The servants of the palace had set a feast at a pagoda in Jin Chun Garden. After the Emperor and the rest of the ministers found their seats, a team of musicians and performers began playing.
Emperor Xing Wu let Luo Wei sit beside Luo Ze, and asked Luo Wei, "Wei Er, are you feeling better?"
Luo Wei stood and answered quickly, "Your humble servant has recovered."
Emperor Xing Wu kept the line of questions, "How did you and the Zhao brothers get into a conflict?"
Luo Wei lowered his head and answered, "It was I who did something wrong, it has nothing to do with the Zhao brothers."
Emperor Xing Wu replied, "It has nothing to do with them? You were injured pretty badly."
Luo Wei lifted his head and answered the Emperor honestly, "Zhao Ge Ge(1) mishandled himself for a moment, I made a grave mistake. I deserved a lesson. I'm thankful that the Zhao brothers didn't turn me into the courthouse and let them deal with me."
Both the father and the son from the Luo and Zhao family let out a relieved breath. They had already settled the explanation in private, but didn't think that the Emperor would ask Luo Wei personally today, They were worried that this insensible child would come up with some nonsense, but he had grown up unexpectedly.
There was a smile on Emperor Xing Wu's face. "It seemed that the two Zhao brothers have done something of merit. They managed to help a little despot like you understand reason. I must reward them. Not only I, but your father should also thank them."
Luo Wei looked a little guilty as he whispered, "Your humble servant understands his misgivings."
The two Zhao brothers also spoke up at this point, "We're undeserving of this reward."
"I said I was going to reward you both and that's what I intend to do," Emperor Xing Wu waved them off, smiling, "I never thought a beating could result in a Luo Wei like this, I'm very happy!"
Luo Wei threw a look at the Zhao brothers, smiling at both of them apologetically. He knows that they're not people with small hearts. If he sincerely admitted his mistakes, the two of them would be glad to forgive him.
"You may be seated," Emperor Xing Wu's mood was much improved. His face that has always been serious now held a genuine smile.
And thus at this little feast, both the monarch and his entourage enjoyed everything to their hearts' content.
Luo Wei obeyed all protocol and decorum during the festivities. He only spared a glance at the second prince, sitting next to the Crown Prince, but no more than that. Long Xuan was taller than the Crown Prince, Long Yu, and was very different from Long Yu's gentle disposition. Long Xuan held a self assured arrogance. For the Luo Wei in the past life, he was like dazzling sunshine, but for Luo Wei reborn, he was a source of nightmares.
Long Xuan has been watching Luo Wei. That fat pug who always followed close behind him has disappeared from the world. The Luo Wei before his eyes was shockingly beautiful, elegant in conversation, and no longer held only him in his eyes. He only spared him an indifferent glance. During the entire banquet, he only spared him a single glance. The unfamiliarity made Long Xuan's heart feel rather empty. He had clearly implied that he wanted the Zhao brothers to take the blame, and thus allow himself to get closer to the Zhao family. He didn't expect that Luo Wei would admit his own wrongdoings. Did he not understand the hint? Long Xuan's heart filled with frustration, but he couldn't let any of it show.
After the banquet, Emperor Xing Qu summoned the Senior Chancellor for a private conversation.
Luo Wei followed behind Luo Ze on their way out of the palace.
"Wei Er," Feng Wu General? Zhao He Nian stopped him.
"Uncle Zhao(2)," Luo Wei took a look at the father and brothers Zhao, and lowered his head in apologetic shame.
"Looks like I really beat some sense into you," The younger of the two Zhao brothers, Zhao Jun Yi saw Luo Wei's behavior and sneered. His hatred towards Luo Wei had become like vengeance, and had nothing good to say to him.
"I'm so sorry," Luo Wei apologized in earnest, "It was all my fault. I was tempted by a bad idea. I didn't do anything to her, I..."
Zhao Jun Yi cut him off, "If you had besmirched Xiao Lian's innocence, do you really think you'd only get a beating?!"
"I'm so sorry," Luo Wei kept his head down and continued apologizing. The version of him now had gotten used to acting beneath others, and survived from belittling himself. A single admittance to his wrongs was a familiar and easy road to take.
"Enough already," Luo Ze couldn't take it anymore. His little brother had already belittled himself, and yet Zhao Jun Yi still looked like he wasn't satisfied and wouldn't forgive him. This stoked Luo Ze's anger, "Zhao Jun Yi(3), you've already cussed him out, and beaten him down, Xiao Wei almost died, what else do you want?"
FOOTNOTES:
1. Ge Ge - Ge Ge means big brother in Chinese, but can be used with non-family to refer to an person who is older than the speaker.
2. Uncle - Similarly to the point above, "uncle" and "aunt" can also be used to address a person who is not family so long as they're of an older generation.
3. Zhao Jun Yi - Original translation said "Zhao Er" which is referring to the second of the Zhao brothers. Er meaning Second, and Er meaning Son/younger person are different words, but are homophones. Since we are already using Er as a way of older people referring to Luo Wei, some similar words will be edited out to lessen confusion.
TRANSLATOR'S NOTES:
I've been promising Long Xuan to you for the last couple of chapters, but forgot how short the chapters were and where the chapters end. So this and the next chapter