Su Yi Jing followed the direction of the Emperor of Xiyun’s pointing finger and saw that the Emperor was referring to his elder brother Su Muchen. He nodded ever so slightly and said in a babyish voice, "Happy."
The Emperor of Xiyun smiled genially and said, "Then, from now on, Jing’er and your brothers should often come and play with Brother Muchen, alright?"
Su Yi Jing first looked at Su Muchen and then slowly turned his little head back, showing a small open-mouthed smile that was especially reserved. He nodded again, "Okay."
Only then did the Emperor of Xiyun turn his head and look towards Su Muchen. "Chen, when Jing’er and the others come to your palace to play, make sure to play with them. Don’t get annoyed with them. They are young and can be a bit noisy, but they also truly like you as their elder brother, understand?"
Su Muchen was pleasantly surprised and hurriedly stood up, saying, "Yes, Your Majesty Grandfather, I shall obey."
Su Chengyu felt envious in his heart.
His son was much happier than he had been. He had been designated as Crown Prince from birth and had hardly played during his childhood. He was either forced to study this or that. Later, when he got used to it, he didn’t even need his father Emperor to coerce him, he would study on his own initiative, which made him happier.
An Jing simply smiled as she watched her husband. Her father-in-law truly did listen to her husband.
Of course, what her husband said and did was usually right.
Xiao Changyi said nothing commendable. Seeing An Jing smiling at him, he placed a piece of beef into An Jing’s bowl, urging her to eat.
After lunch, the Emperor of Xiyun rested for a short while before heading to the Imperial Study Room to review petitions.
An Jing and Xiao Changyi weren’t in a hurry to return home and planned to take the four children to walk around the palace.
The four children were to sleep with the Emperor of Xiyun that night.
"Chengyu, would you like to walk with us?" Standing in the corridor, An Jing asked Su Chengyu with a smile.
Su Chengyu declined with a smile. "No, I still have some things to do. Brother Yi and Sister-in-law, take Jing’er and the others for a good stroll around the palace."
After speaking, Su Chengyu glanced around and then asked Xiao Changyi in a lowered voice, "Brother Yi, today is Brother Chengjin’s birthday. Do you want to come with me to see him?" His ’some things to do’ was to secretly visit his Brother Chengjin.
Xiao Changyi was silent.
As soon as Su Chengyu mentioned Brother Chengjin, An Jing immediately remembered that Xiao Changyi had told her before about the Emperor of Xiyun’s other son named Su Chengjin. However, even if Su Chengjin’s birthday was not highly favored, it shouldn’t be so secretive and furtive, as if doing something illicit.
Su Chengyu, seeing the puzzled look on An Jing’s face, sighed softly, "Father Emperor really dislikes it when I mention Brother Chengjin and also doesn’t like me visiting him. Once, when I was a child and visited Brother Chengjin, Father Emperor found out and scolded me upon my return. The two palace attendants who went with me were executed by Father Emperor. Since then, even if I wanted to visit Brother Chengjin, I had to do it secretly. But fearing Father Emperor’s wrath, I didn’t dare go often, only occasionally. However, I always try to secretly visit him on his birthday, especially when I am in the Imperial Capital."
Yet, at the same time, An Jing didn’t understand. Why did the Emperor of Xiyun dislike Su Chengjin so much? Su Chengjin was his own son, after all.
Without being able to help herself, An Jing asked softly, "Why is the Emperor so averse to you visiting Prince Chengjin and even forbids people in the palace to mention him?"
Su Chengyu shook his head, "I don’t know. I asked Father Emperor about this issue when I was young, but he said nothing and forbade me from seeing Brother Chengjin. He even threatened me, saying if I went to see Brother Chengjin again, he would break my legs."