Jianye.
"Mother!!!"
Sun Hao happily took Empress Dowager He's hand, his face radiant, his eyes brimming with joy.
He Ji looked at her son before her and stroked his face tenderly, her eyes instantly reddening.
"My son..."
Seeing his mother shed tears, Sun Hao immediately grew flustered and hurried to wipe them away.
"Mother, why are you so sad? Has someone been bullying you?"
He Ji hastily shook her head. "I am merely comforted to see my son amount to something."
Yet Sun Hao's face suddenly darkened. "This position should have been mine all along. Outsiders snatched it away for so long, but in the end, it returned to its rightful owner..."
Seeing her son like this, He Ji's heart ached for him.
He Ji's father had originally been a cavalryman under Sun Quan. One day, while inspecting the military camp, Sun Quan spotted He Ji watching from outside. Astonished by her beauty, he immediately ordered her brought over and bestowed her on his third son, Sun He, as a concubine.
He Ji bore Sun He his eldest son by a concubine, the present-day Sun Hao.
That same year, when Sun Hao was born, Sun Quan appointed Sun He Crown Prince.
He Ji still remembered that year with perfect clarity.
That year, the Great Emperor visited often. He adored Sun Hao so much and always urged Sun He to teach the child well.
That year, they enjoyed boundless glory. Everyone treated them courteously. She had an obedient child and a husband who loved her; even his principal wife was close to her, like a sister. Everything was so beautiful.
Back then, Sun Hao was still carefree, spending every day immersed in his family's love, happy and content.
Then, in the year Sun Hao turned eight, Crown Prince Sun He was