As soon as these words were spoken, all eyes turned toward the speaker.

Guo Xiong, the young heir of the Prince of Pingnan, froze for a moment, clearly unable to recall who Jiang Fusheng was.

Emperor Jingxuan asked, "What is the matter?"

Jiang Fusheng bowed slightly as he poured tea, chuckling amiably. "Your Majesty may not be aware, but what a coincidence—just earlier, this old servant was escorting the young master to the Hongwen Institute when we happened to cross paths with His Highness the Prince and his family entering the palace."

He glanced at Guo Xiong, his smile deepening. "Perhaps the young heir was in a foul mood, for he uttered such childish words—threatening to gouge out the young master’s eyes."

Though his tone was light, almost jesting, the words sent a chill down everyone’s spine.

Gouging out someone’s eyes—such words hardly sounded like mere childish banter.

Emperor Jingxuan’s gaze sharpened as he turned toward Guo Xiong, who sat beside his father.

A single glance from the Emperor was enough to instill boundless terror.

With a clatter, the pastry in Guo Xiong’s hand fell to the ground. His pudgy face paled, and he shrank behind his father, trembling.

This Emperor was terrifying.

The Prince of Pingnan laughed heartily, brushing it off. "Your Majesty, forgive him—it was nothing but a jest! This boy has been spoiled rotten by me. Growing up in the impoverished south, he’s picked up some wild habits and loves spouting such nonsense. I beg Your Majesty’s mercy!"

He yanked his son forward. "Apologize to Eunuch Jiang at once!"

Jiang Fusheng waved his hand dismissively. "The young heir’s words were directed at the young master, not this lowly servant. It would be improper for me to accept such an apology."

The Prince of Pingnan had no idea who this "young master" was—likely some noble’s child—but he paid it little mind.

Still, in the Emperor’s presence, he had to maintain appearances.

"Next time you see that young master, you’d better apologize properly, understand?" he scolded his son with feigned severity.

Guo Xiong nodded reluctantly. "Yes, Father."

"It seems the rumors are true—the young heir is indeed your treasure," Emperor Jingxuan remarked coolly, his tone inscrutable.

"But as the heir, he must one day bear the responsibilities of the Pingnan estate. Such vulgar habits should be corrected early, lest he grow into an ill-mannered, uneducated brute."

The Prince of Pingnan’s expression stiffened, but he forced a smile. "Your Majesty’s wisdom is most appreciated."

Emperor Jingxuan spared him only a fleeting glance. "From today onward, he shall remain in the palace. He may return to Pingnan only once he has learned proper decorum."

"I shall assign him the finest tutors in the empire. Does that suit you, my lord?"

Only once he has learned proper decorum—but what if he never does? Would his son be trapped in the capital forever?

Guo Xiong panicked. "Father, I don’t want—"

The Prince swiftly clapped a hand over his mouth, then bowed gratefully. "This is most generous of Your Majesty. The Pingnan estate is honored by your concern for my unworthy son."

He lowered his eyes, the flicker of resentment vanishing as quickly as it appeared.

......

As the year drew to a close, the most talked-about figures in the capital were none other than the recently returned Prince of Pingnan and his family.

The Prince, surnamed Guo, had been enfeoffed by the late Emperor to quell rampant banditry in the southern borders, which had long plagued the people of Qi.

Yet what truly fueled the gossip was the Prince’s domestic affairs.

His harem was vast, filled with wives, concubines, and numerous daughters. Adopted sons were plentiful, but Guo Xiong was his only blood heir.

Doted upon like a rare jewel, the boy had grown up arrogant and lawless. Within days of arriving in the capital, he had already offended half the noble children—even surpassing the notorious Young Master Pei of the Duke of Chengen’s household in sheer obnoxiousness.

As for Sui, he had long forgotten about the Prince of Pingnan’s heir.

At the moment, he sat at a custom-made desk, a book propped before him—yet his eyes kept darting toward Emperor Jingxuan beside him.

His distraction was palpable.

By the tenth stolen glance, Emperor Jingxuan’s brow twitched. He looked up, meeting Sui’s gaze head-on.

Caught, Sui instantly averted his eyes, pretending to focus on his book.

The Emperor nearly laughed in exasperation.

Setting down his brush, he demanded, "Why keep sneaking glances at me? Done something guilty?"

Sui shook his head. "No."

"Failed your exams?"

"The results aren’t out yet!"

"Being bullied?"

"No."

Emperor Jingxuan’s patience wore thin. He strode over, snatched the book away, and fixed Sui with a stern look. "Then what is it?"

Sui fidgeted. "N-nothing."

His eyes darted everywhere but at the Emperor.

With a click of his tongue, Emperor Jingxuan knew—the boy was hiding something.

But if he wouldn’t talk, pressing him was pointless.

Later that evening, the Emperor mentioned it to Yun Wan. "Does our son seem different to you lately?"

Yun Wan nodded. "A little."

After a moment’s thought, she added, "He’s been rather absentminded, hasn’t he?"

A mother knew her child best—Yun Wan noticed every subtle shift in Sui’s behavior.

"But I’ve asked around. No one at the Hongwen Institute has troubled him, and his routine is unchanged."

She wondered if it was simply the secrecy of growing up—perhaps he wasn’t ready to share his thoughts yet.

Emperor Jingxuan frowned. "Today, he kept staring at me but refused to say why."

Staring at him?

A possibility struck Yun Wan. "Could he have found out?"

The Emperor’s frown deepened. "Perhaps."

That boy was clever beyond his years.

With a sigh, Yun Wan suggested, "Shall I tell him the truth tomorrow?"

"Very well."

The next morning, over breakfast, Yun Wan broached the subject casually. "Sweetheart, has His Majesty been good to you?"

Sui nodded. "Yes."

"Do you like him?"

"Yes."

Like—that was a promising start. To soften the blow, Yun Wan gently continued,

"How would you feel… if His Majesty became your father?"

The little hand clutching the porcelain spoon stilled. Sui met Yun Wan’s tender gaze, then asked hesitantly, "Mother… can fathers be changed?"

"Er—" Yun Wan faltered, momentarily at a loss.

"No, but—"

"Lu Changsui!"

The Third Prince’s voice rang from outside. Yun Wan beckoned him in. "Third Prince, what brings you here?"

"Imperial Mother Yun," the Third Prince greeted respectfully. "The exam results are out. I came to fetch him."

Sui had just finished eating.

No ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‍need to rush things, Yun Wan decided. She wiped his mouth, draped a thick cloak over his shoulders, and whispered,

"Go ahead. When you return, I’ll tell you a secret, alright?"

At the word secret, Sui’s eyes sparkled. He nodded eagerly. "Mm!"

That afternoon at the Hongwen Institute, Sui collected his exam papers—all marked with top grades—and prepared to leave. After bidding a dejected Pei Qian farewell at the gate, he turned to go when an aggressive shout halted him:

"Stop right there!"

"You there—stop!"