In the palace, no one ever dared to demand Prince Qin’s command token.
Even if the palace gates were closed, if Prince Qin wished to enter to see the Emperor, they would obediently open them.
Not only would no one dare ask for his token—even if he rode in with sword and horse, no one would utter a word against him. After all, the Emperor’s most beloved son was this one.
The Emperor had many children —countless princes and princesses —but the one he favored most was the Third Prince—Prince Qin.
At this time, the Emperor had not yet gone to bed. He was seated at his desk, reviewing memorials.
When Gu Guangliang announced, “Prince Qin has arrived,” the Emperor raised his hand: “Let him in.”
Moments later, Xiao Chengji entered.
Father and son resembled each other by half; among more than ten princes, Xiao Chengji was the one who most resembled the Emperor.
Emperor Jianxing had devoted himself to governance for years. Under his rule, Wei had reclaimed much of the land their ancestors had lost to the Cang kingdom. Such an ambitious man was naturally proud. For this reason, among all his sons, he favored most the one most like himself—the Third Prince, Xiao Chengji.
Xiao Chengji, cold by nature, reported a few matters to the Emperor and then prepared to leave.
The Emperor looked up at him: “Starting tomorrow, take a post in the Ministry of War. Learn some matters in the cabinet as well, and keep watch over the Ministry of Justice.”
Xiao Chengji nodded: “Yes.”
“Yue’er, the court owes much to the Duke Zhen’s household. No matter what that Wen girl may be, you must—”
Before he could finish, a voice outside announced that the Empress Dowager Zheng had arrived.
A flicker of distaste passed through Xiao Chengji’s eyes.
The Emperor’s expression also darkened, but he still nodded.
Empress Dowager Zheng entered, leaning on her cane, surrounded by a large entourage of palace maids and eunuchs supporting her.
Emperor Jianxing quickly stepped forward to assist her: “Mother, it’s so late—what brings you here?”
The Empress Dowager smiled, her clouded eyes sweeping first over Xiao Chengji, then toward the Emperor: “I hear you haven’t visited the harem these days. Emperor, even if you are devoted to state affairs, you must still care for your health.”
The Emperor nodded: “Yes, Mother, your advice is right.”
“I’m not scolding you,” the Empress Dowager said warmly. “I worry for you. Prince Qin, why are you here as well? At such a late hour, disturbing your father’s rest—aren’t you afraid his body won’t endure it?”
The Emperor replied: “I summoned him to the palace.”
The Empress Dowager chuckled: “I knew you were partial, always speaking well of this child. I understand perfectly. I may be old, but I am not senile.”
Xiao Chengji stood silently, cold-eyed, saying nothing. He had long grown accustomed to the Empress Dowager’s subtle, cutting words. He had no interest in sparring with an old woman in the palace over words. Even the Emperor himself was shackled by her—who else would willingly contend with her? If she feigned illness, claiming her health was failing, it would stir up another storm of bloodshed.
“This time, I came to speak about the Wen girl’s marriage,” the Empress Dowager said. “Now that the Wei girl has become the Fifth Prince’s secondary consort, the position of principal consort is vacant. Since the Wen girl was once betrothed to the Fifth Prince, I believe she should still marry him. Prince Qin, surely you don’t wish to wed a woman who was engaged to your brother?”
The Emperor’s face changed drastically. He knew this was her true purpose. At court, he had only punished Wei Hao and Madam Liu, but had not demoted the Wei girl to secondary consort.
When the Empress Dowager learned of this, she flew into a rage, insisting that such a girl was unworthy of the Fifth Prince and should be reduced to a concubine. The Emperor had negotiated repeatedly, finally raising her to secondary consort. Thus, the position of principal consort for the Fifth Prince remained vacant.
The Wen girl was the Duke Zhen’s only legitimate daughter, tied closely to military power. To marry her was to gain access to the army.
The Empress Dowager’s obsession was clear: she wanted the Fifth Prince to become Crown Prince, and she would stop at nothing to ensure the Wen girl married him.
But in the Emperor’s heart, the only candidate for Crown Prince was Prince Qin.
Years ago, the Empress Dowager had seized the initiative and stolen this marriage arrangement. Now, after all the twists and turns, it had come back to Prince Qin. How could the Emperor possibly let go?
And yet—
Others might not know, but they themselves certainly did.
Prince Qin had no interest in women; for years, he had not touched one.
The earlier arrangement with the Wei girl had been forced upon him by the Emperor.
The Emperor said: “Mother, how can marriage arrangements be changed back and forth? It would make us a laughingstock—”
“I am asking Prince Qin,” the Empress Dowager interrupted, her eyes narrowing. “Prince Qin, what do you think?”
Xiao Chengji’s lips curved in a mocking smile: “Father, you have always known—I have no interest in marriage.”
The Emperor’s face immediately darkened.
The Empress Dowager finally breathed a sigh of relief—but before she could fully relax, Xiao Chengji added: “However, I do wish to marry the Wen girl. I have already given her Prince Qin’s command token as a betrothal gift. Prince Qin’s household is vast; it needs a woman to manage its affairs.”
Now it was the Empress Dowager’s turn to turn ashen: “You are not yet married—how can you privately exchange gifts?”
Xiao Chengji’s smile was cold: “Privately exchange gifts? Does Your Majesty mean like my Fifth Brother, who dallied with a noblewoman before marriage? No, that is not the case. I gave the Prince’s token to the Wen girl in front of dozens of common folk.”
The Empress Dowager was nearly driven to fury, but she could not show it openly.
Xiao Chengji continued: “Call it fate, perhaps. I have ridden horses since the age of seven—twenty years without ever dropping a thing. Yet tonight, passing through the South Street night market, the Prince’s token fell into the Wen girl’s hands. Tell me, Empress Dowager, is that not destiny?”
Emperor Jianxing clapped his hands and laughed: “Excellent! Excellent, Yue’er! The Duke Zhen’s household is no ordinary family. A single command token is not enough for a betrothal gift. In the coming days, send more lavish presents.”
The Empress Dowager swallowed her rage under Xiao Chengji’s provocative gaze.
The Emperor smiled: “Mother, now that Yue’er’s marriage is settled, surely you are delighted. Anger harms the body, but so does excessive joy. It is late—return and rest. Gu Guangliang, escort the Empress Dowager back.”
Leaning on her cane, trembling, the Empress Dowager was led away.
Once she left, the Emperor’s smile faded. He struck Xiao Chengji’s shoulder firmly: “Yue’er, at last you’ve shown sense. That excuse you invented was clever.”
Xiao Chengji glanced at him: “The rince’s token truly is in her hands. Without it, I will not enter the palace for now.”
The Emperor chuckled: “No matter. We can forge another identical token. What do you think of the Wen girl?”
“She could probably recite the entire *Wei Code* from memory—like a bookworm.” Xiao Chengji’s lips curled coldly. “She ought to be sent to the Ministry of Justice to work.”