Luo Jingfeng dared not dwell on that answer.
No matter how slim the possibility, he couldn’t bear the outcome.
He paced restlessly in his room.
Soon after, he hurried into the palace.
"The Duke of State Protection has arrived."
The little tyrant was in the imperial study reviewing memorials, though he wasn’t exactly behaving. He lounged halfway across the dragon throne, his feet propped on the edge of the desk, legs swinging idly, the picture of carefree arrogance.
Hearing his uncle’s arrival, he immediately lowered the memorial, revealing his face—now scowling. "What are you doing here? Didn’t I say I never wanted to see you again?"
It had been over a month since their last argument. Aside from unavoidable court appearances, Luo Jingfeng had indeed kept his distance—until today.
Luo Jingfeng snorted. "As you wish. You won’t have to see me every day anymore, you brat."
The little tyrant perked up, hopping off the throne. "Are you going to war?"
"Mn. I’m leaving Zong Zhao with you. Happy?" Luo Jingfeng asked flatly.
He was seething inside.
In his nephew’s heart, he ranked lower than Zong Zhao.
Sure enough, the boy beamed. "Ecstatic!"
Luo Jingfeng gritted his teeth, pinching and tugging at his cheeks—though careful with his strength—as he grumbled, "Ungrateful little wolf. All my affection wasted on you."
The little tyrant rolled his eyes. "Who asked for your self-righteous ‘affection’? I never needed it!"
Luo Jingfeng didn’t argue. Instead, he continued, "Once I lead the troops away, who knows how long I’ll be gone. Stay in the capital, listen to Zong Zhao and Prime Minister Shen, and learn how to be an emperor properly. Don’t let me return to find you still acting like a mere subject."
Jin Cheng’s face darkened. "If ‘being an emperor’ means slaughtering people recklessly like you, then I’ll never be one."
Luo Jingfeng flicked his forehead. "Never heed advice, but always quick to talk back."
"Ow—what was that for?!" The little tyrant clutched his head, glaring.
Luo Jingfeng pressed on, "Chu Heng seems nearly recovered. As agreed, send him out of the palace today. That way, I can march tomorrow with peace of mind."
Jin Cheng opened his mouth to protest, then reconsidered. Once Luo Jingfeng left, he could see His Highness whenever he wanted—even invite him back to stay in the empty Eastern Palace.
With that in mind, he quickly relented. "Fine. I’ll send His Highness to Ruining Manor later."
Surprised by his compliance, Luo Jingfeng smiled. "Good boy."
Jin Cheng mentally scoffed: You’re the ‘good boy.’
Leaning down, Luo Jingfeng added softly, "Cheng’er, one last reminder before I go. No matter how much you like Zong Zhao or Chu Heng, stay wary. Guard against treachery. Understand?"
Jin Cheng huffed. "His Highness doesn’t even want the throne! Why are you always paranoid about him rebelling? They treat me far better than you ever have!"
Luo Jingfeng frowned. "You don’t understand. It’s not just them—behind them stand the City Patrol and the Duke of Wei’s faction. If their followers scheme, they might force their hands. And then you would be in danger."
Jin Cheng fired back, "You’re just fearmongering! What ‘followers scheming’—as if your people don’t have—"
"I’m just… terrified of losing you," Luo Jingfeng murmured, his gaze unbearably tender.
Jin Cheng froze, his retort dying in his throat.
This was the first time Luo Jingfeng had spoken so openly, so emotionally. Stripped of their clashing ideals and principles, they were simply uncle and nephew—and he was Luo Jingfeng’s most cherished child.
The urge to argue vanished. Jin Cheng swallowed hard, muttering only, "You’re overthinking everything."
Luo Jingfeng brushed a hand along his temple, then pulled a token from his robe. "Here. Keep it safe."
"What’s this?" Jin Cheng examined the plaque—its surface bore a single character: Command.
Luo Jingfeng’s voice was calm. "I’ve left you thirty thousand troops outside the capital. This token mobilizes them. General Pang remains as well. He’s a fool at times, but utterly loyal. If… Zong Zhao or Chu Heng ever betray you, they’ll keep you safe."
Jin Cheng’s head snapped up. He must have misheard.
This was… a fragment of the military tally.
The very authority he’d racked his brains for a month to reclaim.
And Luo Jingfeng had just handed him thirty thousand soldiers?
Hesitantly, he reached out, half-expecting a cruel joke—until the cold, unyielding weight of the token confirmed its reality.
It was real.
Luo Jingfeng had truly given it to him.
How?
Amused by his stunned expression, Luo Jingfeng chuckled. "Hide it well. Don’t let anyone see—and especially don’t blab to Zong Zhao or Chu Heng. Understood?"
"Oh, oh, I hear you. I'll hide it well," the little troublemaker said, clutching the token and stuffing it into his clothes.
The little one's round, bright eyes gazed at him, unsure whether to say thank you. Just as he hesitated, Luo Jingfeng had already finished speaking and turned to leave.
But after only a few steps, he strode back abruptly.
Startled, Jin Cheng thought he had changed his mind and quickly covered the military tally protectively, as if guarding against a thief.
Yet the tall figure merely bent down, pulling him into a tight embrace, and murmured in a low voice, "Wait for me at home. I’ll bring back a few cities for you, nephew."
The little troublemaker froze, too stunned to reply.
He could only watch as Luo Jingfeng’s slender figure walked away.
His eyes stung slightly. When he pulled the token from his clothes, he noticed that the once cold, hard object now carried a faint warmth.
If even an object could be warmed, how much more so a human heart?
Jin Cheng had decided on his birthday wish for this year:
He hoped that the next time Luo Jingfeng returned, he would be a better man. Then perhaps… perhaps they could truly be a good uncle and nephew.
The Eastern Palace
On his way there, Jin Cheng kept worrying that Luo Jingfeng might leave the imperial study and rush over to confront the Crown Prince. But when he arrived, he found no extra visitors—the Eastern Palace remained unchanged.
"He really didn’t meddle further…"
The little troublemaker wondered: Had the wish he’d just planned to make already begun to come true?
"His Majesty has arrived!"
Jin Cheng hurried inside and saw Chu Heng being supported as he practiced walking. Delighted, he exclaimed, "Your Highness! You can walk now!"
Since both lived in the palace, Jin Cheng visited the Eastern Palace nearly every day. This new progress, however, was something he was seeing for the first time.
Chu Heng looked up at him and smiled gently. "Yes, I just learned. Would you call this a great improvement?"
