The doors and windows opened, the curtains were drawn up, and morning light flooded the room. Maidservants laid out a dazzling array of food on the table, each one excitedly and happily stealing a glance at Xiao Xun.
“Young Master, you’ve gotten thinner.”
“Even though Young Master has gotten thinner, he’s still very handsome.”
Listening to the maidservants’ jokes, Xiao Xun also laughed heartily, touching his own face. “Of course. I look good no matter what.”
Prince Zhongshan sat across from him and grunted. “Only in Miss Chu’s eyes do you not look good.” He shook his head, his face full of regret. “If that young lady had taken a liking to you, our Young Master wouldn’t have worried himself thin.”
Xiao Xun smiled. “Father, Miss Chu didn’t take a liking to me, but it’s not because I’m not handsome.”
That was true. Prince Zhongshan was just teasing. Of course he knew that taking a liking to someone might be because of appearance, but not taking a liking to someone—the reasons for that were many.
He waved his hand, and the maidservants all withdrew.
“Eat something,” he said.
Xiao Xun reached out to pick up his bowl and chopsticks and ate and drank heartily. “I really am starving.”
Prince Zhongshan smiled. “On this trip, you’ve tasted every kind of hardship. In one lifetime, a person should taste everything.”
Xiao Xun tilted his head back and poured a bowl of soup into his mouth, then said, “I’ll do the tasting. Father, you shouldn’t taste it.”
Prince Zhongshan smiled. “The days ahead will be quite interesting. A little emperor, a little empress, a little grand tutor, a little national uncle—”
This so-called “little” didn’t only refer to age, but more to their reputation, background, and origins.
Not only was the Chu girl young in age, her reputation was also small. The Chu family had been silent in the capital for over a decade.
The Grand Tutor wasn’t young in age, but his origins were small—an obscure petty official.
As for National Uncle Xie, he had early established his reputation, but Xie Yanfang had always kept a low profile, hastily becoming national uncle.
This Great Xia nation had been seized overnight by these few insignificant figures.
“This prince was negligent,” Prince Zhongshan sighed.
Xiao Xun said softly, “Father, you weren’t negligent. You guessed everything and also curried favor with Deng Yi and Chu Ling in advance. We also did our best to associate with Miss Chu. But no matter how dedicated we were, we couldn’t compete with the other side having ulterior motives. If we speak of negligence, we should say we were negligent about these insignificant figures’ ambitions, and His Majesty’s madness.”
The Grand Tutor—the Emperor really dared to bestow it, and that petty official Deng Yi really dared to accept it.
The Empress—the Emperor really dared to grant it, and that girl really dared to take it.
Prince Zhongshan smiled. “We were still negligent. We underestimated them. Had we known earlier, forget about ambition—this prince wouldn’t have let them exist at all.”
As he spoke, he crushed the piece of pastry in his hand.
“But it doesn’t matter.” He lightly brushed away the crumbs, looking at the table surface. “The Emperor has gone mad. We can also go mad. Let’s see who can remain mad to the very end. Ah Xun—”
He lifted his head to look at the person opposite him. The young man who had been eating and drinking heartily was now lying motionless on the table.
Prince Zhongshan rose instantly.
“Ah Xun!” he called, somewhat nervously reaching out to touch the young man’s face.
The face was warm, long eyelashes fluttered, and there was soft snoring.
He had fallen asleep.
He was truly exhausted. Finally arriving home, he could no longer hold on.
Prince Zhongshan exhaled in relief, gently laying Xiao Xun down on the couch. He felt both heartache and fury. His carefully cultivated son had actually been abused by these insignificant people!
Prince Zhongshan’s usually gentle face became fierce and twisted. Since they didn’t want to die with dignity, then he wouldn’t be polite either.
Ning Kun also entered at this time. He looked even worse than Xiao Xun, saying, “Your Highness, it’s all that scoundrel Deng Yi being vicious and untrustworthy—”
Prince Zhongshan already knew what Deng Yi had done and smiled. “I indeed didn’t misjudge this petty man. His heart is vicious.” He asked again, “What about that imperial edict? Let me see it.”
Ning Kun said, “The Young Master has already burned it.”
Amusement floated in Prince Zhongshan’s eyes. He glanced at Xiao Xun sleeping soundly on the couch and chided affectionately, “Why burn it? Who knows when it might have been useful.”
Ning Kun said, “The Young Master’s filial piety is pure—he couldn’t bear to look at such a thing. I originally said to keep it for Your Highness to see, but he wouldn’t allow it.”
Prince Zhongshan smiled. “Alright, you should also go rest. Whatever there is to say, wait until you’ve all rested well to speak of it. Now that we’re home, there’s nothing to worry about.”
He nodded.
“Even if the court’s grand army presses down, my Zhongshan Commandery need not worry.”
Ning Kun smiled. “The court’s grand army didn’t dare press down before, and won’t dare in the future either.” He added another sentence. “Nor can they.”
Prince Zhongshan smiled faintly without speaking and waved his hand.
Ning Kun also said nothing more, bowed in salute, and withdrew.
Prince Zhongshan fetched a thin blanket to drape over Xiao Xun, sat down beside him, and continued slowly eating the food on the table.
……
……
While Prince Zhongshan’s heart settled with his son’s return, in the capital the new emperor, after the enthronement ceremony and the removal of mourning garments, began attending court for the first time.
After prostrating themselves in obeisance and rising, the court officials who hadn’t seen an emperor sitting on the dragon throne in a long time hadn’t had time to feel excited before they were stunned again.
An emperor sat peacefully on the dragon throne, but someone also sat peacefully behind the dragon throne.