Because Yun Shu kept her answer vague and mysterious, refusing to explain anything directly, that day after classes, Yun Chuhuan—for once—did not trail after Yun Shu to Fengyang Palace in search of snacks or company.
Instead, clutching the first issue of Capital Weekly against his chest, he dashed straight back to Yaohua Palace.
"Consort Mother! Consort Mother!"
Before he was even seen, his voice echoed through the entire hall.
Emperor Xuanwu, who had been resting with his eyes closed while lying on Noble Consort Liu's lap, slowly opened his eyes. His tone held a hint of displeasure from the sudden disturbance.
"This boy grows more unruly by the day."
"Chuhuan just turned eight. He is still a child. What's wrong with being lively and adorable?" Consort Liu defended him with a slight pout.
When her one and only beloved child was being criticized, she had no intention of staying silent.
"Would Your Majesty prefer that Chuhuan become like one of those old ministers in court? If so, shall I send someone to fetch a bundle of fake beards and glue them onto his face?"
"You're being ridiculous."
Emperor Xuanwu sat up with a sigh.
"We merely made one remark, that's all."
"Your Majesty has many children, so naturally it does not concern you."
Consort Liu lifted her chin slightly as she spoke.
"But it is different for me. I have only Chuhuan. Of course I will pamper and protect him."
She gave a soft huff.
Noble Consort Liu had been raised in luxury since birth. Before entering the palace, she was doted upon by her family. After marrying into the palace, she was cherished by the Emperor himself.
Now nearly thirty, she still appeared no older than a young maiden of twenty. Her features were radiant, her eyes brimming with warmth, her every gesture exuding grace and opulence. She was like a magnificent peony in full bloom, dazzling and impossible to look away from.
Even when she acted a little spoiled, Emperor Xuanwu tolerated her easily.
Just like now, she halted her gentle massage of his temples without hesitation, rising at once to greet her little bunny of a son who was sprinting toward her. The Emperor could only watch from his seat, resigned.
"Consort Mother!"
"Slow down, you."
Worried he might trip from running so fast, Noble Consort Liu scolded him lightly, though there was no real blame in her tone.
"Why are you running like that? Is someone chasing you?"
"I just wanted to see you sooner!"
Yun Chuhuan finally burst into the hall. After offering a practiced dose of sweet flattery, he happened to glance aside—and saw the Emperor sitting there.
His heart gave a thump.
In that instant, he began mentally retracing which foot he'd used to step over the threshold. Was it the left? Or the right?
But then again, considering he'd been running the whole way... and the doorway was rather high... maybe he had jumped in with both feet?
...
Forget it. At worst, a hundred taels of gold. Nothing serious.
Yun Chuhuan had never lacked for money, and he tossed the concern aside in less than two seconds.
"Greetings to Father Emperor!"
"Hmm."
Emperor Xuanwu gave a cold reply, clearly disinclined to entertain this little rascal who kept stealing his beloved consort's attention.
Yun Chuhuan, however, seemed unfazed. Or perhaps he was simply too thick-skinned to notice his Imperial Father's displeasure at all.
After performing a quick bow, he eagerly handed the Capital Weekly to Noble Consort Liu.
"Consort Mother, look at this! I created it together with Fifth Elder Sister!"
"Capital Weekly is something you and Xiao Wu created together?"
The overlooked Emperor Xuanwu couldn't help interjecting at that.
"Which word in this paper was written by you?"
Yun Chuhuan replied without shame, "I didn't write anything, but I invested one hundred thousand taels of silver!"
Xuanwu Emperor: "..."
This wretched child!
Spending money like water. Clearly, his last punishment was far too lenient.
"Consort Mother, look here!"
Completely unaware that his casual mention of 'one hundred thousand taels' had once again irritated his petty Imperial Father, Yun Chuhuan flipped the booklet open to the third article and eagerly showed it to Noble Consort Liu.
Then, he launched into a highly dramatized retelling of the day he encountered Cao Wenbin, adding embellishments wherever possible. By the end, he looked up with a pout, frowning.
"Consort Mother, don't you think it's strange? Fifth Elder Sister knows Cao Wenbin isn't a good person. So why did she write something so complimentary about him?"
"You've been going on and on about your Fifth Elder Sister lately. Did she not tell you why?"
Her precious son had been running to Fengyang Palace every day for the past two weeks. Even when he wasn't there, it was always 'Fifth Sister this' and 'Fifth Sister that'.
Noble Consort Liu had been a little sour about it, but after reading Capital Weekly today, she finally understood. Yun Shu's sudden rise in reputation throughout the palace wasn't due to luck alone.
That girl truly had ability.
"Fifth Elder Sister said that being praised isn't always a good thing..."
Yun Chuhuan lowered his gaze, growing more frustrated.
"But I've looked at it over and over, and I still can't see anything bad!"
He sighed.
"Then she said not understanding has its own kind of fun... and told me to wait a bit longer, that I'd understand in time. But I don't want to wait!"
He began to whine.
"Consort Mother, can't you just tell me?"
"But I agree with your Fifth Elder Sister."
Noble Consort Liu reached out and tapped a slender finger against Yun Chuhuan's forehead.
"You need to learn to be more thoughtful." She had always hoped for her son to live freely, to do as he pleased, without becoming entangled in the bloodstained path of succession. But even so, he could not afford to be completely naive. If he could not see through something this obvious...
"You might as well wait for the next few issues of Capital Weekly to come out."
"Consort Mother, not you too!"
Yun Chuhuan stomped his foot in frustration, then turned to try his luck with his Imperial Father.
But Emperor Xuanwu was even more ruthless. He cut off the conversation before Yun Chuhuan could say a word.
"If such a simple matter escapes your understanding, then perhaps you should stop reading Capital Weekly altogether and focus on your studies with the Grand Preceptor."
Yun Chuhuan: "!!!"
"The Grand Preceptor? He's just someone who hasn't even stepped foot into morning court yet!"
Still bitter that no one would give him the answer he wanted, Yun Chuhuan grumbled.
His Consort Mother and Imperial Father were both off-limits when it came to venting. That only left Grand Preceptor Ye as a target he could safely complain about.
"I heard he only joined court two years ago. Father Emperor, what exactly do you see in him?"
"You don't even understand why your Fifth Elder Sister praised Cao Wenbin, and yet you have the gall to look down on Minister Ye?"
Xuanwu Emperor nearly laughed in disbelief.
"Minister Ye came from a humble background, but was accepted as a disciple by a reclusive grand scholar. At fifteen, he took top marks in both the county and provincial exams. Had his father not passed away that year, preventing him from attending the palace examination, he would have become the youngest ever scholar to claim top honors in all three exams."
"Having a man like Minister Ye serve as your Grand Preceptor is a blessing you ought to treasure. Where do you get the nerve to scorn him?"