“Little Seven, I heard that Big Brother is going out of the palace to handle some matters.”
Ling Fu suggested to the little one, “Why don’t you go with him? If you stay with him, he’ll definitely pay attention to you.”
Ling Fu had read a lot of storybooks, and in them, when the characters had a falling out, they would reconcile by being together.
The little one nodded at his sixth brother’s suggestion.
Ling Fu patted his face. “Little Seven, don’t be sad! Big Brother likes you the most!”
The little one: “Mm!”
The little one added, “Sixth Brother, you didn’t wash your hands, but you touched my face.”
Ling Fu: “…”
Ling Fu’s chubby face flushed red. In the next moment, he took his little brother to wash their hands and faces.
While they were washing their hands and faces, they also played with the water for a bit.
“Little Seven, let’s change our clothes, and I’ll take you to find Big Brother.”
“Okay!”
The two little ones were having fun, but they ended up getting all wet.
They each returned to the palace to change their clothes. The little one took a shortcut and went straight to the nearest Chengming Hall.
“Daddy, Daddy.”
As soon as the little one entered, he started calling for his father.
He called out a few times, and one of the palace attendants quietly reminded him, “Little Prince, His Majesty is in the imperial study.”
Hearing this, the little one nodded and stopped calling. He knew that when Daddy was in the study, he was busy with important matters.
“I’m here to change my clothes.”
The little one went to find his clothes on his own. After rummaging around, he finally pulled out a small green outfit.
The green outfit was a fresh color. When the little one put it on, he looked neat and tidy.
He knew how to dress himself, though he wasn’t very good at tying the ribbons. Luckily, a palace maid stepped forward and helped him fix his clothes.
“Little Prince, you look great in this outfit.”
“Thank you!”
Polite as always, the little one thanked the maid who complimented him. He touched his clothes with his small hands, took two pieces of cake from his father’s desk, and went to meet Sixth Brother.
There weren’t many cakes left in Chengming Hall at that time.
The fact that Emperor Ling was poisoned had not been announced to the public, not even his close aide Lu Guang knew about it yet.
The food in Chengming Hall was becoming more strictly controlled, but everyone still assumed it was to ensure the Little Prince’s safety.
After all, the Little Prince was a regular resident of Chengming Hall.
Carrying the cakes, the little one went to find Sixth Brother.
Ling Fu had finished changing his clothes earlier. By the time the little one arrived, Ling Fu had already found out when Big Brother was leaving.
Besides learning the time, Ling Fu had also seen the sedan chair that would take Big Brother away.
Ling Fu had gathered all this information and, when the little one arrived, he pulled him aside and instructed, “Little Seven, Big Brother is leaving tomorrow morning. You can ask Royal Father to let you go with him.”
The little one thought for a moment, then replied honestly, “Daddy probably won’t let me go.”
When Big Brother went out on errands, taking him along was like dragging a little tagalong.
The little one felt that Daddy might not agree.
But Ling Fu didn’t think it would be that hard. “I asked around. This time, Big Brother isn’t going out for anything important. If you ask Royal Father nicely, he’ll let you go.”
The two kids planned together, and later that evening, after the little one had dinner with Noble Consort Yi, he went to find Emperor Ling.
As soon as he saw Emperor Ling, he brought him a cup of tea.
After Emperor Ling took a sip, The little one didn’t try to share the tea with him. Instead, he plopped down on the floor and started massaging Emperor Ling’s legs seriously.
“Daddy, is the pressure okay?”
Serious about his task, The little one even asked for feedback from Emperor Ling every now and then.
He massaged his legs and shoulders, and flattered him with sweet words, sparing no effort.
Emperor Ling held a book in his hand, but instead of reading, he glanced at the little one on the floor.
“Speak up.”
After being served for a while, Emperor Ling finally asked, “What is it you want?”
The little one tilted his soft, chubby face upwards, his beautiful eyes looking at Emperor Ling eagerly.
“Daddy, I want to go out with Big Brother tomorrow.”
Emperor Ling: “?”
Without a second thought, Emperor Ling refused, “No, your Big Brother isn’t going out to play. You wouldn’t have any fun if you went with him.”
“Stay in the palace and play with Little Six. Did you two play with water today?”
This time, Emperor Ling’s attempt to change the subject didn’t work.
The little one hugged his leg and continued pleading, “I won’t disturb Big Brother, Daddy, please let me go. I really want to go.”
Emperor Ling still refused.
Even though the little one was rejected, he didn’t give up. He stubbornly clung to Emperor Ling and kept asking.
As he persisted, Emperor Ling went about his business.
But from then on, whatever Emperor Ling, it felt like he had a little tail following him. When he drank too much tea and needed to use the bathroom, The little one would squat by the door.
“Daddy, do you need toilet paper? I can bring you some!”
The little one, who knew how to ask for favors, also knew how to please his father while asking.
Emperor Ling hurriedly told him, “No! Stay further away! There’s toilet paper here!”
But The little one didn’t leave. With his sweet little voice, he said the most mischievous thing: “No, the toilet paper is in my hand!”
Emperor Ling: “…”
Emperor Ling’s face turned green.
Gritting his teeth, he said, “Bring it here!”
The little one didn’t take the toilet paper to threaten his father; he just wanted to bring it to him to be helpful.
But his attempt to please didn’t quite work out.
When Emperor Ling came out a moment later, the smile on the little one’s face was wiped away by a smack on the bottom.
“You little rascal, it seems like if I don’t discipline you for three days, you start causing trouble.”
Emperor Ling gave the little one a few swats on the backside.
After the spanking, the little one pouted, his eyes brimming with tears.
The big one and the little one fussed with each other for a long time, and finally, Emperor Ling, looking at the sulking the little one, felt his anger subside a little.
He asked, “You really want to go out with your Big Brother that much?”
Tears still in his eyes, the little one nodded.
Emperor Ling looked at his little face, and after a long silence, he finally said, “Fine, you can go.”
“But you must behave. No being naughty or distracting your Big Brother from his tasks.”
“Mm! I know, Daddy.”
The little one sniffled, no longer sulking with his father.
He leaned in, hugged his father’s neck, and rubbed his little wet face against him.
After all the fuss, Emperor Ling was exhausted. He tidied up with the little one and laid down beside him to sleep. Before bed, he drank a cup of “tea” — something he didn’t even let the little one see and downed in one gulp himself.
The little one pouted and kicked his legs on the bed, feeling that his father had become stingy.
Although Emperor Ling had promised to let the little one go out with the Eldest Prince, he still had a plan in mind. He wasn’t planning to wake the little one up in the morning. This way, if the little one didn’t wake up on his own and missed the Eldest Prince’s departure, it wouldn’t be his fault.
Emperor Ling’s plan seemed solid, but unexpectedly, the next morning, the little one woke up unusually early. Despite waking up, the little one was still a bit drowsy and stumbled around, bumping his head into Emperor Ling, forcing him awake, and then making him help with getting dressed.
The Eldest Prince was only going out for two days, so the little one didn’t pack much. He took three sets of clothes, two pairs of shoes, and some snacks, toys, and other necessities. Holding his little bundle, he unexpectedly showed up in front of the Eldest Prince.
“Big Brother.”
The little one looked up at his elder brother. Usually, he would leap into his arms the moment he saw him, but now, clutching his bundle, he hesitated, casting cautious glances at him. “I’m going out with you, Brother.”
Afraid that his brother might refuse, the little one quickly added, “I’ve already spoken to Father, and he agreed.”
The sky was still dim. Ling Chen looked down at the little one who had come so early. He could clearly see the hint of tentativeness and insecurity in the little one’s gaze, which made his heart ache.
The little one, after pleading with his father for a long time to be able to go with his big brother, seemed to wilt as the Eldest Prince remained silent. His head slowly drooped, his gaze falling on his own small shoes. In a tiny voice, he said, “If Big Brother doesn’t want to take me, I won’t go.”
After saying that, the little one turned to leave.
Ling Chen reacted quickly, grabbing him in one swift motion. The little one tried to keep walking despite being held, so Ling Chen lifted him up, bundle and all, and placed him directly into the carriage. “Sit here obediently.”
Ling Chen placed him in the carriage and then gently wiped away the tears on his little cheeks.
By the time Ling Chen finished arranging everything, it had been about two cups of tea’s time. The carriage finally left the palace gates, and Ling Chen could relax a little. He pulled the quiet little one closer and patted his tummy. It felt a bit empty — he probably hadn’t eaten breakfast.
There was a small compartment in the carriage containing warm food. Ling Chen pulled out a meat bun and put it in the little one’s hands. “Eat something to fill your stomach.”
The little one looked down at the meat bun and began eating with his tiny hands.
Ling Chen also took a bun and began to eat. The two brothers ate their breakfast quietly. After a short while, both of them were full. The little one instinctively stretched out his small hand, then paused and tried to pull it back.
But Ling Chen had already caught his little hand and gently wiped it with a napkin.
The carriage remained quiet and peaceful. The little one looked up at his big brother, who was carefully cleaning his hand. He opened his mouth and softly called, “Big Brother.”
“Mm.”
Ling Chen responded.
The little one shifted his seat and moved a bit closer, his small body pressing against his big brother’s side.
“Big Brother.”
The little one called again.
Ling Chen held his tiny hand, patiently responding each time: “Mm.”
The little one kept calling out a few more times, and Ling Chen replied every time.
Finally, the little one’s eyes reddened again. He climbed onto his brother’s lap, stretched out his little arms, and hugged Ling Chen tightly.
“Big Brother, do you not like me anymore?”
“No.”
Ling Chen’s throat tightened. He cradled the little one’s head, his eyes filled with pain.
“Little Seven, Big Brother doesn’t dislike you.”
He just felt that he was unworthy of facing Little Seven.
His mother had harbored murderous intent towards Little Seven, yet Little Seven still trusted him so much.
He had failed Little Seven’s trust.
“Big Brother doesn’t talk to me anymore, doesn’t hug me.”
The little one buried his face in his brother’s chest, venting all the grievances he had been holding back over the past few days. “I want to play with Big Brother.”
“Little Seven, I’m sorry. Big Brother has been too busy.”
“That’s not it.”
The little one rubbed his little face against Ling Chen’s chest. With his big brother’s gentle coaxing, the more he was comforted, the more aggrieved he felt. “Big Brother just doesn’t want to talk to me these days!”
He was very smart. He could tell.
For a moment, Ling Chen was at a loss for words. He hugged the little one, and all he could do was softly murmur, “I’m sorry.”
Inside the carriage, one was tearfully complaining while the other was patiently apologizing.
It was unclear how long it went on for, but eventually, the little one’s eyes, nose, and even his cheeks were all red. However, his spirits seemed much better.
“I’m not mad anymore.”
The little one, who had been so upset just moments ago, was suddenly in a much better mood. With a pout and a sniff, he generously accepted his big brother’s apology.
Ling Chen looked at how easy it was to cheer up the little one and tightened his hold slightly.
“Little Seven.”
Ling Chen lowered his head and gently kissed the little one’s forehead, speaking in a serious tone as he made a promise: “Big Brother will never ignore you again.”
Such a sweet little one, even he couldn’t bear to ignore him.
The two brothers made up while on the carriage, and the little one was so happy that he even praised his sixth brother to the eldest.
“Sixth brother is amazing!”
It was sixth brother who came up with a way for him to reconcile with the eldest.
The carriage continued moving forward, but the little one’s mood while riding it was completely different from when they had started.
He sat on his eldest brother’s lap, pulling back the curtains to look outside.
“Big brother, how much longer until we arrive?”
“Soon.”
Ling Chen accompanied him, also looking out. Perhaps it was their good mood, but the scenery outside seemed particularly beautiful to both of them.
However, after a while, the little one, who hadn’t slept enough during the night, started yawning while leaning against his elder brother.
He yawned again and again, and eventually, his little head tilted backward.
Ling Chen caught him just in time and held him in his arms, allowing him to sleep.
The little one slept for quite a long time, and by the time he woke up, they had already arrived at their destination.
He woke up in a bed, and soon someone approached, asking if he wanted to get up.
“Where’s big brother?”
The little one shook his head, trying to wake himself up, and asked the person about his big brother.
“The young master is in the outer hall, talking to someone.”
Ling Chen was low-key when he went out and generally wouldn’t let people call him “Your Highness.”
The little one nodded and asked to be carried down.
Ling Chen had indeed come out to handle a small matter—he was investigating a case. The case was simple and would only take two days to resolve.
Having just made up with his big brother, the little one was in a phase where he stuck close to him.
Wherever his big brother went, he followed.
While following his big brother, the little one not only poured him tea and handed him food, but also stretched out his little hands and gave a random prophecy about one of the people involved in the case.
Through this prophecy, he sensed something was off.
The person in question hadn’t fully confessed and was still hiding something. In some time, they would change their story.
When they did, they would even try to blame his big brother.
As the little one was prophesying, he reported to Ah Wu that he had encountered another bad person who was lying.
Upon hearing this, Ah Wu asked, “Are you in any danger?”
The little one replied, “No, I’m safe as long as I’m with big brother.”
The little one had only recently parted from Ah Wu, so even though he missed him, he didn’t ask for Ah Wu to come over again.
After chatting with Ah Wu for a while, he ran to his big brother and whispered what he had sensed in his ear.
Ling Chen listened to his report, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes.
“Little Seven, how do you know this?”
“Because I can tell the future.”
The little one puffed out his chest proudly, wanting his brother to believe him.
Ling Chen: “…”
Ling Chen looked at his confident expression and, after a moment of silence, still had people investigate according to his words.
Their trip was delayed by two days, and the findings left Ling Chen with a chill down his spine.
It turned out that the suspect in this case had indeed held something back.
Without Little Seven’s warning, this seemingly ordinary case could have caused Ling Chen to suffer a major setback in the future.
Using the extra two days, Ling Chen re-examined the case and made his ruling.
After finalizing the case, he even asked the little one to make another prediction.
This time, the little one raised his chubby face and said seriously, “No more problems!”
With the case solved, Ling Chen spent the last half day taking the little one out to play for an afternoon.
They went to a quiet mountain with few people around.
The scenery in the mountains was breathtaking, and the best part was that there was no need to deal with anyone.
Ling Chen took the little one to pick wild fruits and chase rabbits—they both had a wonderful time.
“Little Seven.”
As they left the mountain, Ling Chen carried the little one, a lingering smile in his eyes, and his voice carried a hint of envy. “Sometimes, big brother is quite envious of you.”
He envied Little Seven’s youth, his innocence, and the fact that Little Seven didn’t have to face the adult world.
After expressing his envy, the little one leaned his face against Ling Chen’s and said, “I envy you too, big brother!”
“I’m too small. It will take a long, long time for me to grow up.”
The little one wished he could grow up faster.
In a child’s eyes, growing up is something they long for.
At that moment, they believe that growing up means freedom, eating as much candy as they want without getting scolded, and going out to play whenever they please without adults nagging them.
What they don’t know is that, when they grow up, they might not like candy anymore or want to spend all day playing outside.
When they grow up, they will face the worries of adults.
“No need to rush.”
Ling Chen held the little one as they boarded the carriage to return to the palace. He looked down at him and said, “Big brother will be there as you grow up.”
He would accompany and protect him.
The little one, who hadn’t been in the best mood before they left the palace, was humming a song he made up himself on the way back, cheerful as could be.
He also brought gifts for everyone.
Since his allowance wasn’t much, sometimes the gifts he gave weren’t bought but collected during his outings.
For example, he gave a beautiful leaf to his second sister, who liked to collect them.
Or he gave a round stone to his fourth brother, who could use it to skip across the water!
The little one collected other small things too—not expensive, but filled with his heartfelt sincerity.
Time quietly slipped by as the little one grew, changing sizes in his clothes. Before anyone noticed, two years had passed in the blink of an eye.
The little one is now six years old.
Though he hasn’t celebrated his sixth birthday yet, he sat on a large stone in the garden, resting his chin in his hands, and had no desire to celebrate it.
Ling Fu, who had also grown taller but still failed to lose weight, found him while holding a handful of sunflower seeds.
“Little Seven, are you still worried about Royal Father? Royal Father said it’s his old illness acting up again, and with some rest, he’ll be fine.”
The Emperor hadn’t been feeling well recently, but he had suffered from headaches in the past, so everyone assumed it was just another flare-up of his usual ailment.
Hearing what his sixth brother said, the little one’s increasingly delicate and beautiful face furrowed.
He still lived in Emperor Ling’s Chengming Palace, so he had keenly sensed that his father’s condition wasn’t just a simple recurrence of his usual headaches.
Seeing his worried expression, Ling Fu couldn’t help but say, “Little Seven, I think you should be more worried about yourself right now.”
“You’re already six years old; you’re going to lose your baby teeth soon.”
When the little one was younger, he had bad teeth, but at that time, he wasn’t old enough to lose them.
Now that he was six, he’d soon start losing teeth and talking with a lisp.
