When Yuanbao returned to the Eastern Palace, it was just past the second watch of the evening.

With the gold lock given by Pingting, Yuanbao had a proud smile on his face.

As he entered the Yuhua Palace and passed by the small study, he happened to see the Crown Prince reading inside.

“Father!” Yuanbao called out affectionately.

The Crown Prince looked up at the sound and gestured for Yuanbao to come over.

Yuanbao happily bounced into the small study, climbed onto the Crown Prince’s lap, and settled in.

The Crown Prince put down the memorial he was reading, adjusted Yuanbao to make him more comfortable, and, seeing the pleased expression on Yuanbao’s face, asked with a smile, “What’s got you so happy?”

“It’s nothing.”

Though Yuanbao said it was nothing, his face showed clear delight.

The Crown Prince didn’t believe it: “Did the Empress Dowager give you something?”

Yuanbao immediately shook his head: “It wasn’t the Empress Dowager.”

“Then who gave you such a good thing? Consort Wei?” It couldn’t be Consort Wei; she wasn’t known for giving valuable gifts to cheer Yuanbao up.

Yuanbao, enjoying his secret, took out a small gold lock from his clothes and held it up for the Crown Prince to see: “Father, look.”

The gold lock was finely crafted, with intricate floral patterns and a jade carving in the shape of a rabbit in the center.

“It’s quite exquisite,” the Crown Prince raised an eyebrow, “Which young lady gave it to you?”

“How did you guess?” Yuanbao was surprised, his eyes wide.

His father could tell just by looking that it was given by a young lady?

The Crown Prince smirked: “The flowers carved on the gold lock are all peonies, which are typically worn by young ladies.”

“Ah!” Yuanbao frowned and instinctively covered the gold lock.

So it’s obvious that it’s a young lady’s gift, and he’s wearing it around his neck…

“Father, can I not wear it?”

Seeing Yuanbao’s worried expression, the Crown Prince took the gold lock and examined it: “Wearing something given by a young lady every day is indeed quite conspicuous. I’ll keep it for you and find a way to handle it.”

“Thank you, Father.” Yuanbao was relieved; if Father said there was a way, there must be one.

“You haven’t told me yet, who gave it to you?”

Yuanbao hesitated for a moment before saying, “It was Pingting.”

“Pingting?”

The Crown Prince frowned, thinking for a while before remembering: “Oh, the pretty little maid from the Duke of Liang’s residence?”

“Father, you’ve seen Pingting too?” Yuanbao asked, curious.

“I saw her once last year when I came to pick you up at Yueyang’s birthday party.” Although Pingting was only four years old, her beauty was striking, like a legendary celestial child.

Just a glance was enough for the Crown Prince to remember her.

He ruffled Yuanbao’s hair, “She has good taste.”

Yuanbao looked puzzled: “Good taste in what?”

“Nothing. Why did Pingting give you the gold lock?” the Crown Prince asked again.

Yuanbao then explained: “Today, Sister Yueyang had us playing with paper folding and asked me to judge which was the best. I chose a small boat, and it turned out to be Pingting’s.”

“She folded it well?”

“I just liked the boat,” Yuanbao said. “By the way, Father, Pingting said her mother is unwell. Can I invite Dr. Qin to check on her mother another day?”

Physician Qin really has his hands full, dealing with difficult cases both inside and outside the capital.

The Crown Prince, suppressing a smile, nodded in agreement. “Alright.”

He added, “Since Great-Grandfather is here today, he’s staying in Fengyang Palace tonight. Would you like to go with Father and visit him?”

“Why did Great-Grandfather come to the Eastern Palace? Will he be living with us from now on?” Yuanbao asked curiously.

The Crown Prince explained, “Great-Grandfather wants to live with Yuanbao.”

Yuanbao had no objections. “Sure, there are so many empty palaces in the Eastern Palace. If Great-Grandfather wants to stay, he can stay as long as he likes.”

Seeing Yuanbao’s nonchalant attitude, the Crown Prince lifted him off his lap, took his hand, and led him out. “Great-Grandfather has been waiting for you for a long time. Father will take you to Fengyang Palace to greet him.”

Yuanbao obediently held the Crown Prince’s hand and followed him out of Yuhua Palace.

“Father, isn’t Aunt Rong Rong coming with us to greet Great-Grandfather?”

“She had dinner with Great-Grandfather and already greeted him. If we had invited Aunt Rong Rong along, Great-Grandfather’s plan might not have worked.”

Father and son left Yuhua Palace and walked under the moonlight to Fengyang Palace.

Usually, Fengyang Palace only had a couple of lanterns lit in the corridor.

Today, with Old Duke An’s move, the palace was brightly lit inside and out, looking much more lively.

After the palace attendants announced their arrival, Old Duke An rushed out, grabbing Yuanbao and fussing over him. “Little Yuanbao, where have you been? Great-Grandfather has been waiting for you for so long!”

Yuanbao replied, “Next time Great-Grandfather comes to the East Palace, please send word in advance so I can wait for you here.”

Hearing Yuanbao’s response, Old Duke An felt a bit embarrassed.

After all, he had come uninvited today, so he had no right to scold Yuanbao for being late.

“It’s fine, there won’t be a next time. From now on, Great-Grandfather will be living in Fengyang Palace and will be with you every day.”

Yuanbao nodded.

Being so young, he didn’t catch the underlying meaning in Old Duke An’s words.

“Great-Grandfather has brought many wonderful things for you. You’ll definitely like them. Come and see,” Old Duke An said, carrying Yuanbao inside.

The Crown Prince followed them into Fengyang Palace and was immediately dazzled.

This wasn’t a palace; it looked more like an armory.

In just a few hours, the inner hall’s walls were covered with various weapons: swords, spears, staves, and even three sets of armor.

“Great-Grandfather, what are these…”

Old Duke An proudly said, “These are treasures I’ve collected over decades. Not to boast, but even your Grandfather Emperor might not have a collection as complete as mine.”

He took down a sword from the wall and swung it a few times. “Moreover, these treasures are from the battlefield, stained with blood, not mere decorations that are just for show.”

After demonstrating with a few moves, Old Duke An threw the sword towards the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince’s eyes narrowed slightly as he dodged the blade and caught the hilt.

Yuanbao was startled, but when he saw the Crown Prince smile at him reassuringly, he relaxed.

“I heard you’re going to Liangzhou as a special envoy. Take this Tianyun Sword for protection,” Old Duke An said.

The Tianyun Sword is a treasured weapon forged by a master swordsmith from the previous dynasty, known for its ability to cut through iron as if it were clay.

It was granted to the old Duke of An upon his victorious return from a campaign against the Rakshas.

The Old Duke, known for his frugality, rarely parts with his possessions, so the Crown Prince is naturally pleased to accept this gift.

“Thank you, Grandfather,” the Crown Prince said.

The Tianyun Sword, which had accompanied the old Duke for many years and had seen many battles, was not something he wished to part with lightly.

However, as the saying goes, “flowers for beauties, swords for heroes.” Now that the Duke was older, the sword would serve better in the hands of Liu Zhen than merely being a display piece.

Yuanbao, having seen his great-grandfather present a sword to his father, and noticing the room filled with weapons, quickly said, “Great-grandfather, if you gave Father a sword, shouldn’t you give me a weapon too?”

“You want a weapon?” The old Duke feigned casualness, seeing that Yuanbao had finally taken the bait.

Yuanbao nodded vigorously.

“You’re still young and don’t know martial arts. I don’t have any weapons to give you.”

“But I’ll learn martial arts soon! Grandfather, please give me one now.” Yuanbao pleaded, his eyes wide with excitement at the array of weapons.

The old Duke frowned slightly, pretending to be troubled: “But my weapons can only be used by those who have learned my martial arts. You wouldn’t be able to use them.”

“Why can’t you give me one like you gave Father?” Yuanbao was somewhat dissatisfied.

The Crown Prince, observing from the side, stayed silent, curious to see how the old Duke would handle the situation.

“Your father practiced martial arts with me,” the old Duke explained.

“But Father learned martial arts at the Daxiangguo Temple. He promised that when I’m older, he’d also send me to learn there.”

The old Duke was unfazed by Yuanbao’s answer and smiled, “Liu Zhen started learning martial arts from me when he was four, up until he was seven, before he went to the Daxiangguo Temple. I also taught him horseback riding.”

The Crown Prince couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly at the old Duke’s fabricated tales.

While it was true the old Duke had taught him horseback riding, the story of martial arts was a stretch.

Yuanbao’s excitement grew as the words “martial arts” and “horseback riding” registered in his mind. “Great-grandfather, teach me too! I want to learn both.”

The old Duke stroked his beard and said mysteriously, “Our style requires a formal apprenticeship. Are you willing to become my disciple?”

“Yes!” Yuanbao said eagerly, and with a loud “thud,” he knelt on the ground and declared, “Master.”

“Being a master means training the disciple and living together. Can you handle that?”

“Receive…” Yuanbao was about to agree immediately but suddenly realized something, “To live together means that I and Great-Grandfather will live together in the East Palace?”

Little fox!

Old Duke An quickly said, “Not living in the East Palace, but living in Fengyang Palace.”

“What about Father and Aunt Rong Rong?” Yuanbao asked without thinking.

“They live in Yuhua Palace,” Old Duke An replied.

Yuanbao fell silent.

Seeing this, Old Duke An wanted to say more to persuade Yuanbao, but he knew that people tend to resist persuasion.

Yuanbao had just been pleading with him; if he now tried to persuade Yuanbao, Yuanbao might resist even more.

He gave a look to the Crown Prince, but the Crown Prince pretended not to see.

With no other choice, Old Duke An decided to use his decades of scheming.

He took down a bow from the wall and began to slowly clean it with a cloth, pretending to wait for Yuanbao to think it over.

The bow, named the Moonfall Bow, was gilded and looked like a crescent moon from afar, quite dazzling.

“With so many good weapons, I don’t know who to pass them on to! Alas, actually, I wouldn’t need to study martial arts for too long; a year or so would be enough. I wonder who will be fortunate enough to have these.”

“Father, does it really take only a year or so to learn Great-Grandfather’s skills?” Yuanbao turned to tug at the Crown Prince’s sleeve.

The Crown Prince frowned slightly.

Since Yuanbao’s birth, he had never lied to him.

Today was no exception.

“Learning martial arts isn’t so quick. Father practiced at the Great Xiangguo Temple for ten years before mastering it.” Hearing the Crown Prince’s words, Yuanbao didn’t react much, but Old Duke An winced.

This little brat—does he still want to get married or not?

“So Great-Grandfather…”

The Crown Prince crouched down and whispered into Yuanbao’s ear, “Great-Grandfather was once a general feared by many and really has many skills. Now that he’s old and can’t go to the battlefield, if you become his student, you can learn some things and also make him happy.”

Yuanbao glanced at Old Duke An.

Great-Grandfather had a youthful appearance despite his gray hair.

He looked very energetic but had a somewhat lonely expression as he stared at Yuanbao.

Yuanbao pouted, unsure of what to do.

He wanted to make Great-Grandfather happy, but he also wanted to sleep with Father and Aunt Rong Rong at night.

“How about this: tonight you can stay with Great-Grandfather in Fengyang Palace. If you can’t sleep well, you can return to Yuhua Palace tomorrow.”

This way, Great-Grandfather had brought so many things to the East Palace. If he ignored him, Great-Grandfather would definitely feel lonely.

With that thought, Yuanbao finally nodded.

The Crown Prince’s eyebrows lifted in satisfaction. The old man did a good job. Tonight, Yuhua Palace would only have him and Rong Rong.

Normally composed, the Crown Prince found himself feeling a bit giddy.