Chapter Twenty-Eight: I Would Like to Be Your Friend

"Don't worry, your mother is your mother; I have no intention of taking her from you. I just find you rather interesting—different from the others—so I wanted to make friends with you," the crown prince said, sticking his bottom out, seemingly tireless, and earnestly conversing with Yunbai. Xiao Jingxuan narrowed his eyes, studying the prince, trying to discern whether a child of eight or nine could really harbor ill intentions. Still, the priority was to get this fellow out of the dog hole first. He nodded at Zhuo Yue'an, who immediately vaulted over the wall.

"Honestly, I think you're rather dull. I don't want to be your friend," Yunbai replied, shifting his position to lean against the base of the wall, poking at the dirt with a small stick, clearly growing weary of squatting.

"Stop messing with the dirt, you're getting it all over my face," the crown prince protested, twisting his head away in an effort to avoid the dust. "Don't be so petty. Last time, I only meant to test your mettle, to see if your courage was genuine or just a front. Besides, your mother saved my life, so I must befriend you."

"You didn't have to crawl through a dog hole just to tell me you want to be friends. You’re a strange child, and I don’t want to play with a fool," Yunbai retorted, tossing the stick aside. He was still holding a grudge over the previous incident, hence the sarcasm. Yet, he couldn't deny he enjoyed chatting with Xiao Chengze; apart from his mother, only Ruihuan kept him company, so having a new playmate today made him happy.

"I didn't come just to tell you about being friends," the crown prince replied, lowering his voice mysteriously. "I have news about your mother’s illness, so I sneaked out of the palace… Hey, who’s pulling my trousers? Stop, stop! My head—my head’s stuck! Gently—"

Yunbai was just about to hear the critical part when Xiao Chengze’s shrill cries erupted. Zhuo Yue'an had finally managed to pull the prince from the dog hole; his double chin was red from where he’d gotten stuck. Zhuo Yue'an grabbed both him and the little eunuch beside him, leaping into the courtyard. Tears welled in Xiao Chengze’s eyes as he rubbed his sore chin.

"What did the crown prince just say? How do you know Yunbai's mother is ill?" Xiao Jingxuan demanded fiercely, not even waiting for Xiao Chengze to steady himself.

"Don’t be so harsh, you’re scaring my friend," Yunbai quickly stepped between Xiao Chengze and Xiao Jingxuan. Just moments ago, he’d declared he didn’t want to be friends, and now he was defending him. Indeed, a child’s world shifts in an instant.

"Fine, I’ll tell you, but… please, don’t be angry," Xiao Chengze replied, showing no fear. If he dared sneak out of the palace, what could possibly frighten him now? Still, he was visibly anxious about revealing the truth.

"Don’t worry, I’ll protect you," Yunbai declared, patting his little chest with a loud smack.

"I overheard my mother talking to a man in black. She said someone should probe whether your mother, the princess, had been poisoned, to confirm it or something. Since she saved my life, and you said before that kindness should be repaid, I asked my attendant, Xiao Nuo, to sneak me out of the palace," Xiao Chengze explained, though his retelling was somewhat muddled—he’d only caught bits of the conversation. Nevertheless, his words were enough for Xiao Jingxuan to identify their target.

Xiao Jingxuan glanced at Xiao Nuo, who gave a subtle nod. Though he didn’t entirely trust the crown prince, he had confidence in this little eunuch, whom he’d planted in the palace as a covert guard.