Young children grow quickly like shoots in the wind, and in just seven or eight years, Shen Shiyan and Shen Shixiao had already grown into half-grown children.

Though the two brothers resembled each other in appearance, their temperaments were vastly different.

Shen Shiyan’s disposition took after his Imperial Father—seemingly carefree with his laughter, anger, and flamboyant nature, yet beneath it all he possessed great calculation. Having been doted upon since childhood by Shang Rong, Zhao Nanzhang, and others, his nature was also quite magnanimous.

Yet even Shen Shiyan, who was showered with boundless affection, was not without his troubles.

Many in the court speculated that he and Shen Shixiao might one day engage in fraternal rivalry, perhaps even creating a situation of brothers fighting over this realm, but he always felt that if Shen Shixiao truly harbored such thoughts, he himself would actually be somewhat pleased.

“Why are you reading these Buddhist scriptures again?”

Snatching the scripture from Shen Shixiao’s hands, Shen Shiyan glared with furrowed brows: “Didn’t Imperial Concubine Zhao tell you yesterday to seek her out to learn archery and horsemanship? Why didn’t you go?”

“Imperial Elder Brother, please don’t be angry. This younger brother forgot.”

Shen Shixiao looked up with an embarrassed smile.

“If you forgot, I sent people to your palace to find you. How is it they couldn’t find you for half a day?”

Shen Shixiao lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Yesterday he had hidden beneath the rockery in the Imperial Garden to study Buddhist scriptures, and unknowingly became so absorbed that he lost track of time. Only when the sky darkened and he could no longer make out the characters did he react, hurrying off to find his Imperial Father and Mother.

“It’s this younger brother’s fault. It won’t happen again.”

“How will it not happen? How many times have you deceived your elder brother?”

Shen Shiyan pressed his hand on the scripture on the table, his heart extremely vexed.

“You’re a seven or eight-year-old child—why do you read these things all day? Could it be you plan to become a monk in the future?”

“Reading can enlighten the mind and open wisdom. It has nothing to do with becoming a monk or not.”

Shen Shixiao stood up and obediently came forward to grasp Shen Shiyan’s hand: “Today, Imperial Younger Brother will accompany Imperial Elder Brother to practice archery and horsemanship. Imperial Elder Brother, please don’t be angry anymore.”

With his own younger brother so obediently apologizing, how could Shen Shiyan remain angry? Only, his talk of practicing archery and horsemanship was entirely meant to comfort him.

Though his Imperial Younger Brother’s name contained the character for “valiant,” he had nothing whatsoever to do with valor. Rather, he was gentle and refined, every bit a cultured scholar in appearance.

“Then promise your elder brother—from now on, you’re not allowed to read these things anymore. What if they lead your disposition astray?”

“This younger brother won’t become a monk. Imperial Father and Mother said that in the future, this younger brother must help Imperial Elder Brother manage the realm. This younger brother knows the responsibility upon his shoulders.”

“You needn’t think of it that way. With your elder brother here to shoulder the responsibility of the realm, you can freely do whatever you like.”

Bearing the responsibility of the realm was truly burdensome. If Shen Shixiao had such aspirations, he would gladly hand this realm over to him.

But he knew Shen Shixiao had no such ambition at all.

His younger brother loved quiet and loved reading, with not the slightest interest in such trifles as being king or emperor.

Affectionately patting Shixiao’s head, Shen Shiyan said: “You can do whatever you wish, only you cannot become a monk or a man removed from the world.”

“Imperial Elder Brother, rest assured. This younger brother won’t.”

“People are born bearing a mission. This younger brother has his mission and won’t retreat from the world to evade the responsibilities he should bear. My fondness for studying Buddhist teachings is only because the Buddhist teachings are profound and can calm the mind, nothing more.”

Shen Shiyan didn’t quite understand what he meant by this mission, but as an elder brother who had always doted on his younger brother, hearing these words he only smiled and let him be.

“Shall we go to Imperial Concubine Zhao’s palace today?”

“No. Mother summoned us through Heng Zhi to dine. I came to fetch you.”

The two brothers walked hand in hand toward Changle Palace.

Since Shen Qianyu had designated Shen Shiyan as Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, he brought him along every day. Having never had much ambition to be Emperor to begin with, now not yet forty years old, he spent his days contemplating how to hand over Dongning to Shen Shiyan so he could peacefully become the Retired Emperor.

“I wonder when Yan’er will be able to stand on his own.”

“He must at least wait until his coming-of-age ceremony.”

Whenever this topic came up, Shen Qianyu would become dejected for most of the day.

Song Wan, seeing his drooping brow and lackluster expression, said with a smile: “Yan’er is intelligent. You can slowly pass the matters in your hands to—”

“Mother is instigating Father to shirk his duties again.”

Shen Shiyan had only just entered Changle Palace when he heard Song Wan’s words.

“Mother only knows to dote on Father but doesn’t know to dote on your son. Jiang Su said that if your son handles so many memorials at such a young age, he won’t grow tall in the future.”

“What nonsense are you talking?”

Shen Qianyu stood up: “If your Mother doesn’t dote on me, who will she dote on? In the future, you’ll have your own wife to dote on you.”

“Shixiao, come here. Let Father have a look at you.”

Shen Qianyu beckoned to Shen Shixiao, pulling him close for an up-and-down inspection: “From now on, read less at night, lest you hurt your eyes at such a young age.”

“This son understands.”

“Good child.”

Extending his large palm to pat Shen Shixiao’s head, seeing him blush and smile with pressed lips, Shen Qianyu’s heart finally felt much more at ease.

Though he hadn’t been able to have a little princess who looked exactly like Wan’er, Shixiao’s temperament was extremely similar to Wan’er’s, which also made up for his years of regret.

“Go wash your hands and come eat.”

Shen Qianyu sat down first. Though the entire table held only vegetarian dishes without a trace of meat, the whole family ate with great enjoyment.

These years, Shen Qianyu truly hadn’t touched any meat, but unwilling to deprive Song Wan, he often had the small kitchen prepare meat dishes especially for her.

But Song Wan also felt for him and couldn’t bear to eat those things he once loved most in front of him. Gradually, the husband and wife both began eating vegetarian, persisting until now.

After the meal, Shen Shiyan led Shen Shixiao away, while Shen Qianyu reclined on the couch for a nap.

These past few years, he increasingly felt his body growing heavy, and he too gradually became more indolent.

Song Wan, seeing him sleep soundly, took a velvet blanket to cover him.

In previous years, she had released both Heng Wu and Luanjian from the palace to marry, leaving only Heng Zhi by her side. She had tried to persuade her several times, but as Heng Zhi was unwilling to leave the palace, she had given up.

Perhaps because both she and Shen Qianyu loved tranquility, over the years they had become increasingly unwilling to keep people in attendance around them. Gradually, this vast Changle Palace became more and more empty and deserted.

Only Shen Qianyu’s light, steady snoring remained in the room. Song Wan listened while quietly and carefully going about her own affairs.

“How long did I sleep?”

“Less than an hour.”

Seeing Shen Qianyu wake, Song Wan closed the small nanmu wood box in her hands and turned to pour him tea.

“Let me help you.”

Shen Qianyu wanted to rise, but just as he began to move, his body suddenly stiffened.

“First moisten your lips and throat. No rush.”

Bringing the teacup to Shen Qianyu’s lips, seeing him drink deeply, she then folded the small blanket on him and gently began massaging his knees.

Her pressure was moderate, and the acupoints she pressed were extremely precise. In just moments, Shen Qianyu felt the stiff, numb sensation below his calves gradually dissipate.

“That’s enough, Wan’er.”

“Do you feel more comfortable now?”

Shen Qianyu nodded, acknowledging with a nasal sound.

Seeing this, Song Wan smiled gently. Just as she was about to rise, he grasped her wrist.

Shen Qianyu raised his head and said softly: “In the past when I was younger, I didn’t notice anything, but in recent years as I’ve aged, I’ve finally realized that the ailments from injuries sustained long ago have all come back to find me.”

“Wan’er… I’m truly afraid. I fear if this body of mine cannot hold out for many more years, what shall I do?”