Seeing the two children before him regard him as if he were a ferocious beast, Emperor Jingxuan sneered.
What? In their eyes, was he truly such a person—one who would scold or strike them at the slightest provocation?
"Let this be the last time. Rise," he said, his voice as cold as water.
The Third Prince was stunned. His father had actually not reprimanded him.
The two children stood up from the ground. "Thank you, Father/Your Majesty."
Sui's eyes were still swollen and red from crying earlier, starkly visible against his fair, tender cheeks. The Third Prince, though slightly plump with a round, innocent face, also looked somewhat disheveled.
Standing side by side, one taller and the other shorter, they made quite a pleasing sight.
Emperor Jingxuan's gaze swept over the pouch tied at Sui's waist, reminding him of the sachet he had taken the day before. His tone was leisurely as he said,
"Hold out your hands."
Sui and the Third Prince exchanged glances, both seeing horror reflected in each other's eyes.
Was there no escaping a punishment after all?
Not daring to disobey, they lowered their heads and extended their hands.
Suddenly, a cool sensation touched their palms. Sui looked up to find a white jade bead resting in his hand.
The bead was milky white all over, cool but not icy to the touch, and intricately carved with patterns that seemed worn smooth from being frequently held and admired.
Sui had to cup his hands together just to hold it properly.
The Third Prince, meanwhile, received a black jade bead of the same size and design.
He jerked his head up, bewildered. "Father?"
The Third Prince opened his mouth to ask something, but Emperor Jingxuan had already turned and walked away, leaving only his tall, retreating figure behind.
Rarely receiving a gift from his father outside of festivals, the Third Prince clutched the black jade bead, moved to tears.
Sui, however, stood there clutching the white jade bead, looking around in confusion.
Why had he been given this bead?
.........
Changchun Palace.
Hearing the announcement from the palace attendants outside, Consort Shu was momentarily stunned before bursting into joy.
"Quickly! His Majesty is here—check if anything about me is amiss!"
She turned left and right before her dressing mirror, fretting over her appearance.
Chun Tang adjusted the golden hairpin in her coiffure and smiled. "Don’t worry, Your Highness. Today, you are radiant and breathtaking. His Majesty will surely be pleased!"
Consort Shu loved hearing such words. She casually rewarded Chun Tang with a pair of jade earrings before hurrying out to greet Emperor Jingxuan.
"Your Majesty, what brings you here so unexpectedly?"
Emperor Jingxuan replied, "Just taking a stroll."
This delighted Consort Shu even more. Clearly, the Emperor still remembered her—otherwise, with so many palaces in the inner court, why would his "stroll" lead him straight to Changchun Palace?
With a meaningful glance at her attendants, she chirped, "Quickly serve tea—use the West Lake Longjing His Majesty gifted us!"
Seated in the armchair, Emperor Jingxuan waved a hand. "No need for trouble. I’ll only say a few words before leaving."
Consort Shu paused, her smile fading slightly. Hesitantly, she asked, "Shall I have the Third Prince summoned? He hasn’t seen Your Majesty in days and was just speaking of you this morning."
Emperor Jingxuan declined again. "No need. I saw him on my way here."
Consort Shu blinked. "Your Majesty has already met the Third Prince?"
Emperor Jingxuan did not respond. Instead, his gaze fixed on her, and he remarked abruptly, "The servants in your palace need discipline."
His tone was indifferent, as if the comment were merely an afterthought.
Yet it sent a jolt of unease through Consort Shu.
Before she could inquire further, Emperor Jingxuan frowned slightly.
His eyes swept across the chamber before settling on the incense burner, from which a wisp of smoke curled upward. "You’ve changed the incense in your palace?"
Consort Shu smiled. "Your Majesty has a keen nose. I only just switched to this new incense today, and you noticed immediately."
After a pause, she added, seemingly casual but unable to mask her probing tone, "What does Your Majesty think of this fragrance?"
Emperor Jingxuan remained silent, his gaze cool and slightly mocking as it rested on her.
Feeling exposed under his scrutiny, Consort Shu forced a laugh and explained, "This incense was brought in yesterday by my mother and my third sister-in-law during their visit. My sister-in-law blended it herself—it’s said to soothe the mind, relax the meridians, and nourish beauty."
"I found the scent quite pleasant and indeed calming, so I had it lit. Does Your Majesty approve?"
Emperor Jingxuan’s expression remained neutral. "It’s mediocre at best."
At this, Consort Shu seemed to exhale in relief, her smile deepening.
Taking in every nuance of her reaction, Emperor Jingxuan suddenly found the exchange tedious. "I have matters to attend to. No need to see me out, Consort Shu."
Consort Shu’s face fell. "This concubine bids Your Majesty farewell."
Once he was gone, her expression darkened. "Summon all the servants attending the Third Prince—immediately! I want answers!"
She was determined to uncover what those wretched servants had done to provoke the Emperor’s reprimand. If word got out, her Changchun Palace would lose all face.
Soon, the palace attendants were dragged in for questioning, trembling and too fearful to withhold anything.
Upon learning that they had allowed the Third Prince to play hide-and-seek unsupervised and even let Sui play alone with a rattan ball—nearly hitting the Emperor—Consort Shu nearly fainted from rage.
In the end, she flew into a fury, ordering all the negligent servants beaten with bamboo rods, while the main offenders were banished to the palace’s labor quarters.
.........
Worried about her son, who was alone in the palace, Yun Wan had been unable to eat properly since yesterday, her mind distracted.
She sent servants to wait at the estate gates, and finally, at midday, news arrived:
Sui had returned from the palace by carriage!
Yun Wan immediately set down the incense spoon in her hand and rushed out, lifting her skirts as she went.
The servants’ message had been delayed, but by the time Yun Wan reached the courtyard gate, she could already see Sui approaching.
"Mother!"
Sui, who usually adhered to the dignified restraint of a young gentleman, leaped from the carriage and sprinted toward Cuiwei Garden the moment he spotted Yun Wan, unable to contain himself.
Seeing his little legs pumping furiously, his small body wobbling unsteadily, Yun Wan’s heart leapt into her throat.
"Don’t run! Mind your steps!"
Ten paces, five, two—
Yun Wan bent down and opened her arms. Sui threw himself into her embrace like a fledgling returning to its nest.
"Mother, I missed you so much..." Sui’s voice was thick with emotion and longing.
Yun Wan’s heart melted, sweet and warm as if dipped in honey. She tightened her arms around him and murmured tenderly, "I missed you too—so much I could hardly sleep or eat."
The words were embarrassingly sentimental, and Sui bashfully pressed his lips together, smiling. "I felt the same. But having the kitten doll you made for me helped me sleep last night."
He tugged at the pouch on his waist and pulled out the stuffed kitten to show her.
His face was flushed from running all the way, his forehead dotted with sweat.
Yun Wan’s eyes softened with concern. "Look at you, drenched in sweat. Let me wipe it off before you catch a chill."
Sui obediently tilted his head up, then suddenly remembered something and glanced back. "Oh! Uncle, could you bring out the pastries I brought for Mother?"
So absorbed in her son, Yun Wan had barely noticed Lu Yuanduo approaching leisurely from behind, dressed in a nobleman’s court robes adorned with crane motifs, his tall frame exuding an air of prestige.
In his hand, he carried a three-tiered food box—an oddly domestic sight for a man of his stature.
Meeting her surprised gaze, Lu Yuanduo explained, "I finished court duties early today, so I went to fetch Sui on my way back."
Yun Wan wasn’t sure how "on the way" this detour had been, but she chose not to dwell on it. Instead, she offered polite thanks. "You have my gratitude, Your Grace. I appreciate your trouble."
The food box was rather heavy. Lu Yuanduo handed it to a servant of Cuiwei Garden and said to Yun Wan, "These are some pastries the imperial kitchen prepared for Changchun Palace. Sui thought you might like them, so he begged Consort Shu to have a fresh batch made."
Sui trotted over eagerly, opened the food box, and picked up a plate of exquisitely crafted pastries that exuded a sweet fragrance. He held them out to Yun Wan, his eyes shining with anticipation. "Mother, try these! There are peach blossom cakes and pea flour treats—both are delicious."
He reached out to feed her a piece but suddenly pulled his hand back with a swift motion, remembering his palms were sweaty.
Yun Wan patted the back of his head gently. "Not now, dear. I haven’t washed my hands since leaving the incense chamber. We’ll have them later."
Her eyes sparkled like spring water, her lips curved in a soft smile, and the jade hairpin in her hair swayed faintly, catching the light. Around her child, she was always tender, affectionate, and patient, radiating a warmth like the sun that was impossible to look away from.
Yun Wan rose gracefully. "Thank you for your help with Sui’s matters. Last time, I spoke out of turn in anger—I hope you won’t take it to heart. I apologize sincerely."
With a slight bend at the waist, she offered Lu Yuanduo a graceful bow of gratitude.
His gaze cooled as he replied distantly, "No need for such formalities. Sui is my nephew by blood, and I regard him as my own. His affairs will always be my concern."
Yun Wan’s lashes fluttered, casting a faint shadow that momentarily veiled the emotion in her eyes.
Lu Yuanduo added, "Sui begins school on the tenth. There are still a few days left—take him out while the weather is pleasant. Let him pick some study supplies he likes."
Yun Wan nodded. "I’ll remember that."
Before she could say more, a servant hurried over and whispered urgently to Lu Yuanduo. His expression shifted, and he departed in haste.
Yun Wan led Sui back inside and changed him into clean clothes. As she tidied the discarded garments, she noticed the small pouch Sui always wore was unusually full and heavy.
Curious, she loosened the pouch and tipped its contents onto the huanghuali wood table. A soft clink sounded as a smooth white jade bead rolled out, bouncing lightly a few times.
The moment Yun Wan recognized the bead, her pupils constricted sharply.
