Yun Wan’s heart tightened, but she maintained her composure and cautiously countered, "What does Your Majesty mean by that?"
Emperor Jingxuan stated bluntly, "His father isn’t Lu San—it’s me, isn’t it?"
Her heart seemed to stop. The suddenness of his question left Yun Wan’s mind blank.
"Y-Your Majesty, what are you saying? Didn’t I explain before? Though I shared intimacy with you five years ago, I drank the contraceptive brew afterward."
She suspected he was deliberately trying to intimidate her again, just like last time, testing her. Yun Wan studied his face, searching for any hint of deception.
Emperor Jingxuan: "So, my lady insists his father isn’t me?"
Meeting his deep, ink-like gaze, Yun Wan froze, instinctively averting her eyes.
The emperor’s smile was unsettling. "Why won’t you look at me? Because I’ve hit the mark?"
Yun Wan’s lashes fluttered. "Your servant—"
Before she could speak, a small, white-clad figure appeared at the chamber door. "Mama! I’m here!"
Little Sui’s short legs carried him swiftly to the bedside. Noticing her unbound hair, he tilted his head. "Mama just woke up?"
Before Yun Wan could answer, Emperor Jingxuan, seated at the edge of the bed, beckoned. "Boy, come here."
Unable to defy the emperor’s command, Sui glanced at his mother before obediently shuffling forward.
"Your Majesty, did you need something?"
"Look up."
Sui obediently raised his head, his delicate, round face adorable and lively, his features refined, his eyes bright, with a faint layer of downy fuzz—like a fresh peach.
Dressed in a moon-white round-collared robe, a jade pendant at his waist, and a lion-head cap atop his head, he looked even more charming than usual.
Staring into the boy’s eyes—so similar to his own they could be mirrors—Emperor Jingxuan chuckled darkly at Yun Wan’s denial.
He turned to her, arching a brow with an amused yet pointed look.
Yun Wan pressed her lips together, silent.
Pinching Sui’s cheek, the emperor mused, "Don’t you think this boy’s eyes look just like mine?"
Yun Wan swallowed dryly. "Do they?"
"No!" Sui protested loudly, his cheeks squished. He twisted his head to glare at Emperor Jingxuan. "Your Majesty must be mistaken! How could my eyes look like yours? Mine are just like Father’s!"
He added firmly, "You’re not my father."
Emperor Jingxuan thought, That remains to be seen.
Glancing down at Sui, he asked, "Have you ever met your father?"
"No," Sui admitted honestly.
Emperor Jingxuan: "Then how do you know they resemble his?"
Sui: "Mama said so! Mama says my eyes are just like Father’s!"
He turned expectantly to Yun Wan. "Right, Mama?"
The emperor arched a brow, watching her too.
Caught between their gazes, Yun Wan’s heart raced. She pulled Sui into her arms, masking her panic with a smile as she changed the subject.
"You must be tired from the journey. Come, let Mama see if you’ve been eating well these days."
True to form, Sui quickly forgot his earlier question. "Don’t worry, Mama! I eat well every day. I’ll grow up tall and strong!"
"What a good child," Emperor Jingxuan remarked, stealing Yun Wan’s line. Left without words, she stayed silent.
He lifted Sui from Yun Wan’s embrace. "Your mother needs to dress. We’ll wait outside."
Used to being carried, Sui didn’t struggle, clinging to the emperor’s sleeve for security.
Once outside, Emperor Jingxuan set him down, scrutinizing the boy’s face.
Sui removed his hat with a sigh.
The emperor snatched it back, plopping it onto Sui’s head again. "It’s windy. Keep it on."
Suddenly, it struck him—this boy did resemble him. How had he never noticed before?
No wonder. He’s my son.
His stern expression softened, paternal warmth seeping in.
Sui squirmed under the scrutiny. "Your Majesty, why are you staring at me?"
Emperor Jingxuan unabashedly pinched his cheek, pleased by its plumpness.
"Because I like looking at you."
His thumb brushed Sui’s faint brows and narrow phoenix eyes, lifting his mood. "You’ve got fine eyes. Well-shaped."
"…?"
Sui scratched his head. If he recalled correctly—
"Your Majesty, you said the opposite last time."
The emperor’s hand stilled. "Did I? You misremember."
Frowning, Sui thought hard before planting his hands on his hips. "No, I didn’t!"
Back then, the emperor had called his eyes unimpressive!
Unrepentant, the man smoothly changed the subject. "Your memory’s sharp too. Takes after your father."
Sui’s frown eased. "Papa had good memory?"
Emperor Jingxuan lifted his chin slightly. "Mhm." A hint of pride colored his tone.
Sui tilted his head. "How do you know? Mama never mentioned it."
The emperor snorted, straightening Sui’s head with a finger. "I know many things. You’ve much to learn, boy."
Sui: "Then who don’t you like looking at?"
"Past you."
"Why?!"
Sui’s shrill cry cracked mid-protest.
Crossing his arms, he demanded, "What did I do wrong?"
Emperor Jingxuan smirked. "You’re a big boy now. Shouldn’t cling to your mother so much."
"Then who can I cling to?"
"Me."
The emperor straightened, adding loftily, "I might tolerate you, if pressed."
"No thanks!" Sui’s instincts screamed danger. He refused outright.
Emperor Jingxuan flicked his forehead. "Ungrateful brat."
"Jiang Fusheng, take him to change clothes." He handed Sui off to the eunuch.
"At once, Your Majesty!"
Jiang Fusheng led Sui away, beaming like a blooming chrysanthemum.
Sui felt it deeply—everyone was acting weird.
Mama was strange. The emperor was strange. Even Eunuch Jiang was strange.
After leaving the chamber, Yun Wan instinctively sought Sui. The two chattered endlessly, even through lunch.
In contrast, Emperor Jingxuan was thoroughly ignored.
Watching Yun Wan deliberately avoid his gaze—her evasiveness practically screaming guilt—he wasn’t annoyed. If anything, he found it entertaining.
When my lady’s guilty, she keeps herself frantically busy.
Sui stared at his overflowing bowl. Picking out a slice of undercooked melon, he turned to Yun Wan. "Mama, I don’t want this."
She nodded indulgently. "Alright, leave it."
Across the table, Emperor Jingxuan intervened. "What do you want? I’ll serve you."
Sui named a dish, and soon his bowl was filled with it. "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The emperor’s expression warmed.
Sensing the adults’ unusual leniency, Sui hatched a plan. "Mama, can I sleep with you tonight?"
"No."
Emperor Jingxuan cut in, icy.
Sui pouted, shoveling rice into his mouth.
