[A heart of absolute sincerity]
Since the gift-giving began at the palace banquet, this was the first time the Emperor had shown such high praise for a tribute.
Countless probing gazes fell upon him. When Ying Fusheng heard the Emperor’s laughter, he seemed to snap out of his cautious anxiety. He looked up toward the high seat, a trace of daze in his expression, before finally coming to his senses and reacting: “Thank you, Imperial Father.”
The Emperor acted as if he didn’t notice the undercurrents among the officials. Instead, he looked at Ying Fusheng directly for the first time. Looking down from above, he could only see the boy’s small head as he bowed; such a physique was truly too weak for the Imperial family. At their initial meeting, the Emperor truly hadn’t taken this child seriously. His movements were strictly formal, and compared to the calm composure of the other princes, Ying Fusheng seemed somewhat timid.
The Emperor’s expression settled slightly as he watched Ying Fusheng standing honestly and respectfully in the courtyard. “A gift of prayer is precious. This is something even your elder brothers did not think of. How did you come to think of sending such a gift?”
As the Emperor asked this, the expressions of the officials turned somber, and the faces of several princes in their seating area shifted slightly.
Ying Fusheng’s nails dug slightly into his palms as he maintained his restrained posture. “This son’s gift is far inferior to those of my brothers. My brothers prepared gifts that reflected the surface, but during my convalescence, the Empress and my Imperial Brother went out many times to pray for blessings. Just because my Imperial Brother did not speak of it does not mean he hasn’t done it. I imagine my other brothers are the same.”
These words caught everyone off guard. The expressions of the princes softened slightly. Giving tributes might seem like a small matter, but the undercurrents were surging; otherwise, the Crown Prince wouldn’t have gone out of his way to craft exquisite jade beast statues. One could tell who won or lost just by the Emperor’s reaction. Surprisingly, Ying Fusheng had actually bailed out the other princes. These words were not actually to his own advantage—had he taken the credit for himself, he surely would have received a grand reward, but he didn’t.
Although a smile barely remained on the Crown Prince’s lips, there was no trace of warmth in his eyes. He felt no gratitude for Ying Fusheng’s intervention; instead, he felt a sense of frustration at being outshone. Behind him, several members of the Imperial clan and high-ranking officials exchanged knowing glances, their looks of surprise and scrutiny crossing as they secretly calculated their next moves.
Amidst the silence of the banquet, Ying Fusheng spoke slowly in the courtyard.
“This son is dull-witted and weak. It was only through my Consort Mother’s chanting and prayers, and my Grandmother’s loving care, that I was able to return from the gates of death.” He spoke earnestly, his every word hitting home: “Praying for blessings is the wish of the people, and even more so the wish of the Imperial House. The soldiers of the world give their all for the country. Though I cannot be there in person, I wish to do what is within my power.”
Consort Ning froze.
As the other consorts cast their gazes toward her, news of Consort Ning being punished with sutra-chanting and even being grounded had long since spread. With these few short sentences, the Sixth Prince had resolved the issue of the Moon-Viewing Pavilion incident and even pushed some of the credit onto Consort Ning. How could a ten-year-old child say such things? Surely, Consort Ning must have coached him.
Consort Ning’s well-maintained face stiffened. From the moment Ying Fusheng presented those two paintings, everything had exceeded her expectations. She was so panicked she nearly lost her composure. ‘When were these things prepared? Where did that brat get the nerve to go over my head and prepare this!’
But she couldn’t deny it; the credit was falling right into her lap. She looked around in a panic. In the distance, the Crown Prince wouldn’t give her a single glance. She could only look toward the courtyard, wishing she could go up and pull that brat Ying Fusheng down herself.
Inside the Moon-Viewing Pavilion, the candlelight flickered, reflecting in Ying Fusheng’s lowered eyes, which were as calm as still water. The atmosphere of the banquet had quietly shifted following this tribute.
The Empress Dowager looked kindly. Little Sixth’s two gifts had indeed exceeded her expectations. While others gave gifts themed around weapons or beasts, Ying Fusheng’s gift focused on the concept of “praying for blessings.” She looked at the Emperor: “This child has a heart of absolute sincerity.”
The Emperor’s gaze shifted slightly. His fingers lightly tapped the armrest of the dragon throne inside his sleeve, his eyes filled with a bit more surprise. This child of his seemed frail, but the will he displayed was more than that. He nodded in approval and suddenly asked: “Since you hold the soldiers in your heart and pray for them, do you know what they fight for?”
As soon as these words were spoken, the military officers at the banquet looked up slightly, and the civil officials were visibly shocked.
The Crown Prince’s expression grew even uglier. The tribute he prepared hadn’t received a grain of praise from the Emperor, yet now Ying Fusheng was not only being praised but was being questioned by his Imperial Father in front of all these court officials!
Gaze after gaze fell on Ying Fusheng like sharp blades. He paused for a moment upon hearing the Emperor’s question, appearing to be in thought. The Emperor on high was unusually patient; he rubbed the thumb ring on his hand, his gaze seemingly calm yet appearing to pierce through everything.
Ying Fusheng’s fingers hidden in his sleeves tightened slightly. His face showed no alarm; instead, he looked somewhat troubled.
“What? Is this question very difficult?” the Emperor asked, though his gaze casually brushed past the civil officials’ section, where Vice Minister Ning of the Ministry of Rites was sitting.
This question was more than just difficult. If the other people in court could see what was happening, how could His Majesty not see it! Moreover, a crowd of military generals was sitting at this banquet watching; even officials would have to think twice before speaking, let alone a prince.
In the seating area, several military officers looked over at the sound. General Qi, Qi Shen, sat upright. Beside him, a youth’s brow furrowed slightly as his gaze fell upon the prince in the courtyard.
The silence around them became almost absolute. In the courtyard, Ying Fusheng remained quiet for a moment, a trace of sorrow brewing in his clear eyes. His voice was crisp and earnest: “In response to Imperial Father, this son does not understand great philosophies. I only heard palace servants mention during my illness that soldiers fight to defend our home and country—they are protecting us.”
At this point, his voice grew slightly lower: “But to go to war is to not return until victory is won; soldiers who go might never come back. While I was ill, I looked forward to Imperial Father’s return. Since I felt this way, the families of the soldiers must also have parents or children waiting for them. If they sacrifice themselves abroad, will they find the way back?”
As his voice fell, those present seemed caught off guard by such a simple answer. The Sixth Prince’s naive response echoed through the Moon-Viewing Pavilion. It was an answer derived purely from a child’s temperament—there was no deep ulterior motive to the prayer; it was merely the hope that lost souls might find their way home.
The Emperor on his high seat was momentarily stunned. The sharp scrutiny in his eyes, which could usually see through the human heart, seemed to melt like spring snow, replaced by a look of surprise and complexity. “Good… well said.”
His gaze fell upon Ying Fusheng’s thin shoulders. “Though you are young, you possess a heart of absolute sincerity. It is rare.”
Having said this, he unexpectedly beckoned to Ying Fusheng. “Come, come before me.”
The moment these words were uttered, the expressions of several people at the banquet shifted. Consort Ning looked up in disbelief, and the Crown Prince’s composure instantly crumbled. Ying Fusheng’s eyes showed a brief flicker of surprise. Meeting the Emperor’s gaze, he bowed slightly and walked up the steps; as he ascended, the people beside him seemed to shrink away, and the world around him went still.
The scent of ambergris was within arm’s reach. His palms grew colder as he approached the Emperor step by step.
The Emperor patted his young shoulder. After the scrutiny, a warmth never seen before emerged in those unfathomable eyes.
Ying Fusheng could even hear a light chuckle beside his ear. Once the laughter subsided, the Emperor looked toward the civil and military officials in the courtyard. “Did you all hear that? In some matters of logic, you all are sometimes not as perceptive as a child.”
He nodded slightly toward Ying Fusheng, his tone softening further: “Since you know this, do you know what must be done?”
Ying Fusheng saw the officials in his peripheral vision. The hand on his shoulder was warm yet heavy as a mountain. A thousand thoughts eventually condensed into the innocence and ignorance appropriate for his age. He said, “This son does not know.”
The Emperor nodded but did not press further. His gaze swept over the assembled officials. “Every road has a return; every home has a direction. Today, coinciding with the Empress Dowager’s birthday, we shall establish a Soldiers’ Shrine in accordance with her wishes.”
“In the Northern Frontier campaign, the loyal souls of our soldiers have forged the stability of Great Yuan. Those who have served the state shall be immortalized in history and entered into the Soldiers’ Shrine. Temples across the land shall hold fasts for seven days; the people shall pray for blessings to comfort the souls of the living and guide our soldiers back to their homeland.”
Ying Fusheng looked slightly dazed.
Seeing this, the officials rose one after another—”Your Majesty is wise!”
The Great Yuan Dynasty prized martial prowess above all. The last two Emperors had used war to end war, and even the Empress Dowager came from a family of military generals.
In such a world, only the Imperial family knew whether the Emperor truly believed in gods and Buddhas. But “praying for blessings” was different; after the turmoil of long wars, the people needed a focal point for their hearts. Once this act of prayer was publicized, the Emperor’s mercy toward all living beings would appear very different in the eyes of the common people.
The Emperor’s voice slowed, sounding uncharacteristically gentle: “The Sixth Prince has performed a great service through his prayer. He is awarded a hundred-year-old ginseng to strengthen his foundation.”
“The matter of establishing the Soldiers’ Shrine must not be delayed.” The Emperor’s gaze shifted toward the Vice Minister of Rites. “Vice Minister Ning, I leave this matter to you.”
Vice Minister Ning was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor. He stood up abruptly and hurried forward: “This servant accepts the decree!”
Many gazes at the banquet fell upon Vice Minister Ning. The Ning family had been quiet for years, but today, as the Sixth Prince took the spotlight, the Ning family had suddenly caught a rising wind.
As undercurrents surged, Ying Fusheng bowed deeply. In the brief moment his eyelids lowered, his previous ignorance vanished completely. He gathered his robes and sleeves, waiting until the Emperor gave permission before returning to his seat.
In an instant, gazes from all directions followed him, feeling particularly scorching from the Princes’ section.
The Crown Prince nearly failed to maintain his usual mask of brotherly affection; he only managed a small smile at Ying Fusheng, while his hand hidden beneath the table dug deep into his palm. The First and Second Princes, who were seated closer, looked at Ying Fusheng with great interest, nodding in greeting to him for the first time since the banquet began.
“All of you, please enjoy yourselves. A palace banquet should be a time for shared joy,” the Emperor said.
With the tributes delivered, the rest of the banquet’s music and dance performances commenced.
Earlier that day, the Emperor had already rewarded his military generals for their service, and now the palace banquet was being used as an occasion—under the guise of the Empress Dowager’s birthday gifts—to issue pensions and condolences. Many turned their gazes toward Vice Minister Ning. No one believed such a profoundly calculated tribute was the work of a ten-year-old child; to them, it looked more like the Ning family, standing behind the Sixth Prince, was the one pulling the strings.
In an instant, even more people began watching Vice Minister Ning and Consort Ning. They had previously thought the Ning family was merely cautious and lacked ambition, but now it seemed they had simply been waiting for the right moment.
The palace banquet was long. After several rounds of wine, the atmosphere reached its peak. At this point, the Emperor stepped away briefly to rest, and the mood in the hall shifted perceptibly.
The presentation of the gift and the involvement of Vice Minister Ning had made Ying Fusheng the focus of the princes’ seating area. His earlier words—naive yet highly praised—had caught the attention of many officials. As this was his first time attending a palace banquet, his demeanor was carefully curated to appear quiet and restrained, though a hint of excitement lingered in his expression, as if he were entirely unaware of the undercurrents surging deep within the palace.
To the surrounding officials, this display made him seem “simple.” Seeing his joy on his face, they felt he was easy enough to read; however, their speculations regarding Vice Minister Ning were a different matter entirely.
“Vice Minister Ning.”
Suddenly, Vice Minister Ning was inundated with “concern” from his colleagues. On a normal day, he would never have enjoyed such prominence. The Ning family was not highly regarded in court; though their situation had improved in recent years, they had been away from the center of power for so long that they still lagged behind. The Sixth Prince’s appearance today had brought him a glimmer of glory, and even those who had previously disdained speaking to him now approached.
He had been anxious today because of the recent Moon-Viewing Pavilion incident, never expecting to receive such favor from the Emperor during the banquet. This not only filled him with joy but also gave him a sense of sudden enlightenment.
This was an unexpected windfall. He glared at Consort Ning from a distance, warning her not to act rashly, and took the opportunity to exchange pleasantries with the officials before him.
The Ning family had never been this distinguished. After years of suppressed frustration, Vice Minister Ning accepted toasts from his colleagues throughout the banquet hall.
In the princes’ section, Ying Fusheng watched the scene of Vice Minister Ning’s glory. A trace of mockery flickered across his downcast expression.
He nudged the wine cup in front of him; in its reflection was the Ning family, now stepping out into the light. Vice Minister Ning was basking in the flattery of his peers, unaware that he had become a target for the majority.
Ying Fusheng concealed his gaze. Not far away, in the civil officials’ section, several elderly senior officials were seated. Leading them was the Qingliu faction [1] refers to officials, scholars, or factions known for their integrity, moral uprightness, and adherence to Confucian principles. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_1463728_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_1463728_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); Xu family. Among them, an aged man was nodding slightly, seemingly observing the movements in the hall, his peripheral vision passing over the boy.
Ying Fusheng’s eyes shifted slightly as he understood clearly: the Xu family had always been the leaders of the Qingliu faction, and more importantly, they were Empress Xu’s natal family—the primary force that would push the Crown Prince to the throne in the future.
‘The Xu family, is it…’
The ripples in his cup stilled. Maintaining his submissive expression, he looked toward the distance.
In the consorts’ section, Consort Ning watched her father move among the officials. When she looked back at Ying Fusheng, her face turned pale as she gripped her handkerchief tightly.
“Sister, the Sixth Prince has truly won the Emperor’s heart this time,” one consort remarked.
“How could it be…” Consort Ning forced a polite smile, but inside, she couldn’t smile at all.
The other consorts thought differently. To them, the Sixth Prince’s gift was clearly prepared with great care. Usually, Consort Ning appeared not to compete for favor, but it turned out she was saving a major move for today.
While several consorts wore smiles, Consort Ning’s heart grew increasingly frantic.
The scene she had envisioned—the Crown Prince stealing the show—never happened. She had contacted the Ning family in the Ministry of Rites beforehand to leak information to the Crown Prince’s side, yet her own family had failed to look out for her, repeatedly ignoring her hints. Now, Ying Fusheng had taken all the glory, making the Crown Prince look slightly inferior. This was not the result she wanted.
Despite her outward appearance, as she watched the officials in the hall, she felt an urge to kill Ying Fusheng.
“Sister, you are usually so easygoing, but the gift you prepared turned out to have such deep meaning,” one consort said pointedly. “You’ve even outshone the Crown Prince.”
Just as Consort Ning was about to defend herself, the Crown Prince suddenly turned around. She instinctively tried to smile at him, only to find his expression cold. The look he gave her was filled with wariness and hostility.
References[+]