Yun Wan gripped Sui’s shoulders, her expression fraught with anxiety.
"Sui, tell Mother truthfully—where did this bead come from? What happened to you in the palace?"
If she wasn’t mistaken, the bead was meticulously carved from mutton-fat jade, its color and quality unparalleled, worth a fortune.
Not to mention the dragon motif on its surface—a pattern reserved only for the imperial family, or more precisely, the emperor himself.
Now, such a precious and mysterious bead had suddenly appeared on Sui, and Yun Wan couldn’t help but panic.
This item most likely came from the palace, and imperial possessions were never allowed outside. Smuggling them out was a grave crime.
Unexpectedly, Sui remained calm. Pointing at the jade bead, he answered truthfully, "His Majesty gave it to me."
The words struck like thunder.
"His Majesty?!" Yun Wan’s voice rose sharply. "You met the emperor?"
"Mother?" Sui was taken aback by her reaction.
Why was she so tense just because he’d seen the emperor?
Yun Wan trusted her son wouldn’t lie. She took a deep breath to steady herself before speaking. "Mother was just surprised. So, Sui, you truly met His Majesty? Why did he give you this bead?"
Sui had been eager to share the morning’s events with her. Relying on his sharp memory, he recounted everything in detail.
By the time he finished, Yun Wan gasped. Just from his words, she could imagine how dramatic the situation must have been. She never expected her Sui to have such an eventful day in just a few hours.
Yet, as her worries gradually eased, she let out a long exhale.
So that was it.
It seemed she had overthought things.
Sui’s slender eyes filled with confusion. "I don’t know why His Majesty rewarded me with this bead, but Third Prince also has one—his is black. Did you know that, Mother?"
Yun Wan shook her head. "Mother isn’t sure either. Since His Majesty gave it to you, keep it safe and don’t lose it."
From Sui’s description, meeting the emperor had been mere coincidence, and the jade bead was likely just a casual gift, not something uniquely bestowed upon him.
The emperor’s intentions were unfathomable. Sui’s bewilderment mirrored her own from the day before.
Why on earth had the emperor taken such an interest in her sachet?
Recalling the details of Sui’s story, Yun Wan worried the morning’s experience might have left a shadow on his young mind. Softly, she reassured him, "That talk of beheading was just to scare you. His Majesty is diligent and cares for his people—he wouldn’t casually order executions..."
As she spoke, her voice trailed off, uncertainty creeping into her tone.
A sudden memory surfaced: rumors that during his years guarding the frontier before ascending the throne, the emperor had slaughtered countless Rong invaders. The bloodshed left him steeped in such ferocity that after becoming emperor, he supposedly executed a palace servant daily to vent his wrath.
Whether the rumor was true or not, she couldn’t bring herself to continue.
With a light sigh, she brushed past the topic. "In any case, forget what happened this morning. Don’t frighten yourself. But remember, once you enter the Hongwen Institute, you mustn’t be as reckless as today. No kicking balls where they might hurt others, understand?"
She pinched Sui’s plump cheek affectionately.
Sui clenched his fist. "Don’t worry, Mother! I’ll try hard to forget. And I’ll be careful when playing ball—I won’t hurt anyone!"
Seeing his spirited, fearless expression, Yun Wan chuckled and playfully booped his nose.
Grinning, Sui dodged and placed the white jade bead in Yun Wan’s palm. "This bead is pretty and feels cool to the touch. I want to give it to you, Mother! You can use it to stay cool in summer!"
Yun Wan inwardly scoffed—she had no desire to keep anything from the emperor. "Mother appreciates your kindness, Sui, but this was bestowed upon you by His Majesty. It’s not to be given away lightly."
"Not even to you?"
"No."
"Oh..."
Sui’s face fell with disappointment.
......
Late at night, silence enveloped the estate. Yun Wan lay restless in bed.
Tossing and turning for what felt like ages, she finally rose when the distant sound of the night watchman’s drum drifted over the walls.
Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders as she draped a robe over herself and settled on a stool beside the candle stand.
In the flickering light, she opened her palm, revealing a violet jade thumb ring. Intricate, delicate patterns adorned its surface, its rich hue exuding both opulence and mystery.
A sigh escaped her lips.
Had it not been for the jade bead Sui brought back, Yun Wan might have forgotten about this ring entirely.
......
A few days later, Yun Wan found time to take Sui out to purchase writing supplies.
The prospect of leaving the manor thrilled Sui—in his four short years of life, such opportunities were rare.
He woke early that morning and stuck close to Yun Wan, his excitement palpable.
After breakfast, the mother and son changed into outdoor attire, summoned their servants, and prepared to depart by carriage.
At the western gate, a carriage awaited them—but not the modest one typically used by the manor’s women. Instead, it was a spacious, luxurious black coach.
As confusion flickered across her face, a hand lifted the satin curtain, revealing Lu Yuanduo’s visage.
"The rear courtyard’s carriage is damaged. Ride with me—I’ll take you."
Holding Sui’s hand, Yun Wan hesitated. "We wouldn’t want to delay your business. We’ll wait for the other carriage to be repaired."
Lu Yuanduo didn’t press further. Instead, he said, "The axle is broken. It’ll take hours to fix. Are you certain you wish to wait?"
Waiting that long would mean leaving near dusk.
Sui piped up curiously, "Uncle, Mother and I are going to Zhuangyuan Street. Is it on your way?"
Today, his hair was half-tied, secured with a ribbon instead of a crown. Dressed in a light-green round-collared robe and deer-hide boots, he looked every bit the pampered young master of an affluent family.
Lu Yuanduo nodded. "A slight detour, nothing inconvenient."
Zhuangyuan Street, as the name suggested, was where a top scholar had once lived. Over time, its shops—specializing in books and stationery—drew countless scholars eager to emulate his success. The name had stuck so firmly that even the local authorities adopted it.
Seeing this, Yun Wan relented with a slight nod. "In that case, we’ll trouble you."
The carriage interior was spacious, lined with plush rugs. A square table stood in the center, and a bookshelf half a person’s height occupied one corner.
Lu Yuanduo poured tea for the mother and son before retrieving a pouch of silver from the shelf.
Cradling it in one hand, he offered it to Yun Wan.
?
She shot him a puzzled look.
Lu Yuanduo explained, "The bookstores and ink shops on Zhuangyuan Street carry fine wares, but their prices match their quality. Use this for your purchases."
When her brows knit, he added, "It’s the stipend the clan provides every Lu child for their schooling. I forgot to mention it earlier."
Since it was clan funds, refusal made no sense.
Yun Wan set aside her doubts and turned to her son. "Sui, take it."
Nodding, Sui accepted the pouch with both hands, hugging it to his chest.
Remembering his manners, he beamed at the man across from him. "Thank you, Uncle!"
Lu Yuanduo couldn’t resist ruffling his hair.
