"Brother Cheng." Princess Feng Qing said it with a puppy eyes to Cheng.
"That would not work today after causing me to worry for a whole day!" Cheng snapped.
"But… my hand would be painful." Mei said with teary eyes. Cheng has punished her to copy the whole script of calligraphy which is what Mei hate the most.
After looking at Mei teary eyes and sad look, Cheng sighed in defeat.
"Mei! How many times have I told you if you want to go anywhere, inform me!" Cheng snapped.
"But you would stop me once you know where I'm going," Mei said while looking down.
"I won't! Because I'm angrier if you don't tell me about your plans!" Cheng snapped.
"Sorry brother Cheng," Mei said with a feeble voice which Cheng sigh. He cannot be angry at Mei when she shows him a pitiful look.
"Next time tell me about your plans. I don't want to lose another important person." Cheng said as he ruffles Mei's hair.
Mei looked at Cheng and smile.
"Brother Cheng, I've good news!" Mei said happily as she passed Cheng the three items.
"?" Cheng looked at the items in confusion but widened his eyes as he saw the jade pendant.
"Where did you get this!" Cheng exclaimed in utter shocked.
"The envoys from Spades passed it to me. They said brother Yao is still alive and tell me not to worry about him." Mei said but when into depress mode.
"But there is nothing address to me." Mei pouted which a piece of ribbon and letter was given to her.
"There are things address to you. But your gifts from brother Yao just happens to be on the same envelope as mine." Cheng said with a smile. He has already opened the envelope address to him and it turns out to be three different letters for three different people with some small gifts like ribbons and handkerchief. One of them is address to Mei, another one is to him while the last one is for his biological mother whom, unfortunately, is dead.
He looked at another ribbon that is going to be for his mother and passed it to Mei.
Mei looked at Cheng as he passed him another piece of ribbon in confusion.
"My mother is gone now, but I think she would like you whom she always views as her daughter and wants you to wear the most beautiful clothes and accessories," Cheng explained gently.
"But brother Yao specifically sent it for mother. It would be kind of bad for me to take it." Mei said with innocent eyes.
"No worries. Mother always wish for you to be dressed as beautiful as you can. Even if brother Yao passed her this ribbon personally, she would have given it to you anyway." Cheng said with a gentle smile.
Mei looked at Cheng and accept the ribbon.
"Thanks a lot, brother Cheng," Mei said happily.
"We're all a family, why do we need to thank each other," Cheng said with a smile.
…
"Xiang, I'm coming in," Cheng said as he knocks the office door of Jia Long.
"Come in." Jia Long said which Cheng walked into the office and closed the door.
Jia Long looked at the eunuchs and women in the room signalling them to leave the office. After they have left, Jia Long looked at Cheng and smile.
"What brings you here brother Cheng." Jia Long said happily which Cheng immediately passed him an envelope.
"What's this?" Jia Long asked as he looked at the envelope.
"From brother Yao," Cheng said which Jia Long widened his eyes and open the envelope.
A letter with a small and thin pouch was inside the envelope.
Jia Long immediately read the letter which Cheng waited patiently as Jia Long read finish the letters.
"Where did you get this!" Jia Long said as he read the letters with tears flowing down his eyes.
"Apparently Mei got it from the envoys of Spades. Brother Yao is not dead, he is currently in Spades and is apparently doing well." Cheng said.
"Thank goodness." Jia Long said as he hugged Cheng and cry out loud.
Cheng let Jia Long cry for a while before using the handkerchief Yao has given him and wipe Jia Long tears.
"Don't cry, it would be bad if someone sees the emperor showing his weakness," Cheng said. He has read the item description in the letter address to him about the handkerchief and apparently is used to wipe tear, sweat or blowing one's nose.
"I know. Brother Cheng, when can brother Yao return?" Jia Long said in enthusiasm which Cheng paused and sighed.
"Jia Long, you know what is the status of brother Yao in Qing Han. It would be better for brother Yao to be in Spades. But I can convince them to allow Yao to visit Qing Han." Cheng said soothing Jia Long.
"Thanks a lot, brother Cheng." Jia Long said as he hugged Cheng tightly.
"We're all family. I do want to see brother Yao as well." Cheng said as he clenched his fist tightly. He will never forget the day when Yao depart to protect them from the animosity of the Qing Han court.
Author note: Just a side story as an apology for my irregular updates of chapters. Next chapter will be posted tomorrow.
One thing to take note: Mei is Cheng younger sister and Jia Long older sister. Ancient China royal title is kind of confusing and some have no direct translation into English. Basically, a princess in Chinese is 公主, which should be the emperor daughter. But emperor sister receives the title 长公主 which literally means the eldest princess(sounds weird…) I know, it's very confusing, that's why I stick to the title princess. The same is for the case of Cheng. Prince in Chinese is 皇子, but his title should be 刘王 which literally means the Liu King. But it's sort of weird to have a King with no territory and is under the emperor. So, that's why I stick to the title Prince. This system may sound very confusing to some people, but it tells us the generations the members of the royal family and their relationship with the emperor. Language problem again, sigh.