Chu Jincheng had really calculated it carefully.
Before today, he thought his chances of success were sixty percent.
After today… that sixty percent seemed like a joke.
Luo Jingfeng would never yield to him.
Whether or not he was truly the beloved nephew of his uncle, Luo Jingfeng simply wouldn’t give in.
The Duke of State Protection, a man of towering military achievements and unshakable dominance, would never relinquish power to a young emperor.
But if he granted a few counties today, how many more would he demand tomorrow?
Would the funds for mushroom cultivation require allocations from the Ministry of Revenue?
The more Chu Jincheng thought about it, the heavier his head felt. The chain of consequences that followed was his worst nightmare. He couldn’t bear to imagine what would happen if he refused—would Luo Jingfeng force him to write another imperial decree?
What was the point of being emperor then?
Why not just let Luo Jingfeng take the throne?
"Lady Fushang has arrived."
As soon as Xu Wan entered, she saw the young boy sitting on the floor. Startled, she exclaimed, "Jin Cheng! Why are you sitting on the ground? Winter is coming—the cold will seep into your bones!"
She reached out to pull him up, but he wouldn’t budge.
Jin Cheng’s eyes were misty with unshed tears. In a voice thick with confusion, he asked, "Mother… didn’t he love me? Why didn’t he choose me? I don’t understand."
Xu Wan’s heart ached at his words. She bent down and asked softly, "What happened? Who didn’t choose you? Was it the Duke of State Protection?"
Jin Cheng nodded, his voice trembling with hurt. "I rejected the Prince of Southern Pacification’s petition, but he intercepted it. He blocked my decree…"
"How could this be…" Xu Wan was equally stunned. "Has the Duke of State Protection lost his mind? How could he treat you ? You…" You are the emperor.
How could anyone dare to defy the emperor’s orders?
The young ruler felt as if he had been slapped hard across the face. Fighting back tears, he muttered bitterly, "I was too confident. You were right, Mother. I was blindly overconfident. I thought I could defeat the Prince of Southern Pacification, but instead, I lost miserably."
When they first met, Xu Wan had often teased him for his arrogance. Yet it was that very boldness that had carried him so far.
Over time, the boy had grown steadier, almost shedding that reckless trait entirely.
But now, hearing him say it himself—it was clear he had been deeply wounded. This text is hosted at NoveI[F]ire.net
Xu Wan wrapped her arms around him, patting his back soothingly. "Don’t doubt yourself. Our Jin Cheng is the best child in the world. There are so many people who love you."
The palace doors stood open, letting in gusts of icy wind.
With red-rimmed eyes, Jin Cheng whispered hoarsely, "Mother, can you ask Father to help me with something?"
"Of course. What do you need us to do?" Xu Wan pulled back slightly, seeing the tears he stubbornly refused to shed.
Chu Jincheng spoke quietly but firmly. "Intercept the imperial decree I issued granting land to the Prince of Southern Pacification—at the Yunnan border."
Xu Wan hesitated. "Are you planning to break ties with the Duke of State Protection?"
Jin Cheng let out a bleak laugh. "A kingdom cannot have two rulers. Either I remain emperor, or he takes the throne."
Xu Wan fell silent, calculating the time it would take for the decree to reach Yunnan and for news of its interception to reach Luo Jingfeng—roughly half a month.
Before the confrontation, he had a little over two weeks to prepare.
"Jin Cheng," Xu Wan asked carefully, "have you already made your plans?"
Jin Cheng lowered his voice. "I prepared them long before he returned. I just never thought I’d need them so soon."
His feelings for Luo Jingfeng were one thing, but his determination to reclaim military authority had never wavered.
As Chu Heng had taught him, the young emperor had learned well to separate personal emotions from duty.
Sensing the storm ahead, Xu Wan nodded. "Alright. I believe in you. If you need anything, call on us. Your father and I will always stand behind you."
The boy hung his head, his voice barely audible. "Mother, I’m tired of reading petitions. I want to play football."
"Do you want to go to the football field outside the palace?"
Jin Cheng shook his head and looked up. "Ask Father to build a football field in the palace. I want to play here."
Xu Wan smiled. "Fine. I’ll have him come and set it up for you. It won’t take long."
Jin Cheng added, "And two teams of skilled players—but no martial artists. I don’t want to lose to them."
Xu Wan couldn’t help but laugh. "That doesn’t sound like you. Weren’t you once the best football player in the land? Why worry about losing now?"
Jin Cheng gazed into the distance. "One must remain humble."
The boy’s odd remarks left Xu Wan uneasy. She repeated them verbatim to Zong Zhao upon returning.
Zong Zhao simply said, "He’s grown up."
Xu Wan frowned. "Do you think he stands a chance against Luo Jingfeng now?"
Zong Zhao murmured, "A good one. He understands what he’s doing."
The palace football field was completed swiftly, matching the size of those outside.
For days, Jin Cheng attended court dutifully, reviewed petitions, ate, and slept—but his heart was heavy.
Only when the field was ready did his spirits lift. Two teams of bright-eyed, energetic boys lined up before him, shouting in unison, "Long live His Majesty!"
Their youthful vigor and carefree joy were infectious. They beamed with pride, thrilled to have been chosen to play with the emperor.
Eunuch Huang approached. "Your Majesty, your football attire is ready. One set was made by the palace, the other sent by Lady Fushang. Which would you prefer?"
Jin Cheng grinned. "Lady Fushang’s, of course. Who knows? It might even have that luminous powder I love—the kind that glows when I play at night."
Eunuch Huang chuckled. "Now that you mention it, I recall you wearing something similar years ago when you first entered the palace. The Former Emperor and many ministers watched from afar."
Jin Cheng froze. "The Former Emperor saw me?"
He had never actually met his birth father.
Eunuch Huang shook his head. "The distance was too great to see clearly. But the Former Emperor did intend to approach—until Prince Ruining stopped him."
"His Highness…" Jin Cheng whispered.
Back then, neither his father nor his uncle had returned. Had the emperor discovered his identity, he wouldn’t have survived.
But Prince Ruining had shielded him, standing steadfast against the storm.
Warmth flooded Jin Cheng’s chest, dispelling the shadows in his heart.
His mother was right. He had so many people who loved him—including the prince who had always supported him.
For himself, and for those who believed in him, he would fight.