The young emperor’s skin was originally fair, and a slight blush made him look like a jelly. Especially when he tried to maintain his imperial dignity while being embarrassed, forcing himself to straighten his posture, he exuded a stubborn cuteness inside and out.

Bai Su gazed at him for quite a while.

Until…

She heard the young emperor’s stomach growl with a rumbling sound.

Both of them were taken aback.

Looking at the little guy’s increasing red ears, she realized he was probably hungry.

“Didn’t you have lunch?” she asked softly.

The young emperor nodded, “Hmm… The morning court was delayed because of General Rong Wu’s matter. After the morning court, I called many ministers to discuss countermeasures. Everyone had their own opinions, and we discussed for a while, so it was past noon.”

Bai Su sighed, “Then why didn’t you issue an order for everyone to eat first and discuss after the meal?”

“The court ministers are all concerned about the people and General Rong Wu. They were urgently discussing politics, they didn’t even think about eating. I… I must set an example and cannot make an exception. Confucius said, ‘Worry about the worries of the world first and enjoy the joys of the world later.’ That is a way to be a good emperor who loves the people like his children.”

The young emperor was just eighteen years old. If he was born in Bai Su’s era, he was considered a high school student who was enjoying their youth age. However, at the same age, Duan Changchuan had to bear the fate of the entire country, and the life and death of all the people.

Bai Su took his hand, speaking gently, “‘Worrying about the worries of the world first and enjoying the joys of the world later’ is indeed correct. As the highest ruler of the country, caring for the people’s hardships and the world’s stability is what makes a good emperor.”

She spoke eloquently, and the young emperor stared at her intently, looking more serious than a kindergarten child.

Listening and nodding, he was obedient and cute.

Bai Su struggled to resist the urge to pinch his cheek again, saying, “But, sustainability development is also important.”

“Sustainability? Development?” The young emperor looked puzzled.

Bai Su nodded, “Yes while governing the country, you must also take care of your own body. Otherwise, how can you govern the country if your body collapses?”

“But… no one has said they’re hungry. If I say I’m hungry, wouldn’t it be… too delicate?”

The young emperor spoke softly as if saying the word “hungry” would betray the entire nation.

Bai Su couldn’t help but make a chuckle, pulling him up from the bed, “Duan Changchuan, you are a world’s honor, if you’re not delicate, then who is delicate? Is it the Regent? He is quite old already, no need to be delicate. No one mentioned they were hungry because you didn’t. Just think, if the emperor and the Regent didn’t say they were hungry, and the courtiers said it first, wouldn’t that make them seem more immature?

The young emperor nodded thoughtfully.

Bai Su continued, “Everyone starts court sessions at Mao hours (5-7 AM), and they’ve already had breakfast by Yin hours (3-5 AM). Sitting in the hall until Wei hours (1-3 PM), do you think it’s tiring?”

The young man obediently replied, “Very tiring.”

This answer was already quite reserved.

More than just tiring… He was probably both tired and sleepy, and on top of that, hungry.

“Then think, what about those ministers in the court? You’re still young, and you even feel tired from sitting too long. They argue with each other and stand and kneel alternately. They’re even older. Do you think they’re tired or not?”

Duan Changchuan blurted out, “They’re tired af^[1]Duan Changchuan said 他们累死了, which means, ‘They are tired to death’ or politely ‘They are exhausted’. But after looking at the next sentence, I will use ‘Tired af’ to point out … Continue reading.”

After speaking, he realized his words were a bit coarse and awkwardly coughed, “I didn’t mean that…”

Bai Su covered her lips and laughed, “Don’t worry, they’re supposed to be exhausted. They just wait for you, the emperor, to give the order and let them have a meal and rest for a while. But look at you, you insisted on eating only after the court session. Who dares to eat before you? What was the feeling when everyone could have eaten together, but in the end, they all go hungry?”

Duan Changchuan, “Regretful…”

The eighteen-year-old kid, removing the deliberately disguised imperial demeanor, spoke sincerely.

Bai Su stopped there, knowing the clever kid would understand right away.

After settling Duan Changchuan on the couch in the outer room, she went out and called Chang Le to come in to feed… no, preparing a meal for the kid.

–

Dishes came one after another, and the young emperor’s eyes sneaked a peek.

There were only Bai Su and Chang Le here, so there was no need to be so secretive.

Bai Su directly handed him a bowl of rice and carefully picked up the vegetables for him, saying, “Eat quickly, no one is around.”

The young emperor hesitated for a while, then picked up a bite of rice and put it in his mouth.

Duan Changchuan was really hungry; as if famished^[2]前胸贴后背的 – his chest sticks to his back; ravenously hungry. He even felt like he had lost weight since the morning. Chewing on the fragrant rice grains, his tongue was soaked in sweetness.

While eating, Bai Su continued to add more dishes for him. Sweet and sour spare ribs, chicken cubes stir-fried with green peppers, and a large spoonful of meatball soup poured over the rice…

All his favorites.

“You need to eat more green vegetables for balanced nutrition,” she said.

Duan Changchuan had his mouth full and couldn’t speak. Quickly stuffed some green vegetables into his mouth.

“Isn’t it happier when you eat like this? Seeing how you usually, take a small bite at a time, and others will get tired first before you even finish eating.”

“As an emperor, you carry many burdens and responsibilities. However, sometimes you don’t have to make things so difficult for yourself. If you feel hungry, just let everyone eat together. You’re a human, and everyone else too. Don’t separate yourself from others. By satisfying yourself, you unconsciously satisfy others as well.”

Duan Changchuan chewing paused. A small sound came from his nose, “Hmm.”

On the way to this small courtyard, Feng Yao had told him that Bai Su was very wise and not an ordinary woman. At that time, he didn’t believe it, thinking that Bai Su, a concubine born, and a daughter even, who didn’t even know many characters, how wise could she be?

In his eyes, Bai Su had always been crude, lacking manners, and even a “lecher”.

However, after the conversation just now, Duan Changchuan suddenly understood the weight behind Feng Yao’s words about Bai Su being “not an ordinary woman.”

“So, Bai Su, what do you want…” While chewing, he asked softly but was cut off by her words.

“Just eat well. Besides politics, don’t you think of anything else in your head? Such as if the ribs aren’t delicious, or the chicken isn’t fragrant enough?” While talking, she added a large piece of ribs to his bowl.

Duan Changchuan was stunned…

He bowed his head and took a bite, whispering, “Thank you”.

Then, in a place covered by his hair, he curved his lips quietly.

–

After eating, Feng Yao escorted Bai Su back through the secret passage.

It was said that this secret passage was built by the first emperor of Da Tong during the palace’s construction. The person who built it was a high-ranking official, also the first head of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, and considered the ancestor of their bureau.

The map of the secret passage was only known by each emperor and the head of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. No more than three people in the world were supposed to know. If more people knew, they would be killed without mercy.

When the previous emperor passed away, Duan Changchuan was still young and did not immediately pass the map to him. It was Yun Xie’s master, Zuo Wuya who personally handed over the map to him, Yun Xie, and Feng Yao before his death.

The secret passage was intricate and complicated. Zuo Wuya took three days to draw the entire map, instructing them to memorize it within five days, and then thoroughly burn it.

Now, watching the woman with her eyes covered by a white silk cloth, assisted by Feng Yao, descending into the dark secret passage…

For some reason, Duan Changchuan suddenly blurted out, “Be careful, walk slowly.”

Bai Su’s footsteps paused, turned around, and ‘facing’ him through the silk cloth, she bowed slightly, saying, “Understood, Your Majesty no need to worry.”

After she went down the secret passage, just as the door was closing, Duan Changchuan shouted inside, “How about I arrange a teacher for you to learn to read and write?”

The voice followed the layers of the secret passage, echoing against the stone walls.

After a moment, the woman’s response came from the secret passage, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

It sounded particularly joyful.