WK Chapter 38.2

It was Princess Zhiyi, who had come running out after hearing all the commotion.

 

Qu Dubian looked up. “Huh?”

 

Consort Xuan explained: “This is Zhiyi—the only princess in the palace. You can call her ‘Elder Sister.’”

 

Qu Dubian obediently said, “Elder Sister.” He hadn’t seen this sister during his last visit when he’d come for dinner; he’d thought there were only sons in this family and no daughters—yet here she was.

 

Princess Zhiyi was used to being ignored by her brothers and had never encountered a younger brother who would sweetly call her “Elder Sister.” Instantly, she felt a sense of responsibility as an older sibling.

 

She walked out of the palace and handed him a small wooden rabbit carving. “This is for you, Little Brother. Last time I drank your milk tea—this is my return gift.”

 

Qu Dubian accepted it enthusiastically: “Wow! Thank you, Elder Sister—I love it!”

 

“I… I really like it too,” Princess Zhiyi murmured shyly as her gaze drifted toward the dog cart parked at the palace gate.

 

Her longing yet hesitant expression was obvious to everyone present.

 

Qu Dubian offered generously: “Elder Sister, I’ll teach you how to play with the cart if you let me stay for dinner—how about that?”

 

Princess Zhiyi’s eyes lit up immediately. “Yes! Yes! My mother’s cooking is delicious—even Consort Xuan often comes over to eat!”

 

Qu Dubian glanced sneakily at Consort Xuan with a bashful smile.

 

“Consort Xuan…”

 

His expression of wanting to stay for dinner was identical to Princess Zhiyi’s longing for the dog cart—it couldn’t have been more obvious.

 

Consort Xuan chuckled softly. “Just say so directly—do you think I wouldn’t let you stay?”

 

Delighted, Qu Dubian had his little dog cart brought inside and spent some time playing with Princess Zhiyi in the courtyard.

 

While he didn’t mind riding around recklessly on palace paths himself—even risking falls—he thought it best to ensure Princess Zhiyi played safely since she wasn’t part of his immediate family.

 

As night fell, lanterns were lit in the front courtyard.

 

Noble Lady Guo came by once and froze when she heard her daughter laughing so freely for the first time in ages. She stood there for a long moment before Qu Dubian noticed her from afar and waved cheerfully at her with his chin resting on his hands.

 

Noble Lady Guo smiled back but didn’t disturb them. She bowed slightly before heading to the small kitchen in the back to help prepare dinner. The Seventh Prince really is such an adorable and genuine child.

 

Smoke curled gently into the air.

 

Compared to Qu Dubian’s first visit here, more small vegetable patches had been cultivated around Shunning Palace—everywhere exuded an atmosphere of simple living.

 

Princess Zhiyi sniffed the air and suddenly stopped playing with the dog cart. She climbed down from it and grabbed Qu Dubian’s hand. “Little Brother, come on—Elder Sister will take you to eat something delicious.”

 

Qu Dubian asked curiously: “You’re done playing?”

 

“I smelled fried golden crescents—they’re best eaten hot! If we wait until they’re served at dinner, they won’t taste as good anymore. Let’s sneak some now.”

 

Clearly experienced in such escapades, she wrapped them in a handkerchief before sneaking two pieces off the stove and quickly retreating outside with her younger brother to sit on some steps while eating them together.

 

Fried golden crescents were crescent-shaped pastries filled with minced meat and lotus root paste. One bite revealed their crispy exterior paired with soft filling—a delightful blend of meatiness and lotus aroma.

 

“This is so good,” Qu Dubian said between bites.

 

“As long as you like it,” Princess Zhiyi replied happily before leaning closer conspiratorially. In a hushed tone, she asked: “Little Brother—can you visit me often? It’s so boring here being all alone.”

 

Qu Dubian asked: “Doesn’t Elder Sister go to school?”

 

Princess Zhiyi shook her head. “Mother says princesses only need to learn needlework and some arts—I’m not allowed to join you boys in school.”

 

Qu Dubian slowed down his eating as if deep in thought.

 

Just as he was about to say something, a voice called from inside: “Come wash your hands—it’s time for dinner!”

 

Princess Zhiyi quickly pulled him along to wash their hands together, leaving whatever he wanted to say unsaid for now.

 

What Qu Dubian didn’t expect was that just as they sat down at the dinner table, a palace attendant arrived with news: “Your Ladyship—Noble Lady Chu has come.”

 

Qu Dubian groaned inwardly—Am I cursed when it comes to meals? Last time Father interrupted me here; now it’s Noble Lady Chu.

 

Consort Xuan set down her chopsticks calmly and said: “Let her in.”

 

After Noble Lady Chu entered, Consort Xuan noticed that she was accompanied by Eunuch Bao, who served directly under the Emperor.

 

Noble Lady Chu first bowed politely, then glanced at the Seventh Prince, who was quietly shoveling food into his mouth. “His Majesty has issued an edict for this consort to bring the Seventh Prince to Changxin Palace to stay for a few days. Apologies for interrupting your meal, Elder Sister.”

 

She took a few steps toward Qu Dubian and said gently, “Seventh Highness, Changxin Palace has prepared all your favorite foods. His Majesty has also instructed the imperial kitchen to send meals there for you, so you won’t have to worry about adjusting to unfamiliar dishes.”

 

Qu Dubian didn’t even lift his head as he replied, “I’m not going. I’ll finish eating here with Consort Xuan and then return to Zichen Palace.” After all, Noble Lady Guo’s cooking was truly delicious.

 

Eunuch Bao stepped forward hesitantly and said, “Your Highness, all your belongings have already been moved to Changxin Palace by His Majesty’s orders.”

 

Qu Dubian: “……”

 

The child who had been happily eating just moments ago suddenly looked dejected.

 

Consort Xuan set down her chopsticks and said coldly, “The child is eating. Do you not understand basic manners? Why report this now?”

 

Noble Lady Chu apologized profusely: “Elder Sister, I’m truly sorry. These are His Majesty’s instructions. He’s just worried that the Seventh Prince might eat something here that could upset his stomach.”

 

Consort Xuan raised an eyebrow. “Are you implying that the food in Shunning Palace isn’t clean?”

 

Noble Lady Chu quickly replied, “This consort didn’t mean—”

 

“Enough,” Consort Xuan interrupted with a raised hand. “Get out.”

 

Eunuch Bao tried to reason with her: “Consort Xuan, this is His Majesty’s—”

 

“Then let him come here and tell me himself,” Consort Xuan said firmly.

 

Noble Lady Chu and her party were promptly escorted out of the hall and left waiting outside.

 

—

 

Inside the hall.

 

“Eat in peace—they won’t come back in,” Consort Xuan reassured him.

 

“Consort Xuan, will you be punished by His Majesty?” Qu Dubian asked as he grabbed another fried golden crescent.

 

“When we were still in the prince’s residence…” Consort Xuan paused briefly before continuing, “because of a certain matter, I sparred with His Majesty once. Since then, he hasn’t come here much without reason.”

 

Qu Dubian: “……”

 

If he remembered correctly, his cheap father didn’t know martial arts.

 

So was it really sparring—or more like one-sided beating?

 

He wiped his mouth and climbed down from his chair. “Consort Xuan, I’d better leave.”

 

Consort Xuan frowned slightly and squatted down beside him. “Your Highness doesn’t need to worry about me.”

 

“I’m not worried,” the little boy replied with an adult-like shake of his head. “Noble Lady Chu is the foster mother His Majesty has chosen for me… but I don’t like her very much.”

 

“If you don’t like her, then don’t go,” Consort Xuan said simply.

 

“But His Majesty has already moved my things there—he definitely wants me to go.”

 

The Emperor’s controlling nature meant that even if Qu Dubian didn’t like Noble Lady Chu and ultimately didn’t choose her as his foster mother, he would still have to stay there for a few days. It was a different kind of “for your own good.”

 

He hugged Consort Xuan tightly and said softly: “I actually like it here with you better. I’ll come visit often to play with Elder Sister Zhiyi.”

 

If his cheap father really assigned him a foster mother he wasn’t comfortable with, then he’d become a wandering prince of the palace—sleeping here one night and somewhere else the next—never staying put.

 

Consort Xuan froze momentarily.

 

Qu Dubian cheerfully called for Ye Xiaoyuan to pack up half of the fried golden crescents before pushing open the hall doors and stepping into the dark night outside.

 

From behind her screen, Consort Xuan watched as Qu Dubian avoided Noble Lady Chu’s attempt to take his hand and climbed into his little dog cart instead.

 

The small figure curled up in the darkness, munching on food he had taken from Shunning Palace while ignoring everyone around him. It was clear even from afar that he was sulking at the Emperor.

 

Instinctively, Consort Xuan reached out her hand.

 

Princess Zhiyi held onto it.

 

“Consort Xuan,” Zhiyi said softly, “can Little Brother stay here forever? I’m so happy when he comes—and I think you’re happy too.”

 

“Me? I look happy?” Consort Xuan asked in surprise.

 

Zhiyi reached out her small hand and lightly poked at Consort Xuan’s lips. “Yes! When Little Brother is here, you’re always smiling. But when he leaves… you go back to how you were before.”

 

Consort Xuan placed her hand over Zhiyi’s small one, her fingertips brushing against her own lips thoughtfully.

 

—

 

The little dog cart rolled along the palace path as Qu Dubian remained silent throughout the journey.

 

Ahead of him, Noble Lady Chu’s attendants ran ahead to remove any barriers blocking their way.

 

When they reached Changxin Palace’s entrance, Eunuch Bao turned toward Qu Dubian with a placating smile. “Your Highness, His Majesty specially instructed the imperial kitchen to prepare meals for you—they’re being kept warm inside…”

 

Qu Dubian snapped: “I even shared my milk tea with you!”

 

Eunuch Bao froze momentarily at being scolded so harshly.

 

Qu Dubian glared at him angrily: “His Majesty moved my things here without telling me—and you didn’t secretly warn me either! Clearly not everyone is as good to me as Ye Banban or Xiaochun!”

 

“Oh dear! Your Highness—it’s not like that!” Eunuch Bao tried to explain hurriedly.

 

“I don’t want to hear it,” Qu Dubian muttered sullenly as he ignored Eunuch Bao’s attempts at justification and watched Wen Xiaochun untie Da Hei’s leash.

 

Da Hei shook herself off vigorously; she looked much livelier than she had in the kennel earlier—her eyes sparkled as she nuzzled Qu Dubian gently with her snout in a gesture of affection.

 

Noble Lady Chu recoiled in alarm. “Get that dog away! It’s filthy—how can it touch a prince?!”

 

“I like her,” Qu Dubian retorted sharply before turning toward her. “You don’t like her?”

 

“…Of course I do,” Noble Lady Chu replied awkwardly. “I’m just worried she might bite someone. But if Your Highness likes her… someone! Take this dog inside and feed it properly.”

 

When palace attendants tried to lead Da Hei away by her leash, she refused to move.

 

Only when Qu Dubian held onto her leash did she follow obediently—by now she clearly understood who her true master was.

 

Ye Xiaoyuan and Wen Xiaochun exchanged glances—they could see that their little prince harbored subtle but unmistakable dislike toward Noble Lady Chu. Without needing to discuss it aloud, both moved closer to keep palace attendants from getting too near Qu Dubian.

 

After finding a spot for Da Hei and his little cart, Qu Dubian sat down and began feeding Da Hei pieces of raw meat from a bowl using bamboo skewers.

 

He hated it when strangers moved his belongings without permission—whether it was Noble Lady Chu or Emperor Chongzhao—such actions directly crossed one of his boundaries.

 

Shutting himself off completely like a little deaf person, Qu Dubian ignored all attempts by Changxin Palace attendants to coax him into eating dinner inside.

 

Qu Dubian focused entirely on feeding Da Hei.

 

—

 

Eunuch Bao returned to Zichen Palace and saw Head Eunuch Yu waiting at the entrance.

 

Head Eunuch Yu asked quietly, “How did it go?”

 

Eunuch Bao sighed. “Oh dear, the little prince is really upset this time. I’ve never seen him lose his temper like that before.”

 

Head Eunuch Yu said, “Hurry inside. His Majesty has been asking about you—three times in just a short while.”

 

Eunuch Bao adjusted his expression and entered to report.

 

He repeated what he had just told Head Eunuch Yu, adding with a worried look: “Your Majesty, since coming to Zichen Palace, the little prince has always spoken kindly to us servants and palace maids. But this time, even I was scolded. Perhaps Your Majesty should go see him personally?”

 

Hearing this, Emperor Chongzhao felt a headache coming on. “I moved him so quickly because I knew that if he saw me, he’d cling to me and wouldn’t let go.”

 

“And how is Noble Lady Chu behaving?”

 

Eunuch Bao recalled, “She’s been very accommodating toward His Highness and didn’t get upset even when he threw a tantrum. When His Highness let the dog loose after choosing it from the animal garden, she was still concerned about his safety.”

 

“She’s good enough—it’s just Xiao Qi…” Emperor Chongzhao massaged his temples. “Go to the storeroom and pick out two boxes of incense I made myself. Also, take two gold ruyi scepters. Deliver them all to Changxin Palace tomorrow.”

 

Eunuch Bao hesitated and said, “It seems Noble Lady Chu prefers agate.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao gave him a strange look. “Who said these are for Noble Lady Chu? They’re for Xiao Qi—I’m afraid he’ll cause a scene.”

 

Eunuch Bao: “……”

 

So… was this a bribe?

 

Wasn’t it a bit late for that, Your Majesty?

 

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