small country ruler

Chapter 58, The Little King

Despite the older brother issuing an arrest warrant immediately, two days later, there was still no news of Yuanzi and Xie Kun.

Although I knew this was likely the outcome, I was still greatly disappointed. Yuanzi's dark green eyes and Xie Kun's hateful gaze were like ghosts that could emerge from the shadows at any moment, making me uneasy.

Lan Feiyu knew what was on my mind and comforted me, saying that neither Yuanzi nor Xie Kun had much power left and could no longer cause trouble in the territory of Dongchu, so there was no need to worry too much.

Even knowing that what she said was true, I couldn't help but feel uneasy. In addition, my elder brother was busy pacifying the capital of Western Shu, appeasing the surrendered officials, and eliminating the remaining resistance forces. He was almost never on the ground. Although Lan Feiyu and I were well settled in the depths of the palace, our movements were subject to many hidden restrictions. Apart from walking in the designated courtyard, we were not allowed to go out easily. This made me overthink in my spare time.

Another day passed. Early that morning, my older brother sent someone to tell Lan Feiyu that Mr. Tao had arrived. He said that she, who was most familiar with the growth of "Black Heart," needed to go and give guidance on the method to subdue the "drug man." Lan Feiyu quickly packed her things and went with the messenger. She asked me if I wanted to go with her, but I figured I wouldn't be of much help. Besides, I felt that Mr. Tao didn't seem to like me and my older brother very much, so I said I would stay here and wait for her to return, and politely declined.

However, after Lan Feiyu left, I felt a little regretful as I looked at the empty courtyard.

I spent some time studying the "Bozhou Chronicle" and "Old Shu History" that I had asked my older brother for. After half an hour, my back ached and my eyes were blurry, so I went outside. Just as I stretched, a childish face suddenly popped into my mind. It was a face full of gloom and gloom that was incongruous with its age.

I wonder how the ruler of that small kingdom in Western Shu is doing now?

The moment the thought crossed my mind, I made a decision and went to find my older brother without delay. To my surprise, he didn't object to my request. He just looked at me deeply and said, "Alright. He is still young and has experienced a sudden change. Talking to him might put his mind at ease. Just don't say anything else and don't stay too long. After all, he has a special status."

I was overjoyed to receive my older brother's approval, so I quickly agreed and turned to leave.

“Wait,” the older brother called out to me again. He picked up a small dish of neatly arranged pine nut candies from the table. “Take this with you. The children… might like it.”

I put the pine nut candy into a bag and said goodbye to my older brother. He was already engrossed in reviewing documents and didn't even bother to look up. He just gave me a vague "hmm." I thought to myself, "Although my older brother is usually stern, he is always so thoughtful. He is just like my uncle in this respect."

Led by a soldier, we made our way through a maze of turns until we arrived at a palace garden that was even more secluded and quiet than the one we were staying in. The courtyard was deep and the trees cast dappled shadows, but the paint on the pillars was somewhat mottled, making it seem even more desolate. I gave my older brother's token to the guard, who checked it and then let me in.

The young king was placed in a south-facing side hall. The hall door was ajar. I told my entourage to wait outside, took a deep breath, and gently pushed the door open.

The hall was dimly lit and carried a faint, musty scent of wood. The young king was curled up alone on a low couch by the window, clutching a thin blanket, staring blankly out the window, seemingly oblivious to my entrance.

“Young King…” I called him softly. The little boy turned to look at me. His large, clear eyes were initially misty, but then cleared. His lips curved into a smile, and he spoke in perfect Mandarin: “You are… General Xie’s sister…”

I blinked several times before I could figure out how this strange title had ended up on me. The moment I understood, I couldn't help but chuckle. Then I quickly suppressed my laughter, composed myself, took two candies from my bag, and handed them to him: "I'm not General Xie's sister, I'm... I'm Marshal Xia's aunt... My name is Zhao Xi. Here, have some candy."

He held the candy, stared at it for a while, and watched me take one and put it in my mouth before slowly opening his mouth to put it in, then curving his lips into a smile: "Thank you. So this really is candy."

"If it's not candy, then what is it?" Now it was my turn to be puzzled.

“It’s poison.” A dark, misty expression appeared on the little boy’s face. He gently tapped the pine nut candy between his teeth, making a soft 'clucking' sound, then looked up at me with a strange yet innocent smile on his lips and said, “It’s so sweet.”

As I looked at him, I felt a chill run down my spine. This child had immediately mistaken candy for poison. Just how terrifying must he have grown up in?

"Why... do you think it's poison?" I sat down next to him, trying to keep my voice calm.

The young king swallowed the last bit of pine nut candy, stuck out his little tongue and licked the remaining candy crumbs from the corner of his lips, his tone as indifferent as if he were talking about an old story that had nothing to do with him: "Because they used to put poison in the candy for me to eat. I ate and ate until my legs had no strength left, and I couldn't run fast... But I'm glad, I don't want to run with that General Xie anymore."

Well, at least we share the same dislike for Xie Kun.

But the little king's words still left me speechless, and I felt as if something was blocking my throat, and I couldn't say a word.

How old is this child? Is he even ten? Looking at him now, he appears even thinner and weaker, with a hint of illness in his eyes.

A suffocating silence fell over the hall, with only the occasional bird calls from outside the window making the stillness all the more heavy.

It was the young king who spoke first. He raised his head, and the fleeting gloom that had crossed his large eyes was gone, replaced by a calmness beyond his years, or perhaps... a resigned indifference. He looked at me and asked, "Sister Zhao Xi, is there something you need from me today?"

His mature question left me somewhat at a loss. I had only come on a whim to see him, and now, hearing about his heartbreaking past, I couldn't bring myself to say anything. I could only force a smile and shake my head: "Nothing special, I just... just wanted to see you. Are you scared being here all alone?"

Upon hearing this, the young king's lips curved into a smile again, but the smile carried a hint of bitterness and self-mockery: "I'm not much to look at. I'm afraid... but I'm used to it."

His words were like a fine needle, gently pricking me again. Looking at his thin figure, I felt even worse. I wanted to cheer him up, to let him feel some genuine warmth and kindness, but for a moment, I couldn't think of a good way. What do children like? Listening to stories? Playing games? But for him, the pleasures of ordinary children had probably long lost their meaning.

After thinking it over, I decided to be as direct as him and asked softly, "So... what do you want most right now? Or, is there anything I can do for you?"

I was actually a little nervous when I asked him that question, afraid that he would say something that would leave me speechless.

Unexpectedly, the young king spoke almost without hesitation. He looked directly into my eyes, and for the first time, a light called "longing" clearly shone in those clear eyes. He spoke, word by word, clearly:

"I want to live."

He paused, then added, his voice soft yet carrying immense weight: "I want my mother to live on as well."

Almost without thinking, after I finished being stunned, I suddenly hugged him tightly—ah, this child is so thin, I don't know how many pounds his flesh would weigh, maybe not even as much as a big fat rabbit. This is not a little king who lacks food and clothing.

What should I say? Comfort? This child is frighteningly precocious. Given the darkness and scheming he has experienced, any unrealistic promises or false comforts would only seem ridiculous and hypocritical.

In the end, I could only let go of him, take a deep breath, and speak with difficulty, my voice slightly hoarse without me even realizing it: "Young King... I... I can't make decisions about you and your mother."

As I said this, I almost dared not look him in the eye. He shifted his body and took a deep breath, just like me.

My heart ached, and I quickly added, "But don't worry! My elder brother, the King of Xinan of Eastern Chu, and His Majesty the Emperor of Eastern Chu, they... they are not people who indiscriminately kill innocent people!"

I spoke these words somewhat hastily, and with a lack of confidence. After all, my elder brother is also King Xinan, the emperor… although he is my uncle’s… but he is still the emperor. How could I possibly fathom their thoughts? But this is all I can say, and I must say it, at least to give him a glimmer of hope.

The young king listened quietly to me, without responding immediately. He kept his head down, his long eyelashes casting a faint shadow on his pale face. After a long while, he slowly raised his head, and in his large, clear eyes, the previous excitement and longing were gone, leaving only a chilling calm.

He looked at me, his voice still weak, but carrying an undeniable clarity and resolve:

"Sister Zhao Xi, what if... what if I could offer something that would tempt your King Xinan, or even your Emperor of Eastern Chu?"

He paused, then clearly and deliberately revealed his final trump card, word by word:

"Could I... use the Xie family's wealth to buy my and my mother's lives?"

I was stunned again.

How many secrets does this child hold that I don't know about?

"You...do you know where the Xie family's wealth is hidden?" I couldn't help but ask. Before going back to tell my older brother, I had to make sure it wasn't a scam.