Emperor Chongzhao cleared his throat. "Let the dishes be served first."
Only then did the palace attendants enter carrying trays.
The dishes placed before each person were different, but all corresponded to the favorite foods of the respective prince.
The Crown Prince looked much more haggard, with heavy dark circles under his eyes and an indescribable weariness draped over him. Since entering, he had been very quiet, as if he lacked even the energy to offer greetings.
The Second Prince showed nothing out of the ordinary, appearing just as he always did.
The Sixth Prince stared blankly at the table, as if there was something peculiar about the dishes upon it.
The Fifth Prince wore a faint expression, sitting upright and proper.
Qu Dubian glanced around the circle. Since no one else was speaking, he also remained silent, honestly playing the part of the invisible man.
Emperor Chongzhao said, "Tonight's banquet is primarily held for Little Seven, to congratulate him on his successful bandit suppression. Come, your father toasts you with this cup. For pacifying the banditry in Dazhou's Ji and Qing provinces, the rewards I have bestowed upon you are still far from sufficient for such merit."
Qu Dubian poured himself some fruit drink, raised his cup, and lied without batting an eye. "Thank you, Father. I suddenly discovered I have some talent in military matters. Contributing to Dazhou is only right."
The Third Prince: "..."
That was rather sudden.
After Emperor Chongzhao finished his drink, he said, "Eat, don't go hungry."
With him initiating the congratulations, the other princes naturally also raised their cups in congratulation. Whether sincere or not, the formalities had to be observed.
The Sixth Prince remarked with feeling, "I never imagined your talent lay in martial and military strategy. I suppose it's somewhat normal then that your scholarly studies were lacking. But the outside world is dangerous, Little Seven. You should try to go out less in the future if you can."
"Don't pour cold water," the Second Prince said. "It's a good thing Seventh Brother has found a place where he can display his abilities. Come, your elder brother toasts you. Well done, Seventh Brother."
"You're too kind, Second Brother."
The Crown Prince forced himself to muster some spirit, uttering only two words: "Congratulations."
"Thank you, Eldest Brother."
After drinking seven cups in a row, Qu Dubian finally set his cup down, secretly rubbing his cheeks which ached from smiling.
At this moment, he felt genuine admiration for Chief Eunuch Yu. How did he manage to maintain a smile constantly when facing people? Didn't his face cramp up?
After the round of drinks, Emperor Chongzhao said, "Alright, pay him no more mind. I can see he's been starving for a while now. He's been greedy since childhood. Go ahead and eat."
Fine.
He had been used as the opening act to warm up the atmosphere. Now, with the Old Geezer's words, it meant he had no further part to play.
Qu Dubian picked up a small bowl and scooped a piece of sweet dessert made from sour cheese and taro paste shaped into a ball.
Chief Eunuch Yu softly stepped forward and refilled the wine cup by Emperor Chongzhao's hand. "It's rare to sit together for a meal, and the Third Prince is also here. As a family, we should be harmonious and amiable."
Third Prince: "Yes."
Emperor Chongzhao: "I heard you gave up an invitation for a game of chess with a friend to come?"
Third Prince: "A single game of chess, giving it up is no great matter."
"Well said," Emperor Chongzhao said with a chuckle. "However, one must give up something to gain something. You gave up a chess game, but gained tonight's harmonious banquet among brothers."
"The words 'give and gain' are profound, don't you think, Eldest Son?"
The Crown Prince paused.
Qu Dubian slowed his eating, biting his chopsticks as he secretly glanced up.
Give and gain.
The imperial edict to imprison the Shu family was still being withheld, as the matter of embezzling disaster relief funds and grain also implicated the Eldest Brother.
The meaning behind the Old Geezer's words was clear: if Eldest Brother gave up the Shu family, cutting off his own arm, he himself could still survive in the court.
With the affair having escalated to this point, with the people and scholars of the three provinces watching, the Old Geezer certainly had to provide a reasonable explanation. He clearly wanted to sacrifice the Shu family to pull the Eldest Brother out of this mess.
So roundabout. Would Eldest Brother understand?
The Crown Prince said, "The profundity of the words 'give and gain'... we learned of it back in the academy."
Qu Dubian picked up a piece of fish. Judging by Eldest Brother's words, he probably understood the Old Geezer's meaning.
Emperor Chongzhao looked towards the Second, Fourth, and Sixth Princes seated on his right. "Hmm, the middle path lies between giving and gaining. Neither inaction nor excess is good. The middle path is most excellent."
The Second Prince lowered his gaze, pondered for a few seconds, then smiled and said, "There is gain and there is loss. The moon wanes when full. One need only grasp the concept of 'just right.' Your son understands. Sixth Brother, what do you think?"
The Sixth Prince, caught off guard by being named, was stunned for a few seconds before meeting his father's gaze.
The Fifth Prince shifted his posture slightly and poked him under the table.
Sixth Prince: "Ah, right. I share Second Brother's view."
Emperor Chongzhao said with satisfaction, "Very good."
"My sons are all very sensible."
"Father praises us too highly."
Regarding the Shu family matter, everyone had reached a consensus, and the atmosphere gradually became harmonious again.
The Fourth Prince helped Qu Dubian pick up a piece of meat. "This is delicious." The matter was likely concluded; they could eat in peace now.
Qu Dubian had a big appetite. After finishing the dishes in front of him, he started helping himself to the Fourth Prince's.
He was eating happily when others failed to notice the Crown Prince's expression growing increasingly somber, his movements of bringing rice to his mouth becoming slower and slower.
Finally, he set down his bowl and chopsticks, changing his posture from kneeling to a formal bow, kowtowing heavily towards Emperor Chongzhao. "Father!"
"The Shu family is innocent! My father-in-law has been diligent and conscientious these past two years, not daring to slacken, transporting the relief grain and funds to various locations. How could he embezzle them! He has worked in the Ministry of Revenue for so many years; his character and integrity are trustworthy. He would never act in such a manner!"
The hall instantly fell silent.
It was as if a cold wind from outside had suddenly blown into the chamber.
All the princes stared at the Crown Prince in astonishment.
The Crown Prince kowtowed again, his forehead striking the floor with a heavy thud.
"The Crown Princess weeps all day long, and my two children are also anxious day and night, crying and fearful. As a father and a husband, I truly cannot bear it! I beg Father to investigate clearly!"
Not a trace of a smile remained on Emperor Chongzhao's face.
He glanced at the Crown Prince. "How much more clearly do you want me to investigate?"
Crown Prince: "I beg Father to be merciful and thoroughly investigate all officials in the three provinces and every prefecture and commandery along the route of the disaster relief grain and funds. Your son is willing—"
Emperor Chongzhao slammed his wine cup down heavily. "Qu Du Cang, I have already been more than merciful enough with you!"
He stood up. "What you just said, I can pretend I did not hear. But do not let me hear it a second time."
With that, he flung his sleeve and departed.
Not long after Emperor Chongzhao left, the Second Prince smiled, also rose, and took his leave. "Eldest Brother, younger brothers, I shall return first."
The Crown Prince stood up, utterly dispirited. After the Second Prince left, he too exited the side hall of the Wolin Palace.
"I must also go," the Sixth Prince said, pulling the Fifth Prince up. "Little Seven, the meal wasn't great tonight. I'll find you another time to eat separately."
Qu Dubian: "Alright."
Fourth Prince: "Shall we leave together?"
Qu Dubian: "I'll have a couple more bites. Fourth Brother, you go ahead."
"Very well."
Qu Dubian was genuinely hungry. He finished off two more plates of dishes before letting out a small, discreet burp.
He was probably the only one at the entire table who had been seriously eating.
Full and satisfied, he even pocketed a plate of crispy water chestnuts.
When he reached the Thousand-Step Corridor outside the palace, Qu Dubian saw the Crown Prince standing on the bridge. He thought: "..."
Was Eldest Brother going to jump into the river?!
He quickened his pace. "Eldest Brother!"
The Crown Prince turned his head. "Ah, Little Seven."
Qu Dubian: "Why haven't you left yet?"
The Crown Prince was silent for a moment. "I don't know how to go home. Today, pleading with Father in front of all of you in the hall was of no use."
A question mark popped up in Qu Dubian's mind. "Big brother, didn't you understand what His Majesty meant by 'sacrifice'?"
The eldest prince's expression was weary with a hint of embarrassment. "I didn't understand. But your sister-in-law said that in important situations, if you encounter something you don't understand, you should pretend you do and say something vague and cryptic. It works."
"I even specifically studied how to speak in a vague, cryptic way. I've managed to fool quite a few people."
Then he would write down everything he didn't understand and ask her or his advisors back at his residence.
Qu Dubian: "……"
The eldest prince: "Could you understand it?"
Qu Dubian broke it down for him: "His Majesty spoke of 'sacrifice' because the embezzlement of disaster relief funds and grain has been linked to you. As long as you sacrifice the Shu family, you can emerge unscathed.
Later, when His Majesty spoke of 'the Golden Mean,' he was reminding Second Brother and Sixth Brother to tell their factions not to target you too harshly in court. They can compete, but there must be restraint.
Since Second and Sixth Brother both agreed, the matter was considered settled."
The eldest prince sacrificed the Shu family. The factions of the second and sixth princes ceased their attacks against the eldest prince, maintaining a balance in the court.
The result was that just when everyone had finally reached a consensus and was happily enjoying the meal, the eldest prince suddenly knelt, kowtowed, and begged the Old Geezer who had arranged this reconciliation banquet to investigate the matter thoroughly.
That's why the Old Geezer flew into a rage.
They all thought the eldest prince had changed his mind and wanted to overturn the table right in front of the Old Geezer. Turns out, he simply hadn't understood a thing and was completely out of the loop the whole time.
What a waste of this reconciliation banquet held under the guise of a celebration.
A bunch of genuine riddlers had encountered a fake riddler.
In the end, when the Old Geezer said he could pretend he hadn't heard the eldest prince's words, the hidden meaning was that tonight's banquet still held. As long as he sacrificed the Shu family, he would remain the eldest prince.
The eldest prince carefully thought it over again. "So that's what it was."
He leaned his hands on the bridge railing and was quiet for a long while. "Little Seven, it seems like I was born missing a string in my brain. Wenxin says I'm slow, and I never admitted it, but now... things all of you can understand, I'm the only one who can't."
Qu Dubian pondered. "Sixth Brother probably didn't understand either."
After all, during the meal, his reactions were always a beat slow. Fifth Brother kept frantically poking him under the table, which Qu Dubian saw very clearly.
The eldest prince was confused. "Should I sacrifice the Shu family... Seventh Brother, if it were you, what would you choose?"
"Everyone's character is different, so their choices would be different too," Qu Dubian handed the eldest prince a piece of crispy water chestnut. The eldest prince didn't take it, so he popped it into his own mouth. "Big brother, what do you think in your heart?"
He gazed at the thin ice atop the flowing water under the bridge, appearing pitch black in the night. Only when occasionally caught by the light, with the water rippling, would a silvery, glimmering corner reveal itself.
Life is one's own. No one can truly make decisions for another.
"Choose a path, be clear about the price you must pay, and walk it resolutely. That's all."
The eldest prince looked at his younger brother's profile.
"And the path you've chosen now, are you also clear about the price you must pay?"
Qu Dubian: "Me?"
The eldest prince: "Wenxin says you're vying for power not for the throne, but for Zhiyi."
Qu Dubian gave a thumbs up. "Big brother, marrying sister-in-law is your good fortune. It's not entirely for Elder Sister. I have plenty of my own selfish motives too."
The eldest prince looked deeply into his eyes. "But once you start contending, there's no path of retreat."
"Who says there isn't?" Qu Dubian said. "As long as you want to, as long as you dare, there certainly is. The Great Zhou Legal Code, Chapter Six of the 'Officials' section, Article One Hundred and Thirty-Four."
The eldest prince was quiet for a moment, not responding. Finally, he pinched a piece of crispy water chestnut from him. "I'm leaving."
Qu Dubian also returned to his residence.
Muttering to himself, "Big brother, oh big brother, I can only hint this much. How to choose is still up to you."