Meeting Chen Yu

Emperor Zhou's heart clenched, as though a tide had engulfed him and left him unable to breathe.

Qian Deli supported him and cried out in concern,

"Your Majesty!"

"Search... Search!!!"

Torches blazed throughout the palace, illuminating every corner.

Every palace was sealed off, the guards donned their armor, and all the eunuchs and palace maids were assembled. The search parties spread out like several long dragons, tightening the encirclement little by little.

One incense stick burned away.

They found nothing.

Two incense sticks burned away.

They found nothing.

Three incense sticks burned away.

They still found nothing.

A two-year-old child, windows sealed on all sides, a closed door-and he had simply vanished into thin air?!

Qian Deli reassured him. "Rest assured, Your Majesty. His Highness the Crown Prince must still be inside the palace!"

Emperor Zhou suddenly remembered something. The imperial bed was carved from red sandalwood. He hooked his fingers into a relief carving and pulled hard, revealing a secret passage before the bed.

The little thing was lazy and weak, whining whenever he had to walk a few extra steps. There was no way he could have climbed out a window without a sound.

This secret passage was the only way he could have vanished from Taiji Palace without alerting anyone.

Emperor Zhou grabbed a torch and jumped straight in.

The secret passage was long and cold. They pressed straight through, finding traces only when they reached the exit.

Handprints left by Wu Junji.

He had left the palace.

Emperor Zhou looked at the bustling night market outside the secret passage, helplessness washing over him.

He had run away from home. He had really run away from home.

It was a late-autumn night, and the wind cut to the bone.

A two-year-old whose strides were shorter than his arm had disappeared into that boundless sea of people.

"Send word to Chen Yang! Mobilize the Chang'an Northern Army! Seal off Chang'an City! No one is to leave! Do not overlook a single inch!"

In the study at the Grand Marshal's Residence.

Beneath the candlelight, Chen Yang was carefully coloring a painting.

A hat hung with silver butterflies, a royal-blue jacket woven with gold, lotus pants gathered at the ankles, little dark cowhide boots, and a cloth tiger held in his arms. Willow-leaf eyes, straight, swordlike brows whose fine down had yet to darken, and the soft curve of a nose-a child of extraordinary refinement and nobility sprang to life on the paper.

As commander of the Northern Army, Chen Yang was a Grand Marshal with real power. He had no need to take on patrol duties, yet every day, come rain or thunder, he led his men on a circuit through the palace.

All for a glimpse of Wu Junji.

Sometimes, blood ties were just that miraculous. He could not help following the boy's growth; even a passing mention made him hold his breath and focus.

He had grown taller, learned to walk, quarreled with His Majesty, made up with His Majesty...

Chen Yang spread the painting beneath the lamp and studied it intently.

"Knock, knock, knock!" Someone knocked on the study door. Chen Yang came back to himself, carefully rolled up the painting, and placed it in a hidden compartment.

"Who is it?"

"My lord, it is time to eat. Your sister-in-law, the young lady, and the young master are already waiting."

Chen Yang answered, "Coming."

In the main hall, several home-style dishes sat on a square table-meat, vegetables, and wine.

Chen Jin and her sister-in-law were chatting about something. Chen Yu called out from afar,

"Uncle! Come on!"

At the sight of Chen Yu, Chen Yang's lips lifted despite himself. Once the Crown Prince grew up, Yu would surely make a worthy adviser.

Just as Chen Yang sat down and the family was about to begin their meal, someone came to report,

"My lord, the city guards patrolling the night market have brought a child. His clothing marks him as either wealthy or noble. He says you and his father are friends, and that he lost his way and forgot where his home was. The guards had no choice but to bring him to the Grand Marshal's Residence."

At first, Chen Yang thought one of his colleagues had lost a child.

"Bring him in."

A fluffy little child was diligently gnawing on a baked flatbread larger than his face. He was neatly dressed from head to toe, except for his loose hair, which the autumn wind had blown into a middle part.

Just half of his little face brought a line to mind-born to ascend above the clouds; a pine but one foot tall already rose beyond the mortal dust.

Chen Yu kept feeling that the child looked familiar.

Chen Yang almost thought he was dreaming. Half startled and half delighted, he condensed a thousand words into a single cry.

"Your Highness?"

That address shook Chen Yu to his core.

Everyone in the Chen Residence looked at the child, whose body was barely three heads tall, with varying expressions, then hurriedly followed Chen Yang in paying their respects.

"May Your Highness the Crown Prince live a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand thousand years!"

Even after running away from home, Wu Junji had taken good care of himself. His thick scarf kept out the cold night wind and muffled his voice.

"You may rise."

He wriggled his short legs as he walked toward the seat of honor, but unfortunately, he was too short. He looked silently at Chen Yang, who understood at once, knelt on one knee, and picked him up.

"Forgive my impertinence."

With the utmost care, he lifted the little Crown Prince into the seat of honor. This weight steadied him more than a long saber ever could.

He did not forget to instruct the steward.

"Thank the city guards for me."

"And prepare ginger soup! Send word to the palace!"

Against the table full of dishes, the flatbread in Wu Junji's hands looked exceedingly plain.

Chen Yang had a bowl and chopsticks brought over, filled the bowl with congee, and presented it to him.

"Why did Your Highness leave the palace alone? Have you eaten in the palace?"

Wu Junji crossed his little legs. "I quarreled with Father and ran away from home."

Thinking of Chang'an City at night, Chen Yang's face showed a flicker of disapproval, but he said nothing more.

Seeing Wu Junji keep gnawing on his flatbread, he asked softly,

"Are the dishes on my table not to Your Highness's taste?"

"What would Your Highness like to eat? I will have someone prepare it."

"The flatbread is too dry and hard. Eating too much will give Your Highness indigestion."

Chen Yang was a military man, blunt in speech and rarely gentle. Now his voice had softened until it could almost drip water, and his gaze lingered hungrily.

Wu Junji ignored Chen Yang's words and glanced sideways to meet the piercing stare beside him.

The lamplight in the main hall flickered and swayed. Mere inches apart, two pairs of eyes met, both bearing a maturity beyond their years.

One held the hint of a smile.

The other was deep and composed.

The suspicion that had kept Chen Yu tossing and turning late at night became reality. An unspeakable blaze surged from his chest, burning away every principle he held and enshrining Wu Junji's name as his highest law.

He sincerely bowed his head, offering the loyalty that had been rejected hundreds, even thousands of times.

This was a repentant knight.

Wu Junji had come today to press his advantage.

He lifted his chin and asked haughtily, "Who is he?"

Chen Yang immediately explained,

"My nephew, Chen Yu, the son of my elder brother. This is my sister-in-law."

Chen Yu's mother was named Ji Shihua. She inclined herself gently toward Wu Junji.

Chen Yang continued the introductions.

"Chen Jin, my younger sister."

Wu Junji took a bite of his dry flatbread and glanced at the future Imperial Noble Consort.

She looked like a brisk, straightforward beauty.

"So many people. How lively. Will it be this lively next New Year's Eve, too?"

The other three did not understand, but Chen Yu knew. Next New Year's Eve was the day the Chen Family had been wiped out in his previous life.

Chen Yu cupped his hands and bent at the waist, entreating him,

"If Your Highness wishes to know, we will respectfully await your arrival at the Chen Residence's family banquet next New Year's Eve."

"Wow~"

Quite confident, aren't you?

The little Crown Prince rolled his eyes, tore at his dry naan, and let out that sarcastic exclamation.

Chen Yu was untamed, aloof, and proud. When paying his respects, he had lowered his head to Wu Junji but never bent at the waist. At first, Wu Junji had not understood the subtleties of etiquette. Later, he realized that Chen Yu looked down on him.

In this life, all it took was a little threat to earn a bow at the waist. What an enormous honor.

It made him seem like a petty man gloating over his triumph, narrow-minded and small-hearted.

Wu Junji spoke to 88 with false sincerity.

"Actually, I'm not one to hold a grudge."

88 looked constipated upon hearing that.

Including Wu Junji, 88 had bonded with five hosts in total. It would believe anyone who claimed not to hold grudges-anyone except Wu Junji. When he said it, it only felt that his madness had worsened again.

No one paid him any attention. Having spoiled his own fun, Wu Junji pouted and waited for the old geezer to come pick him up.