The Third Prince was taken aback, stumped by the question.
He lowered his head, staring at the grey brick floor as he fell into silence. After a moment, he mumbled, "I don't know."
If he knew, he wouldn't be tormented alone.
"I don't know who to listen to. What they say seems right, but also seems wrong."
His mind was now a complete muddle, a chaotic mess with several voices arguing against each other.
It was a bit too profound. Sui walked over, looked up at the taller Third Prince, and asked, "Listen to yourself then. Do you still want to keep playing with me?"
His childish voice held a note of expectation, his dark eyes clear and transparent.
The Third Prince bit his lip, conflict flashing between his brows. "I don't know."
Sui frowned. "How can you not know anything?"
Yes or no, what's this 'I don't know'?
The Third Prince froze, thinking Sui was looking down on him, and then felt both ashamed and annoyed. "That's right! I just don't know! I don't know anything! I don't even know when you're lying to me!"
Wrongfully accused, Sui was also a bit angry, but still patiently explained, "I didn't lie to you. I didn't know before that the Emperor was my father either! I have never lied to you."
Both were bundled up in thick winter clothes, but it didn't hinder their stance as they stood facing each other, hands on hips.
"Forget it. Arguing is pointless. Let's just cut ties."
The Third Prince wiped his face, suddenly feeling weary.
Sui was incredulous. Not only did he not believe him, but he also wanted to cut ties?
Though young, he had a temper too, and immediately retorted, "Fine, cut ties then! Don't you regret it."
The Third Prince: "I won't regret it!"
"What?! Cut ties?!"
Pei Qian, who had entered the palace at the agreed time, felt as if the sky had fallen. Cutting ties on the first day of the Lunar New Year? That's terribly inauspicious!
He stood between the two, had a sudden idea, grabbed their hands and forced them to shake. "You are not allowed to cut ties. Shake hands and make up now!"
He said to the Third Prince, "You found out your mother isn't your birth mother."
Then to Sui, "You found out your father isn't your birth father, that they're both someone else. Doesn't that make you even?"
The Third Prince shot him a sidelong glance, slightly speechless. "It's not the same!"
Pei Qian protested, "How is it not the same? It's just one father, one mother, isn't it?"
The Third Prince seemed on the verge of saying more but ultimately shook his head. "Forget it, you wouldn't understand."
He withdrew his hand and turned to leave.
Seeing his resolute attitude, Sui also pulled his hand back, clasped it behind his back, and turned his little face away.
Leaving Pei Qian bewildered, scratching his head on the spot. "What about me if you two cut ties?"
Seeing no sign of reconciliation between the two, he stamped his foot in anxiety and finally came up with a solution:
"Fine. Since you're cutting ties, I'll cut ties with both of you too."
"From now on, if we meet again, we'll be strangers. You walk your single-plank bridge, and I'll walk my sunny broad road!"
"Cut ties!"
The three said in unison, each heading off in the direction of their homes.
..........
After hearing the whole story, Yun Wan couldn't help but laugh. The palace maid beside her lowered her head, shoulders trembling, clearly also holding back laughter.
Emperor Jingxuan, however, had dark lines on his face. He glanced down at the little chubby bundle nestled in his arms. "Was this really worth cutting ties over?"
Even causing such a 'spectacular' fuss. He had initially thought it was some earth-shattering conflict.
Sui didn't make a sound, burying his head in the Emperor's chest.
Yun Wan took a closer look and realized he had already fallen asleep, with no trace of the earlier melancholy.
She smiled helplessly. "It seems he woke up early this morning and is sleepy now."
Emperor Jingxuan signaled for a palace maid to take Sui to the side chamber.
Left with just the two of them, Yun Wan asked leisurely, "How does Your Majesty think this matter should be handled? Although it's just a childish spat, if not addressed promptly, the children will hold grudges and hurt their friendship."
She paused, the remaining smile fading from her face, her tone turning stiff. "When it comes down to it, it's all because someone stirred up trouble and sowed discord."
Emperor Jingxuan's heart gave a lurch. "The Crown Prince..."
As soon as he spoke, Yun Wan said, "How Your Majesty deals with the Crown Prince is not my concern, nor should it be, lest it spread that I am driving a wedge between you and your son."
She pressed her lips together, holding back, but ultimately couldn't swallow her anger. A flush of anger appeared on her exquisitely beautiful face.
"But Sui and the Third Prince are also your children. They say elder brothers should be friendly for younger brothers to be respectful. But the Crown Prince deliberately drove a wedge between his two younger brothers. Is this the magnanimity a Crown Prince should possess?"
These words bordered on treason. If spread, people might mistake her for being dissatisfied with the Great Qi's Crown Prince.
In truth, Yun Wan was dissatisfied.
"How has my Sui offended the Crown Prince? Time and again he finds fault with him. Sui is merely a four or five-year-old child. How has he become a thorn in the Crown Prince's side?"
Her heart was filled with anger, so her tone was naturally not good. Speaking of it made her heart ache for her child even more. Her eyes reddened, glistening with unshed tears.
Emperor Jingxuan's expression darkened slightly, but not towards Yun Wan. He rose and sat beside her, drawing her into his arms. "My lady..."
Yun Wan raised a hand to press the corner of her eye, her voice tinged with a clear sob. "Your Majesty, please forgive me. If I have spoken out of turn, I submit to your punishment."
Hearing this, Emperor Jingxuan felt a pang of sorrow and discomfort. "You jest again, my lady. This matter was indeed the Crown Prince's fault. He failed utterly in his responsibility as an elder brother."
And Consort Lu, the Cui family, the Li family... It seemed he had been too indulgent with them.
His gaze grew colder inch by inch, his disgust intensifying.
Knowing when to stop, Yun Wan spoke up. "Today is the first day of the New Year. It's not auspicious to punish children. It's not too late to deal with it after the festival."
Sometimes disappointment and anger do not fade with time, but accumulate more and more.
Emperor Jingxuan nodded.
His lady was so understanding. How could he disappoint her?
He whispered soothingly, "Don't be angry anymore, my lady?"
He had clearly forgotten that he himself had started with a bellyful of grievances, ready to vent.
Yun Wan didn't respond directly, but asked, "The children are now estranged. We still need to find a way to bridge the rift. Does Your Majesty have any good ideas?"
"I..." Emperor Jingxuan was momentarily at a loss.
As a child, his relationship with his royal brothers was not harmonious. If anyone provoked him, Emperor Jingxuan had always settled things with his fists.
Even if he got punished afterwards, he felt satisfied in his heart.
This situation with Sui and the other two—no fighting, no bloodshed, just a broken friendship, even with a formal severance ceremony—was, in his eyes, a trivial matter. He truly had no experience in handling it.
His mind was filled with strategies for governing the country, but not a single one on how to make three young children reconcile.
It was somewhat tricky.
Seeing his expression, Yun Wan knew she couldn't rely on him, the father, for this. She could only say helplessly, "Never mind. Leave this matter to me."
Emperor Jingxuan felt as if a weight had been lifted, and praised her affectionately. "I'll trouble you with it then, my lady."
If those three brats dared not make up, he would have to exercise his imperial authority.
At the same time, rumors began to circulate among the noble circles of the capital: The Crown Prince was narrow-minded, showed no brotherly affection, and with his words had driven a wedge between his two younger brothers, nearly causing them to turn against each other and sever ties.
Within a few days, the Crown Prince's faction faced impeachment by the censors.
