Left behind at Changchun Palace, A Sui met the Third Prince in the evening—a chubby boy a head taller than himself.
Seeking to foster a closer relationship between the two, Shu Fei arranged for A Sui to stay in the side hall, sharing quarters with the Third Prince.
Late at night, wrapped in his quilt, A Sui felt downcast. This was the first time since he could remember that he had slept away from home, surrounded by unfamiliarity.
Fortunately—
A Sui slipped his hand under the pillow and pulled out a palm-sized tanuki doll.
His mother had made it for him, and it had been his constant companion. According to Yue-E, his mother had crafted it before he was born. As a child, he would only fall asleep clutching the little tanuki doll.
Pinching the tip of the doll’s ear, A Sui whispered a few words to it until drowsiness overcame him. He fell asleep with his chin resting on the doll.
The next day, after the morning meal, Shu Fei permitted the two boys to go out and play.
“Hui’er, today your mother grants you a day off. Go play with Sui Ge’er.”
Shu Fei took the gold-threaded jade-inlaid Diexie belt from a palace maid, bent down, and personally fastened it around the Third Prince’s waist.
After adjusting the belt, she straightened his collar and spoke gently, “Sui Ge’er is young. You are a prince and his elder brother—you must take the initiative to be responsible and take good care of your cousin. Understand?”
“Your son understands.”
The Third Prince’s voice was soft and hesitant. At eight years old, he was not short for his age, but due to his indulgence in food, he was chubbier than his peers. His face was as round as a dough ball, giving him a simple, honest appearance.
Shu Fei frowned, her anger flaring at his timid expression.
“Hui’er, you are a young man—you should speak louder! If your father saw you like this, he would not be pleased!”
Her face stern, she could not help raising her voice.
The Third Prince froze, his expression panicked. “Mother, I’m sorry… Your son knows he was wrong…”
Shu Fei’s frustration mounted. Her brows drawn sharply, she snapped, “I don’t need your apologies! Just remember to carry yourself with confidence in all things—don’t be so timid and petty!”
At times, she could not understand how, with her noble background and status, she had raised a son like the Third Prince.
In the end, it all came down to her not having a child of her own.
Yet the more she pressed him, the more the Third Prince shrank into himself. He lowered his head, his face flushed red. “Yes, Mother. Your son will remember your teachings.”
Nearby, A Sui glanced at Shu Fei, then at his cousin the Third Prince, puzzled as to why his aunt had suddenly become so stern.
Frustrated by his lack of resolve but mindful of the presence of an outsider, Shu Fei suppressed her irritation and waved the two children off.
Once outside Changchun Palace, the Third Prince visibly relaxed and became more cheerful.
Remembering Shu Fei’s instructions, he turned to A Sui. “Cousin Lu, have you ever played with a rattan ball?”
A Sui nodded. “Yes.”
When he was three, his mother had given him a rattan ball. Though he had been too young to kick it properly back then, he still played with it every day.
The Third Prince brightened. “Shall we go play with the rattan ball, then?”
“Alright!”
Having happily decided, the Third Prince ordered a servant to fetch his beloved rattan ball and led A Sui to his usual playing spot.
However, they had not played for long—perhaps because the Third Prince found A Sui’s kicking unsatisfactory—when he changed his mind and started playing hide-and-seek with the servants.
Uninterested in hide-and-seek, A Sui stayed behind and amused himself with the rattan ball.
Thud—
He missed.
Thud—
The rattan ball flew into the bushes.
A Sui ran to retrieve it himself.
Then, staring at the ball at his feet, he mustered all his strength and gave it a mighty kick—
The rattan ball shot through the air, tracing an arc before landing with a “thud.” Distant commotion followed.
A Sui stood still, blinking.
It seemed he had hit someone.
After the morning court session, on the way back to Zichen Palace, Jiang Fusheng heard Jing Xuan Emperor ask, “Did Shu Fei select Duke Lu’s young nephew to be the Third Prince’s Study Companion?”
Seeing Lu Yuanduo at court this morning had reminded him of the matter mentioned a few days prior.
Jiang Fusheng replied, “Your Majesty, that is correct.”
“Old Madam Lu entered the palace yesterday for this very matter. That Third Madam Lu, Yun Shi, is the young master’s mother. I heard Shu Fei is quite fond of her little nephew and specifically had him stay overnight at Changchun Palace.”
Jing Xuan Emperor was unsurprised. Shu Fei had always doted on her maternal family’s children—the Third Prince’s first Study Companion was the eldest son of her own elder brother, whom she had personally requested.
For an emperor, the greatest taboo was imperial factions forming cliques for selfish gains. Yet since the Third Prince was placed under Shu Fei’s care and registered under her name, it was tacitly understood by outsiders that the Lu Family belonged to the Third Prince’s faction—and that this was permitted by The Emperor.
Despite years of serving the emperor, Jiang Fusheng still struggled to grasp Jing Xuan Emperor’s thoughts at times. Hesitating briefly, he tentatively said, “I’ve heard the Third Prince has been diligent and focused on his studies lately.” Would Your Majesty care to pay a visit?”
Truth be told, his wording was rather clumsy, but he could think of no better excuse. As the chief eunuch in attendance, Jiang Fusheng knew all too well that The Emperor had long abstained from consorts, devoting himself to self-cultivation. He only visited the inner palace occasionally for the sake of the imperial heirs.
Perhaps the suggestion aligned with Jing Xuan Emperor’s own thoughts, for he responded indifferently, “Since there’s nothing pressing, let’s go take a look.”
Jiang Fusheng hurried to follow.
But just as they passed through the Imperial Garden, an object came flying through the air, heading straight toward them.
Jiang Fusheng’s mind went blank, his face turning as pale as paper.
Snapping to his senses, he shielded Jing Xuan Emperor, screaming in panic, “Protect the Emperor! Protect the Emperor!”
“There’s an assassin!”
His shouts instantly threw the scene into chaos, palace servants scattering like startled birds.
Thud—
The unidentified object soaring through the air struck Jiang Fusheng squarely in the chest before dropping to the ground, rolling several times, and coming to a stop beside a pair of black-blue ink-embroidered dragon claw patterned brocade boots.
When the crowd realized what the “weapon” was, their expressions turned to astonishment.
Jing Xuan Emperor glanced down at the rattan ball by his feet, his demeanor unruffled.
“S-sorry! I kicked that ball!”
The sudden voice put everyone on alert, all eyes turning toward the source.
Rustling sounds emerged from behind a dense, waist-high thicket, and a moment later, a child crawled out.
Realizing he had hit someone, A Sui quickly took a shortcut and ran over.
Pushing aside the grass before him, he saw a large crowd and froze slightly.
So many people.
Seeing it was just a young child, the palace staff visibly relaxed.
“You—you—you! How could you be so careless, child? Do you realize your ball hit someone?”
Jiang Fusheng stormed over, hands on his hips, scolding sternly.
A Sui nodded, tucking his hands into his sleeves with a guilty expression.
Seeing the child acknowledged his mistake, Jiang Fusheng softened his tone slightly. “You don’t look familiar. Which family do you belong to? Hurry and state your name! And where are your attendants?”
A Sui answered truthfully, “My name is Lu Changsui, I’m a child from Duke Lu Manor. Shu Fei is my aunt. I wanted to play alone so I didn’t bring anyone with me.”
Afraid the palace servants might punish him, he told a small lie.
Seeing the rattan ball mark on Jiang Fusheng’s chest, A Sui felt even more guilty.
“I’m sorry, sir eunuch. My ball hit you. I apologize to you.”
He bowed to Jiang Fusheng with a standard apology gesture.
Jiang Fusheng had never seen such a polite child before, and much of his anger dissipated in that moment.
But—