My Emperor Father Can Read Minds

Wei Yu didn’t understand the matters of the court, but after hearing what happened to the usurers, he gave up that line of thought.

He also took the opportunity to pass on news to Liu Er’ya, telling the child to be at ease and not worry about her grandfather—just focus on studying well. When the time comes, she’ll have the chance to repay him and support him in his old age.

The little girl was beyond moved when she heard this. She clutched her book and was about to kneel in gratitude, eyes brimming with tears.

That look, that gaze—Wei Yu couldn’t shake the feeling that she wasn’t looking at a benefactor.

She looked more like she was looking at… a father.

Hmm…

Well, being a father was fine too. He wouldn’t object.

—

Time passed, and at the beginning of the next month, Wei Yu suddenly received an invitation from his Fourth Brother to leave the palace.

The invitation was regarding the site selection of the kiln factory, which had already begun construction. The Fourth Prince wanted to personally inspect it and casually asked if Wei Yu would like to go with him. Receiving the invitation, of course Wei Yu was happy to go!

In just another half a month, he’d be leaving the palace for good. He wanted to see what his residence might still be lacking so he could find a time to ask his father for it.

Before leaving, Wei Yu asked his Eighth Brother if he wanted to come along.

The Eighth Prince firmly and dramatically refused.

Because he still had to complete the excessive workload assigned to him by the Grand Tutor!

It was truly baffling. In the past, the Grand Tutor had always assigned the same lessons to all the princes, but at some point, the Eighth Prince noticed his workload increasing.

Not just in terms of being called on more during class, but also being pulled aside by the Grand Tutor after lessons, and then being forced to write essays based on lengthy thesis prompts…

The Eighth Prince genuinely couldn’t figure it out. Among the four princes currently studying in the study hall, why was he the only one with the heaviest workload?

Had the Grand Tutor somehow discovered his hidden brilliance? Or had the Emperor decided to start grooming him as the Crown Prince?!!

Questions with no answers.

After realizing his workload had increased, the Eighth Prince’s feelings evolved from confused excitement, to a façade of calm, and eventually into pure, exhausted indifference.

He was tired.

Every day he had to face the Grand Tutor’s questions, feign ignorance with humility, and still finish an absurd amount of assignments. Honestly, the Eighth Prince was really tired!

Especially when he saw his Ninth Brother enjoying his usual relaxed and carefree days—that mental fatigue of his threatened to turn into a bitter, raging wail straight to the heavens!

What the hell!

Why was he so busy that he barely had time to eat or sleep, while the Ninth Brother got to live so comfortably?!

Couldn’t the Grand Tutor give the Ninth Brother some extra homework too? Let them all suffer together a little??

To this, the Grand Tutor responded:

—This has nothing to do with him. He was only following His Majesty’s orders.

And why did Emperor Wei do this?

Ha. So the two brothers were close since childhood, right? And neither of them studied properly back then, right?

Fine, Wei Yu could slide for now—he had his past life. But the Eighth Prince, who didn’t know his little brother’s true abilities and still fooled around with him—if he didn’t work hard, how could he possibly keep up with his brother in the future?!

Study!

He had to study well with the Grand Tutor, learn more, or he’d eventually be left in the dust by that sneaky little brat, Wei Yu!

Rather than seeing brothers fight each other, Emperor Wei preferred harmony.

Since the Eighth and Ninth Princes had been close since childhood, as their father, Emperor Wei would help them however he could.

—

In the capital city.

Wei Yu had just returned from inspecting the kiln factory outside the city and was strolling downtown with his Fourth Brother.

Unlike the Fourth Prince, who was used to everything on the street, Wei Yu was still full of curiosity about everything around him.

Two well-dressed young lords, with two guards trailing behind—clearly from a wealthy family. No fool would dare provoke them on the street.

Wei Yu walked in front, finding everything on the street novel and exciting.

After all, in this era, everything was handmade—a product of human ingenuity. There was no high-tech to be found.

He stopped here and there to admire small crafts, then squeezed over to a street performance, hopping around like a monkey.

The Fourth Prince couldn’t understand where he got all this energy.

It gave him a bit of a headache, but not too much—he just treated it as a chance to bond with his younger brother.

At one performance stand, Wei Yu watched a man break a rock on his chest. Just as they were about to leave, he suddenly heard someone speaking behind them.

“His Majesty really is a good emperor. If he hadn’t ordered that investigation into the loan shark and confiscated the culprit’s wife’s property, my second great-uncle’s family might still be stuck dealing with those moneylenders!”

Hmm?

Wei Yu had been about to leave, but immediately stopped in his tracks. He also pulled back his Fourth Brother who was about to turn away.

He gave him a look and whispered, “Fourth Brother, don’t move. Let’s listen.”

No matter how nice official reports sounded, nothing beat hearing the voice of the people directly.

The Fourth Prince raised an eyebrow and stood still, listening with Wei Yu.

A different voice spoke up behind them.

“Let them off? Those loan sharks? You’re joking, right?”

“I’m not joking. If you don’t believe me, come with me to see my second great-uncle. The lender came in person, recalculated the interest according to the court’s new limit of 3%, and even refunded the overcharged amount!”

“What! That—that’s amazing!”

“Exactly. That’s why I say His Majesty is a good emperor. If he hadn’t cracked down on that loan shark, scared the other lenders into submission, none of this would’ve happened.”

“Say, Brother Qi, do you know which family lent money to your second uncle? To be honest, my family… also borrowed some money.”

“It was the cousin of Lord Wang’s family on the west side…”

The voices gradually faded into the distance.

Only then did Wei Yu and the Fourth Prince turn around and glance at the two departing men.

The Fourth Prince smiled and said, “Who would’ve thought that investigating a single illegal moneylender would scare the rest into behaving. Truly a case of unintended consequences bearing fruit.”

Not just the Fourth Prince—Wei Yu himself hadn’t expected it either.

He thought he’d only helped Liu Er’ya, but it turned out he’d helped countless Liu Er’yas.

Wei Yu gazed into the distance, deep in thought. Suddenly, a saying came to mind:

Do good deeds, and ask not about the future.

He lowered his head with a small smile, then looked back up at his Fourth Brother.

“Let’s go, Fourth Brother.”

Their journey back wasn’t smooth. As they passed a street corner, Wei Yu spotted a scholar selling paintings being harassed.