There must be something wrong with me-Chapter 59 - 53: Leaving the Palace, Leaving the Palace

"..." Zhang Feng listened to the Empress Mother being unreasonable and simply chose not to speak.

After all, the Empress Mother had a proper academic background.

If she reasoned, Zhang Feng might not even be able to win the debate.

Needless to say, now she’s not even reasoning.

"Just think about it." The Empress Mother, seeing her beloved son not speaking, spoke earnestly: "If you live outside alone, what if you don’t have enough to eat, and what if you get too skinny from hunger?"

As she spoke, her voice was full of anxiety.

It was the kind of anxiety a mother feels when about to part with her child.

Even though she was the Empress, she couldn’t escape the seven emotions and six desires of a human.

"Should I issue an order to have some people from the imperial kitchen accompany you out of the palace?"

She was now accustomed to her ’chubby baby,’ and even worried that Zhang Feng might grow thin once he left the palace.

"Empress Mother is right."

Zhang Feng looked at his mother’s concerned eyes, and his heart was warm.

"Then... shall I issue the decree to the imperial kitchen now?" The Empress was serious and got up intending to book the decree.

"Empress Mother is right." Zhang Feng was focused on boiling water and agreed with whatever the Empress Mother said.

Meanwhile, the Empress seemed to remember something, looked at her lovely child, and said:

"The daughter of the Minister of Rites’ family turned fifteen this year. I called her to the palace and found her bright-eyed and graceful, full of the manners of a noble family.

When you leave the palace, find a time to meet her. If you take a liking to her, the Empress Mother will propose marriage for you."

"Empress Mother is right." Zhang Feng nodded again, but then he realized there was something off.

"Empress Mother is wrong, no, I am afraid I’ll delay Minister Sun’s daughter."

Zhang Feng was focused on martial arts and recently discovered the method of energy and blood cultivation.

At this critical moment, there was no time for romance.

If he genuinely developed feelings, he would certainly be distracted.

If he didn’t develop feelings, then why bother?

For selfish desires, among hundreds of brothels in the world, there are always beauties; why taint a respectable woman’s innocence?

Zhang Feng thought very clearly.

"What? Delay?" The Empress was unhappy, "My Feng marrying her is her blessing!

Enough! No more talking, it’s settled! The Empress Mother will have someone prepare the betrothal gifts now!"

"?" Zhang Feng was taken aback. What was supposed to be a blind date became an engagement after what he said.

He needed to find a way to handle this.

Even if it was marriage, Zhang Feng didn’t want a rushed marriage.

"Empress Mother, listen to me carefully, human emotions aren’t..."

...

An hour later.

Zhang Feng silently walked out of Changxiang Hall, the marriage proposal was postponed, but the meeting was still a must.

According to the Empress Mother’s words, "Feng will still meet her and then come back and tell me, so I know what kind of girl you like. Then I will search the ends of the earth to find her for you."

Mother was great, almost ready to post a notice over the entire world to find a bride for him.

But Zhang Feng had a headache.

However, as he walked, Zhang Feng was deep in thought about blood energy cultivation and soon forgot about it.

Moreover, tonight was his last night in the palace.

Although he could return in the future, Zhang Feng felt more like he was ’running away from home.’

This sixteen-year family experience.

Made Zhang Feng quickly forget trivial matters, instead nostalgically wandering around the palace.

Like this, Zhang Feng looked left and right.

Although it might be inappropriate, with Zhang Feng’s status, no one dared to stop him.

Moreover, Zhang Feng was considerate and did not wander around the inner palace but strolled elsewhere.

"Long live the Seventh Prince!"

Everyone in the palace path, including palace maids, eunuchs, guards, and several Cabinet Ministers who had just finished work, greeted Zhang Feng as they saw him coming.

Zhang Feng nodded and continued walking.

However, after he left, they were puzzled, not knowing which summoned the Seventh Prince.

Because if it were a summons, Zhang Feng should have had the ’leading eunuch with a sign’ or imperial guards in front of him.

Yet now there was nothing, just him walking alone.

’What is the Seventh Prince doing?’ They were curious but didn’t dare to ask rashly.

It was fortunate that he was the Seventh Prince; if it were someone else, the imperial guards would have detained them.

But.

The more Zhang Feng walked, the happier he became, and feelings of ’running away from home’ gradually dispersed.

With a broad mind, Zhang Feng suddenly felt his steps lightened.

Walking and walking, Zhang Feng unknowingly discovered that his feet had begun to ’ruminate blood energy.’

The skills that originally required time to practice gradually were realized due to a stroke of fate, and the obstacles were overcome.

Zhang Feng, filled with such joy, immersed his mind once again in the concentration of blood in his feet.

Comprehend the knowledge, deepen the knowledge, and then transform the knowledge into one’s own, rather than obtaining it through ’occasional epiphany.’ This is what Zhang Feng has always been doing.

"Greetings, Seventh Prince..."

The palace maids and eunuchs passing by continued to salute as usual.

As Zhang Feng was deeply engrossed in his cultivation, he nodded symbolically in response.

Without realizing how long he had walked, he passed by a side hall filled with books.

Coincidentally, the Emperor had just emerged from inside.

Behind him was Eunuch Zhao.

Eunuch Zhao became the General Manager of the palace eunuchs five years ago and has often accompanied the Emperor since.

At the same time.

Upon seeing Zhang Feng, Eunuch Zhao felt joyous, but since the Emperor ahead seemed to be pondering over something, he didn’t dare to speak loudly. He only bowed, mouthing ’Greetings, Young Master.’

At the same moment, when the Emperor saw Zhang Feng approaching, his thoughts gathered a bit, and he nodded indifferently at Zhang Feng.

Zhang Feng, accustomed to nodding along the way, instinctively nodded back at the Emperor.

Then, the Emperor was dumbfounded.

"Ha... um..." Eunuch Zhao, witnessing this scene, was initially about to laugh, but under the strong survival instinct, he quickly suppressed the laughter that might cost him his head.

’What is Young Master doing?’ He then realized and frequently gave Zhang Feng signals to quickly salute.

At the same time, Zhang Feng came to his senses, clasped his hands, and said to the somewhat confused Emperor, "Your son greets Royal Father!"

During the salute, Zhang Feng slightly raised his head.

The Emperor was over fifty years old this year, with more wrinkles, but his majesty had increased.

In the past decade, Zhang Feng had seen the Emperor no more than thirty times.

Apart from the birthdays of his mother and the Emperor, they generally did not meet. Even when they met on birthdays, they did not converse.

At most, it was like now, a symbolic bow and greeting.

"Hmm."

Now, as before, the Emperor merely nodded and then turned and walked away.

But he hadn’t taken two steps when, as if he remembered something, he scolded with his back to Zhang Feng, "Why are you wandering around the palace instead of returning to the hall?

Where have your etiquette and standards gone?"

"Your son will return immediately," Zhang Feng realized he had unknowingly wandered towards the Emperor’s side, so he turned to leave.

"Disrespectful!" The Emperor scolded again and continued walking, but after taking two steps, he halted, with his back to Zhang Feng, "Tomorrow, you will leave the palace."

"Yes." Zhang Feng turned, looking at the Emperor’s back, and replied, "I will be sixteen, and after inspecting the mansion tomorrow, as per tradition, I will not return to the palace overnight."

"Hmm." The Emperor stood with his back to Zhang Feng, pausing for several breaths.

After about ten seconds of silence passed.

The Emperor continued, "Yesterday, I already ordered that several Imperial Chefs go with you out of the palace tomorrow.

The food outside the palace... hmm... hmm... I’m afraid you might not get used to it."

Saying this, the Emperor walked away, facing away from Zhang Feng the entire time.

...

The next day.

Zhang Feng left the palace early in the morning, surrounded by dozens of attendants.

The residence was not far from the palace city.

A five-entry courtyard, it was a royal residence.

Not far away, there was another three-entry courtyard, which was the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

And because it was the day of opening the residence, there were many affairs to handle during the day.

The people who came to present gifts and visit were endless.

Regardless of their sincerity, at least the etiquette was observed.

Zhang Feng also received them one by one, busy until evening when he finally had some free time.

After all the guests left, the palace maids brought from the palace cleaned up.

Zhang Feng called for ’Little Five,’ and they went to a secluded courtyard.

Little Five had followed Zhang Feng since he entered the palace at ten years old and was very loyal.

"Little Five." Zhang Feng looked at the still fairly fair Little Five in front of him, "From now on, you will be the steward of the residence."

"Thank you, Master!" He bowed his head in gratitude.

Zhang Feng helped him up, "Little Five, you’ve had a long day today as well."

Zhang Feng, seeing his weariness, wanted him to rest and then handle affairs, "Have a good rest tonight, and tomorrow go outside the residence to inquire if there’s a place selling Rock Fruit."

’Rock Fruit?’ Little Five, having been in the palace for over six years and considered an elder, naturally knew about the forbidden book incident and knew this was a banned substance.

However, he didn’t ask much, only bowed once more, his words strong and firm, "Servant will carry out the order!"

The Seventh Prince treated him like a human, remembering his hardships, and even let him rest for a night.

Loyalty to one’s confidant unto death!

After saying this, he returned to his room, but instead of resting, he put on a hat for disguise and immediately left the residence to inquire for his master.