161 Disobedient Child

There was no need for the supervisor of the Department of Ceremonies to attend the autumn hunt. Xiao Fu had received the imperial edict at the entrance of Wushan Palace adding their godfather's name to the entourage and their godfather had scoffed and muttered "troublesome" under his breath, but the laughter in his eyes had been the most genuine Xiao Fu had ever seen and he'd felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. It brought with it the ugly realisation that the uneasy status quo he'd lived in for the past couple of years was about to be shattered, to spiral out of his control. 

He was suddenly reminded of a time he couldn't bear to recall, when he was nothing more than a newly appointed sweeping eunuch, taken under their godfather's wing in a moment of uncharacteristic sympathy.