Jiang Fusheng glanced in Emperor Jingxuan’s direction and immediately straightened his expression, sternly saying:
"Hitting this old servant is a small matter, but do you realize your ball nearly struck His Majesty? Harming the imperial person is a crime punishable by beheading!"
"His... His Majesty?"
Sui’s youthful face was filled with shock. His eyes darted around before locking onto the towering figure standing out among the crowd.
Sui had never seen the Emperor before, but he knew His Majesty was the most exalted person in the entire realm.
His first impression of Emperor Jingxuan was that he was tall.
His uncle was also tall—when carried in his arms, Sui could usually see the tops of people’s heads. But the Emperor before him seemed even taller and more imposing.
Backlit, Sui couldn’t clearly see his face, but the golden embroidery on his luxurious robes shimmered brilliantly, and the coiled dragon motifs appeared lifelike.
Was this the Emperor?
Seeing him frozen in place, Jiang Fusheng nudged him. "Why aren’t you paying your respects to His Majesty?"
Sui snapped out of his daze and knelt in reverence. "This child, Lu Changsui, greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years!"
His childish voice, slightly sticky with youth, reached Emperor Jingxuan’s ears.
The Emperor tilted his chin slightly, his deep, inscrutable gaze resting on Sui’s face as he raised a brow. "So you are the little nephew that Lu Yuanduo never stops praising? How old are you?"
Lu Yuanduo was a high-ranking minister in the court, trusted by Emperor Jingxuan. The two were of similar age and had known each other since their youth, sharing a bond deeper than the typical ruler-subject relationship.
During casual conversations, the Emperor had heard Lu Yuanduo mention his young nephew—who had lost his father early—more than once. Over time, the Emperor had formed an impression of the boy.
Now, seeing him in person, the child was indeed exceptional—more handsome and fair-skinned than most children his age.
A fleeting thought crossed the Emperor’s mind: that delicate fairness must have been inherited from his mother.
Sui nodded obediently. "This child is four years old."
Then, with unease, he added, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I didn’t mean to hit anyone with the ball, and I would never dare harm Your Majesty. I beg for your mercy..."
Clasping his small hands together, Sui bowed deeply, his sincerity evident.
Before Emperor Jingxuan could respond, two squads of imperial guards rushed over, their commander sweating profusely as he asked anxiously, "Your Majesty, we arrived late—are you unharmed?"
Seeing no injuries on the Emperor and detecting no scent of blood in the air, the commander’s tension eased.
He scanned the surroundings. "Where is the assassin? Did they escape? This subordinate will pursue them immediately!"
His voice boomed like thunder as he prepared to charge off.
Emperor Jingxuan lowered his eyelids and replied calmly, "Unnecessary. There is no assassin."
The commander paused, then noticed the rattan ball at the Emperor’s feet and the dejected child before him. Understanding dawned.
After the Emperor waved him off, he bowed and withdrew.
Watching this unfold, Sui—quick-witted for his age—realized the general had mistaken him for an "assassin." Nervousness crept into his heart.
"Today’s fault is mine. If Your Majesty wishes to punish me, I will accept it without complaint."
Puffing his cheeks slightly, he spoke with surprising resolve despite his unease.
The dramatic display amused Emperor Jingxuan. "Do you even know what crime it is to disturb the imperial procession? Or what punishment awaits you?"
Sui shook his head.
The Emperor smirked. "You admit guilt without knowing the consequences—should I call you ignorant or audacious?"
Sui’s face paled. "Will Your Majesty... have my head?"
Remembering Jiang Fusheng’s earlier words, fear finally flickered in his eyes as he stood alone before the adults, lost and vulnerable.
Unexpectedly, Emperor Jingxuan felt a mischievous urge.
Keeping his expression blank, he remarked idly, "What if I said yes?"
Plop.
A tear rolled down Sui’s cheek without warning, followed by a sob. "Then... before I die, could Your Majesty let me see my mother one last time?"
"Or at least let me leave a letter. I want to tell her I was unfilial, that I couldn’t care for her in this life and beg her forgiveness..."
"In my next life, I still want to be her child... wu wu wu... This is my final wish."
Sui choked out his words between sniffles, his pleading gaze fixed on the Emperor as tears streamed down his face like a broken dam.
He wiped them away with his sleeve, the light blue fabric darkening with dampness in moments.
Silence fell over the scene.
Jiang Fusheng broke into a cold sweat. Sneaking a glance at Emperor Jingxuan’s stern profile, he thought, This is bad. The first time His Majesty teases a child, and he makes him cry.
The boy wept so pitifully, yet even facing death, his thoughts were of his mother. Such filial devotion tugged at even Jiang Fusheng’s heart.
"Your Majesty?" he ventured softly.
Perhaps they should let this go? The child was only four—this was bordering on bullying.
Emperor Jingxuan shot him a sidelong glance before turning back to the sniffling boy. For once, his stone-cold heart wavered with a flicker of guilt.
Tsk. He clasped his hands behind his back and said nonchalantly, "When did I say I would behead you? Don’t go putting words in my mouth, child."
Sui hiccuped. "You... didn’t?"
The Emperor arched a brow. "Did I?"
Sui hesitated, his delicate brows knitting together like fuzzy caterpillars.
Jiang Fusheng nearly groaned inwardly.
Little ancestor, just say no! His Majesty is handing you the perfect out—take it!
But Sui, oblivious to the adults’ subtleties, remained tangled in his thoughts.
Emperor Jingxuan chuckled, studying the tiny blue-clad figure before him with newfound interest. "Aren’t you afraid of me?"
"I am," Sui admitted, rubbing his neck. "Afraid you’ll cut off my head."
"......"
Were it not for the child’s guileless eyes and earnest expression, the Emperor might have suspected sarcasm.
"Look up."
Not daring to disobey, Sui raised his head, revealing a delicate, round face still streaked with tears.
Hiss—
Jiang Fusheng stiffened.
Strange. Why did the boy bear an uncanny resemblance to His Majesty?
Especially the eyes.
He mentally slapped himself. It must be exhaustion—how else could such a treasonous thought cross his mind?
Emperor Jingxuan felt a peculiar flicker in his chest, but before he could dwell on it—
"Lu Changsui! Why did you run off? I thought you’d vanished—"
Spotting Sui through the trees, the Third Prince sprinted over—only to freeze at the sight of the gathered crowd.
"F-Father?"
The moment he saw Emperor Jingxuan, cold sweat drenched the Third Prince’s back. He nearly turned and fled.
With leaden steps, he approached and bowed stiffly. "This son greets Father. May Father be at peace."
Emperor Jingxuan frowned. "Why are you covered in sweat?"
The Third Prince hung his head, not daring to lie. "Mother permitted me a day of leisure. I played rattan ball with Cousin Changsui, then... hide-and-seek..."
At the mention of "hide-and-seek," the Emperor’s expression darkened.
The Third Prince’s knees buckled, and he dropped to the ground with a thud. "This son was wrong! Please, Father, calm your anger!"
With that, he proactively extended his hand, as if he had failed to complete his studies and was about to be punished by the teacher at the Hongwen Institute with a strike to the palm.
Sui glanced left and right, then promptly knelt down as well, obediently offering her own palm.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."
