Chapter 78

At the age of four, Xiao Xingxing began to preside over court sessions, sitting on the Dragon Throne.

Chu Zhaoyou learned from the Regent that Xiao Xingxing would subtly signal the officials about the Regent’s mood during court sessions. To prevent any further fuss, Chu Zhaoyou decided to nap, holding his son close.

“Let the Regent manage court alone today.”

The emperor had not managed court alone for a long time after the birth of Xiao Xingxing. Occasionally, when Chu Zhaoyou feigned illness and didn’t attend, Xiao Xingxing, despite being diligent from a young age, would immediately rise and obediently say, “Accompany Father Emperor to court,” upon a whispered request from his father.

The Regent, who had found an excuse to punish Chu Zhaoyou the previous night, now found himself alone, quite deservedly.

With a sullen expression, Xiao Heng entered the Hall, and the officials, eagerly waiting, looked around, only to find that there was no little tail following behind the Regent.

Why hadn’t the Crown Prince attended court today?

Some daring officials had tucked small wooden toys into their sleeves, eager to present them to the Crown Prince.

The morning court seemed somewhat dry as Xiao Heng efficiently handled state affairs. “Does anyone have anything else? If not, court is adjourned.”

The Minister of Revenue stepped forward, “The Crown Prince is now four years old, bright and agile. It’s time for him to attend court as an observer, to gain experience.”

The Regent sneered, “Does Minister Liu forget that the Crown Prince is only four years old?”

The censor added, “I second Minister Liu. The Crown Prince has already begun learning and would greatly benefit from the experience.”

Having tasted the benefits of having Xiao Xingxing attend court, none of them were willing to let go of the idea.

It was well known that in the presence of the Crown Prince, the Regent would restrain his anger. Even when they faced his thunderous wrath, they couldn’t believe that the same person who was now sitting obediently on the Dragon Throne.

The officials’ calculations were doomed to fail. Whether the Crown Prince attended court was not solely the Regent’s decision.

Xiao Heng coldly remarked, “If you have time to chatter with me, why not ask His Majesty?” Having worried about upsetting Chu Zhaoyou, he had no choice but to attend court alone.

The officials were taken aback. Having gained some experience, they no longer blindly assumed that the Regent’s cryptic remarks meant something else. Instead, they understood the superficial implication: it was better to seek His Majesty’s approval than to bring it up with the Regent.

Tsk tsk, the Regent’s predicament was getting worse by the day.

…

After witnessing the Regent’s exceptional lightness skills, Xiao Xingxing enjoyed being carried by the Regent, sharing the same hobby as Chu Zhaoyou.

Xiao Xingxing learned literature, medicine, and martial arts. Mastering any one of these would suffice for his future. Therefore, Chu Zhaoyou wasn’t in a rush to have him attend court. It was all up to Xiao Xingxing to manage his time.

On one leisurely morning, Xiao Heng took Xiao Xingxing to the newly developed martial arts training ground.

To the right of the training ground, there was a group of wooden stakes. The Regent demonstrated how to use them.

With a swift movement, he stepped on the protrusions of the wooden stakes, leaping into the air and swiftly maneuvering between the stakes of varying heights.

Xiao Xingxing watched intently as the Regent flew back behind the stakes. Excitedly, he dashed toward the first thick stake, eager to learn to fly without first learning to run.

Wanting to imitate the Regent’s takeoff from the protrusions, he didn’t realize the first protrusion was taller than himself. Without stopping, he crashed straight into the stake, rebounding and landing on the ground, feeling his forehead in confusion.

Xiao Heng, terrified, rushed to Xiao Xingxing, “Did you hurt yourself anywhere?”

He picked Xiao Xingxing up for an examination, and as the clothing was thick, there were no visible injuries.

Xiao Xingxing hesitated for a moment, his eyes turning red as tears welled up. He leaned his head into the Regent’s palm, saying, “Father, it hurts.”

Xiao Heng gently felt the bump on Xiao Xingxing’s forehead. It wasn’t serious, but it would be painful for a while if touched.

“It’s my fault. Let me help relieve the pain,” the Regent said, deeply distressed. Children often have their share of knocks and bumps, but he and his son always seemed to have issues with inanimate objects.

“Still hurting? Let’s go find the royal physician,” he suggested.

Xiao Xingxing shook his head, choking up, “Xiao Xingxing doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Xiao Heng held him, walking around the training ground, gently patting his back to comfort him. “Father has also been hit on the head by a stake before.”

Wide-eyed, Xiao Xingxing touched the Regent’s forehead, asking, “Does it hurt?”

Xiao Heng replied, “It doesn’t hurt,” forgetting about His Majesty.

Xiao Xingxing clenched his fists, saying, “Then I won’t hurt either.”

Xiao Heng responded, “Right, Xiao Xingxing will grow taller than the pillars of the imperial Hall, supporting the vast land of Chu.”

“Will the sky be very heavy?” Xiao Xingxing asked.

“Not heavy at all. I will help you. Even if the pillars of the Hall of Government collapse, I will support you and your father,” Xiao Heng assured him.

Xiao Xingxing, visualizing the crimson pillars of the Hall of Government, compared their width to the Regent’s shoulders, and with some concern, held onto his father’s neck tightly.

“Is Father great, or are the pillars great?” he asked.

Without a word, the Regent flew with his son on the eaves. “I can fly. Who do you think is great?”

“You are, Father!” Xiao Xingxing exclaimed excitedly.

Approaching the Funing Hall, the Regent paused and had someone fetch a hat for Xiao Xingxing.

“I want to discuss something with you,” Xiao Heng said, pointing to his forehead, feeling somewhat guilty. “Here…”

Feeling the Regent’s guilt, Xiao Xingxing, despite knowing that not telling His Majesty meant missing out on his father’s snoring, nodded firmly, “Can’t tell Father.”

The Regent suspected this wasn’t the first time Xiao Xingxing had displayed such proficiency.

It wasn’t.

The Regent Prince and the Crown Prince were among the early risers, while Chu Zhaoyou, exhausted from the Regent’s antics the night before, couldn’t get up in the morning.

After their martial arts practice, Chu Zhaoyou was finally having his breakfast at the table.

“is it cold outside that you should wear a hat?” Chu Zhaoyou flicked the small ball on his son’s hat.

Xiao Heng nervously watched Chu Zhaoyou’s actions, fearing he might unintentionally hurt Xiao Xingxing. He casually fibbed, “Yes, it’s cold. There was even frost this morning.”

Chu Zhaoyou felt his son’s cheek with the back of his hand—it wasn’t cold at all, just rosy.

“Inside it’s warm. Take off your hat,” Chu Zhaoyou casually removed Xiao Xingxing’s hat and handed him a warm red date cake.

Momentarily distracted, Xiao Xingxing subconsciously looked at the Regent, nervously gripping the red date cake.

With fair and flawless skin, there was a noticeable swelling in one area.

Chu Zhaoyou had a warm towel twisted and was about to wipe Xiao Xingxing’s face and hands.

The Regent Prince urgently diverted Chu Zhaoyou’s attention, “Zhaozhao, don’t you love eating loquats? A batch of loquat preserves has just arrived from the southwest.”

Preserved fruits required extremely high sealing standards, and the cost had risen sharply.

The Regent gestured for Xiao Xingxing, who intuitively walked over and snuggled into his arms, covering the small bump on his forehead.

Chu Zhaoyou recalled the loquats that had been confiscated by the Regent years ago. He had been furious at the time and even pinched his own stomach in frustration.

Xiao Xingxing was so adorable; how could he ever pinch him!

Denying his dark past, Chu Zhaoyou said, “Was that for me? Clearly, Xiao Xingxing likes them. I’m not as fond of them now.”

The freshly opened can of loquat preserves, with its rural aroma, was sweet and inviting. It was perfect for a few bites before tackling official documents.

Chu Zhaoyou forgot the purpose of the warm towel in his hand, abandoning it for the loquats, which proved to be quite effective.

Observing the father and son whispering, Chu Zhaoyou had a hunch they were talking about him. He then brought Xiao Xingxing over and said, “You really like it. I’ll prove it. Take a bite.”

Today, he would vindicate himself.

As Chu Zhaoyou was about to feed Xiao Xingxing, he suddenly noticed an uneven area on his forehead.

He immediately put down the spoon, turned Xiao Xingxing around, and carefully examined him. “When did you get a bump here?”

Xiao Xingxing cleverly responded, “I had it when I woke up this morning.”

Chu Zhaoyou asked, “Did you fall off the bed last night?”

“We must protect our heads. What if we bump and become silly?” Chu Zhaoyou worriedly said, “Wait, you didn’t have it before you went out. How did it happen?”

As Xiao Xingxing nibbled the red date cake, he suddenly began reciting the multiplication tables.

Chu Zhaoyou said, “Alright, I understand. Regent, what do you think?”

Xiao Heng had no choice but to recount the incident.

Chu Zhaoyou felt like hanging a sign around the Regent’s neck that read, “Dangerous stunt, do not imitate.”

“Did he cry?” Chu Zhaoyou asked.

“He did,” replied Xiao Heng.

The Regent had made His Majesty cry the previous night and now had the Crown Prince in tears in the early morning. It was truly unforgivable.

Chu Zhaoyou said, “I plan to take Xiao Xingxing out to play. We should take a look at this beautiful land.”

“I’ll go too,” said Xiao Heng

“In that case, who will handle the official documents?” asked the Emperor.

“I’ll take care of them,” he replied.

With little official business at hand, a brief excursion around the capital and its vicinity wouldn’t pose a problem if they delayed submitting official documents for seven to eight days. Any urgent matters could be addressed through messengers.

In late autumn, Chu Zhaoyou and the Regent, along with Xiao Xingxing, set out in disguise for a private visit.

They traveled along the main roads of the plains, disguised as members of the Imperial Guards, closely accompanied by their entourage.

Chu Zhaoyou was quite satisfied with the trip, with the only minor dissatisfaction being that Xiao Xingxing spent more time on the Regent’s back than on his own. However, being a grown-up now, he couldn’t possibly ask the Regent Prince to carry him without a valid reason. It would be embarrassing.

Passing through a village, they noticed a stage set up in the fields after the autumn harvest. The villagers had invited a nearby theater troupe to perform, celebrating this year’s bountiful harvest.

Chu Zhaoyou felt a twinge of excitement and sent someone to inquire if the theater troupe was in need of additional performers.

As luck would have it, the troupe had several members fall ill from a poorly cooked dish at dinner, leaving several roles vacant.

Chu Zhaoyou looked at the simple stage and rubbed his hands together. He swiftly arranged for a performance by the National Arts Troupe to provide entertainment for the villagers, which would commence shortly.

The stage was temporary, supported by a few pillars stuck into the ground, unlike the extravagant and sturdy theaters in the capital.

The Regent frowned, “If you want to perform, I’ll have a proper stage built for you when we return.”

Chu Zhaoyou replied, “I don’t want to perform, just occasionally.”

Moreover, the audience consisted of sincere villagers who genuinely wanted to enjoy the performance. Singing for them was what made it meaningful.

He wanted to sing for the Regent, far from the court and the deep confines of the palace.

Xiao Heng interjected, “This stage isn’t safe. A son of the state should not be seated here.”

The Regent had a thousand reasons—such as outdated costumes worn by who knows how many men, poor-quality makeup that’s hard to wash off—to dissuade Chu Zhaoyou.

Chu Zhaoyou retorted, “You just don’t want to listen, do you?”

The Regent responded, “It’s not that. Can we go back and you can perform later?”

He had noticed a few ruffians eyeing the young girls backstage, whistling and harassing them. The thought of Chu Zhaoyou wearing vibrant and alluring costumes being leered at by these individuals made Xiao Heng extremely uncomfortable.

He was willing to pay to have the entire performance area secured.

Chu Zhaoyou understood the Regent’s implication, “Do you think I can’t step into the limelight?”

After all, he was a man. People like Sai Man pursued their ideals and performed everywhere. Why couldn’t he do so occasionally?

Although performing wasn’t his passion, Chu Zhaoyou had to admit that he was more confident on stage than in any other setting.

A friend had once described Chu Zhaoyou as radiant during his performances in rural areas. While large theaters had spotlights, the broader stage of the countryside was where his brilliance truly shone.

Chu Zhaoyou, a bit self-absorbed, cherished this compliment and intended to flaunt his peacock feathers in front of the Regent.

But the Regent refused his peacock display.

Wasn’t this akin to being rejected in courtship?

Indeed!

Frustrated and embarrassed, Chu Zhaoyou retorted, “I love stepping into the limelight. It’s none of your business whether you like it or not.”

After taking a deep breath, the Regent said, “Fine, sing.”

The Regent had the ruffians apprehended, ensuring they wouldn’t come near the main theater area. For the common folk, it wasn’t a big deal. Although the Regent secretly hoped Chu Zhaoyou would sing for him alone, he knew Chu Zhaoyou enjoyed receiving praise from others. His talents shouldn’t be confined to just one audience.

Xiao Heng handed Xiao Xingxing to Xiao Qi and personally dealt with the ruffians, rounding them up and locking them inside until Chu Zhaoyou’s performance was over.

Xiao Heng’s possessiveness flared up. Even though the ruffians hadn’t even caught a glimpse of Chu Zhaoyou, he was already feeling jealous. He felt the need to take matters into his own hands.

Chu Zhaoyou, witnessing the Regent angrily handing Xiao Xingxing over to Xiao Qi, sat down dejectedly. “Master Director, I can sing any role. Just tell me which one you need.”

The theater director was thrilled. The troupe needed someone like him. He was about to mention the need for a female lead when Chu Zhaoyou interrupted, “Let’s skip the female lead role.”

Ultimately, Chu Zhaoyou’s soft-heartedness prevailed, perhaps due to concerns that the Regent might have lingering shadows from childhood experiences. Even if Sai Man can sing the female lead role, he didn’t have to.

The theater director looked disappointed as the costumes for the female lead were the most exquisite. Chu Zhaoyou closed his eyes and said, “I’d like a moment of quiet. You can continue with the makeup.”

Feeling frustrated, he longed to sing the female lead role and wished to exasperate the Regent. However, the Regent had disappeared somewhere.

The director meticulously arranged Chu Zhaoyou’s hair, adorning his left temple with cicada leaf ornaments, crafting a forlorn appearance.

Both the lead female and supporting actors were suffering from stomach pains. They could manage to perform but the effect would undoubtedly be subpar.

If Chu Zhaoyou refused the female lead role, then he would play the supporting role.

“Ah, it’s a pity that you won’t play the female lead. The costumes for the female lead are newly made, all embroidered, and they shimmer in the sunlight,” the director remarked.

Chu Zhaoyou, with closed eyes, thought to himself, “What’s the use of shimmering costumes? The Regent, being a typical manly man, wouldn’t even look at them.”

Xiao Xingxing watched his father’s makeup being applied and, after a while, pouted.

The Regent had gone to handle the five ruffians and rigorously scrutinize the moral character of the audience, stricter than a moral inspection. Upon his return, Chu Zhaoyou was already seated in front of the mirror, getting his makeup done.

Realizing that Chu Zhaoyou enjoyed receiving compliments, the Regent was about to search his thoughts for a few flattering words. However, upon seeing Chu Zhaoyou’s appearance, his face darkened, and he bellowed, “Chu Zhaoyou!”

Chu Zhaoyou was definitely doing this on purpose!

How dare he provoke him by choosing a role of a grieving widow to play! Why would he even continue with the performance?

The Regent Prince was so angry that he felt like shouting at Chu Zhaoyou until he couldn’t speak. Let’s see if Chu Zhaoyou still dared to continue.

Startled, Chu Zhaoyou opened his eyes and was equally surprised by his own appearance in the mirror.

Why had the director assigned him the role of a grieving widow?

He couldn’t let the Regent see this!

Just as Chu Zhaoyou had this thought, he realized that Xiao Heng had spent more than a year with the theater troupe. How could he not know the significance of the cicada leaf ornaments?

“I didn’t mean to, truly!” Chu Zhaoyou swore, raising his hand.

Xiao Heng reached out, removing the cicada leaf ornaments from his head, crushing them and tossing them to the ground. “You didn’t mean to? But aren’t you the one who loves the costumes of the female lead?”

Chu Zhaoyou struggled to explain, but then noticed that the theater director had already left.

Xiao Qi silently carried Xiao Xingxing out.

Looking back at his father, Xiao Xingxing felt reassured with the Regent around, seeing him in a better light.

Chu Zhaoyou said, “It was the theater director’s decision.”

The Regent questioned, “And you didn’t oppose it?”

Chu Zhaoyou replied, “I had my eyes closed, I didn’t know!”

Xiao Heng picked up a towel to wipe Chu Zhaoyou’s face. “The foolish widower, Chu, with no support, must care for Xiao Xingxing. Driven by necessity, he presents a powdered opera to the all-powerful Regent.”

Chu Zhaoyou was wary, “What nonsense are you saying?”

Xiao Heng closed the door, bit Chu Zhaoyou’s ear, and in a low voice said, “After the performance, you’ll discover that I am your husband.”

Chu Zhaoyou blushed deeply and rejected the script the Regent had impulsively written. “I won’t perform this play.”

The Regent replied, “There’s no play that Zhaoyou can’t perform. Be obedient.”

With the Regent’s exceptional scriptwriting skills and Chu Zhaoyou, the greatest actor of his time, it took an entire night before they could barely meet the Regent’s demands.

Author’s note: Art originates from life.