Chapter 545.1: Warmth
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Just as the atmosphere became awkward and tense to the point of stagnation, the chubby Qin Chuyu rushed over with a wail, sounding like a ghost crying and a wolf howling.
"Imperial father! Imperial father! Save me!"
He almost recklessly threw himself into the Emperor's arms, his little plump hand grabbing onto the Emperor's robes and his chubby body trembling.
This demeanor was too inappropriate for a prince. The Emperor furrowed his brows, but at the same time, he couldn't help feeling a bit sorry for his chubby little son.
"What happened?" The Emperor asked in a deep voice.
Qin Chuyu cried so hard that he couldn't catch his breath, "My dog... My dog..."
The Emperor frowned deeper, "Speak clearly. What happened to your dog?"
Qin Chuyu cried loudly, "Huangfu Xian killed my dog!"
Everyone's expressions changed.
Huangfu Xian's eccentric temperament was not a secret in the palace, but killing a dog, especially the dog of a prince, was going too far.
The Emperor frowned, trying to lift the chubby boy from his arms, "Are you mistaken? How could your cousin kill your dog?"
Qin Chuyu didn't leave his father's embrace, and instead buried his head firmly in the Emperor's chest, "I saw it with my own eyes! Jing Kong saw it too! He's right there! Near the Taiye Lake! If you don't believe me, imperial father, go and see for yourself!"
Ning'an stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I'll go take a look."
The Emperor said, "Zhen will accompany you."
Qin Chuyu grabbed onto the Emperor's robes, "Imperial father, don't go!"
The Emperor said, "Didn't you ask Zhen to go?."
Qin Chuyu cried, "What will I do if you go? I'm scared!"
An imperial prince being so timid was truly a headache. The Emperor let out a sigh, "Let Eunuch Wei escort you back to the Kunning Palace."
Due to this unexpected incident, the Emperor temporarily had no time to deal with Tang Yueshan teaching archery to Princess Ning'an. He and Princess Ning'an went to Taiye Lake.
Tang Yueshan watched the group of people leaving, muttering, "These delicate princesses, they can't be scolded and can't be hit even if they practice archery. Whoever teaches them is in for bad luck!"
After saying this, he suddenly noticed Gu Jiao staring at the Tang Family bow in his hand with an eager gleam in her eyes...
Tang Yueshan's heart skipped a beat and he quickly protected the Tang family bow in his embrace, "Don't even think about it! I won't let you touch it! I’m a donkey if I let you touch it!"
……
The Emperor and Princess Ning'an quickly rushed towards the direction of Taiye Lake and unsurprisingly, they saw Huangfu Xian covered in blood on a grassy area behind a rockery near Taiye Lake.
The scene left an unforgettable mark on the Emperor—— Huangfu Xian's legs were not covered with the usual thick quilt. His legs were soaked in fresh blood, and his empty pant legs fluttered in the cold wind. His hands were also stained with blood, and even his cheeks, corners of the eyes, and neck were splattered with blood.
A drop even flowed down from the corner of his mouth.
His eyes were vacant and sinister, his figure lonely and incomplete.
A difficult-to-express feeling suddenly surged within the Emperor's heart, perhaps a mixture of chill and horror.
A thought flashed through his mind—— how could there be such a terrifying child in the world?
Huangfu Xian was only thirteen, a year younger than Gu Xiaoshun, yet the coldness he displayed was far from what a normal person should possess.
The Emperor's gaze fell on his empty pant legs, and his throat choked.
"Xian'er! What are you doing?!"
Princess Ning'an almost roared as she ran over, tightly grabbing Huangfu Xian's shoulders with both hands and shaking his frail body frantically, "What have you done?!"
Huangfu Xian remained expressionless, letting her shake him on the cold wheelchair.
Princess Ning'an, with red eyes, said, "Speak! What have you done?! Why did you do this?!"
The Emperor snapped back to his senses, walked up, and pulled Princess Ning'an away. Princess Ning’an covered her face and leaned against the Emperor as she cried in despair, "It's all my fault... It's my mistake..."
The Emperor looked around but failed to see the dog's body, unsure if the child had thrown it into the Taiye Lake.
Thinking that a thirteen-year-old child could be so cruel, the Emperor couldn't help but close his eyes, taking a sharp breath.
Because he was Ning'an's son, he had to tolerate it.
Ning'an had suffered too much. He couldn't let her endure any more harm and heartache.
"You go back first. Zhen will talk to him." The Emperor said to Princess Ning'an.
Princess Ning'an cried as she glanced at Huangfu Xian. The Emperor comfortingly patted her shoulder, saying, "Zhen won't do anything to him. Zhen will just say a few words to him."
Since the Emperor said so, it was inappropriate for Princess Ning'an not to leave.
Choking back tears, Princess Ning'an told Huangfu Xian, "Don't anger your uncle."
Huangfu Xian lazily leaned against the wheelchair's backrest, showing complete indifference.
Princess Ning'an turned around and headed back to Bixia Palace.
The Emperor looked at Huangfu Xian, hesitated for a moment, then walked a few steps toward him. Stopping beside his wheelchair, the Emperor sighed heavily, "Xian'er, Zhen knows you're suffering. You lost your legs, and you lost your father. Zhen understands your grief."
"Heh." Huangfu Xian sneered disdainfully, clearly dismissing the Emperor's words.
Since ascending the throne, no one had dared to respond to him like this except Empress Dowager Zhuang, but he chose not to argue with the child for now. He said, "Yes, Zhen hasn't lost his legs, and Zhen can't fully comprehend all your pain. But Zhen has also lost his father, so Zhen understands the pain of losing a father."
Mockingly, Huangfu Xian said, "Your Majesty's situation is different. Your Majesty's father died of illness, while my father was killed by someone."
The Emperor furrowed his brow, "Your father betrayed the imperial court."
Huangfu Xian calmly stated, "His imperial court is the Great Li Dynasty."
The Emperor clenched his fists, taking a sharp breath again.
It’s my nephew, don't get angry, don't get angry.
Looking at him, the Emperor said, "If you want to blame anyone, blame Zhen. Don't blame your mother, don't do things to make her angry."
But Huangfu Xian didn't look at the Emperor. Instead, he gazed at the calm surface of Taiye Lake not far away, coldly saying, "She betrayed my father. I will hold a grudge against her for the rest of my life. Of course, I won't forgive Your Majesty either. Your Majesty better kill me now; otherwise, when I have the power, I might continue my father's mission to restore our dynasty!"
"You!"
"I am of the Great Li Dynasty's imperial blood. As long as I live, the Great Li Dynasty will not perish!"
……
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"
Eunuch Wei's voice echoed from afar to near.
The Emperor's consciousness returned, only then realizing that he had long since returned to the imperial study, and had unwittingly remained there for quite some time.
He had almost choked the life out of that child. He had almost killed him!
It was the child's striking resemblance to Ning'an that brought back his reason.
He feared he might issue an order to behead him if he stayed there any longer, so he left the child behind alone.
"Your Majesty, are you all right?" Eunuch Wei looked at the Emperor with concern.
The Emperor wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and shook his head, "Zhen is fine. How is Little Seven?"
Eunuch Wei hesitated before speaking, "This servant sent the Seventh Prince to Kunning Palace and handed him over to the Empress, but the Empress... seems quite displeased."
Who wouldn't be displeased?
He was bullied not once but twice, and still by the same person.
Empress Xiao was by no means a weak and easily bullied master. Kunning Palace might have formed a conflict with Bixia Palace due to this matter.
The Emperor rubbed his throbbing forehead, "Tell someone to inform Kunning Palace that Zhen will have dinner there tonight."
This was an attempt to appease Empress Xiao.
Eunuch Wei understood, "Yes."
Eunuch Wei left.
The Emperor's worries between his eyebrows lingered.
Pacifying Empress Xiao was still easy, but overcoming the hurdle in his heart might be a different story.
Huangfu Xian's words continued to echo in his mind—— "As long as I live, the Great Li Dynasty will not perish!"
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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