Chapter 13

When the sky had almost dimmed in color, The Blind Concubine was holding the Little Prince's hand as they walked back to the small courtyard.

Xiao Bao was giving Yu Li its mixed kitten meal. Without raising his head, he said: "Just coming back after this late, where have you gone wildly to?"

The Little Prince's pitch black's pupil widely opened to a perfectly round shape: "How can you have the same exact manner of speaking with my brother!!"

Xiao Bao also glared at him, "Little Lord, please don't compare me with that Honorable Lord."

With a smile all over his face, the Blind Concubine said: "Xiao Bao, It's getting late, just let him stay here and eat together with us."

Xiao Bao straightly refused the idea: "I don't have any spare time to wait on this Little Lord."

The Blind Concubine still hadn't the chance to say anything, the Little Prince had shouted out loudly: "How dare you! You're actually bold enough to go as far as to refute His Grace*!"

*t/n : actually it's his ladyship... but, I refused to used such feminine title, then, His Graceness or His Grace will sound better.

The Blind concubine hastily smoothed things over: "Alright, alright. My stomach is already hungry. After we eat, we will talk about this again, alright?"

The Little Prince exquisitely put his fair and tender little hands behind his back, made an "hmph!" sound, then said: "As a Prince, I originally couldn't be concerned to argue with you! Arrange the meals!"

Xiao Bao's eyes became wider: This Little Lord's extravagance is even higher than the Emperor himself.

Because considering the Blind Concubine's reputation, he had to prepare the meals

.Not long after, he came back with pork steamed with ground rice wrapped in a lotus leaf and stewed eggplants in a thick soya sauce then served them on the table.

The Little Prince asked: "Just two kinds of dishes?"

Xiao Bao replied: "No. Only one."

He added: "The steamed pork belongs to His Grace, you can only eat this eggplant."

The Blind Concubine covered his mouth to hide his smile. "Xiao Bao, Do not quarrel with a little child."

He picked up piece of the fresh and tender steamed pork and put it on the Little Prince's bowl. "Eat slowly, don't get burn."

The Little Prince rolled his eyes at Xiao Bao, facing Xiao Bao and making a funny face. His little hand hoisted the chopsticks and ate from the side of the bowl.

The Blind Concubine couldn't help smiling, "This child is so much fun."

He himself was not moving his own chopsticks. Instead, he was only concerned with ladling up a big spoon of seaweed soup, brought it to the front of his mouth then cooled it by blowing it. Then he brought it to the Little Prince.

The Little Prince lowered his head to drink the soup. Sip by sip he gulped it down. Almost like a little animal, he wore a very cute and lovely expression.

After he finished with the soup, he licked his lips and patted his belly. "This is my first time eating together on the same table with people."

Blind Concubine replied: "Is that true?"

"Mm!", Little Prince nodded his head. "Even with brother, I haven't sat together on a same table to eat."

Xiao Bao interrupted him: "How about your mother? Surely you have sat together at the same table to have a meal with your mother?"

"I have never." Little Prince answered, "I haven't met my mother. Also I don't know who my mother is."

Xiao Bao was speechless.

After thinking for a while, Little Prince said: "Brother forbids the Palace's maiden to feed me, my wet nurse also is not allowed to feed me. I have to sit upright at a single table, eat by myself, there has never been anyone who fed me to drink the soup."

The Blind Concubine's hand which was holding the spoon paused for a while, after a good while, he said: "From now on, you can come over frequently. We can eat together."

"Alright!"

Happily, the Little Prince added, "I can order the palace's maids to bring in some delicious food and serve them here. Many kinds of dishes, also various sweets and pastries. Whatever we want to eat, we can promptly ask the imperial kitchen to cook it for us."

The Blind Concubine laughed: "Just by you coming over, I already feel so happy."

Right after the sky had turned to dusk, the three of them finished their meals. The Blind Concubine helped the Little Prince to wipe his mouth clean. He held his hand until the gate of the small courtyard.

Xiao Bao was carrying a lantern in his hand, get ready to walk the Little Prince back to the palace.

The Blind Concubine couldn't help but worry. Attentively he warned them again and again: "Must be extremely careful, must take him home safely."

Xiao Bao bowed and replied: "Your servant understands."

Firmly held the Little Prince's small hand, he walked out the yard.

The Blind Concubine got back to his room, took Yu Li in a hug, slowly and gently caressed the kitten's soft and smooth fur, quietly drowning in his own thoughts.

About the time needed to finish a small cup of tea, Xiao Bao stepped in the courtyard with a lantern in his hand.

Upon hearing the sound of footsteps, the Blind Concubine perked up. "Are you back?"

Xiao Bao replied: "Mm!"

The Blind Concubine asked: "Did the Palace's maids all worry about him?"

Xiao Bao was laughing while he answered: "It is good that they are worried. They would lodge a complaint to his brother so this rice dumpling could be punished with a twig or bamboo."

The Blind Concubine couldn't help but chuckle, "Why do you act like a child today?"

Xiao Bao twitched his brow, "When did I act like a child?"

The Blind Concubine continued: "When you bickered and verbally fought with the Little Prince."

Also he added, "I was thinking, the usual Xiao Bao ordinarily would conduct himself in a serious and earnest manner, not saying a lot of words, why upon meeting the Little Prince, would he stamp his foot?"

Xiao Bao's eyes widened, his voice also heightened: "Obviously because that rice dumpling was bad news!"

The Blind Concubine clapped his hand and laughed loudly: "See, see .... There it is again."

Pausing for a while, "I just realized, so Xiao Bao actually could reply defiantly, also could be angered by a child then quarrel equally against a child."

Xiao Bao raised his head higher, "May I not?"

Teasing him with a smiling face, the Blind Concubine said: "Xiao Bao actually likes the Little Prince very much, doesn't he?"

Xiao Bao widened his eyes and made it almost look like a small bell: "How can I like that small rice dumpling."

"It is so obvious that you like him."

"I don't!"

"Xiao Bao definitely has a sharp tongue but is soft in heart."

"Impossible."

"If not, why would you cook such delicious steamed pork?"

"I cooked it for master to eat!"

"Well... why would you go out of your way to shape the steamed pork in a rabbit shape? You clearly know I couldn't see it."