The Hall of Chonghua fell into a sudden silence, broken only by the intermittent popping and crackling of the charcoal fire.
Qin Ziyu sat on the right side, while Prince Chun sat opposite him. The latter could only stay seated for a few moments before standing up to pace back and forth in agitation.
Qin Zizhang rubbed the space between his brows and pulled a pocket watch from his sleeve. “It is the second quarter of the Hour of the Horse. Has Imperial Brother had his midday meal?”
“Not yet,” Qin Ziyu replied. “Why don’t you accompany our Imperial Uncle to the side chamber to eat? I have no appetite.”
“Your body is already weak; how can you not eat? Come here.” Hearing that he hadn’t eaten, Prince Chun beckoned to a nearby young eunuch. “Yes, you. Go and fetch some light porridge and side dishes.”
The young eunuch acknowledged the command and hurried out.
Prince Chun came to a stop in front of Qin Ziyu. “Imperial Brother’s condition is still uncertain. If you were to collapse as well…” He pointedly glanced at Qin Zizhang. “It would only benefit others.”
“Oh, Imperial Uncle, you’ve truly misunderstood me.” Qin Zizhang spread his hands, his face full of innocence. “I didn’t cover Imperial Brother’s mouth to stop him from eating, did I?”
“Is that not so, Imperial Brother?” He added with a mischievous wink at Qin Ziyu.
Prince Chun glared at him. “Where are your manners!”
Qin Zizhang leaned back against the chair, a smile playing on his lips, his phoenix eyes glinting with a touch of playfulness. “Imperial Uncle, if I hadn’t reminded you of the time, would you have even remembered to let Imperial Brother eat?”
Prince Chun gave a cold snort.
Qin Ziyu interjected, “Imperial Uncle is worried about Father, but you must also look after your own health. I usually eat very little; there is no need for you to stay and accompany me. It is better if we eat separately.”
“Lady Wen likely hasn’t eaten yet either. Qing An, take Qing Yun to the Imperial Kitchen and keep an eye on things. Have them prepare some simple dishes, and be sure to ask clearly if the Ladies have any dietary restrictions.”
Qing An bowed. “Yes.”
The midday meal was quickly prepared. Prince Chun did not dine with them, having a table set for himself. Qin Ziyu and Qin Zizhang ate in the front side hall, while Noble Consort Wen and several other concubines were in the west side hall.
Qin Ziyu forced himself to swallow half a small bowl of vegetable porridge, but his stomach felt blocked and heavy.
Seeing him set down his chopsticks, Qin Zizhang asked, “Does Imperial Brother always eat so little?”
Qin Ziyu shook his head. “I truly have no appetite today. Father’s sudden illness has been weighing on my mind; everything tastes bland.”
In truth, he wasn’t worried about the Emperor, but rather about those the Emperor had ordered to be decapitated. The thought of so many people dying tomorrow because of this affair left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Irrespective of whether they deserved sympathy, Qin Ziyu had lived in a peaceful era and had little stomach for such slaughter.
Accomplices were to have three generations of their families executed, yet the primary culprits were merely exiled. A life for a life, but the lives being paid were those of others.
“I heard that Imperial Brother has been very close to Xiao Ci recently?” Qin Zizhang shifted his position slightly, resting his face on his hand as he looked at Qin Ziyu with a sideways glance.
Qin Ziyu looked at the palace maid standing by the screen. “You say ‘close’… how close?”
Qin Zizhang leaned forward until they were less than a foot apart, his voice very soft. “Perhaps… this close?”
A wild wind howled past, rattling the windows outside the hall with a thin, ghost-like wailing. Qin Ziyu did not flinch, gazing directly into the amber pupils opposite him.
“It is merely a rumor; you needn’t take it seriously.”
Both their voices were low, easily drowned out by other sounds beyond five paces.
Qin Zizhang smiled quietly. “Imperial Brother heard the drum outside the palace walls today, didn’t you?”
“You must also know what happened in the Golden Throne Hall.”
“How much of a hand does Imperial Brother think Xiao Ci had in all this?”
Qin Ziyu remained silent. He knew Xiao Ci had done much behind the scenes. For instance, without a specialized escort, it would have been impossible for the commoners of Jinling to reach Chang’an within a fortnight. As for Minister Zhao, he indeed had grievances to air, but he had tried ten years ago only to fail and retire; without someone persuading him, he would not have stepped forward again.
And those who committed suicide in Shuntian Prefecture recently—they had endured for so many years; why did they suddenly find it unbearable?
Qin Zizhang’s whisper reached his ear: “Imperial Brother, do not forget who plucked him from obscurity. The difference between a loyal minister and a jackal is but a single thought.”
Qin Ziyu leaned back, creating some distance between them. “Does my brother have some misunderstanding of Lord Xiao?”
“No matter; once the misunderstanding is cleared up, all will be well.”
Qin Zizhang’s face twisted for a fleeting second, his faint smile becoming heavy. For a moment, he couldn’t tell if Qin Ziyu was feigning ignorance or was truly a fool.
“I am going to see Father. You may continue your meal; I will not stay to keep you company.”
Qin Ziyu rose and, supported by Qing An, walked toward the back hall. As the Emperor’s son, he also had to avoid impropriety with the imperial concubines. Noble Consort Wen and the others had not yet returned from their meal; only the attendant eunuchs and one Imperial Physician remained in the hall.
Hearing the commotion, Qing Ji immediately hurried over. “Oh, why has Your Highness come in person? When the Emperor wakes, he will surely blame us for being loose-tongued.”
Hearing his light tone, Qin Ziyu nodded slightly. “Father’s sudden collapse must have given you all a fright as well.”
Qing Ji replied, “Alas, this servant is old and useless. May Your Highness not hold it against me.” He had been focused on the back hall and hadn’t yet had time to exchange information with Qing Hai from the front hall.
“The Eunuch jokes. I am the most useless one, unable even to fulfill my filial duties at Father’s bedside. I thought I would come and see him with my own eyes to put my mind at ease,” Qin Ziyu said.
Qing Ji stepped aside. “Where is Your Highness getting such ideas? The Emperor has always been thinking of you; he will surely be able to sense your filial heart.”
He took Qing An’s place, supporting Qin Ziyu as they walked further inside.
Lifting the gauze curtain, Qin Ziyu saw the man lying on the bed. It had been barely a month since their last meeting, yet the Emperor appeared much older. There were dark circles under his eyes, though his expression was relatively peaceful and his breathing steady, as if he were merely asleep.
Qin Ziyu lowered his gaze and sat half-perched on the edge of the bed, taking hold of that warm, withered, and aged hand. No matter how well the Emperor maintained himself, he was, after all, over fifty. His face looked younger, but his hands betrayed his true age.
“Father, you must get well soon,” Qin Ziyu murmured in a low voice. “Your son is willing to trade thirty years of his own life for Father’s health and longevity. As long as Father can wake up, your son is willing to do anything.”
Anyway, I’m not his actual son, so I can make any vow I like.
As he spoke, Qin Ziyu felt the Emperor’s fingers twitch. He was clearly conscious but unable to open his eyes.
“Rest assured, Father. All is well outside. Although your son is useless, I will not allow outsiders to make a mockery of us.”
Qin Ziyu spoke to the unconscious Emperor for a while longer before rising to straighten the quilts and lower the bed curtains.
“Crown Prince…”
Qing Ji looked at Qin Ziyu with a face full of emotion, nearly moved to tears. Regardless of whether the Prince was sincere, being able to speak such words showed his genuine devotion. After all, the Emperor was asleep; only the servants could hear him.
Qin Ziyu waved a hand. “I am tired and do not wish to add to your troubles. I shall return to the Eastern Palace to await news and come again later.”
Qing Ji escorted him all the way out of the Hall of Chonghua, instructing Qing An to be careful.
“Do not worry, Your Highness. As soon as there is news of the Emperor, this servant will immediately send someone over.”
Qin Ziyu nodded. “Very well.”
The wind grew stronger, swirling with dust that hadn’t been swept away, making it difficult to keep one’s eyes open. Qin Ziyu stepped into his palanquin, and the thick door curtain blocked out the cold wind.
The palanquin was not particularly bumpy, yet the food he had forced down earlier began to surge upward, roiling in his esophagus.
“Qing An.”
From outside the palanquin, Qing An responded.
Qin Ziyu clutched his chest. “Do not return to the Eastern Palace. Go to Kaiyang Hall.”
Qing An frowned. “Your Highness has not yet taken his medicine.”
“Have Qing Kang bring the medicine to Kaiyang Hall,” Qin Ziyu instructed.
Qing An replied helplessly, “Yes.”
When Qin Ziyu had left the Eastern Palace earlier, Xiao Ci had already departed, and his whereabouts were unknown. Since he wasn’t at the Hall of Chonghua, he was most likely back at Kaiyang Hall handling official business.
The Ministry of Justice and the Court of State Ceremonies needed to issue edicts; Minister Zhao and the commoners needed to be appeased; and there were many other trivial matters. With the Emperor unconscious, there would certainly be those trying to fish in troubled waters; Xiao Ci could not afford to relax.
“By the way, have some more food sent over.”
“Make it something appetizing.”
Halfway there, Qin Ziyu had the palanquin stopped and rushed out to vomit, giving Qing An quite a scare.
Qin Ziyu wiped the grime from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief. “Don’t worry. I forced myself to eat a few bites earlier, and the blockage in my stomach was uncomfortable. Vomiting it out has actually made me feel better.”
Qing An took the handkerchief. “Shall I summon Physician Chen to Kaiyang Hall?”
It seemed this visit to Kaiyang Hall was unavoidable. Since he couldn’t dissuade the Prince, he had to ensure everything else was prepared.
Qin Ziyu shook his head. “No need.”
Getting back into the palanquin, Qin Ziyu felt refreshed; his stomach finally felt comfortable.
As expected, Xiao Ci was occupied with a mountain of work. When Qin Ziyu entered the hall, the man did not even lift his head.
“Has he had his midday meal?”
Xiao Wenzi looked troubled. “Not yet. Whenever the Director gets busy, he forgets to eat. Last time, he worked for three days straight; we didn’t notice, and the Director nearly fainted.”
“Is this not utter nonsense!” Qin Ziyu commanded. “I have already ordered food sent over; it should arrive shortly. You go and keep watch; I will pull him away.”
A glimmer of hope appeared amidst Xiao Wenzi’s worried brows. “Yes, this servant shall go at once.”
The Director disliked being disturbed when busy, and they didn’t dare approach. But if it were the Crown Prince… They would treat a dead horse as if it were alive.
Qin Ziyu walked to the desk. Before he could speak, he heard a single word from the other man: “Get out.”
It was crisp, direct, and delivered with great authority.
Qin Ziyu clicked his tongue. Truly a case of being discarded after use; how heartless.
He continued forward, rounding the desk to Xiao Ci’s side, and reached out an index finger to poke Xiao Ci’s arm.
“Lord Xiao, the work will never be finished.”
Xiao Ci said nothing, continuing to process the documents.
Qin Ziyu sighed inwardly. If this were the modern world, he would certainly hire Xiao Ci as a manager. No boss disliked a beast of burden who volunteered for overtime.
“I am hungry.” Qin Ziyu continued to poke Xiao Ci’s arm.
Xiao Ci finally looked up. “There is no food here.”
“I know. Accompany me to eat, won’t you?” Seeing that he wouldn’t budge, Qin Ziyu simply leaned against Xiao Ci. Just as he did, Xiao Ci happened to reach for another scroll; as he lifted his arm, Qin Ziyu followed the momentum of his own weight and plopped down right onto Xiao Ci’s lap.
Qin Ziyu: “…”
He was just about to open his mouth to explain when he suddenly felt something was not quite right. It seemed there was something beneath him that had given a faint, subtle twitch.
Qin Ziyu took a sharp breath.
This might, probably, perhaps, maybe… be something that shouldn’t belong to a eunuch…
Right?