TSFLIP Chapter 1031

At the training grounds, Lan Zhao looked at the person approaching and spoke in a cold voice, “First Prince, you are late today.”

“Yes. I am willing to accept punishment.”

The moment Feng Guang heard that, she grew anxious. “You were delayed because Consort Yun’s people blocked your way. That’s understandable—you should explain it to him!”

Xian Mo said nothing.

This child was really too stubborn.

Lan Zhao was somewhat surprised that Xian Mo admitted his fault so decisively. Then he frowned slightly and asked, “You drew your sword today. What happened?”

“On the way here, I encountered people from Consort Yun’s palace. They said they wanted to invite me to visit.”

“Did you injure anyone when you drew your sword?”

“I only severed a eunuch’s arm,” Xian Mo answered honestly, without the slightest attempt to hide it.

Feng Guang nearly panicked again. He was only twelve years old, yet he had already cut off someone’s arm with a sword. That was no small matter. People might even think he was bloodthirsty and cruel.

But after a brief moment of surprise, Lan Zhao suddenly laughed. For a man as rigid as him, laughter was as rare as an iron tree blooming.

“It was only a eunuch. Since you were coming here for lessons with me, he had no right to block your path. Even if you had killed him, it wouldn’t have mattered.”

“Yes, Master.” Xian Mo nodded seriously, already planning to follow Lan Zhao’s words exactly the next time.

Feng Guang’s eyelid twitched.

Lan Zhao only concerned himself with matters of the military camp. Unlike Zou He, who had far too much free time and loved to gossip about the inner palace, Lan Zhao rarely paid attention to palace intrigue. Still, he knew the basic facts.

Consort Yun’s name was Zhuo Yun, a princess from the previous dynasty. After Xian Rang founded the new dynasty, the first thing he did was take Zhuo Yun as a consort. Only afterward did he announce the appointment of an empress.

Zhuo Yun had always enjoyed great favor. Otherwise, in a harem with so few heirs, she would not have been able to have both a son and a daughter.

However, Zhuo Yun was also famously jealous. She couldn’t tolerate even the slightest offense. That was why, after Xian Rang entrusted Xian Mo to her care, she had almost immediately thrown the child into the Cold Palace.

Because she loved Xian Rang, she could not bear the existence of a child he had with another woman.

Xian Mo had been right not to go to Consort Yun’s palace today. If he had gone, no one knew how much humiliation or hardship she would have forced him to endure.

Lan Zhao admired the ruthless determination in Xian Mo. That kind of resolve was exactly what was needed on the battlefield. He never interfered in harem affairs before the emperor, but if the emperor ever became enraged and punished Xian Mo, Lan Zhao would still be willing to speak up on the boy’s behalf.

“Even though you had a reason for being late, late is still late,” Lan Zhao said. “So I will punish you. You have no objections, correct?”

“Yes.” Xian Mo lowered his head. “Whatever punishment you give me, Master, I will accept.”

“Very well. At noon today, you will remain here at the training grounds. When the sun is at its strongest, you will stand under it for one hour.”

Without hesitation, he replied, “Yes.”

“That’s not good!” Feng Guang cried. “It’s June—the weather is so hot! What if you get heatstroke!?”

He raised his eyes slightly but didn’t say anything. Instead, the faint smile in his gaze silently told her that he would be fine.

Suddenly, Feng Guang found herself unable to say another word.

Lan Zhao never went back on his word. When the sun was at its most scorching, Xian Mo stood in the very center of the training grounds. Heat shimmered all around him. Yet he had remained completely still for nearly half an hour already.

And in ancient times, one shichen—one hour—actually meant two modern hours.

Feng Guang looked toward Lan Zhao, who was sitting comfortably in the shade of a tree not far away, leisurely drinking tea.

Meanwhile, under the blazing sun, Xian Mo’s face—finally pale and healthy after being nursed back to health—had already turned bright red from the heat.