, Oh, my God, what a headache, Ah—" Rongzhi recalled, suddenly clutching his head in pain.

"Brother, brother, don't think about it now. Don't think about anything, okay? Mo is here, by your side. You sit down and have some tea, calm down."

"I'm fine, Mo. As long as I don't think about it, I'm fine. By the way, I came to deliver glass bottles to Miss Tong. After I finish burning what she needs, I'll leave them in her room, and someone will come to take them to her when they go down the mountain."

"Oh? What does she need this time? Let me see." Cheng Mo opened a straw-woven box, filled with straw, containing several transparent round and cylindrical vases and some square glass panels.

"Mo is still as impatient as ever. Miss Tong specifically said she didn't want you to see." Rongzhi looked at Cheng Mo with affection and indulgence in his eyes. This was the first time he saw Cheng Mo after remembering everything, two years since Cheng Mo returned to the capital last time.

The time when Cheng Mo was appointed as the Prince of Dongbin, with his fiefdom being Dongbin County, which was originally the dowry of his mother. Compared to his vast fiefdom in the Northern Frontier, this was indeed a small corner. He knew that as the legitimate prince, his brother had received much worse treatment than himself, the eldest son born of a concubine. He must have felt unfair and desolate.

At that time, under the deliberate instigation and arrangements of his maternal uncle Deputy Minister Tian and Minister Cui, he had begun to covet the throne. The two brothers became extremely unfamiliar and estranged. Not long after, he left the capital. It felt like the time when his mother was still alive, ten years ago, he could speak to himself so intimately.

"Her? What does she have that I can't see? The little one still wants to hide secrets from me. Let me see how I'll deal with her when I go down the mountain later."

Cheng Mo's tone made Rong Zhi startled, feeling as if he had been pricked by something sharp in his heart. Although he already understood, he couldn't help but ask with a hint of hope, "Are you and Miss Tong getting along well?"

"More than just getting along. Imperial Brother, I'm really glad you're here. Xiao Bei will become your sister-in-law, Do you remember how good she was to you during this time? When we get engaged, you must prepare a thick dowry."

"Of course, I remember, especially the name she gave me. It was something like... Big Fool? And you, you call me that too, right? Still thinking about the dowry, why don't you hurry up and prepare a gift to apologize to Big Brother? Let's see if I'll report to Emperor Father when I return to the capital, saying she disrespected royal dignity? Or was rude? Or..."

"Imperial Brother, Rong Lord, you mustn't say such things nonsense in front of Father. Whatever you want, just say it." Cheng Mo didn't dare to let even a hint of criticism towards Bei reach the Emperor's ears. Even if it was a joke, he wouldn't risk it.

"Okay, Imperial Brother was just joking. It's been so many years since the two of us brothers were together. Since my mother passed away, I've always been by Empress mother 's side, watching you grow up. With my mother gone, Imperial Brother's greatest wish is for you to be safe and marry a princess who can make you happy.

You used to love smiling so much when you were young. Over the years, listening to those people calling you the aloof and cold prince, it made Big Brother sad. If it's Miss Tong, that would be great! She's really good!" Due to his illness, Rong Zhi relied heavily on Bei North, but he also knew that his sister Bei was simply caring for him as a doctor would for a patient. But perhaps his heart would never let go.