Shikong was executed, but the little one didn’t see it.
Murong Xu was worried it might scar him, so he kept his distance while holding him.
When the execution took place, Murong Xu covered the little one’s eyes.
“Uncle, I’m not afraid.”
“Even if you’re not afraid, you still can’t watch.”
Murong Xu kept his hand firmly over the little one’s eyes. Only after Shikong’s body was carried away did he let go.
With Shikong dead, Murong Xu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He held the little one, glanced at Ah Wu, and asked, “Are you two tired from walking? If you are, we can go back and have lunch.”
“Not tired, not tired.”
The little one had just gotten outside and didn’t want to go back so easily. Not only did he not want to return, but he also wanted to walk with Ah Wu.
“Uncle, I’m heavy.”
“You’re not heavy. I can still carry you.”
Murong Xu saw the little one’s expression and could guess what he was thinking, so he deliberately didn’t let go.
The little one wrinkled his face but resigned himself to being carried.
They strolled a bit longer, and as they walked, the little one noticed the capital city’s school.
At that moment, the school had just let out, and carriages were waiting outside to pick up the young noble boys.
The little one looked at them and said, “Their clothes are nice.”
There had been some sort of event at the school, so all the students were wearing matching red uniforms.
The little one glanced at his own clothes and joyfully remarked, “I’m wearing the same color.”
His small face, white with a hint of pink, looked especially charming in his bright red outfit.
Murong Xu loved to see the little one smile, so he bent down and gave him a couple of kisses.
The little one had gotten used to being kissed frequently today and didn’t even bother wiping his cheek afterward.
This time, he just smiled with his eyes curved in joy.
Ah Wu, watching Murong Xu kiss the little one, frowned slightly.
“Uncle, is the school lively?”
“It’s alright. There are a lot of people.”
Murong Xu explained, “If Jiang Yan weren’t serving as your study companion, he could’ve attended this school.”
The imperial academy was for princes and princesses, but someone like Jiang Yan, a duke’s son, could attend the regular academy, where he’d have more freedom.
The rules of the imperial academy were far stricter than those of the regular school.
“Can I go to the school too?” The little one seemed intrigued by the bustling academy.
Murong Xu smiled. “No, you can’t.”
He added, “You’re a little prince. You should study at the imperial academy.”
There was a distinction between the regular school and the imperial academy, and as a prince, the little one was expected to attend the latter.
As they were about to leave the school gate, the little one suddenly noticed a figure collapsing near a side entrance.
The person, dressed in a blue robe, staggered and fell to the ground, lying motionless.
The little one was startled.
After confirming he hadn’t imagined it, he wiggled in Murong Xu’s arms.
“Uncle, someone fell!”
“They can’t get up. Let’s go check.”
At the little one’s urging, Murong Xu walked over to have a look.
He helped the person up.
The student in blue slowly regained consciousness after being supported by Murong Xu.
“Thank you, young sir.”
The student in blue thanked Murong Xu, who discreetly observed him. The student was thin and seemed malnourished.
The academy housed both children from noble families and a small number of impoverished students.
“Ah Wu,” Murong Xu called out, glancing at the purse Ah Wu was still holding.
A silent exchange passed between them, and though Ah Wu frowned, he eventually stepped forward.
“Are you feeling unwell? Should we find a doctor for you?”
While Ah Wu approached, Murong Xu asked the student.
The student shook his head quickly. “No, thank you. I just need to rest for a while.”
Murong Xu nodded. “Alright, but take care of your health.”
As they spoke, Ah Wu discreetly slipped some money from the purse into the student’s hand without him noticing.
Ah Wu finished giving the money, and Murong Xu didn’t linger further. He picked up the little one again, bid the student farewell, and left.
As they walked away, the little one kept looking back.
“Uncle, why did you give him money?” the little one asked, puzzled.
“He really needs it,” Murong Xu briefly explained. The poor students in the government academy came from tough backgrounds and lived very frugally. They were barely managing to attend school. If they could just get through those years in the academy, their future would be much better than their present.
The little one listened carefully to his uncle’s explanation. After hearing it, he said in a serious tone, “The academy should give them some financial aid.”
At Guan Shan Residence, there was financial aid. Although most of the children there didn’t need money, there were exceptions. Some were harshly treated by their families and had no money.
Guan Shan Residence would provide subsidies based on such situations. Additionally, one of the most common classes taught there was a wealth-building course, where the teachers would teach them how to make money!
“The government academy can’t provide aid for every single one of them,” Murong Xu said, pinching the little one’s cheek as he led him home.
Sitting in his uncle’s arms, the little one was already forming a plan. He decided to ask his father to give the poor students at the academy some basic support—not necessarily money, but at least food and clothing.
Only when students are well-fed and clothed can they focus better on their studies. If they study well, they might become great people in the future.
As the little one pondered these things, before he knew it, they had already returned home.
“I still want to play!” the little one protested, unhappy about coming back. He still wanted to stroll around outside.
Murong Xu pressed down on the little one, coaxing him back inside.
Ah Wu didn’t want to meet the elders of the Murong family, so as soon as they entered the residence, he went to the back courtyard, staying only in Murong Xu’s quarters.
Since the little one couldn’t go out again, he wanted to play with Ah Wu. But the Murong ladies took him away for lunch, where all his favorite foods were served.
Madam Murong sat beside him, doting on him so much that she nearly fed him herself.
It was the Noble Consort Yi who stopped her, saying he should eat by himself.
The little one grabbed his chopsticks, determined to feed himself. His bowl had both chopsticks and a spoon, perfect for picking up food and drinking soup.
Madam Murong knew he could eat by himself, but she couldn’t resist feeding him a bite now and then.
The little one obediently opened his mouth and took the food she offered, happily munching away.
With the little one at the table, the atmosphere became even warmer.
He enjoyed the affection of his elders, his face beaming with joy.
After the meal, it was time for the little one to take a nap.
The third and fourth young ladies both wanted to take him to nap with them, but he kissed their cheeks and softly said, “I want to nap with Uncle.”
The third and fourth young ladies were thrilled by his kisses, beaming with joy. However, their glances toward Murong Xu were tinged with jealousy.
Murong Xu: “…”
Murong Xu didn’t know what to say.
The cub claimed he wanted to nap with him, but once they got to his quarters, he’d definitely go looking for Ah Wu.
Murong Xu was just the scapegoat!
Without a word, Murong Xu accepted his role, holding the little one’s hand and leading him to his own quarters.
As expected, once they arrived, the little one threw himself into Ah Wu’s arms, wanting to sleep with him.
“I rarely get to see Ah Wu,” the little one explained, seeing his uncle’s dark expression.
He could only see Ah Wu once in a while, so now that Ah Wu was here, he couldn’t resist sticking close to him.
Murong Xu glanced at Ah Wu, then at the little one, feeling a bit resentful.
“It’s been a while since you’ve seen your uncle too.”
“Little one can ask big brother to bring Uncle to the palace,” the little one suggested after some thought.
It was easier to ask Uncle for things.
Murong Xu snorted, “You can’t rely on that trick every time.”
If he went to see the Eldest Prince too often, people would start paying attention.
After all, no matter how friendly the Murong family was with the Empress, their relationship wouldn’t change just because of Murong Xu’s connection with Ling Chen.
In the midst of his uncle’s grumbling, the little one eventually found a compromise. He napped in between Uncle and Ah Wu.
The three of them squeezed onto one bed. It was big enough, and they all fit comfortably.
Not long after, the little one fell fast asleep.
Murong Xu also started to feel drowsy. Closing his eyes, he casually asked Ah Wu, “When are you going back?”
“In a while,” Ah Wu replied, his voice cold, not in the mood for small talk.
He had rushed all the way to the capital, barely resting on the way. And during the nights in the palace, he’d barely gotten any sleep while watching over the little one.
Now, with the little one snuggled up next to him, Ah Wu finally drifted into a proper sleep.
Who knows how long had passed.
When the little one and Murong Xu woke up, Ah Wu was still asleep.
The two quietly kept him company on the bed for a while, before sneaking out without waking him.
That day, both the little one and Noble Consort Yi didn’t need to return to the palace.
Meanwhile, back in the palace, Emperor Ling was undergoing treatment by Shui Shui.
He was deeply poisoned, and Shui Shui was even using acupuncture on him.
Acupuncture, bloodletting—Shui Shui tried every method on Emperor Ling.
In order to survive, Emperor Ling cooperated fully, allowing Shui Shui to do whatever was necessary.
While treating him, Shui Shui asked, “Your Majesty, have you found the culprit?”
At the mention of this, Emperor Ling’s face darkened.
However, the emperor’s grim expression wasn’t due to anger at Shui Shui but stemmed from his frustration over not being able to identify the culprit.
His Chengming Hall had already been thoroughly investigated—from the food in the imperial kitchen to the various teas he consumed daily, including the calming tea occasionally sent by the empress. The tea leaves provided by the empress were also scrutinized.
None of these investigations uncovered anything suspicious.
He had become more cautious about his food and drink, but he still had no clue how long it would take to find out who had poisoned him.
Shui Shui, seeing the emperor’s silence, knew he had no leads.
“Your Majesty, here, take this.”
Shui Shui handed over a small, simple rod that looked like a plain hairpin but even more minimalist.
“I made this. From now on, use it to test your food and drink.”
Shui Shui explained seriously, “It can detect many poisons.”
“The poison you and the Seventh Prince were afflicted with couldn’t be detected by silver in tea, but this can.”
After giving the emperor the tool, Shui Shui began organizing his medicines.
The emperor took the small rod, and in his eyes, there was a trace of regret.
If he had listened to the Little Seven earlier and allowed Shui Shui to check his pulse, perhaps the poison wouldn’t have lingered until now.
“Your Majesty, during the detoxification process, in addition to dietary restrictions, you must also limit bedroom activities.”
Shui Shui gave this advice like a proper doctor, though given his young age, the emperor couldn’t help but feel a little awkward, letting out a light cough.
After the cough, the emperor felt relieved that Little Seven wasn’t in the palace.
If his son had seen this scene, he would have been mortified as a father.
Once Shui Shui finished the day’s treatment and added some further advice, he packed up his small medicine box and told the emperor he was leaving.
The emperor simply responded with a hum, but before Shui Shui left, he rewarded him with gold.
Even though Shui Shui said he didn’t need any rewards, the emperor insisted on giving him something.
Looking at the gold, Shui Shui accepted it.
He thought that on his next outing with Little Seven, he could use the gold to buy him something nice.
He also wanted to buy some fabric to sew some beautiful clothes for the little prince. Though Shui Shui knew how to sew simple garments, he couldn’t embroider delicate patterns, which would require hiring an embroiderer, something that would also cost money.
With gold in his pocket and his medicine box in hand, Shui Shui left.
Watching his retreating figure, the emperor massaged his temples and laid down to rest.
With the little prince out of the palace, the emperor could finally catch up on some sleep.
Time passed slowly.
The little prince, enjoying his time outside the palace, didn’t want to return. More accurately, he didn’t want to leave Ah Wu.
“Ah Wu, I miss you.”
The little one hugged Ah Wu, refusing to leave even after Noble Consort Yi’s attendants came to summon him several times.
Seeing that Noble Consort Yi was about to come in person, Ah Wu leaned down to console the little one, promising, “I’ll come to the palace tonight to sleep with you.”
“You’ll sleep alone, and I’ll be there with you.”
“Alright!”
Hearing this, the little one finally smiled again.
After making plans with Ah Wu, he left and returned with Noble Consort Yi.
On the way back, Noble Consort Yi noticed the little one’s cheerful face and asked with a smile, “You really love going out, don’t you?”
“I do!”
The little one thought the palace was big, but if he stayed there all the time and couldn’t go out, it would be really boring.
Noble Consort Yi patted his head and laughed, “Next time, I’ll take you out again.”
They chatted as they returned to the palace.
Upon their arrival, the little one immediately wanted to see the emperor.
He didn’t want Noble Consort Yi to hold his hand; instead, he carried the things he had bought outside the palace, running ahead on his little legs.
“Daddy! I’m back!”
The little one had bought some trinkets for the emperor, which were trivial compared to the treasures in the imperial vault, but nonetheless, the emperor humored the little prince, playing along with each of the items.
“Daddy, I went to the imperial academy while I was out.”
The little one told the emperor about the poor students at the academy, leaning his soft little face against his father’s and suggesting, “They’re hungry, it’s so pitiful. Daddy, can you give them some food?”
If the First or Fourth Prince had made such a suggestion, the emperor would have been suspicious, thinking they were trying to curry favor with the students.
Students at the imperial academy, as long as they didn’t make major mistakes, often managed to secure government positions, and those with exceptional talent could have very promising careers.
Catering to these students’ favor would certainly raise questions about one’s motives.
But when it was this little one clinging to his leg, the emperor knew his intentions were purely innocent.
He just felt sorry for the students going hungry.
“Alright.”
The emperor smiled as the little one nuzzled his soft cheeks against him. “Daddy will do it for you.”
It was a minor matter for the emperor, and with a simple order, the impoverished students at the imperial academy were provided with food.
The person in charge visited the academy.
“Yesterday, the little prince left the palace and passed by the academy. Upon his return, he asked the emperor to establish a cafeteria.”
“The cafeteria is free for all, no charge for meals.”
When issuing the decree, the emperor adjusted the wording slightly.
He stated that the cafeteria would be free for everyone.
However, since the meals were simple, the children of wealthy officials wouldn’t bother eating there. Ultimately, it was the impoverished students who benefited the most.
The news of the newly established cafeteria spread quickly, and the struggling students at the academy were deeply grateful to both the emperor and the Seventh Prince.
They were students, and those who could gain admission to the imperial academy were naturally skilled in writing.
After enjoying two full meals at the new cafeteria, these students picked up their pens and began composing praises for the emperor and the Seventh Prince.
A few of these essays were exceptionally well-written and gained widespread popularity.
Originally, the words spoken by Shikong before his death were about to stir up new rumors, but the impact of these articles disrupted the gossip, rendering it insignificant.
The citizens of the capital, after reading the essays and recalling the little prince they had seen with their own eyes, all nodded in agreement: “The articles are right, the little prince truly has a kind heart.”
“Yes, the little prince not only looks good but has a good heart as well.”
The public’s praise reached the emperor’s ears, and for the first time in a while, he felt at ease.
The rumors that had been circulating recently had been stressing him out.
The palace had been thoroughly inspected, and everything had settled down.
The little one had recovered from his illness, and with Ah Wu in the palace to keep him company, the little one was utterly happy.
While the little one was bubbling with joy, the eldest prince, who was also in the palace, was feeling quite the opposite.
The eldest prince told the Third Prince to assign extra guards to protect Shui Shui. With a slightly grim expression, he then walked toward the empress’s palace.
On his way, the little one bumped into his eldest brother.
Not having seen him for several days, the little one opened his arms, asking for a hug.
However, his eldest brother, who used to love hugging the little one, didn’t hug him this time.
“Little Seven,” Ling Chen’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he stood still, his emotions unreadable in his eyes. “Big brother has something important to do. I’ll play with you next time.”
The little one was taken aback.
The little one tilted his head, his small arms still outstretched. “But I want a hug.”
Ling Chen remained unmoved.
The two stood facing each other for a long time before the little one finally lowered his arms, disheartened. “Alright then, no hug.”
“Be good, Little Seven.”
Ling Chen said softly before turning and walking away, step by step.
The little one watched his brother’s retreating figure, his little face sulking as he went to find Ah Wu.
If his big brother wouldn’t hug him, Ah Wu would!
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