Ziqing handed both the score and the blood zither over to Jun Beiyue for safekeeping, and spent several days resting, clearing her mind. Her body and condition recovered well. Having not seen Guxi in so long, seeing how much he had grown, how steady and mature he’d become, brought her great comfort.
Though Guxi hadn’t mentioned it, she still found herself thinking of another child she had once trusted deeply—Shiliang.
Back at the royal capital of Nanzhao, once Shiliang’s scheme had been exposed, he had been driven out, and there had been no word of him since.
Naturally, Ziqing had no intention of searching for him. For those who betrayed her, she never gave second chances.
While mistress and servant were speaking, Xiong Xiaobao came bounding in from outside, excitedly holding a freshly written letter in his hand.
The moment he spotted Guxi, Xiong Xiaobao stopped and looked him over with raised eyebrows.
Setting aside the fact that Xiong Xiaobao wore the same black combat attire so similar to Jun Beiyue’s, just his handsome features alone were enough for Guxi to recognize him at once.
He hastily stepped back, dropping to one knee. “This humble servant greets the Young Prince. Blessings upon the Young Prince!”
“So you’re Guxi?” Xiong Xiaobao asked, sauntering lazily over to sit on the heated couch.
“This humble servant is indeed him.” Guxi answered respectfully.
“Oh…” Xiong Xiaobao drew the word out, thinking to himself—wasn’t this the guy who used to be sweet on Shiliang? Baili Xiaosheng had mentioned that in Nanzhao’s poison den, they kept a poison corpse named Shiliang, someone Guxi had feelings for.
“What is it? Have you two met before?” Ziqing asked, catching the odd tone in Xiong Xiaobao’s voice.
“No, I’ve just heard Daddy mention him a few times, saying he’s quite capable!” Xiong Xiaobao said, tapping his small fingers idly against the letter, listening to his mother and Guxi talk without interjecting.
Finally, he said offhandedly, “Mommy, Uncle Scholar wants to send a letter to Baili Xiaosheng, just to let her know he’s safe. Why not let Guxi deliver it? I think he’s reliable.”
A complicated look flickered in Guxi’s eyes, but he said nothing, waiting for Ziqing to respond.
To his surprise, Ziqing said directly, “I’ll just send one of the shadow guards to deliver it. Guxi has only just come back after so long—I want to keep him by your side, as your personal guard.”
Xiong Xiaobao immediately caught the scent of a scheme and protested at once. “Mommy, I have my four poison beasts—am I really in danger of anyone bullying me?”
“This is the capital. It’s not like elsewhere—you can’t just do as you please here,” Ziqing said seriously. Before Xiong Xiaobao could protest further, she continued, “Your father and I have already discussed it. Starting tomorrow, you’ll be sent to study under the Grand Tutor. You’re almost seven now—it’s time to put away your playful ways.”
In ancient times, especially for children born into an imperial family, being allowed to play carefree until the age of seven simply wasn’t realistic, because there was so much they would have to face in the future.
Ziqing’s heart ached for her son, but she had to face reality.
Xiong Xiaobao was clever, certainly, but he had never experienced the scheming and political maneuvering of court life. Against the cunning old foxes of the court and the palace, he was still far too green!
In fact, he might very well lose even to some old eunuch in the palace right now.
He was Jun Beiyue’s only son, and the future heir to the entire Da Zhou empire. She and Jun Beiyue could shield him for a time, but not forever.
The so-called crown prince, the heir to the throne—such a person had to be cultivated from childhood, someone capable of shouldering the weight of the realm at any moment.
His very identity guaranteed him glory, and that glory came bound with the responsibility resting on his shoulders.
To keep indulging him would only harm the child in the end. It was time to push him out into the world—but fortunately, even as they pushed him forward, she and Jun Beiyue would still be there to see him grow.
Ziqing’s words made Xiong Xiaobao’s head droop instantly. He said nothing, and it was unclear whether he’d taken any of it in.
Ziqing nudged him. “Not happy about it?”
Xiong Xiaobao still said nothing, head bowed as if lost in thought. Just then, Jun Beiyue walked in from outside, and immediately noticed something was off with his son.
He shot Ziqing a suspicious glance, and she merely shrugged, helpless.
Jun Beiyue, treating him like a buddy, threw a large hand around Xiong Xiaobao’s shoulders and said with a laugh, “Whatever’s bothering you, tell your father, and I’ll cheer you up.”
Only then did Xiong Xiaobao lift his head, forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Nothing’s wrong.”
“Then how about coming into the palace with me for a bit?” Jun Beiyue asked. Since Ziqing had been resting these past few days, he’d naturally been the one handling the mountain of state affairs in the palace.
Having placed Emperor Tianhui under house arrest, sent Prince Baxian away, and conquered Eastern Qin, Western Chu, and the Xiongnu—how much business had piled up across the realm? Naturally, he had to attend to it.
But to his surprise, Xiong Xiaobao suddenly turned serious. “Daddy, everyone’s saying you’re going to ascend the throne as emperor. Is that true?”
Ziqing and Jun Beiyue had never been the type to joke around normally, yet they always found themselves laughing and teasing with Xiong Xiaobao. Faced with their son’s sudden seriousness, the husband and wife exchanged a startled glance.
“No,” Jun Beiyue answered, not joking either, his tone serious.
“So, you want to push me onto that throne instead?” Xiong Xiaobao asked again.
“Yes,” Jun Beiyue answered honestly.
At this, Xiong Xiaobao suddenly exploded with anger. “Did you even ask if I was willing!”
Jun Beiyue was taken aback, not expecting such a strong reaction from his son. He glanced at Ziqing, his brow slowly furrowing, and didn’t answer right away.
In truth, Jun Beiyue and Ziqing had already planned this out—they would have Xiong Xiaobao ascend the throne, with Jun Beiyue serving as regent to assist him. This would give Xiong Xiaobao a chance to be trained and tested, and it would also make things far more convenient for Jun Beiyue to handle affairs under the title of regent.
Their family had already upended the entire balance of power across Longyuan—they couldn’t very well just abandon all of it and walk away.
Call it planning for Xiong Xiaobao’s future, or call it their own unavoidable selfishness—either way, this was indeed what they had intended.
Watching their son’s angry, cold expression, Ziqing realized for the first time that her son was no longer so young after all.
She smiled and said, “Son, isn’t that exactly what we’re asking you now?”
“And if I say I’m not willing?” Xiong Xiaobao shot back immediately.
Ziqing blinked, startled, but still patiently tried to persuade him. “Son, do you know what the people of the capital call your father?”
“War God!” Xiong Xiaobao said, none too pleased.
“No, they call your father the Guardian God of Da Zhou. Your father isn’t just Mommy’s husband, and he isn’t just your father—he’s the king of the people of Da Zhou,” Ziqing said.
“That’s Daddy’s business,” Xiong Xiaobao said flatly.
“Son, what if, one day, your father and I are gone? What happens to Da Zhou then?” Ziqing asked again. A wise ruler plans for the present; a sage ruler plans for the ages.
An era of peace and prosperity could never be achieved by a single generation of rulers and ministers—it had to be built up and passed down across generations. Establishing an heir was a matter of national importance. Without an heir, a nation’s prosperity would last only a moment, never enduring.
It wasn’t that Xiong Xiaobao couldn’t understand what his mother was saying—he simply couldn’t accept it. He hadn’t been born and raised in the palace; he’d grown up running wild in the mountains and forests since childhood. He couldn’t grasp concepts like the fate of the nation or the welfare of the common people.
All he knew was that the future he’d imagined for himself was not supposed to be like this!
“Does it absolutely have to be me?” Xiong Xiaobao asked coldly—the first time in his life he had ever lost his temper in front of Ziqing.