"It's not like that, Consort Mother!"
Worried that his carefully prepared gifts—selected with all his wit and effort—might be misunderstood by Consort Mother's casual remark, Yun Chuhuan quickly shook his head in denial.
"These gifts I brought... they're all Father Emperor's favorites!"
As he spoke, he didn't forget to seek confirmation, turning eagerly toward Emperor Xuanwu.
"Isn't that right, Father Emperor?"
Emperor Xuanwu: "..."
Like hell it is!
He, the dignified Son of Heaven, how could he possibly enjoy such childish trinkets?
He had half a mind to pry open this rascal's skull and take a good look at what nonsense was rattling around in there.
Glaring darkly at Yun Chuhuan for a moment, Emperor Xuanwu suddenly noticed the mask in his son's hand looked oddly familiar—almost as if he'd seen it somewhere just recently.
Where was it?
A memory from about a month ago surfaced in his mind. Narrowing his eyes, Emperor Xuanwu asked, seemingly offhand:
"These items... you bought them from outside the palace, didn't you? When did We ever permit you to make such purchases?"
"It was during last month's study break," Yun Chuhuan replied cheerfully. "That day when I left the palace with Fifth Sister, I bought them on the way."
He beamed with pride, practically patting himself on the back.
"I spent ages picking these out!"
Yun Shu, who was entirely uninvolved but somehow implicated: "...?"
"I really had no idea about any of this!" she said at once.
Sensing Emperor Xuanwu's eyes drifting toward her, Yun Shu scrambled to distance herself from the blame.
"That day, I was busy at the Ministry of Works researching low-cost paper production. After we left the palace, Sixth Brother and I went our separate ways!"
"Exactly!" Yun Chuhuan puffed up proudly.
"Fifth Sister knew nothing about it. These gifts were all chosen by me, personally!"
"Is that so?" Emperor Xuanwu let out a cold chuckle.
Had it not been for the coincidence of summoning the Third Prince to court that day—who just so happened to run into this troublemaker on the road—he might've been fooled by him today!
Third Prince had clearly reported that this rascal had gone on a shopping spree, picking up a pile of worthless junk from the street. He'd even been too embarrassed to show them off because of how shoddy they were!
So now he'd grown tired of playing with the things in secret and decided to repurpose them—gather them all up and dump them on his own father as a birthday gift?
Very good.
Today was the Wanshou Festival. With so many people watching, he couldn't afford to let outsiders see just how shameless his own son was.
For now, he'd let the boy off the hook.
But once the guests were gone—he'd see how this little scoundrel would fare then.
Expressionless, he accepted Yun Chuhuan's so-called grand gift.
The banquet resumed its lively atmosphere, but Yun Chuhuan was anything but cheerful. Sullen-faced, he sat beside Yun Shu, muttering under his breath:
"Fifth Sister, I think Father Emperor is targeting me."
Cough!
Yun Shu nearly choked on her tea. She set the cup down and turned her head to stifle her laughter.
"Targeting you? What makes you say that?"
"You all got rewards after presenting your gifts!" Yun Chuhuan protested indignantly, taking advantage of the music to vent.
"Fifth Sister, yours I can understand—your low-cost paper sounds really impressive.
Even Eldest Brother's Petition from the People... well, that's passable.
But Crown Prince Brother's peach—surely that can't compare to mine, right?
As for Third Brother and Fourth Brother, their gifts weren't anything special either!
So why did they get rewarded, and I didn't?"
"Maybe..." Yun Shu, out of some lingering thread of sibling affection, lowered her voice and offered gently, "Maybe Father Emperor just doesn't like those little trinkets you gave him?"
"Impossible!"
Yun Chuhuan frowned, looking like he refused to be deceived.
"Didn't you once give Father Emperor that porcelain doll? It's still sitting on his desk in the imperial study!
How could he not like mine?"
Yun Shu: "..."
Ah.
So that's what brought this sudden madness on.
No wonder he was acting out—this really was connected to her.
Rubbing her forehead in exasperation, Yun Shu was just about to explain the situation properly when, all of a sudden, the elegant sound of flutes and strings came to a halt.
She looked up in confusion, only to see Emperor Xuanwu smiling as he turned to the Crown Prince.
"Crown Prince," he said with an easy air, "the Empress tells Us that you've already chosen a suitable candidate for Crown Princess?"
"Replying to Father Emperor... I have, indeed, made my choice," the Crown Prince replied as he rose to his feet, hesitating for a brief moment.
Others might not catch the nuance, but he certainly did.
Beneath the surface of Imperial Father's seemingly kind tone... lay a warning.
He remembered clearly—Imperial Father had already spoken with him about this before.
He could choose anyone to be Crown Princess—anyone, except someone from the Shen family.
Though he didn't want to believe that Imperial Father had begun to harbor suspicions toward him or toward the Shen family...
The facts were undeniable.
A union with his cousin would only tighten his grip on the Right Chancellor's faction. The political advantages were clear.
If not for fear, why else would Imperial Father disapprove?
Now, with Imperial Father, Mother Empress, his maternal grandfather, and Shen Jingshu herself all awaiting his answer...
Who should he choose?
In the span of just a few steps from his seat to the center of the hall, a storm of thoughts swirled through the Crown Prince's mind.
And in the end, he bowed his head and spoke his decision.
"Your son... and cousin Shen Jingshu are of one heart. I humbly ask Father Emperor for his blessing."
"What did you say?"
Emperor Xuanwu's smile slowly faded.
He had never expected the Crown Prince to so brazenly defy him.
Was it simply because he had not explained his reasons?
But how could he have?
The implications of the matter ran too deep. The agents he'd sent to investigate had yet to return, and the books the Fifth Princess once read had long since vanished. She had no tangible proof.
And as for his Simulation Life Selection System—that was a secret that could never be spoken aloud.
Still, just because he hadn't given a reason—did that mean his word as Emperor could be disregarded?
Emperor Xuanwu's expression grew darker as he stared at the Crown Prince, deciding to give him one last chance.
"Repeat that. Who is it you claim to be of one heart with?"
"Replying to Father Emperor, your son..."
Though the Crown Prince was filled with dread, he knew the answer must not change.
History had shown again and again—once an Emperor began to suspect his heir, that suspicion would never truly vanish.
If he hesitated now, if he distanced himself from the Shen family in hopes of dispelling Imperial Father's doubts...
He would only find himself abandoned by both sides.
And when that time came, his position as Crown Prince would begin to crumble—until it was lost entirely.
No. He could not afford to lose that title.
Steeling himself, the Crown Prince stood firm.
"Your son and cousin Shen Jingshu..."