The Emperor thought carefully again and again, finally confirming that his foolish brother hadn’t asked him for anything. So this hunger strike is real? It must be something very serious to make the foolish brother unable to eat.
When Qi Haoxuan entered the palace, he looked utterly disoriented, which made the Emperor even more worried.
"What’s going on? Have you had dinner?" the Emperor asked with concern.
"No," Qi Haoxuan replied weakly, "I don’t want to eat."
"If you don’t eat, the Empress Dowager will be worried again when she finds out. Tell me, what’s happening?" After speaking, the Emperor immediately instructed someone to bring food.
Qi Haoxuan slumped in the chair, his eyes dull as he stared at the ceiling.
"What exactly is going on?" The Emperor was even more worried, he had never seen his foolish brother like this.
"Brother Emperor, I, I think I’ve fallen for a girl," Qi Haoxuan finally managed to squeeze out a sentence after a long pause.
The Emperor widened his eyes, almost blurting out, "Really? You like a girl?" After saying this, he realized it was inappropriate, coughed a couple of times, and covered it up.
It’s really hard to blame the Emperor for reacting this way. Because in the Emperor’s memory, this brat, seemed completely oblivious and didn’t know how to appreciate beauty.
Let’s talk about the two events that happened not too long ago.
The Minister of Revenue’s daughter "accidentally" met him outside, pretending to drop her handkerchief in front of him, waiting for him to pick it up and return it to her. But he just stepped on it, causing the girl to gasp about her handkerchief, to which he replied, thinking she didn’t want it anymore. That flower embroidery was indeed ugly, if it were him, he would have discarded it too.
The handkerchief was embroidered by the girl herself, and his comment made her run away crying, covering her face. He still looked completely baffled.
When the Empress Dowager heard about it, she was simply laughing and crying.
Then there was another incident. Another official’s daughter, because her brother had a close friendship with Qi Haoxuan, asked her brother to invite Qi Haoxuan home as a guest. She then intended to set him up by "falling" into the water in front of Qi Haoxuan, expecting him to save her. Once rescued, dripping wet, what more could be said about innocence? Wouldn’t she be able to marry Qi Haoxuan then?
When the girl shouted "Prince, save me," Qi Haoxuan kicked the girl’s brother into the water instead. He stood on the bank puzzled, saying, "Why are you asking me for help? I can’t swim. Your brother can, why don’t you call him?"
When the Emperor heard about this, his face turned dark. He severely punished the scheming daughter and warned her brother. To that girl, it was indeed a sad affair.
Although the matter concluded like this, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor privately discussed it and worried if Qi Haoxuan perhaps did not like women. But they hadn’t noticed him having any thoughts about the same sex either. In the end, they could only conclude that Qi Haoxuan hadn’t "awoken" yet. But he’s nearly twenty and still hasn’t "awoken"?
"Brother Emperor, what do you mean by saying that? Why wouldn’t I like girls?" Qi Haoxuan was displeased, glaring at the Emperor upon hearing this.
"Alright, alright! Of course, you will. Come, tell your brother who you’ve fallen for, I’ll grant a marriage." Hearing this, the Emperor was also very happy. This brat finally "awoke." He wondered which family’s daughter had such charm that made him actually "awaken." She must be as beautiful as a Heavenly Immortal. Who’s the most beautiful noble lady in the Capital City? The Emperor remembered.