Toddler life was not all play; the nursery's micro-politics began to reflect a larger pattern. Another child—Prince Yun's eldest son, a stocky boy with a confident grunt—started appearing near the nursery with the curious insolence of those whose lineage let them assume access.
[Prince Yun's Son:] (loud, to an attendant) "This one has more ribbons. My father's house has more soldiers."
The remark was the kind of clumsy bartering toddlers indulge in—ribbon-counts instead of arguments—but palace ears parsed it into an insinuation: comparison of status, a test. The system flagged the prince's son as a nascent social competitor.
SYSTEM: Early rivalry detection: Prince Yun's heir. Suggested approach: non-confrontational neutralization — share tokens publicly to create mutual recognition.
Long Yue's first instinct was simple: be louder. He toddled forth with the wooden horse and a ribbon, handing it to the boy with an infant's solemnity.
[MC / Long Yue:] (spoken, offering) "Here."
The prince's son blinked. For a moment the nursery held its breath. This was a child politics trick: offer something small and watch if the other child smiles or snatches. The prince's son considered, then accepted, flashing the barest of surprised smiles.
[Prince Yun's Son:] "Thank you… little prince."
SYSTEM: Outcome: rivalry diffused +4. Social rapport increment established. Recommendation: occasional token sharing to maintain equilibrium.
The Empress observed from a distance, like a person measuring tides. She allowed the exchange but was aware that neutralizing a child rivalry could have ripple effects: parents notice, and parents were powerful compasses in palace politics.
[Empress Wu:] "Let them play. It is better they learn to barter ribbons than swords."
[Minister Li:] (watching) "Shared tokens provide temporary peace. But future competition will be shaped by tutors and court impressions."
The system tracked the minister's comment as both caution and plan: tutors could shape rhetoric that persisted into adulthood. Long Yue would need tutors who taught humility and cunning, not just the Classics.
SYSTEM: Tactical note: diversify tutor influences; ensure exposure to both military and civil rhetoric for balanced development.
In the days that followed, small interactions multiplied. They trained in parallel: Long Yue in Scholar Zhao's lines, the prince's son in a retired officer's coarse lessons. Where the other child learned to stomp with confidence, Long Yue learned to smile and negotiate. Each method had merits.
A small episode—one that might have become a quarrel—revealed the difference. A wooden bowl fell from a shelf during play. The prince's son reached first, fingers closing on the prize. Long Yue, used to sharing as a tactic, walked close and offered a ribbon. The other child looked at the ribbon, then back at the bowl.
[Prince Yun's Son:] (hesitating) "Keep it."
He left with the bowl, but the action left a seed of curiosity about the politics of exchange. The system logged the result: generosity as strategic tool. It also suggested a curious sideline.
SYSTEM: Social experiment: consistent small-value giveaways build goodwill. Long-term expected benefit: increased low-tier loyalty, improved perception among junior nobility.
The rivalry remained but softened into a learning contest. Tutors from both houses observed each other's methods politely. The Empress used the opportunity to schedule joint lessons—calligraphy in the morning, supervised games after dusk—where both boys learned the same lines and the same moves.
[Empress Wu:] "Teach them the same poem. Let them recite to each other and learn to judge fairly."
[MC / Long Yue:] (thought) "Teach and judge? Sounds like exam practice."
Long Yue enjoyed the challenge. His system-guided memory palace made the couplets easy, and he took a quiet, childish pleasure when he could out-recite the other boy—less humiliation, more curiosity. He recognized that small victories in front of shared audiences laid foundations for future reputations.
SYSTEM: Reputation mechanism: early public recitation wins +15 to prestige among peers. Unlock candidate: Peer Influence Node at age 6.
Yet underneath the childish games, adult currents flowed. Fathers watched, priests noted omens, and ministers recorded who smiled for whom at the holiday banquet. The Empress had neutralized immediate threats; the court had adjusted like a tideline. Long Yue, meanwhile, learned to trade ribbons and words like coins.
When night came, and the nursery lamps cooled to amber, he drifted to sleep with a sense of having done something clever—less for himself and more for those who watched him. The rivalry was not ended, only redirected. That redirection might matter more than anyone yet guessed.
SYSTEM: Toddler socialization milestone: achieved. Next objective: cultivate one junior noble peer as ally before age 5. Reward: +200 XP.
He dreamed of ribbons, horses, and the curious arithmetic of giving away small things to gain large eyes. The palace hummed. The game continued.
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