The Great Chu embassy arranged by Prince Ding’s mansion was merely two streets away from his residence. While cities like Xiling, Northern Rong, and Nanzhao all had their embassies in Li City, Great Chu had never established one. This was partly due to the awkward relationship between Great Chu and Prince Ding’s mansion, and partly because neither Mo Jingli nor Mo Jingqi wanted to acknowledge Prince Ding’s mansion as an independent power. Therefore, whenever Great Chu sent envoys, Prince Ding’s mansion would make the arrangements. However, this time, Mo Jingyu had actively expressed to Mo Xiuyao Great Chu’s intention to establish an embassy in Li City – the gesture of submission was obvious.

In the guesthouse, Mo Suiyun freed himself from Mo Jingyu and the attending officials, entering his own room. The childish face that had worn a hint of timidity and naivety instantly turned gloomy. He sat down at a table and fell into deep thought.

Before ascending to the throne, Mo Suiyun had never imagined he would one day become the ruler of a nation. Like his deceased imperial brother Mo Shuyun, his mother was merely an insignificant palace maid. He was even more overlooked than Mo Shuyun – even his name was given by his mother. Perhaps he was luckier than Mo Shuyun because he hadn’t been chosen by Mo Jingqi to inherit the throne at that time. Over the years, he had observed clearly how Emperor Mo Shuyun had lived in the palace. Originally, he thought he would remain an unremarkable prince, living a peaceful life outside the palace after coming of age. But unexpectedly, Mo Jingli, who had been campaigning abroad, was suddenly deposed. Then the Grand Empress Dowager and all the royal relatives and civil-military officials discovered he was the most suitable candidate, and he became the Emperor of Great Chu.

Mo Jingli’s deposition had indeed brought him relief. Although he had only met Mo Jingli a few times, each encounter with this royal uncle gave him a chilling sensation. He sensed that Mo Jingli wanted to kill him – no, more accurately, Mo Jingli wanted to kill all the princes left by the previous emperor. And he did not want to die.

Only after ascending to the throne did he understand his imperial brother’s true hardships. In the eyes of the Grand Empress Dowager and the powerful nobles, he was merely a chess piece in their game. Mo Suiyun knew he didn’t want that. He didn’t want to live bound by these people. He had heard many stories about Prince Ding and wanted to become someone like him.

Therefore, his respect when facing Prince Ding wasn’t feigned. He truly respected and admired this lord who commanded heaven’s awe, so when bowing he couldn’t help but glance up at Prince Ding. However, when he met the deep, serene eyes of that handsome man in white robes with white hair, he became somewhat flustered. Those detached eyes seemed to either not see him at all or to see through his most hidden thoughts completely. He hurriedly lowered his head in pretended fear, but he knew he had certainly aroused Prince Ding’s suspicion…

Mo Suiyun bit his lip lightly and furrowed his brows. Though quite cunning and brave, he was still just an eleven or twelve-year-old child. Moreover, no one had seriously taught him over the years, so encountering such unexpected situations left him momentarily panicked. If… if Prince Ding wanted to kill him…

“Your Majesty, there is a young master outside requesting an audience,” reported the guard outside in a low voice.

Mo Suiyun, already in a foul mood, frowned in displeasure. “What young master? No audience!”

“But…” As the guard hesitated, Mo Suiyun said impatiently, “Take any matters to Uncle Prince Yu, don’t bother me!” The voice outside quickly fell silent. Mo Suiyun laughed coldly in his heart – these people didn’t take him seriously as emperor at all, merely going through the motions of reporting. Though it was strange that someone in Li City would seek him out, Mo Suiyun had no mood to consider this matter now.

“Knock knock knock…” As Mo Suiyun was lost in thought, light tapping came from the window. Mo Suiyun frowned, and just as he stood up, he saw the window being opened from outside, and a handsome boy poked his head in.

Mo Suiyun frowned slightly, studying the boy for a while before asking, “Were you the one looking for me just now?”

The boy pouted, nimbly climbing through the window and landing lightly before nodding, “Yes, why wouldn’t you see me?” Mo Suiyun couldn’t help but roll his eyes – do I even know you?

Looking more carefully, he found this boy extremely handsome, seemingly younger than himself. Though wearing very ordinary clothes, they couldn’t hide his seemingly innate noble bearing. Mo Suiyun silently calculated before asking, “Are you… Mo Yuzhen?”

Mo Xiaobao rolled his eyes and grinned, moving closer to Mo Suiyun to examine him. “You are clever. How did you guess this young master’s identity?” Mo Suiyun resisted the urge to roll his eyes – in all of Li City, besides Prince Ding’s young master, who else would dare break into the Great Chu emperor’s guesthouse?

“What brings the young master to grace us with his presence?” Mo Suiyun assumed his imperial bearing, asking seriously.

Mo Xiaobao blinked, looking at Mo Suiyun oddly, “Grace you? Looking like this… what grace could I bring?” He was only ten years old! Even if he wanted to bring some grace, it would have to wait until he had power. Right now, he was just a poor child brought out by his detestable father to meet a future enemy.

Mo Suiyun silently watched Mo Xiaobao make himself at home, sitting down and grabbing fruit from the table, wiping it before starting to eat. He felt his forehead throb – his instincts, honed from long palace life, told him this boy smiling so innocently was trouble.

Mo Xiaobao looked at Mo Suiyun standing silently to the side and beckoned, “Come sit.”

Mo Suiyun sat down across from Mo Xiaobao, watching him eat with great enjoyment, secretly wondering if Prince Ding never let his son eat his fill. “Why did you come looking for me?”

Mo Xiaobao flashed him a brilliant smile, “To play with you! Father said I’m the host and should entertain guests well. I was worried you’d be lonely, so I came specially to take you out to play.”

“Play?” Mo Suiyun was bewildered.

It wasn’t that Mo Suiyun as a guest didn’t know his place, but he truly couldn’t understand when his relationship with Prince Ding’s young master had become close enough to go play together.

Mo Xiaobao propped his chin up, looking at him somewhat proudly, “Well? Are you coming or not?”

Meeting Mo Xiaobao’s seemingly challenging gaze, Mo Suiyun suddenly gritted his teeth and nodded firmly, “Let’s go!” I’m an emperor too, why should I fear a mere young master? So, little emperor, you were just counting on Mo Xiaobao not daring to kill you, that’s why you agreed to go play with him?

Ready to leave immediately, Mo Suiyun stood up to open the door. Mo Xiaobao quickly pulled him back, “What are you doing?” Mo Suiyun gave him a strange look, “Aren’t we going out to play?” Mo Xiaobao rolled his eyes, pointing at the still half-open window, “I came in that way – how would you explain to others how this young master appeared in Great Chu’s guesthouse? If Father finds out, I’ll be in big trouble.”

“Then what do you want to do?”

Mo Xiaobao pointed at the window with an utterly innocent smile, “Let’s climb over the wall.”

“Climb the wall?!” Mo Suiyun nearly cried out.

Mo Xiaobao had already jumped onto the windowsill, one hand gripping the frame as he looked outside before turning back, “You’re not scared, are you?” Mo Suiyun took a deep breath, “Who’s scared? Let’s go!”

“That’s more like it.” Mo Xiaobao nodded, leaping nimbly down from the window. Mo Suiyun was startled and quickly climbed up to look, only to see Mo Xiaobao leaning impatiently against the wall corner, beckoning to him. Mo Suiyun didn’t know martial arts and somewhat awkwardly climbed down from the window. Following Mo Xiaobao, they snuck around the guesthouse, and amazingly managed to reach the back door without being discovered. This wasn’t Mo Xiaobao’s first time doing such things.

Outside the guesthouse’s back door, several figures surrounded them as soon as they emerged, pulling them into a mad dash. Only when they stopped in a safe place did Mo Suiyun have time to examine the people before him, discovering they were all children even younger than himself. Looking again at Mo Xiaobao, who was half a head shorter than himself, a sense of adulthood and mission spontaneously arose.

“Little Bao Brother, is this the little emperor from Great Chu?” Though young, Leng Junhan in his white brocade clothes already showed several hints of his father’s former bearing. Leisurely fanning himself with a small folding fan, he could have been mistaken for some noble’s spoiled son.

Beside him, Xu Zhirui, who had similarly inherited his father’s solemn face, looked at Mo Suiyun and frowned, “He hasn’t changed clothes – he’ll be discovered.” Mo Suiyun felt a cold sweat break out under the stares of these two little radishes who didn’t even reach his chin.

Nearby, Mu Lie, who had changed his name to Qin Lie, casually tossed over a bundle, saying, “Knew you’d forget – clothes.”

Mo Xiaobao raised his eyebrows disdainfully, “Without changing clothes, this young master still walked out from inside, didn’t he? What heavily guarded… piece of cake.” Father was right – this was about the thrill. Snatching the little emperor of Great Chu from the guesthouse – how fun! Sneaking out disguised as servants would have been too unchallenging.

Leng Junhan smiled at Mo Suiyun, practically drooling, “A little emperor, ah! First time I saw a real emperor. A live one…” Mo Suiyun broke out in a cold sweat. He had thought the Chu palace dangerous everywhere, but now he suddenly felt that compared to facing these few children who had problems with their minds, he would rather go back to face the Grand Empress Dowager and those ministers. Did this white, tender little bun think he was a roast duck? That covetous expression… Mo Suiyun decided he must stay far away from this white, tender little fool.

If Leng Junhan knew what Mo Suiyun was thinking, he would certainly cry injustice. He had just never seen an emperor before! Who made it so that the highest-ranking person he had seen in this life was just a prince? Although this prince was a supreme figure who made many emperors fear him, he still wasn’t an emperor. Finally seeing a living, breathing little emperor, the extremely curious Leng Junhan naturally had to study him properly.

Qin Lie cast an enigmatic glance at the somewhat uneasy little emperor. He seemed slightly better than Mo Shuyun, but there wasn’t anything particularly special about him. He had been so easily lured out by the young master – hadn’t he considered how many people would be frightened by the sudden disappearance of Great Chu’s little emperor from the guesthouse?

However, Qin Lie didn’t care about this. How the young master wanted to play was his business; he only needed to be responsible for their safety.

At Mo Xiaobao’s urging, Mo Suiyun changed into the ordinary clothes Qin Lie had prepared. This way, the children looked like a group of ordinary wealthy family’s children. Li City now gathered many powerful nobles, famous families, and rich merchants, so there were naturally children from noble families playing on the streets regularly. Therefore, even walking on the main street didn’t draw much attention.

Mo Suiyun had been born in the imperial palace, and in his life had only left twice – once following Great Chu’s court southward, and this time heading north to Li City. Naturally, he found everything novel and fascinating. Among Mo Xiaobao’s group, not to mention the worldly Qin Lie, even Leng Junhan and Xu Zhirui had grown up running around everywhere, so it was all ordinary to them. Rather than saying they went out to play, it was more like the children were accommodating this inexperienced bumpkin of a little emperor Mo Suiyun, taking him around sightseeing. Just as Mo Suiyun began feeling slightly hungry, Mo Xiaobao generously led him to Li City’s finest restaurant for a meal.

The restaurant staff were very familiar with Mo Xiaobao’s group. As soon as they entered, they were skillfully led to the quietest private room on the second floor. Sitting in the private room, Mo Suiyun struggled to contain his curiosity and discomfort, asking, “Young Master, do you come here often?”

Mo Xiaobao smiled sweetly, “Not that often. Occasionally we come once, but the food here is delicious. Don’t be polite, this restaurant belongs to Qin Lie’s family – they won’t charge us.”

Qin Lie silently rolled his eyes. Even if they were eating for free, did he have to state it so openly? Young Master, do you still remember that this little emperor before you is your enemy?

Mo Suiyun looked at them somewhat enviously, “It must be nice to be like you.”

Leng Junhan blinked, tilting his little head to look at him, “If you like it, you can stay and play with us. We won’t bully you.” Among the group, Leng Junhan had the best impression of Mo Suiyun, though this was based on him being the first emperor he had ever seen.

Mo Suiyun was stunned for a moment, then shook his head, “I can’t stay.”

Leng Junhan nodded understandingly, “I know, you’re the emperor of Great Chu. Is being emperor fun?” Mo Suiyun shook his head somewhat bitterly, “Not fun, not fun at all.”

“Not fun?” Leng Junhan rubbed his forehead and asked, “Little Bao Brother, do you still want to be emperor? The little emperor says being emperor isn’t fun.” Mo Xiaobao snorted disdainfully, “This young master will be Prince Ding in the future, what’s so great about being emperor? This young master wants to be Prince Ding, understand?”

“Emperor ranks higher than Prince Ding,” Xu Zhirui calmly educated his cousin on basic knowledge.

Mo Xiaobao gave him a sidelong glance, “Which emperor dares to say they rank higher than Father?”

Everyone looked at each other, then shrugged. Indeed, at least currently, there probably wasn’t any emperor who dared to challenge Prince Ding. Xu Zhirui persisted, “Even so, the emperor still ranks higher.”

Mo Xiaobao frowned and thought for a moment before saying, “Fine, then I still want to be Prince Ding first!” Without stepping over Father, how could he stand up? Being emperor was even more unthinkable. Mo Xiaobao calculated confidently in his heart.

Mo Suiyun ate the fragrant dishes on the table while saying, “What if you don’t become Prince Ding?”

Mo Xiaobao looked at him strangely, “Why wouldn’t I become Prince Ding?”

“Doesn’t the Prince Ding mansion have another young master?” Mo Suiyun said casually. “Just like how the throne isn’t necessarily passed to the Crown Prince, the position of Prince Ding might not necessarily be passed to the eldest son, right?”

“Hmm…” Mo Xiaobao pondered, then nodded, “You make sense. Thanks for reminding me, I’ll work hard to encourage Lin’er to be a good, obedient little brother.” Mo Suiyun smiled faintly, “No need to thank me, I just mentioned it casually, don’t take it to heart.”

“By the way, Mo Suiyun. I heard Great Chu’s Grand Empress Dowager is very fierce. Is your imperial grandmother good to you?” Mo Xiaobao’s eyes shifted as he asked with concern. Mo Suiyun’s hand holding the chopsticks paused for a moment before he smiled, “Imperial Grandmother is very good to me.”

“You’re so fortunate, my father is very fierce with me. You’re the emperor… everyone has to listen to you. Me, this young master… Father oppresses me all day,” Mo Xiaobao sighed enviously.

Mo Suiyun’s smile was somewhat bitter – how could he as emperor be so fortunate? Even the servants by his side sometimes wouldn’t follow his orders, let alone everyone listening to him. Looking at Mo Xiaobao’s innocent face as he asked this and that, and at Leng Junhan, Xu Zhirui, and Qin Lie eating with great enjoyment beside them, Mo Suiyun suddenly felt jealousy arise in his heart. Why could they live so carefree and happily, while he had to live so cautiously in the Chu palace as if walking on thin ice?

“I’ll be more formidable than Father in the future!” Mo Xiaobao slapped the table and shouted.

The others sitting and eating nearby silently glanced at him before continuing to eat without responding. Mo Xiaobao immediately became upset, shouting, “I’ll be more formidable than Father!”

Mo Suiyun looked at his small angry appearance and smiled, “I believe you will be.”

Hearing his words, Mo Xiaobao immediately brightened up. He patted Mo Suiyun’s shoulder, “That’s more like it. I knew we were on the same side. In the future, you’ll be more formidable than your father too! Let’s work hard together!”

Mo Suiyun’s lips twitched, unsure whether Mo Xiaobao’s words were a blessing or a curse. Although he had no impression of his father as emperor, he still knew that as an emperor, he had been extremely unsuccessful. But seeing Mo Xiaobao’s sincere face as he grabbed a crystal pork knuckle and gnawed on it vigorously, he decided to take it as a blessing.

By the time Mo Jingyu had turned Li City upside down and finally found them, the children had already eaten their fill, leaving dishes in disarray. When the door opened, they saw the table of delicacies had been quite ravaged, with only leftover food scattered messily on the table. Leng Junhan lay on a nearby couch rubbing his stomach from overeating, while the others were gathered around, energetically chattering about something. Of course, it was mostly Mo Xiaobao talking, with the stern-faced Xu Zhirui occasionally adding a few words, while the remaining two were purely listeners.

“Your Majesty!” Mo Jingyu called sternly.

Mo Suiyun was startled, only then remembering that Mo Jingyu didn’t know about him running away from the guesthouse. He hurriedly tried to stand up, but Mo Xiaobao whispered beside him, “Don’t be afraid of him, you’re the emperor, you don’t need to fear him.”

Mo Suiyun cast him a grateful look before standing up, “Uncle Prince, is something wrong?”

Mo Jingyu’s eyebrows raised slightly, but before he could speak, Feng Zhiyao emerged from behind him with a smile, “Prince Yu, didn’t I tell you the emperor wouldn’t come to any harm in Li City?”

Mo Jingyu suppressed his anger, nodded to Feng Zhiyao, then asked, “Your Majesty, how did you end up here?”

Mo Suiyun said softly, “I… We came out to play with the young master.”

Mo Jingyu took a deep breath and said, “Your Majesty, in the future when you want to go out to play, it would be better to bring people along to prevent those below from worrying.” Mo Suiyun nodded, “Uncle Prince, I know I was wrong.” Seeing that he truly acknowledged his mistake, Mo Jingyu nodded and let the matter pass. Mo Suiyun had always been obedient; his sudden disappearance from the guesthouse today had indeed frightened everyone from Great Chu. Fortunately, news quickly came from Prince Ding’s mansion saying Mo Suiyun was here dining with Mo Xiaobao and the others.

Mo Jingyu looked inside, seeing those children all sprawled on the soft couch, looking at him innocently. Mo Jingyu could hardly believe that just these few children, several years younger than Mo Suiyun, could convince the usually cautious little emperor to sneak out of the guesthouse to play.

Mo Xiaobao felt he should say something. He blinked at Mo Jingyu and said, “Prince Yu, don’t be angry with Brother Suiyun, it was all my fault. I originally wanted to visit Brother Suiyun at the guesthouse, but… he wouldn’t see me. I got angry and snuck into his room. Brother Suiyun only came out to play with us because he couldn’t resist my pleading.”

Mo Jingyu smiled faintly, “Young Master is too kind. In the future, the Young Master can come directly to the guesthouse to play with His Majesty. However, now the entire guesthouse is looking for His Majesty, we should return.”

Mo Suiyun obediently stood up and left with Mo Jingyu. Mo Xiaobao couldn’t bear to part and saw them to the door, promising to come play again tomorrow.

Feng Zhiyao leaned against the doorframe, smiling pleasantly at the four little ones, asking, “Well? Was the little emperor of Great Chu fun?”

Leng Junhan shook his head, “Not fun, he’s silly.”

Xu Zhirui tilted his little head in thought, “Not fun, he’s hypocritical.”

Qin Lie rolled his eyes, “Even more annoying than Mo Shuyun.” Mo Shuyun had been timid and weak, while this one wasn’t so timid, but had too many schemes.

Mo Xiaobao smiled while stroking his little chin, “Fun! He’s silly but quite scheming, even tried to play divide and conquer. My little brother isn’t even one year old yet.”