Chapter 292: Birth Mother
Putting aside the matters of the Medical Academy, after Wei Yu finished reading the memorial, he didn’t leave immediately but instead leaned over his dad’s desk.
His action was somewhat unusual, and Emperor Wei instantly sensed something was up.
“What are you trying to do this time?”
Wei Yu chuckled, “Oh Dad, it’s not what you think. I actually want to discuss something with you.”
Emperor Wei glanced at him sideways, “What is it?”
If it’s not about making money, he didn’t want to know.
Not knowing his dad’s thoughts inside, Wei Yu gave Emperor Wei a wink. “Third Brother! Dad, have you forgotten Third Brother’s talent? He’s really suitable to study math and science and stay at the Research Institute. If you don’t let him study it, that would be completely wasting Third Brother’s aptitude. It would mean the world would lose a great expert in physics and chemistry!”
Emperor Wei: …
One could only say that the old man, who had sat in the emperor's position for so long, naturally first thought about political power.
Wei Yu blinked, “You say so. The Research Institute is important. By now, even if I don’t say it, you should have noticed, right?”
“Master Fusheng is a devoted man, and his senior disciple Xi Liuzi is too. Unfortunately, both are quite old, and who knows when they might pass away. The two of them are experts in researching gunpowder and artillery. No one else at the Research Institute is as skilled as them. Without them, military industry would stagnate. You have to find someone trusted by the Imperial Court to take over, right?”
Wei Yu lowered his head and opened one palm to look at his own hand. “Besides, a place like the Research Institute isn’t just about guarding the outside; the main point is having people inside who know what they’re doing. If people inside the Research Institute turn traitorous and fool those who don’t understand, then it’s like playing with fools!”
“The Research Institute was established by me for the Great Wei Imperial Court. This institution has immense destructive power and must be in the Imperial Court’s control. The researchers inside can be of any gender or age, and talents can be recruited regardless of background, but there must be someone from the Imperial Court inside! Members of our royal family are the best choice.”
Emperor Wei frowned, giving him a look. “Don’t you understand?”
“Even if I understand, I can’t watch them all the time!”
Wei Yu raised his voice a little, staring straight into his dad’s eyes, speaking self-righteously: “Besides, would you really want your son to stay at the Research Institute forever? Huh? Would you?”
Emperor Wei: …
How to put it?
He really wouldn’t want that.
Not because he was worried about this unfilial son, but simply because he didn’t want to settle this multifunctional little rascal down in just one place to grow old.
As the saying goes, ‘the capable end up with more work.’ Emperor Wei thought he was just showing how much he valued his unfilial son.
Wei Yu’s words were indeed not wrong. Emperor Wei also knew that someone needed to be sent to learn math and science, to avoid the Imperial Court being fooled by the Research Institute in the future, but…
“Is your Third Brother willing?” Emperor Wei glanced at Wei Yu.
Wei Yu nodded, “Of course he is, Third Brother is eager for it.”
At this point, Wei Yu couldn’t help but give his dad a meaningfully complicated look.
[You’re supposed to be his dad, and you don’t even know your own son’s preferences? Hmm—]
Emperor Wei: …
His hand itched again.
Emperor Wei laughed angrily, “Humph! I, your dad, am busy with state affairs day and night—everyone in the world is my subjects! With all your little schemes, do you really think your old man is so idle?”
That was an unfair way to start scolding again.
Tsk tsk.
Wei Yu pouted but held back his inner grumble, starting to coax his dad, “Okay, okay, it’s my fault, I’m the bad son, I have a sharp tongue, I deserve a beating…”
As he said this, he gave a very fitting slap to his own little cheek.
Ouch, that little slap was like scraping a cupping spot; even Emperor Wei couldn’t watch!
What a poser!
Emperor Wei waved dismissively, “Go away, keep your distance. Just looking at you makes me angry!”
Wei Yu didn’t leave; with a thick skin, he clung closer to share the hardship with his dad.
“Son won’t! Son won’t leave! Son worries that you work so hard your hair is going white, son insists on staying here to keep you company, so what!”
The memorial on the desk was pushed to the ground. Emperor Wei’s face darkened.
“Wei Yu!”
Wei Yu blinked innocently, “Your precious son is right here.”
Emperor Wei: …
Such thick skin! Who did he take after?!
Emperor Wei recalled carefully about Wei Yu’s birth mother, Consort An.
It seemed that when Consort An was alive, she wasn’t this thick-skinned type. She was quiet and graceful, wasn’t she?
Suddenly thinking of Wei Yu’s birth mother, Emperor Wei’s mood softened a little. He couldn’t help but glance at Wei Yu again.
People say the dead have passed away, and their past is often glorified. Besides, Emperor Wei also remembered Consort An was a graceful person who didn’t compete or fight. Now recalling her and contemplating Wei Yu today, he couldn’t help but have the idea of posthumously honoring her.
“Do you remember your birth mother, Consort An?”
Wei Yu was stunned.
Why bring up his birth mother all of a sudden?
Looking at his dad’s expression, Wei Yu thought for two seconds, “Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?”
Could he really hide anything from his dad, given that his dad could read minds?
Emperor Wei said impatiently, “Do you think I’m asking if I want to hear lies?”
Tell the truth then.
Wei Yu scratched his head, “Well… okay. Actually, Dad, you know mother passed away when I was less than one year old. Although I do remember her face, but…”
Wei Yu glanced at his dad’s expression, then smiled awkwardly, “Not to fear you saying I’m unfilial, son has always remembered the gratitude of his birth mother, and has thought that if mother’s maternal family had capable descendants, they could be helped a little. But if you ask if my feelings for mother run deep, maybe it’s not as much as you’d like.”
Feelings are built over time. Considering the prince himself didn’t need a palace consort’s personal care, and Wei Yu was raised by palace servants from birth, and he himself still had full and clear memories of his previous life where he had parents—how could he have deep feelings for someone who passed away after seeing so little?
In an era where filial piety was everything, Wei Yu’s words were unfilial and subject to criticism, but in this royal family where affection was naturally scarce, Emperor Wei could also understand his thoughts.
He nodded calmly, and instead of scolding, he gave him some advice: “Don’t say that to others in the future.”
Wei Yu touched his nose, “I know, it’s because you asked.”
Emperor Wei glanced at him and thought a moment before saying, “I intend to posthumously promote your mother to Imperial Consort Zhao. What do you think?”
Wei Yu had no objection. “I have no problem, as long as no one else objects.”
After all, it was his birth mother. Naturally, Wei Yu wouldn’t hold back on the matter of posthumous honors for his mother. If it were done, it would also benefit his mother’s family a bit.
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