In that moment, the little one mumbled something that Ah Wu, waiting nearby, couldn’t quite hear.
Ah Wu stayed silent, watching the little one finish. If he could have taken the boy’s place, he would have, but as a fierce beast, he couldn’t stand in for him at the altar.
After a while, the little one, hands still clasped in prayer, turned and opened his arms wide toward Ah Wu.
It was a signal for a hug.
Ah Wu stepped forward and scooped the little one into his arms.
“Chirp,” the little one sighed, completely worn out.
He went limp in Ah Wu’s embrace, too exhausted to even stay awake.
Knowing that the little one would soon fall into a deep sleep, Ah Wu didn’t let him fight it.
“Sleep now, little one,” Ah Wu said softly, pressing a gentle kiss to the boy’s head. “I’ll take care of everything else.”
Hearing this, the little one immediately closed his eyes, and before long, his breathing had evened out.
Ah Wu carried him back to the house.
Ling Fu, standing at the door, was confused when he saw Ah Wu return alone.
“Where’s Little Seven?”
He distinctly remembered that Little Seven had gone out with Ah Wu, so why was Ah Wu coming back alone?
Ling Fu stood at the doorway, deeply puzzled.
Meanwhile, inside the house, the little one was laid on a soft bed, belly up, all four limbs spread wide as he slept soundly.
Ah Wu sat quietly by the bed, watching him sleep.
After a while, Ah Wu finally stood up and left the room.
“Hey, Ah Wu, where’s Little Seven?”
“He’s sleeping.”
As Ah Wu spoke, he locked the door right in front of Ling Fu.
Ling Fu: “?”
Ling Fu was confused. “Why are you locking the door?!”
Ah Wu replied calmly, “Don’t disturb his sleep.”
Ling Fu was speechless, feeling a bit frustrated.
Ah Wu, seemingly unaware of Ling Fu’s angry glare, walked right past him and headed outside.
The little one would be asleep for several days.
During this time, Ah Wu not only had to make sure that no one disturbed his sleep, but also had to handle the tasks that the little one couldn’t manage while asleep.
In short, Ah Wu was about to get busy.
At the academy, Ah Wu asked for a leave of absence on behalf of the little one.
He didn’t give many details, just said that Little Seven wasn’t feeling well and needed to rest.
The teacher approved the leave and kindly said, “Health comes first. Let Little Seven return to class when he’s fully recovered.”
Ah Wu simply nodded.
As he was about to leave, he suddenly stopped at the door.
“Why are you following me?”
At the entrance, Ah Wu suddenly turned around and caught a child who hadn’t had time to hide.
The child hadn’t expected Ah Wu to turn around so abruptly and was startled, trying to shrink back.
But Ah Wu’s gaze was fixed on him, and though the child gulped nervously, he didn’t run away.
“I—I just wanted to ask how Little Seven is doing.”
The child’s face flushed as he showed Ah Wu a bracelet on his wrist. “Little Seven gave this to me. We—we’re friends.”
When he said the word “friends,” the child’s face turned even redder.
Everyone at the academy wanted to be friends with the little one, but he rarely made friends with anyone.
The child knew he was ordinary and had nothing remarkable about him. Compared to others who wanted to be friends with the little one, he felt as insignificant as dust.
Yet the little one had chosen to be friends with him.
They would lie on the rocks of the fake mountain, copying books and chatting together, sometimes even sharing food.
The child adored the little one.
“Little Seven is resting at home. He’ll be back in a while,” Ah Wu said calmly. “Don’t worry about him.”
“Can you give this to Little Seven for me?” the child asked, mustering up his courage and handing over a small package. The package was bulging, though it wasn’t clear what was inside.
“My sister baked some peanuts. They’re really good. She wanted to share them with Little Seven.”
Ah Wu glanced at the package and reached out to take it.
“Got it. I’ll pass it on to him.”
“Thank you!” the child said before running off.
Ah Wu didn’t linger on the child. He took the roasted peanuts and returned to the prince’s residence.
When he got back, he also brought some other food for the little one.
“Zai Zai, open your mouth.”
Although the little one’s current form made it easier for him to rest, he still kept his usual appearance while sleeping so no one would worry.
“Little Seven, why have you been sleeping so much?” Ling Fu was getting anxious. Looking at his little brother’s face, he couldn’t help but suggest, “Maybe we should call Shui Shui. I’d feel better with Shui Shui here.”
Shui Shui was known for his medical skills, highly regarded in the palace.
Even the Third Prince, who had once been predicted not to survive into adulthood, was still alive thanks to Shui Shui’s treatment. This showed just how reliable Shui Shui’s medical skills were.
Both the former Emperor Ling and the current Emperor Ling Chen had wanted to bestow official titles upon Shui Shui.
But Shui Shui had refused all these honors.
Since he didn’t want titles, the emperors had rewarded him with gold and silver instead.
Over the years, no one had kept track of just how much wealth Shui Shui had accumulated, but it was safe to assume that his coffers were overflowing.
Just as Ling Fu suggested bringing Shui Shui over, the little one, lying in bed, shook his head drowsily.
“No Shui Shui.”
The little one refused even before fully opening his eyes. “Don’t call Shui Shui.”
This place was far inferior to the imperial palace in the capital.
The little one didn’t want Shui Shui to come all this way and suffer.
For several days, the little one did nothing but eat and sleep. Ah Wu took care of all his meals, baths, and clothes.
Ling Fu and Jiang Yan frequently came to check on the little one, and Ling Fu, looking at the small figure lying in bed, was puzzled. “Strange. Little Seven has only been sleeping these days, but why does it seem like he’s gotten thinner?”
As he spoke, Ling Fu reached out and pinched the little one’s soft, chubby cheeks.
The soft flesh had indeed become a bit less plump than it was a few days ago.
Ah Wu didn’t explain. He simply went to the kitchen and prepared extra meals, feeding the little one multiple times a day.
Time passed quickly as the little one slept.
During these days, Ah Wu had taken over the road construction project and was handling it well.
The road-building method had been improved by Guan Shan Residence, based on the traditional methods of the current era. The new technique produced smooth roads, almost as smooth as cement roads.
With roads came wealth.
Since many workers were hired for the road construction, by the time the little one woke up, the project had already made significant progress.
When he first woke up, the little one was still a bit groggy.
He glanced at Ah Wu, who was watching over him, and immediately rested his small head in Ah Wu’s arms.
“Ah Wu.”
After resting for a while, the little one finally spoke. “How long did I sleep?”
“Eight days,” Ah Wu replied.
This time, the little one slept for an even longer stretch than before.
Ah Wu didn’t know how the number of prayer ceremonies affected the duration of sleep, but he instinctively felt that this extended slumber wasn’t a good sign.
Gently patting the little one’s head, Ah Wu softly said, “Little one, try not to do this again in the future.”
The little one obediently nodded.
Having spent the past several days in bed, he was finally well-rested and couldn’t wait to get up.
“Ah Wu, how’s the road construction coming along?”
“It’s going well.”
Knowing that the little one wanted to inspect the progress, Ah Wu helped him put on his shoes and led him outside to see the road.
The streets nearby had also been refurbished.
Though the roadwork wasn’t completely finished, one could already see how it would look upon completion.
“Ah Wu, this road is so much better than the muddy paths.”
Most of the common folk’s roads were muddy tracks, with some slightly better ones paved with small stones.
Because the roads were in poor condition, it was difficult for the people to travel. Some of them spent their entire lives in their small villages, struggling to make a living off a meager plot of land.
The more the little one looked at the new road, the happier he became.
He was so pleased that he could hardly wait to write a letter to Guan Shan Residence to tell them about the road he had helped build.
“Oh, right.”
As he looked up at the sky, the little one suddenly remembered something important.
“Ah Wu, was there thunder during the prayer ceremony?”
The little one had been so exhausted during the ceremony that he could barely lift his arms, and he’d forgotten whether he had heard any thunder afterward.
Ah Wu thought for a moment and nodded. “Yes, there was a clap of thunder, like something suddenly exploding.”
“As long as there was thunder.”
From the last ceremony, the little one knew that thunder meant his prayers had been received.
“Uncle Lian Qing and the Chief Examiner will be reunited soon.”
The little one shook Ah Wu’s hand excitedly. “Ah Wu, how can we find the Big Boss? I want to tell him the news.”
The Big Boss didn’t stay at Guan Shan Residence often, and no one knew where he would appear next, making it difficult to find him.
“Write a letter to Guan Shan Residence,” Ah Wu suggested after a few seconds of thought. “I’ll also send my people to look for him.”
“Will they be able to find the Big Boss?” The little one asked anxiously.
Ah Wu responded with a reassuring “Yes,” and promised, “As long as he leaves any trace of his movements, I’ll be able to find him.”
Even with Ah Wu’s assurance, the little one didn’t feel completely at ease.
He rubbed his cheeks, worried as he thought to himself—he had also wished for the Chief to be taken away during his last prayer.
“Don’t frown,” Ah Wu said. “Let me take you to see the workshop we’ve prepared.”
The little one’s goal in building the roads wasn’t just to make it easier for people to travel; he also wanted to encourage trade.
Better roads would mean more merchants, and more opportunities for the common folk.
The workshop Ah Wu found was for the little one’s personal use.
It was too large for the little one to use alone, so the parts he didn’t need would be shared with his classmates.
While overseeing the road construction, the little one had written to his friends at Guan Shan Residence, inviting them to come and do business.
At Guan Shan Residence, the students studied various subjects, including governance, military strategy, and business.
Jiujiu and Kangkang were primarily focused on making money, and their businesses had already spread far and wide.
They didn’t personally manage their businesses, as they had plenty of people to handle that for them.
Perhaps because there was so much to do, time seemed to fly by for the little one.
In about a year, he had managed to repair the roads in dozens of counties and villages across Yanzhou.
By the end of his first year there, every household in Yanzhou had enough food to last through the New Year.
The once desolate and rundown streets had undergone a complete transformation.
Families with skilled trades had already set up stalls along the streets, and even those without any particular trade could find work.
In Yanzhou’s winter, the snow piled up three feet high.
The little one wore a bright red cloak, with a white fur trim on the hood.
Ah Wu fastened the hood around the prince’s head. Against the backdrop of white snow and vibrant red, the now ten-year-old prince looked as if he had stepped straight out of a fairy tale.
His face, still round with baby fat, was soft and fair, but it didn’t take away from how handsome he was.
Ah Wu pinched his cheek, a thoughtful look passing through his eyes.
His little one’s face was slowly maturing.
Though he wasn’t fully grown yet, the little one had already encountered some unsavory things.
Ah Wu had personally seen the lecherous glances some people directed at the little one.
Naturally, anyone Ah Wu caught with such intentions didn’t meet a good end.
Though Ah Wu had dealt with these people quietly, such occurrences hadn’t completely stopped.
“Ah Wu, I’m talking to you—why are you daydreaming?”
The little one, who had been letting Ah Wu pinch his cheeks, tilted his head in confusion. “What are you thinking about?”
“I’m thinking about when to take you back.”
The little one had been away for so long, and if he didn’t return soon, certain people in the palace would start getting restless.
“We’ll leave once the snow stops.”
The little one smiled brightly, his eyes curving with excitement at the thought of returning home.
Over the past year, he had been tirelessly checking off tasks from his to-do list.
Although he was very satisfied with what he had accomplished, both his body and mind were exhausted.
Now that the people were warm and well-fed for the winter, he decided it was time to take a break and head home.
“Hmm, when the time comes, I’ll take you back. It’ll be faster than taking a carriage.”
“Okay!”
As the two were talking, Ling Fu, bundled up like a ball, walked over, sneezing.
“The winters here are just too cold.”
Ling Fu’s nose was red from the constant sneezing. “Little Seven, can’t we leave a bit earlier?”
“It’s not safe to travel in such heavy snow.”
Seeing his sixth brother sneezing non-stop, the little one thoughtfully handed him a tissue.
“Sixth Brother, why don’t you go inside and warm up? I’ll have someone bring you some soup.”
“I just want to go home sooner,” Ling Fu muttered.
They had been away from the palace for so long, and now everyone was feeling homesick.
The little one heard his sixth brother’s grumbling, but still didn’t agree to leave early.
He gently tugged on his brother’s hand, warming it with his own.
“Sixth Brother, in this kind of weather, if we set out, we might face dangers on the road.”
The little one deliberately emphasized the word “dangers.”
At that, Ling Fu immediately understood.
“Zhuo Tai is up to something again!”
Ling Fu’s expression tightened, and he furrowed his brow.
For the first half of the year, Zhuo Tai had behaved himself. He sent all sorts of gifts to the prince’s residence and was always humble and respectful in front of the two princes.
But after half a year of pretending, Zhuo Tai couldn’t keep it up any longer.
With the little one staying there, he could no longer do the things he used to do—accept bribes, appoint officials—none of it was possible anymore.
After bottling up his frustration for half a year, Zhuo Tai began to vent in the second half.
He was a schemer, and the tricks he came up with were underhanded and despicable.
At one point, he even spread rumors that the seventh prince was trying to win people over to seize the throne.
His rumors didn’t spread far and they weren’t very effective.
If it weren’t for the little one not wanting to stir up a rebellion before finishing his basic plans for the year, Zhuo Tai’s head would have been long gone.
The little one was safe, protected by Ah Wu.
Behind Zhuo Tai, the little one had also uncovered his connections with some officials in the capital.
Recently, the little one had nearly completed a list of officials in the capital connected to Zhuo Tai.
He worked quietly, making sure no one knew about it.
That list was going to be his New Year’s gift to his eldest brother.
“Alright, we’ll wait until the snow stops before we leave.”
Thinking about Zhuo Tai, Ling Fu gave up the idea of traveling through the snow.
They didn’t have to wait long—just a few days later, the snow finally stopped.
Everyone at the prince’s residence had already packed their belongings.
Though their expressions were calm, they were all secretly overjoyed.
After all, everyone gets homesick, and the little one had allowed them to return home and visit their families.
“Your Highness, Xing Er made this foot warmer for you. You and the sixth prince can use it to warm your feet while in the carriage.”
Before they set out, the servants had already made sure the sedan chairs were warm and cozy.
The sedan chairs they rode in were large, luxurious, and practical. Sitting inside felt like being in a small room.
The little one held a hand warmer, toasting his plump feet, and eating tangerines that Ah Wu fed him. He was so comfortable that his chubby feet couldn’t help but wiggle a bit.
It was so warm inside the chair that he didn’t even feel like turning into a ball and running outside.
On their way back, the little one’s entourage was quite grand.
When the neighboring Nanzhou heard they were returning, they even sent a guard unit to escort them.
The Lord Provincial Governor of Nanzhou personally delivered the guards, and if he could have, he would have accompanied them back himself.
“Your Highness, my term isn’t up yet, so I can’t travel too far.”
“The guards I’ve sent are personally chosen by me. With them, you’ll definitely return safely.”
“Oh, and…”
The Lord Provincial Governor of Nanzhou smiled, lowering his voice as he pointed to the leader of the guards. “While I can’t escort you myself, my son happens to be available.”
“If you need anything along the way, just call on him.”
Ning Shao, the Lord Provincial Governor’s son, was very close to the little one’s favorite uncle.
Seeing Ning Shao on horseback, the little one instinctively waved his small hand.
Ning Shao raised an eyebrow and smiled, waving back at him.
Watching their interaction, Ning Hu’s eyes gleamed with amusement.
The Ning family’s ancestral home was in the capital. Ning Hu had served as the Lord Provincial Governor of Nanzhou for many years. Although he held real power as a Lord Provincial Governor, he couldn’t easily return to the capital.
Over the years, what Ning Hu missed the most was the capital. If given the chance, he would be willing to give up his post here.
“Shao Er, protect His Highness and the young shizi. If anything happens to them, I’ll have your hide!”
“Got it, Dad.”
Ning Shao smiled at his father. “I’ll make sure to take good care of His Highness and the young shizi.”
After saying their goodbyes to Ning Hu, the group continued on their way.
Ning Shao’s guards led the way, and with their protection, the journey went smoothly.
Along the way, the little one wanted some fresh air, so Ning Shao lifted him onto his horse and wrapped him in a thick fur coat. Even his face was covered.
Wrapped up like that, only the little one’s eyes were visible.
“Little Seven, watch as little Uncle takes you for a ride.”
Ning Shao waved his whip, his hearty voice echoing through the air.
The little one, snuggled in his arms, tried to speak despite his mouth being covered.
“Let’s ride!”
He loved horse riding!
Since Ning Shao was close friends with Murong Xu, the little one had grown familiar with him and didn’t make him call him “Your Highness” all the time.
In private, Ning Shao simply called him “Little Seven.”
The little one would also call him “Little Uncle.”
Aside from horse riding, Ning Shao would occasionally let the children from the carriage get down to play.
They had snowball fights, warmed themselves by the fire, and enjoyed wild game. Each one of them had a fantastic time.
Nightfall arrived.
Ning Shao was keeping watch outside, and the little one, unable to sleep, bundled up in a thick fur cloak, rolled over like a chubby ball and came to Ning Shao’s side.
“Why are you out here?”
Ning Shao pulled him into a hug and, with his free hand, added more wood to the fire.
“I can’t sleep.”
The little one, after sitting for a while, rested his head on Ning Shao’s lap and blinked his eyes, inviting him, “Let’s chat.”
When he couldn’t sleep, he liked chatting with someone.
But since Sixth Brother and the others were already asleep, the little one didn’t want to trouble Ah Wu to stay up with him. So, after looking around, he came to Ning Shao.
Ning Shao enjoyed talking with him too.
Both of them were wrapped up warmly, sitting close together as they began chatting.
As they talked, they somehow shifted the topic to adult matters.
Apart from achieving great deeds, grown-ups naturally also talked about love and romance.
“To be honest, this time I’m returning to the capital because my family has arranged a marriage for me.”
Ning Shao was one year younger than Murong Xu, and it was high time for him to get married.
The Ning family didn’t want Ning Shao to marry someone from Nanzhou, so his return to the capital this time was also an opportunity to find a bride.
“I believe that women from the capital are the best.”
Ning Shao hugged the little one and gave him some advice, “When it’s your time to marry, remember to find someone from our capital too.”
“I won’t. I don’t want a wife.”
“Tsk, do you plan to follow your uncle’s example and stay single?”
Ning Shao pinched the little one’s cheek, trying to change his mind. “Don’t follow your uncle’s path. With looks like yours, finding a wife will be the easiest thing.”
“I won’t get married.”
The little one stubbornly refused, and when Ning Shao couldn’t persuade him, he switched the topic to Murong Xu.
“Your uncle is already at that age. I don’t believe he hasn’t been tempted by anyone.”
“This time when we go back to the capital, I’m going to find out who your uncle has feelings for.”
Ning Shao knew his good friend well.
His brother was healthy in both body and mind, and Ning Shao refused to believe that his friend hadn’t developed feelings for anyone.
The little one propped his face up with both hands, his expression innocent. “Uncle said he doesn’t let himself get attached because he doesn’t want to hold anyone back.”
Ning Shao scoffed, “I don’t believe that.”
As they were still talking, a rustling sound came from a snowdrift not far away.
