Seeing the two children before him regarding him as if he were a fearsome beast, the Jing Xuan Emperor sneered coldly.
What? In their eyes, was he really such a person—one who would resort to scolding and beating at the slightest provocation?
“Let this be the last time. Rise,” he said, his tone as cold as ice.
The Third Prince was astonished—his father had actually not reprimanded him.
The two children stood up from the ground. “Thank you, Father/Your Majesty.”
The redness and swelling around A Sui’s eyes from her recent crying were especially noticeable against her fair, delicate cheeks. The Third Prince also looked somewhat disheveled; though slightly chubby in build, his features carried a naive charm.
Standing together, one tall and one short, they made a pleasing sight.
As his gaze swept over the pouch tied at A Sui’s waist, the Jing Xuan Emperor recalled the sachet he had taken from her the day before. In a leisurely tone, he said:
“Hold out your hands.”
A Sui and the Third Prince exchanged a glance, both seeing terror in each other’s eyes.
Were they still going to have their palms struck after all?
Not daring to disobey, they bowed their heads and extended their hands.
Suddenly, a chill spread across their palms. A Sui looked up and found a white jade pearl resting in her hand.
The pearl was milky white all over, cool but not piercingly cold, engraved with intricate patterns. It felt smooth and warm, as if it had often been held and fondled in someone’s hand.
A Sui had to cup her hand to barely hold it.
In the Third Prince’s hand was a black jade pearl, identical in size and design.
He looked up abruptly, puzzled. “Father?”
The Third Prince opened his mouth to ask something, but saw that the Jing Xuan Emperor had already waved his sleeve and departed, leaving only a tall, receding figure.
Rarely receiving a gift from his father outside of festivals, the Third Prince clutched the black jade pearl, moved to tears.
A Sui, however, gripped the white jade pearl and looked around in confusion.
Why had he given her this pearl?
………
Changchun Palace.
Hearing the announcement from the palace attendant outside, Shu Fei was first stunned, then overjoyed.
“Quickly! The Emperor is here—check if anything about my appearance is amiss!”
She scrutinized herself left and right in the dressing mirror, worried that her attire or appearance might be disorderly.
Chun Tang adjusted the golden hairpin in her hair and said with a smile, “Don’t worry, Your Highness. Today, your beauty is radiant and captivating—the Emperor is sure to be pleased!”
Shu Fei loved hearing such words. After casually rewarding her with a pair of jade earrings, she stood up to welcome the Jing Xuan Emperor.
“Your Majesty, what brings you so suddenly to my humble quarters?”
The Jing Xuan Emperor replied, “Just taking a casual stroll.”
This made Shu Fei even happier. The Emperor still remembered her—otherwise, with the vastness of the rear palace, how could his casual stroll have led him specifically to her Changchun Palace?
She signaled to a palace attendant with her eyes and said cheerfully, “Quickly bring the tea—use the West Lake Longjing that His Majesty bestowed.”
Seated in the Grand Tutor’s Chair, the Jing Xuan Emperor said, “No need for the trouble. I will only say a few words before leaving.”
Shu Fei paused, the smile on her face fading slightly. Hesitantly, she asked, “Then shall I have someone summon the Third Prince? It has been many days since he last saw Your Majesty, and he was just mentioning his father this morning.”
The Jing Xuan Emperor declined again, “No need. I saw him on my way here.”
Shu Fei was taken aback. “Your Majesty has already seen the Third Prince?”
The Jing Xuan Emperor did not respond. Instead, he fixed his gaze on her and suddenly
The Jing Xuan Emperor remained silent, his gaze drifting lightly toward her with an ambiguous half-smile.
Feeling uneasy under his scrutiny, Shu Fei forced an awkward smile and explained, “This incense was brought yesterday when my mother came to the palace with my third sister-in-law. It was personally blended by that same sister-in-law—they say it has calming properties, soothes the nerves, and nourishes the complexion.”
“I found the fragrance quite pleasant and genuinely soothing, so I had it lit. What does Your Majesty think?”
The Jing Xuan Emperor’s expression remained neutral. “Mediocre at best.”
Hearing this, Shu Fei seemed to relax, the smile in her eyes deepening.
Taking it all in, the Emperor suddenly felt weary. “We have matters to attend to. There is no need to see Us out.”
Disappointed, Shu Fei replied, “This humble consort bids Your Majesty farewell.”
Once he was out of sight, her expression darkened, her face tightening. “Summon all the servants attending the Third Prince! I want them questioned!”
She was determined to find out what those lowly servants had done to provoke the Emperor into coming to reprimand her personally. If word got out, her Changchun Palace would be utterly disgraced.
Soon, the palace servants were dragged in for questioning, each one trembling with fear, not daring to hide anything.
When she learned that the servants had allowed the Third Prince to play hide-and-seek and had permitted A Sui to play alone with a rattan ball, nearly hitting the Emperor, Shu Fei was so furious she nearly fainted.
In the end, she flew into a rage, ordering all the attending servants to be caned, with the main offenders banished to Yet Ting.
………
Worried about her son, who was alone in the palace, Yun Wan had been unable to eat properly since the previous day, her mind distracted.
She sent someone to wait at the estate’s entrance, and finally, in the early afternoon, news arrived from the servants:
A Sui had returned from the palace by carriage!
Yun Wan immediately set down the incense spoon she was holding, lifted her skirts, and hurried out.
The servants’ pace was limited, and the message was delayed. By the time Yun Wan walked from the incense room to the courtyard gate, she could already see A Sui’s figure.
“Mother!”
A Sui, who usually adhered to the composure of a young gentleman and never raised his voice, descended from the carriage at the gate and rushed headlong toward Cuiwei Courtyard. The moment he saw Yun Wan, he couldn’t help but call out.
From a distance, Yun Wan watched his short legs moving swiftly, his little body wobbling unsteadily, her heart leaping into her throat.
“Don’t rush! Watch your step!”
Ten steps, five steps, two steps—
Yun Wan bent down and opened her arms, and A Sui threw himself into her embrace like a young swallow returning to its nest.
“Mother, I missed you so much…” A Sui’s voice was filled with excitement and longing, brimming with affection for Yun Wan.
Yun Wan’s heart felt as if it had been dipped in honey—sweet and warm. She couldn’t help but tighten her arms around him and said tenderly, “I missed you too, so much that I could hardly eat or sleep.”
The words were a bit too sentimental, and A Sui smiled sheepishly. “I missed you too. Luckily, I had the Tanuki doll you made for me—that’s how I managed to fall asleep last night.”
He untied the pouch from his waist and pulled out the Tanuki doll to show Yun Wan.
He had been running and walking without pause the entire way, his snow-white face flushed red and his forehead beaded with sweat.
Yun Wan’s heart ached with tenderness. “Look at you, drenched in sweat. Let me wipe it for you so you don’t catch a chill.”
A Sui obediently tilted his head back, then suddenly remembered something and glanced behind him. “Oh, right, Uncle, could you please bring out the pastries I brought for Mother?”
So consumed was Yun Wan with her son that she had eyes only for A Sui. It was only at his reminder that she noticed Lu Yuanduo strolling leisurely behind him. He was dressed in a crane-patterned purple court dress and a black gauze hat, his tall frame imposing and exuding an air of nobility.
In addition, he was carrying a three-tiered food box, which seemed somewhat out of place.
Meeting her surprised expression, Lu Yuanduo took the initiative to explain, “I finished my duties early today, so I went to pick up A Sui on the way.”
Yun Wan wasn’t sure how “on the way” this detour truly was, nor did she wish to inquire further. She simply expressed polite gratitude: “Thank you, Duke. I’ve troubled you.”
The food box was somewhat heavy. Lu Yuanduo handed it to a servant of Cuiwei Courtyard and said to Yun Wan, “These are pastries the imperial kitchen prepared for Changchun Palace. A Sui thought you would like them, so he begged Shu Fei to have a fresh batch made.”
A Sui pattered over to open the food box, then brought a plate of exquisitely crafted pastries emitting a sweet fragrance to Yun Wan. With expectant eyes, he said, “Mother, try them quickly! There are Peach Blossom Cakes and Pea Cakes—both are delicious.”
He wanted to reach out and feed her a piece but remembered his hands were sweaty and swiftly pulled them back.
Yun Wan patted the back of his head and said, “Not now. I haven’t washed my hands since leaving the incense room. I’ll have some after we return.”
Her eyes smiled, her lips curved gently, and her gaze was as soft as spring water, like peach blossoms brushing against one’s face. The jade hairpin in her hair swayed faintly, now visible, now hidden.
In front of the child, she was always gentle, affectionate, and patient, radiating a warmth like the sun that made it hard to look away.
Yun Wan stood up: “I’ve troubled you with A Sui’s matters. Last time, I spoke inappropriately out of anger. I hope you won’t take it to heart, Duke. Yun Wan offers her apologies here.”
As she finished speaking, she swayed her waist slightly and bowed gracefully in a gesture of gratitude toward Lu Yuanduo.
Lifting her gaze but concealing its intensity, Lu Yuanduo replied distantly, “You exaggerate. A Sui is my own nephew. I regard him as my own son, so of course I will care about his affairs.Yun Wan’s eyelashes trembled slightly, casting a shadow that just veiled the emotion in her eyes.
Lu Yuanduo added, “A Sui starts school on the tenth. There are still a few days left. While the weather is still pleasant, you could take him out to stroll around and pick out some study supplies he likes.”
Yun Wan nodded: “Noted.”
He seemed about to say more when a servant urgently approached and whispered to him. Lu Yuanduo’s expression shifted, and he hurried away.
Yun Wan led A Sui back, changed him into clean clothes.
While tidying the old clothes, she felt the pouch A Sui often wore—it was bulging and unexpectedly heavy.
Yun Wan opened the pouch and poured out a pile of small trinkets. With a ‘clink,’ a smooth White Jade Pearl rolled out, bouncing lightly a few times on the Huanghuali Wood Table.
Recognizing the pearl, Yun Wan’s pupils contracted sharply.