Yun Shu: "..."
She had not expected to witness firsthand the chaotic childhood of the future tyrant of the realm.
Rather amusing, actually.
Driven by the innate joy of watching drama unfold, Yun Shu made no effort to warn the mischievous prince that catching chickens was not as easy as it looked.
While Yun Chuhuan was cracking his knuckles and preparing to charge, Yun Shu took the opportunity to pull Cen Yiyi aside and quietly reminded her.
"If you get scared later, just step back. You'll be fine."
"Alright!" Cen Yiyi nodded obediently, but after a moment, she leaned closer and lowered her voice to ask, "Your Highness… are chickens very fierce?"
"Possibly."
Yun Shu shrugged lightly.
"Like people, some have good tempers, others do not. But no matter what kind of temper it has, you're still trying to yank feathers from its tail..."
"I understand!"
Cen Yiyi immediately grasped her meaning. She took a small step back and, ever thoughtful, turned her concern toward the Fifth Princess.
"Your Highness, please be careful too!"
"Of course."
With a smile, Yun Shu rubbed the top of her head and leisurely rolled up her sleeves.
At the other end of the courtyard, Yun Chu Huan had already picked his target and rushed toward the grandest, most imposing rooster strutting through the courtyard with a bright red crown atop its head.
"Coo-coo-cooo!"
Sensing danger, the rooster flapped its wings and bolted into a wild sprint.
"It runs rather fast!"
Yun Chu Huan's outstretched hand missed its mark. Rather than backing down, he became more determined and shouted as he gave chase.
"Just wait. This prince will pluck every last feather from your tail!"
"Zi Ming!"
He began summoning his comrade.
"Circle around and cut it off from the other side!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Eight-year-old boys were born for this kind of mischief. Even before the command, Li Zi Ming had been itching to join in. Now that he had permission, he wasted no time flanking the rooster from the other side.
"Coo-coo-cooo!!"
The rooster, now completely spooked, sprang onto the railing with a single claw, flapped violently, and performed a surprisingly elegant aerial twist.
Yun Chu Huan, just a hair's breadth away from grabbing the tail feathers, suddenly found a gust of wind rushing past his face.
"SKREEE—!"
In the blink of an eye, the cluster of feathers he had been chasing transformed into the rooster's sharp beak—aimed directly at him!
"Ahhhh!"
The excitement drained from Yun Chu Huan's face, replaced by pure terror. He covered his head and tried to retreat, but his foot caught on something. Down he went, flailing, and landed flat on his back.
Pfft!
Cen Yiyi, standing to the side, couldn't help it. She clapped a hand over her mouth, but a muffled laugh escaped.
"What are you laughing at?!"
Yun Chu Huan had already been helped to his feet by a swarm of frantic eunuchs and maids. The moment he confirmed he was unharmed, he exploded in fury and turned his wrath on Cen Yiyi.
"How dare you mock this prince!"
"Th-this humble girl admits her wrong…"
Cen Yiyi was timid by nature, and being shouted at like that immediately brought tears to her eyes.
But Yun Chu Huan at eight years old was not yet the future tyrant who would later claim he'd give his very life for her.
Cen Yiyi's tears did nothing to soften his heart.
Yun Chu Huan continued to throw a tantrum, scolding her fiercely before turning his rage upon the palace servants.
"And the rest of you! Useless creatures, all of you! Can't even protect this prince properly! What use are you?
Men, drag them all out and beat them to death!"
"Beat to death?!"
Yun Shu, who had assumed he was simply venting and would soon calm down, suddenly looked up. She stared coldly at the Sixth Prince, who had just given that command without a flicker of hesitation. A chill swept through her heart.
Of course.
In the early days of web novels, the rules were still vague. Many protagonists had done things that violated most of the criminal code without consequence.
As an old-school romance novel, The Tyrant's Beloved Darling had never tried to paint Yun Chu Huan as misunderstood or forced into cruelty by tragic circumstance.
He was, without question, a violent ruler.
A man who, ten years later, would kill all his brothers, execute dissenting ministers without warning, and slaughter consorts on a whim.
What made her think that, at eight years old, he would already be harmless?
No—perhaps the sweet, obedient side of Yun Chuhuan did exist. But that part of him only emerged when facing those of equal or superior status.
As for the palace servants, and all those he would someday kill with a single sentence... to him, they were nothing more than ants on the road. If he felt displeased, he would crush them. He did not see it as cruelty. To him, it was ordinary. And soon after, forgotten.
Even now, with the courtyard filled with cries for mercy, he did not spare them a glance.
Li Zi Ming stood nearby, unbothered. He seemed far too accustomed to such scenes.
"Stop!"
For once, Yun Shu shed her usual calm and stood her ground with genuine anger.
"These are my palace attendants. What gives you the right to kill them as you please?"
"They are nothing but lowly servants. Why can they not be killed?" Yun Chu Huan had not expected his usually easygoing Fifth Sister to lash out over a few eunuchs and maids.
He was both furious and wronged.
"This prince is of royal blood! Must I not be allowed to punish a few slaves?"
"You are a prince. They are servants. Your status is above theirs, so yes, by the rules of this world, you do have the right to kill them."
Yun Shu was not foolish enough to preach modern ideals like equality.
Instead, she used Yun Chuhuan's own logic to corner him.
"But Father is the Son of Heaven, the most exalted man beneath the heavens. His rank is far above yours. Why has he not killed you?"
"Because I am his son!" Yun Chu Huan snapped, as if it were the most obvious truth.
"And besides, I have committed no wrong. Why would Father kill me?"
"Then have my attendants committed any wrong?"
Without waiting for a reply, Yun Shu pressed on, her words as swift as a whip.
"Even a child knows that revenge must be taken against the true offender. You are only upset because you tripped and fell. If so, then let Fifth Sister avenge you!"