A figure, seemingly a secret guard, bent low and said, “Your Highness, how should we deal with those traitors…”
The Crown Prince sipped his tea calmly, his voice light and detached as he replied, “Drag them out and execute them.”
Chen Jiao’s heart skipped a beat at that moment. The Crown Prince usually carried himself with the warmth of a gentle breeze, and this was the first time she had seen this other side of him, instantly making her heart tighten. She thought to herself that truly, those who accomplish great things are never soft-hearted.
The secret guard soon withdrew, leaving Chen Jiao hesitating silently in the room. Xie Xianqing raised an eyebrow and asked, “Afraid?”
Chen Jiao was indeed afraid, but she couldn’t show it before the Crown Prince. Instantly, her usual flattery instincts kicked in, and she boldly said, “I only think Your Highness has a benevolent heart. Moreover, even if everyone else fears Your Highness, I would never be afraid.”
These were the usual words of praise Chen Jiao was accustomed to speaking, but this time the Crown Prince was different. He scoffed, his voice cold and clear: “Not afraid? Then why did you leave back then?”
Chen Jiao froze for a moment, then realized he was referring to the last time she had brought the medicinal soup to the Crown Prince’s residence and left.
She was speechless. Wasn’t that just because of his capricious scolding that she had left? And now, that was somehow her fault. She thought bitterly that the recent irritability must have been caused by that malicious little person spreading slander behind her back.
Still, she maintained a respectful expression and said nervously, “At that time, I saw Your Highness seemed displeased, and I felt uneasy. I feared staying might aggravate your anger, so I left.”
She added plaintively, “I had specially prepared that long-simmered health soup, but Your Highness didn’t taste a single drop. What a pity it was.”
Xie Xianqing lifted his eyes and gave her a narrow glance, his gaze unreadable: “Is that so?”
He then spoke as if casually, “A few days without seeing you, I thought perhaps you bore me some resentment…”
Chen Jiao’s eyes widened in disbelief. “How could Your Highness think such a thing of me? My heart toward you is as clear as the heavens! Even when I went to the villa, I did not forget to specially seek out this Talisman Pouch for Your Highness!”
“This talisman was originally gifted to my grandmother by Master Huiyan’s teacher when I was born. It wards off illness and misfortune, and I thought of bringing it to Your Highness as soon as I returned to the city!”
Chen Jiao spoke earnestly, her sincerity apparent, and even Eunuch Zhang would have found it almost saccharine. Yet Xie Xianqing’s eyes reflected a trace of satisfaction.
Chen Jiao also noticed subtly that the Crown Prince seemed less angry. Emboldened, she continued her flattery with even more gusto, declaring, “I hold Your Highness in my heart; a day apart feels like three years. Even when not in Chang’an, my mind always lingers on you, thinking of you with every meal!”
Xie Xianqing, aware that she was exaggerating, could not help but smile. This was the first smile he had shown in days.
Even knowing he shouldn’t, who could suppress such a flutter of the heart?
While some struggle inwardly with their feelings, others think only of promotions and rewards.
Chen Jiao stepped forward carefully and presented the Talisman Pouch. She did not notice the shadow of gloom still lingering in Xie Xianqing’s eyes. Softly, she said, “Here is the talisman. My grandmother personally gave it to me the year I was born, and now I present it to Your Highness.”
Her eyes were clear as she continued seriously, “Henceforth, I wish Your Highness peace, joy, and enduring health.”
The young prince’s slender hands received the pouch calmly. It was exquisitely crafted, embroidered with clusters of osmanthus flowers, and through it, his presence seemed almost tangible.
Xie Xianqing gazed at the beautiful pouch in silence, struggling to contain his emotions.
He should have scolded her; he knew it was inappropriate. He knew it was time to turn back… yet he could not resist taking it.
Lowering his eyes, he masked the lingering shadow in them, grasping the pouch tightly, his thoughts unsettled.
Seeing him accept the pouch, Chen Jiao quietly exhaled in relief. She had come sensing a subtle rift in their relationship, but her quick thinking had cleared the misunderstanding, preserving her position as his first subordinate.
Feeling triumphant, Chen Jiao was startled when Xie Xianqing asked an unrelated question: “I am sensitive to scents. Now that you know it was the osmanthus cake that caused trouble, will you still eat it?”
Chen Jiao hesitated, then replied, “…Yes, I will.”
She reasoned that now that she was reconciled with the Crown Prince and had personally delivered the precious talisman, she was his trusted confidante. Sneaking a little osmanthus cake should be harmless.
Hearing this, Xie Xianqing raised his brows in surprise. “Why? Aren’t you afraid I would be displeased and stay away?”
He knew her mind and capabilities. Someone like her would never anger him over an osmanthus cake, yet her answer defied his expectations.
Chen Jiao only hesitated briefly before speaking frankly, “Of course I am afraid. But one cannot so easily give up what one loves.”
She had her own subtle reasoning. As the Crown Prince’s confidante, she was protected, and her answer hinted that the osmanthus cake was something she cherished. He, ever perceptive, could not bring himself to punish her for such a trivial matter.
For other matters, she might have let them go, but she truly loved osmanthus-related things—eating the cake, drinking osmanthus-infused water, even the flowers embroidered on her robes.
Chen Jiao was both pragmatic and clever, wanting to preserve small pleasures to make her servitude freer and more comfortable.
The young prince’s unexpected yet reasonable response caused him to pause thoughtfully. “Something one loves should not be so lightly discarded. I was indeed foolish.”
Understanding her intentions, Xie Xianqing finally resolved himself.
He looked at Chen Jiao and sighed, “I understand your heart. Yet I cannot give you an answer now. I have wronged you.”
At this critical moment of vying for the throne, societal scrutiny and his status prevented Xie Xianqing from publicly acknowledging their relationship, lest his father and brothers find a pretext to attack.
Still, this was unfair to Chen Jiao. She had long harbored feelings for him, and today she had brought a talisman that expressed her intentions. He could not openly reciprocate or grant her the recognition she deserved.
Chen Jiao paused, puzzled for a moment, then realized. The Crown Prince must be referring to the slander from her tutor, the reason she had been distanced. Thinking of this, she became angry.
Though she was upset, she could not naively scold him, saying, “Yes, your tutor overstepped.” The Crown Prince had clearly indicated he would not dwell on it; bringing it up would be impolite.
So she said instead, “How could I feel wronged? My heart is for Your Highness alone; what do I care what others think?”
By “others,” she subtly meant the tutor. She felt pleased with her own cleverness, while Xie Xianqing believed “others” referred to the world at large, and his heart was moved.
After a brief pause, he stepped forward and drew the youth into his arms.
Embracing a man—before, Xie Xianqing could not have imagined tolerating it. Yet the youth’s smooth skin, delicate build, and faint osmanthus scent caused him no discomfort.
At that moment, he was certain. He truly liked a man.
Chen Jiao was caught off guard, buried in his chest, forgetting all the flattery she had prepared.
She thought, Just a little exaggeration, why is the Crown Prince so moved…? Feeling awkward, she realized she could not appear inert while her superior expressed care.
She hesitated, then tentatively returned the embrace, whispering, “Thank you, Your Highness?” though she wasn’t entirely sure what she was thanking him for.
In this mutual miscommunication, the situation only became more comical. Chen Jiao believed she had preserved her status as first subordinate, while Xie Xianqing thought their bond had deepened.
Half a month later, the weather began warming.
At the Crown Prince’s residence, most ministers had left, yet Chen Jiao unusually lingered in the study, procrastinating departure.
During this period, emboldened by her position as the Crown Prince’s first subordinate, her boldness had grown. While never late, leaving early had become frequent. She often sneaked home before anyone noticed. Xie Xianqing pretended ignorance, turning a blind eye.
Today, seeing her still present, he teased, “Chen Jiao, staying behind? You’re willing to remain?”
Chen Jiao realized he had always known about her early departures, though she had thought she was clever to hide it. Feeling slightly guilty, she touched her nose and said earnestly, “The weather has grown hot, and I feel more sluggish than usual. I feared it might delay Your Highness’ work, so I thought to rest and recuperate…”
Xie Xianqing narrowed his eyes knowingly. “So you return home early every day just to sleep?”
He had assumed she was occupied with studies at the Imperial Academy, or perhaps negotiating with her tutors. But in fact, she simply went home to sleep.
This outcome was unexpected, yet fitting for Chen Jiao, who could obsess only over food even at poetry gatherings.
Caught, she choked, then added, “…Sleeping well allows me to serve Your Highness better.”
Eunuch Zhang, who had overheard the entire conversation, could not help but smile, glancing at Chen Jiao with admiration.
This Chen Jiao truly was talented—sneaking off to sleep yet managing to twist it into a service to the Crown Prince. With such cunning, she was destined to be the court’s future top schemer.
Seeing Xie Xianqing not pursuing the matter of her early departure, Chen Jiao quietly relaxed. Her image as a dedicated subordinate remained intact.
Then, recalling the purpose of her stay, she hesitated before asking, “Your Highness, how shall we spend the Dragon Boat Festival this year?”
With the festival approaching, Chen Jiao, ever ambitious, sought to spend it with her superior.
This was no trivial matter, accompanying the Crown Prince during a festival was a privilege reserved for confidantes. History showed that favored courtiers often rose to prominence in part because they had shared such intimate times with the ruler in his youth.
Chen Jiao, determined to be the Crown Prince’s first subordinate and ultimately the court’s top schemer, could not miss this opportunity to earn his favor.
Xie Xianqing, seeing her eagerness, guessed her intentions but feigned ignorance: “The Dragon Boat Festival is a time for family reunions. I must attend the palace with my father and brothers to offer thanks to the gods.”
Chen Jiao’s hopes fell. “I see…”
Seeing her disappointment, he smiled but did not continue teasing. “The rituals end near evening. Once I return from the palace, I will be free. What are your plans, Chen Jiao?”
Her eyes lit up. “The festival is lively! I plan to visit the lantern market. Will Your Highness join me?”
Xie Xianqing’s eyes held a gentle smile, though his expression feigned contemplation, causing Chen Jiao to grow nervous.
Unable to resist, he finally lowered his gaze and said softly, “How could I refuse Chen Jiao’s gracious invitation?”
A few days later, during the Dragon Boat Festival, Chang’an lifted the night curfew and held grand temple fairs and lantern festivals.
After enjoying zongzi with her family, Chen Jiao happily left to meet the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince had yet to return, so she waited outside the palace gates.
After a half hour of idle squatting, movement nearby caught her attention.
Xie Xianqing appeared, wearing a brocade robe, followed by a retinue of attendants with grave expressions and hurried steps.
Chen Jiao immediately sensed something had occurred in the palace.
The long-stalled Ministry of Revenue reforms had made progress the day before, marking a major victory for the Crown Prince faction. The other princes, naturally dissatisfied, and the Emperor already resentful of the Crown Prince, ensured a tense scene at the palace feast.
Chen Jiao remained composed as she leapt forward, feigning surprise, “Your Highness!”
Eunuch Zhang, the Crown Prince’s personal attendant, stiffened, then his eyes gleamed with delight. “Your Highness, Chen Jiao has arrived!”
Xie Xianqing paused at her approach, surprise flashing in his eyes, then raised a brow with a hint of amusement: “Why are you here?” They had agreed to meet at his residence.
Chen Jiao beamed, “I simply couldn’t wait to see Your Highness!”
Xie Xianqing’s faint smile seemed to thaw the icy reserve he usually exuded.
Chen Jiao did not question what had occurred in the palace, nor why the other princes had not yet departed. She merely looked down at the Crown Prince’s waist and exclaimed, astonished: “Your Highness, you forgot to wear the Changming thread.”
During the Dragon Boat Festival, people wore colored silk threads, called Changming threads, to pray for blessings and ward off misfortune. The Emperor traditionally gifted them to family and trusted ministers, highlighting the custom’s significance.
Her family had each prepared one for her, personally woven. To avoid oversight, she tied all four around her waist, looking stylish and spirited.
She did not believe the threads had magical power, but the festival was about symbolism and atmosphere, much like eating tangyuan at the Lantern Festival.
Surprisingly, the Crown Prince had none.
Hearing her remark, the retinue stiffened, their expressions darkening. The palace had assumed the Emperor would distribute the threads as usual. Instead, whether by forgetfulness or design, the custom had been canceled.
Among the princes, the Fifth and Third Princes had their mothers to ensure they had threads. The Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince, born of a palace concubine, had none. Even with the Fourth Prince as a foil, the Crown Prince appeared overlooked.
For the heir of the late emperor, how could he be compared to a neglected prince?
The attendants had clearly failed, and Chen Jiao’s pointing it out left them fearful and regretful.
Yet Xie Xianqing remained calm. “I’ve been busy with affairs, likely forgotten,” he said indifferently.
The slight miscalculation was trivial compared to the gains from the Ministry of Revenue reforms. His brothers were incompetent in court but excelled at petty schemes, a source of mild amusement.
Chen Jiao, oblivious to the subtleties of court intrigue in the threads, simply pulled one from her waist and said happily, “Here! Luckily, I prepared one especially for Your Highness. Let me tie it on for you!”
She quickly tied the thread, then another, satisfied: “How can the Dragon Boat Festival go without five-colored threads?”
Xie Xianqing watched her carefully, silent, his gaze gentle. Chen Jiao, ever perceptive, likely understood the palace situation and playfully acted to cheer him.
Amid scheming relatives in the palace, the little first subordinate outside had placed a genuine Changming thread on him.
How could he remain unmoved?