Widowed for Five Years, the Widow is Pregnant with the Emperor’s Child

Chapter 186

Cousin made it!

The weight in Yunwan’s heart lifted, and her face lit up with joy.

She immediately grabbed Yue Ya and asked, "What's the ranking? What place did my cousin get?"

"He's first!" Yue Ya was out of breath, but her face was beaming with smiles.

Yunwan was stunned for a moment before being overcome with delight. "He’s the Huiyuan!"

She was slightly surprised. She knew her cousin was a good student and had been a model pupil praised by his teachers back in school. However, his studies had been delayed for six years. She hadn't expected that his spirit remained undampened and that he could actually take the top spot in one fell swoop.

Yue Ya nodded, her expression filled with excitement. "Yes, yes! I saw it clearly. Master Cousin’s name was at the very top, with no other name above his!"

Thinking of something, a shadow of worry crossed Yunwan’s face. "Did you see my cousin when you went to check the rankings?"

Yue Ya replied, "I saw him. Master Cousin went with his page boy, but because it was so crowded and I was standing far away, I didn't step forward to disturb him."

"Then is my cousin... alright? He wasn't snatched away to be someone’s noble son-in-law, was he?"

Yunwan asked hesitantly. Imagining such a scene, she couldn't help but let out a giggle, her eyes dancing with amusement.

Since ancient times, there had been a tradition of "snatching a husband at the rankings." Officials with daughters of marriageable age would often send people to wait beneath the Golden List to find a promising and capable son-in-law for their families.

If a scholar passed the exam, possessed decent looks, and came from a humble background, the family servants would swarm him and whisk him away to their manor.

Hearing this, Yue Ya, Fuling, and the others were stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter.

Yue Ya said, "Rest easy, Your Ladyship. Master Cousin stayed in the carriage and didn't come down. It was the page boy who went to check the rankings. He is small and nimble; as soon as he saw the name, he hopped back into the carriage. The others didn't even have a chance to chase them."

Yunwan smiled. It seemed her cousin had come prepared, fearing he might be snatched away to be someone’s son-in-law.

"Mother, what are you all laughing about?"

Walking into the hall and hearing the room full of laughter, Sui was filled with curiosity.

Fuling smiled and said, "The little Prince is back!"

She stepped forward to help Sui unfasten his wind-blocking cloak and ordered a young maid to fetch some water.

Yunwan beckoned him over. "Are you tired? Come, drink some water and put down your book bag."

Sui let her unfasten his precious book bag and shook his head while holding his teacup. "I'm not tired, Mother."

Previously, Sui thought going to school was the most relaxing and interesting thing to do. Now, he felt the most interesting thing was attending court with his Imperial Father, because he could see and hear different things every day. School, by contrast, had become dull and tedious.

Unfortunately, the Hongwen Pavilion had resumed classes at the end of February, so Sui could no longer follow Emperor Jingxuan to the Xuanzheng Hall.

He felt quite regretful about it.

With the arrival of spring, Sui was wearing fewer layers. Yunwan held his soft yet somewhat sturdy arm, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Mother was laughing just now because your uncle passed the provincial examinations, and he even came in first place as the Huiyuan."

Seeing his mother playing with his arm, Sui simply rolled up his sleeve to let her play.

His bare little arm looked like a section of lotus root—fair, clean, and as smooth as fine jade.

Fuling and the others watched with envy, truly wanting to give the little Prince's arm a squeeze. No wonder the monsters in storybooks liked to eat children.

"Huiyuan!"

His eyes widened, full of admiration. "Uncle is so amazing!"

Due to various reasons, Sui had never had the chance to meet this uncle from Yangzhou. Now, hearing that he had become the Huiyuan, his fondness for this uncle he had never met grew even deeper.

Children always held a sense of admiration for impressive people.

Yunwan curled her lips into a smile. "That’s right. So, shouldn't our Sui also be diligent and hardworking? Otherwise, what if you can't keep up with your uncle?"

"Your uncle studied hard by the cold window for nearly twenty years. He missed two spring examinations because of his father's funeral and his mother's illness, yet he was still able to pull himself together and take the top spot."

Sui’s little mouth hung open slightly. Uncle had studied for twenty years before passing. He felt a deep sense of respect. "I should learn from Uncle. No matter what, I must never give up on my studies."

Yunwan showed a look of gratification. "That’s the spirit. You are only four years old right now. Your primary task is to learn and grow. As for attending court, it won't be too late to go with your Imperial Father on your days off. You mustn't think about it all day and forget your primary duty of studying, otherwise, you'll be putting the cart before the horse."

Sui said sheepishly, "Mother found me out."

Yunwan had no intention of blaming him. "You are my child. As your mother, I naturally know your temperament. Let's not have a next time, alright?"

Sui nodded obediently. "Okay, Mother."

"But Mother, I am already five years old now!"

He spread his fingers, emphasizing with a serious expression.

To Sui, there was a world of difference between four and five. He only had a few years to his name, so he couldn't afford to lose even one.

Yunwan laughed. "Right, right, right. You’re a big five-year-old boy."

Having had her fill of playing with the child's chubby arm, she carefully lowered his sleeve and tidied the cuff, not forgetting to ask, "Your birthday is in a few days. What do you want?"

Sui ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‍said without hesitation, "I want to spend it with Mother... and Imperial Father."

Yunwan chuckled. "What kind of request is that? Your mother and father will definitely be with you to celebrate your birthday. Pick something else."

"Then I want to ride a big horse," Sui blurted out.

Yunwan’s first reaction was that the "big horse" he spoke of was not an actual horse.

She looked hesitant. "This... might be a bit difficult."

Just as she was about to explain, Emperor Jingxuan strode in, his voice loud and powerful: "Who wants to ride a big horse?"

Yunwan stopped speaking. "Your Majesty."

Emperor Jingxuan’s gaze moved from her to Sui below, saying pointedly, "I seemed to have heard a little brat say he wanted to ride a big horse just now?"

A little brat—who else could it be but Sui?

Sui put his hands behind his back and tilted his head up to admit it. "It was me."

Seeing his cocky little manner, Emperor Jingxuan gave his chubby cheek a playful pinch. "Want to ride a big horse? I’ll take you tomorrow."

Even if he wanted to ride Chifeng, it wouldn't be a problem.

However, Sui said, "It's not that kind of horse."

Emperor Jingxuan frowned. "Is there a horse that I don't know about?"

Sui went silent.

He turned around and hugged Yunwan’s leg, turning his back to Emperor Jingxuan.

A flash of heartache crossed Yunwan’s eyes. She gently stroked the back of his full, rounded head with her palm and explained to the man:

"Your Majesty, Sui is talking about a game played between fathers and sons among the common folk. When watching the festivities on the streets, a father will usually let his child sit on his shoulders. It's commonly known as 'riding the big horse.'"

Emperor Jingxuan suddenly understood. "So that's it."

He clicked his tongue, staring at the back of Sui’s head. "You brat, you’ve got nerve. You actually want to sit on my neck?"

"Your Majesty, a child's words carry no harm..."

Seeing that his master’s expression was relaxed and not angry, Eunuch Jiang’s voice trailed off.

Yunwan said nothing, quietly listening to the dialogue between father and son.

Sui: "I don't have to ride it. It's not like I absolutely must."

Emperor Jingxuan: "Then why did you have this idea?"

Sui: "I saw other fathers and children doing it. When I was little, Bi... Lord Lu used to do that too."

Hearing this, Emperor Jingxuan was displeased, a sudden surge of competitiveness rising within him. "Isn't it just riding a big horse? Get up here."