Chapter 22: The Dog Emperor…

Lin Jianxi: “……” It was over.

System: “He’s recognized you. Mission failed. Next world’s difficulty increased.”

Lin Jianxi: “Can I choose to restart?”

System: “No, you must stick it out until the plot ends. Otherwise, the next world’s difficulty will max out at peak level, with a clearance rate of zero.”

~~~

Lin Xiaoye remained bent at the waist, his eyes brimming with undisguised fondness—but the hatred in them was equally plain.

“You’ve been helping me because the Emperor ordered it, right?”

Lin Jianxi said nothing.

He had no way to explain. He couldn’t very well say, “I’m helping you sincerely, not because the Emperor commanded it or because I wanted to tease you for his amusement. All my knowledge comes from the modern world, not from any special tutoring by His Majesty.”

No one would believe a word of it.

A palace maid led the Prince in. Lin Xiaoye sat silently in a chair as the boy asked, “Mom, why are you kneeling here?”

The Prince glanced fearfully at Lin Xiaoye.

Lin Jianxi started to turn away, but Lin Xiaoye yanked his hand hard, sending him tumbling onto the man’s lap.

Lin Jianxi panicked. “What’s wrong? Is your wound hurting again?”

Lin Xiaoye let out a chuckle.

Tears instantly welled up in the Prince’s eyes. He took a step forward, only to be pulled back by the palace maid. Sobbing, he cried, “Why are you doing this to Mom? Let him go!”

Lin Xiaoye twirled a lock of Lin Jianxi’s hair around his finger and asked with a light smile, “Don’t you know who I am?”

Prince Jing—Lin Xiaoye’s current identity—was known to one and all. Yet the little prince replied, “I don’t know you.”

“…”

Lin Xiaoye arched a brow slightly and looked down at him. “What’s going on?”

Lin Jianxi had been checking the man’s wound. At the question, he turned his face aside, a flash of pain in his eyes, as if he didn’t want to answer.

But the next moment, his face was turned firmly back.

The Prince wailed through his tears, “Father Emperor said that if Mom wants to spend time with me, he can’t leave this courtyard—so I don’t know you!”

Lin Xiaoye’s hand stilled. “You can’t either?”

The Prince choked out a sob. “Yes. I only get to see Mom once every seven days. Otherwise, I’m confined to my room.”

“…”

From above, Lin Jianxi heard a derisive snort of laughter. “Wasting such a precious chance on me. You’re willing to do that?”

Lin Jianxi fell silent and bowed his head. Tears soon began to fall.

Lin Xiaoye had lately been the one the Emperor sent to protect him—the only outsider he could contact.

He had no choice but to take this gamble, hoping Lin Xiaoye would soften and help his child. The boy was so lovable; surely he’d win the man’s favor…

No one knew better than Lin Jianxi that Lin Xiaoye wasn’t bad at heart. He had even taught the man everything he knew about martial arts.

Lin Xiaoye released his hand and turned to the palace maid beside them. “Help him up.”

Lin Jianxi didn’t rise. Instead, he turned and pulled the Prince into his arms, stroking the boy’s head. “Zhuo’er, shall I do your hair for you?”

He sat the Prince before a mirror, picked up a comb, and carefully brushed his hair. His neck formed a graceful arc, and in the shaft of sunlight slanting through the window, his profile radiated profound gentleness.

The palace maids lowered their eyes, tears spilling down their cheeks.

Watching the scene, Lin Xiaoye remembered the first time he had met his Benefactor—who had done his hair for him in just this way.

With the same gentleness.

The same style. He had liked to pin it with a hairpin. Lin Xiaoye had once asked why; weren’t hairpins mostly for women?

His Benefactor had smiled and said, “You’re young. It doesn’t matter. It looks good like this.”

Lin Xiaoye’s grip slowly tightened on the hilt of his blade.

He had thought the Emperor loved the Empress so deeply that he would give him everything. But love pushed to extremes became a shackle. The Empress wasn’t even allowed to show his face, confined to the palace, unable even to see his own child.

Heh. Lin Xiaoye let out a laugh.

The Dog Emperor was nothing but a fucking Dog Emperor—shirking all real duties to play his filthy little games behind the scenes.

Lin Jianxi held the Prince close, his gaze lingering on Lin Xiaoye without moving.

What was he to do? Even after the tears, Lin Xiaoye showed no sign of softening.

Lin Jianxi stared and stared until he lost himself in a daze. Then Lin Xiaoye spoke. “Had enough of a look?”

Lin Jianxi was just about to reply when a palace maid entered to announce that it was time for lunch.

Lin Jianxi quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Once the food was served, he began feeding the Little Prince, forgetting all about his own meal as he carefully scooped bites onto the spoon with single-minded focus.

Lin Xiaoye stared in stunned silence.

The Prince puffed out his cheeks. “I can feed myself.”

Lin Jianxi nuzzled his cheek. “I want to spend every moment I can with you. Indulge me, won’t you?”

~~~

It was spring, the night before Lin Xiaoye’s departure. His Benefactor had clipped some food into his bowl and smiled gently. “There’s no need for such restraint, Prince. Once you leave here, you’ll find the world is vast… yet small. You’ll be but one step below the throne.”

“…Please don’t call me that.”

“Why not? I call you by that title because I acknowledge your position. The day I stop acknowledging it, I won’t use it anymore.”

“Could you tell me what I might do to lose your acknowledgment?”

“Killing—but not killing alone.”

His Benefactor had seemed weary, sighing as he spoke. “Water can carry a boat, yet it can also capsize it. What does it mean to be a sovereign of a nation? What does ‘lord’ even signify? I think you understand.”

~~~

To keep a parent and child from reuniting like this—was that the act of a true lord?

Of course not.

As Lin Jianxi fed the Prince, he stole glances at Lin Xiaoye’s expression now and then. The Empress’s unease showed in the faint quiver of his lashes.

Even here in the Sleeping Palace, he couldn’t find any peace. How pitiful.

When it came time for the Emperor’s return, Lin Jianxi hurriedly sent the Prince away. Lin Xiaoye, catching sight of the reluctance in those eyes, inexplicably sent a servant to summon the Emperor elsewhere.

Lin Jianxi froze and stared at him in bewilderment.

Irritation churned in Lin Xiaoye’s chest. He’d seen plenty of pitiful souls before. Why should he suddenly feel a surge of pity for the Empress?

It wasn’t worth it—not for a man like this—

Lin Xiaoye’s hand trembled on his knife hilt.

Lin Jianxi was smiling.

The corners of his mouth curved gently upward, his eyes shimmering with flecks of starlight, and when he spoke, his voice wove threads of tenderness through every word.

“Thank you.”

With those words, Lin Jianxi leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the prince’s cheek. Strands of his hair fell across one shoulder, carrying a faint, familiar fragrance that brought a deep sense of comfort and calm.

“Come on, let’s go pick some flowers.” Lin Jianxi gave the prince a gentle smile. “Today I’ll teach you how to weave a flower ring. Sound good?”

“…”