As a fellow man, Liu Shiwen sensed something unusual in the Crown Prince's behavior and couldn't help but ask.
But his wife shot him a glare and retorted, "Stop your wild guessing. Though in our eyes our daughter is perfect in every way, what do outsiders know? They only think our family's rank is low and our daughter unremarkable. Especially that Crown Prince—even more impossible. His eyes are set on the crown of his head, looking down on all the young ladies in the capital. He hasn't found a single one worthy, calling them all common beauties. What, does he want to ascend to heaven and marry the Queen Mother of the West?"
Inside their own home with no outsiders present, Zhang Yuhua naturally said whatever came to mind.
Liu Shiwen let out a few "hey hey" sounds, then couldn't help but laugh along, slapping his own thighs a couple of times.
"There you go—just don't say such things outside."
Zhang Yuhua shot her husband a look and said, "Do I need you to tell me that? Do you think I've been wasting my eight years in Yanjing?"
Neither of the couple came from noble origins—one was a poor scholar, the other a county magistrate's daughter. Because of his exceptional learning, he was noticed by the magistrate and taken as a son-in-law.
After arduous study, he passed the imperial examination as a jinshi. But lacking connections and having married early, at twenty-four he placed in the second rank and was appointed as a county constable, then promoted to county magistrate.
After ten years of grinding, his consistently excellent performance caught the attention of his superiors, and he was promoted to Yanjing.
At first, he was merely a seventh-rank registrar in the Court of Imperial Entertainments. After the Liu and Chen families became acquainted, Liu Yun came to know Zhenzhen.
After serving diligently as registrar for three years, Liu Shiwen was promoted to Vice Director in the Ministry of Works. After another three years of grinding, the Director of the Ministry of Works happened to retire and return to his hometown, recommending the diligent and honest Liu Shiwen, who was promoted once again.
Though the couple had climbed step by step from humble beginnings, their eighteen years of immersion had taught them precisely how to survive in Yanjing, where nobles were as numerous as dogs.
The couple chatted a while longer before going to sleep with somewhat heavy hearts.
That night, Liu Yun slept poorly because of the day's events.
She dreamed that the Crown Prince came again, compensating her with another dragon-patterned jade pendant. Then County Princess Rong'an saw it from the side, her face darkening as she lunged forward to hit her.
As for the Crown Prince, he remained seated atop that pitch-black steed, arms crossed as if watching a show, watching with a faint, inscrutable smile.
How infuriating!
In her dream, Liu Yun cried out inwardly, lifting her skirt and running while shouting, "Don't hit me, don't hit me~"
Perhaps she shouted too earnestly in her dream, for she woke herself up, flopping about on the bed like a fish that had jumped ashore.
Realizing it was only a dream, Liu Yun wiped the thin sweat from her forehead and let out a long sigh. "…Thank goodness it was just a dream."
…
The next day.
At Tianyuan Hall, the morning court session had concluded.
Court officials filed out of the hall in twos and threes, descending the stone steps while discussing the affairs of state just deliberated within. Some wore spirited expressions, others furrowed brows.
Several purple-robed elder ministers gathered around Crown Prince Xiao Heng, speaking with great vigor.
The Crown Prince, clad in a crimson gauze purple robe and wearing the distant-traveler's crown, stood out strikingly among the white-haired, white-bearded old ministers.
Noble and dignified, handsome beyond compare.
By conventional reasoning, even with a personally appointed heir, an emperor would typically harbor some wariness toward the Crown Prince, knowing he would one day take his place.
In times past, heirs apparent would worry that being too close to court officials might be seen as forming factions, causing the emperor to harbor suspicions.
But His Majesty and the Crown Prince were an exception.
Had it not been for the court officials' objections, His Majesty would have nearly had a dragon robe made for the Crown Prince.
In His Majesty's eyes, the Crown Prince was perfect in every way—the most flawless successor under heaven.
Having discerned His Majesty's sentiments, the court officials never shied from proximity to the Crown Prince. Instead, they vied desperately to win his favor, hoping to secure good positions once he ascended the throne.
Yet the Crown Prince was not one to smile at everyone. He was exceedingly particular and rarely formed close associations with court officials.
As Xiao Heng was discussing the day's affairs with the Chancellor and the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, his peripheral vision caught sight of Liu Shiwen, who stood nearby looking anxious.
There were countless officials great and small in Yanjing, and Xiao Heng could not remember them all.
But as it happened, he remembered this one.
Seeing him repeatedly casting cautious glances in his direction, Xiao Heng discerned Liu Shiwen's intent.
Clenching the hand behind his back, Xiao Heng dismissed the two senior ministers in a few brief words.
"Let today's affairs be arranged as such for now. I have matters to attend to and will take my leave. Chief Minister Qin, Censor-in-Chief Fan, please go about your business."
With that, Xiao Heng led his attendant Su Lin toward a secluded path. Before leaving, he cast a subtle glance at Liu Shiwen, who was craning his neck to look.
Liu Shiwen had been searching for an opportunity for quite some time and had finally found one. Though that look from the Crown Prince sent a shiver through him, it was ultimately a good thing, so he hurriedly followed.
As they walked further away, Liu Shiwen wiped his sweat while following the Crown Prince to a quiet spot beside a palace.
He was an honest man—in over a decade of official service, he had remained low-key and law-abiding, never causing trouble, never offending anyone.
Now, suddenly having to seek an audience with the Crown Prince, Liu Shiwen's heart was filled with trepidation.
Suddenly, the footsteps ahead stopped. Liu Shiwen's heart jolted, and his legs froze in place.
"Your humble servant, Vice Director of the Ministry of Works Liu Shiwen, pays respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Even after eight years in the capital, Liu Shiwen still felt a tremor of fear when facing nobles of this rank.
After all, this was the future emperor—second only to the sovereign himself, his eminence needed no elaboration.
Liu Shiwen clasped his hands in a formal bow, his expression reverent.
The footsteps sounded again, but this time they grew closer and closer, until a pair of ink-black brocade boots and the hem of a crimson gauze robe entered his lowered line of sight.
"Minister Liu, what business do you seek with me?"
It was the same proud, dignified tone he always heard, yet somehow Liu Shiwen detected a hint of warmth in it.
Moreover, the address used was "Minister"—a term that filled Liu Shiwen with unease and trepidation.
Such an address was reserved for when His Majesty spoke to his most trusted senior officials. What virtue or ability did he, a mere fifth-rank director, possess to deserve it?
When things go against the norm, something is amiss. He had been cautious his entire life; he could not afford to stumble here.
With this thought, Liu Shiwen hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Highness honors me too greatly; your humble servant is overwhelmed with trepidation. I have come to seek Your Highness today on a matter of urgency."
Having said this, Liu Shiwen raised his head and glanced at the attendant beside the Crown Prince, Su Lin, hesitating as if he wished to speak but held back.
Xiao Heng noticed this and waved his hand, saying, "It's fine. Minister Liu, speak freely if you have something to say."
Su Lin had served him for over a decade; a measure of trust was only natural.
Since that was the case, Liu Shiwen saw no need to be evasive. He withdrew a white jade dragon disc from his sleeve, stepped forward to the Crown Prince, and presented it with both hands, saying, "I have come to return Your Highness's jade disc."
The warm, translucent white jade caught his eye. Xiao Heng's brow furrowed slightly, and he cast a puzzled gaze at the thin, elderly official before him, his voice unconsciously turning cold and deep.
"What I give, I do not take back. Moreover, it is merely a trifle—no need to return it."
As if growing impatient, the Crown Prince turned to leave after speaking.
Liu Shiwen's expression tightened. Forgetting propriety in that moment, his old legs chased after him, and in a few strides he blocked Crown Prince Xiao Heng's path.
"Your Highness!"
With a deep bow, Liu Shiwen raised the jade disc in his hand above the level of his eyes, his face carrying an intense, earnest plea.
"The Liu family is a modest household with a low threshold. Even the flowers and grass Your Highness casually tosses aside are, for the Liu family and for my daughter, a scorching hot potato. I beg Your Highness to take it back, so that my entire family may rest at ease!"
Before coming, Liu Shiwen had considered the matter thoroughly.
Whether the Crown Prince had done this unintentionally or deliberately, the Liu family could not bear the consequences.
If unintentional, the Liu family would still draw the attention of the powerful noble houses of the capital, and might even be targeted by figures of status like County Princess Rong'an.
If deliberate…
Liu Shiwen thought the probability was minuscule, but should such a possibility truly exist, with his rank of fifth-grade director, his daughter entering the Eastern Palace would not earn her a good title.
Was a concubine of the Crown Prince not still a concubine?
Liu Shiwen had no desire to let his precious daughter endure such things.
His daughter Shanshan was innocent and gentle, timid by nature. She ought to live a peaceful, stable life—how could she step into a whirlpool?
This jade disc, he was determined to return.
The old official's words rang out with resolute force, and Xiao Heng's expression gradually cooled as he listened.
He gazed silently at Liu Shiwen for several breaths. Under the old man's anxious anticipation, Xiao Heng finally made a move.
He lifted his chin slightly, and Su Lin beside him understood the meaning at once. Stepping forward, he retrieved the white jade dragon disc from Liu Shiwen's hands.
Xiao Heng pinched the jade disc, his expression unreadable. Without another word, he turned and strode away.
Only after the Crown Prince's figure had disappeared did Liu Shiwen straighten up and let out a long breath.
"So young, yet so intimidating…"