The sun sank in the west, casting a soft, golden glow.

A woman dressed in begonia-red stood there, her face more dazzling than the evening rays.

Jiu Jiu stared in a daze, seeing her dear mother suddenly appear before her as if by magic—no, as if a beautiful woman had been conjured out of thin air.

The little girl’s tears immediately turned to laughter. She managed to hold back her crying, but because her expression changed so quickly, two shimmering snot bubbles popped out of her nose.

’Is this what they mean by "pretty enough to make bubbles"?’ Ji Qingwu couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

She took a scented handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped Jiu Jiu’s nose, for the little girl was very particular about her appearance.

It was the first time Jiu Jiu had seen her mother in such a grand and beautiful dress, and she couldn’t take her eyes off her.

One moment, she was touching the dress with her small hands; the next, she was looking up at her mother’s face. She thought the dress was as pretty as her mother’s face and didn’t know which to look at.

The little girl couldn’t resist the urge to show her off. After taking Ji Qingwu’s hand, she puffed out her tiny chest and paraded her around the doorway for a few steps.

Her little face was full of pride, as if she had just received some grand prize.

Yuan Heng had just stepped out of the Upper Study Room when he caught sight of a crimson figure at the bottom of the stairs.

His usually steady steps faltered, and he nearly tripped over the threshold.

Little Shunzi cried out, "Oh my, my precious Young Master! Please watch your step."

Yuan Heng shot the noisy eunuch a glare.

Hearing the commotion, Ji Qingwu looked over.

Seeing Yuan Heng in his sapphire-blue brocade robe, her eyes softened and she gave him a gentle smile.

However, the little boy’s reaction was strange—the complete opposite of Jiu Jiu’s.

Yuan Heng’s small face scrunched up. The look in his eyes was complex, tinged with regret, as he stood in the doorway and stared at her for several long moments.

Each glance was more conflicted than the last.

Ji Qingwu took the initiative and led Jiu Jiu toward him. The struggle in Yuan Heng’s dark eyes intensified, and before they could even reach the doorway, the little boy turned and ran.

His small, jade-like face was set with determination, as if he had made a momentous decision.

Ji Qingwu stood frozen, completely baffled. She had washed her face after returning home and removed the heavy makeup; she shouldn’t have scared him.

’Could it be that the little one has never seen me without my disguise and mistook me for someone else?’

’Is that why he ran as soon as he saw me?’

Ji Qingwu couldn’t hide her disappointment. Just when she had finally grown closer to Yuan Heng, he was pushing her away.

Yuan Heng had never run so desperately before, and Little Shunzi scrambled to chase after him.

"Young Master, please slow down!" he shouted as he ran.

Remembering where they were—near the Diligent Governance Hall, where His Majesty handled state affairs—he dared not shout.

Instead, he whispered anxiously, "Young Master, you mustn’t run! If you fall and hurt yourself, His Majesty will be angry."

Little Shunzi glanced up and caught sight of Li Yuzong, who was dressed in the deep blue robes of a chief eunuch.

"You imbecile! Open your eyes and look where you are," Chief Li spat.

Little Shunzi looked more closely and saw that the little prince had run all the way to the entrance of the Diligent Governance Hall.

Yuan Heng’s small figure stood at the entrance, steadying himself.

Then, he knelt and announced in a clear voice, "Reporting to Father Emperor, Yuan Heng requests an audience!"

Ji Qingwu’s gaze fell on Yuan Heng in the distance. She saw him standing at the entrance, then suddenly drop to his knees.

’What’s wrong with him? What happened?’

’Why does it look like he’s going to confess a wrongdoing...?’

Ji Qingwu crouched down and asked anxiously, "Jiu Jiu, did the Young Master do anything wrong in the Upper Study Room today?"

Jiu Jiu was playing with the silver tassels on her mother’s sash. Hearing the question, the little girl shook her head decisively.

"How could the Young Master ever do anything wrong?"

He was first in every subject and was Mr. Qiao’s most prized student. Even without his status as a prince, he was the most gifted and intelligent among all the children.

’I am, perhaps, willing to admit he is almost my equal,’ Jiu Jiu thought to herself.

Ji Qingwu watched with a hint of worry as Yuan Heng entered the Diligent Governance Hall.

She had no idea why he had gone there.

Remembering the ruler and punishments Yuan Heng had endured before, she could no longer stand still...

*

Inside the hall.

Emperor Wu Su was not reviewing memorials, but leisurely sipping tea, holding a scroll as he perused the classics.

The memorials on the large desk, usually sorted into two piles, were now all stacked on the side for those already marked with the vermilion brush.

In just a few hours, he had finished reviewing a stack of memorials as tall as a man.

Li Yuzong was privately marveling at Emperor Wu Su’s behavior from this morning until now.

Last night, Li Yuzong had to remain in the palace to manage the affairs of the Imperial Household and had not accompanied His Majesty when he left.

At the crack of dawn, when it was time for morning court, Emperor Wu Su appeared in Zhaoyang Hall.

It wasn’t strange for His Majesty to return to the palace on time.

What was strange was that the corners of His Majesty’s lips were slightly upturned, and a gentle look lingered in his eyes.

After all, every other time Emperor Wu Su had left the palace in plain clothes, he had returned looking utterly frustrated, as if ready to erupt at any moment—no different from a demon from Yama Hall.

When the Holy Emperor presided over the morning court in the Golden Throne Hall, things became even stranger.

When the assembled court officials saw His Majesty’s expression, they found it even more terrifying than the dark, furious face he had worn yesterday.

Emperor Wu Su’s expression was as warm as a spring breeze as he sat upon the throne.

Anyone could see that His Majesty was refreshed and in high spirits.

Wei Ting, standing at the head of the military officers, noticed His Majesty’s gaze sweeping over him repeatedly.

He had expected a reprimand for his rash marriage proposal the day before, which had caused such chaos in court.

But the Emperor’s heart was impossible to fathom. Emperor Wu Su’s gaze held a hint of pleasure, and perhaps even a trace of glee.

The proceedings of the court continued as usual, and His Majesty’s words remained as sharp and merciless as ever.

He was still the same brilliant and iron-faced Emperor. Only then did the trembling hearts of the court officials finally settle.

Otherwise, they might have thought His Majesty’s body had been possessed by a demon.

Although they didn’t know what had put His Majesty in such a good mood, after court was dismissed, the officials all prayed they would see such a gentle Emperor every day.

Li Yuzong led the little prince into the hall.

’His heart pounded nervously. Young Master Yuan Heng’s temperament is the most like the Holy Emperor’s. At such a young age, he’s already so calculating. He would never kneel at the entrance to request an audience unless it was for something major.’

Yuan Heng walked to the center of the hall, swept aside his sapphire-blue brocade robe, and knelt with perfect form.

"Your son greets Father Emperor."

Emperor Wu Su did not lower his scroll. "All of you may leave," he said flatly.

He did not tell Yuan Heng to rise, and the boy’s small body remained kneeling, perfectly straight.

"What is it you have come to ask of Us?"

The voice that reached Yuan Heng’s ears from the throne was as indifferent as ever.

"Your son has regrets." Though he spoke of regret, his tone was exceptionally firm.

Only then did Emperor Wu Su put down the object in his hands. He fixed his gaze on Yuan Heng and asked, "What have I taught you?"

"Father Emperor taught Your son that a move once played cannot be taken back. But life is not a game of chess."

"How is it different?" Emperor Wu Su asked.

"The human heart has warmth, while a chess game is merely cold objects. Of course they are different. Your son believes that to regret is the same as to self-reflect."

Emperor Wu Su was intrigued by his young son’s reasoning. "Go on, then. Tell me what you have reflected upon."

Yuan Heng’s hands, resting on his knees, tightened their grip on the brocade of his robes.

"Father Emperor once asked Your son at a palace banquet..."