Chapter 79
Note: Early chapter release, thanks to Sakuradahl's support on Ko-Fi (´｡• ◡ •｡`) ♡
Qin Zhongjin wiped his lips.
He had just held Mu Cai, vomiting blood again. The blood on his lips hadn't yet had time to coagulate, but he wiped it off for later use.
Qin Zhongjin planned to use his blood as a medium to awaken the memories of his previous life. This method, while greatly damaging to the body, could truly recreate all the scenes his former self had witnessed, and also give him insight into his thoughts at the time.
Han Dan, who had been a close friend for many years, naturally knew this. Without any hesitation, he promptly extended a hand and said, "Take some blood from me too."
Without a word, Qin Zhongjin drew a bit of blood from Han Dan's fingertip.
They were both adults, and Han Dan understood the harms of this. Since the other person had made up his mind to do this, Qin Zhongjin wouldn't try to stop him. However, while he was willing to draw blood, if Han Dan intended to use this occasion to swoop in on Mu Cai and take advantage, he would never let it happen.
Mu Cai didn't have a clue about what they were doing. He didn't understand anything about mysticism. All he saw was both of them drawing some blood. Then, Qin Zhongjin walked to Qin Zhongyi, who was tightly bound, and pressed his palm, stained with blood, onto his forehead.
________________________
Soon, the scene in the room gradually faded away, and the setting of the Imperial Academy with several desks and a few children appeared before everyone's eyes.
Little Mu Cai brought a big lunch box to school.
Today he was unusually awake during class, his big eyes shining brightly while looking at the teacher, and his red chubby mouth maintained an upturned curve.
This cute and focused appearance gave the princes' enlightenment teacher an extra boost during today's lecture. Moreover, the princes were not their usual drowsy selves; they seemed to be influenced by Mu Cai, eagerly answering questions and trying to show off.
Among them, the third prince, Qin Zhongjin, stood out the most.
Usually, he was calm, cold, modest, and polite.
It wasn't until the end of class that the teacher reluctantly announced the end of today's lesson, at which point the princes would read books and write essays on their own. As soon as he finished speaking, little Mu Cai, sitting next to the third prince's desk, couldn't wait to open the lunch box he had brought.
It was a round lunch box that seemed a bit difficult for Mu Cai to carry. He held it in his arms, carefully lifting the lid from the top. This cherished manner made the surrounding princes very curious, eager to see what delicious food was inside.
As soon as the small, fair-skinned hand removed the lid, a sweet scent spread throughout the Imperial Academy.
It turned out to be a basket of hibiscus cakes.
Hibiscus cake is not a precious dessert. Ordinary poor families might not even get to eat it once a year, as even white sugar is very expensive. However, for these princes who eat the finest foods, this dessert is quite ordinary in the palace and no longer something special.
However, when they saw little Mu Cai hastily grabbing a piece and putting it in his mouth, puffing up his chubby cheeks as he bit down and revealing a look of contentment on his face, everyone in the room couldn't help but swallow several times.
It looked really delicious.
After Mu Cai finished a piece of hibiscus cake, he noticed that everyone was watching him. He thought for a moment, then generously handed out two pieces to everyone present, including the Imperial Academy teacher.
The teacher who was teaching at the time was standing on the platform. Watching Mu Cai hand out cakes to the princes, his heart was warmed. The emperor's sons sprouted like bamboo shoots after a rain. In a span of two years, four princes were born in the palace. The youngest is now over six years old and the oldest is almost eight; they are all studying with him.
The relationship between a few princes is not very close on ordinary days. However, under the influence of little Mu Cai, there seems to be a bit of harmony. The teacher was pleased for a while until a little figure suddenly stood in front of him, looking up at him with eager eyes.
The teacher instantly felt as if his heart had been hit. He hurriedly bent down and asked with a smile, "Is there anything you need, Mu Cai?"
Mu Cai, holding a hibiscus cake with his small fist, said childishly, "Teacher, this is for you."
The Imperial Academy teacher hurriedly waved his hand and said, "I don't want it, you can have it."
With a troubled expression on his cute little face, Mu Cai persisted, "Teacher, please take it quickly. My hand is really tired holding this lunch box."
As he spoke, he had a slight tone of complaint and a hint of spoiling at the end. The teacher felt as if his refusal was extremely sinful, and immediately took the hibiscus cake to reduce the little one's burden. He reached out and touched Mu Cai's soft hair, "Thank you, little Cai."
Mu Cai quickly shook his head, and with a serious face, he said, "Respecting teachers is important; this is what I am supposed to do."
The teacher thought that he had never seen such an adorable student before. He wanted to hug the little one again, but he saw Mu Cai turning around, carrying the heavy lunchbox, and swaying his way back to his seat.
Seven-year-old Qin Zhongjin sat in his place with a very cold expression. Just now, Mu Cai had shared the hibiscus cake with the other three princes, and even the teacher, but not with him, which made Qin Zhongjin very angry. However, he was steadfast from a young age, concealing emotions well, and was currently making great efforts to suppress himself.
Humph! Why didn't he get any? Even Qin Chongyi did; he felt he had wasted his care for him!
After restraining himself for a long time, watching Mu Cai walk over with a wobbly lunchbox, the feeling of being wronged was almost unbearable. Just as he was about to speak, the small child stepped forward quickly like a thief with his lunchbox, and... plopped down next to him.
The soft body squished over, and the lunchbox in his arms was all but placed on Qin Zhongjin's lap. Looking left and right, Mu Cai quietly opened the lunchbox cover and whispered, "Brother Zhongjin, eat quickly! I saved four pieces for you! More than anyone else!"
For the other two prince brothers, and the teacher, he only gave out two pieces each! Brother always Zhongyi brings him horse milk and raisins, even though he doesn't like the smell of horse milk, but in return, Mu Cai gave him three pieces of hibiscus cake. However, none was given as much as brother Zhongjin!
The originally cold and tight expression of Qin Zhongjin melted like snow. He was happy at heart, and he also grabbed a piece of hibiscus cake with his little hand and started eating.
He has eaten the Hibiscus cake many times, but how come this one piece was particularly sweet and delicious?
As Qin Zhongjin ate, he watched Mu Cai. He saw the little child staring at the hibiscus cake in his hand, with a look of envy and desire in his big eyes. It suddenly occurred to Zhongjin that Mu Cai had only eaten one piece before he rushed off to give the cake away. The fact that Mu Cai loved hibiscus cake so much but was willing to leave all four pieces for him made Qin Zhongjin's heart feel especially sweet, sweeter than eating the cake itself.
After eating the piece in his hand, he pretended to be tired and said, "This Hibiscus cake is delicious, but it's too sweet. I feel a bit tired of it, and it seems I can't finish it."
With his big eyes wide open, Mu Cai didn't seem to understand how anyone could not finish the Hibiscus cake. He asked somewhat blankly, "Then, what should we do?"
Qin Zhongjin naturally pushed the food box back into the little one's lap and said in a childishly mature voice, "We shouldn't waste food, so you should eat the rest."
Mu Cai’s eyes lit up, he quickly grabbed a piece, and with his little mouth opened wide, he took a big bite. His face was filled with happiness.
Watching the little one eat, Qin Zhongjin felt as if he could taste the sweetness of the hibiscus cake himself. He watched Mu Cai for quite a while, until he felt content. His gaze then began to wander over other parts of Mu Cai's body.
Qin Zhongjin, with his sharp observational skills, could tell at a glance from the fit around the edges that the food box in Mu Cai's arms had more than one layer. Recalling the strain on Mu Cai's face when he was carrying the box, he couldn't help asking, "Do you have something else in there?"
Mu Cai's eyes widened in surprise, and he even forgot to chew the hibiscus cake in his mouth. This was his carefully concealed secret. He didn't expect it to be figured out by big brother Zhongjin at a glance.
Mu Cai felt a bit guilty. His shiny black eyes darted to either side. Then, in a low voice looking at Zhongjin with a burglar's demeanor, he said, "Brother Zhongjin, don't tell anyone, this is something Mu Cai has secretly hidden, planning to save it for..."
Before he could finish his sentence, a shrill voice came from outside the door, "The Emperor has arrived —"
Everyone often heard this voice because the Emperor would visit the Imperial Academy nearly every day after the morning court session.
Sure enough, not long after the voice, a figure in bright yellow appeared at the door. All the princes quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Father."
The teacher also clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty."
The Emperor nodded. As soon as he walked in, his eyes glanced towards the third prince Qin Zhongjin, and indeed, he saw the cute little Mu Cai there.
Little Mu Cai followed the others' example and respectfully bowed, then lifted a large food box with both hands, eagerly looking at the Emperor.
Within his shiny black eyes, it seemed that two small beams of light were hidden, making his gaze especially focused. His red, pouty lips pursed, and his light eyebrows furrowed. It appeared as if he had been waiting for the Emperor's arrival.
The Emperor often visited the Imperial Academy after the morning court, but rarely got to see Mu Cai this awake and eager. He smiled, "Cai Cai is no longer a little lazy cat today, but a diligent little cat."
Mu Cai immediately said, "Yes! Emperor Uncle, Mu Cai was very good today and did not sleep during class!"
As he spoke, he tilted his head, his big eyes curling into crescents, looking very proud. In this world, perhaps only Mu Cai could be proud of not falling asleep while studying. But because he was so adorable, even with such audacity, he made people feel soft inside.
The Emperor was indeed very happy. He stepped forward, picked up little Mu Cai as usual. However, this time Mu Cai's small, soft hand was holding onto a food box, making him a bit heavier than usual.
The Emperor sat down on a chair, took Mu Cai onto his lap, unconcerned whether the shoes the little boy was wearing would dirty his imperial robe, he asked curiously, "Cai Cai, what's in the food box?"
Little Mu Cai lifted the lid of the second layer of the food box, revealing a whole basket of hibiscus cake underneath. He held it up happily and said, "These are hibiscus cakes for Emperor Uncle!"
The Emperor was moved.
There were many people who gave him gifts on ordinary days, and there were even many fine things dedicated to the palace which were all his. Logically speaking, the Emperor should not feel anything towards these average hibiscus cakes.
But the person giving him this gift was a small child who could not help sneaking glances at his favorite hibiscus cakes. His red, pouty lips were almost drooling, yet he tried his best to withhold it, and handed the hibiscus cake to him.
A rare feeling of being loved and rewarded stirred within the Emperor.
He greatly liked this small child, Mu Cai, and spared no compliments, hugs, or awards. At the same time, he naturally hoped that the child would like him as well. And now, although it was only a plate of ordinary hibiscus cakes, these were Mu Cai's favorite pastries.
A little child could resist his cravings and sincerely offer these cakes to him, expressing a pure heart, something many princes did not do. The Emperor was truly touched. He promptly picked up a piece to eat, slowly chewing it.
Under Mu Cai's hopeful gaze, the Emperor smiled, saying, "The hibiscus cakes Cai Cai gave me are especially delicious!"
Mu Cai's shiny eyes brightened even more.
The Emperor couldn't help but stretch out his hand to pinch the small child's cheek, saying, "However, eating too many of these hibiscus cakes is too sweet, I can't finish them. The remaining ones are for Cai Cai to eat."
Holding the food box, Mu Cai, while happy, couldn't help but grumble, "Emperor Uncle is just like Brother Zhongjin, neither of you like sweets." As he said this, he cheered up again, "Then Mu Cai will help you both and eat them all. We can't waste food!"
With that, Mu Cai grabbed a hibiscus cake and took a big bite.
The Emperor thoughtfully raised his head to see his third son, who resembled him the most, was staring intently in this direction.
It seemed that like himself, Zhongjin was genuinely very fond of Cai Cai.
The kitten-like child in his arms ate a hibiscus cake and then put the lid back on the box. The Emperor was a bit puzzled and asked, "Why has Cai Cai stopped eating?"
Mu Cai said solemnly: "Eating here will make Emperor Uncle's clothes dirty."
There are many cake crumbs that are hard to get rid of! This was what his nanny told him. So every time he ate hibiscus cakes, Mu Cai was very careful.
The Emperor laughed heartily, and the heaviness of his mood after coming from the morning court disappeared instantly. He gave in to his affection and picked Mu Cai up, kissing gently on the child's soft cheeks: "Cai Cai is really good."
Touching his cheek that was all red from the prickling of the Emperor's beard, Mu Cai also gave the Emperor a "muah" kiss on his face.
This action was so daring that it even had the Emperor stunned for a moment.
However, Mu Cai explained somewhat shyly, "Every time my mom and dad kiss me, they let me kiss them back. They say that when someone kisses you, you have to kiss them back."
Tasting the soft touch of the recent exchange, the Emperor realized that the child in front of him was truly a treasure.
He playfully teased Mu Cai for a while before standing up to bid him farewell. During this exchange, the Emperor forgot to inquire about the princes' studies, something he usually remembered.
Carrying the heavy box of cakes, Mu Cai trotted over to the third prince. As soon as he looked up, before he could speak, he saw Brother Zhongjin suddenly lowered his head, his lips close to his cheek, gently imprinting a kiss.
________________________
Author's Note:
Interviewing the feelings of the persons involved:
The third prince who doesn't wish to disclose his name: Jealous, I'm just jealous now. I was quite satisfied when he originally saved four pieces for me, but I didn't expect him to save a full basket for my father! I'm not happy that my father is kissing him, I don't care, I have to kiss him back!
Previous Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter
No comments:
Post a Comment