The Emperor and the Little Chubby Boy

Everyone knelt down with a rustle, and a stern voice rang out, “What is all this commotion?!”

The crowd immediately quieted down, leaving only the loud wailing of the Little Chubby Boy. The little guy seemed to sense something was wrong and quieted down for a second, turning his head with tears still on his cheeks to glance at the Emperor in the center. His eyes showed a moment of surprise and confusion, and then he started crying even louder and more pitifully, as if expecting someone to stand up for him.

The Emperor was momentarily stunned, furrowing his brows as he said, “Rise—”

Dean Hu immediately stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, today is Lord Lin’s first day on duty, and he brought his child with him. But the child kept crying and making a fuss, how can anyone work like this? The Hanlin Academy is a place for advising Your Majesty and the court, not for bringing children.”

“As the Deputy Dean of the Hanlin Academy, I couldn’t stand it and had to reprimand Lord Lin.”

What he said wasn’t entirely wrong, but Lu Ji still muttered under his breath, “The little guy was well-behaved, wasn’t it Dean Hu’s harsh words that scared him?”

“Just a reprimand? He fined Brother Lin three months’ salary and threatened to kick us out—”

Lin Lang quietly nudged him with his elbow, signaling him to stop talking. Being under someone else’s roof, he had to bow his head. He was in the wrong initially, and now he could only endure it. Lu Ji was even more of an innocent victim, and if he got implicated because of him and was later targeted by Dean Hu, Lin Lang would feel guilty.

But even though Lu Ji’s voice was low, everyone present heard what needed to be heard.

The Emperor said coldly, “Dean Hu, what a display of authority. I remember that Lin Zhuangyuan’s position as a sixth-rank editor and Imperial Attendant was personally conferred by me, wasn’t it?! And yet, Dean Hu thinks he can just fine his salary and kick him out at will?!”

Dean Hu’s face turned pale, and with a “thud,” he knelt to the ground, stammering, “I-I wouldn’t dare!”

The Emperor snorted, “Wouldn’t dare?! I see you’re quite bold! Since Dean Hu likes to punish people so much, let him experience it himself. Fine Dean Hu a year’s salary and have him reflect at home for three months.”

Dean Hu’s plump body trembled, and he bowed to the ground, saying, “I thank Your Majesty for your grace.”

The Emperor continued, “If I catch Dean Hu abusing his authority again, it won’t just be a simple fine. There will be blood and suffering involved, and I wonder if Dean Hu, at his age, can handle it—”

Dean Hu collapsed to the ground upon hearing this.

The Emperor flicked his sleeve and walked out. Seeing that no one followed, he turned back to Lin Lang and said, “What are you standing there for, Lord Lin?! Hurry up and follow!”

“You’re already appointed as an Imperial Attendant, don’t you know to report to Zichen Palace?! Do I have to personally invite you? Such arrogance—”

Lin Lang, having spent many years by the Emperor’s side, thought he understood his temper somewhat. Though the Emperor spoke like this, he was actually quite awkward inside. Lin Lang sneaked a glance at him and noticed that the Emperor’s ears were indeed a bit red.

He was about to put the little guy down, intending to ask Lu Ji to help take care of him. Bringing him to the Hanlin Academy had already caused so much trouble; he feared bringing him to Zichen Palace would cause even more issues.

Unexpectedly, the Emperor, sounding a bit impatient, said, “Bring your little brat along, so he doesn’t cry for his daddy!”

Lin Lang: …

Who are you calling a little brat? Can you be a bit more polite to your own kid?!

But he could only grumble inwardly.

The Little Chubby Boy was wrapped in a small blanket, nestled in his father’s arms, with only his fluffy little head exposed. His chubby cheeks and big, curious eyes stared at the Emperor, filled with wonder and amazement. In his little head, he thought this person was really impressive! He could scold the big bad guy who bullied his daddy so badly!

In no time, the group arrived at Zichen Palace. The Emperor sat grandly on the throne and pointed to the pile of memorials on the desk, saying, “Lord Lin, read the memorials for me—”

Eunuch Wang, seeing the opportunity, stepped forward, intending to take the Little Chubby Boy from Lin Lang’s arms. Unexpectedly, the round little body of the boy agilely dodged him and instead reached out his chubby little hands towards the Emperor.

Eunuch Wang’s eyes widened, and he whispered urgently, “Oh my, little ancestor, of all people to choose, you pick our Emperor!” He hurriedly tried to take the boy again.

Lin Lang was also about to coax the little guy, who was usually quite reasonable and would listen after a few words.

Unexpectedly, the Emperor raised an eyebrow and merely snorted, “Bring that little brat over for me to see—”

Eunuch Wang’s small eyes widened even more, wondering if the sun had risen in the west today?! How could their Emperor have the mind to hold a child—

Lin Lang thought, although he didn’t want to acknowledge the Emperor, and if he overly influenced the plot, it might attract the attention of the small world’s rules, the Emperor was, after all, the little guy’s father. That one night was an accident, and it was only right for father and son to have more contact. So he handed the little guy over to the Emperor.

The Emperor stiffened all over. The little guy was chubby and soft, and he felt strange holding him. He had always thought children were noisy and annoying and didn’t particularly like them, but for some reason, he found this little guy quite pleasing.

He had only glanced at him earlier and found him somewhat familiar. The little brat was quite clever-looking, and upon closer inspection, he realized the little guy bore some resemblance to Zimo.

But he didn’t think much of it. After all, there were many people who looked alike, and Lin Lang and Zimo also looked quite similar. It wasn’t surprising that his son resembled Zimo. Because of this, he found the little guy even more pleasing.

The little guy was the best at assessing the situation. From the Hanlin Academy to Zichen Palace, everyone was respectful to the Emperor. Even at his young age, he understood that the person holding him must be a powerful figure. So he sat quietly, not crying or fussing, just curiously staring at the Emperor, feeling an instinctive sense of closeness, and couldn’t help but reach out his chubby little hand to touch the Emperor’s chin and face.

The Emperor stiffened again. The little guy’s hand was warm and soft, and it felt surprisingly comfortable on his face. He couldn’t help but touch the little guy’s face, finding it a bit warm, and curiously asked, “Why is this little brat so hot to the touch?!”

Eunuch Wang stepped forward, also reaching out to feel, and exclaimed, “Isn’t it just! How high must the fever be?! Won’t it damage him?!”

Lin Lang explained, “The little guy had a fever last night and only got a bit better this morning. Maybe he got scared just now, and it’s gotten worse.”

“I’ll make some medicine for him later, and I’ll need to trouble you, Eunuch.”

Eunuch Wang quickly said, “No trouble, no trouble—”

The Emperor frowned and said, “Are the imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital dead?! Wang Dahai, go summon an imperial physician!”

Wang Dahai quickly took the order and hurried off to fetch a physician.

While Eunuch Wang went to fetch the physician, the two of them had nothing to say. The Emperor held the little guy, and they stared at each other, both filled with curiosity and a natural sense of closeness.

Lin Lang sat at the desk, already picking up the memorials to read. The more he read, the more he frowned, thinking these memorials were nonsense. A bunch of pleasantries at the beginning, wishing the Emperor well, and at the end, more flattery, with only a few lines in the middle about actual matters, and even those were unclear.

In no time, he had gone through most of the memorials on the desk. Most were filled with greetings and flattery, a small portion requested the Emperor to establish an Empress and continue the lineage, and another small portion reported important news from various parts of the country.

Lin Lang sorted the last category to one side, thinking the rest were irrelevant.

At this moment, Eunuch Wang finally brought the physician over.

The Emperor had summoned the head of the Imperial Hospital, Physician Sun. Physician Sun was quite old, with white hair and beard, walking shakily, hurried along by Eunuch Wang, and was already out of breath by the time he arrived.

He had thought it was the Emperor who had a problem, but it turned out to be for a little child. Having served as a physician in the palace for many years, with excellent medical skills, these minor ailments in children were no problem for him.

After taking the little guy’s pulse, he stroked his beard and pondered, “The young master has a cold on the surface, and with timely care, I’ll prescribe a medicine. Boil three bowls of water down to one, take it three times a day, and in three days, he’ll be fine.”

“However, the young master seems to have some congenital toxins, making him a bit weak, which needs proper care.”

Lin Lang couldn’t help but be pleasantly surprised, “Can the congenital toxins really be removed?!”

Physician Sun stroked his beard confidently, “I’ve studied this for many years, it’s no problem—” Then, a bit embarrassed, he added, “But even for me, it will take some time to treat.”

Lin Lang was overjoyed. He thought the weakness caused by the congenital toxins would always accompany the little guy, and now there was a solution, it was an unexpected joy. For parents, what could be more important than their child’s safety and health—

The Little Chubby Boy seemed to understand what the old man and his father were saying and said in a childish voice, “Medicine is bitter! I don’t want to take medicine!”

Physician Sun had a way with children, “It’s not medicine, it’s sugar water, very sweet—”

“If you don’t drink it, we’ll give it to your daddy—”

The Little Chubby Boy hesitated and said, “I want to drink sugar water! And give some to daddy too!”

Lin Lang couldn’t help but laugh, the little guy was really well-raised—