NOVPUBZong Zhao thought for a moment and said, "I’ve already spoken to Luo Jingfeng and asked him to visit our home as little as possible. First, his identity might be exposed, and second, Jin Cheng could be affected. His top priority right now should still be his studies."
Xu Wan asked, "So we’re not going to tell Jin Cheng about His Highness’s situation?"
Zong Zhao replied, "If His Highness is truly deposed by Luo Jingfeng, everyone will know."
Xu Wan looked up in confusion. "So we’re just going to stand by and watch His Highness be removed? If Jin Cheng finds out, he might try to fight for him. Given how much Luo Jingfeng dotes on him, there might still be a chance." 𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘱𝘶𝘣.𝘤𝘰𝑚
Zong Zhao gave her a complicated look. "It’s very slim."
"How do you know it won’t work if we don’t try?" Xu Wan believed anything was possible. "Whether or not he acts is Jin Cheng’s choice, but I think he at least has the right to know."
Zong Zhao agreed.
Xu Wan went to the large study to find the little troublemaker. The results of the minor exam had been announced, and the tutors were going over mistakes with the students, tailoring their lessons accordingly. Thanks to Jin Cheng’s earlier announcement about tomorrow’s debate competition, the young boys were all fired up and studying with great enthusiasm.
"Jin Cheng, come out for a moment. I have something to tell you."
"Coming!" The little troublemaker sprang up from his seat and bounded over, boasting, "Mother, Teacher Pan said my poetry has improved again—so much that I’m about to catch up to He Zheng! Now Shen Yibai won’t be able to drag me down to the bottom with him anymore. He can keep last place all to himself, hahaha!"
This time, Xu Wan didn’t take him to the small pavilion to talk. Instead, she brought him back to her courtyard, dismissed Cui Zhi, Buyan, and the others, and prepared for a heart-to-heart conversation.
The little troublemaker grew even more excited. Rubbing his hands together, he asked eagerly, "Mother, what secret are you going to tell me?"
Xu Wan cut straight to the point. "Luo Jingfeng has advised the Emperor to depose the Crown Prince."
Zong Jincheng’s smile froze on his face.
Within seconds, his expression twisted into anger. He jumped to his feet and howled, "That treacherous villain! I knew he was the one behind all this, and he still denied it! And last time, he lied to me about not interfering in the hunting incident—it was all fake!"
Xu Wan said softly, "He’s paving the way for you."
Zong Jincheng paused, then slowly sat back down.
All the thoughts he had been afraid to dwell on, the things he couldn’t deny, came rushing to the surface. He muttered bitterly, "I don’t need him paving the way for me. I don’t want him as my uncle. I just want to be your child and His Highness’s loyal aide."
Xu Wan chuckled lightly. "No matter what happens in the future, as long as you wish it, you’ll always be my child."
The little troublemaker’s eyes reddened with emotion. Choking up, he said, "His Highness once told me about Luo Shu secretly giving birth to a prince. Back then, I thought that child should have been killed to eliminate any future threats. But I never imagined… that child was me. His Highness was so kind—he actually spared me…"
No matter how much he didn’t want to admit it, the truth was undeniable. Luo Jingfeng’s favoritism toward him was too obvious, his father’s silent acceptance too clear, and even his mother seemed to know… He couldn’t lie to himself and claim Luo Jingfeng had mistaken him for someone else.
Xu Wan hugged him, gently patting his back. "No one gets to choose their birth, but what makes us human is our ability to think for ourselves. So until the very end, we must never stop fighting for what we believe in."
"Mm!" Zong Jincheng nodded firmly. "I won’t resign myself to fate. Even if I share the Luo family’s blood, I won’t stoop to their level. I won’t become a little villain like Luo Jingfeng—never!"
"I believe in you," Xu Wan said, releasing him. She reached for a handkerchief to wipe his tears, only to realize the boy hadn’t shed a single one—his eyes were just red, stubbornly holding them back.
This proud, stubborn little rascal.
Zong Jincheng sniffled and declared angrily, "I’m going to see Luo Jingfeng and tell him to stop causing trouble for His Highness."
Just as Xu Wan had expected. Still, she couldn’t help but warn him, "He might not listen to you."
Zong Jincheng said resolutely, "I have to try anyway. Mother, I’m going to the Duke of State Protection’s residence."
"Then I’ll go with you," Xu Wan offered.
Zong Jincheng shook his head. "No, Mother. I don’t want him thinking you or Father put me up to this. Saving His Highness is my own decision—it has nothing to do with you. This is between him and me."
"Then be careful on your way."
"Alright."
Duke of State Protection’s Residence.
When Luo Jingfeng heard that Zong Jincheng had come to see him of his own accord, he was so thrilled he nearly rushed out to greet the boy himself. Fortunately, someone reminded him to maintain his composure, so he restrained himself from personally welcoming him at the gate.
This was Zong Jincheng’s second visit to the Duke’s residence. The last time, Luo Jingfeng had carried him in over his shoulder, and in his panic, he hadn’t paid attention to the estate. Now, as he was led inside, he realized just how vast the Duke’s residence was—it seemed like two courtyards merged into one, even larger than his own home.
"Young Master, His Grace is waiting for you inside," the guard said, stepping back after escorting him to the door.
Hearing the title "Young Master" still made him uncomfortable, but he had more pressing matters at hand and couldn’t dwell on it.
Before he could even step inside after pushing the door open, Luo Jingfeng strode over, scooped him up, and exclaimed joyfully, "My dear nephew! Finally decided to visit your uncle, eh?"
The little troublemaker wasn’t short or light by any means, but every time he encountered Luo Jingfeng, the man either slung him over his shoulder or lifted him effortlessly, as if he weighed nothing.
This only infuriated him further. He seriously considered gorging himself at home until he weighed three hundred pounds—then let’s see if Luo Jingfeng could still pick him up!
Trapped in Luo Jingfeng’s arms, Zong Jincheng decided to just speak his mind from there. "I have something to ask you. Did you—"
Luo Jingfeng cut him off. "Ah, so there is a reason! I knew you wouldn’t come without one, hahaha! Come, sit down, you little rascal. Your uncle has some treats for you. You kids all love snacks, don’t you?"
As soon as he’d ordered the boy to be brought in, he’d had rare delicacies brought out. Luo Ji and the others loved them, and he’d even sent some to the little troublemaker before—only for them to be returned untouched.
Luo Jingfeng set him down by the low table and pushed three small plates toward him. "Dried lychees, dried olives, and pomegranates—all sent by your eldest uncle from the south. Not even the Zong household has these, let alone the palace."
Zong Jincheng instinctively wanted to refuse, but remembering his purpose for coming, he pursed his lips, grabbed a handful of pomegranate seeds, and tossed them into his mouth.
Luo Jingfeng chuckled. "Remember to spit out the seeds, or they’ll sprout in your belly."
Zong Jincheng paused.
Of course he didn’t believe such nonsense—it was just something adults told children. But what startled him was how naturally Luo Jingfeng spoke to him like a doting elder. The thought of acknowledging him as his uncle made the pomegranate seeds in his mouth taste bland.
"Why’d you stop? Not to your liking?" Luo Jingfeng asked, popping a few into his own mouth.
They hadn’t gone bad, so why wasn’t the boy enjoying them?
Zong Jincheng sat by the low table, unusually calm as he asked, "Have you been advising the Emperor to depose the Crown Prince lately?"
Luo Jingfeng's hand, which had been reaching for a pomegranate, paused briefly before he chuckled. "So you’re here for the Crown Prince’s sake. What, do you think your uncle is in the wrong?"
Zong Jincheng replied firmly, "Of course you’re wrong. His Highness is only temporarily unconscious—it’s not as if he’ll never wake again. He’s in good health."
Luo Jingfeng sneered, "I couldn’t care less when he wakes. In fact, the later the better—otherwise, I’ll deal with him too."
Zong Jincheng stood up abruptly. "What exactly are you trying to do? His Highness is a good man, beloved by the people. Why can’t you tolerate him?"
Luo Jingfeng’s smile faded. He set the pomegranate seeds back onto the plate and raised his eyes. "Being beloved by the people doesn’t guarantee the throne. Fu Su, Liu Ju, Yang Yong—did they become emperors just because they wanted to? Many can’t stand Chu Heng; I’m just one of them. And mark my words, if I truly acted, do you think merely deposing him would be enough?"
Knowing his nephew was well-read, he deliberately invoked historical parallels to make his point.
Zong Jincheng, versed in history, recognized that all those figures had met tragic ends. At least the Crown Prince was still alive—for now, as Luo Jingfeng had said, he hadn’t even begun his real moves.
Clenching his fists, Zong Jincheng tried to reason with him. "Before you returned, His Highness treated me well, always shielding me. And back then, it was his kindness that saved my life. Shouldn’t a man consider others’ sacrifices, not just his own ambitions?"
