Chapter 547 - 550: One Family
Hua Manman’s temple throbbed as she listened.
’This little rascal is a real troublemaker!’
She suppressed the urge to lecture the little rascal and asked patiently.
"Doesn’t your royal father care about you? He just lets you run wild and cause trouble like this?"
Li Xun couldn’t help but defend himself.
"I wasn’t causing trouble! They insulted me first. I didn’t do anything wrong!"
As the boy spoke, he felt deeply wronged, and his eyes couldn’t help but turn red.
Seeing this, Hua Manman quickly comforted him.
"Don’t be upset. Tell me, what did they say to you?"
"They called me a bastard with a mother who didn’t raise him... SOB SOB SOB... I’m not a bastard! I have a mother! When I was in danger as a child, it was my mother who came to save me! They’re spouting lies!"
The more Li Xun spoke, the more aggrieved he felt, and the more tears streamed down his face.
Hua Manman’s heart ached for him.
She quickly pulled him into her arms, comforting him in a soft, gentle voice.
"Don’t cry, don’t cry. They were just talking nonsense. Don’t pay them any mind."
She had originally thought it was just a squabble between children, but now it was clear that Li Xun had been bullied.
When Hua Manman was in middle school back in the countryside, her classmates found out about her family situation. Some of them would subtly and openly ostracize her, calling her a wild child with no parents.
She had been furious back then, wanting nothing more than to rush over and punch them to shut them all up.
But in the end, her reason held her back.
She couldn’t cause trouble at school; she couldn’t bring trouble to her grandparents.
Later, after hearing so much gossip, she grew numb to it.
It wasn’t until she got into university and left that small town that the whispers haunting her finally faded away.
Because of these childhood experiences, Hua Manman deeply empathized with what Li Xun was going through.
She patiently soothed the child in her arms.
Only when the boy’s emotions had gradually stabilized did Hua Manman let him go.
She helped him wipe away his tears and asked in a warm voice.
"Does your royal father know about this?"
Li Xun nodded honestly. "Yes."
Hua Manman: "How did he find out? Did you tell him?"
From what she knew of the boy, although he was young, he was very proud. Even if he suffered outside, he wouldn’t tell his family.
Li Xun: "Some officials submitted a memorial to impeach my royal father because I injured a classmate.
They said my royal father condoned my violence and that I was using my status to bully others. Anyway, they scolded both of us.
My royal father seemed quite angry. He summoned me as soon as he got home.
I thought he was going to beat me.
But he just asked me what happened."
Hua Manman asked curiously.
"And then? Did your royal father believe you?"
Li Xun nodded. "He did."
Although his father had a rotten temper and was often unreasonable, he was always able to tell right from wrong and never wrongly accused anyone.
Hua Manman: "Your royal father must have gotten revenge for you, right?"
Li Xun chuckled. Although his eyes were still red, they sparkled with excitement.
"Yeah! My royal father dismissed the teachers who wrongly accused me.
He also expelled the classmate who bullied me from the Imperial College, and his family’s elders were stripped of their official positions completely.
Now their whole family has moved out of Shangjing. They’ll never appear before me again."
Hua Manman inwardly clicked her tongue in amazement.
’As expected of the Regent King. What a badass!’
Hua Manman remarked with feeling, "Your royal father really dotes on you."
Who would have thought Li Xun would just pout, a look of dissatisfaction on his small face.
"No, he doesn’t!
Afterward, my royal father specifically called me over to scold me.
He said I was too useless, that in a fight I only managed to pin the guy down and punch him twice.
He said if it were him, he would have at least knocked out all the other person’s teeth so they could never insult anyone again."
Hua Manman: "..."
Li Xun: "Does he think I didn’t want to? It was only because I was too young and not strong enough! If I were just a year or two older, I would have beaten him to a pulp!"
After speaking, he even brandished his small fists, revealing a fierce, snarling expression.
He looked just like a little wolf pup.
The corners of Hua Manman’s mouth twitched as she watched him.
’What on earth did that damn man eat growing up? Who teaches a child like that?!’
’If he keeps being taught like this, Li Xun is definitely going to turn out wrong.’
’If the boy’s birth mother knew about this, she’d probably die of anger.’
Hua Manman pushed the boy’s fists down and warned him seriously.
"Don’t listen to your royal father’s nonsense. Hitting people is wrong. If anyone bullies you again, just go tell your royal father and have him deal with their parents. You don’t need to do it yourself."
Li Xun asked hesitantly.
"Can I come find you then, Mother? You’ll help me, right?"
Hua Manman didn’t know if she would still be around then, but to put the boy at ease, she nodded.
"Yes, of course I’ll help you."
Li Xun immediately beamed with joy.
A servant brought over the ice jelly, fruits, and snacks.
Jiao Gui stepped forward and arranged them on the table.
The ice jelly was served not only with aged vinegar and honey but also sprinkled with raisins and crushed peanuts.
Li Xun took a bite and declared it delicious.
Hua Manman said with a smile, "This ice jelly also comes in fruit flavors. I’ll have it made for you again another time."
Li Xun asked, full of anticipation.
"Are you going to make it for me yourself, Mother?"
Hua Manman had originally intended to have the cooks make it, but looking at the boy’s sparkling eyes, her heart softened, and she agreed with a smile.
"Alright. Next time, I’ll make it myself."
The moment he heard his mother would make him food herself, Li Xun suddenly felt that the ice jelly in his bowl was no longer so appealing.
’It’s like I can taste the ice jelly made by Mother’s own hands right now!’
Li Xun asked impatiently.
"Will you make it for me tonight?"
Hua Manman laughed helplessly. "You can’t eat too much ice jelly. This one bowl is enough for today. Let’s wait until tomorrow..."
Jiao Gui, who was standing by, reminded her in a low voice.
"The capital relocation ceremony is tomorrow."
Hua Manman had no choice but to correct herself, "The day after tomorrow, then."
Li Xun was very dissatisfied and muttered under his breath, "Why does the capital have to be moved tomorrow? Can’t it wait a couple of days?"
It was getting in the way of his mother making him delicious food.
Hua Manman didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Such a momentous event as relocating the capital was, in the boy’s mouth, less important than a bowl of ice jelly.
She reached out and tapped the tip of the boy’s nose, reminding him.
"It’s fine to say things like that in front of me, but you must never say them in front of outsiders."
The Regent King’s high position made him a target, and many people disliked him. As his only son, Li Xun’s every word and action were watched by countless eyes. If he spouted nonsense outside, it would give outsiders an opportunity to attack the Regent King.
Li Xun couldn’t care less about what happened to his dad.
At this moment, he was secretly delighted.
’Hehe, Mother told me not to speak nonsense in front of outsiders, but I can say these things in front of her.’
’That means Mother and I are family.’
’Mother admits we’re a family now!’