Chu Yunyun spoke with tears welling in his eyes, struggling not to let them fall.
The Empress let out a sigh.
“Do you really think you are protecting nothing more than an ordinary attendant? Yunyun, have you forgotten he has royal blood flowing through his veins?”
The Empress crouched down before him.
“Back then, the affair between your father and that courtesan was known throughout the city. If it weren’t for the ministers’ strong objections, even invoking the late emperor’s name, they would have forced their way into the palace.”
Later, the Empress sent someone to clean up the mess, but she hadn’t anticipated that after the news leaked, that courtesan would actually go into hiding, secretly giving birth to the child and even taking the token from long ago to enter the palace.
Fortunately, the Emperor is currently immersed in cultivating his elixirs and tending to his immortality, rarely appearing for trivial matters; thus, everything in the harem has fallen into the Empress’s hands.
She had been secretly making things difficult for the child, but she never expected this child’s fate to be so resilient, causing her so many troubles.
Chu Yunyun said, “These are the affairs of the previous generation; Xiao Sui is innocent.”
“But some do not wish to let him remain innocent,” the Empress gently stroked the marks on his cheek, “Yunyun, Rong Jin is a celestial eunuch, unable to have descendants. Even if there were to be a rebellion, he could not win the people’s hearts.
He aims to raise the prince by his side to support his rise to power and handle matters on his behalf.”
Chu Yunyun instantly froze, seemingly unable to believe what he heard.
“Mother, how could this be possible…”
“If it truly comes to that day, you cannot be brothers with him; you can only be eternal enemies.”
Chu Yunyun vacantly left Kun Ning Palace, his companion Tong Sui was nowhere to be found, and he felt a pang of panic for a moment.
“Where is he?”
“Your Highness, he has already been taken to the Palace of Ceremonial Affairs,” a palace maid replied.
Chu Yunyun pretended to go after him.
But he was stopped by two palace maids. “Your Highness, the Empress has decreed that for the next few days, you are to copy the ancient teachings in the Yang Xin Zhai and are not to go anywhere else.”
When Tong Sui arrived at the Palace of Ceremonial Affairs, he still did not understand what was happening.
Although several eunuchs were seated in the hall, there was no sound, not even the sound of breathing—a group of people resembling the decayed and dying.
“Supervisor, the person has been brought here.”
Rong Jin said coolly, “Everyone, leave.”
His words fell like a decree, and everyone stood up and exited. Just as Tong Sui hesitated whether to follow them out,
Rong Jin said again, “What are you stunned for? Come here.”
Tong Sui had no right to resist his orders. He obediently lowered his head and walked forward, noticing a soft cushion already placed on the ground.
He sat down on it and lowered his head, not daring to look around.
Only the two of them remained in the hall, and the oppressive aura emanating from Rong Jin made Tong Sui feel breathless, as if he was being targeted by a venomous snake, ready to be struck down at any moment.
“You are truly difficult to invite. Is it that being beside me is not as good as being a mere prince?”
His voice was cold, noticeably darker than the last time they met; there was a faint hint of medicinal scent on him that hadn’t been there last time.
Tong Sui mustered his courage to raise his head.
Rong Jin’s eyes were narrow, deep-set, and it was hard to gauge his true thoughts when his face was stern; his pale complexion added an air of ghostly chill.
“Sir, are you unwell?”
Tong Sui appeared unfazed by him, leaning forward slightly, his eyes reflecting Rong Jin’s stern face. “Is there somewhere you feel uncomfortable?”
The genuine concern in his eyes caught Rong Jin off guard for a moment, but he quickly reacted, coldly scolding, “You are quite bold; who permitted you to come so close?”
Tong Sui quickly lowered his head. “I’m sorry…”
His small hands neatly rested on his knees, head bowed, appearing inexplicably wronged, as if Rong Jin had done something to him.
Rong Jin lightly coughed twice. “Go get that medicinal soup that has been warmed over there.”
Tong Sui quickly nodded, stood up, and poured the hot soup from the pot into a bowl. Immediately, a bitter medicinal scent wafted out, making him feel nauseous just by smelling it.
Yet, when Rong Jin drank it, he didn’t even furrow his brows; he had long grown accustomed to the taste of this medicinal soup.
Tong Sui looked around and surprisingly did not find any sweetened items like candied fruits to accompany the bitter medicine; how were these people serving him?
Suddenly, Tong Sui remembered he still had some pastries with him.
Fearing hunger, he always carried a bit of food, seizing the opportunity to sneak some into his mouth; today, he had brought osmanthus cake.
He took out the pastry wrapped in oil paper.
Rong Jin glanced at it. “What is this?”
Tong Sui unwrapped the oil paper, and a faint scent of osmanthus wafted out. “Here, eat this, and your mouth won’t be bitter anymore.”
“No need,” Rong Jin could clearly see these were items he reserved for himself, not at the point of snatching a child’s food.
Tong Sui pouted, his eyelids lowered, looking somewhat disappointed.
Rong Jin didn’t seem to find it appealing.
After all, it was something a mere servant had taken out from his belongings, and the pastries didn’t appear sophisticated; naturally, Rong Jin would look down on them…
Lost in his thoughts, a thin hand reached out and took one of the pastries from before him.
Tong Sui’s eyes lit up.
Rong Jin placed the osmanthus cake in his mouth, and the faint aroma and sweetness blended together to mask the bitterness in his mouth.
He had no specific taste requirements for the food entering his mouth, but he would carefully screen what he consumed, leaving no chance for ill-intentions to poison him.
Yet, he had taken a pastry of unknown origin from Tong Sui.
Truly a foolish decision.
After finishing the small pastry, Rong Jin wiped his hands with a handkerchief.
Tong Sui immediately offered him hot tea.
Whether it was the soup’s effect or something else, the discomfort Rong Jin had been feeling had subsided significantly, and his expression no longer appeared as gloomy as before.
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