The doors and windows opened, the curtains were drawn up, and morning light flooded the room. Maidservants laid out a dazzling array of food on the table, each one excitedly and happily stealing a glance at Xiao Xun.

“Young Master, you’ve gotten thinner.”

“Even though Young Master has gotten thinner, he’s still very handsome.”

Listening to the maidservants’ jokes, Xiao Xun also laughed heartily, touching his own face. “Of course. I look good no matter what.”

Prince Zhongshan sat across from him and grunted. “Only in Miss Chu’s eyes do you not look good.” He shook his head, his face full of regret. “If that young lady had taken a liking to you, our Young Master wouldn’t have worried himself thin.”

Xiao Xun smiled. “Father, Miss Chu didn’t take a liking to me, but it’s not because I’m not handsome.”

That was true. Prince Zhongshan was just teasing. Of course he knew that taking a liking to someone might be because of appearance, but not taking a liking to someone—the reasons for that were many.

He waved his hand, and the maidservants all withdrew.

“Eat something,” he said.

Xiao Xun reached out to pick up his bowl and chopsticks and ate and drank heartily. “I really am starving.”

Prince Zhongshan smiled. “On this trip, you’ve tasted every kind of hardship. In one lifetime, a person should taste everything.”

Xiao Xun tilted his head back and poured a bowl of soup into his mouth, then said, “I’ll do the tasting. Father, you shouldn’t taste it.”

Prince Zhongshan smiled. “The days ahead will be quite interesting. A little emperor, a little empress, a little grand tutor, a little national uncle—”

This so-called “little” didn’t only refer to age, but more to their reputation, background, and origins.

Not only was the Chu girl young in age, her reputation was also small. The Chu family had been silent in the capital for over a decade.

The Grand Tutor wasn’t young in age, but his origins were small—an obscure petty official.

As for National Uncle Xie, he had early established his reputation, but Xie Yanfang had always kept a low profile, hastily becoming national uncle.

This Great Xia nation had been seized overnight by these few insignificant figures.

“This prince was negligent,” Prince Zhongshan sighed.

Xiao Xun said softly, “Father, you weren’t negligent. You guessed everything and also curried favor with Deng Yi and Chu Ling in advance. We also did our best to associate with Miss Chu. But no matter how dedicated we were, we couldn’t compete with the other side having ulterior motives. If we speak of negligence, we should say we were negligent about these insignificant figures’ ambitions, and His Majesty’s madness.”

The Grand Tutor—the Emperor really dared to bestow it, and that petty official Deng Yi really dared to accept it.

The Empress—the Emperor really dared to grant it, and that girl really dared to take it.

Prince Zhongshan smiled. “We were still negligent. We underestimated them. Had we known earlier, forget about ambition—this prince wouldn’t have let them exist at all.”

As he spoke, he crushed the piece of pastry in his hand.

“But it doesn’t matter.” He lightly brushed away the crumbs, looking at the table surface. “The Emperor has gone mad. We can also go mad. Let’s see who can remain mad to the very end. Ah Xun—”

He lifted his head to look at the person opposite him. The young man who had been eating and drinking heartily was now lying motionless on the table.

Prince Zhongshan rose instantly.

“Ah Xun!” he called, somewhat nervously reaching out to touch the young man’s face.

The face was warm, long eyelashes fluttered, and there was soft snoring.

He had fallen asleep.

He was truly exhausted. Finally arriving home, he could no longer hold on.

Prince Zhongshan exhaled in relief, gently laying Xiao Xun down on the couch. He felt both heartache and fury. His carefully cultivated son had actually been abused by these insignificant people!

Prince Zhongshan’s usually gentle face became fierce and twisted. Since they didn’t want to die with dignity, then he wouldn’t be polite either.

Ning Kun also entered at this time. He looked even worse than Xiao Xun, saying, “Your Highness, it’s all that scoundrel Deng Yi being vicious and untrustworthy—”

Prince Zhongshan already knew what Deng Yi had done and smiled. “I indeed didn’t misjudge this petty man. His heart is vicious.” He asked again, “What about that imperial edict? Let me see it.”

Ning Kun said, “The Young Master has already burned it.”

Amusement floated in Prince Zhongshan’s eyes. He glanced at Xiao Xun sleeping soundly on the couch and chided affectionately, “Why burn it? Who knows when it might have been useful.”

Ning Kun said, “The Young Master’s filial piety is pure—he couldn’t bear to look at such a thing. I originally said to keep it for Your Highness to see, but he wouldn’t allow it.”

Prince Zhongshan smiled. “Alright, you should also go rest. Whatever there is to say, wait until you’ve all rested well to speak of it. Now that we’re home, there’s nothing to worry about.”

He nodded.

“Even if the court’s grand army presses down, my Zhongshan Commandery need not worry.”

Ning Kun smiled. “The court’s grand army didn’t dare press down before, and won’t dare in the future either.” He added another sentence. “Nor can they.”

Prince Zhongshan smiled faintly without speaking and waved his hand.

Ning Kun also said nothing more, bowed in salute, and withdrew.

Prince Zhongshan fetched a thin blanket to drape over Xiao Xun, sat down beside him, and continued slowly eating the food on the table.

……

……

While Prince Zhongshan’s heart settled with his son’s return, in the capital the new emperor, after the enthronement ceremony and the removal of mourning garments, began attending court for the first time.

After prostrating themselves in obeisance and rising, the court officials who hadn’t seen an emperor sitting on the dragon throne in a long time hadn’t had time to feel excited before they were stunned again.

An emperor sat peacefully on the dragon throne, but someone also sat peacefully behind the dragon throne.

Through a hanging curtain, the silhouette of a girl was faintly visible.

“This!” The court officials erupted. Why had this girl come again!

It was one thing to accompany the Emperor to the enthronement ceremony, but how could she even come to court? What was this, rule from behind the curtain?

This wouldn’t do!

The court hall instantly became clamorous.

The censors sternly rebuked them, finally quieting everyone down.

Deng Yi said, “This is my arrangement.”

One court official said angrily, “Grand Tutor, this is absurd! The late emperor had you supervise the state. Do you understand what supervising the state means or not!”

Standing in the officials’ ranks, quite a few people exchanged glances, revealing some schadenfreude. This petty official Deng Yi was also standing in the court hall for the first time.

Deng Yi showed not the slightest fear. “This Grand Tutor’s supervision of state is only supervision. His Majesty will eventually assume personal rule, so he must attend court—”

What nonsense! Another official stepped forward. “His Majesty attending court is naturally proper, but where is the precedent for the Empress attending court?”

Deng Yi looked at him. “Because His Majesty is still young, the Empress does not leave His Majesty’s side day or night to instruct him. This Grand Tutor is not only the Grand Tutor but also the supervisor of state. My primary duty is to handle court affairs on His Majesty’s behalf, not to instruct His Majesty at every moment. For the stability of the nation and for His Majesty to quickly become familiar with court affairs, is there anyone more suitable than the Empress?”

This was still forced nonsense. To instruct His Majesty, which court minister couldn’t do so? The officials were about to speak, but Deng Yi’s patience had run out.

“Since you know this Grand Tutor supervises the state, having this Grand Tutor present in the court hall is sufficient.” He said coldly, “If you consider the Empress’s presence improper, then let His Majesty not attend court for now. Once His Majesty has been instructed, he can come to court.”

That was even more unacceptable! Wouldn’t the court hall then become Deng Yi’s domain!

The court officials immediately became clamorous again.

“If there are matters, present them.” Deng Yi shouted. “If there are no matters, court is dismissed!”

Along with his voice, the imperial guards standing solemnly in the hall struck their long halberds in unison and shouted, their gazes fiercely watching the noisy officials, waiting only for a command to swing their weapons and strike people.

The great hall instantly quieted.

Deng Yi said solemnly again, “If there are matters, present them. If there are no matters, court is dismissed.”

After a moment of silence, one official stepped forward.

“This subject has a memorial to present.”

Everyone looked over to see that this person was none other than Xie Yanfang.

Deng Yi nodded. “Speak.”

Xie Yanfang then spoke eloquently, but surprisingly didn’t mention even half a word about whether the Emperor and Empress were suitable or inappropriate, nor did he question the supervising Grand Tutor. He spoke of pressing current court affairs.

Seeing this, what could the officials not understand? The Xie clan didn’t object either—why should they seek their own troubles? The other officials put away their criticisms and stood with lowered eyes.

The turmoil in the court hall subsided. Xiao Yu, sitting on the dragon throne, exhaled in relief. That had been so frightening just now.

A hand reached over from behind, poking his arm.

As if to say, don’t be afraid.

Xiao Yu grinned and smiled. Beside him, Eunuch Qi coughed lightly, indicating this wasn’t allowed. The child put away his smile and sat upright with a straight little face.