The bustling street was alive with noise, vendors shouting endlessly as a black carriage moved slowly toward the imperial palace, its luxurious satin curtains shutting out the outside world.
Inside the carriage, Yun Wan sat upright on a sable cushion, her lips pressed tightly together. Her delicate brows were slightly furrowed over her watery eyes, and her unpowdered face was clouded with deep worry, oblivious to the commotion around her.
To be precise, she had no mind for anything else.
Sui was in trouble.
Upon hearing the servant’s report, Yun Wan finally understood why her eyelid had been twitching uncontrollably since morning.
She never expected that Sui would get into trouble less than ten days after entering the Hongwen Institute.
On the way to the palace now, Yun Wan’s mind raced through countless scenarios, each thought making her face grow paler.
Seeing her so tense that she nearly bit through her lip, Lu Yuanduo poured her a cup of tea and handed it over.
"Don’t worry. Sui will be fine. The eunuch who delivered the message from the palace mentioned it was about a fight."
"A fight?"
Holding the teacup, Yun Wan’s eyes widened slightly, her expression momentarily blank from shock.
Lu Yuanduo nodded. He, too, had been surprised when he heard the reason.
Children often quarreled, but being summoned to the palace over a fight was unprecedented.
This could only mean the matter was serious—perhaps involving the two imperial princes.
Yun Wan said firmly, "Sui has always been well-behaved and sensible. There’s no way he would get into a fight!"
As his mother, she knew her child better than anyone. Sui was gentle and respectful—he had never even argued with anyone, let alone fought.
If not for the fact that the eunuch had no reason to lie, Yun Wan would have suspected Lu Yuanduo had been deceived.
Sitting upright across from her, Lu Yuanduo met her gaze. "I understand. To be precise, he was caught up in it. Changze was also involved. They weren’t the instigators, so set your mind at ease."
His calm demeanor gradually soothed Yun Wan’s unsettled heart. She took a small sip of tea.
The fragrant steam curled upward, blurring her delicate features.
Her slender fingers rested against the white porcelain cup, blending into its elegance like a seamless painting.
But then—
A faint medicinal scent suddenly filled the air. Without her noticing, Lu Yuanduo had produced a small porcelain vial.
Removing the lid, he revealed a pale green ointment inside. Scooping some onto a bamboo spatula, he handed it to Yun Wan, his gaze fixed on the crimson mark on her fingertip.
Only then did Yun Wan notice the cut on her finger—she must have nicked it earlier without realizing. She had hastily wiped it with a handkerchief before leaving, but traces of blood remained.
Taking the spatula, Yun Wan murmured her thanks.
She absentmindedly smeared the ointment over the wound, her thoughts elsewhere.
Hongwen Institute, Main Hall.
The grand hall was filled with clamor and an eerie tension.
A row of children knelt on the polished green marble floor, heads bowed, clothes disheveled. Upon closer inspection, each bore scratches and bruises—evidence of a fierce battle.
The headmaster, scholars, and lecturers stood to the left, their faces grim.
Opposite them were officials in robes of varying colors, their faces flushed with anger as they glared at their kneeling descendants, scolding them relentlessly—as if ready to whip them on the spot.
The children dared not look up, enduring the reprimands with bowed heads, their faces burning with shame.
Yun Wan and Lu Yuanduo arrived at this moment. The instant she stepped into the hall, Yun Wan’s eyes darted around in search of Sui.
Spotting his small figure kneeling in the corner, she called out without thinking, "Sui!"
Hearing her voice, Sui turned. His excitement was unmistakable when he saw her. "Mother!"
He nearly jumped up to run to her but remembered he was still being punished and forced himself to stay kneeling. He then obediently greeted his uncle.
Beside him, Lu Changze’s face was bright red. He mumbled a greeting to the adults before quickly lowering his head again, mortified.
Lu Yuanduo gave him a light pat on the shoulder, saying nothing.
Yun Wan lifted her skirts and hurried over, kneeling before Sui and pulling him into her arms, her heart aching. "How did you end up like this after just a few days apart?"
On the way, a eunuch had explained the situation.
A fight.
More accurately, a brawl.
It had started during lunch when the Crown Prince and the Third Prince quarreled. Words escalated to blows, and when their attendants tried to intervene, they too got caught in the scuffle.
Every child in the Hongwen Institute was a noble’s son—proud, pampered, and hot-blooded. None would back down from a challenge.
Soon, fists flew on all sides. What began as a fight between two princes became a full-blown melee, spiraling out of control.
By the time the headmaster and scholars arrived, chaos reigned.
Amid the wreckage, the headmaster roared, ordering everyone to kneel in punishment.
And Sui—caught as a bystander—was swept into the punishment as well.
Hearing this, Yun Wan could only sigh.
Her little Sui, barely bigger than a rice cake, had been dragged into a brawl on his first days at school.
Sui knelt properly, stealing a glance at Yun Wan before whispering, "I’m sorry, Mother. I caused trouble..."
The joy of seeing her was replaced by shame as he remembered why she was here.
Yun Wan shook her head. "Never mind that now. Let me see—"
Before she could finish, a eunuch’s voice rang out:
"His Majesty arrives—"
"Consort Shu and Consort Shu arrive—"
The hall immediately fell silent as everyone bowed in deference.
Emperor Jingxuan strode in, clad in deep-colored robes embroidered with golden dragons, a majestic presence that commanded awe.
Taking his seat at the head of the hall, he flicked his sleeve and spoke in a voice both lazy and imperious: "Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty—"
Consort Shu and Consort Shu took their seats below, their expressions stormy. Their simple attire suggested they had rushed over in haste.
The hall was now deathly quiet, every heart pounding nervously.
The emperor’s gaze swept over the kneeling children, his fingers tapping idly—a sound that sent shivers down spines.
Not only the officials but even the two consorts felt the tension, shooting sharp glances at their respective sons.
Useless fools!
"Well?" Emperor Jingxuan’s tone was cool, giving nothing away. "Explain."
The headmaster stepped forward. "Your Majesty, this matter—"
As the one in charge, he bore responsibility for the incident.
But the emperor cut him off with a look, forcing him to retreat.
Emperor Jingxuan turned to the Crown Prince. "You are the elder brother. You speak."
