Faced with such an outrageous demand, Xiao Ji’an angrily glared at Xiao Yuan and shouted, “I have my own father! You’re not my dad!”
Seeing Xiao Yuan’s expression darken as if he were about to strike the child, Pei Qing quickly intervened. “Your uncle is just joking with you. The food is getting cold. There’s steamed perch here, which you like. Come and eat.”
She seated Xiao Ji’an across from Xiao Yuan, as far away as possible, while she took the middle seat. Pei Qing placed a piece of fish belly in Xiao Ji’an’s bowl, smiling as she said, “Ji’er, try it.”
Whenever Xiao Ji’an spoke to Pei Qing, his voice softened, and he obediently nodded, taking a large bite of the fish.
Pei Qing turned back, only to see Xiao Yuan’s face still sullen. For some reason, she found the situation amusing. She casually picked up an empty bowl, filled it with fish soup, and placed it in front of him. “Be careful; it’s hot.”
Only then did the Nanchuan King’s expression soften slightly.
Xiao Ji’an continued to eat his fish in big bites but noticed that Xiao Yuan had only soup in his bowl. He hesitated before speaking up, “This fish is really good. There’s plenty, and Mother and I can’t finish it all.”
Xiao Yuan slammed his empty bowl down on the table, looking like he was about to reprimand the child again. As the esteemed Nanchuan King, did he really need to eat the leftovers of this mother and son?
Under the table, Pei Qing grasped Xiao Yuan’s hand and explained to Xiao Ji’an, “Your uncle only likes fish soup, not the meat. It’s thoughtful of you, but you should eat more if you like it.”
The soft, warm touch of her hand seemed to calm the Nanchuan King’s temper. He ignored the annoying child across the table, instead enjoying Pei Qing’s attentive service as she carefully placed food and poured wine for him.
But as they continued eating, Xiao Ji’an spoke again.
“I heard that you and my father are brothers, but you’re so different. Father never lets Mother do these things; he always stops her. Mother hasn’t even eaten much.”
Hearing her son stand up for her, Pei Qing’s heart softened.
Unfortunately, the man sitting next to her ruined the moment. Xiao Yuan showed no remorse, saying, “What do you know, daring to criticize me? Your mother spent the afternoon eating pastries and fruit. If she can still eat after that, then it would be a miracle.”
Pei Qing’s face flushed slightly. She had thought he was too absorbed in his reading to notice, but apparently, he had seen everything. Bored in the afternoon, she had made some pastries and, not wanting to waste the extra ingredients, ended up eating more than she should have. Now, despite the spread of dishes before her, she found herself with little appetite.
“And another thing,” Xiao Yuan continued, “Don’t compare me to your father. Without me, you’d be burning incense at his grave right now.”
Xiao Ji’an froze for a moment, his eyes turning red. Though he was young, he understood his father’s illness and knew that Xiao Jing wouldn’t be with him for much longer. But when it came to matters of life and death, a child’s heart is not so easily reconciled.
Seeing her son’s reaction, Pei Qing gently patted his head, her heart aching. But before she could comfort him, Xiao Yuan spoke again. “That’s the reality. What’s the point of crying? Life and death are beyond our control, but how we choose to die and who we die for is up to us. Your father ascended the throne at fourteen, went through regencies, power struggles, and illnesses with no cure. He’s dying for the sake of the kingdom. It’s his choice. Crying won’t change anything.”
Xiao Ji’an only half understood, but Pei Qing was stunned, and then tears began to fall like rain.
Her crying angered Xiao Yuan. He grabbed her face roughly, “Are you that reluctant to let him go?”
“Let go of my mother!” Xiao Ji’an shouted.
Pei Qing snapped back to reality at her son’s cry. She quickly wiped away her tears and looked at Xiao Yuan, her eyes full of gratitude.
At that moment, she finally understood. Xiao Yuan could have killed the Emperor; he could have seized control of the entire palace on the day he quelled the rebellion. Pei Qing knew that he harbored resentment toward her and Xiao Jing, and he had even placed his blade at Xiao Jing’s throat. But Xiao Yuan had chosen not to strike.
She remembered the carefree young man who had once worn a playful smile and talked about becoming a great general, swearing to protect the kingdom and serve a wise ruler.
Xiao Yuan had kept his word.
But Pei Qing had broken hers. When he had casually asked if she wanted to be a general’s wife, she had agreed without hesitation.
Seeing the gentle admiration in her eyes, Xiao Yuan’s heart suddenly trembled. He released her and spoke harshly, “No more crying, from either of you.”
Pei Qing nodded and accompanied the two of them through the rest of the meal. She then watched as Zhi Lan led Xiao Ji’an back to Xuyang Palace.
Xiao Yuan leaned against the door, watching as Xiao Ji’an disappeared from sight, while Pei Qing continued to gaze in that direction. He scoffed, “He’s not even your own child. Just because he’s that sickly emperor’s son, you’re willing to care for him too?”
Now, when Pei Qing heard Xiao Yuan’s disrespectful way of referring to Xiao Jing, it no longer bothered her. Instead, she detected a hint of jealousy in his words. “Ji’er is His Majesty’s son and also my sister’s son. You know how good my sister was to me; I’ve told you before.”
Xiao Yuan knew all too well. Back then, Pei Qing had always spoken of her sister—how beautiful, how kind Pei Wan was. Xiao Yuan had heard it all. But as a man, he would never do what Xiao Jing had done, marrying his wife’s sister after her death.
Pei Qing couldn’t know what he was thinking and gently advised, “Ji’er is still young. You can explain things to him slowly. But if you keep talking so harshly, you’ll scare him.”
“Why should I? He won’t even call me father.”
Just when Pei Qing had thought of him as noble, he was now bickering with a child who wasn’t even five. She shook her head and softly said, “I’ll go prepare the bath.”
As she entered the bedchamber, Xiao Yuan turned his attention to the dark figure at the entrance to Hanning Palace. “You’re a grown man eavesdropping at the door. Get over here.”
Chu Li had come to report an urgent matter to Xiao Yuan, but he had hesitated after hearing his master’s words.
Even as a subordinate, Chu Li could tell that Xiao Yuan was in the wrong this time. It was one thing to compete with the Emperor for a woman, but now he was even trying to compete with the man’s child?
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