“Her Highness Consort Chen has ordered this servant to escort the little princess back to Bihua Palace. It is time for the princess’s medicinal meal.”
Shangguan Lin slightly frowned.
Although he also wanted Sui Sui to stay with him a little longer, her health must come first.
When Shangguan Sui saw Qing Ping, her eyes immediately lit up.
【Yay! Mommy is here to pick me up!】
【I miss Mommy so much~】
Shangguan Lin handed Shangguan Sui over to Qing Ping and instructed Eunuch Chen,
“Follow them and escort the princess back to the palace.”
Eunuch Chen nodded, unable to help but sigh inwardly.
The Emperor truly dotes on the Fifth Princess.
He treats her like his own eyes—precious beyond measure.
He had served the Emperor for so many years, and this was the first time he had seen him spoil a child like this.
Qing Ping held Shangguan Sui’s hand, while Eunuch Chen followed behind them as they walked through the Imperial Garden toward Bihua Palace.
Suddenly, Shangguan Sui stopped in her tracks.
What was that sound?
It seemed like someone was playing a flute—and it sounded quite nice!
Although Shangguan Sui didn’t understand music, she could still tell whether it sounded good or bad.
She turned to Qing Ping and pointed in the direction of the flute sound.
Qing Ping guessed carefully, “Does Your Highness want to see who is playing the flute?”
Shangguan Sui nodded eagerly.
【As expected of Qing Ping, my mommy’s favorite maid—she’s so smart~】
【Someone who can play such beautiful flute music must also look very handsome! I can’t miss any handsome people in the palace!】
Qing Ping led Shangguan Sui over.
Soon they arrived at the source of the sound.
By the clear lake in the Imperial Garden, a young man stood tall and graceful, his bearing almost immortal-like. His profile was refined and elegant.
His long, slender fingers held a jade flute as he played with great focus.
Shangguan Sui was completely stunned.
【Oh my god! The last time I saw someone this handsome was… the last time!】
【Not only is he incredibly handsome, but he also plays the flute so well!】
A sound interrupted the music.
Hearing the disturbance, Shangguan Huai stopped playing and turned around.
Behind him stood a delicately beautiful little girl.
She was staring at him without blinking.
After their eyes met, the little girl even waved at him.
【Hi, handsome~】
Shangguan Huai slightly raised his brows.
Her lips weren’t moving—but why could he hear her voice?
How strange…
Eunuch Chen quickly stepped forward and explained,
“Greetings, Third Prince. This is the Fifth Princess. However, her throat is unwell at the moment, so she cannot speak.”
“Fifth Princess, this is the Third Prince. He has been traveling in Shu Province and only returned to the capital last night.”
Shangguan Sui nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling even brighter.
“Ah-ba ah-ba—”
【So you’re my Third Brother! Hello, Third Brother!】
Shangguan Huai smiled faintly.
His little fifth sister, whom he had never met before, was quite adorable.
So… what he had just heard—were they her thoughts?
He glanced around and noticed that the others looked completely normal.
It seemed… only he could hear them.
Interesting.
【My Third Brother plays the flute so beautifully!】
【I’ve never heard anything this nice before!】
Shangguan Huai felt a sense of delight.
Just as he was about to smile more fully—
【What a pity… two years later, sigh…】
His ears perked up.
Two years later? What about two years later?
But after listening carefully, there was nothing more.
When he came back to his senses, he saw Shangguan Sui already turning to leave with her maid.
“Fifth Sister, wait a moment!” he called out.
He quickly walked over and took out a packet of pastries from his sleeve, handing it to her.
“Fifth Sister, this is cloud-layer cake. I’ll give it to you.”
His gaze softened as he tried to get closer to her.
This cake was originally meant for his Fourth Brother.
But he was too eager to know what would happen two years later—so he could only apologize to his fourth brother.
Shangguan Sui’s eyes lit up instantly.
“Ah-ba ah-ba—”
【Thank you, Third Brother! You’re really handsome and kind~】
【What a pity… two years later, sigh…】
Shangguan Huai’s heart tightened again.
He stared nervously at the little girl.
But this time, she continued.
【Such a good Third Brother… my father will have him beheaded~】
Shangguan Huai: What?!
Beheaded?!
【Two years later, Consort Xian and the Marquis of Zhenbei rebel. My Third Brother wasn’t involved at all, yet he gets dragged down with them…】
Shangguan Huai: What?!
His mother and maternal grandfather… are going to rebel?!
He felt a heavy shock.
He had always known his mother had high expectations of him and wanted him to compete for the throne.
But outright rebellion…?
That was far too extreme!
Shangguan Sui happily ate her pastry, her thoughts continuing to spill out.
【Consort Xian probably knew Third Brother would never agree to rebel, so she never told him at all. She planned to make him emperor after the success.】
【But too bad… Third Brother has zero interest in politics. He truly has no ambition.】
【He’s gifted in painting and music, a true genius. Everything he creates becomes a masterpiece…】
【He is a natural-born talent, but almost no one acknowledges it.】
Shangguan Huai felt a faint bitterness in his heart.
So the one who understood him best in this world… was actually a three-year-old child.
Courtiers saw him as an incompetent prince.
His mother called him useless.
No one believed he truly loved these things.
Shangguan Sui quickly recovered her mood.
After all, the story had already changed from the original plot.
Her father had already discovered the Marquis of Zhenbei’s conspiracy, so the rebellion in two years would likely be prevented. Her third brother would be fine.
She happily bit into a piece of cloud-layer cake.
【So good! So tasty!】
Shangguan Huai looked at her satisfied little face and couldn’t help but smile.
“Thank you, Fifth Sister.”
For him, just knowing someone in this world understood him… was enough.
Qing Ping and Eunuch Chen beside them were stunned.
Why was the Third Prince thanking the Fifth Princess?
Was it because she ate his pastry?
She didn’t even do anything…
Shangguan Sui herself was also confused.
Maybe artists are just weird like that.
Still, she tilted her head and smiled at him.
【Then I’ll thank you for the pastry too, Third Brother~ bye bye~】
She turned and left holding Qing Ping’s hand.
Shangguan Huai watched her small swaying figure disappear, unable to help but smile again.
But at that moment, his attendant Qin Yun spoke.
“Your Highness, Consort Xian has heard that you have entered the palace today and requests your presence at Qinglin Hall.”
Shangguan Huai’s smile faded instantly.
“I understand.”
Soon, he arrived at Qinglin Hall.
Looking at the elegant building before him, he frowned slightly.
When he was young, he would always come here excitedly, eager to play new pieces for his mother.
But what awaited him was often only her scolding.
He once thought it was because he wasn’t good enough.
Until that day—when his mother personally cut his jade flute in half with a sword in front of him…
Shangguan Huai took a deep breath and pushed open the heavy wooden doors.
Bang—
A bamboo scroll flew straight at his face, striking his forehead hard.
A sharp, furious voice followed:
“You unfilial son! You still have the face to come back!”