Zong Jincheng thought, maybe when I grow up, I’ll beco like the Crown Prince?
The thought made him feel incredibly amazed.
As Zong Jincheng lay on the bed, lost in his fantasies, the Crown Prince arrived with a bowl of porridge, spoon-feeding him bite by bite.
With each spoonful, Zong Jincheng stole glances at the Crown Prince, his heart fluttering like a lovesick teenager. He was so excited he felt like rolling around on the bed to celebrate.
After finishing the bowl, his stomach was no longer empty, and his throat felt less dry.
Zong Jincheng cleared his throat and exclaid with joy, “Your Highness, you ca to see ! And you even fed porridge yourself. I’m so happy!”
The little rascal looked genuinely thrilled, as if he might start rolling around on the bed at any mont.
The Crown Prince set the bowl and spoon on the table and sat back down by the bed. He gently stroked Zong Jincheng’s soft hair and said softly, “You’re such a child, always rembering my kindness but forgetting my faults.”
Being petted on the head made Zong Jincheng even more excited.
The Crown Prince touched my hair!!
This is the affection of an elder for a younger one. He really loves !!
Zong Jincheng replied matter-of-factly, “Your Highness is a good person, so of course I only rember your kindness. Just like Luo Jingfeng is a bad person, so I only rember his faults!”
As he spoke, he made a fierce expression, like a little wolf pup ready to pounce and fight at any mont.
Energetic and full of life.
The Crown Prince chuckled and shook his head helplessly. After a mont, he asked, “When Luo Jingfeng gave you trouble today, why didn’t you use the jade pendant I gave you?”
If Luo Jingfeng had seen the pendant, he would have let Zong Jincheng go without a second thought.
Zong Jincheng grew angry at the ntion of it. He gestured animatedly and complained, “That Luo Jingfeng is really too much! He grabbed by the neck and lifted up without even saying a word. I couldn’t even reach for the pendant, let alone speak!”
Then he added, “Hmph, no sense of honor!”
The Crown Prince’s lips twitched as if he wanted to say sothing, but he hesitated, holding back for so reason.
Seeing the Crown Prince remain silent for so long, Zong Jincheng asked curiously, “Your Highness, what are you thinking about?”
The Crown Prince pondered for a mont, then looked deeply at him and said, “I’ve been troubled by sothing recently and haven’t found the best solution yet.”
Zong Jincheng asked in confusion, “Is it that difficult?”
Difficult enough that even the Crown Prince, who is so capable, can’t figure it out?
The Crown Prince smiled bitterly. “For , it is indeed difficult.”
“For…” Zong Jincheng rembered that day at the hunting grounds, when it had been difficult for the Crown Prince to draw his sword against Luo Jingfeng, but with his help, it had been resolved easily.
So he eagerly asked, “Can I help you, Your Highness? I’m quite experienced, you know.”
The little one’s eyes sparkled, his expression full of enthusiasm.
The Crown Prince hesitated for a mont, then actually spoke up. “Which do you think is more important: blood ties or justice?”
“Huh?” Zong Jincheng hadn’t expected the Crown Prince’s troubles to revolve around such a simple question.
He blurted out, “Blood ties represent the closest relationships in the world, and justice is a standard recognized and upheld by most people. Both are important. Justice and family are both in my heart.”
The little rascal wasn’t the spoiled brat he used to be. He was now a scholar, a prodigy, a genius, and soday he would beco a great official who served the people!
Zong Jincheng thought his answer was excellent, but after waiting for a while without receiving any praise from the Crown Prince, he asked uncertainly, “Did I say sothing wrong…?”
Instead of answering, the Crown Prince asked another question. “What if you can’t have both? If you had to choose between justice and family, what would you do?”
Zong Jincheng’s smile suddenly faded.
He pouted and said, “Why do I have to choose? That’s too hard.”
When he thought of blood ties, the person who ca to mind was Zong Wenxiu. If his brother ever clashed with justice… even if most people in the world believed justice was on the right side, he would still investigate whether justice itself was at fault.
Because no matter what, his brother would never do anything wrong.
If there was a mistake, it must be justice’s fault.
Of course, he didn’t dare say such a biased opinion out loud, or the Crown Prince might stop liking him.
After all, as the future ruler of the land, the Crown Prince would surely hope that everyone chose justice.
Hearing his answer, the Crown Prince smiled and said only, “That’s why it’s a difficult choice for too.”
He had overthought it. Although Zong Jincheng had made rapid progress over the past few months, he was still just a child, his mind not yet fully developed. Asking him to make such a choice was impossible; he could only be guided by adults.
It was still too dangerous to tell him now.
The Crown Prince lowered his gaze and said, “Luo Jingfeng will be leaving the capital in a few days to lead a military campaign. He won’t be back for at least a year or two, so he won’t have ti to trouble you anymore. Don’t worry too much. I’ve already spoken to your grandfather about this.”
“Grandfather is back?” Zong Jincheng asked in surprise.
The Crown Prince nodded. “Yes, your grandparents were deeply worried after hearing about your ordeal. They’re waiting in the front hall right now.”
Zong Jincheng was eager to see them, but the Crown Prince was still here, so he couldn’t just rush off.
Fortunately, the Crown Prince stood up to leave after finishing his words. Before leaving, he patted Zong Jincheng’s head again and said, “Rest well. I’ll co see you again soon.”
“Okay!”
After seeing the Crown Prince off, the Old Marquis escorted him out of the Marquis Manor, and the won of the household rushed into the room.
The Old Marchioness was so anxious her heart was trembling. She was the first to reach the bedside, clutching Zong Jincheng’s hand and saying, “My dear grandson, are you still in pain? You nearly scared your grandmother to death…”
Zong Jincheng giggled. “I’m not in pain anymore, Grandmother. Don’t worry. The Crown Prince himself ca to see and even fed porridge. I feel so energized I could get up and wrestle a bull!”
The Old Marchioness couldn’t help but laugh. She tapped his little nose and said, “You little rascal, always saying such nonsense to make your grandmother happy. Just stay in bed and rest. No studying in the study for the next few days.”
“Ah…” Zong Jincheng whined, “Do I really have to be so pampered? I can still study.”
The Old Marchioness declared firmly, “No studying! Take a few days off. You’ll still be our little prodigy!”
“Haha, of course I will…” The little rascal was once again floating on the complints.
Xu Wan watched him laugh, but as he moved, the bruises on his neck beca visible. She unconsciously tightened her grip on her handkerchief.
This was the reality of their era—where power overshadowed the law.
Even the Crown Prince’s visit only resulted in a ntion that Luo Jingfeng would be leaving the capital soon. No one spoke of punishing the perpetrator, and Zong Jincheng hadn’t even received an apology.
Xu Wan couldn’t help but wonder.
What was the purpose of their studies?
Was it to achieve fa and bring glory to their family, or to serve the people and dedicate themselves to the nation? Or perhaps…
To reform the flawed systems of their ti, to ensure that laws and justice hung over everyone’s heads.
To make it so that even the emperor would be held accountable under the law, just like any commoner.
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