WK Chapter 32

Qu Dubian followed Consort Xuan back to Shunning Palace.

 

Shunning Palace was located very close to Fengwu Palace and was cold and quiet with few people around.

 

The main hall at its front served as Consort Xuan’s residence. The garden contained no flowers—all had been plowed into fields where something unknown was being planted instead. There were also some fruit trees on either side whose types couldn’t be identified at first glance.

 

Consort Xuan first instructed someone to prepare a meal in the small kitchen, then turned to look at the Seventh Prince following behind her and sighed.

 

She was still bewildered. Somehow, this child had clung to her, and she had absentmindedly brought him along.

 

Qu Dubian followed her everywhere like a little tail.

 

He hugged Consort Xuan’s leg and said sweetly, “Consort Xuan~”

 

Please raise your goodwill level, beautiful and generous Consort Xuan! Raise it quickly—I’m willing to live a balanced life of meat and vegetables for this!

 

The words to inform the Emperor about picking up his son were stuck in her throat. Thinking it wouldn’t hurt to let the Seventh Prince stay for a meal, she said: “The food will take some time. I need to process the soil I just dug up. Can you play by yourself for a while?”

 

Qu Dubian nodded enthusiastically. “Okay!”

 

Ye Xiaoyuan bowed helplessly. “Apologies for troubling you, Consort Xuan.”

 

Consort Xuan replied, “You may come inside as well.”

 

The four of them entered the hall. Consort Xuan placed a porcelain basin on the charcoal brazier and began roasting the soil in batches, transferring it into another wooden bucket after it was heated.

 

Roasting the soil—high-temperature sterilization.

 

Qu Dubian watched from the side, occasionally helping by handing her a small shovel.

 

The palace attendants remained silent. Consort Xuan said nothing either. Ye Xiaoyuan and Wen Xiaochun couldn’t understand why their little prince insisted on coming to Shunning Palace and didn’t know what to say.

 

Noticing that the child kept staring at the soil, Consort Xuan thought for a moment before instructing a maid to bring out a small bowl. She filled it with sterilized soil, added some warm water, and handed it to Qu Dubian.

 

“Here.”

 

Qu Dubian scooted closer to Consort Xuan and asked eagerly: “Consort Xuan, is there anything I can help with?”

 

If I help, surely her goodwill will increase!

 

“No need,” Consort Xuan shook her head. Though he offered to help, which showed how considerate he was, she thought perhaps his time in Ju’an Hall had been too harsh, shaping him into such a thoughtful child.

 

Children shouldn’t have to learn patience and restraint so early. In a gentle tone, she said: “You’ve been watching for so long without asking me for anything—I could tell you wanted some. This soil has been roasted and sifted; it’s clean. Go play.”

 

Qu Dubian fell silent for a moment. “Play with what?”

 

Consort Xuan pushed the bowl toward him. “Play with mud—don’t hold back.”

 

Qu Dubian: “……”

 

Under the encouraging gazes of Ye Xiaoyuan, Wen Xiaochun, and Consort Xuan, Qu Dubian kept a straight face as he played with mud for about twenty minutes.

 

During this time, Consort Xuan’s favorability increased by three points. As Qu Dubian gradually relaxed, he found himself genuinely enjoying playing with mud—it was surprisingly fun.

 

When lunch was finally ready in the small kitchen—and even a serving of Yun Ni cakes arrived from the main kitchen—Consort Xuan announced that it was time to eat. Qu Dubian immediately pushed aside his bowl of mud and dashed toward the dining table.

 

Consort Xuan instructed Ye Xiaoyuan to help him wash his hands.

 

“Aside from me, there’s also Noble Lady Guo living in Shunning Palace’s rear hall,” Consort Xuan explained as they sat down. “She has a daughter who is nominally under my care but is actually raised by her mother. So I’m not very familiar with what children like to eat. Just let me know if there’s anything you prefer.”

 

Rolling up his sleeves and holding up his wooden spoon confidently, Qu Dubian declared: “I’m not picky at all—I’m very easy to take care of!”

 

Consort Xuan gave him an appraising look. Although she hadn’t raised children herself, she had seen others do so and had a general idea of how tall or heavy a two-and-a-half-year-old should be. The Seventh Prince looked much smaller than even Noble Lady Guo’s daughter had been at that age.

 

So his claim didn’t seem very convincing.

 

She didn’t comment further but simply instructed the maids to serve him more food.

 

As the atmosphere grew more relaxed compared to earlier, Qu Dubian took the initiative: “A lot of consorts came after me today.”

 

Consort Xuan raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

 

She quickly understood—the palace maids had already whispered about how the Seventh Prince was being considered for foster care by one of the consorts. At such a critical juncture, of course this child would become highly sought after.

 

“So you came to Shunning Palace to avoid them?” she asked.

 

“No,” Qu Dubian replied seriously. “I came here to avoid His Majesty. If he finds out what happened in the Imperial Garden… he’ll spank me.”

 

This child spoke like a little adult, even furrowing his brows in worry. Amused, Consort Xuan said: “His Majesty wouldn’t casually punish princes like that—you’re still young. Even if you cause trouble, he won’t get angry easily. But… I’ve been meaning to ask—why do you call him ‘Your Majesty’?”

 

Qu Dubian answered solemnly: “It’s not time to call him ‘Father’ yet.”

 

Calling him Father must be reserved for crucial moments.

 

“And when will that be?” she asked curiously.

 

Qu Dubian thought about it for a moment before replying: “Soon, I think.”

 

Just then, an attendant entered hurriedly and announced: “Your Ladyship—His Majesty has arrived!”

 

Consort Xuan frowned as she set down her chopsticks without any attempt to hide her displeasure from others around her. She muttered: “Why come at this hour? Can’t he pick a better time?”

 

Qu Dubian: “?”

 

Although Great Zhou didn’t exist in his previous life’s history books, he knew that normally consorts wouldn’t dare make such remarks about an emperor.

 

He tucked away his curiosity as he climbed down from his chair and followed Consort Xuan into the front courtyard, staying close behind her skirts.

 

Emperor Chongzhao strode into the courtyard with large steps while Head Eunuch Yu wiped sweat from his forehead and frantically exchanged glances with Ye Xiaoyuan and Wen Xiaochun.

 

Consort Xuan curtsied gracefully. “Greetings to Your Majesty.”

 

Peeking shyly from behind Consort Xuan’s skirts, Qu Dubian timidly smiled and said softly: “Greetings to Your Majesty.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao’s face was as dark as thunderclouds as he suddenly pulled out a ruler from who-knows-where and barked: “Still hiding?! Come out here!!” He stormed toward Qu Dubian with long strides.

 

Qu Dubian immediately turned tail and ran—circling around the courtyard with Emperor Chongzhao chasing after him.

 

As he ran, he shouted: “It was Sixth Brother who said it out loud! I only told him secretly! Why don’t you punish Sixth Brother instead?!”

 

“If you hadn’t said anything in the first place,” Emperor Chongzhao retorted angrily, “how would Sixth Brother have known?!”

 

He was absolutely furious—by afternoon most of the palace already knew that he, Emperor of Great Zhou, had been collectively gifted tonics by consorts implying poor health! And worse yet—the ridiculous rumor about needing someone to whistle while relieving himself!

 

But how could he clarify? If he went around explaining that his health was fine and that no whistling was involved—it would only make things worse!

 

After two laps around the courtyard, Emperor Chongzhao took a large step forward and caught his mischievous son by grabbing onto his thick clothing mid-run. Lifting him into the air with one hand while raising the ruler in another—he prepared to strike when Qu Dubian suddenly lunged forward and clung tightly around his neck with both arms while wrapping his legs around his chest—wailing loudly enough to shake heaven itself:

 

“Help! His Majesty is hitting me!”

 

Emperor Chongzhao was nearly choked by the child clinging to his neck. “Let go of me!”

 

He had no choice but to free one hand to support the boy’s legs—if he fell from all this commotion, he might break a bone!

 

Head Eunuch Yu’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.

 

Good heavens above, he thought. I’ve followed His Majesty for so many years and seen all kinds of things, but I’ve never witnessed anything like this.

 

Glancing around at the others in Shunning Palace, Head Eunuch Yu felt a sense of satisfaction. Among the group, some were gaping, others covering their eyes—none were as composed as he was.

 

Emperor Chongzhao grew angrier by the second, but then he suddenly heard coughing. The infuriating little rascal seemed to have been caught by the wind and coughed several times in a row. After running two laps around the courtyard, his breathing was labored from the exertion.

 

The Emperor suddenly remembered that although Xiao Qi had recovered quickly from his illness, the imperial physicians had warned that a quick recovery didn’t mean there were no lingering issues—it could relapse.

 

The ruler in his hand wavered. If he hit him and made him sick again, it wouldn’t just be the child suffering—it would be him too.

 

Maybe I’ll just give him a light tap to make my point.

 

He raised the ruler again!

 

But before it could fall, the boy on his shoulder wailed: “Father! It hurts!”

 

The ruler froze mid-air.

 

Emperor Chongzhao barked angrily: “I haven’t even hit you yet!”

 

Qu Dubian whimpered twice. “I really didn’t mean it.”

 

“Now you call me ‘Father’ when you’re about to be punished? And besides, I am your Father Emperor—not ‘Father.’ How improper!”

 

“Oh,” Qu Dubian replied nonchalantly, “Your Majesty.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao: “……”

 

He couldn’t bring himself to hit him or let it go. Fortunately, Head Eunuch Yu stepped forward with impeccable timing and took the ruler from his hand, offering him a way out. “Your Majesty, the little prince has just recovered from a serious illness. He didn’t do it on purpose and knows he was wrong.”

 

Ye Xiaoyuan nodded repeatedly. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

He signaled Wen Xiaochun, who quickly took the ruler from Head Eunuch Yu and hid it behind his back.

 

“Let go of me!” Emperor Chongzhao ordered.

 

“No,” Qu Dubian said stubbornly as he clung tightly to his neck. In a small voice, he whispered into his ear: “I know everything now—you stayed with me at night and took care of me… You’re better than I thought… just a little bit better.”

 

He held up his thumb and pressed it against the first joint of his index finger to show just how small “a little bit” was.

 

So that’s why this child has been acting closer to me lately? Emperor Chongzhao glanced at Qu Dubian’s fingers and muttered: “Only this much? I haven’t slept well for two or three nights because of you.”

 

Two or three nights is just small interest—how much more do you want? Greedy old man. Qu Dubian clung back onto his neck like a koala and said in his straightforward childlike way: “If you’re good to me, I’ll be good to you too. I’m still small now, but I’ll grow up—and my kindness toward you will grow too.”

 

“……”

 

Emperor Chongzhao adjusted his grip on the boy’s legs and said sternly: “You’re so casual with your words—‘you’ this and ‘me’ that! Let’s go back to Zichen Palace.”

 

He glanced at Consort Xuan and gave her a slight nod—not like one would toward a consort but rather like one would toward an old friend carrying unspoken guilt.

 

Consort Xuan curtsied gracefully. “Farewell, Your Majesty.” So this is when he calls him ‘Father.’

 

—

 

As they left Shunning Palace, Head Eunuch Yu offered to carry Qu Dubian, but Emperor Chongzhao didn’t let go until they were halfway back before handing him over to Ye Xiaoyuan.

 

—

 

Back in Shunning Palace.

 

With the Seventh Prince gone, the lively atmosphere vanished as well.

 

The palace returned to its usual quietness—so much so that it felt momentarily unfamiliar.

 

Consort Xuan stood in place for a while before looking down at her palm, where she could still feel the lingering warmth from when the child had held her hand.

 

In the rear hall, five-year-old Princess Zhiyi approached curiously while holding a smooth wooden block. “Consort Xuan, was that Father Emperor who came earlier?”

 

In Da Zhou’s royal lineage system, princes and princesses were ranked separately by order of birth. Though young, Princess Zhiyi was already considered the eldest princess.

 

Consort Xuan returned to her senses and replied: “Yes—and your Seventh Brother too. Why are you here? Did we disturb you?”

 

Princess Zhiyi raised her wooden block high and said: “The axe in the rear hall is broken. Mother is doing woodwork now and needs your help.”

 

Consort Xuan took the block from her hands and gripped it firmly with both hands before snapping it cleanly in half with a sharp crack.

 

Princess Zhiyi wasn’t fazed at all—in fact, she beamed with delight. “Thank you, Consort Xuan! We’re having lunch in the rear hall—will you join us?”

 

“Alright,” Consort Xuan agreed as she walked alongside her. “Your mother is doing woodwork again—I suppose she’ll need my help too. Don’t forget to send someone tomorrow morning to replace that axe.”

 

“Okay!” Princess Zhiyi nodded enthusiastically.

 

—

 

Zichen Palace

Xinuan Pavilion

 

“Why did he run off to Shunning Palace?” Emperor Chongzhao asked while reviewing memorials before bed after retrieving Qu Dubian.

 

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t figure it out. “I know Consort Xuan well enough—she usually just grows vegetables or chops wood and doesn’t bother with me at all. She rarely leaves her palace gates—how did those two even cross paths?”

 

“It must’ve been a coincidence,” Head Eunuch Yu replied tactfully. “The other consorts were chasing him quite persistently today.”

 

“I know what they’re up to,” Emperor Chongzhao said irritably. “They’re already fighting over this before I’ve even started choosing—they think my son is just some piece of meat?”

 

It annoyed him further—what kind of impression would this leave if word got out? Such behavior lacked decorum—how could they be trusted to raise an imperial heir?

 

Head Eunuch Yu hesitated before suggesting: “Actually… Consort Xuan might be suitable…”

 

“No,” Emperor Chongzhao interrupted firmly. “You saw how mischievous Xiao Qi is—if he angers Consort Xuan, she might hit him herself! Besides… she probably doesn’t want anything to do with me either.”

 

“And as for those consorts who went to the Imperial Garden today—they’re all unsuitable.”

 

Head Eunuch Yu sighed softly: “That doesn’t leave many options then… Perhaps let His Highness choose for himself? After all, he should be satisfied with whoever raises him.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao rubbed his temples in frustration. “This matter involves balancing relations with former dynasties while considering each consort’s temperament—and Xiao Qi has to be happy too… Was this child sent here to collect debts from me?”

 

Head Eunuch Yu smiled faintly: “Your Majesty is both ruler and father—you can’t avoid worrying about your children.”

 

“If nothing else works… let him choose for himself.”

 

—

 

Sleeping Quarters

 

Qu Dubian had eaten half his meal in Shunning Palace and finished the other half back in Zichen Palace later that evening.

 

Sprawled out on Emperor Chongzhao’s dragon bed, Qu Dubian had completely taken over. The incense burning in the sleeping quarters today had been changed to a new kind, carrying a faint pinewood scent.

 

“Xiaochun, is Father Emperor going to choose a new consort to be my foster mother?”

 

At the moment, only the two of them were in the sleeping quarters. Wen Xiaochun asked, “How does Your Highness know this?”

 

“I accidentally overheard it.”

 

In truth, he had guessed it.

 

The higher the sunk cost, the more his emperor father would care about him in this lifetime. However, he couldn’t stay in Zichen Palace forever—neither the officials from the previous dynasty nor the harem would be pleased about that. Adding to this was the behavior of the consorts today; it wasn’t hard to piece things together.

 

Wen Xiaochun asked softly, “Does Your Highness want a new foster mother?”

 

Qu Dubian thought for a moment. “I don’t know. What does having a mother feel like?”

 

It seemed as though he was destined not to have a mother’s love—he didn’t have it in his previous life, and he didn’t have it in this one either. He truly didn’t know what it felt like to be loved by a mother.

 

Wen Xiaochun had experienced it but was also sold by his own mother for money.

 

Sometimes, those closest to you could hurt you the most.

 

But these were not words he could share with His Highness.

 

He simply said, “Perhaps you’ll find out someday.”

 

Outside, Emperor Chongzhao stood listening for a while. Only when there was no more conversation did he step inside. After washing up, he lay down on the bed and asked, “Did you meet any consorts you liked in the Imperial Garden today?”

 

Qu Dubian turned over and propped himself up on his elbows. “Their perfume doesn’t smell as good as yours.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao snorted lightly. “You’ve got good taste. The study hall resumes classes tomorrow. You’ve recovered quickly, but it’s best to rest a few more days before attending. Do you want to go?”

 

Qu Dubian replied, “Walking is too tiring.”

 

“You don’t have to walk; someone will carry you.”

 

“But they’ll get tired too.”

 

“So you don’t want to go?”

 

“Father Emperor, do you have dogs?”

 

“……”

 

The sudden change of topic caught Emperor Chongzhao off guard. He carefully considered the meaning behind this “Father Emperor” address—was it an attempt to curry favor after causing trouble? Or was there something else?

 

Cautiously, he said, “I do. If you want one, you can pick a gentle one and raise it yourself. What do you want to do with it?”

 

Qu Dubian replied mysteriously: “I’m not telling you.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao gave him a sidelong glance. “Fine, don’t go to the study hall for now. Seven days from now is your mother’s posthumous recognition ceremony. Someone will come for measurements for clothes.”

 

Although Emperor Chongzhao had abolished some inherited rules from the previous dynasty, posthumously honoring Consort Yun as Empress was still a significant event requiring coordination between several departments like the Ministry of Rites and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. On the day of the ceremony, music would play according to protocol, and nine celestial lamps would be offered at Fengde Hall.

 

As Consort Yun’s son, Qu Dubian—despite his young age—was required to attend.

 

Qu Dubian hadn’t known about this event before but now sensed something unusual. He poked Emperor Chongzhao’s arm and said, “Tell me about it.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao closed his eyes and replied, “I’m not telling you.”

 

“……”

 

Hmph! Stingy old man!

 

 

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