Shen Xihe pushed away Xiao Huayong, who immediately composed himself and held onto Shen Xihe as she quickly adjusted her appearance: “I’ll go with you.”
Shen Xihe hesitated for a moment. She had wanted to formally summon Xiao Junzhu for a proper father-son reunion.
But unexpectedly, since his return, this man hadn’t left her alone. They’d spent most of these three days in passion – looking back now, she could hardly believe she had indulged him so!
Averting her gaze from Xiao Huayong, Shen Xihe nodded.
When the couple arrived at Xiao Junzhu’s sleeping quarters, Sui Axi had already bandaged his wounds.
Sui Axi observed the white silk bandages faintly seeping with blood – this was specifically ordered by His Majesty – and noticed the tall man who arrived hurriedly with the Empress Dowager.
He felt momentarily dazed, yet seemed to understand something.
“No formalities. How is His Majesty? Where is he wounded? Is it serious?” Shen Xihe waved her hand to stop Sui Axi and others from bowing, rushing toward Xiao Junzhu while asking questions.
Seeing the wound on Xiao Junzhu’s arm, a mother’s heart ached for her child’s pain. She had been preoccupied with Xiao Huayong these past days and neglected her son. Shen Xihe was filled with self-reproach.
“Mother.” The young emperor pretended not to notice the magnificent man whose mere presence drew everyone’s attention and smiled purely at Shen Xihe. “Mother, I’m fine. I was just distracted and accidentally hurt my arm. It’s only a minor wound. Zhu Sheng overreacted and alarmed you unnecessarily.”
“It was this servant’s fault. Seeing His Majesty injured, I panicked and sent someone to Yonghe Palace,” Zhu Sheng quickly apologized.
This eunuch, who Shen Xihe had kept for his wisdom, could never have imagined – nor could anyone else – that he would achieve his current position as the new emperor’s Head of Internal Affairs, overseeing the entire eunuch department.
“It’s my fault for neglecting you these past days.” Shen Xihe stroked her son’s head. At eight years old, Xiao Junzhu already reached her chin. Perhaps in another year, he would be as tall as her.
The tall child already possessed a ruler’s dignity and increasingly mature independence. Such intimate moments would become rarer in the future.
“Mother, please don’t blame yourself, or how can I be at ease?” Xiao Junzhu quickly said. “Mother has been alone all these years, and finally…” He glanced at Xiao Huayong, then quickly lowered his gaze. “I understand.”
He resembled an abandoned fawn, lost and helpless, with a hint of caution.
It broke Shen Xihe’s heart. She embraced him: “Mother’s little goldfish is so considerate.”
Nuzzling his mother’s arm, Xiao Junzhu leaned into her embrace. His eyes, so similar to Shen Xihe’s, opened wide as he looked at Xiao Huayong with a faint smile.
Xiao Huayong’s dark pupils fell on Xiao Junzhu’s arm, his lips curling slightly as he ordered Sui Axi and others: “Everyone withdraws.”
Zhu Sheng hurriedly led Sui Axi and all the servants out, leaving only the family of three in the vast chamber.
“Little goldfish.” Shen Xihe released Xiao Junzhu, held his hand, and walked to Xiao Huayong. Looking down at Xiao Junzhu with a gentle expression, she said, “This is your father.”
Regarding Xiao Huayong’s fake death, Shen Xihe had told Xiao Junzhu when he was six.
As for whether Xiao Huayong could return when Shen Xihe didn’t know and never explicitly told Xiao Junzhu.
Mother and son never avoided mentioning Xiao Huayong, and she could sense Xiao Junzhu’s reverence for him and anticipation of his return.
She thought Xiao Junzhu would be overjoyed.
Overjoyed? Oh, he was three days ago.
But now, there was a hint of rejection! This father he’d never met – since his return, he had lost his mother’s attention!
All these years, Shen Xihe had been both mother and father to him. Born as emperor, besides his mother, even his uncle showed respect and courtesy amid their intimacy.
They cared for him, true, but couldn’t forget the difference in status.
Only with his mother could he feel that besides being emperor, he could be ordinary, laugh freely, show weakness, and not have to maintain a fearless facade.
Only with their mother could he truly just be Xiao Junzhu and Little Goldfish, rather than the exemplary emperor of the realm.
With this person’s return, he felt he might lose even this one haven of freedom.
“Father!” In front of Shen Xihe, Xiao Junzhu naturally put on a delighted smile and suddenly rushed into Xiao Huayong’s embrace.
The force was so great that Xiao Huayong stumbled back several steps before steadying himself, instinctively supporting this son who gave him a fake smile.
“Ah…” Before Xiao Huayong could speak, Xiao Junzhu’s suppressed cry of pain rang out.
“Did it hit your wound?” Shen Xihe hurried forward to check Xiao Junzhu’s arm.
Xiao Huayong had indeed gripped his arm but deliberately avoided Xiao Junzhu’s wound. However, Xiao Junzhu blocked her view with his hand, misleading Shen Xihe’s perception.
“It was my rashness, Mother, please don’t blame Father. If Father hadn’t steadied me, I might have fallen with him,” Xiao Junzhu said apologetically to Shen Xihe. “I used to rush into Uncle’s arms like this, and Uncle could catch me. I thought Father could too…”
Listening to his son’s words, Xiao Huayong’s smile grew wider.
Very good, truly his son indeed.
After so many years, Shen Xihe no longer used excessive speculation to interpret the hidden meanings in the words of those close to her. She naturally didn’t notice that their son had inherited his father’s essence, and in their first meeting, had served his father a cup of pre-rain Dragon Well tea.
However, in front of their son, she still had to maintain her husband’s dignity: “Your father was caught off guard. You’ve spent a long time with your uncle, so you have understanding. After spending time with your father, such things won’t happen.”
“Mother is right.” Xiao Junzhu nodded, appearing to humbly accept the teaching. He turned to look innocently at Xiao Huayong, “Father, why don’t you speak? Is Little Goldfish not good? Did Little Goldfish hurt Father just now, making Father angry? Or does Father not like Little Goldfish?”
In Shen Xihe’s eyes, Xiao Junzhu was just a child who had never met his father, suddenly seeing him and being especially nervous and anxious, fearing his father wouldn’t like him.
All these years, Xiao Junzhu had indeed shown imperial dignity in public while remaining childishly innocent before Shen Xihe. This wasn’t an act for his mother; rather, his childlike nature naturally emerged in her presence.
Therefore, Shen Xihe looked at Xiao Huayong with expectation and urgency in her eyes.
Xiao Huayong felt that if he hesitated even slightly or spoke even slightly inappropriately under his wife’s gaze, it would turn to reproach.
If he exposed Xiao Junzhu’s act, Shen Xihe would likely think he disliked their son even more.