The sun sets down, the stone lanterns lit up the marketplace of zuli, among the crowd of excited subjects and people roaming to see the festival to celebrate Ziwang Yuenghon's victory over the Southern plains' kingdoms, the young emperor who sat at the throne at the age of twenty, because of his father's sudden death.

At 23, currently he was hosting a banquet in the most big camp in the marketplace, no common people were allowed, inside the imperial camp, yuenghon sat on the high seat, the nobles sat in a low table, the servants, serving drinks and food to the ministers and important generals, in the centre a group of dancers adorned the camp, music flowed and the lavish environment filled with happy chatters.

But yuenghon was immovable, he leisurely drank from his goblet, one of the ministers gifted him treasures as a gift.

"Your majesty, congratulations on the triumph, we all are truly impressed by your huge expansion; I wish you all prosperity", he bowed as he presented the gifts, yuenghon nodded curtly, "It is appreciated, thank you for the pleasantries, pls enjoy the banquet—",

suddenly the court plunged to silence as a child ran through the guards and swarm of dancers standing in front of the steps of the high seat, his voice chirpy and full of innocence ,"wow your robes are so beautiful ! That looks like a real dragon !", he giggled.

Yuenghon frowned immediately intrigued by the intrusion, he took at his appearance, messy fringed black hair, big eyes full of excitement, no fear to be found and tattered clothes but it was clear from his style of clothing that he comes from a noble family.

one of the guards moves to seize the child "Your majesty ! we tried to stop him ...but he was too fast... we will immediately—" yuenghon raised a hand...absolute silence.

"Tell me your name, why are you here ?" Yuenghon asked.

The child smiled cheerfully "Yuan lee ! I came to visit the festival with my family, I got lost, and was drawn to the music, you truly are wonderful !...but...tired" he said innocently..

Yuenghon's eyes widen slightly, *tired?* This child ?! Not touched with the cruel world yet, read his face so easily ?

The camp held its breath, then a scream tore through the silence.

" YUAN LEE, YOU LITTLE!"

A woman, anger and fear evident in her face, from the reaction it looked like she was his mother , she came and slapped yuan instantly.

The little child's face swung to the side as he stepped back staggering, Yuenghon saw the scene unfold. Then followed one more figure, a middle aged man, worry etched on his face, he knelt immediately.

"My Lord ! Pls forgive this foolish child's intrusion, I'm his...father, I beg for your forgiveness my Lord !" yuenghon saw yuan slightly standing behind head low. He continued to stand quietly, the women turned, landing several hits on yuan's back

"YOU LITTLE PRICK ! GO APOLOGISE HIS MAJESTY ! WHAT ARE YOU STANDING FOR ! GO !!" the women pushed the back of yuan's knees as he knelt , head low, his hands shaking.

He bowed his head "I'm ...sorry, my-my Lord, i won't repeat it , pls f-forgive me."

Yuenghon still said nothing, but his face now readable *he was angry* but not at the child but at his parents, he leaned back, then the next words shocked the two adults.

"I understand, but what you both broke is...taking action without my permission in my premises ...I didn't permit you to discipline your child in front of me..." His voice was calm, but the threat was clear, the women paled with terror, the man shook still bowing.

Yuan seeing the tension , he stepped forward looking up, "m-my lord, pls don't do anything to them ...I'm...I'm at fault, i am the one who ruined the banquet and caused chaos, pls ...punish me instead."

Yuenghon , this time was truly moved, such a little soul and he completely took the blame ? Why ? What kind of life is he leading, maybe it was complete innocence ...still it sounded so mature, what a child...worried about his parents.

"Bring the child closer ..." A quiet command, the guards grabbed him and pushed him closer, yuan's siblings...one brother and one sister snickered near the gates, they were kids too, yuenghon looked in that direction slightly sighing then he descended the steps to step in front of the small frame.

Noticing his eyes, it had nothing...but benevolence and unguarded innocence

"Though , you caused chaos and ruined my banquet , you are brave, little one...for your parents are forgiven." Yuan smiled forgetting all the pain, yuenghon turned to one of the servants, "bring that jade pendant, this child deserves something to have from me..."

Yuan stood with wide eyes , his heart racing, *a...a gift ? From the emperor ?*

Never in his life has he got a gift from anyone now, the imperial emperor was about to give him a gift, he looked at his parents who stood head low and looked at yuan with an unreadable expression. His eyes travelled to the door, and he saw his siblings snickering, then the servant appeared again handing a small pouch on the emperor's hand...

*so this is true...I'm getting a present* he thought...

Yuenghon leaned closer to yuan's face, handing him a small pouch "don't wander like that again alright ? Not everyone is like me ...some can harm such innocence..."

Yuan grabbed the pouch with his hands, nodding with a genuine smile, "you...truly is beautiful, I saw you for the first time, I always wanted to meet you...I'll remember you my Lord ..." He smiled, yuenghon's heart raced.

He was never complimented in his whole life, did this child who ruined his banquet for the evening just made him...a bit vulnerable and promised to remember him?

He asked "don't you find me scary yuan ?" yuan gave a small giggle "nope...there's nothing so scary about you, you are just a bit too tough, but it's fine..."

He shook his head, suppressing his small faint smile and nodded, "mhm got it now go yuan, it's late, return to your house..." Yuan nodded and ran back to his parents..

Though the parents looked relieved, neither yuenghon nor the generals knew or expected what awaited for yuan at home...

On the carriage back home, the woman, liang melin, his stepmother , twisted his ear, slapping him again ,"aren't you an ungrateful little trash...what did you think about running off like that huh !" Yuan's eyes were glassy but he didn't complain.

"M-mother, I'm sorry but...I'm never ungrateful and I love all of you—" he got interrupted.

"SHUT UP ! Just wait till we get home, see what happens..."

His stepfather, lian wenzhao, pinched the bridge of his nose sighing, "huh...such an embarrassment, we were about to be shamed so bad, " he glared at yuan once,

As the carriage stopped , as he was about to get down he was pushed by his siblings, which caused him to fall and the sharp stones scratched his knees and palms

melin dragged him inside wenzhao following behind, wenzhao ushered his own children in their rooms, "my sweeties, go to your room for tonight, we have some talks with your little brother", then lead yuan to his room.

Melin stripped his shirt open baring his back as he reached the room facing the wall his eyes already tearing up and his hands shaking.

She handed wenzhao a thin whip...yuan knelt holding his breath, clutching his pants tightly, then came the first hit..."A-ah !"...he winced but melin shut him up taunting him "shut up you foolish boy ! What did you think about it ! You deserve this !".

The hits followed till his back was black and blue with angry looking welts, after that melin threw him out of the room, he staggered to his room, his back protesting to move, blood trickling down as he cried silently, but as he sat on his mattress, he took out the small pouch from his pockets....he hadn't seen it yet...*the pendant*

a gift from the emperor, he remembered everything, that stoic sharp face, emotionless eyes which held tiredness and upon seeing yuan it turned to interest.

He looked outside , already thinking when he could meet the emperor again , he smiled at himself wondering what he could get...