Chapter 104: Which Is Sharper—This Wooden Sword or a Real Sword?

Jiang Peihuan was startled, and only then regained her composure.

Since Marquis Le An would stay here overnight tonight, she had just finished bathing and deliberately dressed up, hoping to spend a pleasant evening with him.

Meanwhile, Marquis Le An was in the backyard playing with his two sons.

She ordered the kitchen to prepare the food, so that the four of them could dine together later, and she herself went back to the main hall to wait.

But unexpectedly, Xiao Qidi appeared out of nowhere.

"There… no… any guests…" Jiang Peihuan forced a smile, "Qidi, why did you suddenly come?"

Xiao Qidi looked around but gave no answer.

Jiang Peihuan added, "Please sit down and rest for a while… you must be hungry, right? I'll have someone prepare something for you."

Saying that, she turned and walked toward the back door of the main hall.

She thought she must quickly tell Marquis Le An to hide; she could not let Xiao Qidi see him.

"Stop!" Xiao Qidi coldly rebuked, "Why is the Empress Dowager so frantic?"

Jiang Peihuan's body stiffened, and she tried hard to stay calm, "I… I'm just… so happy to see you finally back… so excited…"

"Is that so," a cold smile flickered in Xiao Qidi's eyes, "but I recall that in the five years since you lived in Shun Palace, every time I came to see you you never seemed happy or excited, and you even refused to let me stay long."

Jiang Peihuan turned stiffly, trying to appear less abnormal, and explained with a strained effort, "Since you inherited the throne, you have so many affairs to attend to… I'm afraid I would waste your time."

Xiao Qidi stepped forward, "I have not yet taken personal rule; the Prime Minister handles state affairs, and the Empress Dowager is not unaware, so what could I possibly be busy with?"

"Well…" Jiang Peihuan retreated slowly, her heart uneasy, "Even though you have no official duties, you still have studies; you must devote more time and thought to learning from the Grand Tutor and ministers, preparing for future personal rule, so that you may become a wise ruler of your generation."

"Ha, does the Empress Dowager truly think so?"

"Of course, you are my son… I have placed great hope in you."

Hearing that, Xiao Qidi stared into Jiang Peihuan's eyes, was silent for a moment, then a bitter, hard‑to‑explain sneer curled his mouth, "It's actually the first time I've heard those words."

"Qidi, I…" Jiang Peihuan suddenly felt her heart pierced like by a needle; she wanted to say more, but only opened her mouth without uttering a word.

Mother and son stood a few steps apart, looking at each other.

Xiao Qidi clenched his fists, then slowly released them.

"What's wrong with your hand?" Jiang Peihuan hurried forward, took Xiao Qidi's hand, and gently wiped it with her handkerchief, "How did it become like this? Does it hurt?"

In that moment, the worry she unintentionally showed was genuine.

Xiao Qidi's lips trembled slightly, a sour sting rising in his heart.

He recalled that when, as a child, he was a hostage in the Wasteland Nation and was bullied and injured, the only one who worried and was anxious for him was his mother.

There was also a time when he was beaten to the brink of death.

It was his mother, in the middle of the night, braving a torrential downpour, carrying his grievously wounded body, going from clinic to pharmacy, kneeling and begging doctors to save him…

"I'll send someone to fetch a doctor," Jiang Peihuan cradled Xiao Qidi's bloodied hands, tears glimmering in her eyes, "You're already eighteen; why can't you protect yourself?"

Her tone, laden with blame and tenderness, struck the softest place hidden deep in Xiao Qidi's heart.

Xiao Qidi's nostrils suddenly burned with acidity; he gritted his teeth, withdrew his hands, turned, and said, "It's nothing, this minor wound is insignificant. I take my leave; you… take care of yourself."

At that moment he wavered.

Even knowing Marquis Le An was certainly there, he still preferred to keep pretending he knew nothing.

For his mother's sake, he thought, let that fellow… live a little longer.

Xiao Qidi did not look back as he headed for the gate; Jiang Peihuan watched his tall yet solitary silhouette, tears welling, a sudden urge rising in her heart to call him to stay, to spend more time with him.

But as the words reached her lips, reason stopped her impulse.

Just as Xiao Qidi's foot was already crossing the threshold.

Suddenly, two children's laughing voices came from the back door of the main hall, sounding especially shrill in the quiet surroundings.

Xiao Qidi instantly halted.

Jiang Peihuan was startled pale, turned toward the back door to block, but it was already too late.

The two children, one after the other, sprinted into the main hall, chasing, leaping, and playing.

"Don't run! Stop!"

"I won't stop! If you can, catch me!"

"Hmph! Unfair, you're a year older and run faster; every time you chase me I get caught instantly, while I have to run for ages to catch you!"

"Hehe, who's to blame for your poor skill!"

"..."

Xiao Qidi slowly turned, his eyes fixed firmly on the two children racing wildly through the hall.

The two children wore fine clothes and shoes.

They were fair, plump, with delicate skin.

Their brows and eyes resembled the Empress Dowager, while their noses and mouths looked more like Marquis Le An.

A chill rose in Xiao Qidi's heart.

These must be the wretched offspring of the Empress Dowager and Le An…

They live truly carefree.

Clad in brocade and feasting without worry, they also receive meticulous care from both birth parents…

Jiang Peihuan had no idea Xiao Qidi already knew everything; now she dared not even breathe, wanting to send the two children away yet fearing her abnormal behavior would arouse his suspicion.

She could only calm herself first, thinking how to explain later to get through this.

"Hey? Who are you?" the child leading the run noticed Xiao Qidi, walked up to him and examined him.

The other, panting, also looked at Xiao Qidi, then pursed his lips and asked, "Why aren't you answering? Are you a beggar?"

Xiao Qidi pressed his thin lips together, staring straight at them.

Jiang Peihuan felt her throat tighten, couldn't think clearly, hurried forward and said, "Go, go, go, play elsewhere, and stop making a ruckus here!"

I won't!

Me neither! We want to play here!

The two children made faces at her.

Jiang Peihuan felt nervous and relieved; she was relieved that, fortunately, she had taught these two sons since they were young not to call her 'mother' in front of outsiders.

Fortunately, although they were mischievous, they didn't slip up just now.

Empress Dowager, why is there a child in the Shun Palace? Xiao Qidi's dark gaze fell on Jiang Peihuan.

Jiang Peihuan hadn't even spoken when the two children chirped:

Beggar, beggar! Kneel and salute us!

Hurry up! After you salute, you have to be my horse!

You're pretty tall; if you make a good horse, we can keep you as a servant, but you must obey, or I'll whip you!

Such arrogant, overbearing words coming from the mouths of these four- or five-year-olds are not only especially unpleasant, but also chilling.

They cursed and spat while punching and kicking.

Jiang Peihuan didn't even have time to stop them.

A chilling gleam instantly flashed in Xiao Qidi's eyes.

The two children had never seen such a frightening look; they screamed, turned, and ran to Jiang Peihuan, one on each side clinging to her legs and shouting:

Mother! This beggar is scary!

Quick, have someone kill him! Wah!

Everything happened too fast.

Jiang Peihuan almost blacked out; she hurriedly covered the two children's mouths and, in desperation, said: "These two children are orphans I took in from Shuncheng; I... I found them so pitiful that I often brought them to live in the palace, and when they grow older I will find a suitable family to adopt them."

Xiao Qidi said nothing, his face growing colder and his eyes darker.

Even the surrounding air seemed to suddenly cool, making Jiang Peihuan feel none of the midsummer night's heat.

"They, they..." Jiang Peihuan stammered, continuing her explanation: "They've been with me for a long time; sometimes... they just call me like that."

Xiao Qidi's face showed no expression as he calmly said: "Empress Dowager, you're being too indulgent with them; with such character, who would dare adopt them in the future?"

Jiang Peihuan lowered her eyes: "I never knew how to raise a child before, and I had no means to give you a stable childhood, making you suffer so much... Seeing them, I always think of the past you, and I can't help but want to pamper them."

Xiao Qidi's cheeks twitched as his back teeth clenched tightly.

Indescribable complex emotions surged wildly within him, as if they would burst out of his chest.

"Three days," Xiao Qidi said, his eyes red as he suppressed his killing intent, "I give you three days to send them away, never to let me see them again or know their whereabouts. After that, they must never set foot in Xuan Guo even half a step."

Jiang Peihuan always felt that Xiao Qidi seemed to know something.

But upon reflection, if he knew the children's identities, how could he let them live?

But if the children were truly sent away, then she would be forever separated from them flesh and blood.

And Lao An's painstakingly devised grand scheme would also come to nothing...

No, it should be said that it has already come to nothing.

Well, let it be as it is.

She suddenly felt tired and no longer wanted to hope for anything.

Go back and properly persuade Marquis Le'an; things have come to this, accept reality.

As long as their children live well in the world, and as long as the two of them can stay together, that is enough for her.

"Empress Dowager, are you unwilling to agree?" Xiao Qidi said coldly, "Or do you want me to send them away?"

Jiang Peihuan's heart jolted; tears streaming, she hurriedly said: "I agree with you; I... I will send them away, to a faraway place, never to appear again."

The two children, hearing these words, struggled to ask Mother why, but Jiang Peihuan tightly covered their mouths, so they could only whimper.

"Your Majesty..." Jiang Peihuan choked, "Please go slowly; forgive me... I won't see you off."

Having said that, she knelt on the ground, pressing the two children down as she kowtowed three times to Xiao Qidi.

"I will never come here again. Empress Dowager, if you ever wish to return to the Royal City, you need not inform me." Xiao Qidi said, turning slowly; a tear slipped silently from the corner of his eye.

"Yes, Your Majesty..." Jiang Peihuan pressed her forehead against the hard, cold ground, tears falling like broken beads.

"Hahaha! Children!" Marquis Le'an's laughter suddenly rang out, "I've made the toys you wanted! Ah, it's been ages since I've done this kind of work; if you hadn't asked, I wouldn't have made them myself! Come see, do you like them?"

At the sound of his voice, Marquis Le'an had already run from the rear gate into the main hall.

He beamed, examining the wooden long sword in his hand, until he looked up and saw the situation inside the main hall, his smile freezing instantly.

Jiang Peihuan froze completely, kneeling on the ground with a blank mind.

Xiao Qidi snapped his head back, his pupils flashing red, his gaze shooting like an arrow toward Marquis Le'an.

Marquis Le'an stood frozen, eyes wide in shock as he stared at Xiao Qidi.

Unbelievable!

He actually didn't die?!

Even more unbelievable, he actually... appeared here so suddenly without any warning!

The air seemed to completely solidify in that instant.

Marquis Le'an was so shocked he even forgot to pay his respects to the king.

The two children slipped out from under the Empress Dowager's arms while she was distracted, rushing to Marquis Le'an.

Daddy! Give it to me! Give it to me!

No, I'm the older brother, I get to play first; Daddy, hurry up and give it to me!

The two children's shout made Jiang Peihuan's heart turn cold halfway.

Marquis Le'an's legs went weak from fright as he blurted out an excuse: "Your Majesty... these... these two children are... are the offspring of a relative of this humble servant; this humble servant... this humble servant brought them to pay respects to the Empress Dowager; the two children are too young to understand, they call anyone Daddy..."

Upon hearing those words, Jiang Peihuan's already half-cold heart turned completely cold.

His whole body seemed to have been drained of all strength, and he collapsed limply onto the ground.

"Oh? I see, then," Xiao Qidi narrowed his eyes slightly, stepping closer, "otherwise I would have thought Marquis Le'an, as a eunuch, how could you have children?"

The deliberately mocking words, each character like a needle pricking Jiang Peihuan's heart.

But the Marquis Le'an, unaware of the situation, did not realize this was mockery; seeing Xiao Qidi approach, he only then thought to salute, and quickly knelt, saying, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty; please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

Xiao Qidi said lightly, "Marquis Le'an, what crime have you committed?"

"Your humble servant..." Lao An lowered his head and said, "Your humble servant did not know Your Majesty would suddenly grace us with your presence, and has been remiss in etiquette."

Xiao Qidi picked up the wooden sword and examined it, saying, "This wooden sword actually looks more and more familiar to me."

Marquis Le'an's heart skipped a beat, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Xiao Qidi brandished the wooden sword, flourishing it, the tip stopping above Marquis Le'an's head, "Oh, I remember now—this is exactly like the king's sword I wear in the palace. I heard Marquis Le'an used to be a carpenter; not bad, not bad, your craftsmanship is truly excellent!"

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, please forgive me!" Marquis Le'an kowtowed and said, "Your humble servant merely thought the King of Daxuan's sword was the most handsome, so I made this wooden sword for the children to play with, following its style; your humble servant harbors no other intention!"

Xiao Qidi's eyes were full of a cold smile, "I don't know whether this wooden sword or a real one is sharper."

"This..." Marquis Le'an, not understanding the meaning, didn't know how to answer for a moment.

Xiao Qidi suddenly bent down, reached out, and drew the waist sword from Marquis Le'an's belt.

With a clang, Marquis Le'an was startled into a shiver.

The two children beside him, seeing this, immediately became anxious.

They had lived in Shun Palace since birth, never stepping outside, never having any contact with outside information, and having been raised in indulgence, they knew nothing of ruler-subject relations or etiquette.

Even seeing Marquis Le'an salute before Xiao Qidi, they paid it no heed, arrogantly shouting at Xiao Qidi:

"You snatched our wooden swords, and also took our father's sword! You're a bad person!"

"Give our swords back!"

"Hurry up! Otherwise we'll beat you to death and chop you into pieces to feed the dogs!"