…meticulous care. Xueyi Wright, Mia, and even Ji Ziyu all felt a lingering sense of reluctance.
“No,” Ji Ziran refused with solemn earnestness. “Xiaoyu, don’t be willful. Mother’s health is poor, and since I can’t see, who’s going to take care of her if you’re not here!”
Mia stared wide-eyed at Ji Ziran, somewhat lost for words: weren’t she and the rest of the maidservants stationed here precisely to take care of the Consort?!
King Yue also looked amusedly at Ji Ziran’s serious little face, realizing that Ji Ziran meant every single word he said!
For a maidservant to take care of her mistress was a matter of duty, but for a child to take care of their mother was a matter of filial devotion! True care wasn’t just about serving tea and water; it was about heartfelt sincerity.
King Yue leaned over to pinch Ji Ziran’s tender, pinchable cheeks. “Besides, I simply happen to fancy our little eighteenth the most.”
His smile carried a trace of sincerity. “Consort Xue, rest assured; I will take good care of little eighteenth. Moreover… His Majesty also said it’s just for a few days of living together. I guarantee that when little eighteenth comes back, he’ll still be just as sleek and plump as a steamed dumpling.”
Xueyi Wright finally uttered her first words of the conversation: “Your Majesty, Xueyi asks for nothing else—I only ask that you give me a straight answer: how many days does ‘a few days’ actually mean?”
“Hoh!” Ji Aotian let out a dry chuckle. He knew full well that no woman, no matter how gentle and submissive like water, could live so securely within the inner palace and successfully give birth to two princes without a measure of wisdom and maneuvering. It was simply that he generally lacked interest in harem affairs; if Huaide were to recount them, the tales would undoubtedly be endlessly dramatic.
A mother becomes ruthless for the sake of her children.
Even Xueyi Wright had moments when she could be this aggressive.
“We’re all within the palace walls, and Zhexue Palace is just a short stroll away from Yuexuan Palace. If Xueyi truly misses little eighteenth desperately, visiting Yuexuan Palace isn’t out of the question. As for asking me precisely how many days… I’m afraid I’m rather hard-pressed to answer that… It depends entirely on Qiyue’s wishes.”
Xueyi Wright’s face drained of color. Even though King Yue served the Emperor just as they did, he was, after all, a man! How could a imperial concubine casually barge into his Yuexuan Palace! And what on earth was meant by depending on Qiyue’s wishes?
Her two children were so sensible, and she had always kept to herself! If possible, once Ji Ziran and Ji Ziyu came of age, they could move out of the palace to establish their own residences and distance themselves forever from this man-eating imperial palace. What on earth was driving Ji Aotian to repeatedly compromise his dignity as an Emperor, tangling back and forth like this with a four-year-old little bun?!
Xueyi Wright lowered her eyelashes, her mind instantly made up. She had never enjoyed courting trouble, but if trouble actively came knocking especially when it had already encroached upon her two most cherished children she would simply have to muster all her energy to deal with it! Her own children must not suffer even a fraction of an unexplained grievance or harm!
“Your Majesty, your concubine…”
“Alright, alright.” Ji Aotian waved a hand, cutting off Xueyi Wright’s words. “I said we’re just here for a casual chat, and so this matter is settled. Tonight, little eighteenth will go back with Qiyue. I’ll have Huaide come over later to help pack his things.”
Pulling Ji Ziran into his arms, King Yue reassuringly pinched the little bottom he was supporting. He didn’t respond to Ji Aotian’s remark; after years of companionship, how could he possibly fail to realize that every step this emperor took carried three hidden plots, and every action he made likely laid the groundwork for some broader scheme of his?
Leaning in, he nuzzled Ji Ziran’s cheek. A sudden wave of guilt welled up inside him toward this four-year-old little bun. Yet, things had already progressed this far, and backing down was no longer an option.
Gazing into Ji Ziran’s innocent, uncomprehending eyes, Qiyue whispered silently in his heart: I will try my best to keep you safe. If I end up causing you harm… since I have nothing left in this lifetime, I can only repay you in the next.
Mia hastily stepped forward a few steps to support Xueyi Wright, quickly tucking an extra soft cushion behind her back. With her back turned to Ji Aotian, the incomprehension and revulsion in her eyes were glaringly obvious.
Could it be that simply because this man is the monarch, he can act with such unbridled lawlessness? Thinking solely of how to please King Yue while completely disregarding the wishes of the Consort and the little princes? He already possesses so much, why must he strip away the very few things that belong to others?!
Ji Ziyu frowned, clearly deeply dissatisfied with this arrangement. Ji Ziran was the person he intended to shield under his wings; until Ji Ziran’s eyes were cured, Ji Ziyu had zero intention of letting Ji Ziran leave his sight! If he were still the man from his past life, given the Sprevell temperament, any calculation or political conspiracy encroaching upon him would have resulted in those perpetrators vanishing from his sight entirely long ago. His pale-golden eyes darkened: My strength… is indeed still too insignificant!
The room fell into silence once more. A smile graced Ji Aotian’s face, and his mood appeared remarkably pleasant. “Why isn’t anyone saying anything? Since both Little Seventeenth and Little Eighteenth are right here, how about I announce another piece of good news?”
Chapter 033: Taya Academy
“Even though Seventeenth and Eighteenth haven’t reached the required age yet, the results of their talent tests…” Ji Aotian curved the corners of his lips in a smile. “Can be considered astonishing.”
Ji Ziran secretly sucked in a breath inwardly, thinking to himself: What new trick does this monstrous Father Emperor of mine have up his sleeve now?!
Sure enough, he heard Ji Aotian say in a leisurely tone: “Following the talent test, you will report to the academy at the start of spring. Little Seventeenth should prepare himself accordingly. As for Little Eighteenth, since Xueyi is so ill at ease having him in the palace, I wouldn’t dream of forcing the issue, so he can simply stay behind. I’ll personally find a tutor to instruct him right here.”
Ji Ziran pressed his lips together, narrowing his eyes slightly. He found every action of this Father Emperor peculiar and incomprehensible. Yet this sort of arbitrary, autocratic behavior felt all too familiar! Thus, uncontrollably, a flash of displeasure and disgust flickered across Ji Ziran’s eyes.
“I will take care of him.” Ji Ziyu met Ji Aotian’s gaze directly, his pale-golden eyes icy-cold. “I don’t think finding a mere tutor is sufficient.”
Ji Ziran covered his mouth. When someone who was usually ice-cold suddenly stepped forward to stand up for him and did so while confronting someone several times stronger than himself who held absolute imperial authority the wave of emotional warmth it triggered was indescribable.
Moreover… Ji Ziran acutely sensed the sudden tightening of the atmosphere in the room.
Xueyi Wright stared at her eldest son in utter astonishment. How could such an overbearing, formidable aura possibly emanate from a mere child?
Clearly, Ji Aotian hadn’t anticipated this development either, and his arm instinctively tightened its grip around King Yue. How long had it been since he last experienced this kind of thrilling sensation one that forced his body to tense up involuntarily? This level of pressure was actually originating from his own child, a little boy who hadn’t even turned four years old yet.
Recalling the sensation of scooping this child out of the crib four years ago, a trace of inner emotion stirred within him. “Very well then… If you insist, then both you and Little Eighteenth will have to go to Taya Academy.”
King Yue frowned, glancing over at Ji Aotian. He had no idea what scheme Ji Aotian was cooking up this time, but regardless of what it was, dumping such an option onto a pair of children was simply going too far!
Taya Academy was also known as the Trash Academy! Among the three great empires, never once had an imperial prince fallen so low as to be relegated there!
Xueyi Wright clenched her fists tightly. Why on earth must her children’s lives be subjected to such endless trials and tribulations?!
“Alright.” Ji Ziyu cast a glance at Ji Ziran and agreed without a moment’s hesitation.
Which academy they attended had never been an issue for him. And he believed that for Ji Ziran, anywhere was infinitely preferable to staying in the palace especially staying with King Yue.
Though he didn’t know the exact terms of this trade-off, Ji Ziran intuitively understood that it certainly wasn’t going to be a good academy. Kicking his legs, he scrambled out of King Yue’s arms. Walking over to Ji Ziyu, he grabbed his hand, feeling a surge of gratitude so overwhelming he didn’t know what to do with himself.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Ji Ziran leaned forward, threw his arms around Ji Ziyu, and planted a solid kiss right on his cheek. “Xiaoyu, I like you best~”
No need for persuasion, no need for rejection whenever goodwill come your way, you simply accepted it. This was the warmth provided by family; this was family.
Ji Ziyu wiped the saliva off his cheek without a hint of squeamishness, looking down at Ji Ziran with a warmth softening his gaze.
The antics of the two little buns suddenly brought a smile to Xueyi Wright’s face. Gazing at Ji Aotian, her expression radiated a mixture of contentment and calm acceptance. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for granting this.”
A sudden premonition struck Ji Aotian: he had always been the one orchestrating the plot’s direction, but this time, it was finally threatening to spin completely out of control.
Let’s hope… it turns out to be a good show.
Chapter 034: A Real Man
When King Yue departed, he ultimately did not take Ji Ziran with him.
The little fellow had planted his feet firmly on the ground after kissing Ji Ziyu, then clamped onto Ji Ziyu with a death grip, exuding an aura of heroic, life-or-death solidarity.
Ji Aotian was left between laughter and tears. Realistically speaking, this dumpling hadn’t even turned four yet, and born into the imperial family, there was no reason to forbid him from having a bit of childish temperament. Waving a hand dismissively, he said, “Very well. In any case, Huaide will be coming over shortly, so you can have him escorted over then. I won’t disturb your family reunion any longer; Xueyi, make sure to rest well catching a chill on top of everything else won’t do.”
Embracing King Yue as he walked out, Ji Aotian exhibited a familiar habit: he loved turning back to drop one final remark right before leaving.
Turning his head with a beaming smile, he addressed Ji Ziran: “Little Eighteenth must be a good boy and take his medicine properly. Though I imagine that bowl of medicine has already gone cold by now, so I’ll have the servants boil up a fresh one.”
Ji Ziran stared in speechlessness, his little mouth forming a perfect O-shape as he blinked.
Reaching out, Ji Ziyu cupped his chin and gently closed his mouth, then brushed a finger across the corner of his lips. “Drool.”
“Huh?” Ji Ziran touched it with his hand; the corner of his lips was indeed somewhat damp. Thus, he flashed a goofy, foolish smile at Ji Ziran, leaned forward, and smeared the residue entirely across Xiaoyu’s shoulder.
Ji Ziyu’s eyebrows twitched, leaving him with no choice but to gaze upward in resignation. Using his sleeve to wipe it clean once more, he hoisted the little bun by the scruff and hauled him toward the bed.
Xueyi Wright pinched Ji Ziran’s soft, smooth, tender cheek, teasing him: “You only ever know how to act spoiled around Ziyu.”
“I do not!” Ji Ziran solemnly denied the charge, then wrapped his arms around one of Xueyi Wright’s fingers, smiling sweetly as he added, “I like acting spoiled around Mother too, so Mother mustn’t be jealous~”
Standing nearby, Ji Ziyu narrowed his eyes, concluding that no matter how many times he witnessed it, it was still deeply suspicious: Is this person really…