Jiang Fusheng glanced in the direction of the Jing Xuan Emperor and immediately straightened his face:
“Hitting me is a minor matter, but do you know your ball nearly struck The Emperor? If the Sacred Body were harmed, it would mean beheading!”
“T-The Emperor?”
A Sui’s childish face was filled with terror as he scanned the surroundings, his gaze locking onto the man who stood out prominently in the crowd.
A Sui had never seen The Emperor before, but he knew The Emperor was the most exalted person in the entire world.
His first impression of the Jing Xuan Emperor was his height.
His uncle was also very tall – when held in his uncle’s arms, A Sui could see the tops of people’s heads. But the Emperor before him seemed even taller and more imposing than his uncle.
Backlit, A Sui couldn’t clearly see his face. The golden thread patterns on his luxurious brocade robes shimmered with dazzling brilliance, with large, vivid coiling dragon embroideries.
This was The Emperor?
Seeing him standing there dumbfounded, Jiang Fusheng reached out and pushed him, “Aren’t you going to pay respects to Your Majesty?”
A Sui snapped back to reality and knelt in salute: “This child Lu Changsui pays homage to Your Majesty! May Your Majesty live ten thousand years!”
The childish voice carried a slight stickiness as it reached the Jing Xuan Emperor’s ears.
His jaw lowered slightly, his gaze as deep and still as an ancient well resting lightly on A Sui’s face, his brow lifting slightly: “So you’re the young nephew Duke Lu often praises? How old are you?”
Lu Yuanduo was an important minister in the court, trusted by the Jing Xuan Emperor. The two were similar in age, having known each other since youth, their ruler-subject relationship deeper than others.
During occasional casual conversations, the Jing Xuan Emperor had heard the other mention his young nephew who lost his father in childhood more than once. After hearing it so often, the Emperor had formed an impression.
Now seeing him in person, his appearance was indeed extraordinary – more handsome and fair-skinned than other children.
A flash of delicate whiteness crossed his mind, thinking this child’s complexion must have been inherited from his mother.
A Sui nodded, answering obediently: “This child is already four years old.”
He said anxiously: “Your Majesty, please forgive this offense. This child didn’t intentionally kick the ball to hit anyone, much less intended to harm Your Majesty. I beg your forgiveness…”
Despite his young age, A Sui clasped his hands and bowed deeply to the Jing Xuan Emperor with sincere attitude.
Before the Jing Xuan Emperor could speak, two squads of Yulin Army hurried over. The leading commander was sweating profusely, his expression anxious: “Your Majesty, your subordinate has arrived late. Are you unharmed?”
Seeing the Jing Xuan Emperor completely unscathed and no scent of blood in the air, the commander’s suspended heart returned to solid ground.
He looked around: “Where is the assassin? Has he already fled? This subordinate will immediately give chase!”
His voice boomed like thunder, and he prepared to move after speaking.
The Jing Xuan Emperor lowered his eyes and said calmly: “Unnecessary. There is no assassin.”
The Yulin Army commander paused, then noticed the rattan ball by the Jing Xuan Emperor’s feet and looked at the dejected child before him, immediately understanding.
When the Jing Xuan Emperor waved his hand in dismissal, he bowed and withdrew.
Watching this scene, clever as he was, A Sui immediately understood that the ‘assassin’ the general referred to was himself, and tension grew in his heart.
“Today’s fault lies with this child. If Your Majesty wishes to punish, this child will accept without complaint.”
He puffed his cheeks, speaking anxiously but with remarkably firm expression.
This righteous and unyielding appearance amused the Jing Xuan Emperor, “Do you know what crime disturbing the Imperial Carriage constitutes? What punishment would you receive?”
A Sui shook his head.
The Jing Xuan Emperor curled his lip: “You don’t know, yet you dare confess? Should I call you young and ignorant or bold and reckless?”
A Sui’s small face paled, “Is Your Majesty going to behead me?”
Recalling what Jiang Fusheng had just said, A Sui’s eyes finally showed fear as he stood alone before the adults, utterly lost.
Unexpectedly, the Jing Xuan Emperor felt a mischievous impulse.
With an impassive face and a casual tone, he said: “What if I said yes?”
Plop.
A stream of tears unexpectedly rolled from A Sui’s eyes. His voice trembled with sobs as he spoke: “Before I die, could Your Majesty let me see my mother one last time?”
“Or at least let me leave a farewell letter. I want to tell Mother that her child is unfilial, unable to fulfill my duties in this lifetime, and beg for her forgiveness…”
“In my next life, I still want to be Mother’s child, wuwu… This is my final wish.”
A Sui finished through choked sobs, gazing imploringly at the Jing Xuan Emperor. Tears streamed from the corners of his eyes like a breached dam, glistening with sorrow.
He lifted his sleeve to wipe them away.
As he wiped, he continued to sob, the light blue sleeve instantly darkening with tear stains.
Silence fell over the surroundings.
Jiang Fusheng broke into a sweat. He secretly glanced at the Jing Xuan Emperor’s stern profile and thought, “This is bad. The first time His Majesty teases a child, he makes him cry.”
The child was weeping so hard he could barely catch his breath, yet even facing death he still remembered his mother at home. Such filial piety made Jiang Fusheng’s heart ache.
“Your Majesty?” he ventured cautiously.
Perhaps they should stop? The child was only four years old – this was bordering on bullying.
The Jing Xuan Emperor shot him a sidelong glance, then looked at the sniffling child before him. His heart, usually hard as stone, unexpectedly stirred with a trace of conscience.
Tsking inwardly, he clasped his hands behind his back and said nonchalantly: “When did I ever say I would behead you? Don’t go spreading nonsense, child.”
A Sui sniffled: “You didn’t?”
The Jing Xuan Emperor narrowed his eyes: “Did I?”
A Sui’s expression turned hesitant, his delicate eyebrows twisting like caterpillars.
Jiang Fusheng grew anxious beside them.
“Little ancestor, just shake your head! His Majesty has already given you a way out! Take it!”
Unaware of the adults’ subtle maneuvering, A Sui remained tangled in doubt.
The Jing Xuan Emperor chuckled derisively, looking down at the blue-clad youngster before him with a hint of amusement: “Aren’t you afraid of me?”
“I am.”
A Sui touched his neck and added quietly: “Afraid Your Majesty will behead me.”
“………”
If not for the child’s pure gaze and sincere expression, the Jing Xuan Emperor might have suspected him of sarcasm.
“Look up.”
Not daring to disobey, A Sui obediently raised his head, fully revealing his delicate, dumpling-like face still marked with traces of tears.
Hiss—
Jiang Fusheng’s heart skipped a beat.
How strange—why did this child somehow resemble His Majesty?
Especially the eyes.
Jiang Fusheng mentally slapped himself twice, thinking he must be overly tired lately to entertain such treasonous thoughts.
The Jing Xuan Emperor felt a strange sensation flash through his heart, but before he could ponder it, he was interrupted.
“Lu Changsui! Why did you run here? I almost thought you’d disappeared—”
Spotting A Sui through the shade of trees, the Third Prince came running, but his voice cut off abruptly when he saw the crowd.
“F-father?”
Seeing the Jing Xuan Emperor, the Third Prince broke into a cold sweat, wishing he could turn and flee.
With heavy steps, he approached nervously: “Your son pays respects to Father. May Father be blessed with peace and prosperity.”
Emperor Jing Xuan frowned. “Why are you drenched in sweat?”
The Third Prince lowered his head, lips trembling as he dared not lie. “Mother Consort granted me a day of rest today. I first played rattan ball with Cousin Changsui, then we played hide-and-seek…”
At the mention of “hide-and-seek,” the emperor’s expression darkened.
Seeing this, the Third Prince’s knees buckled, and he thudded to the floor. “I know I was wrong! Please calm your anger, Father!”
As he spoke, he proactively extended his hand, just like when he failed to complete assignments and was punished by the Hongwen Academy teacher with palm strikes.
A Sui glanced left and right before similarly kneeling with a thud, obediently presenting his palms.
“Please calm your anger, Your Majesty.”