Chapter Three — A prince’s Mask

Yi Xuan sat motionless on the edge of his bed, the letter still lying folded on the table across the room. His eyes were fixed on the floor, blank and unseeing. The silence pressed against him like a weight.

The door creaked open.

His father stepped inside.Yi

Xuan quickly rose to his feet and bowed slightly.

“Father…”

The Emperor gestured for him to sit. “Sit, Ā xuan.”

They sat side by side on the bed.

The Emperor’s voice was steady, but there was no warmth in it.

“I know this is hard for you. But there is nothing we can do. You cannot shut yourself away. You are a prince—you must show yourself and do what a prince should do.”

Yi Xuan’s face remained expressionless. Slowly, he nodded.

“Yes, Father. I will.”

The Emperor studied him for a moment, then said, “Your mother left because she did not care for us. So why should we care for her any longer? Forget her.”

Yi Xuan’s hands tightened on his knees. His lips stayed still, but his mind screamed:

No. She left because of you. Because you never loved her. Because you never gave her even a sliver of happiness. You treated her like she didn’t exist—like she was nothing. You are the reason she left. You are the reason we lived without freedom, without joy. You! You are the reason she’s gone!

“A xuan?” His father’s voice cut through his thoughts. “Do you hear me?”

Yi Xuan blinked, startled. “Huh? Y-yes, Father. I heard you. I’m sorry.” He lowered his head.

The Emperor’s gaze lingered on him for a moment, then he gave a faint nod. “Good. Come out for lunch after this.”

He rose and walked out of the room, his steps heavy on the polished floor.

“Alright…”Yi Xuan whispered, his voice flat.

But as the door closed behind his father, his expression shifted. His eyes, once dull, now burned with a silent fury.

He watched the empty doorway, his fists curling tightly.

“One day…”

The next day, Wang Yi Xuan forced himself to step outside the confines of his chambers. His father’s words echoed in his mind—a prince must show himself.

So he walked the palace corridors, his back straight, his expression carefully blank.

But no matter where he went, whispers followed.

Servants paused in their sweeping, their voices lowered but not enough to escape his ears.

“Is that the young master? How pitiful… abandoned by his own mother.”

“She left him and His Majesty for another man, didn’t she? What kind of mother does that?”

Their words pierced deeper than blades.

Wang Yi Xuan’s jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists. He wanted to scream at them—Do not speak of her like that! You know nothing about her!

But he kept walking, his pace quickening. His chest burned as though a fire raged within.

By the time he reached the steps of his residence, he could no longer bear it. He turned sharply, heading back inside—

But a voice stopped him.

“Ā Xuan.”

He froze. Slowly, he lifted his head.

At the foot of the steps stood his grandmother, her face lined with years but her eyes filled with warmth. She reached out and pulled him into her embrace before he could react.

Wang Yi Xuan stiffened, shocked. “Grandmother…”

Her arms trembled as she held him. Her voice was heavy with sorrow.

“I’m so sad to know what has happened… to your family, to your mother. But deep down, I know her. She may leave the world behind, but she would never leave you. Never. I cannot believe she ran away with another man. No… she is not like that.”

Yi Xuan’s eyes widened. His chest tightened as her words struck him. Slowly, he raised his head to look at her, his voice barely a whisper.

“Grandmother… you believe that?”

But before she could answer, another voice cut through the air.

“Mother-in-law, didn’t you say you were leaving?”

The Emperor’s presence loomed from behind. His tone was calm, yet heavy.

His grandmother startled, her hands dropping from Yi Xuan’s shoulders. She forced a smile and nodded quickly.

“Ah—yes. Yes, I should go now. Ā Xuan, please take care of yourself. And don’t forget to visit your grandmother.”

Wang Yi Xuan bowed deeply. “I will, Grandmother. Please take care as well.”

She gave him one last look before turning and departing down the path.

Silence fell.

Yi Xuan lowered his head again and made to enter his residence.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***