HomeAfter I Bloom Hundred Flowers DieChapter 850: Extra Chapter Three - A Father's Fault in Neglecting Education

Chapter 850: Extra Chapter Three – A Father’s Fault in Neglecting Education

Standing beside Shen Xihe, Xiao Junzhu smiled at Xiao Huayong with curved eyes, waiting for him to expose his act.

Then his mother would know that his father truly didn’t like him!

Unfortunately, his provocation barely registered with Xiao Huayong, who took out a silk pouch from his waist and handed it to Xiao Junzhu: “I’ve failed in my fatherly duties for eight years. This is Father’s welcome gift for Little Goldfish. It’s eight years late – please don’t reject it.”

The smile froze on Xiao Junzhu’s lips.

To say Xiao Huayong had completely lost his place in his heart would be impossible.

He was merely throwing a tantrum. His long-awaited father’s return had filled him with anticipation, leaving him tossing and turning, rehearsing countless times in his mind how to be obedient and proper, hoping to make his father love him instantly, just like his mother did.

But as time passed, these hopes gradually emptied.

He grew anxious, filled with self-doubt. Before, he could immediately seek his mother, pour out his feelings to her, and wait for her gentle comfort.

Now he had lost even his mother.

How could he not act out?

For a moment, he maliciously wished his father truly didn’t care about him, didn’t like him.

Then he could rightfully drive him away! But to his utter surprise, Xiao Huayong bent down to look at him at eye level, with earnest and loving eyes.

This was the gaze he had envied, whenever he saw his uncle looking at his cousins, or Lord Cui gazing at Cui Zhu and Bu Zhan.

Now he had it too, but he felt incredibly awkward. He didn’t even know how to face such a father, and thinking of his earlier attempt to frame him made him even more ashamed.

Yet alongside his remorse was an overwhelming sense of grievance.

He snatched the silk pouch Xiao Huayong offered and ran away quickly.

“Little Goldfish…”

“Let him have a moment alone.” Xiao Huayong stopped Shen Xihe.

He understood that at this moment, Xiao Junzhu didn’t want to see anyone.

“He is…” Shen Xihe frowned at Xiao Huayong.

Naturally, Xiao Huayong wouldn’t tell Shen Xihe that Xiao Junzhu had tried to frame him and was now feeling guilty, unable to face him.

“I’ve been absent for eight years. Expecting him to accept me immediately is asking too much of him.”

“Is that it?” Shen Xihe was skeptical.

“Indeed it is.” Xiao Huayong nodded firmly. “Leave it to me. By tomorrow at the latest, I’ll have him accept me.”

“How will you do that?” No one understood Xiao Junzhu better than her. He was inherently stubborn – once he disliked someone, it was extremely difficult to change his mind.

“Trust me.” Xiao Huayong smiled calmly at Shen Xihe. “I’m going out to meet some old friends.”

Shen Xihe thought he was simply going to meet Cui Jinbai, Zhao Zhenghao, and others.

But after leaving the palace, he went straight to the Bu residence.

After marrying Bu Shulin, Cui Jinbai moved there, regardless of how the Cui family and others viewed it.

Seeing Xiao Huayong, Cui Jinbai froze in place. Even the normally composed Cui Jinbai’s eyes grew moist.

“After all these years, do you not recognize me?” Xiao Huayong asked casually.

“Your High-” Cui Jinbai caught himself, realizing the improper address, and said, “Master.”

Xiao Huayong helped Cui Jinbai up by his arm: “You’ve worked hard these years.”

He had left hurriedly, with the situation unclear, leaving both Shen Xihe and his old subordinates to fight a difficult battle.

“Master is too kind.” Cui Jinbai’s voice was choked.

“I know after Little Goldfish’s ascension, you guarded the Heishui region with utmost dedication. The current peace in the northeast is largely due to your merit.” Xiao Huayong patted Cui Jinbai’s shoulder again. Not waiting for Cui Jinbai’s modesty, he continued, “Though Heishui is peaceful, it’s constrained by three forces and sometimes loses balance. I wish to eliminate future troubles. After much thought, only you understand Heishui well enough. I wouldn’t trust such an important task to anyone else.”

Cui Jinbai didn’t think much of it. His innate loyalty made him immediately agree: “I will request the assignment tomorrow.”

The smile at the corner of Xiao Huayong’s eyes deepened: “Also, though Shunan is peaceful, the regional prince hasn’t presided there for long. It might cause problems. Your second son is young – perhaps your wife should accompany him home for support.”

Cui Jinbai: !!

If he couldn’t tell by now that his master had come to reprimand him, he would have wasted all those years serving Xiao Huayong.

He quickly said: “Master, please tell me what wrong I have committed.”

Let him die knowing why.

“Failure to teach is the father’s fault.” Xiao Huayong left only these six words before departing with steady steps.

His arrival had been sudden, his departure swift.

Cui Jinbai ground his teeth.

On his way to Xiao Junzhu’s chambers, Xiao Huayong had already learned about how Xiao Junzhu was injured.

Xiao Junzhu had cut himself, but this wasn’t his idea. If he could think of such a scheme, he wouldn’t have waited until now to use it.

Xiao Huayong’s trip outside the palace took only half an hour, spending just moments away excluding travel time. Shen Xihe looked at him: “Where did you go?”

“To see Lord Cui.”

“Didn’t you catch up?”

Xiao Huayong embraced Shen Xihe: “I went to reprimand him.”

“Oh?”

“Little Goldfish’s wound was self-inflicted, likely suggested by Cui Zhu who was practicing martial arts with him today.” Xiao Huayong’s tone was certain.

He had heard about the brothers’ personalities from Tianyuan.

“I know.” Shen Xihe hadn’t thought much of it at first, but after Xiao Huayong left, she had figured it out. “They’re just children, as close as real brothers to Little Goldfish. I know what you’ll say – that Little Goldfish is emperor, how dare subjects endanger the emperor? The emperor’s body is precious beyond measure? For others, this would be a capital offense.”

Xiao Huayong remained silent.

Sighing, Shen Xihe held his hand: “Huayong, you were born into the imperial family, learning imperial doctrine from childhood. Your thinking is understandable. But I don’t want Little Goldfish to be alone. Making a big issue of this today would certainly teach Cui Zhu and his brother about imperial dignity, and make them deeply understand the distinction between ruler and subject.

Afterward, even if they remain loyal, they won’t be as open-hearted with Little Goldfish as they are now.

My brother, Duke Xie, Prince Xin, even the maturing Fourteenth Brother – they’ve all started showing reverence to Little Goldfish. He was dejected about this for a long time. Now there are fewer and fewer people around him who can speak straightforwardly.”

Seeing Shen Xihe care so much for Xiao Junzhu, and thinking of how Xiao Junzhu acted childishly awkward with them, Xiao Huayong felt a touch of envy.

Throughout history, how many young emperors could live so peacefully and happily? Not just emperors – no imperial child had ever had a mother like Shen Xihe, who sheltered them so completely.

“With Youyou’s maternal love, how could I crush it?” Xiao Huayong quickly promised.

Shen Xihe was half-believing but didn’t pursue the matter further.

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