"Nothing happened outside," Consort Xuan smiled gently. "You're still quite weak. Rest well these next few days and don't tire your mind thinking of other things."
Ye Xiaoyuan also smiled. "That's right, Your Highness. Tell me what you'd like to eat, and I'll have the kitchen prepare it."
Qu Dubian felt a craving for salted wheat porridge.
But he certainly wouldn't get that here. He'd have to wait until they returned to the capital.
"Something sour, and something spicy," he requested several strong-flavored appetizing dishes, looking eager. "Anything with a similar taste will do, I want to eat it all!"
Ye Xiaoyuan assented and went to prepare. Before long, he returned with a bowl of minced meat congee, two eggs, and a plate of refreshing, crisp pickled cucumbers.
Qu Dubian: "..."
Physician Yang said cheerfully, "Let's start with something simple to ease your stomach. We can give Your Highness more oily and stimulating food in a few days."
Qu Dubian wasn't picky. He picked up the bowl and looked up. "Are you all going to watch me eat too?"
Xia Fuyang immediately grinned and pulled on Xi Zixing's arm. "Alright then! As long as you're fine, we'll get out of your hair."
Qu Dubian said, "Eunuch Ye, Consort Xuan, you and Physician Yang should step out as well. I have matters to attend to."
This was to deal with the matter of Yi Shier. Ye Xiaoyuan understood. Consort Xuan instructed, "Then I'll come back in a little while."
Qu Dubian: "Good."
After they left, they closed the door, leaving ample space for the conversation inside.
Qu Dubian took a few bites of the pickled cucumber. It was crunchy.
He had clearly been referring to Yi Shier's matter earlier. Now that everyone was out, he simply didn't speak up to tell Yi Shier to come out.
A few minutes later, Yi Shier emerged on his own, hesitantly standing before the bed.
"Your Highness."
Qu Dubian couldn't help but feel angry remembering how Yi Shier had tied stones to himself and tried to sink into the river before the poison took full effect.
Well, usually he was so curious about what he looked like but never showed him, yet before poisoning himself, he was willing to take off that wretched mask and throw it in the water. Wasn't it just so that even if the body were fished out, no one would recognize him without the mask?
If not for the simulator's 300-meter proximity sensing from his childhood, if not for the antidote pill he had drawn earlier being effective, Yi Shier would truly be dead this time, beyond recovery!
A hair's breadth difference.
Qu Dubian said, "The poison is neutralized. The Shadow Guard Department must not know of this. From the moment the poison took effect, Yi Shier has been dead and gone."
Yi Shier: "Yes. I can alter my physique. The Shadow Guard Department won't discover me."
Qu Dubian: "Weren't you going to wander the jianghu, like the protagonists in those storybooks, to be a free-spirited, chivalrous hero? Why aren't you going? I'm giving you one last chance. Leave, or stay."
Yi Shier: "If not for the poison, I never thought of leaving."
"Good. Then from now on, you won't have the chance to leave even if you want to," Qu Dubian said fiercely. "You'll work for me until retirement, and then I'll rehire you!"
Yi Shier didn't seem to mind much. "Alright."
Qu Dubian: "No milk tea! No storybooks! No monthly allowance!"
A triple blow.
Yi Shier was stunned for a moment and didn't make a sound for a long while.
Qu Dubian, finally satisfied, began to eat. He didn't even use a spoon, drinking the congee directly from the bowl. He was truly hungry, feeling like he could eat an ox.
Yi Shier didn't leave. He squatted down. "Your Highness, let me peel the eggs for you."
Qu Dubian: "I'm still angry."
"Then... I'll peel two."
"Liuliu, your way of coaxing someone is really terrible."
"What would make Your Highness not angry?"
Qu Dubian stroked his chin. After Liuliu took off his mask, he seemed a bit socially awkward, always keeping his eyes downcast. This needed fixing.
"After we return to the small courtyard, you'll perform a talent show for me, Eunuch Ye, and Yidianbai."
"...A talent show?"
"Dancing, singing, anything will do. No martial arts performances. We could do it at Shunning Palace too. Consort Xuan and Consort Guo would surely love to watch," he thought about it more and felt it was an excellent idea. It could even enhance the graceful atmosphere of their Shunning Palace. "It's settled then!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Qu Dubian saw the shock he had hoped for in Yi Shier's eyes.
Qu Dubian chuckled inwardly. Teasing Liuliu was really fun.
Qu Dubian rested and recuperated for three days.
He was young and recovered quickly. He had just lost a bit too much tainted blood, so when he stood up, his vision would darken for a moment.
He had lost quite a bit of weight and needed to slowly gain it back, but his energy and spirits were completely restored.
Qu Dubian didn't want to touch the simulator for simulations again anytime soon. The past few days had truly worn him out; he needed a break.
Once his spirits recovered, he took a refreshing bath. Under his disdainful gaze, Physician Yang applied medicine to the cut on his left forearm and wrapped it with clean bandages.
He chose the ointment with the strong scent, not resting until the smell of blood was masked up close.
Everyone else was packing, loading things to take away into chests, preparing to depart for the commandery seat. After a brief rest there, they would head directly back to the capital.
The two princes and Consort Xuan had been away for quite some time. Ever since a solution for the plague was found, the capital had been urging their return.
Xia Fuyang was responsible for escorting them to the commandery seat.
A soldier under his command came over holding a box. "Captain, these are valuables found on the bodies by the brothers. Should we take these back to the commandery seat as well?"
Xia Fuyang: "We probably won't be coming back. Hand them over to Magistrate Hua later."
"Yes, sir."
"Wait a moment!"
Just before the box was closed, Yu Ruo hurried over. He stared intently at a certain ornament in the box. "Captain Xia, might I take a look? One looks quite familiar; it seems to be something a commoner from my country entrusted me to find."
Xia Fuyang didn't think much of it. After all, in Le'an County and the surrounding counties, there were indeed people from Nanning who had been washed ashore.
"Go ahead."
Yu Ruo picked out a small silver filigree flower, about the size of two fingernails.
"This is the one."
Xia Fuyang: "See if there are any others you recognize?"
Yu Ruo smiled and shook his head.
Xia Fuyang: "You're not bad for a prince, helping commoners look for lost items. But your Emperor of Nanning only sent people to take the Nanning commoners back after the plague was over, spouting lofty words to fool people. Tsk." He shook his head. "He didn't even return the grain they ate from us."
Yu Ruo clasped his hands. "I am truly ashamed."
Xia Fuyang: "If you're ashamed, then write a letter. Have your Nanning send more silver, instead of acting like a turtle pulling its head in."
After this round of sarcastic remarks, Xia Fuyang left.
Gu Xin asked quietly, "Your Highness, why did you take that ornament from the box? This subordinate doesn't see anything special about it."
Yu Ruo clenched the small flower, silent for a long time.
"On the way back to the Great Zhou capital, send another letter to Nanning."
He had some things he needed to verify.
After packing was finished, it was around before lunch.
Everyone ate something in advance and prepared to depart immediately.
To avoid irritating his wound, Qu Dubian didn't wear his usual tight narrow sleeves. Instead, he unusually wore a set of wide-sleeved robes in a hazy blue-grey color. After tying his high ponytail, he felt the hair tie was too plain. He had Liuliu break off a flower branch for him, which he used as a hairpin on top of his head.
The flower was small and delicate, a pale blue called "Pale Countenance," where one sees the flower but not the leaves. It matched the clothes he was wearing perfectly.
Holding up a bronze mirror to look: "Hey! That's more like it. More color on the head looks better."
Ye Xiaoyuan sighed helplessly. "Your Highness, no one wears their hair like that."
Qu Dubian: "Since we're leaving, let's leave a memento. Maybe it'll even start a trend, with everyone following suit."
After all, he was good-looking.
After showing off his new look for a moment, Qu Dubian followed everyone out the door.
The makeshift shelters outside the county office were gone, not a single commoner in sight.
Qu Dubian: "Have the people been relocated to a new place?"
Magistrate Hua nodded: "Officials for flood control have been dispatched from the capital. They plan to reclaim the farmland. New seeds were distributed yesterday. If planted now and with good fortune, we might still get one harvest before winter."
One harvest meant fewer people going hungry, lessening the pressure on the local government and the imperial court.
Qu Dubian: "That's good."
The old emperor's reaction was quite timely, efficient for ancient times. Many officials under his rule were capable as well, like Magistrate Hua here.
Now, the Minister of Works overseeing the three prefectures and Young Uncle Xie both had real skill.
Fortunately, their side didn't have anyone who was a clear hindrance during this major disaster; otherwise, it would be the people of the three prefectures suffering.
Magistrate Hua: "Then I won't see you off further. Please board the carriage quickly."
Qu Dubian: "Yes, Magistrate Hua, there's no need to accompany me further."
After he boarded the carriage, the convoy slowly moved away. However, Magistrate Hua didn't return to the county office. Instead, he grabbed the clerk and sprinted: "Quick, quick, let's go! Otherwise, we'll miss it!"
...
The carriage took a detour to Hua'a Mountain, where Consort Zhou was buried.
She rested atop the mountain, her tomb facing north, undisturbed by the floods.
A cool breeze blew. Qu Dubian gazed across the water.
He had wanted to go up for a look, but the floodwaters hadn't fully receded at the mountain's base, so he had to stand on the riverbank. Summoning his strength, he shouted towards the mountain:
"Grandma Zhou! I'm leaving! I saw the Cangyan flowers from your hometown. They're very beautiful!"
The young man's shout formed echoes that reverberated through the valley.
Consort Xuan and Ye Xiaoyuan stood beside him.
Consort Xuan: "Xianghe Prefecture was truly beautiful before the flood."
Ye Xiaoyuan: "If Your Highness likes them, we could take some Cangyan seeds back to the capital. Perhaps we can grow them there."
Qu Dubian: "Either way is fine. We could send some to Aunt Xiang."
He gazed distractedly at the mountaintop when a voice suddenly came from behind: "Seventh Highness."
It was Magistrate Hua's voice.
"Magistrate Hua?" Qu Dubian turned in surprise. "Weren't you..."
The rest of his words died in his throat as an expression of astonishment spread across his face.
He saw that the carriage and convoy had, at some point, been moved to the side. Behind Magistrate Hua were thousands of commoners—men, women, old, and young—almost everyone who could come had come.
Magistrate Hua: "Good, we made it in time."
Looking at them, a thought slowly dawned on Qu Dubian. He turned to look at Physician Yang.
Physician Yang gave a light cough: "Your Highness, this humble official truly couldn't hold back. After the prescription proved effective, I spoke of your testing of the medicine."
By now, it was probably known not just in the three prefectures, but even in the capital.
Consort Xuan also smiled warmly: "Yes, we all knew."
Qu Dubian: "......"
Magistrate Hua bowed with clasped hands: "Hua Peng, Magistrate of Le'an County, together with the people of Le'an County, bid farewell to the Seventh Highness and express our deepest gratitude for Your Highness's grace in testing the medicine!"
Thousands of commoners prostrated themselves, not rising: "Our deepest gratitude for Your Highness's grace in testing the medicine!"
Gratitude, admiration, profound thanks—these feelings struck his heart with heavy force.
The mountain valley winds carried the continuous echoes.
Qu Dubian's pupils slowly dilated. For a moment, he couldn't describe what he was feeling.
Within mere seconds, he quickly suppressed all emotion. In two or three strides, he stepped forward, grasped Magistrate Hua's arms to support him, and said with a frown: "Magistrate Hua, fellow villagers, please rise quickly!"
"This is not appropriate. I truly didn't do much. The thanks should go to Physician Yang and the other doctors."
Magistrate Hua shook his head: "We naturally will not forget the efforts of Physician Yang and the other doctors. But for each day earlier the prescription was developed, the spread could be curbed, saving thousands, tens of thousands of lives."
"Even if it had been just two days later," he pointed at the people behind him, "how many fewer of these people would be standing here today?"
"Those who died might have been someone's parents, children, the pillar of a family. Saving one more life means saving an entire family. Your Highness, you deserve this gratitude."
With that, he bowed once more.
These people had not yet passed through the hardships following the flood; food was still an issue. Yet, on this day of farewell, they had all tried their best to make themselves presentable and clean.
Qu Dubian looked at these thousands of people, their faces marked by weariness and exhaustion, but with a glimmer of hope already visible in their eyes.
At this moment.
He finally felt a tangible reality for what he had done.
He knew his actions would save many, but the knowledge had always felt weightless, unreal.
It wasn't until this very moment, until he directly faced these emotions, that he realized how weighty the fruit borne from his easily-made decision truly was.
Qu Dubian: "Everyone, please rise," he slowly let out a breath and said to Magistrate Hua with a helpless smile, "If this continues, I really might have my lifespan shortened."
"Bah, bah, bah! It won't shorten your life!"
Before Magistrate Hua could say anything, Geng Da kneeling in the front row abruptly looked up, his features scrunched together: "We all agreed, we're gonna build you a Longevity Shrine. May our noble benefactor live a thousand years!"
"Yes, yes!"
"Once the Longevity Shrine is built, we'll definitely offer incense every day."
"Heaven protects the kind-hearted. How could our benefactor's life be shortened?"
Qu Dubian: "Longevity Shrine?"
That's going too far!
"It's no trouble," Magistrate Hua said cheerfully. "Longevity Shrines here are easy to build. Just a clay figure, takes some labor but doesn't cost much silver."
A question mark popped in Qu Dubian's mind: "That's not a matter of spending money or not, Magistrate Hua."
"Please don't be modest," Magistrate Hua called for the people to rise. "Fellow villagers, the Seventh Highness still has a journey ahead. Let's not delay him any longer. Everyone, please stand and see him off!"
"Alright!"
"Those with muddy pits on the road ahead, the ones we filled earlier, go check them again! Don't let the carriage jolt!"
Geng Da stood up: "Leave it to us! Brothers, let's go, clear the way ahead!"
"Let's go!"
Before Qu Dubian could utter a complete sentence of refusal, he was pushed onto the carriage by Magistrate Hua, the clerk, and several villagers.
He pulled aside the carriage curtain to look outside.
The ground was covered in mire, the road ahead full of ruts and holes.
Yet, the people of Le'an County had paved a smooth path for him.
Even after they had passed the muddy section, the people still didn't turn back. They accompanied him for miles, picking flowers along the way as a farewell gesture.
Standing at the very edge of Le'an County's territory, Magistrate Hua once again led the people in a deep bow.
"With this parting, we earnestly wish Your Highness a long, peaceful, and joyful life!"
"We earnestly wish Your Highness a long, peaceful, and joyful life!"
Qu Dubian waved to them: "I'm off now!"
He slowly let the curtain fall. After sitting in the carriage for a while, he finally understood how the favorability points had been gained. So, while he was unconscious, Physician Yang had spread the word, and after he woke up, everyone kept it from him.
He sighed, a little troubled.
What's done is done. Once back in the capital, he'd just have to deal with things as they come.
Xia Fuyang escorted the carriage all the way back to the prefectural seat.
They didn't stay long at the prefectural seat. After a brief rest and a change of the escort leader, they were about to set off again immediately.
Xia Fuyang did not leave with them. As a general of Xianghe County, he needed to stay behind to await further assignments, as the aftermath of the flood in Xianghe County was not yet over.
The Minister of Works and Xie Jingshan also remained.
They still had to formulate plans for repairing the dikes and were likely to stay there for several months.
Xia Fuyang's farewell to them was brief, consisting of only one sentence: "Wait for me in the capital. When I return to the capital, I will surely be promoted and ennobled."
Xi Zixing sighed, "Who knows how many years we'll have to wait."
Xia Fuyang's face darkened, "That's not for someone who didn't even take the Spring Examinations to comment on. I'll be waiting to see your results in three years."
Xi Zixing folded his arms, "Yes, yes, yes. Well then, please keep your eyes sharp."
Qu Dubian found this exchange odd, "You two didn't used to bicker like this upon meeting."
What's there to argue about? And comparing achievements?
Didn't Xi Zixing previously say that Xia Fuyang's achieving the Third Place in the palace examination was impressive? How come after meeting again two years later, it's a completely different attitude?
Xi Zixing smiled, "It's nothing. Perhaps Commandant Xia has been in Xianghe for too long, and the spicy food here has made his temper a bit fiery."
Xia Fuyang: "..."
Before the two could come to blows, Qu Dubian hastily called out to Xi Zixing, "It's time to depart."
The Sixth Prince leaned out from the carriage, "Little Qi, hurry up!"
Qu Dubian climbed into the carriage.
They set off towards the capital.
Their pace was considerably slower than on the journey there, mainly because magistrates of counties, hearing of their passage, came to see them off.
These back-and-forth interactions delayed their travel.
A journey that should have taken two days at a gallop stretched to ten full days before they finally entered the capital's territory.
As they neared the imperial palace, Qu Dubian sent Yi Shier to find Xu Tingfeng.
He asked Uncle Tingfeng to arrange a new identity for Yi Shier, so he could openly serve as a guard by his side.
He also had Ye Xiaoyuan go to the Sword-Holding Marquis's residence to reassure his grandmother, instructing Ye Xiaoyuan to tell her that he would come to see her after dealing with matters in the palace.
Upon returning to the palace, the Sixth Prince was immediately summoned by Consort Lan.
With Ye Xiaoyuan absent, Qu Dubian followed Consort Xuan back to Shunning Palace. From a distance, he saw Zhiyi waiting at the entrance.
Seeing them, Zhiyi's nose tingled with emotion. Forgetting decorum, she ran over and hugged them, "You're finally back! We were worried sick!"
"Alright, elder sister, we've returned safe and sound. Look, we're all in one piece."
Zhiyi glared at him, choking up, "How dare you say that! Don't you know what you did in the three counties?" She clenched her fist and lightly punched her brother's shoulder, "You've lost so much weight since you left. If there's a next time, I really will hit you!"
Qu Dubian raised his hand, "Okay! I promise, this is the last time."
Consort Xuan glanced at him, thinking he wasn't fully recovered yet; better to fatten him up a bit before hitting him.
She pinched Zhiyi's nose, "Alright now, our girl is beautiful even when she cries."
Zhiyi smiled through her tears, standing between the two of them, holding one hand each, "Come on, Mother started cooking as soon as she heard you had entered the capital. It should be ready now. Other matters can wait; let's get some food in your stomachs first."
"Let's go, elder sister. I've been craving Mother Guo's cooking terribly."
Returning to Shunning Palace was like coming home. After the meal, Qu Dubian felt completely relaxed all over.
Humming a tune, he took a bath, tidied up simply, and changed his clothes.
Not long after he finished, Eunuch Yu arrived.
Eunuch Yu said with a smile, "It's been a long time, Seventh Highness. His Majesty misses you dearly and summons you for an audience at Zichen Hall."
Qu Dubian: "Only Father?"
Eunuch Yu: "Yes."
Qu Dubian: "Alright."
He informed Consort Xuan and then went with Eunuch Yu to Zichen Hall.
On the way, Qu Dubian asked, "How is Father's mood?"
Eunuch Yu smiled, "His Majesty is the Son of Heaven; his joy and anger are not shown on his face. How could this humble one guess? However, His Majesty did eat quite a bit during the noon meal today."
That meant his mood was rather good.
Qu Dubian said with a grin, "Thanks, Eunuch Yu."
Eunuch Yu chuckled, "Please go in quickly, Your Highness. His Majesty is waiting for you."
Qu Dubian nodded and entered the Western Warmth Pavilion adjacent to Zichen Hall.
Second Prince's residence.
"Your Highness, the Seventh Prince has been summoned by His Majesty."
"Was anyone else summoned?"
"No."
The Second Prince was thoughtful, "Understood. You may leave."
He picked up a piece and placed it on the board, "Fifth Brother, your turn."
The Fifth Prince held a black piece. He didn't particularly like Go; he preferred Gomoku. It was only in recent years that he had forced himself to learn Go to play with the various advisors and the Second Prince.
"I thought Father would summon us together to see Little Qi."
Second Prince: "Father's action has two meanings. Little Wu, take a guess? Let's see if we think alike."
"First, by not making a grand spectacle of welcoming Little Qi back, Father doesn't want the news of Little Qi testing the medicine in the three counties to spread further. Otherwise, when Little Qi establishes his own residence two years from now, many would contend to become his advisors, especially scholars from the three counties of Xianghe. This indicates Father has no intention of allowing major changes to the current court dynamics."
"Second, although there's no grand spectacle, Little Qi's merits are undeniable. Father will not ignore them; he will privately promise Little Qi some reward."
The Fifth Prince observed the board, placed his piece, and smiled, "Congratulations, Second Brother. It seems now that Father never intended for Little Qi to succeed to the throne. The scales of victory between you and Eldest Brother have already begun to tilt."
The Second Prince did not acknowledge this statement directly. Instead, holding a piece, he pondered for a moment and said, "However, I am quite curious about what Father will promise to Seventh Brother."
Inside the Western Warmth Pavilion.
Qu Dubian first paid his respects properly, "Father."
He held the bow for a few seconds with no response. He lifted his eyelids to peek.
Emperor Chongzhao was grinding ink, saying, "I have heard all about it. The memorials from the prefects of the three counties have also reached me. You did well this time, saving so many common people."
Qu Dubian lowered his hands, "Actually, I didn't do much. Once infected, naturally I was the first to take the medicine. Physician Yang and the doctors of Le'an County are the ones who truly deserve commendation."
Emperor Chongzhao: "Merit should be rewarded, faults punished. Physician Yang, with his superb medical skills and development of a life-saving prescription, naturally has merit. He has been in the Imperial Hospital for many years; a promotion is fitting."
"You are not yet sixteen, so no official title can be conferred. But the merit of testing medicine for the people must be rewarded."
Only then did Qu Dubian notice a piece of white silk with black and gold brocade spread before his father.
He leaned closer, "Father, what's the reward?"
Emperor Chongzhao finished grinding the ink and wrote a large character 'Promise' on this black and white silk.
Then he stamped his seal beside it.
"I grant you one not-unreasonable request. For example, when you later leave the palace to establish your residence, if you wish to expand the estate's area, or want that particular mansion, or perhaps gold and silver, a county as a fiefdom, the right to choose your title when enfeoffed as a prince... I grant it all to you."
Enfeoffed as a prince.
Qu Dubian gradually understood. His father saying this now likely meant he was being excluded from the list of potential crown princes. This black silk bearing 'one not-unreasonable promise' was probably both a reward and compensation.
Under these circumstances, as long as what he desired did not threaten the throne or the court, his nominal father was willing to grant it to him.
Emperor Chongzhao wasn't sure if his youngest son could grasp the deeper meaning behind his words.
But in his view, Little Seven was not suited for the position of Crown Prince.
Firstly, a crown prince who frequently fell ill and took to his bed would only unsettle the court officials; secondly, a ruler, especially an emperor, could not afford to be too soft-hearted.
Little Seven was too soft-hearted.
The political situation at court was already quite stable. He had no intention of disrupting it for the time being, nor did he have the energy to deal with the consequences.
Qu Dubian pondered for a moment. "Father, how about giving me some yellow brocade? The bright yellow brocade is the official color for issuing imperial decrees. What you gave me is the emperor's private brocade; it can't be used for official matters."
Emperor Chongzhao's face darkened. "Wouldn't that be equivalent to giving you a blank imperial decree with a seal on it?"
"It's not blank at all. It clearly has the character for 'promise' on it."
Emperor Chongzhao: "Do you want it or not? If not, I'll take it back."
"I do! I do!" After a few more cheeky remarks, Qu Dubian tucked the black brocade away like a treasure. This was something he had been longing for.
"Of course I want something good. I'll take as much as you're willing to give."
He felt a great sense of relief. With this item, he understood his nominal father's true thoughts, which would lead to less need for speculation and scheming in the future.
Since it was private brocade, a benefit given privately, it could not be made public.
But his eldest and second brothers would surely notice their father's attitude. Under normal circumstances, their probing against him would decrease significantly.
Qu Dubian: "Don't regret it later. I've got my eye on quite a few of your things, hehe."
Seeing his genuinely happy expression, a flicker of complexity passed through Emperor Chongzhao's eyes, eventually softening into a trace of fatherly warmth that was rarely visible.
He patted Qu Dubian on the shoulder. "This is given to you privately by me. Another day, there will be an official decree with rewards. Little Seven, I am proud of you."
Qu Dubian felt a bit embarrassed. "Oh, come on..."
"Enough! The unimportant matters are finished. Now for the serious business," Emperor Chongzhao said, pulling out an extremely long ostrich feather duster from under the table.
"..." Qu Dubian hesitated. "Father, what serious business?"
Emperor Chongzhao raised the duster and struck, furious. "I'll teach you to sneak out of the capital! I'll teach you to go to Xianghe without a word! I should have broken your dog legs and locked you in your room!"
Qu Dubian turned and ran.
"And you dared to test the medicine on yourself?! Huh? Test it on yourself? I really want to crack open your skull and see what you're thinking! If you don't want to live, I'll send you to meet Buddha!" Emperor Chongzhao chased after him relentlessly. "Stop right there!"
The two began circling the table.
"Father! I've just recovered! Even Consort Xuan didn't hit me!"
Emperor Chongzhao, panting heavily from exhaustion, glared with wide eyes and rolled up his sleeves, bearing no resemblance to an emperor at that moment.
"She is her, and I am me. Calling me 'father' won't help. Today, I must teach you a lesson! Next time you dare to risk your life like that, remember how much this stick hurts!"
Seeing him so worn out, Qu Dubian slowed down just a bit. After taking one hit on the backside, he yelled, "It hurts! It hurts so much!" and then dashed out of the Western Warm Pavilion in a flash.
That should be enough, old man. He'd even let himself be hit once on purpose!
Emperor Chongzhao stood at the door, pointing at the fleeing figure. Unable to catch up and utterly helpless, he angrily threw the duster to the ground.
"You little brat!"
Eunuch Yu picked up the ostrich feather duster, suppressing a laugh. "Your Majesty, shall I put this away?"
It had been specially made in a hurry, but ended up barely being used.
Emperor Chongzhao snorted coldly. "Keep it. No, deliver it to Consort Xuan. I refuse to believe that after he took such a huge risk and showed such disregard for himself, Consort Xuan can resist the urge to teach him a lesson."
Eunuch Yu cast a pitying glance at the Seventh Prince's happily retreating figure.
Your Highness, may you have good fortune.