During the rainy season, the temperature dropped day by day with the continuous rain. When Ling Chen left his mother’s palace, a servant quickly followed him out, draping an outer robe over him.
“Your Highness, it’s cold outside. Please take care not to catch a chill, or the Niang Niang will be worried.”
If he had heard such caring words as a child, Ling Chen would have felt that his royal mother truly cared for him. But he was no longer a child. So, he tied the robe’s belt and responded indifferently, “I will keep warm and not let Royal Mother worry.”
With that, he turned and left.
The servant watched him walk away, not retreating until his figure completely disappeared from sight. Only then did they return to the palace and back to the Empress’s side.
The Empress was in the small Buddha hall within the palace, quietly reciting prayers with her eyes closed.
The servant reported back to her and then added, “Niang Niang, the Prince is very appreciative of your concern.”
The Empress said nothing, her hands continuing to turn the prayer beads. The servant, too, fell silent, standing quietly behind her without uttering a word.
Time passed, and the small Buddha hall remained illuminated.
Meanwhile, Ling Chen had already returned to his own palace.
He had more tasks to attend to.
He was of age to begin handling governmental affairs. Though the Emperor had not officially named him Crown Prince, ministers had suggested giving him some responsibilities.
Though the tasks were minor, Ling Chen did not dare take them lightly.
As the Empress’s eldest son, countless people had told him of the many heavy responsibilities he must bear.
While dealing with matters assigned by the Emperor, Ling Chen came across the Murong family, and coincidentally, the task was related to them.
He saw Murong Xu’s name.
“Wasn’t Murong Xu supposed to be heading to the border? Why hasn’t he left yet?”
“Your Highness, the fifth young master wants to go, but his family hasn’t agreed, nor has the Emperor. With a general already stationed at the border, there’s no need for him to go.”
Murong Xu was well-known in the capital. He was born into a loyal and distinguished family and was the fifth child. His eldest sister was the first female general since the founding of the Qi Dynasty. Murong Xu idolized his sister and once vowed that he, too, would defend the nation and ensure that no enemies would ever invade again!
Murong Xu wasn’t just all talk; his skills were formidable.
At the National Academy, he excelled in both riding and archery.
Ling Chen, having casually asked a couple of questions, didn’t press further. His mother’s family and the Murong family weren’t on good terms, and he generally avoided contact with them. If not for his younger brother, Little Seven, he wouldn’t have even bothered asking about Murong Xu.
“Your Highness, it’s getting late. You should rest soon.”
Noticing that it was past midnight, a servant cautiously urged Ling Chen to rest.
Unlike his father, who had grown fond of comfort and was no longer as diligent with state affairs, Ling Chen had been hard-working from a young age. When his initial advice was ignored, the servant brought out a small wooden toy.
“Your Highness, the young prince sent this today. He said it should accompany you to sleep.”
The servant mimicked the young prince’s words. Upon hearing this, Ling Chen, who had no intention of resting, finally paused. He glanced at the toy.
“This is Little Seven’s favorite wooden horse.”
A gentle smile curved his lips. The little one had gifted his favorite toy to him. With the wooden horse in hand, Ling Chen stood up and at last agreed to rest.
The next day, Ling Chen saw Little Seven again. Little Seven was the youngest prince and undoubtedly the most adorable and beautiful child in the palace.
Although Ling Chen treated all his younger siblings equally, ever since meeting Little Seven, he couldn’t help but be a little more biased toward him.
“Big brother!”
The chubby little one waddled over on his short legs, and seeing him like this softened Ling Chen’s heart. He crouched down and caught the little one in his arms.
“Big brother, carry me!”
Not satisfied with just hugging his brother’s leg, the little one demanded to be picked up. Ling Chen obliged, pressing his forehead gently against the little one’s.
“Little Seven, why have you come looking for me again?”
“Big brother, let’s go out. Little Seven wants to go too.”
“Be good, Little Seven. Big brother is going out to work, and I can’t take you with me.”
“Take me!”
The little one wrapped his chubby arms around Ling Chen’s neck, rubbing his face against his brother’s and insistently repeating, “Take me!”
Under the little guy’s relentless requests, Ling Chen finally gave in and took him along.
“Little Seven, if you come with me, you have to be good, listen to big brother, and don’t run off. Understand?”
“Mm-hmm!”
The two brothers left the palace together. Since his younger brother was still little, Ling Chen had thick blankets laid out in the carriage to make him more comfortable.
“Brother, look, it’s Uncle.”
As the carriage passed by a street, the little one pulled back the curtain and pointed toward the Murong residence, calling out to his brother.
The little one adored his big brother and also liked his uncle very much. Following his gaze, Ling Chen looked out.
“If you want to go play with Uncle, shall I take you there?”
The little one hesitated for a moment but then shook his head.
He wanted to stay with his older brother, but also wanted to play with his uncle. When Ling Chen saw him shake his head, he lifted him back onto his lap.
“If you don’t want to go play with your uncle, then stay quietly by your brother’s side. I’ll buy you some candied hawthorn later,” Ling Chen coaxed the little guy on his lap, spending the whole day tending to his own matters with him in tow.
That evening, Ling Chen kept his word and bought a bright red string of candied hawthorns, letting the little one hold it and enjoy. The string had several hawthorn berries, and after licking it a few times, the little one looked up at his brother. He used his chubby little hands to pick off a large hawthorn and held it out to his older brother.
“Big brother, yummy!”
The little one, who thought the hawthorn was delicious, wanted to share it with his brother. Ling Chen couldn’t help but smile at his brother’s generous spirit.
“I don’t need any; you can eat it, Little Seven.”
Ling Chen didn’t want to take from his younger brother, but when he refused, the little one stubbornly kept holding out the berry.
Left with no other choice, Ling Chen leaned over and ate the hawthorn from his little brother’s hand, not minding at all that it had been clutched in his tiny fist.
The little one didn’t just share with his brother. He went around offering hawthorn berries to his other siblings, but except for Ling Fu, none of them took a bite.
After making the rounds, only two remained. The little one tugged on his older brother’s clothes, blinking his big, bright eyes and said, “Big brother, let’s go find Uncle.”
Ling Chen: “…”
Thanks to this little guy, his interactions with Murong Xu—who had previously been distant—had increased.
The little one clung to him and also to his uncle, so Ling Chen ended up meeting Murong Xu far more often than before.
“Fine, I’ll take you over,” Ling Chen said, taking the little one to see his uncle after informing Noble Consort Yi.
He didn’t let his own servants follow, nor did he let the spies his mother had placed near him know about the visit. If his mother found out, she’d surely summon him again.
Before long, Ling Chen dropped the little one off at Murong Xu’s place without lingering for small talk. After setting the child down, he turned to leave.
Murong Xu, who had picked up the little one, raised an eyebrow as he watched Ling Chen’s departing figure. It was clear to him that the eldest prince didn’t want anything to do with him.
“Uncle, have some.”
The little one, with his sticky hands clutching the last two hawthorns, offered them to Murong Xu. Murong Xu chewed the fruit and spat out the seed, swallowing the pulp.
“Our Little Seven is so thoughtful,” Murong Xu chuckled, pinching his soft little cheek before carrying him back into the courtyard.
And so, the days passed by.
The little one, busy with lessons and playing in the palace, had added a new activity recently: following his big brother around. Ling Chen, ever observant, noticed after a few days and lifted the little one onto his lap to question him.
“Little Seven, why don’t you go play with Little Six? Why are you always following me?”
The little one, wrapping his arms around Ling Chen’s neck, replied softly, “Little Seven is protecting big brother.”
Ling Chen: “?”
Ling Chen remembered that the little guy had “read his fortune” once, and after that, he’d become especially clingy. Feeling a bit helpless, Ling Chen gently reassured him, “Little Seven, big brother won’t be in any danger. You don’t need to protect me.”
But the little one wouldn’t listen, his face full of seriousness. “Little Seven wants to protect big brother!”
Ling Chen had spent enough time with the little one to know that this seemingly soft child had a stubborn streak. He tapped the little one’s nose and sighed, “Alright, suit yourself.”
A few days later, Ling Chen had to leave the palace to visit Guang County, and this time, he brought the little one along. The little one, in turn, invited his uncle to join them.
Ling Chen remained as distant as ever with Murong Xu, but Murong Xu, being a perceptive man, had long since noticed his coldness. Still, Murong Xu wasn’t easily deterred.
Even with Ling Chen’s aloof attitude, Murong Xu kept trying to make conversation.
After a few rounds of forced small talk, Ling Chen, who usually maintained his composure, was starting to lose his patience. Out of sight of the little one, Ling Chen shot Murong Xu a cold glance and silently mouthed, “Boring.”
Murong Xu: “…”
Murong Xu: “Hahaha.”
Murong Xu laughed aloud, clearly finding amusement in teasing the serious eldest prince. He wasn’t one for the refined manners of a nobleman, but Ling Chen certainly was.
The little one, engrossed in his snacks, was completely unaware of the silent battle of glances between the two adults.
The trip to Guang County was not without its challenges, and as a result, Ling Chen found himself interacting more with Murong Xu than before.
One day, at a tavern outside the city gates, Ling Chen found himself face-to-face with a smiling Murong Xu.
“Ah, Your Highness, what a coincidence,” Murong Xu said with a grin.
Ling Chen instinctively furrowed his brow. “What are you doing here?”
Murong Xu raised an eyebrow. “Your Highness, is this tavern yours? If you can come, why can’t I?”
Ling Chen pressed his lips together, choosing not to respond. He had come here without the little one, so he didn’t see any reason to interact with Murong Xu. He stepped forward, intending to leave.
But Murong Xu sidestepped, blocking his path again. “Your Highness, since we’ve run into each other, why not have a meal together? This tavern has excellent rice wine.”
“I’m not eating,” Ling Chen replied coolly.
“I don’t believe you. You wouldn’t come at mealtime and not eat,” Murong Xu insisted, his persistence unmatched.
Ling Chen had to admit, in his mind, Murong Xu had the thickest skin he had ever encountered. With his relentless invitation, Ling Chen finally sat down at the same table, albeit with a frosty expression.
Ling Chen had come to hear a report from one of his subordinates. The subordinate arrived but hesitated when he saw Murong Xu seated at the table, unsure if he should speak.
Ling Chen glanced at him and said calmly, “Speak. Don’t mind him.”
Though the report wasn’t about anything particularly sensitive, Murong Xu’s presence still surprised the subordinate, knowing the eldest prince’s usual caution. For Murong Xu to be allowed to stay suggested that he had gained some measure of trust.
Murong Xu thought the same. He sat there with a wide grin, unable to hide his amusement. When the subordinate left, he immediately asked, “Your Highness, do you trust me that much?”
Ling Chen, sipping his tea, replied flatly, “Who said I trust you? It’s a trivial matter. You overhearing it makes no difference.”
Murong Xu’s smile only widened. Propping his chin in his hand, he said, “Next time there’s a trivial matter, let me listen in again. I find it quite interesting.”
Ling Chen shot him a look that clearly said, “You’re talking nonsense.”
The tavern server soon brought out a table full of steaming hot dishes, along with the signature rice wine that Ling Chen had specifically ordered.
As the server poured the wine, Ling Chen stated plainly, “I don’t drink.”
Murong Xu didn’t stop pouring, filling two large cups. He pushed one toward Ling Chen.
“Your Highness, just try it. It tastes great.”
Ling Chen remained unmoved, continuing to eat his meal with a scholarly tone. “Drinking is bad for your health.”
Murong Xu downed his own cup in one gulp. After finishing, he once again offered the second cup to Ling Chen.
“Your Highness, if this cup of wine harms you in any way, I’ll take full responsibility.”
