good season

When Zhao Tinglu uttered the last word, everyone present knew that the Fu Prince's Mansion was about to undergo a major upheaval.

Emperor Yongjia's gaze swept across the faces of Prince Fu and his son, its intensity sharp, like a blade touched by icy dew. Prince Fu trembled, a chill rising from the soles of his feet, chilling him to the bone.

The Prince of Fu's heir's lips trembled as if he wanted to say something, but the Prince of Fu gripped his hand tightly, his nails digging into his flesh. The words the Prince of Fu's heir was about to say remained unspoken.

A hint of disdain flashed in Emperor Yongjia's eyes as he looked at Zhao Tingluo, whose eyes were filled with tears, yet whose head was still held high with a stubborn, childlike expression.

Emperor Yongjia sneered inwardly. It was truly a case of a bad bamboo producing a good shoot. The Prince Fu's mansion was a mess, yet it had produced such a promising young man as Zhao Tingluo. Besides Zhao Tingluo, his younger brother, whom he had just found, also seemed quite good. Despite his young age, he showed no fear whatsoever, much better than his grandfather who only knew how to roll around on the ground.

"Father, this little brother is so cute. May I give him this lantern?"

Emperor Yongjia looked down and saw that it was the seventh prince, who was only seven years old.

“Your Highness, you did not run around. Your Majesty, please forgive me. It was this servant who failed to keep a close eye on Your Highness.”

A wet nurse rushed over and grabbed the seventh prince. The seventh prince tried to struggle, but he was too young and was forced to kneel on the ground by the wet nurse, dropping the lantern in his hand.

Emperor Yongjia frowned. This wet nurse dared to be disrespectful to the seventh prince in front of him, and who knew what she had done to him in private.

The seventh prince's birth mother, Consort Yan, suffered three miscarriages and became pregnant a fourth time. She finally gave birth to the seventh prince, but she was unlucky and passed away before the child was two years old.

The seventh prince was entrusted to Consort Shu, the birth mother of the fifth prince. Consort Shu only had one son, the fifth prince, and she wanted to help him. Therefore, she took great care of the seventh prince and raised him with great care.

However, ever since the Fifth Prince was confined to his quarters before the New Year and lost the Emperor's favor, and seeing that her only son had no hope of winning the throne, Consort Shu was exhausted and fell seriously ill. In her bad mood, she was not as nice to the Seventh Prince as before, and even scolded him for no reason. Consort Shu was neglected by the Emperor, and the Seventh Prince was dispensable. These servants were best at reading people's expressions and flattering the weak. They dared not offend the older princes, but they could bully the Seventh Prince, who was helpless, at will, since he had no one to support him when he was wronged.

In recent years, Emperor Yongjia's attention has been focused on his adult princes. The younger princes rarely see their father and are somewhat afraid of him.

Looking at the Seventh Prince kneeling on the ground, Emperor Yongjia was momentarily dazed.

The retired emperor still missed his deceased empress, and consequently doted on her two children as well.

Emperor Yongjia still remembers that when he was only seven years old, he spent two nights copying a chapter of the Classic of Filial Piety. His teacher praised his handwriting for its great improvement, and his mother asked him to show it to his father.

Upon learning that his father was in the Imperial Garden that day, he mustered his courage and took the calligraphy to show his father. However, the eunuchs stopped him outside the pavilion and prevented him from getting close. But he clearly saw his father sitting in the pavilion, personally feeding his elder brother, the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince was a picky eater and refused to eat, so the Emperor felt sorry for him and fed him himself.

At that moment, the little boy felt a void in his heart. He suddenly realized that his master and mother were lying to him. He ate well, studied well, and wrote well. Everyone said he was a good child, but his father loved the naughty one. He, the good child, couldn't even get close to his father.

After that day, he became more obedient than before, but he knew that a monster with horns had grown inside him. The monster gradually grew up, and one day, it broke free of its cage and carved out a blood-red world.

Little Seven looks a lot like him back then.
Emperor Yongjia's pupils narrowed to a single line, focusing on the seventh prince.

He was in his prime, forty years old, calm and wise, and full of vigor.

Little Seven is only seven years old this year.

Twenty years later, he was sixty years old, past his prime, and no longer able to do what he wanted. Meanwhile, the seventh prince was twenty-seven, full of vigor and vitality, ready to carry on the legacy and usher in the future. The eighth and ninth princes were also in their early twenties, the perfect age to help their elder brother.

Yes, this is the new ruler he needs, not the crown prince who wants to take his place on the throne when he is forty years old.

Emperor Yongjia's gaze fell on Zhao Tingluo again; the ten-year-old child stood tall like a pine tree.

Twenty years later, Zhao Tingluo is thirty years old.

Emperor Yongjia lowered his eyes. "Fine, let the Prince of Fu's mansion get away with this. The credit for assisting the new emperor will go to the Prince of Fu's mansion."

The Empress had been observing Emperor Yongjia's expression. Seeing that his gaze lingered on the Seventh Prince for a long time, the Empress made a plan.

She gave the old woman beside her a wink, and the old woman quickly walked up to the wet nurse: "You ungrateful thing, don't you know where you are? Get out of here right now!"

After saying that, the nanny picked up the seventh prince, who was still kneeling on the ground, and walked to the empress.

The Empress reached out and patted the Seventh Prince's head, pointed at Zhao Tingluo and his brother, and said, "Little Seventh Prince, didn't you want to play with them? Then go ahead. Xiaoluo, keep an eye on Little Seventh Prince and your brother, make sure they don't get hurt."

With a few casual words, the previous confrontation was glossed over.

Zhao Tingluo reverted to his playful and mischievous self. He cheerfully pulled the Seventh Prince over, holding his hand in one hand and Xiao Bao's in the other, and said to Emperor Yongjia and the Empress, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I'm taking the Seventh Prince out to play."

The Empress said to the nanny, "Have someone send more sweets and pastries to the Prince of Fu's residence. Poor child, he's grown up and has never tasted palace pastries."

Even those members of the imperial family who were not favored could still enjoy a few pieces of pastry bestowed by the palace during festivals.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongjia said to the old eunuch beside him, "When we return to the palace, pick out a few things for me to reward this child."

The old eunuch hurriedly replied, "Yes, sir."

Zhao Tingluo, holding Xiaobao's hand, expressed her gratitude and then said to Consort Meng, "Your Highness, may I bring my little brother to your place for some snacks another day?"

Consort Meng laughed and said, "You little ungrateful thing, it's like you've never come to this old woman's place to ask for snacks."

Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Bao shook his head: "Not old, not an old woman."

Consort Meng was taken aback, and Princess Jianing quickly said, "See, am I right? You are not old at all. Children don't lie. If he says you are not old, then you are not old."

Consort Meng was in a great mood. Since the Emperor and Empress had both given her gifts, she naturally wanted to do the same.

She glanced at the maid beside her, who took out a jade pendant from her personal belongings, symbolizing immediate promotion to a high rank, and gave it to Xiao Bao.

Consort Meng was older, and she would usually bring something as a reward when attending such occasions. This jade pendant was clearly meant to be given to a younger person. Although it was obviously made of fine jade, it was not particularly special.

Emperor Yongjia was by nature suspicious. If Consort Meng had spoken up for the Zhao brothers today and then bestowed upon them an item that was clearly carefully prepared, it would inevitably arouse Emperor Yongjia's suspicion, making him think that Consort Meng knew about this beforehand and was therefore prepared. The jade pendant they presented was neither impolite nor excessive; it was just right. (End of Chapter)