He had intended to step into the hall, but caught sight of the big black dog crouching by the door, its ears pricked up and its golden beast-like eyes watching him quietly.
Eunuch Wang felt a jolt of fear and immediately stopped in his tracks.
This dog was raised personally by Your Highness and was named "Xiao Bai." Although it was unclear why Your Highness chose that name, Xiao Bai was only six months old, yet its frame was already comparable to a full-grown wolf from the grasslands. It was entirely jet-black, with fur as glossy as satin.
Furthermore, the dog possessed astonishing intelligence. Usually, it only acknowledged Your Highness, never leaving his side, and would only accept food from Your Highness's hands.
Stared at intensely by those beast-like eyes, Eunuch Wang felt a chill run down his spine. He had no choice but to stand far below the steps and call out, "Third Prince, His Majesty requests your presence at the Hall of Mental Cultivation."
Fu Xihe's face turned cold. "Today is the anniversary of my mother's passing. What business does His Majesty have with me?"
Eunuch Wang felt miserable inside.
Ever since the Noble Consort passed away, it was as if a layer of ice had formed between His Majesty and the Third Prince, which had never truly melted over the years. Yet, the task of delivering messages always fell to him.
He could only bow his waist and speak with caution, "Perhaps His Majesty is also missing the Noble Consort and wishes to have dinner with Your Highness and share some words."
A cold sneer flashed across Fu Xihe's face.
Why pretend to be so affectionate? She has been gone for so many years, yet Xie Qing, who caused her death, still sits securely in the position of Empress, her favor undiminished.
The hall remained silent for a long time, so long that cold sweat began to bead on Eunuch Wang's forehead, before he heard three words from within that carried no discernible emotion.
"I understand."
After several months, the nearly fatal wound on his body had long since healed, and he no longer had any reason to refuse the Emperor's summons.
Eunuch Wang secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Fu Xihe raised his hand to signal Xiao Bai to wait outside the hall door, then stepped inside alone.
Only Emperor Cheng was in the hall.
Seeing him arrive, Eunuch Wang signaled the palace maids to set the table; almost all the dishes on the table were ones he had loved in his childhood.
Fu Xihe did not take a seat but stood in the hall, lowering his eyes to bow, "His Majesty has summoned me; what are your orders?"
Emperor Cheng watched him and pointed to the seat beside him, "Sit. It has been a long time since I have shared a meal with you."
Seven years—exactly since the year his mother passed away.
Fu Xihe did not sit down. He stood where he was, his voice calm and indifferent, "If His Majesty has no other business, I have important matters to attend to and will take my leave."
Emperor Cheng watched his retreating back, a lump forming in his throat, which finally turned into a very soft sigh.
Seven years ago, this child would still crinkle his eyes and call out "Emperor Father," but now only a cold silence remained, and not even a trace of a smile could be found.
"Can you not keep me company for a while if there is nothing else?" Emperor Cheng's voice deepened. "Sit down."
Since the Emperor had used the royal "I," it was an imperial decree.
Fu Xihe said no more and sat down in the chair opposite.
Emperor Cheng picked up a piece of steamed perch and placed it in his bowl, "Have the wounds on your body fully healed?"
Fu Xihe did not touch his chopsticks, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty; they are no longer an issue."
Seeing his impenetrable demeanor, Emperor Cheng stopped beating around the bush, set down his chopsticks, and went straight to the point, "I heard that it was Prime Minister Song's granddaughter who saved you this time."
His gaze landed on Fu Xihe's calm face, and his tone suddenly shifted, "If that girl had not led the way, Qing Dynasty might not have been able to find you in time. How do you intend to repay this life-saving grace?"
Fu Xihe frowned slightly.
Given Emperor Cheng's usual temperament, he would have long since issued a decree to reward her and be done with it; why ask specifically?
Since being saved, he had never met that Song family girl, only hearing the name "Song Mingsi" from others, who said she was knowledgeable and reasonable, and was vaguely known as the number one talented woman in the Capital City.
He said indifferently, "A reward according to custom will suffice. Gold, silver, and jewels—ten thousand taels of gold—will surely express the sentiment."
Emperor Cheng shook his head, "She is Prime Minister Song's eldest granddaughter, of similar age to you, and of a gentle temperament."
At this point, the intention was clear.
Fu Xihe raised his eyes, a trace of mockery flashing in their depths, "I do not wish to be like Emperor Father, weighing everything with interests and power."
"Insolent!"
The jade cup shattered upon impact, fragments scattering everywhere, and a bloodstain instantly appeared on Fu Xihe's left cheek.
Emperor Cheng's face turned ashen, his eyes burning with rage, "You have already stepped one foot into the gates of hell this time; a marriage alliance with the Song Family is imperative!"
Fu Xihe laughed, the laughter cold and bone-chilling, "Is that not because you are incompetent, Your Majesty? You could not protect your beloved back then, and now you cannot even protect your own son."
"Rebellious son!"
With a slap, half of Fu Xihe's face instantly turned red and swollen.
"Get out! Get out of my sight!"
Eunuch Wang hurriedly stepped forward to help Emperor Cheng catch his breath.
The long corridor was deep and silent, the palace lanterns swaying.
A strange sensation came from his lower leg behind him; Xiao Bai gently nudged his calf with its forehead, a very low whimper escaping its throat.
Fu Xihe's lips curved slightly, and he stroked the top of its head, "Do not worry."
Little did he know that the movement of his mouth made the pain in the left side of his face even more severe.
Upon reaching a corner, his path was blocked by someone.
First Prince Fu Yunxiao saw that half of his face was swollen high and gloated, "Has my third brother angered Emperor Father again?"
He was only one year older than Fu Xihe and had been at odds with this unlikable younger brother since childhood.
This younger brother of his looked exactly like his mother, with beauty unparalleled in the world. His pair of peach-blossom eyes should have been filled with affection, but on a man's face, they became a kind of breathtaking, cold allure.
Fu Yunxiao hated this look the most. In his childhood, it was this face, along with his seductive mother, that stole all of Emperor Father's attention.
Now that the Xuan Family had fallen and Fu Xihe was forced to flee to Jiangnan, the tides had truly turned.
Fu Yunxiao wanted to get closer to mock him, but Xiao Bai, who was following at Fu Xihe's side, suddenly raised its head, a low, warning growl emanating from its throat.
He was startled and took half a step back, pretending to be calm, "Is this beast you raised suffering from rabies?"
Fu Xihe chuckled, the laughter not reaching his eyes, "Do not worry, Eldest Brother. Xiao Bai only bares its teeth at those with malicious intent."
"What do you mean?"
"I am advising you, Eldest Brother: instead of having the leisure to watch me, you should go and beg the Empress to help you clean up that mess of yours."
Fu Xihe lowered his voice, like an evil spirit whispering in his ear, "If Emperor Father finds out about what happened six months ago, who do you think the position of Crown Prince will fall to in the future?"
Fu Yunxiao's face turned deathly pale.
Six months ago, he had snuck out of the palace under the cover of night and accidentally caused the death of a commoner woman, but this matter had clearly been suppressed tightly by his maternal grandfather.
"You... how did you find out?" Six months ago, Fu Xihe was clearly far away in Jiangnan.
Fu Xihe did not answer him anymore, but simply flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.
Fu Yunxiao wanted to stop him, but his peripheral vision caught the cold, beast-like eyes of Xiao Bai, and his legs froze in place. He could only watch helplessly as that white-clad figure disappeared at the end of the corridor.
Left behind, Fu Yunxiao gritted his teeth, "Damn beast. If it didn't only eat food fed by Fu Xihe's own hands, I would have poisoned it long ago. Even a beast dares to bully me."
With nowhere to vent his anger, he turned around and saw the attendant behind him cowering with his head bowed. A sudden surge of evil fire rose in his heart, and he raised his leg and kicked the man hard in the back of the knee.
The attendant was kicked until he fell to his knees on the cold, hard stone floor.
Fu Yunxiao looked down at him, "Useless trash, not even as good as a beast. It at least knows how to protect its master; besides trembling, what else can you do?"
Feeling that it wasn't enough to vent his anger, he kicked him a few more times, "Trash! All of you are trash!"
...
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