The martial arts training ground was bathed in shade, where refreshing tea snacks quickly won over the little children’s hearts. They sat obediently in a row under the trees, holding small bowls and chatting idly.
Watching Yun Wan fuss over Lu Changsui—asking if he was cold or warm, wiping his sweat, massaging his hands, and calling him "sweetheart"—they felt both disdain and envy.
Lu Changsui was already four years old! How could his mother still call him "sweetheart"? Disgusting! So embarrassing!
But—
His mother was so gentle! No matter how much Lu Changsui rambled on about trivial things, she listened attentively. Who knew the kid could talk so much? And she always praised him!
Feeling unfairly treated, one of the little boys angrily took a big bite of his apple.
Yun Wan, who had been listening to Changsui’s stories about the Hongwen Institute, suddenly noticed an intense gaze. She looked up and locked eyes with a child sitting across from her.
The boy clearly hadn’t expected her to notice him. His face instantly flushed red, and he flusteredly averted his eyes, looking everywhere but at her.
Yun Wan beckoned him over. The child froze.
Changsui, noticing his mother’s gesture, turned and called out, "Wu Qun! My mother’s calling you!"
Hearing his name, Wu Qun hesitated but eventually stood up and approached Yun Wan. "Auntie Lu, did you need something?"
Yun Wan studied the boy. He looked about six or seven, two or three years older than Changsui.
"Your name is Wu Qun?" she asked warmly, her voice as soothing as a spring breeze.
Wu Qun’s hands fidgeted inside his sleeves as he nodded.
"Auntie, you can also call him Wu Little Six!" Pei Qian chimed in, munching noisily on a crispy fruit.
Yun Wan smiled. "Come closer. There’s some dust on your face—let me wipe it off for you."
Wu Qun pursed his lips and shuffled forward.
As she leaned in, Yun Wan steadied him with one hand on his shoulder while using a handkerchief to dab at the smudge on his cheek.
When a simple dry wipe didn’t work, she dampened the cloth with tea and gently cleaned his face.
"There, all done."
Yet this small act unexpectedly made Wu Qun’s eyes well up.
Yun Wan was puzzled. "I’m sorry—did I hurt you?"
Wu Qun shook his head, wiping his eyes. "Thank you, Auntie. You’re just like my mother. Whenever I had dust on my face, she’d wipe it off like this too. She was the best person in the world to me."
Understanding dawned on Yun Wan. She smiled. "Your mother would be so happy to hear you say that."
"If I ever meet her, I’ll be sure to tell her."
She imagined how overjoyed she’d be if someone praised Changsui like that—she’d probably eat two extra bowls of rice! She figured Wu Little Six’s mother would feel the same.
But Wu Qun’s expression suddenly turned sorrowful. "Auntie… you won’t be able to meet her."
Yun Wan faltered. "Why not?"
Wu Qun lowered his head, silent. It was Changsui who tiptoed and whispered in her ear, "Mother, Wu Qun’s mother passed away last year."
The Wu family had many children—Wu Qun’s nickname "Little Six" indicated his place among his father’s offspring, not even counting his uncles’ branches.
A child without a mother was like a blade of grass trampled underfoot. Yun Wan knew this boy must have suffered much neglect.
Her heart ached. She sighed and pulled him into a hug. "Sweet child, let Auntie hold you for a while."
Changsui pouted but, considering Wu Qun’s circumstances, didn’t push him away.
Meanwhile, Pei Qian—never one to miss out on anything—immediately scrambled over. "Auntie, I want a hug too!"
Once one asked, the others followed. The little boys clamored around Yun Wan, chirping, "Me too! Me too!"
"And me!"
Changsui, incensed, planted himself in front of his mother, arms crossed. "Hug yourselves! You all stink—don’t you dare make my mother smell bad!"
"Lu Changsui, you’re so stingy!"
"Lu Changsui, you’re so mean!"
"........."
Faced with their protests, Changsui stood firm, scowling.
He didn’t care. These kids had their own mothers—why did they have to steal his?
Though small, Changsui was surprisingly strong. With him guarding Yun Wan, none could get close, like a fierce little sentinel.
The boys stomped their feet in frustration while Yun Wan watched, amused and touched by the scene.
Then—a thunderous roar shattered the moment.
"What’s with all this ruckus?!"
The children spun around and, spotting Commander Wei, scattered like startled birds, shrieking:
"Commander Wei’s here! He’s gonna yell at us!"
"Commander Wei’s mad! He’s gonna hit us!"
"........."
Commander Wei: "......These brats and their wild rumors."
Yun Wan turned toward the voice and saw the man they called Commander Wei.
From afar, he resembled a mountain—broad-shouldered, square-jawed, with thick brows, large round eyes, and a full beard. His booming voice matched Yun Wan’s image of an imperial guard commander perfectly.
Pei Qian, fearless as ever, trotted up to Commander Wei with a plate of snacks. "Commander, try these! Auntie Lu made them—they’re super tasty!"
"Thanks—"
Though a rough man, Commander Wei had a sweet tooth. He reached for a pastry—only for it to be snatched mid-air.
He stood frozen, beard twitching in shock.
Emperor Jingxuan ate the soft pink cake in two bites, his expression brightening. "Delicious indeed."
Dressed in an elegant dark green robe with wide sleeves embroidered with qilin motifs, a gold-jade belt at his waist, and his hair crowned with jade, he looked every inch the celestial sovereign under the sunlight.
Brushing crumbs from his fingers, he strode toward Yun Wan, his presence commanding yet leisurely. "I had no idea Madam possessed such culinary skill."
His gaze flicked to the remaining pastries, and he casually ordered an attendant to pack some up.
Commander Wei was baffled.
Pei Qian, however, was used to it. His uncle had a habit of taking what he wanted, so he handed his own plate to the attendant as well.
Cornered, Yun Wan dipped into a slight curtsy, her voice cool. "Your Majesty."
Noticing the shadows under her eyes and her evasive demeanor, Emperor Jingxuan’s brow furrowed. "Did Madam not sleep well last night?"
The concern in his tone made Commander Wei’s heart skip. His eyes darted between them, suspicion rising.
Yun Wan retreated half a step. "Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. I rested perfectly fine."
The Emperor’s expression darkened, his gaze lingering on her aloof profile.
Sensing the tension, Commander Wei bellowed at the children still hiding under the tree, "What are you loafing around for? Come greet His Majesty properly!"
At his shout, the little boys scurried over and bowed in unison.
Those who had never seen Emperor Jingxuan before kept their heads bowed, not daring to look around recklessly under his imposing aura. Even the most mischievous among them instantly fell silent.
The appearance of Emperor Jingxuan made them more nervous than facing their own strict fathers or grandfathers.
Emperor Jingxuan, however, remained composed—after all, their fathers and grandfathers were even more tense in his presence.
"What’s all this commotion about?" he asked, clasping his hands behind his back as he glanced at the group of young boys.
Led by the Third Prince, they answered truthfully.
Emperor Jingxuan: "What have you all been learning just now?"
The Third Prince felt the pressure. "Your Majesty, we practiced archery. Commander Wei taught us how to shoot!"
"Oh?" Emperor Jingxuan raised an eyebrow. "And how did it go?"
At this, the Third Prince visibly stiffened before replying in a small voice, "I... I hit the fifth ring..."
Hearing "fifth ring," Emperor Jingxuan said nothing, but the cold sternness in his eyes made his dissatisfaction clear.
At this moment, the Third Prince missed his arrogant, disdainful elder brother, the Crown Prince, more than ever.
If the Crown Prince were here, he wouldn’t have to bear his father’s imposing presence alone—after all, the Crown Prince’s archery skills were only slightly better than his.
And that small gap, the Third Prince could console himself with the excuse of their age difference.
"Uncle, I hit the eighth ring!"
Pei Qian spoke up, diverting Emperor Jingxuan’s attention.
The emperor praised, "Not bad!"
Pei Qian might have been lacking in scholarly pursuits, but he excelled in martial training—whether it was wielding weapons, horseback riding, or archery, he performed admirably.
No longer under the oppressive gaze of his father, the Third Prince let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Soon, the others also reported their results to Emperor Jingxuan:
"I hit the third ring!"
"I got six rings!"
"......"
After listening to them all, Emperor Jingxuan’s gaze settled on the fair and delicate Lu Changsui. Slowly, he asked, "And you?"
Before Lu Changsui could answer, someone couldn’t resist speaking up for him: "Your Majesty, Lu Changsui didn’t shoot! He couldn’t even draw the bow, hahaha!"
The laughter was downright infuriating. A more sensitive child might have flushed red with shame.
But though Lu Changsui was angry, he didn’t forget to glare at the offender before explaining, "It’s not that I couldn’t draw the bow! Commander Wei said I’m still too young and might hurt myself, so he told me not to touch the bow yet!"
Commander Wei nodded in confirmation. "That’s correct. This boy is the youngest here, and his tendons haven’t fully developed yet. Drawing a bow too early could strain them, so I had him observe from the side."
Then he scolded the laughing boy, "What right do you have to mock others when you only hit the third ring? Extra training for you! You’re not going home until you hit the sixth ring. If you can’t do it today, you’ll keep practicing tomorrow!"
The third-ring boy: "......"
Lu Changsui snorted, tugging at Yun Wan’s sleeve and whispering, "Mother, if I had the right bow, I could definitely hit the target—and not just the third ring!"
Yun Wan patted his back, pride in her expression. "I believe in you."
Their voices weren’t particularly quiet, and those nearby heard them clearly.
Emperor Jingxuan glanced at Lu Changsui, his lips curling in amusement. "You sound quite confident, boy. Someone, fetch the black-lacquered feather bow from my treasury!"
Jiang Fusheng was inwardly stunned. Though it was a child-sized bow, it was extraordinarily powerful and priceless. Even when the Crown Prince first began learning archery, the emperor hadn’t thought to bring it out!
The others didn’t know what kind of bow it was, but they understood that anything stored in Emperor Jingxuan’s treasury had to be extraordinary.
Soon, a servant swiftly delivered a bow about the length of an adult’s forearm. Its body was entirely black, cold to the touch and engraved with strange, intricate patterns that gave it a mysterious and sharp appearance.
Emperor Jingxuan took the black-lacquered feather bow in hand. Though it looked like a child’s toy, the cold gleam it emitted made it impossible to underestimate.
In a deep voice, he explained its origins:
"This bow was a spoil of war from my campaign in the northern frontier, where I conquered a small kingdom. It was crafted by the finest artisans as a birthday gift for that kingdom’s three-year-old prince."
Of course, the kingdom had fallen before the gift could be delivered, and the bow had ended up in Emperor Jingxuan’s possession.
His gaze returned to Lu Changsui as he said slowly, "Even a three-year-old child could draw this bow. If you can hit the target today—and surpass the third ring—I’ll give it to you."
"Your Majesty!"
Yun Wan immediately spoke up in protest.
Meeting her disapproving gaze, Emperor Jingxuan smirked—finally, his wife was looking at him properly.
He said thoughtfully, "There’s no need to worry, my lady. This bow was designed for a three-year-old. Its mechanism is ingenious and requires little strength. It won’t harm him."
But was that Yun Wan’s concern? No—she was worried that Emperor Jingxuan’s words would provoke jealousy in the two princes, making Lu Changsui stand out too much.
If even the princes didn’t possess such a bow, would giving it to Lu Changsui truly be good for him? She didn’t believe the emperor was ignorant of the implications.
Of course, Emperor Jingxuan understood. But he had his own considerations.
"Rest assured, my lady. It’s just a unique little bow—neither the Crown Prince nor the Third Prince has any use for it. Leaving it in my treasury would only let it gather dust."
"If not for this boy, I wouldn’t even have remembered its existence. Since it suits him, there’s no harm in giving it to him."
In other words, no matter how precious the bow was, it was still just a spoil of war. Rather than letting it go to waste, why not give it to someone who needed and suited it?
Someone like Lu Changsui.
Besides, he was the youngest here—what was wrong with indulging him a little?
A bow specifically made for a three-year-old wouldn’t be of practical use to the older boys, including the Third Prince. Even if they coveted it, they’d be mocked for using it.
Seeing her expression soften slightly, Emperor Jingxuan added quietly, "Or would you rather have the boy stand by and watch while everyone else gets to shoot? Doesn’t that pain you?"
With that, Yun Wan was finally persuaded.
Emperor Jingxuan snorted inwardly—only this boy could make his wife fret so much.
He lowered his gaze, holding the bow out to Lu Changsui. "Do you dare accept the challenge?"
Having heard the exchange between the emperor and his mother, Lu Changsui straightened his back and declared,
"I dare!"
Taking the black-lacquered feather bow and arrows, Lu Changsui headed to the archery range, followed by the crowd.
On the field, he mimicked the movements he’d observed earlier and drew the bow.
"Twang—"
The first arrow flew. The attendant at the target waved no flag.
It hadn’t missed entirely, but it barely clung to the edge of the target—not even counting as a single ring.
Lu Changsui’s face fell.
Emperor Jingxuan glanced at him. "Three attempts."
Hearing this, Lu Changsui shook off his disappointment and tried again with renewed determination.
Emperor Jingxuan watched him closely before giving sharp instructions: "Your stance is wrong. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Raise your left arm straight, holding the bow steady. Keep your body upright and still."
"Draw the bow with your right hand, keeping your breathing steady. Focus on the bullseye. Relax your mind—no distractions."
"Thud—"
"Fifth ring!"
Pei Qian and the Third Prince both gasped in surprise, while Lu Changsui's eyes suddenly lit up.
Emperor Jingxuan glanced at him and commanded, "Continue."
"Bang—"
