As a man himself, Liu Shiwen sensed a different implication and couldn’t help but voice his thoughts.
However, his wife shot him a glare and retorted, “Stop making wild guesses. Although in our eyes, our daughter is perfect in every way, what do outsiders know? They only think our family holds a low official rank and our daughter isn’t outstanding—especially the Crown Prince. It’s even more impossible with him. His eyes are practically on the crown of his head. Among all the noble young ladies in the capital, he hasn’t taken a liking to a single one, even calling them all vulgar and ordinary. What, does he want to ascend to the heavens and marry the Queen Mother of the West?”
In the privacy of their own home, with no outsiders around, Zhang Yuhua naturally spoke her mind freely.
Liu Shiwen first made a few noncommittal sounds, then couldn’t help but chuckle along, even slapping his thigh a few times.
“I’m telling you, you mustn’t say such things outside.”
Zhang Yuhua glared at her husband and said, “Do I need you to tell me that? Do you think I’ve spent these eight years in Yanjing for nothing?”
Neither of the couple came from noble backgrounds—one was a poor scholar, the other the daughter of a county magistrate. Impressed by his scholarly talents, the magistrate took him as his son-in-law.
After years of diligent study, he passed the imperial examination as a jinshi. However, lacking influential connections and having married early, he was appointed as a county lieutenant at the age of twenty-four after ranking second-class in the palace examination, later promoted to county magistrate.
After ten years of perseverance, his consistently outstanding administrative achievements caught the attention of his superiors, and he was promoted to Yanjing.
Initially, he served only as a seventh-rank archivist in the Court of Imperial Entertainments. After the Liu family became acquainted with the Chen family, Liu Yun also got to know Zhenzhen.
After three years of diligent service as an archivist in the Court of Imperial Entertainments, Liu Shiwen was promoted to assistant director in the Ministry of Works. After another three years of hard work, the director of the Ministry of Works happened to retire and recommended the diligent and honest Liu Shiwen for promotion.
Although both husband and wife had risen step by step from humble beginnings, their eighteen years of experience had taught them best how to survive in Yanjing, where nobles were as common as dogs.
The couple chatted a bit more, both feeling somewhat heavy-hearted before finally going to sleep.
That night, Liu Yun slept poorly due to the events of the day.
She dreamed that the Crown Prince had come again, presenting her with another dragon-patterned Jade Bi-disk. Then, County Princess Rong’an, who was watching nearby, rushed forward with a dark expression, ready to strike her.
As for the Crown Prince, he remained seated on that pitch-black steed, arms crossed as if watching a spectacle, a faint, mocking smile on his lips.
How infuriating!
In her dream, Liu Yun cried out inwardly, lifting her skirts as she ran and shouted, “Don’t hit me, don’t hit me~”
Perhaps she had shouted too vigorously in her dream, for Liu Yun woke herself up in her sleep, thrashing on the bed like a fish leaping onto shore.
Realizing it was just a dream, she wiped the thin layer of sweat from her forehead and let out a long sigh of relief. “…Thank goodness it was just a dream.”
…
The next day.
In the Tianyuan Hall, the morning court session had just concluded.
Court officials stepped out of the hall in twos and threes, descending the steps while discussing the political matters deliberated earlier in the hall. Some looked spirited and lively, while others wore furrowed brows.
Several elderly ministers in purple robes gathered around Crown Prince Xiao Heng, speaking animatedly about something.
Clad in deep red gauze and purple robes, with a distant-travel crown on his head, the Crown Prince stood out prominently among the white-haired and white-bearded elderly ministers.
Noble and dignified, strikingly handsome.
By convention, even among the imperial family, an emperor would guard against his designated heir to some extent, knowing that the Crown Prince would eventually replace him.
In the past, a Crown Prince would worry about getting too close to court officials, fearing accusations of forming cliques for personal gain and arousing the emperor’s suspicion.
However, the current emperor and the Crown Prince were an exception.
If not for the opposition of court officials, His Majesty would have nearly had the dragon robe made for the Crown Prince.
In the Emperor’s eyes, the Crown Prince was flawless in every way—the most perfect heir under heaven.
Having discerned the Emperor’s intentions, the court officials never shied away from proximity to the Crown Prince. Instead, they vied for his favor, hoping to secure advantageous positions once he ascended the throne.
However, the Crown Prince was not one to smile at everyone. He was discerning and rarely formed close ties with court officials.
Just as Xiao Heng was discussing the day’s affairs with the Minister of the Secretariat and the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he caught sight of Liu Shiwen standing nearby, looking anxious and restless.
Yanjing had countless officials, large and small, and Xiao Heng could not remember every one of them.
But as luck would have it, he remembered this one.
Noticing Liu Shiwen’s frequent, cautious glances in his direction, Xiao Heng understood his intention.
Clenching his hands behind his back, Xiao Heng dismissed the two high-ranking ministers with a few words.
“Let us proceed with today’s affairs as arranged. I have matters to attend to and must take my leave. Minister Qin and Chief Minister Fan, please carry on.”
With that, Xiao Heng, accompanied by his attendant Su Lin, headed toward a secluded path. Before leaving, he cast a subtle glance at Liu Shiwen, who was peering around cautiously.
After searching for an opportunity for quite some time, Liu Shiwen finally found his chance. Although the Crown Prince’s glance sent a shiver down his spine, it was ultimately a good sign. He hurriedly followed.
As they walked farther and farther, Liu Shiwen wiped his sweat and followed the Crown Prince to the side of a quiet palace.
He was an honest man, having served as an official for over a decade with humility and integrity. He never caused trouble or offended anyone.
Now, suddenly seeking an audience with the Crown Prince, Liu Shiwen felt deeply uneasy.
Suddenly, the footsteps ahead stopped. Liu Shiwen shuddered and froze in place.
“Your humble servant, Liu Shiwen, Director of the Ministry of Works, pays his respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Even after eight years in Yanjing, Liu Shiwen still felt intimidated in the presence of such a distinguished figure.
After all, this was the future emperor, second only to the sovereign and above all others—his nobility was beyond words.
Liu Shiwen bowed respectfully with clasped hands.
Footsteps sounded again, but this time they grew closer and closer until a pair of black brocade boots and the hem of a crimson gauze robe entered his slightly lowered line of sight.
“Minister Liu, what brings you to seek an audience with me?”
The tone was the same clear, proud, and authoritative one he had always heard, but for some reason, Liu Shiwen detected a hint of warmth in it.
Moreover, the use of the term “Minister” made Liu Shiwen uneasy.
Such an address was reserved for the Emperor when speaking to trusted and high-ranking officials. As a mere fifth-rank director, how could he be worthy of such an honor?
An anomaly in events often signals trouble. Having been cautious for most of his life, he could not afford to stumble over this.
With this thought, Liu Shiwen hurriedly bowed and said, “Your Highness honors me, and I am overwhelmed with trepidation. Today, I sought Your Highness on urgent business.”
After speaking, Liu Shiwen glanced at the Crown Prince’s attendant, Su Lin, hesitating as if wanting to say more.
Xiao Heng noticed this and waved his hand dismissively. “It’s fine. Minister Liu, speak freely.”
Su Lin had served him for over a decade, and he trusted him implicitly.
With that, Liu Shiwen no longer held back. He retrieved a white jade dragon jue from his sleeve, approached the Crown Prince, and presented it with both hands, saying, “I have come to return Your Highness’s Jade Jue.”
As the warm, translucent white jade came into view, Xiao Heng’s brow furrowed slightly. His puzzled gaze fell upon the lean, elderly official before him, and his voice unconsciously turned cold and stern.
“What I have given, I do not take back. Besides, it is merely a small trinket—there is no need to return it.”
As if impatient, the Crown Prince finished speaking and turned to leave.
Liu Shiwen’s expression tightened. For a moment, he forgot all decorum. With his old arms and legs, he hurried after the Crown Prince, taking several quick strides to block Xiao Heng’s path.
“Your Highness!”
As he bowed deeply, Liu Shiwen raised the Jade Jue in his hand slightly above eye level, his face etched with earnest sincerity.
“The Liu family is humble and of low standing. Even the flowers and plants casually discarded by Your Highness would be a hot potato for the Liu family and for my daughter. I implore Your Highness to take it back and put my entire family at ease!”
Before coming, Liu Shiwen had considered everything thoroughly.
Whether the Crown Prince acted unintentionally or deliberately, the Liu family could not bear the consequences.
If it was unintentional, the Liu family would still draw the attention of the powerful and noble families in Yanjing, and might even be targeted by someone of County Princess Rong’an’s status.
If it was deliberate…
Liu Shiwen thought the probability was minuscule, but if such a possibility truly existed, given his official rank as a fifth-grade Langzhong, his daughter would not receive any favorable status even if she entered the Eastern Palace.
Was a Crown Prince’s concubine not still a concubine?
Liu Shiwen had no desire to let his precious daughter endure such a fate.
His daughter Shanshan was pure, gentle, and timid. She ought to live a peaceful and stable life—how could she step into such a whirlpool?
This Jade Jue must be returned.
The old official’s words were firm and resolute, causing Xiao Heng’s expression to gradually turn cold.
After silently observing Liu Shiwen for a few moments, as the latter’s heart filled with anxiety, Xiao Heng finally moved.
He lifted his chin slightly, and Su Lin, standing beside him, understood the gesture. Stepping forward, he retrieved the white jade dragon jue from Liu Shiwen’s hand.
Xiao Heng grasped the Jade Jue, his expression unreadable, neither pleased nor angered. Without another word, he turned and strode away.
Only after the Crown Prince’s figure had vanished did Liu Shiwen straighten up and let out a long sigh.
“So young, yet so intimidating…”
Author’s Note:
Update is here!
Updates might be slower before this story makes it to the charts. The next chapter should be out on Sunday.