VHBF – Chapter 37 Emperor Daddy (Part 14)

The palace servants moved with extreme caution. Since the Deputy Chief Eunuch had entered the Emperor’s study earlier, he hadn’t come out again. The doors remained tightly shut. Young Master Yu from the artisans’ workshop—the handsome one—and Imperial Physician Wang had also been summoned. Everyone sensed that something was about to happen, and their footsteps unconsciously grew lighter.

Xiaohua carried the little princess out for a walk. Eunuch Xiaoyuzi had said she must be outside for at least an hour before returning—the reason being that the little princess had lately been far too clingy with the Emperor, interfering with his reviewing of memorials. Thus, she had to be taken away so that His Majesty could enjoy some peace and quiet.

Yinyin hugged a plush rabbit doll, a compensation gift from her father last night. He had confiscated the jade rabbit gifted by that “bad uncle” and instead gave her this new one.

The stuffed rabbit was soft and pretty, perfect to cuddle while sleeping. Yinyin adored it—so much so that she happily agreed to the trade on the spot. After all, she hadn’t liked the bad uncle’s gift anyway!

Inside the imperial study—

On the desk sat one intact jade rabbit. Another lay smashed into fragments beside it. Nearby, there was also a pile of black powder.

Imperial Physician Wang looked grave. He had studied medicine his whole life, yet had never encountered anything like this before. “Your Majesty, this old servant studied it for a long time after returning and even experimented on several mice. This substance isn’t highly toxic, but it seems capable of disturbing the mind…”

He hesitated. “I identified several medicinal components—all mutually conflicting. By theory, such a mixture is entirely illogical. It’s not quite a poison, for it doesn’t injure the body, but neither is it anything beneficial.”

“The first few mice ate it without issue. But when I increased the dosage, by the next day they showed symptoms of mania—rushing around their cages wildly, sometimes dull as fools, sometimes deranged and ramming the cage walls. The episodes alternated back and forth.”

“What’s more peculiar,” he continued, “was that two mice I did not feed directly still developed mild symptoms simply from being near the powder. I believe that long-term exposure alone can influence a person’s mind.”

The young craftsman added: “This powder was hidden inside the rabbit’s head. I studied it—the rabbit’s head had a concealed mechanism. It looked sealed, but in truth it was tricked with a false cover. There were tiny punctures invisible from the outside, and a mechanism installed inside.”

Eunuch Xiaoyuzi gasped. “Then the powder could escape through that mechanism?”

The youth shrugged. “Exactly.”

Before their eyes, he dismantled the intact jade rabbit. The head and body were separate. Outside was a thin jade-colored film, inside a tightly screwed catch—impossible to open without force.

Carefully avoiding damage to the mechanism, he split the jade into halves. Everyone immediately understood upon seeing the design.

Young Master Yu concluded firmly: “The powder must have been placed in during the crafting itself. Once completed, nothing could be seen from outside. Nor was it easy to dismantle, let alone discover.”

Eunuch Xiaoyuzi, far less experienced than his own master Eunuch Dou, was stunned. Staring blankly at the jade rabbit, he muttered, “So the little princess was telling the truth… The Heir of Prince Wu truly is suspicious.”

Then he broke into a relieved laugh. “Children’s intuition is sharper, isn’t it? They can sense good or bad at a glance. Fortunately, His Majesty took her words seriously and had the jade inspected…”

Remembering how he had inexplicably tripped earlier, Xiaoyuzi patted his chest in lingering fear. If not for that stumble—which cracked the jade rabbit’s forehead and sent it rolling to Young Master Yu’s feet—it might never have been discovered! He retold the story, praising his fall as perfect timing. Otherwise, he would have simply delivered the item back unexamined!

The System, observing the scene, spun its halo smugly, hiding its merit.

It had guessed correctly—the reborn male lead had plotted against the little cub! All because ancient medicine was too primitive. In modern times, any lab test would have quickly revealed what kind of drug this was and what effects it had.

The System had reluctantly expended some energy, but it confirmed the substance was harmful. It wouldn’t kill directly, but long-term exposure would damage the nervous system, slowly turning one into a fool—an obedient fool who listened to others.

In short, a puppet.

Having foiled the male lead’s scheme, the System happily spun around a few times. Its energy hadn’t been wasted! Next world, the little cub must replenish it!

Over half an hour later, the study doors finally opened. Eunuch Xiaoyuzi emerged with a grave face, no longer smiling as usual. Young Master Yu, as always, kept his scruffy beard masking his handsome features. Imperial Physician Wang, brows furrowed, carried his medicine chest, deep in thought.

The man remained alone inside, eyes closed in contemplation.

All incriminating items had been removed. The desk was bare. The study silent and still.

After some time, noise erupted in the hall outside. Yinyin’s chirping voice came closer: “Sister Xiaohua, I want to see Father Emperor—put me down!”

“His Majesty is busy. Could you wait a bit longer?”

“This flower ornament—I won’t give it to Cao Lian anymore. I want to save it for Father Emperor! He can braid my hair!”

Then the doors burst open. Yinyin rushed in like a gust of wind, clutching a pretty pink flower ornament. She ran to the man and lifted her tiny face. “Father Emperor, the wind messed up my hair just now—braid it for me!”

Wei Jue glanced at her fluffy little head. Two neat pigtails still sat firmly in place. The maid’s handiwork was good; no short walk could ruin the style. But Yinyin remained blissfully unaware, puffing out her tiny chest with confidence. “Father Emperor promised to braid my hair!”

Taking the ornament, the man undid her hair, frowning as he battled stubborn wisps. At last, he managed a lopsided braid—far worse than before. But Yinyin clapped happily, holding out the flower. “Father Emperor, today put it on the left side! Left side!”

Xiaohua twitched her lips helplessly. The little princess’s taste was truly unusual! At the banquet for choosing study companions, her choices had been quite refined—except for that one time she’d randomly pointed (with eyes closed) at the grandson of the Minister of Personnel. The rest had all been handsome, well-mannered children. But here with His Majesty, her standards had collapsed?

Wei Jue never noticed the gentleness in his own aura now. People rarely do. Watching Yinyin flaunt her new braids to the maids, he found the corners of his lips unconsciously curved upward.

After playing with her for a while, Yinyin was finally taken to bed. A man in black knelt before Wei Jue. “Investigate the Heir of Prince Wu.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

—

For some reason, the start of the princess’s education had been delayed several days. Only today did the study finally open.

The young noble companions had already been delivered to the palace early by their servants. The teacher arrived second. Moments before the lesson, the little princess at last arrived—unhurried as ever.

The boys widened their eyes but dared not greet her first.

They watched as the notoriously fierce and cruel Emperor carried the princess inside. His expression blank, he coaxed her to get up.

“Time for class.”

“Who was it that wanted to study?”

Yinyin instantly sobered, lifting her head from his arms. “It was Yinyin! Yinyin wants to study!”

In the past, Yinyin had never attended school or had friends. When she used to collect bottles, she envied the little children who got to go to kindergarten most of all. Now she could go to school too!

It wasn’t quite the kindergarten she’d imagined, but still—her first school, with five little companions. Climbing down from her father’s arms, she waved enthusiastically. “Hello, everyone!”

The boys’ faces flushed. “H-hello…”

Only when the frightening Emperor had left did they dare to approach her.

“Princess, I’m your first friend! My name is Fang Tang—the very first, okay?”

Yinyin nodded seriously. She remembered—he was the first one to promise her a gift. Holding out her hand, palm open, her big eyes sparkled with expectation. “Gift.”

Fang Tang: “……”

The five-year-old boy panicked, scratching his head in guilt. “M-my mother hid my jade pendant. I-I’m sorry!”

He felt terribly ashamed. He had promised to give the princess a jade pendant!

After thinking a bit, he pulled out a little rattle drum from his clothes.

Head bowed, the usually arrogant boy felt embarrassed for the first time in his life. “A-all my things were taken away… This was all I could find. It’s a rattle drum I used when I was little. It’s… um… really fun.”

His voice dropped as he reached the words “really fun.” It had been fun when he was a baby who couldn’t walk yet—at least, that’s what his mother said. He himself now thought it childish and boring!

The other boys sneered inwardly. None had expected the princess to be so sheltered. Yinyin had never owned toys before. Since arriving in the palace, the maids and nurses only made cloth dolls for her—never anything like this. To her, the little drum that went dong-dong when shaken was fascinating!

Because she was already three, none of the attendants had thought to give her a baby’s toy. Rattle drums were for infants who couldn’t yet talk or walk.

Just like the servants, the other boys thought the same. They had envied Fang Tang for being first to speak and first to show attention. But now? They thought he was a fool—for giving such a childish gift! They were ready to laugh at him.

But then—

The princess beamed, accepting the drum with delight. She shook it eagerly. “Thank you! I love it!”

The boys: “……???”

No, surely she was only being polite—for Fang Tang’s sake! That had to be it!