chapter 4

The 14th year of Jing Shou, the Emperor’s birthday banquet.

The Crown Prince Grandson presented an Autumn Chrysanthemum Painting, and Emperor Jing, moved by the sight, recalled Empress Xiaowen, who had once most loved admiring chrysanthemums.

The Crown Prince, who had been imprisoned for nearly a year, was released by imperial decree.

That same year, Emperor Jing declared that the Crown Prince Grandson was already over sixteen and wished to select a consort for him.

For a time, the name lists and portraits of all the noble ladies fluttered into Chonghua Palace like snowflakes.

Also that year, in the Jiangbei Region, nearly a hundred deaths occurred due to Prince Guang’s royal clan forcibly levying taxes. The commoners who went to the capital to file complaints were intercepted and killed in large numbers.

A few who escaped managed to report to the Grand Clan Court, but the Grand Clan Court pushed the matter to the Censorate, which in turn pushed it to the Ministry of Justice. Not a single person was willing to take responsibility.

Prince Guang was the local tyrant of the Jiangbei Region, his power deeply entrenched.

He was already over fifty, a son of the late emperor, elder brother to Emperor Jing, and had once sent troops to help Emperor Jing ascend the throne.

When such a matter arose, everyone’s first reaction was to suppress it.

It wasn’t until a rebellion broke out in Jiangbei, and the Censorate impeached the Three Judicial Offices for disregarding human life-so that the commoners who came to the capital to complain had nowhere to turn and dashed themselves to death against the stone lions at the gates of the Grand Clan Court-that Emperor Jing was enraged.

Among all the civil and military officials, not a single one was willing to volunteer to go to Jiangbei to investigate the taxes.

The Crown Prince and the other princes remained silent, but the seventeen-year-old Crown Prince Grandson stepped forward.

When he left, he took many people with him-Ling Shao, Bao Ning, Sister Yuntai, and civil and military officials dispatched by Emperor Jing.

When I, with reddened eyes, said I wanted to go too, the Crown Prince Grandson refused. He said, “There is rebellion in Jiangbei, and the people have suffered under the royal clan for too long. This journey is no different from entering a tiger’s den or a dragon’s lair. Ah Wen, you wouldn’t want to be a burden to me, would you?”

Just that one word-burden-and I lost all my spirit.

……

The Crown Prince Grandson set out in May and did not return until November.

In half a year, a Zhongshu Pingzhang died, as did a Second Rank Scholar.

Even Sister Yuntai did not make it back alive.

Sister Bao Ning said that when they stayed at Wanhu Mansion, they encountered an assassination attempt, and Sister Yuntai was killed by mistake.

Fortunately, in the end, the evidence of harsh taxation was irrefutable. The Emperor secretly dispatched men from the Censorate into Jiangbei, with the Eldest Young Master of the Pingxi General’s Mansion personally leading the troops.

Prince Guang’s royal clan was uprooted and exterminated.

The public outrage was quelled, and Zhou Chengyi, the Crown Prince Grandson, won both the hearts of the people and the Emperor’s favor.

This was his first step toward establishing himself in the court.

In the following year, he first entered the Crown Prince’s Administration as a senior official, and then took over as Commander of the Capital Guard Office.

He became busier and more reticent, his brows and eyes deep and his thoughts heavy.

Zhou Chengyi finally infiltrated, entrenched, and took root step by step, making all the civil and military officials understand that under Emperor Jing’s knee, besides Prince Jin with his powerful maternal clan, Prince Han who held military power, and the ever-resourceful Prince Qi, there was also a Crown Prince Grandson who had grown up and now commanded awe and respect.

Thus, the Crown Prince’s position became even more secure.

Everyone in the capital began to fear the Crown Prince Grandson.

He was resourceful and cunning, his cold eyes deep as a dark pool, hiding chill and frost, so much so that even Princess Shuoyang the Grand Princess dared not provoke him again.

After that, I rarely saw him. He no longer had much time to read in the Study Room, leaving early and returning late, sometimes even carrying the scent of wine.

Only once did he return early and had Aunt Yuchun summon me to the Study Room to grind ink.

I ran over happily, chattering away as if I had endless things to say.

He listened quietly to my nonsense, then held my hand to write on the paper.

The Crown Prince Grandson stood tall, dressed in a raven-blue robe, graceful as jade and orchid, exuding an elegant and cool fragrance.

He wrote on the paper-

“Those who grow too fast perish early; those whose achievements are completed quickly are soon destroyed. Thus, the way of Heaven abhors excess, and the hexagram ends in incompletion.”

I asked the Crown Prince Grandson what this meant.

His sharp brows softened a little, perhaps thinking I was foolish and that it would be hard to explain, so he didn’t answer. Instead, he chuckled and asked me, “Is the Medicinal Ink from the Qilu Region tasty?”

Only then did I realize that the ink I had tasted earlier was different from usual, so I dipped my finger in it again and put it in my mouth.

“A bit bitter, and a bit astringent.”

“Mm, it’s made from the ash of burned Green Pine Wood, mixed with Eight Treasures Five Gallbladders. It has the effect of clearing heat and reducing internal fire.”

“Clearing heat and reducing fire? Then Crown Prince Grandson, you should try it too.”

My eyes lit up, and I eagerly dipped my finger in the ink and brought it to his lips.

He looked at that slender finger, suddenly smiled, a hint of mischief flashing in his peach blossom eyes, a glimmer of light hidden within. Then his thin lips parted and he took my finger into his mouth.

My fingertip tingled, and the Crown Prince Grandson seemed to suck lightly. I giggled and tried to pull back.

Then he released my finger, slowly leaned closer to me, his lips rosy, his gaze dark and obscure with a faint glow, his voice a little hoarse-

“Ah Wen, you’re lying. This ink is clearly sweet, how is it bitter?”

I was surprised, dipped my finger in the ink again, and tasted it.

“Impossible, it’s definitely bitter and astringent.”

“Really?”

His voice grew even hoarser. He clasped my head with one hand, looked at me from up close, his crow-feather lashes lowered, his warm lips lightly brushing mine.

“Open your mouth. Let me taste it again.”

……

I was stunned. I never expected what he wanted to taste was what was in my mouth.

In the end, I held my breath, blushing, and looked up at him, asking, “Crown Prince Grandson, the ink is bitter, isn’t it?”

“I couldn’t tell. Let me make sure again.”

His deep brown eyes seemed shrouded in mist, his voice husky, as he pulled my hand to his body…

At last, the Crown Prince Grandson let out a muffled groan, calmed down for a long while, and said hoarsely to me, “Ah Wen, I am to select a consort.”
“Hm?”

I looked at him in confusion. “I know. Aunt Yuchun said that when the Crown Prince Grandson was your age, you were already two years old. His Majesty had decided on the Deputy Prime Minister’s family and the Pingxi General’s Mansion. The cousin from the General’s Mansion is also your uncle’s daughter. Everyone says His Highness the Crown Prince Grandson will choose his cousin.”

“Fool.”

He let out a light scoff, leaned back slightly, and wrapped his arm around my waist, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“You’ve gotten thinner. No snacks in the Study Room?”

“With the Crown Prince Grandson away, Aunt Yuchun wouldn’t send over the Snack Box.”

Half-lying on him, I propped my chin and frowned, a little troubled.

“Well, that’s true. After all, in Chonghua Palace, only I and my Consort can have whatever we want to eat, however we want to eat it.”

The Crown Prince Grandson glanced at me, his expression lazy and meaningful.

I stared blankly for a moment, thinking carefully, and bit my index finger.

…………

The next day, the Crown Prince Grandson, for once, did not go out.

After noon, he stayed in the Study Room reading.

Not long after, Aunt Yuchun brought over that red lacquer Snack Box with gold inlay, six exquisite pastries arranged on top.

After she left, I reached out for them as usual, only to have the Crown Prince Grandson tap my hand with his book.

“Put it down.”

“Crown Prince Grandson.”

“Ah Wen, I used to indulge you a lot when you were young, but now you are a grown lady. Since you are a person of Chonghua Palace, you must follow the rules from now on.”

“Crown Prince Grandson.”

I panicked a little, not knowing why he suddenly became so strict. I held up one finger. “Just one piece.”

“No.”

“Crown Prince Grandson, please.”

“No room for negotiation.” The Crown Prince Grandson didn’t even lift his eyes, his voice cold and unfeeling.

While he wasn’t paying attention, I quickly grabbed a piece of red bean cake and stuffed it into my mouth.

Crown Prince Grandson: …

In the end, he knocked me on the head and punished me to squat with my head in my arms for an hour.

The Crown Prince Grandson stood in front of me, slowly squatted down, and sighed. “Ah Wen, I told you, in this Chonghua Palace, only I and my Consort can have whatever we want to eat. Do you understand?”

“I understand.”

Choking back tears, I asked him, “Then can I be your Consort?”

The Crown Prince Grandson raised his brows, looking quite surprised. “Say that again.”

“Can I be your Consort?”

I looked up at him, seeing his troubled expression, and reminded him, aggrieved, “I saved you, have you forgotten?”

“Using your favor to demand repayment?”

“Is it possible?”

“It’s not impossible.”

Zhou Chengyi spoke slowly, his smile gentle and warm. “Being my Consort is not so easy, Ah Wen. Since you’ve said it, you can’t go back on your word.”

A few days later, the imperial edict was issued.

The Crown Prince Grandson chose his Consort-not the daughter of the Deputy Prime Minister, nor his own cousin. He petitioned His Majesty to marry the daughter of Yu Pingzhang, the late official who died in Jiangbei.

The Crown Prince Grandson stated frankly that during the tax inspection in Jiangbei, Lord Yu died in the line of duty. Before his death, his only concern was his family, and he entrusted his daughter to him.

Yu Pingzhang was a First Rank Minister. If his legitimate daughter were made a Concubine, it would inevitably evoke a sense of shared sorrow among the officials.

When this was heard, the entire court was moved, praising the Crown Prince Grandson for his utmost benevolence and righteousness.

Emperor Jing consented.

However, since Miss Yu had to observe three years of mourning for her father, and by then the Crown Prince Grandson would be over twenty, Emperor Jing decided to have him take a Concubine first.

I don’t know how the Crown Prince Grandson managed it, but a few days later, the Emperor summoned me to an audience.

In the grand hall, I knelt on the floor, not daring to lift my head.

I heard the Emperor’s displeased voice: “Are you really not a fool?”

Frightened, I looked up, catching a glimpse of imperial majesty, and saw the Crown Prince Grandson standing to the side, dressed in a Nine-Python Golden Robe, tall and upright, calm and composed, bowing to His Majesty-

“Imperial Grandfather, please do not frighten her. She is timid, but truly not a fool, only pure of heart.”

“If she’s timid, how can she be your Consort?”

“Chengyi likes her.”

The Crown Prince Grandson’s voice was earnest. “When I was young, Imperial Grandmother once told me: Born into the royal family, one must toil for the people, work tirelessly day and night. If even a woman you like is not allowed, what is the point of supreme power? I have always remembered her words.”

At the mention of Empress Xiaowen, Emperor Jing was indeed moved, his tone softening. “You want to marry Yu Pingzhang’s daughter, I permit it. I originally planned to choose a noble lady from a good family as your Concubine, but now you’ve chosen one of humble birth yourself. In the future, you won’t even have a powerful in-law family.”

“Imperial Grandfather is in his prime, ruling the world. The empire belongs to the Zhou family. As princes and grandsons of Daye, why should we rely on powerful in-laws?”

Zhou Chengyi spoke calmly, unconcerned, but Emperor Jing was overjoyed, his face full of satisfaction, repeating “Good” three times.

In the end, even his attitude toward me became much kinder, instructing me to be a good Consort to the Crown Prince Grandson and bear many children.

Zhou Chengyi led me out of Taiji Hall.

Halfway there, he took my hand, felt the sweat in my palm, and couldn’t help but laugh softly. “What are you afraid of? I’m here.”

My mind still lingered in Taiji Hall, and I couldn’t help but say, “Your Highness just said I’m not a fool.”

“Hm?” He curled his lips.

“I also think I’m not a fool,” I said seriously.

He chuckled, quite amused. “Ah Wen, you really are a fool.”

“…”

My expression immediately fell, and he laughed again. “But from now on, you’ll be my fool alone.”