“Grand Emperor, you must uphold justice for this subject.” The Prince of Second Rank was back on his knees, speaking with air hissing through the gaps in his teeth. “Crown Prince subjected this subject to private punishment — with no regard for this subject whatsoever. Can the heir apparent simply punish a subject at will?”

“Grand Emperor, if you do not give this subject an explanation for this matter, it will be impossible to command respect!” The Prince of Second Rank spoke through clenched teeth, seething with fury. In his current state, even raising his voice slightly made his gums throb with pain.

The Grand Emperor’s expression darkened. “What could Xiaoxiao have possibly done wrong? Surely he was just playing around with you — how could you have taken it so seriously?”

“Grand Emperor.” The Prince of Second Rank felt a wave of rage crash against his chest. “Look at this subject’s face. What crime has this subject committed to deserve such punishment from Crown Prince? To have Crown Prince ‘play around’ with him like this?”

“Shouldn’t Crown Prince be confined and made to apologize to this subject?!”

The Grand Emperor clasped the small figure’s hand reassuringly. “Don’t be afraid — imperial grandfather will not have Xiaoxiao confined, and he certainly will not have Xiaoxiao apologize.”

“Mm.” The small figure made himself look pitiful, curled up in the Grand Emperor’s arms as though thoroughly wronged by the Prince of Second Rank.

“Is the Grand Emperor intending to shield the Crown Prince?” The hatred in the Prince of Second Rank’s eyes was impossible to conceal.

“Let me be direct with you — today, forget the fact that my imperial grandson has done nothing wrong. Even if he had, what of it?” The Grand Emperor took the freshly-presented grapes that Chief Eunuch Feng offered, peeled them himself, and placed one into the small figure’s mouth. “Are they good? Your imperial father has never had a grape peeled by imperial grandfather — Xiaoxiao is the first.”

“Imperial grandfather, didn’t you say before that you peeled grapes for Imperial Father once, but Imperial Father just doesn’t like eating them?” the small figure blinked.

“But he still didn’t eat them, did he?” the Grand Emperor said with an amused smile.

Watching Xiaoxiao was like raising his son Yuyan all over again — except that from a young age, Yuyan had been a little more reserved.

Xiaoxiao was different. Xiaoxiao would act spoiled with him and the Empress Dowager, would throw little tantrums, would cry and make a fuss, and would say sweet things to coax them.

Compared to his son Yuyan, he did genuinely adore Xiaoxiao more.

The Prince of Second Rank stared at the grandfather and grandson chatting away, and a surging, violent fury stabbed at his heart. “Does the Grand Emperor mean to say that regardless of whether a subject has done anything wrong, Crown Prince is entitled to punish him as he sees fit?”

What kind of ruler was worth serving, given this? He had still been hesitating — but looking at things now, there was no need to hesitate any longer.

“And you — have you done nothing wrong?” The Grand Emperor continued peeling grapes, his dark gaze sweeping coldly toward the Prince of Second Rank. “Xiaoxiao worked painstakingly on that essay, and you and your son deliberately stomped on it — that is a gross act of disrespect toward Crown Prince, and a provocation against the dignity of the Xuanzhao imperial family. Should you not bear responsibility with your life for this?”

The Prince of Second Rank’s eyes flashed with a cold, vicious fury. “The Grand Emperor invents a convenient excuse and asks this subject to pay with his life — truly, this chills the hearts of your subjects.”

A Xuan Prince who had abandoned the court for the sake of the Xuan Empress; a Crown Prince still too young; and a Grand Emperor of advancing years — after all these years, was it not time for that seat to change hands?

He truly wanted to see how utterly the Grand Emperor would fall apart upon losing the Crown Prince.

The Grand Emperor fixed a cold stare on the Prince of Second Rank kneeling below, saying nothing more.

Chief Eunuch Feng spoke up unhurriedly. “My lord, leaving aside the fact that the Grand Emperor has found no excuse at all — even if he had, you ought to count yourself fortunate. After all, the Grand Emperor personally troubled himself to find an excuse just to punish you, which means you should be giving thanks.”

“This subject does not accept this judgment.” The Prince of Second Rank tried to keep his temper — now was not yet the time.

The Grand Emperor placed the peeled grape in Xuan Yuncheng’s mouth, softening his tone. “Xiaoxiao, your imperial grandmother is waiting for you in the palace. How about letting Chief Eunuch Feng take you to find her, all right?”

The small figure chewed the grape in his mouth. His eyes made a little roll, and he waved at the Grand Emperor. “All right.”

He understood, didn’t he — the Grand Emperor wanted to punish the Prince of Second Rank and didn’t want him watching.

The moment Xuan Yuncheng stepped out of the Imperial Study, the Grand Emperor shed all restraint. His eyes turned to ice. “He trampled on the essay Xiaoxiao painstakingly wrote — then what need has he for those feet?”

The imperial guards understood and moved forward. The next instant, the Prince of Second Rank let out a terrible cry. He stared in disbelief at his now-ruined feet, his chest filled with an uncontainable hatred.

All he had done was step on the Crown Prince’s essay — and the Grand Emperor had truly moved against him for the sake of a Crown Prince who was not yet grown.

“Tomorrow at morning court, bring a written apology and admit your wrongdoing in front of all the assembled officials on Xiaoxiao’s behalf.”

The Prince of Second Rank swallowed hard. His feet convulsed without stop. He spoke through gritted teeth. “This subject… in this condition, how is this subject to attend court?”

The Grand Emperor rose to his feet and looked down at the wretched Prince of Second Rank, his voice utterly cold. “When you showed no regard for Xiaoxiao, did it not occur to you that this day might come? Or was it that because his Imperial Father was absent from court and I had elevated your position that you felt you could bully and look down on young Xiaoxiao?”

“This subject would not dare.” The Prince of Second Rank said through the pain.

“Having been entrusted to help govern Qilan on my behalf, you really did start to see yourself as the Qilan Emperor, didn’t you? You have rather too high an opinion of yourself.” The Grand Emperor’s voice carried a note of cold mockery.

Xuanzhao and Qilan would one day both belong to Xiaoxiao — no one could take them away.

“This subject had no such thought.” The Prince of Second Rank trembled all over from the pain.

“Get out of my sight. Write that letter of apology properly. If tomorrow I am dissatisfied with it, I will double the punishment.”

“Yes, Grand Emperor.” The Prince of Second Rank swallowed his humiliation and responded. He attempted to stand, but the blood loss left him dizzy, and the world spun around him.

The Grand Emperor said impatiently, “Drag him out.”

The guards clasped their fists. “Understood, Grand Emperor.”

The Prince of Second Rank, his complexion ashen, was dragged out by two guards — one on each arm. The shame of it sent his eyes rolling back in his head, and he closed them and fell unconscious.

Xuan Imperial Palace — the Crown Prince’s Chambers.

After visiting the Empress Dowager, Xuan Yuncheng ran over to the Xuan Prince’s quarters. The moment he stepped into the hall, he caught sight of his Imperial Mother reclining on the daybed, with Qiuci at her side offering her fruit, while his Imperial Father crouched beside the daybed massaging her legs.

Just like how Ye Chen massaged his legs and kneaded his shoulders.

“Greetings to Imperial Father and Imperial Mother.” The small figure bowed with perfect propriety.

“Xiaoxiao, come here.” Xuan Yanyu beckoned to Xuan Yuncheng. The small figure smiled and threw himself into his arms.

“Imperial Father and Imperial Mother went outside the palace and brought something back for you — try it and see if you like it. Imperial Father and Imperial Mother thought it was delicious.” Xuan Yanyu produced a string of bright red candied hawthorns.

Yan Yunning hesitated, words on the tip of her tongue. Was there really a father like this?

Trying to trick his own child??

“What’s this?” the small figure asked, his eyes lighting up faintly.

It was his first time seeing objects that looked like little lanterns strung together, coated in crystallized sugar — it looked delicious just from the appearance alone.

“Candied hawthorns. Very good. Very sweet. Give them a try,” the man said with a smile that did not bode well.

“Xiaoxiao — Imperial Mother actually doesn’t think they’re that delicious!” Yan Yunning said, trying to be tactful.

“Hm?” The small figure looked at Yan Yunning, then glanced at Xuan Yanyu, puzzled. “Imperial Father, Imperial Mother — are they delicious or not?”

Why did Imperial Father say they were delicious, but Imperial Mother said they weren’t?

“Wouldn’t Xiaoxiao know for himself after trying one?” Xuan Yanyu looked up and met Yan Yunning’s eyes, a mischievous smile playing on his handsome face.

Yan Yunning shot him a glare.

The small figure was no fool either. He set the candied hawthorns down on the little table and shook his head. “This subject isn’t hungry yet. I’ll try them in a little while.”

The man sighed. “Your Imperial Mother thought of you and went out of her way to bring these back — and you won’t even try one?”

Xuan Yuncheng wavered. He reached out his small hand, picked up the hawthorns, and held them under his nose for a sniff. He supposed that since he was Imperial Father and Imperial Mother’s own child, they shouldn’t mean him any harm.