Concubine Xian stared at Shangguan Huai, who stood before her looking unconcerned, and the anger in her heart burned even more fiercely.
“I told you to visit your tutor at the academy, and you turned around and went traveling in Shu instead—for a full three months! Do you even still see me as your mother?!”
A bright red mark had been smashed onto Shangguan Huai’s forehead, standing out sharply against his fair skin.
His long eyelashes trembled slightly.
“Mother, you know I don’t like studying things about governing and politics. Why do you force me?”
Concubine Xian was furious, her voice filled with rage.
“You must learn it! Even if you don’t want to, you must!”
Shangguan Huai looked up at her steadily.
“Mother, everyone knows the throne will belong to my eldest brother. The Emperor has always favored him. Among all the princes, the most outstanding and capable one is also him…”
Concubine Xian sharply interrupted him.
“You are a prince! You were born into the royal family! You must compete! You must seize it! You must kill!”
“I’ve told you countless times—I don’t allow you to read those idle books anymore, nor to collect those music scores!”
Shangguan Huai opened his mouth slightly.
“Mother, I like those things…”
Concubine Xian shouted angrily, “What good is liking them?! Can they give you power? Can they give you that supreme position?!”
Shangguan Huai’s gaze turned cold and firm as he said word by word:
“Then I would rather not have that position.”
Slap—
Concubine Xian struck Shangguan Huai hard across the face.
“You useless fool! Idiot!”
A bright red palm print immediately appeared on his face.
His eyes grew even colder and more distant.
Concubine Xian seemed to sense something. Her tense expression suddenly relaxed and softened.
Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at him gently.
“Huai’er, Mother only hit you because she was too angry. You must understand, everything I do is for you…”
Shangguan Huai looked at her shifting expression and let out a cold laugh.
He was already used to it—after hitting him, she would always cry and apologize.
Once or twice, he could still let it go.
But it had happened too many times. So many times that he had grown numb.
He curled one side of his lips.
“Is it really for me—or for the Lu family, for your own power? Mother, you know the answer yourself.”
“I am a person, not a tool for your power struggles.”
After speaking, Shangguan Huai stepped back several paces, distancing himself from her.
Then he turned and walked straight out.
Just as he was about to step through the palace doors, a faint childish voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
He stopped and looked back at the woman standing in the hall, her expression dazed.
“Mother, once some things are done, there is no turning back. It is still not too late now.”
After saying this, Shangguan Huai left without looking back.
Concubine Xian stared at his departing figure and collapsed to the ground, a mocking smile curling on her lips.
Turn back?
She could no longer turn back—and she didn’t want to either.
Power was the only thing she truly wanted.
She would obtain it, no matter the cost.
..
On the streets of the capital, a finely decorated carriage moved steadily forward.
“Your Highness, please apply this medicinal ointment quickly.”
“Concubine Xian is too cruel. She actually struck you so hard.”
Qin Yun said with concern as he handed over a small porcelain bottle.
Shangguan Huai took it, looking at the familiar bottle, and curled his lips slightly.
Whenever his mother got angry, she would hit him. He had used this ointment countless times.
He skillfully opened it and applied it to the wound.
Soon, the red mark faded significantly.
Not long after, the carriage stopped, and a servant outside announced:
“Your Highness, we have arrived at the residence.”
As Shangguan Huai stepped down from the carriage, a figure in pale green suddenly appeared before him.
He looked up and saw a very beautiful young girl staring at him without blinking.
His brow moved slightly.
Who is she?
As for Xiao Yun, seeing the elegant and handsome Shangguan Huai, her heart couldn’t help but race.
Shangguan Huai is so handsome! I really like him!
Although Shangguan Jue is also handsome, he is weakened by poison and illness and looks frail. She didn’t like that type.
She still preferred Shangguan Huai’s looks.
In the original story, Shangguan Huai would return to the capital from Shu today.
So she had secretly slipped out of the Eldest Prince’s residence just to meet him and make him remember her.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and a faint blush appeared on her face.
She took a folded piece of paper from her sleeve and handed it to him.
Softening her voice deliberately, she said:
“I heard Your Highness likes music. This is a piece I composed myself. I hope you will like it.”
Hearing the word “music,” Shangguan Huai’s brow moved slightly, as if he became somewhat interested.
He took the paper from her hand and opened it.
Xiao Yun immediately curved her lips in satisfaction.
She had studied music for several years in her previous life. Writing down modern pop music in simplified notation was easy.
A melody like this—someone from ancient times like Shangguan Huai had surely never seen it before.
He would definitely be curious.
Heh, she knew no man could escape her charm.
After reading for a moment, Shangguan Huai folded the paper again.
He looked at the girl and returned it to her.
“Thank you for your kindness.”
Then he turned and walked straight into the residence without looking back.
Xiao Yun left standing there: ?!
Why was his reaction so cold?!
He didn’t even ask her name, nor invite her in for tea?
Was he not curious about the music at all?
What exactly went wrong?
She stomped her feet in frustration, unable to figure it out.
..
Back in the main courtyard, Qin Yun, who had witnessed everything, couldn’t help but ask:
“Your Highness, why didn’t you accept that music score just now? You’ve always loved music, haven’t you?”
Shangguan Huai frowned slightly, his handsome face showing confusion.
“The lines on that score were all straight and curved in strange ways. It looked very odd.”
Qin Yun: “…”
So that was because he simply couldn’t understand it.
“Oh right, where are the brocades we brought back from Shu?” Shangguan Huai asked.
“They’ve all been placed in the storeroom. Are you planning to send them to the Concubine Xian now? Those Shu brocades are unique to Shu and make beautiful garments.”
Shangguan Huai shook his head.
“No. Send them all to Bihua Palace. Say they are for the Fifth Princess.”