Chapter 27: Xiao Qi

Chapter 27: Little Seven

This was Xiao Yan's first time entering the palace since transmigrating into this book, and also his first audience with the Emperor.

The current Emperor had plenty of princes, but Prince Yu, Xiao Yan, was the only son born to the late Consort Zhao.

When it came to Consort Zhao, she was the emperor's one true love, his moon in the sky—one who died young while she still held his deepest affection.

Back then, the Emperor had been on a southern inspection tour when he encountered a torrential rainstorm and flash flood, falling into a mountain stream. It was Consort Zhao who found him unconscious and saved him. Unaware of his identity, she just saw him as a lost traveler in need of help. In a remote mountain village, he recovered from his injuries while she took care of him, and feelings quietly grew between them.

Later, after reclaiming his identity, the Emperor overrode all objections and brought her into the palace, making her a Consort and showering her with endless favor.

Unfortunately, Consort Zhao was destined for a short life. She had complications from childbirth while giving birth to Xiao Yan, and within two years, she was gone.

The Emperor poured practically all his longing and guilt for his beloved consort onto this youngest son, whose features closely resembled hers, spoiling him rotten with hardly any limits.

This was precisely why the original owner grew up with such a violent and willful nature, yet no one could really threaten his position.

Xiao Yan followed the eunuch guide through the last winding corridor, and the Imperial Study came into view.

After the eunuch announced him, Xiao Yan stepped over the high threshold.

The light inside the hall was bright, and the scent of aloeswood felt heavy and dignified.

Behind the imperial desk, the Emperor was setting down his vermillion brush.

He appeared around fifty, with a touch of gray at his temples, but his face still showed the handsome contours of his youth.

When the Emperor looked up at Xiao Yan, the severity in his eyes instantly melted away, replaced by affection.

"Little Seven is here," the Emperor said, his voice carrying an innate authority, but when speaking to Xiao Yan, he deliberately softened it. "Come closer and let Father see your hand."

Xiao Yan stepped forward as instructed, his gaze lowered.

Listening to the Emperor's undisguised tone of concern, he felt an odd, uneasy feeling inside.

Xiao Yan had grown up shuttling between nannies and boarding schools. His biological parents were so hard to meet that even a meeting was rare, let alone any emotional bond.

This kind of overwhelming fatherly moment was something he had never experienced before.

While Xiao Yan was momentarily flustered, the Emperor had already personally come around from behind the desk and took his injured hand.

"How could you be so careless!" the Emperor said with a frown, carefully examining the hand wrapped in white cloth, as if it were a serious wound. "What did the imperial physician say? Are the medicines the best available? If not, I'll have the director of the Imperial Hospital come to your residence to take care of you personally."

This barrage of questions left no room for Xiao Yan to interject.

The Emperor frowned and scolded again, "Those attendants are all useless! They can't even protect you properly!"

Xiao Yan's heart tightened. He lowered his eyes and put on an expression of impatient familiarity that the original owner might have shown: "It's just a minor injury, no need for you to worry, Father."

"Minor injury?" The Emperor's brow furrowed. "Little Seven, your health has always been fragile. You usually..."

The Emperor started rambling about such trivial matters like an ordinary father.

All Xiao Yan could think about was that phrase "fragile health."

Did everyone in the world know that he had poor health?

Fortunately, he had redressed the wound before entering the palace, making the bandaged area look less severe.

Otherwise, given the Emperor's level of concern for this son, he might have intervened in the incident at the banquet.

"Little Seven, are you listening?!"

Xiao Yan quickly nodded: "Father, I hear you, I hear you."

The Emperor was already used to his son's tone of voice and let out a deep sigh.

Just then, a eunuch entered to report: "Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Rui requests an audience."

"Let him in."

The Emperor seemed slightly displeased by the interruption, but didn't forbid it.

He remained standing beside Xiao Yan, but the pure fatherly aura around him faded a little, restoring some of the imperial dignity.

Before long, a figure in moon-white robes walked into the hall.

Xiao Jing was dressed in a prince's everyday attire today. His posture was straight, his steps steady, and his face held its usual gentle, warm smile. He stepped forward a few paces and bowed respectfully: "I greet you, Father."

"Rise." The Emperor's tone was flat, revealing little emotion. "Coming at this hour—is there a matter?"

"Father, I've just come from the Ministry of Works. Several key blueprints have been reviewed and finalized. I've come specially to report." Xiao Jing presented a booklet.

"Set it down. I'll look at it later. You've worked hard, Old Six."

"Cough, cough, cough..."

A sudden fit of coughing drew the attention of both men in the hall toward Xiao Yan.

"It's nothing, continue on," Xiao Yan quickly waved his hand.

But that serious-sounding "Old Six" had completely caught him off guard.

One Little Seven, one Old Six.

What were they thinking...

"I didn't know Seventh Brother was here today." Xiao Jing turned his gaze to Xiao Yan, pausing for a moment on his bandaged hand.

Xiao Yan forced a fake smile: "Sixth Brother."

"Just now outside the palace gates, I heard that Seventh Brother had been injured. What happened? Is the injury serious?"

Xiao Jing wore a look of concern, perfectly keeping up his act as a kind older brother.

The Emperor followed Xiao Jing's cue and turned back to Xiao Yan: "Your sixth brother is asking you. Now tell me yourself—what really happened?"

Xiao Yan gave a cheeky grin and waved his injured hand: "Just got scratched by some crazy beast. Nothing major."

Xiao Jing paused for a moment: "I heard there was some trouble at the banquet. Could this injury of Seventh Brother's be related? If someone was really bold enough to offend a prince, they'll be severely punished!"

As he spoke, Xiao Jing watched Xiao Yan's expression carefully.

In truth, he'd already found out that the day's events involved Liu Qingci, though the specific details were unknown.

He was a little worried about how Qingci was doing, and wanted to get some info out of Xiao Yan.

Given Xiao Yan's temperament, if Liu Qingci had really pissed him off, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Xiao Yan let out an ambiguous laugh. "Sixth Brother, your information is quite impressive. You're so well-informed about my affairs."

Xiao Jing's expression shifted slightly before he managed a smile. "The banquet was full of people, and gossip spreads easily. I only heard it secondhand, and I asked only because I was concerned for you, Seventh Brother."

"I've heard about it too," the Emperor interjected. "Xiao Yan, does this have something to do with that son of that criminal minister from the Liu family?"

The Emperor had a deep impression of the former Chancellor Liu's only son—a talented tanhua (third-place scholar) who had now been reduced to a slave, a figure that naturally drew attention.

At the mention of Liu Qingci, the expressions of the two men shifted in different ways.

Xiao Yan shrugged casually. "You could say that. Someone tried to use him to stir up trouble, so I dealt with it."

The Emperor paused in thought, then spoke up. "Liu Qingci... since he keeps causing trouble in your residence, why not send him away? I recall that he and your Sixth Brother were once classmates. How about sending him to Prince Rui's residence as a servant?"

The suggestion seemed casual, but it made the atmosphere in the hall grow tense.

Xiao Yan felt a jolt, but he kept his expression steady. Turning his gaze toward Xiao Jing with a hint of amusement, he said, "Oh? What do you think, Sixth Brother? Father's idea is quite good. Your residence is peaceful—doesn't it need more servants?"