HomeAfter I Bloom Hundred Flowers DieChapter 848: Extra Chapter One

Chapter 848: Extra Chapter One

After eight years apart, their longing culminated in a passionate reunion, their hearts beating as one.

Their intense connection confirmed they were finally together again, proving this was no dream born of deep yearning.

At dawn, the young emperor had already been awake for two-quarters of an hour, properly dressed, and finished with breakfast, sitting upright in Qinzheng Hall awaiting his teacher’s lessons.

Today Xiao Junzhu was particularly distracted. After noticing him lost in thought several times, Xie Yunhuai put down the policy paper: “If Your Majesty wishes to see the Empress Dowager, we can grant Your Majesty leave today.”

Family joy was something everyone yearned for.

Xiao Junzhu had never seen Xiao Huayong since birth. He had heard rumors and wanted to meet him, which was understandable.

The young emperor was somewhat moved. Though his body showed signs of wanting to rise, he only shifted slightly before sitting properly again, his face already showing the imperial trait of concealing emotions. Only his rounded fingertips fidgeting with the edge of his wide sleeves betrayed his unease.

His clear pupils, covered with a watery sheen, were moving and beautiful, just like Shen Xihe’s.

But unlike Shen Xihe’s cold detachment that kept people at a thousand li’s distance, his eyes held a composure beyond his eight years as he gazed hopefully at Xie Yunhuai: “Teacher, is… is he back?”

He wanted to call him father but feared it wasn’t him. Though he knew in his heart that given his mother’s nature, no one but his father could catch her eye, he still strangely needed someone to explicitly confirm it!

Xie Yunhuai smiled gently. Instead of answering Xiao Junzhu directly, he said: “Your Majesty rules all under heaven, never missing morning greetings or meals. Your Majesty is young, with few ways to show filial piety. The Empress Dowager lives in widowhood, and over these years countless men have tried to recommend themselves to her bed. Three years ago, someone presented a man, saying his appearance was ninety percent similar to Emperor Mingzong.

When the Empress Dowager saw this man, she immediately drew her sword and personally executed him in the hall, his blood spraying three chi high.”

Three years ago, Xiao Junzhu was only five, and Shen Xihe hadn’t let him know about this matter.

“Thank you, teacher.” Xiao Junzhu’s expression softened, the smile in his eyes growing.

“Your Majesty doesn’t want to go see him?” Xie Yunhuai was somewhat surprised. Xiao Junzhu seemed relieved yet unmoved.

“Teacher, please continue the lesson,” Xiao Junzhu said with pursed lips and a smile. “I know mother’s loneliness these years. Since the father has returned, they should have time alone. As for meeting Father… there will be plenty of time, no need to rush.”

Xie Yunhuai’s heart trembled slightly. Xiao Junzhu had been under their tutelage since he could speak. Before age six he still had some childishness, but after six he became increasingly steady. They had long known Xiao Junzhu was exceptionally intelligent, but his ability to show such emotional maturity and easily control his desires was truly shocking.

Whether Xie Yunhuai, Xiao Changqin, or even more so Cui Jinbai, they had all been brilliantly talented young men, leading figures among their peers in their youth.

Thinking of themselves at eight years old, they fell far short.

Xie Yunhuai composed himself, picked up the scroll again, and continued teaching at his usual pace.

The young emperor was no longer distracted, listening attentively.

The understanding Xiao Junzhu felt that as a considerate son, he should give his parents ample private time for their reunion after many years.

But after waiting through the first day, on the second day his father hadn’t come to see him. He hadn’t gone to pay respects, and Mother hadn’t sent anyone to check on him either.

He felt a small disappointment. In previous years, if he was late to a meal without sending word, his mother would either personally bring food to find him or send Aunt Hongyu or Aunt Ziyu to check on him.

Now mother seemed to have forgotten him.

On the third day, father didn’t appear, and mother still hadn’t summoned him.

The young emperor’s feelings about his father’s return had gradually changed from joy to disappointment to annoyance! During martial arts practice, the iron sword custom-made for him danced with flourishes, making his sparring partners Bu Zhan and Cui Zhu retreat step by step, their swords flying away after just a few moves.

“Get up, again!” Xiao Junzhu ordered with a stern face, looking at the brothers lying on the ground.

The brothers clutched their chests where they’d been kicked. Though wearing armor, it still hurt. Their twin telepathy made them quickly exchange glances before both throwing themselves at Xiao Junzhu’s feet, each hugging one of his legs.

Cui Zhu: “Your Majesty, whatever our offense, Your Majesty can punish us, but please don’t harm your dragon body with anger.”

Bu Zhan: “Your Majesty, it wasn’t me who secretly took the young princess out to play yesterday, nor was it me who pretended to be a ghost to scare the palace maid in Furong Garden, and the urine in Official Zhang’s teacup wasn’t put there by me either…”

Bu Zhan spilled out a bunch of his pranks, making Cui Zhu beside him roll his eyes: this fool couldn’t possibly be born from the same mother as him!

Xiao Junzhu, originally feeling depressed, watched this troublemaker who had grown up with him crying with snot and tears, spilling all his misdeeds with the obvious cover-up of “it wasn’t me,” and suddenly didn’t know whether to be angry or laugh.

“Your Majesty, I know my sins are deep. But I have an almost eighty-year-old grandfather above, parents still trying for younger brothers and sisters below, and in between a twin brother who needs me to take the blame and act pitiful every day mmph…”

Before Bu Zhan could finish wailing, Cui Zhu covered his mouth!

Seeing His Majesty’s expression no longer as cold and stern as before, Cui Zhu said: “Your Majesty, if you have troubles, why not tell us two brothers? Though we cannot match Your Majesty’s wisdom, we are willing to exhaust our thoughts to help share Your Majesty’s worries.”

“Share worries?” Xiao Junzhu laughed, suddenly smiling with full malice, “Ah Zhu, I haven’t seen Mother for three days and miss her dearly. Do you have any ideas?”

Cui Zhu’s body stiffened. They were a year older than Xiao Junzhu and had grown up together, studying literature and martial arts together most of the time. With their family background, they were naturally more astute than other youths their age.

The whole imperial city knew that Prince Xin had sent a handsome man into the palace and the Empress Dowager had accepted him with a smile. With their parents’ guidance, they naturally knew who this handsome man was.

The former Crown Prince who had been posthumously titled Emperor Mingzong, the Empress Dowager’s rightful husband – just hearing their father’s stories since childhood about Emperor Mingzong’s glorious deeds, Cui Zhu knew this was a tiger they couldn’t touch. If even their parents didn’t dare, how could they?

But having already spoken, and with His Majesty staring at him with that ambiguous smile while his foolish brother gleefully waited to see him stumble, Cui Zhu had to save face: “Your Majesty, in the fourth year of Yonghe, when Your Majesty caught a cold and had a high fever for two days and two nights, the Empress Dowager stayed by your side without changing her clothes, personally handling all medicine and care without delegating to others.”

Xiao Junzhu’s eyes suddenly brightened, and he punched his palm: “Good Ah Zhu, I’ll remember this merit!”

And so, Shen Xihe, who had been kept in the Eastern Palace by Xiao Huayong and would soften every time she tried to break free upon hearing him speak of how difficult the eight years of detoxification had been, received Zhenzhu’s report: “His Majesty injured his arm while practicing swordplay.”

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