chapter 13

Chapter 13: Scars

The child’s crying was devastatingly heart-rending.

Everyone’s expression changed.

Those who were silent were no longer so; the complacent ones lost their composure.

The crown prince was the first to scoop the child into his arms, his face set in a stern expression. While soothing the child's back, he ordered Zhonghong, “Fetch the imperial physician.”

Expertly, he rolled up the child’s sleeves and pant legs, revealing the tender arms and legs which were marred with jarring red abrasions.

The knees and right elbow bore the most damage. Particularly the right elbow, where even through the fabric, a large gash bled through, a wound near the crease of the joint oozing blood.

The young crown prince's expression had never looked so grim.

He gently held the child's arm, ensuring the child didn't agitate his wounds, then glanced at the ground, spotting sharp pebbles right where he had fallen.

Consort Liu Xuan, setting aside her usual grace, crouched down next to the young crown prince, inspecting Shen He's limbs, asking, "Is there any other injury?"

The young crown prince shook his head, "No."

Qi Leyong, dazed from the peach's impact, slowly registered the attention surrounding the tiny tot, then suddenly realized the soreness on his nose.

He momentarily forgot his act and indignantly exclaimed, "Insolent cur! How dare you hit me!"

Consort Rong's face subtly changed, placing a hand over Qi Leyong’s mouth, whispering, "Yong'er!"

Consort Liu Xuan, hearing his words, laughed coldly. Rising, her gaze icy, she addressed Qi Leyong, "Your Majesty, I was unaware that my nephew, the legitimate heir of the Shen family, is considered a 'cur' by the second prince."

Before Consort Rong could respond, Consort Liu Xuan gracefully bowed, "Today, my nephew has overstepped his bounds. I hope the second prince can find it in his heart to forgive him."

Forgive? For what?

Never mind the fact that the heir of the Shen family was just a toddler, barely able to walk properly. Even if he were closer in age to Qi Leyong, the Emperor would never hold the child accountable.

At most, it would be dismissed as children's play, an unintentional mistake, and left at that.

On the contrary, for Qi Leyong, a noble's son, to disrespectfully refer to someone as a servant, if such words reached the ears of the court, who knows how much damage it could do to the royal reputation.

The Emperor sternly remarked, "Consort Rong, your second son's behavior and words seem too reckless and indulgent, especially given his age."

Consort Rong bowed her head, responding softly, "It's my oversight in his upbringing. I'll ensure better guidance for Yong'er in the future."

Qi Leyong, hearing his father reprimanding him and his mother, lost any semblance of pretense. He defiantly pointed at the still sobbing Shen He and the crown prince, "Father! He hit me! He disrespected a royal! And the crown prince pushed me into the water. They're bullying me together!"

The little bundle, nestled in the crown prince's embrace, was gasping between sobs. His large tear-filled eyes, red-rimmed from crying, looked utterly pitiable.

Startled by Qi Leyong's accusation, tears rolled down even faster from the little one's eyes as he whimpered softly.

Consort Liu Xuan's heart ached even more, hearing the child's soft, kitten-like sobs.

The young crown prince lowered his head, his eyes glinting with icy resolve.

He whispered soothingly into the child's ear, "Don't be afraid. Your brother, the crown prince, is here."

The child twisted his head, burying his face into his embrace.

Shen He felt mortified.

He decided to momentarily 'hide' for a full three minutes.

From Lady Liu Xuan's end, a surge of anger arose.

Initially, it was only for the sake of Little He that she casually assisted the Crown Prince. Now, things had changed. If she didn't teach the Second Prince a lesson, she would not sleep tonight.

She asked, "The Second Prince claims the Crown Prince pushed you into the water, is this true?"

Lady Xuan responded with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, "It's unfortunate, just moments before, I was by the lake playing with my naive nephew."

Qi Le Yong's face stiffened. He wanted to retort, but upon meeting Lady Xuan's icy gaze, he suddenly lost his nerve, retreating into Consort Rong's embrace, "Mother Consort..."

Consort Rong also sensed something, her eyebrows lightly furrowing.

Lady Xuan was different from Consort Rong. While the latter often adopted a passive approach,

Lady Xuan was incredibly sharp, like a thorn. Leave her be, and all would be at peace. But once offended, she would ensure her adversary felt a piercing pain.

The Emperor pressed his temples, directing his anger towards Qi Le Yong, "Second son, dare you deceive me? And slander your elder brother, the Crown Prince? Do you realize he is the heir?"

It was Qi Le Yong's first time witnessing the Emperor in such a fearsome state, leaving him too frightened to speak, his face pale.

Lady Xuan seemed oblivious to the Emperor's rage, adding fuel to the fire, "Perhaps the Second Prince didn't mean to slander the Crown Prince."

She clapped lightly, and Que Zhi led two robust eunuchs out, quickly subduing the young eunuch beside Qi Le Yong, "Speak the truth now."

The young prince suddenly stood.

Holding Shen He in his arms and being mindful of his injury made his movements cumbersome.

He bowed to the Emperor, softly saying, "May the Emperor permit this servant's son to first tend to the young lord's wounds. I'll return shortly to atone for my transgressions."

Lady Xuan hesitated, feeling a twinge of regret.

She had been careless. Little He, being so young, shouldn't have to witness the imminent interrogations and the consequential punishments.

At this point, the Emperor naturally realized the Crown Prince wasn't at fault and nodded, "Go."

Lady Liu Xuan instructed the old maid to follow, "Head to my palace first; it's closer. The royal physician will arrive shortly."

Qi Zhuo Yun acknowledged and quickly departed with the child.

They reached Qi Xia Palace, where the royal physician was waiting. He gently cleaned the child's blood and applied medicine.

The physician had expected the young lord to fuss, but he quietly nestled in the Crown Prince's embrace, showing such admirable composure that the doctor felt a surge of pity.

Qi Zhuo Yun frowned, seeing the leg treated, he asked, "Aren't you going to bandage it?"

The physician respectfully replied, "Your Highness, the young lord is still young. Such a minor wound on his leg will scab over by tomorrow, and heal almost completely in a few days without even leaving a scar. Keeping it covered in this heat might be detrimental."

Qi Zhuo Yun still held Shen He's chubby arm, with blood from the elbow trickling into his palm.

He inquired, "What about this wound on his elbow? Won't it scar?"

The royal physician hesitated for a moment, cleaning the blood with a sterile cloth and sprinkling some medicinal powder. "This cut on the young lord is rather deep, but with proper treatment, it should leave no scar."

He gently bandaged the wound on the elbow with medicinal gauze.

Qi Zhuo Yun detected the uncertainty in the physician's words, his momentarily relaxed brow furrowing once again.

Shen He now seemed to be out of any immediate danger.

Apart from the earlier intense crying, he was just gasping a bit now.

He lowered his head to inspect his injuries and then turned to look at the prince, whose expression was far from pleasant.

Why the long face? Is it just about a scar?

For a man, scars are a rite of passage! They're the mark of a hero!

Once the physician finished bandaging, Shen He perked up, itching to move about.

The young prince held him tight, whispering, "Stay still. Be good, He He. Play once you're healed."

Shen He thought it over and agreed, leaning into the prince's embrace without further fuss.

He mused to himself that his body was just too small and fragile.

Otherwise, he felt he wouldn't have ended up in such an embarrassing situation.

Turning his head, he saw the prince's continued troubled expression and couldn't help but wonder.

Why the gloom? He was proven innocent, and his aunt had even helped teach that nasty kid a lesson. Why still this unhappiness?

The little bundle looked up at Qi Zhuo Yun, studying him for a moment, then flashed his baby teeth in a giggly smile.

Then, in his soft, tender voice, he called out, "Big brother."

The young prince's face softened, his chubby cheeks puffing slightly. It seemed he wanted to smile but suppressed it.

One hand held onto Shen He's arm, while the other gently brushed the soft hair on Shen He's cheek.

Due to the intense crying earlier, beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and the hair near his temples became damp and clung in strands.

Zhong Hong handed over a handkerchief, suggesting Qi Zhuo Yun wipe the child's face.

He chuckled, "Your Highness should be elated. The young lord was defending you."

Hearing this, Shen He nodded vigorously.

Exactly!

Shen He's temper flared quickly, but it also subsided just as swiftly.

He began to lament the loss of his peach.

Such a large, incredibly sweet fruit! He had painstakingly peeled it only to have it wasted on that bratty child.

Glancing around, his eyes lit up upon spotting a small table. He reached out, his little hand grasping ineffectually towards it.

"Big brother, big brother!" Quick, help me get a peach, thank you.

Qi Zhuo Yun restrained the child's restless hand.

Following Shen He's gaze, he noticed the peach on the plate atop the small table.

With a resigned smile, he remarked, "Little glutton. Zhong Hong, have someone peel that peach, cut it into pieces, and bring it here for me to feed him."

Shen He: "?"

Qi Zhuo Yun explained, "He can't hold it with one hand now."

Shen He, accustomed to self-reliance, had an epiphany.

Did this mean that as long as he's injured, he gets peeled and sliced peaches?

Dear wounds, please take a month to heal, thank you.