At that moment, the little one, locked in his uncle’s gaze, was handing candy paintings to Little Yu and Xiao Xue.
“Here, these are really good,” he said.
The little one came to the Great Qing Dynasty and, taking advantage of the fact that Ah Wu had never had a bad tooth and didn’t know the harm of eating sweets, he asked Ah Wu for a lot of sweet treats to eat.
There was no sugar ban here, and the little one was thoroughly enjoying himself.
At first, Little Yu and Xiao Xue hesitated, but after being offered several times, they grew bold enough to take the candy and eat it alongside the young prince in the street.
The capital of Great Qing was as bustling as that of Qi Dynasty.
Not only did the little one buy things to eat for himself, but he also saved half of whatever he thought was delicious to share with Ah Wu later.
As they walked, the little one was surprised to see a beggar.
The beggar’s clothes were filthy, and there was a broken bowl in front of him, with a few copper coins inside. The beggar’s earnings for the day weren’t bad.
The little one didn’t give him any coins but instead placed two meat pies in the broken bowl.
“Thank you, young master,” the beggar said, grabbing the pies. After thanking the little one, he began eating.
The little one smiled, waved, and said, “You’re welcome.”
Feeling good about helping the beggar, the little one decided to buy two more meat pies to give to any other beggars he encountered.
After walking a short distance, he saw a dusty figure sitting by the roadside. Noticing the dirt on this person’s clothes, he instinctively assumed this was another beggar.
“Here, have a pie,” he said, handing it over. But the next second, his gaze landed on the person’s face.
Although the face was dirty, the little one recognized it. His chubby cheeks turned red in an instant.
Tears filled his eyes as he clutched the meat pie and threw himself into Murong Xu’s arms.
“Uncle,” the little one choked out, “I missed you so much.”
Murong Xu: “…”
Murong Xu grunted from the force of the little one’s embrace.
His journey to Great Qing had not been easy.
The checkpoints were extremely strict, and he had used many connections just to get there.
Murong Xu had endured great hardship along the way, even falling ill with a fever at one point. He hadn’t taken any medicine and had stubbornly pushed through it.
Now, the uncle who had suffered so much was suddenly tackled by his chubby little nephew. Feeling the weight of the little one in his arms, Murong Xu gritted his teeth.
“Little Seven,” Murong Xu’s voice was hoarse. He supported the little one’s pudgy waist, gently moving him back a bit so he wasn’t pressed down so heavily.
“How have you… been living in Great Qing?” Murong Xu could tell by touching the little one’s chubby figure that he hadn’t suffered much, but he still asked.
The little one sniffled and honestly answered, “I’ve been doing pretty well.”
In the palace, there was Noble Consort Jia openly looking after him, while Ah Wu took care of him secretly, spoiling him.
He ate from both sides, and sometimes even people who sided with Noble Consort Jia would feed him. His days in the palace were quite comfortable.
The two locked eyes, and the little one, seeing his uncle noticeably thinner, felt a pang of sadness.
“Uncle, why have you gotten so thin?” The little one tenderly touched his uncle’s face and then offered the meat pie he was holding.
Murong Xu, who hadn’t had much of an appetite lately, took a bite of the meat pie without hesitation as soon as the little one handed it to him.
He finished the two meat pies in just a few bites. After he was done, the little one thoughtfully handed him a handkerchief to wipe his hands.
The street wasn’t a good place to talk.
After filling his stomach a little, Murong Xu glanced around and then took the little one to a nearby restaurant.
The restaurant was chosen by the little one himself.
The signboard of the restaurant had an adorable dumpling design, and Murong Xu immediately recognized it as his little one.
Without a doubt, the restaurant must have been owned by Ah Wu.
Once they entered the restaurant, the little one handed over a token, and they were led to the best room.
“Uncle,” the little one, sitting in a large chair, swung his little legs and said generously, “What do you want to eat? I’ll order for you.”
Murong Xu frowned slightly, looking his nephew up and down. The little one’s attire was all of the highest quality.
Moreover, judging by his nephew’s generous attitude, Murong Xu could vaguely tell that the little one’s purse was likely quite full.
“Little Seven, do you have a lot of pocket money now?”
“Yes,” the little one patted his money pouch proudly and said to his uncle, “No matter how much I spend, I can’t use it all up.”
Murong Xu: “…”
Murong Xu was dumbfounded.
His precious nephew had come to Great Qing, gained weight, and now had more money than he could spend.
What on earth was going on?
“Little Seven, what exactly is your situation here in Great Qing?” Murong Xu asked, but before the little one could answer, the door was pushed open.
At the same time, a voice questioned, “What are you doing here?”
Murong Xu instinctively turned around, and when he did, he saw a familiar face.
“Ah Wu?!”
Even the little one hadn’t told Murong Xu about Ah Wu’s identity, so Murong Xu was naturally clueless.
He looked at Ah Wu, then at the little one, and suddenly realized everything.
No wonder his nephew was living so comfortably in Great Qing. It turned out there was a doting guardian here!
“I—I came to see Little Seven,” Murong Xu stammered, still confused. “Wait, I should be asking you that! What are you doing here? Why are you with Little Seven?!”
“Uncle, Ah Wu is taking care of me,” the little one said as he jumped off the chair, ran over to Ah Wu, and gave him a hug before moving his face aside.
“Ah Wu lives in the palace too. He stays in the Eastern Palace.”
“In the Eastern Palace?” Murong Xu, still bewildered, finally put the pieces together. The only person who could live in the Eastern Palace was none other than Great Qing’s infamous, ruthless Crown Prince, Huo Qinwu.
“D*mn.”
Murong Xu had been hit by wave after wave of shocks ever since seeing his little one.
He couldn’t hold it in anymore and let out a curse.
The moment he uttered the word, Ah Wu shot him a sharp glare.
Murong Xu quickly shut his mouth upon receiving the look.
Once he was silent, Ah Wu removed his hand from covering the little one’s ears.
The door to the room was closed.
Ah Wu sat down in a chair, letting the little one lean against him as he briefly explained the situation.
“Little Seven won’t be returning for now,” Ah Wu said. “He’s very safe here.”
The moment Murong Xu saw Ah Wu, he knew his little one was safe.
Back when they were at Guan Shan Residence, Murong Xu had seen how Ah Wu cared for the little one.
In Ah Wu’s eyes, the world was divided into two types of people: Little Seven, and everyone else.
“With you here, I have no worries about Little Seven’s safety,” Murong Xu said, pressing his temples. “But the palace in Qi Dynasty is in chaos right now. Little Seven’s absence has caused quite a stir.”
Ah Wu remained completely unmoved by Murong Xu’s words.
Whether the Qi Palace was in turmoil or whether people missed the little one was of no concern to Ah Wu.
Ah Wu didn’t care about these matters, but the little one did.
The little one turned to Murong Xu, his eyes full of concern as he asked, “Uncle, have Daddy and Mommy gotten really mad because of me?”
Murong Xu hesitated for a moment but then nodded.
His second sister and the Emperor were indeed both furious.
“They were very angry at first, but after a while, they became more worried than angry.”
“The Emperor sent me here to check on you. If you’re in danger, he ordered me to bring you back, no matter the cost.”
Upon hearing his father’s words, the little one suddenly missed his dad terribly.
“It’s my fault for making Dad worry so much,” the little one said, knowing that his father and mother were definitely worried about him. However, at that time, he had no choice.
If he hadn’t come in place of his second sister, she would have had to marry and become the concubine of the old Emperor.
The little one had met the Emperor of Great Qing before. The Emperor was a very imposing man, with a heavy aura of bloodshed around him. In his early years, he had personally led troops to the battlefield.
This man was both fierce and old.
The little one had a very poor impression of the old Emperor. He was lustful and cruel, and the concubines serving him had been killed in front of him.
In short, even with strong backing, the little one was still very afraid of facing the Emperor of Great Qing.
If it had been his second sister instead, the little one couldn’t even imagine what her feelings would have been.
“Don’t worry, you’re already here, and there’s no point in talking about it now,” Murong Xu said, placing the little one on his lap. Feeling the solid weight on his legs, his expression lightened a bit.
“Seeing you doing so well now, I can finally report back to the Emperor and your mother,” he said. “By the way, I also brought letters from the Emperor, your mother, and your older brother and sister.”
“I want to read them!” The little one was incredibly eager to see the letters from his father, mother, and siblings.
Murong Xu handed him the letters to read at his own pace.
While the little one laid down to read, Murong Xu and Ah Wu began chatting.
Although everything was relatively peaceful for them in Great Qing, the atmosphere in the Imperial Palace of Qi was much worse.
The eldest prince and the fourth prince had a calm discussion.
There were no outsiders present during their conversation.
Ling Chen looked at Ling Hao and got straight to the point, without any unnecessary words. “The throne belongs to you. I won’t fight for it.”
Ling Hao was momentarily speechless, nearly at a loss for words, as he had prepared a speech but was taken aback by his brother’s bluntness.
After a few seconds, he responded, “Big brother, I came here with the same thought. I don’t want to fight for the throne either. The throne was always meant for you.”
“You are the legitimate eldest son. You have both talent and skill. I can’t compare.”
Though the two brothers were candidly discussing the throne, their intentions were the same: to give it up.
Ling Hao firmly declined the throne: “Big brother, I’m aware of my limitations. I truly can’t match you.”
“Only in your hands does the Qi Dynasty have a chance to rise again.”
As he spoke, Ling Hao clenched his fists, his voice hoarse, “Our Qi Dynasty is still too weak right now.”
“If we weren’t so weak, Little Seven wouldn’t have had to endure such humiliation.”
Their beloved little brother, who they cherished dearly, had been sent to Great Qing for one reason: they were too weak.
Because they were unable to refuse Great Qing’s unreasonable demands from the start, Little Seven had to replace the second princess and go to Great Qing alone.
Ling Hao saw the truth of the situation clearly.
And if Ling Hao could see it, so could Ling Chen.
“Ling Hao, I’m not fit to sit on the throne.”
Ling Chen didn’t explain why; he just stated that he wasn’t suited for the position.
“You’re no less capable than me. If you took the throne, there wouldn’t be any issues.”
Although they both declined the throne, they shared the same goal—to work hard and make the Qi Dynasty strong.
Only by becoming strong could they one day return the humiliation Little Seven had suffered to Great Qing a hundredfold.
The two princes discussed the throne and potential reforms with honesty and boldness.
Meanwhile, Noble Consort Yi was unaware of their discussions, but she had accumulated quite a bit of dissatisfaction with Emperor Ling.
She now clearly understood Emperor Ling’s fear of the Murong family.
The Murong family had been nothing but loyal to Emperor Ling. Even when they occasionally felt oppressed by him, they never complained.
They remained obedient, submissive, and worked hard to ensure both the Emperor and the people were at ease.
However, the departure of little Little Seven from the palace made Noble Consort Yi realize one fact.
Emperor Ling had been a poor ruler for many years. He had been relying on the achievements of his ancestors and their legacy.
He might be a good father, but he wasn’t a good emperor.
And now, because he wasn’t a good emperor, her precious child had suffered as a result.
“Ji Yan, summon my mother to the palace,” Noble Consort Yi ordered.
“Yes,” Ji Yan replied.
In the palace, both the princes and the consort were harboring a deep sense of frustration. They vowed to remember the humiliation Little Seven had suffered and to make changes to the current situation.
As for Emperor Ling, who was still resting in bed, there was little self-reflection.
He didn’t reflect on his failings as an emperor. Instead, he frowned and asked Lu Guang, “Can Murong Xu bring Little Seven back? Once he does, send Murong Xue to negotiate with Great Qing.”
Lu Guang, hunched over, replied softly, “Young Master Xu hasn’t sent word back yet, Your Majesty. Please don’t worry too much. The little prince is blessed and will be fine.”
After comforting the Emperor for a while, Lu Guang turned and noticed Shui Shui approaching with a medicine box.
Shui Shui had been wearing a stern face for days.
Seeing Shui Shui’s serious expression often made Lu Guang anxious, as he suspected Shui Shui might quit at any moment.
And Lu Guang wasn’t wrong—Shui Shui, worried about the little one, indeed had thoughts of quitting.
But he only thought about it and didn’t actually follow through.
The oppressive atmosphere in the Qi Palace continued for several days.
Then, finally, they received a letter from Murong Xu.
Inside, along with Murong Xu’s words, was a letter written by the little one himself.
The little one wrote a letter to reassure everyone that he was doing well and had not been bullied. He told them not to worry about him.
Murong Xu also confirmed that the little one was safe, but no one in the Qi Palace believed it.
As they read the letter, tears welled up in their eyes.
“Little Seven is so sensible, he must have endured a lot.”
“There are water stains on the letter—he must have been crying when he wrote it.”
“The Emperor of Great Qing didn’t just detain our Little Seven to humiliate him, but to humiliate all of us!”
They analyzed every little detail of the letter, and after their analysis, everyone felt even more heartbroken.
Meanwhile, the little one who sent the letter had already returned to the palace in Great Qing.
He was holding a small mirror, opening his mouth to check his teeth.
His lost tooth hadn’t grown back yet, and earlier, a prince in the palace had called him “Gap-Tooth.”
The little one had immediately pushed the prince over after being given the nickname.
Afterward, he returned to Noble Consort Jia’s palace, seeking her support.
Noble Consort Jia backed him up but also reminded him, “There are many princes and princesses in this palace. Don’t provoke them—none of them are easy to deal with.”
The Great Qing palace was no place for delicate flowers. Here, only those with thorns could survive.
The little one agreed seriously.
Noble Consort Jia and the Empress were still at odds, and their struggle had led to mutual defeat.
Noble Consort Jia was the first to sense something unusual.
She turned her attention to Huo Qinwu.
“Little Seven, I’ve heard that you’re quite popular in the palace,” she said, pinching the little one’s cheek. “You see, I’ve been so kind to you. Shouldn’t you also do something for me?”
“Of course, Your Highness! Whatever you need, just tell me!” The little one patted his chest, assuring the Consort she could count on him.
Noble Consort Jia smiled, pinched his cheek again, and said, “It’s not an order—just a small task I’d like you to handle.”
The little one blinked and nodded.
A moment later, Noble Consort Jia explained what she wanted him to do, and without any hesitation, the little one responded with a serious expression, “Don’t worry. Leave it to me!”
What she wanted was for him to get close to Ah Wu and observe his movements, reporting back to her anything he did.
The little one, who had been wondering how to spend time with Ah Wu openly, now had his problem solved by Noble Consort Jia.
“Huo Qinwu may be older than you, but I believe with your charm, he won’t be able to resist you,” she said, laughing as she stroked his face, her plan unfolding perfectly in her mind.
If this little prince angered Huo Qinwu and got himself killed, she could use it as leverage against Huo Qinwu.
But if the little prince succeeded in getting close to him, she would gain a spy at Huo Qinwu’s side.
In short, whether the little prince succeeded or failed, she wouldn’t lose out.
Noble Consort Jia, never a kind-hearted person, felt that her protection of the little prince over the past days had fully repaid the favor of him saving her life.
“Your Highness, I think Huo Qinwu will like me too,” the little one said, lifting his chubby face confidently. After securing permission from Noble Consort Jia, he immediately went to find Ah Wu.
In broad daylight, the little one sought Ah Wu out but wouldn’t let him come near.
“Noble Consort Jia has people following me,” the little one whispered as he got closer to Ah Wu, keeping his chubby face serious and warning him not to approach.
In a low voice, he said, “Don’t talk to me now—wait a little longer before you do!”
Following his own carefully planned script, the little one orchestrated several “accidental” encounters with Ah Wu in front of others. During the final staged event, he bumped into Ah Wu and fell to the ground.
Unable to take it any longer, Ah Wu picked up the little one and carried him off with large strides.
As he was carried away, the little one still wasn’t satisfied and whispered, “Ah Wu, you could wait until tomorrow to acknowledge me.”
Ah Wu: “…”
Ah Wu sighed. “Today is just fine.”
The little one furrowed his brows. “You’re talking to me too soon. Will Noble Consort Jia believe it?”
“It doesn’t matter whether she believes it or not.”
Noble Consort Jia had no idea that while she was trying to set up the little one, Ah Wu was laying an even bigger trap for her.
The Empress had already lost much of her power, and to Ah Wu, she was now just someone who could die at any time.
But Ah Wu intended for her to die by Noble Consort Jia’s hand.
“Ah Wu, there are so many bad people in this palace,” the little one said, leaning against Ah Wu and rubbing his eyes with his chubby hands. “You must have been bullied a lot growing up here.”
Ah Wu: “…”
Ah Wu didn’t respond. In truth, it was usually he who did the bullying.
“Ah Wu, I heard from Jiujiu that Guan Shan Residence Academy is opening soon. We can go to school together!” The little one added excitedly. “And I can go home and bring Dad, too, then bring him to school!”
