When it comes down to it, the empress is the one to blame she’s a finicky woman herself and coddled her son so much he’s become picky about everything. I used to hear a lot of talk in private about how Qizhe is stronger than his father in every single way, excepting that he does not match the former emperor in living simply and modestly, and I agree with this assessment as well. I’ve never had him in my house, and as I only attended banquets with him onvery rare occasions, it’s hard for me to know what he likes and what he tends to avoid.” “To tell the truth, in the past my family had been blessed with imperial favour and possessed some knowledge of the former emperors’ preferences, but this one is not like his forebears. Though the depth of their friendship could never be as strong as what’s between Yun Yu and Qizhe, he must at least know something of Qizhe’s preferences and his moods. Not to mention that Liu Tongyi and Qizhe once plotted together against the old band of traitors led by yours truly. The Lius have produced generations of high-ranking officials, even an empress once they belong to the moral purity faction and are steadfastly loyal to the throne. I reply quietly, “Ransi, you must have attended many banquets with him - and I trust you’ve welcomed him many times at your estate, no?” “How would I know? That’s why I came to ask you for advice, merchant Zhao.” In a corner of the hallway within the cabin, Liu Tongyi turns to me, and asks in a whisper, “How does one accommodate him?”

Uncle aiya