Romancing the Son of Heaven

Stratagem 18: Get to Know Your Beloved by Heart (5)

Jing He was still silently waiting inside his palace when the voices of the guards from outside reached his ears.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

There wasn't an answer and then, his father burst through the door and rushed around the screen behind it, running over to him with a bright smile. "Jing He, my dear son! I heard that you had missed me and asked to see me." He grabbed his hands, his smile seeming to become even brighter.

Jing He smiled back slightly. "Father, why did you come over on your own? This makes me feel disrespectful. It should have been me who went over to your palace to see you."

Rong Su didn't care at all. The most important thing was that he was able to see his son. Whether his son came over to see him or he came here to see his son, it was all the same to him. "Let's not speak about that. I'm just happy to be here."

Jing He continued to smile lightly and then motioned at the chair on the opposite side of the table. "Why don't you have a seat, father? Should I make some tea?"

Rong Su waved but still sat down. "Why don't you ask the servants to make us some tea?"

Jing He glanced at his father, wondering if he had actually forgotten that he didn't have any servants around. "Ah, how could I do that? I'm your son. Isn't it only right that I take care of your needs?" He got up and walked over to the cupboard, starting to prepare the tea. Inwardly, he couldn't help but sigh to himself. His father was so excited to see him. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not though. Maybe it would make him less suspicious when he asked to withdraw some of these guards. But on the other hand, it was hard to say if his mind wouldn't go somewhere else when he brought it up. Well, he could only give it a try.

Jing He brought the tea set over to the table and put one of the cups down in front of his father and the other on his side of the table before he poured the tea. "I hope it is to your taste."

The Heavenly Emperor took the cup even though it was still hot, giving his son another bright smile. "I'm sure it will be. Nobody knows me better than my precious son." He reached over and patted Jing He's hand, obviously still in a good mood.

Jing He sat down and lowered his gaze, his thoughts churning. This ... probably wasn't the right time yet? Ah, he would need a good reason to bring it up. Doing it just like that didn't seem quite right. Anyway, he would have to wait until the conversation continued.

The two of them sat in silence for a while until the Heavenly Emperor couldn't take it any longer.

"Say, was there something specific that you wanted? Or was it just that you missed your father?" Naturally, he hoped that it was the latter.

Jing He hesitated for a moment, once again wondering if it would be a good time to bring up what was actually on his mind. In the end, he kept it to himself though. There was no way he could state it outright without drawing his father's suspicion. "There was nothing special father. It is just that we haven't spent much time together for the last few days. I am a little unaccustomed to that after spending so much time together in the weeks before that."

Rong Su nodded, feeling that this was indeed right. They had spent so much more time before. They should keep that up. "You're right. This was your father's mistake. I should have come to see you on my own accord before this."

Jing He hurriedly shook his head. "How could that be? If anything, then I should have come to see you." He hesitated but finally couldn't help but speak up again. This opportunity just fit too well. "It's just that ..." He sighed and then fell quiet again.

Rong Su couldn't help but feel that it was strange. "Is something the matter?"

Jing He shook his head but there was a slight pause before he did so, making his father wonder even more.