With soft jade and warm fragrance in his arms, Xiao Ci remained unmoved.
“How long does Your Highness intend to lie there?”
Qin Ziyu had crashed into Xiao Ci and bounced back slightly; even through the layers of clothing, he could feel the firm, tight muscle beneath his cheek.
Suddenly, he didn’t want to get up.
Xiao Ci was busy beyond belief every day either handling government affairs or running around arresting and interrogating people yet his physique was actually this good?!
Qin Ziyu inconspicuously turned his face in another direction. “May I ask My Lord one more question?”
He grabbed the fabric at Xiao Ci’s waist, fearing the man might push him down in a fit of irritation.
Xiao Ci’s body was tense, his voice low. “Ask.”
Qin Ziyu said, “I heard My Lord’s martial arts are superb. You entered the palace as a child; where did you learn such skills?”
The breathing above his head went quiet for a moment. Qin Ziyu quickly added, “If My Lord does not wish to say, you needn’t.”
After a silence, Xiao Ci spoke: “It is no secret.”
“I knew some basic moves as a child. While serving in Chang’e Palace, I occasionally accompanied the Noble Consort to Chonghua Palace. Perhaps my natural talent was… acceptable, as I was fortunate enough to receive a few pointers from the previous Commander of the Jinyiwei.”
Natural talent… acceptable?
This talent had clearly broken the scales!
With just a few pointers, Xiao Ci had been able to train himself into his current state—one of the top-tier fighters in all of Chang’an. If he had specialized in martial arts since childhood, wouldn’t he be the best under heaven?
Qin Ziyu’s throat felt tight. “You should have been a Jinyiwei.”
Such a fine talent had been ruined by the original host!
Xiao Ci remained silent for a while before saying, “Whether it be the Jinyiwei or the West Depot, it makes no difference to me.”
Just as Qin Ziyu was immersed in regret, the palace doors opened. Qing An led Xiao Wenzi in from the outside. Lifting the curtain, they saw the two of them embracing from a distance. Qing An’s eyes widened in shock; Xiao Wenzi immediately covered both his own mouth and Qing An’s.
Hearing the commotion, Xiao Ci’s brow tightened involuntarily, his expression showing displeasure. “What are you doing skulking around outside? Get in here!”
Xiao Wenzi and Qing An lowered their heads, walking inside like children who had done something wrong.
“Reporting to the Director: news has come from the Golden Throne Hall. His Majesty has just issued an edict to seize and seal the two Princely Manors. The Prince of Nankang and the Prince of Puning have been demoted to commoners and exiled three thousand li. Their families are required to move out within three days. Aside from the women’s dowries, all other silver and property are to be confiscated.”
Even after Xiao Wenzi finished speaking, Qin Ziyu and Xiao Ci remained in the same position. It wasn’t until Xiao Ci saw Qing An’s eyes nearly popping out of his head that he realized the impropriety.
He stepped back silently, “plucking” Qin Ziyu off himself. Then, feigning thirst, he went to the chessboard to pour some tea.
Qin Ziyu kept his hands behind his back and, while Xiao Ci wasn’t looking, gave Qing An a fierce glare.
Qing An ducked his head even lower.
“Father is still too soft-hearted,” Qin Ziyu remarked. Merely demoting them to commoners and preserving the wives’ dowries meant that aside from the two main culprits, their wives and children could still enjoy wealth and live out their lives in peace.
Xiao Ci sneered. “That is exactly why so many members of the Imperial Clan are raised to be so arrogant and ignorant.”
These words were far too rebellious. Xiao Wenzi immediately looked at Qin Ziyu nervously, but fortunately, he saw no anger on the Prince’s face.
Qin Ziyu asked, “Aside from my two cousins, what of the others?”
Xiao Wenzi replied, “Li Yong and Zhao Quan are to have three generations of their families executed. The other accomplices are to be tattooed and exiled, or put in stocks for public display. The rest face nose-cutting or court floggings.”
Qin Ziyu took a small breath. The Emperor was loath to kill his own kin, so he turned the blade on others. Li Yong and Zhao Quan were indeed detestable, but they were only accomplices. For accomplices, three generations were wiped out; for the masterminds, it was merely exile.
“Three generations… how many people must that be?”
Xiao Ci said, “If Your Highness is curious, you can go and see for yourself tomorrow.”
Qin Ziyu shook his head. “I won’t go. If I did, I would surely have nightmares. Better to save the Imperial Academy of Medicine some trouble.”
Was this what it meant to be an Emperor?
With a casual word, he could take countless lives. Back then, it was clearly his own indulgence that allowed the Imperial Clan members to act lawlessly, harming heaven knows how many people. Now, to protect those two pieces of trash, he was staining his hands with even more blood.
“Power”—a simple word. Some were born with it, some were destined to die for it, some stood by and watched with indifference, and even more were controlled by it. After struggling with all their might until the end, it was nothing but vanity.
The Winter Solstice was originally meant to be a joyous day of family reunions. This year was certainly “lively,” but it was filled with partings.
The Emperor fainted before he even reached Chonghua Palace. The Imperial Academy of Medicine was in a frantic bustle. The ministers stood guard outside the hall, none daring to leave. The imperial concubines served inside behind screens. Before the situation was even clear, some began to sob softly.
Noble Consort Wen flew into a rage and chased the concubines back to their respective palaces, leaving only two high-ranking consorts behind. Aside from them, the Imperial Clan members waited in the front hall, terrified that the Emperor might fall into a lingering illness—or worse, drop dead. In such a case, someone would need to step forward to preside over the situation and welcome the new monarch to the throne.
The Emperor was no longer young. He had already come of age when he ascended the throne and had observed three years of mourning without appointing an Empress. Furthermore, Qin Ziyu had several elder brothers who had died shortly after birth. As the first son to be raised to adulthood, there was a gap of nearly thirty years between father and son.
Such a situation was rare in the Royal Family. Generally, a prince could take concubines at fifteen and welcome a primary wife at seventeen; by the time they reached adulthood, they usually already had children.
Everyone watched the movements in Chonghua Palace, terrified of missing a single detail.
When Qin Ziyu arrived, countless eyes were pinned on him, carrying all sorts of meanings. Those with sharp ears could hear officials whispering in the corners.
“Is this the legendary Crown Prince who has been ill for many years?”
“Indeed. That little eunuch just called him ‘Crown Prince,’ I heard it clearly. Since he is ill, he should be resting properly. What is he doing here? You…”
“What are you looking at?!”
Someone nudged the speaker, who snapped out of his daze as if waking from a dream.
“I only knew before that the Crown Prince was born weak and sickly, but no one ever said the Prince’s appearance…” He paused for a moment, his breathing unstable. “For a fleeting second, I thought he was a Princess.”
That face was as bloodless as white porcelain, looking exceedingly frail, yet the eyes were unexpectedly bright. They were separated by thirty zhang, with rows of kneeling officials between them, yet that gaze felt like a hook, piercing through him instantly.
As a faint scent of pear blossom drifted past, the pale hem of a robe vanished from sight.
A small eunuch lifted the curtain. Supported by Qing An, Qin Ziyu walked into Chonghua Palace. Both those he knew and those he didn’t swarmed forward to pay their respects.
“Greetings to Your Royal Highness.”
Qin Ziyu covered his nose with a silk handkerchief. To be honest, with all these people gathered together, the smell was not pleasant. Despite being Imperial Clan members and nobles who appeared clean on the surface, some among them disliked bathing, and their hair was greasy and shiny.
“Uncles and brothers, there is no need for such ceremony. Hearing that Father fainted, I rushed over immediately, yet I am still a step late… cough, cough, cough… What is the situation now?”
He inquired while coughing. Those inside quickly made way for him. “Your Highness, please sit and rest. Let the Imperial Physician take a look at you while he’s at it. The wind is cold outside; do not catch a chill.”
Qin Ziyu eased himself, calming the itch in his throat. “I am not that delicate. I just inhaled a few mouthfuls of wind. Where is the Imperial Physician?”
Physician Li, the current head of the Imperial Academy of Medicine, emerged from the back hall and knelt. “His Majesty’s anger attacked his heart; he just vomited blood. He has now taken medicine and is asleep. As for the specifics, we must see if he develops a fever tonight.”
Qin Ziyu’s youngest uncle, Prince Chun, spoke with a voice like a bronze bell: “You all had better be careful. When Imperial Brother wakes up, this Prince will reward you handsomely.”
Physician Li acknowledged the command. Since the one lying on the bed was the Sovereign, how could they not give their utmost?
“I trust Physician Li’s skills,” Qin Ziyu said. “Today is the Winter Solstice. Father had prepared a banquet to dine with all his uncles and cousins. It is a pity that fate toys with us. Although I did not go to the Golden Throne Hall personally, I have heard the full account of the cause and effect. Being long confined by illness, I am in no position to judge; I only hate that I cannot take Father’s place and suffer this affliction on his behalf.”
Before Qin Ziyu could finish, the crowd began to console him, telling him not to blame himself. Others began to curse those two unfilial descendants who had been demoted to commoners, saying that if anything happened to the Emperor, those two could not atone for their crimes even with ten thousand deaths.
For a time, the front hall was a clamor of noise quite “lively” indeed.
Qin Ziyu frowned, wishing to suppress their voices, but he lacked the strength. Qing An, as a newly promoted little eunuch, didn’t dare to speak loudly either. He looked at his master’s expression with deep concern.
The Director had warned His Highness: these members of the Imperial Clan relied on their status and didn’t even hold the Emperor in high regard, let alone a Crown Prince who had not yet entered the court. But His Highness had insisted on coming, and Qing An had no choice but to worry.
Qin Ziyu lowered his head and beckoned Qing An to lean in.
“Where is the Court Diarist?”
Qing An looked left and right, sending someone to find him.
A moment later, the Court Diarist was invited over. Qing An announced loudly, “That the Princes are so concerned for His Majesty is a blessing for the state. Lord Diarist, please record the words and deeds of everyone present. When His Majesty wakes, he can reward everyone according to these records.”
His voice wasn’t particularly loud, but it was enough for everyone to hear. The hall fell silent instantly. The faces of those who had shouted the loudest just now turned incredibly unsightly.
Prince Jing, who had been sitting in the corner without making a sound, looked at the isolated and unaided Qin Ziyu and let out a low chuckle.
Interesting.
Just then, Noble Consort Wen’s decree arrived from the back hall: Prince Chun and Prince Jing were to stay; everyone else was to return to their manors and await news.
Some relied on their status and didn’t want to leave. Ultimately, Noble Consort Wen was only a Noble Consort, not an Empress; her decree could not suppress everyone. The Imperial Clan sons were not the concubines of the inner palace; they were not that obedient.
However, looking at the Court Diarist nearby, they feared that making a scene would look bad. If the Emperor woke up, he would surely punish them for the crime of being unruly. Moreover, the Crown Prince was in poor health and had been coughing since he entered; if he were to faint along with the Emperor, their crime would be even greater.
They were unwilling, but they had no choice.
With a single recording official, Qin Ziyu had sent all the unsightly Imperial Clan members away. Finally, he could put down his handkerchief and breathe air that was at least somewhat fresher.