Sui looked up and saw it was the Crown Prince.
Setting down his book, he stood and bowed respectfully, his voice clear and crisp: "Good afternoon, Your Highness."
To his surprise, the Crown Prince scowled down at him with undisguised contempt. "Don’t try to cozy up to me. Answer my question—why are you here?"
"This is His Majesty’s study. What right does a mere study companion like you have to be here?"
A nearby palace maid frowned, tempted to intervene, but her companion shook her head subtly.
Though the Young Master of the Lu Family was favored, the one harassing him was the Crown Prince. Taking sides would only invite trouble.
A quick-witted servant quietly slipped away to fetch Jiang Fusheng for guidance.
Sensing the Crown Prince’s hostility, Sui straightened his expression and replied earnestly, "His Majesty granted me permission to read and write here."
He was still young, and even standing, he was much shorter than the Crown Prince. At this proximity, he had to tilt his head back to meet the prince’s gaze—only to be met with the sight of his flaring nostrils.
"Looking down on others through his nose," Sui thought instantly.
"What are you, that His Majesty would allow you here? This is a restricted area of the palace! If anything goes missing, could you bear the responsibility?"
The Crown Prince’s tone and glare dripped with malice. When his eyes landed on the small desk by the imperial table—clearly sized for a child of four or five—his fury flared anew.
How dare this boy receive such preferential treatment? Jealousy burned in the Crown Prince’s eyes.
"Guards! Throw him out!" he barked, even kicking the desk for emphasis.
The jolt sent a teacup wobbling, its contents spilling over Sui’s book.
The palace maid paled. "Your Highness, the young master truly is here by His Majesty’s order—"
The Crown Prince whirled on her. "I am the Crown Prince! Are you defying me?"
His gaze fell on the items atop the small desk. He snatched one up, glanced at it, and tossed it aside.
"Don’t touch my things! Give it back!"
Now truly enraged, Sui dashed forward to reclaim his belongings, glaring fiercely at the prince.
Though young, his sharp phoenix eyes blazed with intensity—enough to momentarily startle the Crown Prince, who nearly mistook him for Emperor Jingxuan.
The absurdity of the thought only fueled the prince’s anger. He shoved Sui hard.
"Pathetic trash! So petty!"
Off-balance, Sui tumbled onto his backside, dazed.
"Your Majesty! The Crown Prince pushed the young master!"
A eunuch’s shrill cry echoed through the side hall. Before the ministers could react, the emperor’s seat stood empty—its occupant vanished.
One minister cupped his ear. "What did that eunuch just say?"
"Something about... the Crown Prince laying hands on the young master?"
"Which young master?"
His colleague rolled his eyes. "Who else? The Lu Family’s little prodigy."
"Ah, that child..."
Exchanging glances, the officials promptly trailed after the emperor. A rare, juicy scandal on their day off? None would miss it.
In the main hall, Emperor Jingxuan strode in just as the Crown Prince’s voice rang out:
"Your mother was a seductress, and you’re nothing but a bootlicker! Shameless!"
The emperor’s face darkened. "Who did you call shameless?"
The crowd turned to see him standing at the threshold, his gaze icy as it pinned the Crown Prince.
The prince’s mind went blank, his legs trembling. "F-Father?"
Emperor Jingxuan advanced on him. "I asked—who did you call shameless?"
The Crown Prince stammered, speechless.
Jiang Fusheng, arriving a step behind, gasped theatrically. "Good heavens, young master! Why are you on the floor? Who pushed you?"
The cry snapped the emperor’s attention to Sui, now seated on the ground. His heart lurched.
"Are you all blind? Summon the imperial physician at once!"
After berating the frozen attendants, he knelt beside Sui, hands firm on his shoulders. "Where are you hurt? Let me see."
He checked the boy’s limbs meticulously, exhaling only when he found no injuries.
"Get up. The floor is cold."
But Sui refused, wiping his tears with his sleeve as he wailed, "Your Majesty! My mother wasn’t a seductress! I don’t lick boots! A-Niang’s gifts aren’t trash! I’m not shameless—"
His sobs tore at the emperor’s composure.
Glaring at the Crown Prince, Emperor Jingxuan demanded, "You said this?"
The prince wavered between regret and defiance. "Father, I only—"
"Answer me. Did you say these words?"
The Crown Prince neither lied nor confessed, his silence damning enough.
Emperor Jingxuan’s voice turned lethal. "Is this the conduct of a gentleman—a future ruler? Berating a child?"
"Apologize."
The Crown Prince recoiled. "Father!"
Unmoved, the emperor ordered, "Must I repeat myself? Apologize to Chang Sui. Then personally beg Consort Yun’s forgiveness."
"WHY? He’s just the Third Prince’s study companion! I misspoke in anger!"
"Because I am your father! Because this empire is mine to rule!"
"But Father, I’m your son!"
"Are you?" Emperor Jingxuan’s laugh was frigid. "Do you truly believe you’re my only heir? That the crown is yours by default?"
The ministers arriving from the side hall stumbled at the emperor’s near-admission of deposing the heir.
"Your Majesty, calm yourself! This must not be done!"
"Your Highness, apologize at once!"
One official frantically signaled the Crown Prince while others pleaded, "Your Highness, defying the Son of Heaven is a capital offense! Do not escalate this!"
Emperor Jingxuan’s expression was stone. "With such character, how could I entrust Great Qi’s future to him?"
The lead minister begged, "Your Majesty, abolishing the crown prince risks destabilizing the realm! This cannot be taken lightly!"
"Mercy, Your Majesty! Let the prince redeem himself!"
"Youth breeds impulsiveness! The sages teach that repentance merits forgiveness—grant him this chance!"
(Though privately, they despaired. With only two princes—the Third Prince being hopelessly inept—what choice was there?)
The ministers exchanged grim looks, foreseeing a troubled dynasty ahead.
What a mess.
