As soon as Qin Chang Ge left, Xiao Baozi slipped out the door.

Earlier on the street, he had seen from afar that Chen’s Pastry Shop had just brought out fresh date paste thousand-layer cakes. That fragrance could be smelled from ten li away, making Baozi drool with desire, wishing he could immediately rush over and buy a pile. Unfortunately, his mother despised him eating sweets—as long as she was around, he was absolutely forbidden from sweet cakes.

Ah, thank heaven and earth that Mother had gone out.

Baozi squinted his eyes and drifted along following the scent, floating in a trance to the shop entrance… Before his eyes, those just-steamed snow-white, tender sweet cakes with purplish-red delicate date paste filling in between, white and red alternating in distinct layers. One bite would be fragrant, soft, powdery, glutinous, sweet, melting in the mouth…

One bite…

“Ah!”

The thousand-layer cake whooshed away and disappeared. Baozi opened his dazed eyes in confusion. Eh, where’s the cake? Whose paw is this, biting in my mouth?

Ptui ptui ptui!

Spitting out the fake product, Baozi looked up angrily at the evil customer who had interrupted his sweet dream.

That evil customer was also looking down at him with a face full of indignant anger.

…

Your Imperial Majesty, are you very idle? Is no one rebelling? Have you finished all the national affairs? Have you made rounds through all the concubines in the harem?

Why do you always like wandering these streets when you have nothing better to do?

Baozi wanted to cry but had no tears as he turned around, lifted his leg, and ran!

Thump thump thump—after running a few steps, he suddenly felt something was wrong. Turning his head, he saw his back collar was gripped in His Noble Majesty’s dragon claw, and he was just running in place.

Prince Xiao Rong immediately decided that in the future he would definitely put poison, insert needles, and set traps in his back collar—this collar had already been grabbed twice. If the brilliant and handsome Young Master Xiao made the same mistake a third time, he might as well not mix around in the capital anymore.

Let you grab it, let you try grabbing it again next time—hmph!

Imagining the Emperor or Prince jumping around in embarrassment while clutching their hands, Xiao Baozi smiled sinisterly.

Xiao Jue’s face was somber as he stared at Xiao Baozi. He remembered this was the little beggar Ming Shuang had picked up—quite clever, but… what was he inexplicably smiling about?

However, even more inexplicable was himself—how had he ended up here, entangled with a child?

Today he shouldn’t have left the palace at all. He had originally planned to summon the Minister of Revenue after handling the day’s state affairs to arrange next year’s spring relief matters. But after setting down his purple brush still fresh with ink, looking at the imperial desk piled high with memorials and documents, then at the brilliant but empty hall before him, then extending his gaze to the vast, smooth plaza outside the great hall that stretched like an endless water surface, and the boundless sky above the plaza, he suddenly felt that the mortal world was so vast, yet human life so constrained, with deep loneliness rising like tide in his heart.

Without knowing it, he had let go of everything and wandered past the thick, soft carpet embroidered with purple gold flowers where footsteps made no sound, past the Imperial Guards standing straight as nails in perfect lines on both sides of the imperial pathway, past the jade steps and vermillion stairs with bronze tortoises and bronze cranes, past the jade belt bridge with its clear rippling water, and wandered out through the massive, imposing palace gates that towered as if they could support the heavens.

His mind in a trance, not knowing where he was going or whom he sought to find, he was even less aware that the Grand Eunuch Yu Hai and the Imperial Guard Commander, seeing their Emperor’s melancholy expression as he left the palace, dared not obstruct him but immediately arranged urgent horse relays for security and personally led over a thousand guard soldiers in hastily changed clothing to follow.

When not at court, Xiao Jue always wore black brocade robes with golden dragons embroidered only at the sleeves and hem. Today’s robe was especially simple, embroidered with nothing more than qilin. Though the qilin’s eyes were made of top-grade sea pearls from the country as large as dragon eyes, they weren’t particularly eye-catching. But his imperial dignity, the noble and stern bearing of one long in high position, combined with his incomparably handsome appearance, made passersby unable to help but look frequently. However, due to the guards intentionally or unintentionally blocking access, no one could get close.

After walking for a while, seeing the crowds grow thicker and the streets more prosperous, Xiao Jue stopped with slight surprise and looked around, discovering this was East Peace Street where he had come a few days ago. How had he wandered here in such confusion?

Standing still and pondering briefly, Xiao Jue smiled self-mockingly… Did he want to encounter that palace maid like last time? How was that possible?

He really was… mad.

Just as he turned to leave, he caught sight of a small figure whose steps floated like a wandering soul to a nearby shop front. With eyes half-open and half-closed, the figure stood before the freshly baked cakes from that pastry shop with a completely intoxicated expression. It was that little imp from Ming Shuang’s side.

His heart leaped with joy, and before he could think, he had already walked over. Since first noticing this child, he thought of him constantly, feeling an inexplicable fondness. Seeing him standing longingly before the pastry shop, thinking he had no money to buy cakes, Xiao Jue reached out to touch his face, wanting to ask if he wanted to eat cake.

The result…

The boy bit his hand with an “oww.”

Xiao Jue began to think this child might be his nemesis—why did he always have bad luck every time he encountered him?

Pulling back his hand, small tooth marks were clearly visible on it, surrounded by dripping saliva… Xiao Jue frowned and extended his hand. A plainclothes guard immediately approached and handed him a silk cloth.

After wiping his hand, he grabbed Xiao Baozi back. Too lazy to ask why he had been grinning wickedly, Xiao Jue asked directly, “Where is Ming Shuang?”

“At the nunnery chanting sutras.” Xiao Baozi lied without hesitation—he remembered how the Emperor had used this to make things difficult for his mother last time.

“Then how are you here?”

Rolling his eyes and pouting, Xiao Baozi immediately began crying without any difficulty: “I snuck out to play… wanted to eat cake… no money…”

Hmm… a nunnery would indeed be too boring for a child… Xiao Jue’s gaze softened slightly. He bent down to take the boy’s hand and asked, “Which kind do you want to eat?”

“Huh?” Xiao Baozi couldn’t react and stared blankly while biting his finger.

Xiao Jue smiled, not even aware that this smile carried a doting meaning. He turned to Yu Hai who had caught up and instructed, “Have the boss wrap one package of each variety.”

“Yes!”

“Ah… no no no…” Xiao Baozi broke out in cold sweat. What kind of joke was this? This shop had hundreds of varieties of pastries—did he want to kill him with cakes? Besides, how could he take them back? Mother would definitely punish him…

However, not taking advantage of free benefits would be foolish…

Xiao Jue looked at Xiao Baozi questioningly. Xiao Baozi put on a fawning smile: “Your… sir, taking away so many sweets would be wasteful if I can’t finish them, and they won’t be fresh if kept too long. If you really care for me, why not pay for these purchased pastries and put them on account, so I can come get them whenever I want to eat? How about that?”

How old was this kid? Way too shrewd! Xiao Jue stared at him—which parents gave birth to such a cunning little fellow? Find them out and make them Minister of Revenue!

Yu Hai smiled while pressing his lips together, slightly bowing as he waited for orders. Xiao Jue waved his hand, and Yu Hai understood, going to the counter to place a large silver note. It would probably be enough for Xiao Baozi to eat sweets daily for at least three years, even at his fierce consumption rate. The shop owner was overjoyed and bustled out enthusiastically, earnestly inviting the two distinguished guests to drink tea and eat pastries in the shop.

Xiao Jue was also feeling somewhat hungry at this time. Smelling the fragrance of the pastries, he smiled and said, “You little rascal are just like me—you love sweets most of all.”

Taking Baozi’s hand into the shop, the owner immediately called for the servers to attend carefully, diligently serving various pastries. When crystal soup dumplings were brought up, both said in unison: “No vinegar, want bean sauce, add chili.”

As soon as the words fell, they stared at each other with wide eyes.

“Very well,” the shop owner said, sweating profusely as he served bean sauce and chili, smiling, “Truly worthy of being father and son—even your tastes are cut from the same mold. I’ve really never seen anyone eat crystal dumplings without vinegar.”

Xiao Jue was stunned and looked at Xiao Baozi… Father and son?

Xiao Baozi’s face darkened—what nonsense was this stinking owner spouting? Young Master Xiao’s father hadn’t been selected and decided yet.

The thousand-layer cake was served last, steaming hot and absolutely delicious. With a cheer, Xiao Baozi grabbed his chopsticks to take some, and with a “snap” collided with another pair of ebony chopsticks.

The two who had collided again slowly looked up and stared at each other for a moment. After a long while, Xiao Jue went to take some shredded bean cake while Baozi pulled the cake onto his own plate.

With so many pastries available, why fight me for the thousand-layer cake? Hmph!

“Divine hand bone reading… infallible predictions… Purple Star numerology… guidance through confusion… Eleventh generation true disciple of Master Jia from Wind and Cloud Mountain, Divine Calculator Fang, deeply versed in the three flavors of Taoism, helping the world and saving people…” Suddenly a hoarse voice came through, sounding distant at first but appearing nearby in an instant—such swift movement!

The light dimmed as the door curtain was suddenly lifted. A Taoist priest in tattered blue robes with hair that looked unwashed for ten days, thin as a rail, poked his head in. With a grin, he lifted his leg and entered the shop, plopping down beside Xiao Jue and grabbing jade fried dumplings to stuff in his mouth. His mouth bulging, he said, “…This little Taoist saw purple energy soaring to the sky and knew there would be fortune… such great food fortune…”

“Hey hey!” The Imperial Guard Commander rushed into the shop in exasperation, grabbing the Taoist priest and saying urgently, “We’ve reserved this place, you stinking priest get out!” He dragged the priest toward the exit. Damn it, he was responsible for the outside deployment—loose on the outside, tight on the inside with strict vigilance. Not even a fly should be able to approach, so how did this priest get in? Not a single person had seen him!

“Ai ai ai…” The priest desperately grabbed pastries from the table. “The priest doesn’t eat for free… The priest will read fortunes for you father and son…”

“Bah! What nonsense are you spouting!” The guard commander spat in the priest’s face. “Get lost quickly!”

He was about to drag the priest away when Xiao Jue suddenly said, “Wait.”

After a moment of shock, the guard commander immediately stopped. Xiao Jue nodded, and he immediately bowed respectfully and withdrew.

Looking at the priest, Xiao Jue smiled slightly, tapped his plate with chopsticks and said, “Priest, you falsely claim to have infallible predictions, yet you play deceptive tricks. What father and son? You were wrong from the very first word!”

“Wrong? How is that possible?” The priest squinted his small eyes crusted with eye discharge, looking at him then at Xiao Baozi. “Would this priest dare speak nonsense before you? This bone structure clearly shows father and son.” He looked at Xiao Baozi again and suddenly jumped up as if pricked by a needle. The jade dumpling fell to the ground without his notice as he stared with wide eyes in amazement, stammering, “…This this this… this this this… how is this possible?… No wonder this purple energy is so…”

Xiao Jue listened in bewilderment and was about to inquire when the priest suddenly looked toward the southwest. His eyes immediately widened into perfect circles as he cried out, “…There’s another! Impossible!… That is… Ah!!!”

He suddenly turned around, slapped himself with a “smack,” and rushed quickly toward the shop exit while shouting, “…I must not have learned properly… I must be seeing things… How is this possible… I’m going back to the mountain to retreat for another thirty years…”

Though he appeared small and thin, he was as agile as a water marten. In an instant he was outside the shop. Xiao Jue wanted to stop him but couldn’t, and shouted, “Stop him!”

Immediately there was a commotion outside as hundreds of people gave chase. Xiao Jue waited with a somber expression. Soon the guard commander returned dejectedly to report, “…Young master, somehow the person just vanished in a flash…”

“These Buddhist and Taoist people always have some supernatural abilities, but being so mad and incoherent, even finding him back probably wouldn’t be useful…” Xiao Jue paused, exhaled a long breath, and said coldly, “You may go.”

The guard commander, who had broken out in cold sweat, withdrew. Xiao Baozi acted as if he hadn’t seen the scene and just focused on eating and drinking. Xiao Jue sat in silent contemplation, thinking about the priest’s confused and contradictory words, when he suddenly caught a strange smell—neither stinky nor fragrant. Xiao Jue’s eyes lit up as he said, “Seems like stinky tofu…”

Before he finished speaking, he saw Xiao Baozi jump up, waving chopsticks and shouting, “Stinky tofu! Stinky tofu!”

Slowly setting down his chopsticks, Xiao Jue stared at Xiao Baozi in a daze. Without turning his head, he waved at the Imperial Guard Commander standing to one side. The commander, who held the second rank, had no choice but to go buy the smelly stinky tofu again.

Leaning forward slightly, Xiao Jue carefully examined the four-year-old child before him. Thick black eyebrows, straight nose bridge, large bright eyes, and a small tender face with baby fat that didn’t reveal what face shape he’d have when grown up, but his features were clear and distinct—quite beautiful indeed.

Father and son…

Did he… look a bit… like himself?

Xiao Jue really wished he had a mirror right now to compare carefully. Looking around, there was no such thing. He turned and asked the Imperial Guard Commander Qiu Yuan without much hope, “Do you have a mirror on you?”

“Huh?” Commander Qiu was stunned. After thinking, believing His Majesty was hinting that he wasn’t manly enough, his face reddened as he said sadly and indignantly, “Your… this servant wouldn’t carry such a thing!”

Before he could explain further, Xiao Jue had already made a disappointed “oh” sound and casually turned his head away. His mind was no longer on the food but kept scanning the child before him, trying to find some clues. His gaze suddenly focused on Xiao Baozi’s right hand holding chopsticks.

On the little finger joint of the small hand, there was a slight protrusion—not obvious, looking like a small lump.

Xiao Jue’s heart began pounding. His hand pressed on the table trembled slightly. He moved his hand under the table and gently touched his own left hand. There, in the same position, was also a small protrusion.

Taking a deep breath and trying to calm his emotions, when Xiao Jue spoke, his voice was slightly hoarse.

“How… how old are you?”

“Four years old.” Xiao Baozi didn’t look up.

Closing his eyes briefly, when he opened them again they were clear and bright. Xiao Jue stared intently at him. “What’s your name?”

“Ming Rong.”

“…Which… Rong character?”

Xiao Baozi looked up from his crystal dumpling and tilted his head suspiciously at him. “Sir, why are you asking this?”

“Nothing,” Xiao Jue smiled, though there was no smile in his eyes. His gaze burned bright while his fingers trembled slightly. Feigning composure, he picked up his tea and took a light sip. “How do you have the surname Ming? Didn’t you originally have a surname? Are you taking Ming Shuang’s surname?”

“Of course I take her surname—she’s my mother.” Xiao Baozi looked at Xiao Jue in bewilderment. “If I don’t take Mother’s surname, whose would I take?”

“Crack!!”

The teacup fell to the ground, shattering into fragments on the blue brick floor, splashing tea everywhere.