Chapter 27
The empress rolled her eyes at Zhu Jingchen—this was the man who ruled the empire?
He kept provoking their son without even understanding why the child was crying.
At this thought, the empress had no intention of rescuing the emperor.
"Mother, Father is bullying me! Waaah!" The empress had no patience for the emperor’s mischief, but children naturally seek comfort from their mothers. Seeing her arrive, the third prince, Zhu Hanyu, could no longer hold back his tears and threw himself into her arms, sobbing loudly.
Nearby, Xu Qingshi was stunned. The emperor hadn’t bullied anyone, had he?
He had assumed Zhu Hanyu was crying because the emperor threatened to behead him.
Now, it turned out to be a misunderstanding. So, should he cry or not?
The empress wore an "I knew it" expression and shot the emperor an exasperated glare before gently comforting Zhu Hanyu. "Hanyu, don’t cry. Mother is here. How did Father bully you?"
"I didn’t bully him," Zhu Jingchen muttered, feeling somewhat wronged.
"You did! You called me ‘Little Third’!" With his mother’s support, Zhu Hanyu pointed accusingly at his father, no longer caring that he was the emperor.
"You are the third child. What’s wrong with calling you that?" Zhu Jingchen was a little guilty—he knew his son disliked the nickname, but it had just slipped out.
And then...
Then he’d kept doing it on purpose because the boy’s angry pout was adorable.
"Mother, I’m not ‘Little Third’! I don’t want to be called that!" Zhu Hanyu didn’t fully understand what the term meant, but once, he’d overheard his grandmother complaining to the empress about some "Little Third," and he knew it wasn’t a nice word.
To him, it was clearly an insult from his father.
The empress was at a loss. Her son was the third prince, so the emperor calling him "Little Third" wasn’t exactly bullying.
She didn’t understand why children had to be so dramatic.
"Your Majesty, Prince An has arrived." Eunuch Liu announced, only to sense an odd tension in the study.
He inwardly cursed—his timing couldn’t be worse.
But since he’d already spoken, there was no backing out now.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness." Xu Heming bowed, then frowned at Xu Qingshi, who stood frozen nearby. He wondered what trouble his son had stirred up this time.
"Lord Xu, you’re finally here." Zhu Jingchen sighed in relief at Xu Heming’s arrival.
After all, he was feeling guilty.
But he hadn’t actually done anything to the brat!
Zhu Jingchen suspected the boy was retaliating because he’d confiscated his father’s silver.
This little rascal.
Truly as cunning as his old man.
"Your Majesty, what instructions do you have for this humble official?" Xu Heming feigned ignorance, though he guessed it involved Xu Qingshi.
"Lord Xu, Qingshi seems to have had quite the scare today. No matter how busy you are, you mustn’t neglect your child." Zhu Jingchen chuckled awkwardly.
"Father, I..." Xu Qingshi shrank under his father’s gaze, heart pounding.
"We’ll talk at home." Xu Heming sighed. He did feel a pang of guilt—he had been too preoccupied to properly raise the boy.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, I shall take my leave now." Xu Heming bowed, relieved the emperor only wanted him to take Xu Qingshi home.
Zhu Hanyu watched enviously as Xu Qingshi was allowed to leave.
He wanted to go to Prince An’s residence too.
Xu Qingshi trailed behind Xu Heming, head lowered, dreading what awaited him. Would his father use the rod?
The thought made him shiver.
His poor backside was doomed.
"What’s on your mind?" Xu Heming glanced back at his lagging son and sighed.
"Father... will you hit me?" Xu Qingshi hurried to catch up, mustering the courage to ask.
"Why did you come to the palace today?" Xu Heming ignored the question, countering with one of his own.
Xu Qingshi hesitated. Could he admit he’d hoped Zhu Hanyu would plead for mercy on his behalf?
"Father, I was wrong." In the end, he opted for a meek apology, even though he wasn’t sure what he’d done wrong.
"Wrong about what?" Xu Heming sighed. The boy was apologizing before being scolded—where was his spine?
Wrong about what?
Xu Qingshi honestly didn’t know.
He didn’t think he’d done anything wrong, but he was terrified of a beating.
"Next time, come to me first." Xu Heming relented.
"But you’re always busy! I can never find you!" Xu Qingshi protested, voice tinged with hurt.
He admired his father deeply, but sometimes, he just wanted him home—teaching him things, being there.
"Then go to..." Xu Heming almost said "your grandmother," but his mother was too old to handle this little troublemaker.
"Can I go to Stepmother instead?" Xu Qingshi suddenly thought of Li Zhiwei.
"Hmm." Would Li Zhiwei really take on parenting duties?
Xu Heming wasn’t sure.
But he hadn’t married her just for decoration.
If she was willing to help discipline Xu Qingshi...
His fists clenched.
And if she refused?
What could he do?
"Father, do you think Stepmother will hit me?" Xu Qingshi’s eyes darted craftily. Xie Yanzhi had warned him that stepmothers were all she-demons.
But Li Zhiwei didn’t look half as fierce as a tiger.
Could she transform or something?
"If you misbehave, even if she doesn’t punish you, I will." Xu Heming stopped walking, fixing his son with a stern look.
"Father, I’ll be good!" Xu Qingshi hastily covered his backside.
No beatings, please!
But if it had to happen... maybe Li Zhiwei’s strikes would be lighter?
Weren’t women supposed to be weaker?
Li Zhiwei was puzzled when the father and son returned.
She hadn’t seen Xu Qingshi all day—so he’d been out with Xu Heming.
"Young Master was with His Highness?" She smiled.
"Stepmother, were you waiting for me?" For some reason, Xu Qingshi found Li Zhiwei especially comforting right now.
He’d spent the whole journey agonizing over whether his father would use the rod.
"The dowager princess asked after you several times. I was just keeping watch here." Li Zhiwei explained quickly.
"Oh! I miss Grandmother! Stepmother, take me to her now!" Xu Qingshi grabbed Li Zhiwei’s hand, pulling her toward the dowager’s quarters.
Li Zhiwei had wanted to ask Xu Heming if her father was already on his way to the capital.
But with Xu Qingshi tugging urgently, she could only follow.
