Xuan Yunchen turned his gaze to the other guards, who all looked away from him — evidently having already been given their instructions by Ye Chen.

“This hall will tell the imperial grandfather to replace all of you.” Children were children after all; at this point, he could no longer hold back his temper.

The guards dropped to their knees in alarm. “Your Highness the Crown Prince, this subordinate knows his error — please spare this subordinate.”

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, this subordinate knows his error.”

“This subordinate knows his error. This subordinate knows his error.”

If the Grand Emperor truly learned that they had not obeyed His Highness the Crown Prince’s commands, it would not simply be a matter of being replaced.

Yan Yunning set Xuan Yunchen down and crouched to pinch his little cheek. “I should not have patted you…”

The little one stared at her, and Yan Yunning closed her mouth.

After the two of them looked at each other for a moment, Xuan Yunchen turned and walked in the opposite direction from the Dining Hall.

Yan Yunning sighed. What a stubborn little one.

Such a tiny thing — how could he go without a meal?

“Xiaoxiao.” Yan Yunning caught up with him, stepped in front of him, and curved her eyes into a smile. “It is time for the midday meal — where are you going?”

The little one, who had not intended to pay Yan Yunning any mind, looked at her smiling face and said quietly, “To do my coursework.”

Yan Yunning took hold of his small hand. “Then should you not finish the meal first, and then do your coursework?”

The little one lowered his head with a grievance. “The scroll… because Qi Xingqian… if this hall does not study properly, Father Emperor will stop coming to see this hall.”

He had been writing all day, and he had finally finished…

Yan Yunning felt a pang at the tip of her nose. What was Xuan Yanyu doing?

And who was Qi Xingqian? Judging by the meaning of the name — hoping the child would shine as bright as a star, yet remain humble?

The more she thought, the more distressed she felt. The little one shook Yan Yunning’s hand away, ran over to the guards still kneeling on the ground, and scrubbed at his eyes with a pout. “This hall wants to see the imperial grandfather.”

“Yes, Your Highness — this subordinate will take you into the palace.”

Watching the little one’s pitiful, tear-scrubbing retreating figure, Yan Yunning felt a dull ache deep in her chest, wave after wave. Did Xuan Yanyu not like Xiaoxiao?

A phrase suddenly flashed through her mind: “You had better be well — otherwise, do not expect this hall to spare him a glance.”

Yan Yunning pressed her fingers together, her chest rising and falling with anger. Xuan Yanyu truly had it in him to refuse to see his own baby…

——

The Xuan King’s Palace.

Ye’an poured a cup of tea and respectfully set it before Xuan Yanyu. “Your Majesty, the Grand Emperor has sent someone to invite you to the Taiyi Hall for the midday meal. His Highness the Crown Prince is there as well.”

The man’s hand stilled slightly where he had been toying with a pouch, and he said in an indifferent tone, “Decline.”

As expected. Ye’an silently let out a breath. His Majesty had just returned to the Xuan King’s Palace from Chaxizhen. Following his usual pattern, he would remain in the bedchamber for two days before making a token appearance at morning court.

And on this return from Chaxizhen — the last month had seen the passing of Her Majesty the Xuan Empress’s maternal grandfather. Two years ago, when Her Majesty the Xuan Empress’s maternal grandmother had passed, His Majesty had shut himself in the bedchamber for five days upon returning to the Xuan King’s Palace before attending morning court.

And even then, it was only morning court — His Majesty had not reviewed a single memorial. Today, His Majesty was little more than a figurehead for Xuanzhao in name.

If not for the Grand Emperor, he could see plainly that under His Majesty’s hand, Xuanzhao would have crumbled in these past five years…

“Still standing there?” Xuan Yanyu leaned back in the rosewood chair, his strikingly handsome face carrying a faint chill.

Ye’an ventured cautiously, “Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince has been wronged. He entered the palace today and cried in the Grand Emperor’s arms — the Grand Emperor and the Empress Dowager have been coaxing him for quite some time, and he has yet to be consoled.”

The man pinched the bridge of his nose. “He is spoiled.”

Ye’an bit his lip, not daring to reply. His Highness the Crown Prince had never cried this grievously since he was small. The guard who had come to fetch His Majesty — Ye’an understood — was acting on the Grand Emperor’s express instructions that His Majesty must be brought to Taiyi Hall.

Xuan Yanyu took a mild sip of tea and continued turning the jade thumb ring.

Ye’an urged gently, “Your Majesty, you have not had your midday meal either. Why not go to Taiyi Hall and dine together with the Grand Emperor and the others?”

The man narrowed his eyes slightly. “Why is he crying? Who provoked him?”

Ye’an refilled Xuan Yanyu’s tea. “His Highness the Crown Prince is crying and saying that the scroll he spent the entire day writing was smeared with an ink mark because Qi Xingqian bumped his arm. Before seeing the Grand Emperor, he was merely upset, but upon seeing the Grand Emperor, the grievance poured out and he wept without stopping.”

“The Grand Emperor, grieved and anxious, had someone bring Qi Qingchen, Yan Shiyao, and their son to the palace. As of now, they should be seeking His Highness the Crown Prince’s forgiveness.”

“Ha.” Xuan Yanyu raised his eyes slightly, his voice cool. “That is worth weeping without end over?”

Pampered. And fond of sleeping in. When it came to medicine, he had to be coaxed by his imperial grandfather and grandmother before he would drink it — one sip in, three sips back out. Every few days he would feign illness to escape his morning lessons, and his imperial grandfather and grandmother still indulged him, treating him as a treasure. Apart from his looks, he bore not a single resemblance to him.

All his little habits followed Ningning’s.

His own father had spoiled so many small flaws into him. If he were to indulge him further, the boy would sooner or later be utterly unmanageable.

“Your Majesty, His Highness is still very young,” Ye’an pressed gently. “He had been writing for an entire day, and now it is all for nothing. When the Grand Emperor comforted him, it was only natural that all his grievance would come pouring out. Why not, Your Majesty, go and have a look? Once Your Majesty arrives, His Highness will stop crying.”

Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow. “Let him cry. He was foolish enough to have someone bump his arm — what is there to be upset about?”

“…” Remembering that the Crown Prince’s residence had taken in a new batch of maidservants today, Ye’an reported, “Your Majesty, a new group of maidservants entered the Crown Prince’s residence today.”

“Have they all been investigated?” The man turned his jade thumb ring without any particular expression.

“Your Majesty may rest assured.”

“Good. Tell Ye Chen to keep a close eye on Xiaoxiao — do not let anyone harm him.” Xuan Yanyu raised his teacup and skimmed the surface of the tea.

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

“If there is nothing else, you may withdraw.”

“…” Ye’an abandoned subtlety and spoke plainly. “Your Majesty, the Grand Emperor’s meaning is that you must go to Taiyi Hall today.”

The man gave a soft laugh. His slender, well-defined fingers tapped twice against the teacup. “Oh? The child he has spoiled — he cannot coax him now, so he calls on me to coax him?”

Ye’an spoke directly. “Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince is your son as well. Please, go and comfort him.”

The man’s brow furrowed slightly. He did not reply.

——

Taiyi Hall.

By the time Xuan Yanyu entered, the little one had already stopped crying. He was nestled obediently in the Grand Emperor’s arms, while the Empress Dowager held a porcelain bowl, blowing on the porcelain spoon of porridge to ensure it was not too hot before bringing it to the little one’s lips.

Xuan Yanyu pinched the bridge of his nose. Xuan Yunchen was five years old this year — were they still treating him like a one- or two-year-old? And feeding him by hand?

“Greetings, Your Majesty.” The maidservants in the hall bowed in salutation.

Xuan Yanyu waved his hand and called out, “Father Emperor, Mother Empress,” then took his seat.

“Father Emperor.” The little one called out in a trembling voice.

“How old are you now? And still having your imperial grandmother feed you?” The man’s voice was cool, his gaze sliding toward him with mild indifference.

“You, be quiet.” The Empress Dowager shot Xuan Yanyu a reproachful look. “If you will not eat, go outside. If you are eating, hold your tongue.”

She had barely finished coaxing him.

The little one hung his head and said quietly, “I am five. I ought not to have the imperial grandmother feed Xiaoxiao anymore.”

“Nonsense — when your Father Emperor was small, the imperial grandfather fed him until he was ten. Our Xiaoxiao is only five — why can’t he be fed?” The Grand Emperor took the spoon, blew on it, and spooned it into the little one’s mouth.

Xuan Yanyu let out a low, humming sound. “Father Emperor, how can an emperor speak falsehoods?”

He had been eating independently since he was three.

The Grand Emperor’s expression did not waver. “Xiaoxiao, your Father Emperor is embarrassed — he is talking nonsense.”

“Your imperial grandfather is right.” The Empress Dowager tenderly wiped the corner of the little one’s mouth with a handkerchief. “Our Xiaoxiao always eats his meals obediently on his own. Today he has suffered such a great wrong — what does it matter if the imperial grandfather and imperial grandmother feed him just this once.”

“Such a great wrong? How great a wrong could warrant crying for so long?” Xuan Yanyu’s voice dropped lower.

——