FID – Chapter 850

Chapter 850: Eliminating a Growing Love Rival

“Do you know what it means to love someone?” The man stopped walking and turned to glance at him. 

Feng Mohan gently shook his head.

The feelings he had for his aunt were something he couldn’t speak aloud, couldn’t even show the slightest trace of. All he knew was one thing: he wanted to protect her, just like his uncle did.

“To love someone means to be utterly devoted. Her every movement, every frown and smile, can tug at your heart. You want to offer her all the best things in the world. You’re full of possessiveness toward her. You can’t tolerate even the slightest desire from others toward her. You want to do the most intimate things with her, over and over, and never tire of it.” Feng Qingbai smiled faintly. 

In truth, he didn’t fully understand love either. It was only when it came to Shengsheng that all the things he’d never thought of or even imagined came naturally.

Without thinking. Straight from the heart.

“You were raised by me and taught by me, so you took after my temperament, even my preferences. The books I like to read, you like them too. My handwriting style, you’ve practiced it and made it your own. The way I deal with others, you’ve imitated it perfectly. In everything, you’ve followed in my footsteps, always trying to get closer to me. So naturally, the things I like, the things I protect—you came to like them too. You wanted to protect them as well.”

Seeing the confused look in the boy’s eyes, Feng Qingbai smiled again.

“Everything you’ve done is because I liked them first, so you followed. Over time, you forgot what it is you actually like. Your feelings for your aunt aren’t love, just a habit that formed subconsciously from following me.”

“Uncle, I—I didn’t, I would never dare to have such thoughts about Imperial Aunt…” Feng Mohan hurriedly defended himself. 

His uncle’s words had clearly pointed out his feelings for his aunt. If that was true, his uncle would surely abandon him!

A long, slender hand rose and gently patted his head, cutting off his words.

“You see me as a father, and much of what you do is to please me,” Feng Qingbai said. “Take some time to calm down and think it through properly. Look into your heart and see it clearly. Feng’er, what you should strive for is not to become the version of you I want, or to do the things I wish to do. What you must do is find your true self and pursue what you truly want.”

The hand resting on his head, ruffling his hair, felt different from the soft, gentle warmth of his imperial aunt’s hand.

This hand was warm too, but it carried something more—something that made him feel completely at peace.

He had done so many things, often just to earn a single approving glance from his imperial uncle, a few simple words of praise. And with that, he would feel deeply fulfilled.

Then… had he really, just as his uncle said, misunderstood his own feelings?

Slowly, he lifted his gaze, looking at the man’s ever-serene face, those calm and distant eyes. And this time—this time, he finally saw what lay behind them: a sigh over his growth, a sense of relief, and an earnest hope.

“Feng’er, since you were young, I told you that an emperor should be without emotion. That was my mistake. I took away your right to be yourself. I shaped you into the person I thought you should be. That was my error. In the future, be yourself, alright?”

“Uncle…” A wave of fierce, bitter emotion surged in Feng Mohan’s chest. It reddened his nose. It reddened his eyes.

Feng Mohan suddenly threw himself into the man’s arms, hugging him tightly. “…From the time I was little until now, you’ve never hugged me, Uncle.”

His head rubbed against the man’s shoulder repeatedly, his voice trembling with a choked-up tone that tried hard to hide the sorrow, revealing a faint sense of grievance.

Like a young beast that had been treated unfairly, the moment it was understood, it felt more vulnerable than ever. So he acted spoiled in his elder’s embrace, seeking comfort.

A big hand paused briefly, then gently wrapped around the boy’s back, patting lightly in reassurance.

On his shoulder, the boy rubbed even more insistently; the thin fabric of his clothes was dampened by a trace of moisture, warm at first, then turning slightly cool.

Feng Qingbai looked up at the starry sky above, lips curling into a slight smile.

It was an autumn night in October, and the night dew had already begun to fall.

The two of them stayed in the imperial garden for a long time—though they could have left earlier.

But the little creature clung to him stubbornly, reluctant to let go, dawdling for quite a while. Only after several urgings did they slowly return to the bedchambers, stopping every few steps.

Thankfully, no one was around; otherwise, there would surely be new rumors spreading the next day.

After escorting the boy back to his chamber, Feng Qingbai rubbed the damp, cold shoulder and sighed, rubbing his brows. He originally planned to enter the palace tonight not only to settle Feng Mohan’s matters but also to visit Yangxin Hall and inquire about things from years ago.

Now, the moon was already beginning to set in the west, so he couldn’t go. It would have to wait until tomorrow.

Feng Qingbai left the palace in a good mood, and this good mood lasted all the way back to his residence, where he undressed and lay down on the bed.

At that moment, the woman had not yet fallen fully asleep, forcing herself to stay awake waiting for his return.

“Your eyes are glowing, and the corners of your lips are raised… You’re in a good mood.”

“Not bad,” he replied, placing a gentle kiss on her temple, the smile on his lips deepening.

“What got you so delighted? Tell me.”

“Allow your husband to keep a secret. Sleep now.”

The woman had been holding on with effort. Now that he was back, and his familiar presence surrounded her, she quickly drifted into a deep sleep.

Watching her peaceful sleeping face, he leaned down again to lightly kiss her brows and eyes.

His good mood stemmed from having successfully nipped a potential love rival in the bud—effortlessly.

Of course, this was something his Shengsheng would never know.

Back in the palace’s Qiande Hall, another person was also in high spirits, completely unaware that he had just been thoroughly misled.

Feng Mohan rolled back and forth on the dragon bed, hugging the blanket, a wide grin stretched across his face that he couldn’t hide no matter how hard he tried.

Tonight, Imperial Uncle hugged him! Hahaha!

Back in Xinghua Village, he often saw fathers hugging their sons, even lifting them onto their shoulders.

That, of course, was something he dared not even dream of—but to be hugged by his uncle, to experience that feeling, was already more than enough.

How could he dare expect too much from his Uncle?

His Uncle had always been a reserved man when it came to emotions, and especially strict with him. For tonight to have gone the way it did—this was truly rare.

And—he actually admitted he was wrong!

Aoooh! He couldn’t sleep!

“Someone, come keep me company for a chat!”

The young eunuch waiting in the outer chamber rushed in. “Your Majesty, do you have any orders?”

“Sit down. Just chat with me casually.”

“Your servant wouldn’t dare!”

The young eunuch dropped to his knees in fright.

“Kneeling’s fine too. What’s your name?”

The eunuch’s face darkened. He’d been serving the emperor for half a year, and His Majesty didn’t even know his name. “Your Majesty, this servant is called Xiao Banzi. Your Majesty gave me that name yourself.”

“That’s not important. I’m asking you—do my words and actions resemble Imperial Uncle’s?”

“……” The eunuch bowed low to the ground. “Very much so, Your Majesty.”

“How much?”

“Eight-Ninety percent, I’d say.” 

After all, he was personally taught by the Prince. From master to disciple, it was only natural that his conduct and style would mirror the one who influenced him most. 

The eunuch thought: His Majesty asking this is kind of dumb, honestly.

“Really that much?” The emperor’s voice now held even more delight.

At this point, even if the young eunuch thought he’d said something wrong, he didn’t dare to backtrack. He responded solemnly and respectfully, “Truly that much.”

“All right, you may go.”

“……”