[A quiet change]
“Be careful, Sister.”
Consort Ning, momentarily lost in thought, knocked into her wine vessel, sending liquid splashing across the floor. The Crown Prince had already left his seat, leaving only his retreating figure behind. Many eyes turned toward her. Consort Ning saw the Empress Dowager casting a warning glance from above, then watched as the Crown Prince approached the Empress to offer a tea toast. In her panic, her fingers turned ice-cold.
The Crown Prince had no heart to worry about Consort Ning behind him. As he drew near the Empress, he sensed his mother’s reproachful gaze and instinctively softened his voice: “Mother.”
Empress Xu’s slender fingers paused on her teacup. Seeing the Crown Prince’s hesitant expression, she set the cup down. “Regarding the birthday gift, you should not have acted on your own authority.”
Seeing his sour expression—one devoid of any hint of self-reflection—Empress Xu sighed and shook her head. She saw his eyes repeatedly darting toward the seating area where the Sixth Prince sat, basking in the spotlight that had completely eclipsed the Crown Prince. Her initial appreciation for Ying Fusheng began to cool. Looking at her own son, who stood before her at a loss, she said softly: “Mother told you before—no one will ever become an obstacle to you.”
The Crown Prince froze. “Mother…”
Since things had already reached this point, Empress Xu placed her hand over the back of his. “If your Maternal Grandfather says anything, do not pay it too much mind,” she reminded him.
At the mention of his grandfather, the Crown Prince grew tense. He followed Empress Xu’s gaze. In the civil officials’ section, the elderly man swirled the wine in front of him and cast a distant, fleeting glance in his direction.
The Crown Prince knew that after tonight, his grandfather likely harbored a sliver of dissatisfaction with him. Even if his mother didn’t say it, she surely felt a trace of disappointment as well. He couldn’t help but tighten his grip on his sleeves, the image of the hall erupting in praise as Ying Fusheng presented the paintings replaying in his mind.
Inside the Moon-Viewing Pavilion, the music lingered in the air. Ying Fusheng quietly withdrew his gaze, no longer looking at Empress Xu.
There was no need to speculate; the moment he saw the jade beast statues, he knew the Crown Prince had secretly swapped the gift. In his previous life, the main reason the Crown Prince had dominated the birthday banquet was because of two specific gifts.
If it hadn’t been swapped, the painting of Ten Thousand Horses would have become a tool for the Xu family to praise the Martial Emperor and his generals. The young heir to the throne would have used it to offer congratulations before the assembled officials. If Ying Fusheng remembered correctly, the gift Empress Xu prepared for the Crown Prince should have included another piece of calligraphy or painting that complemented the horses, leaving a deep impression on the military officers.
She was always like this—preparing everything perfectly for the Crown Prince, leaving no stone unturned. The Crown Prince clearly had no need to plot, yet he had managed to play such a winning hand so poorly.
Ying Fusheng suddenly felt that the warm, maternal scene in the distance was somewhat blinding.
“Your Highness, has the hand warmer grown cold?” asked Song An, who was serving at his side.
Ying Fusheng snapped back to reality, realizing the heater gifted by Empress Xu had indeed turned cold. He continued to hold it, tracing the patterns on its surface, but said nothing. He simply withdrew his chilly hand into his sleeve; as he clenched his fist, the sharp pain in his fingertips pulled his thoughts back into focus.
The music and dance continued in the courtyard. While the civil and military officials toasted one another, one spot in the banquet remained exceptionally quiet. No civil officials approached it, and the military generals seemed content in their own company.
“Who would have thought this man named Ning was such a hidden player,” one general remarked, watching Vice Minister Ning’s moment of glory. “The Xu family hasn’t even made their move yet, and the Ning family has already popped up.”
“That’s just how palace banquets go. Why do you care about them? The Soldiers’ Shrine is a good thing. As for the rest, getting us more military pay would be more practical.”
“Quiet,” a sharp reprimand fell.
The generals withdrew their probing gazes and looked toward their leader, General Qi. General Qi sat as steady as a mountain, unmoved by his subordinates’ chatter. Whether the Emperor made a certain decision or not was not for them to speculate.
In the Qi family’s section, as soon as Qi Shen spoke, not a single soldier dared to disobey. Beside the General, a youth who had rarely spoken since the start of the banquet slightly lowered his eyes, looking toward the bustling courtyard.
“The Ning family is indeed strange,” he said.
The youth looked to be about fourteen years old. He seemed out of place amidst the surrounding silk and finery, his back as straight as a pine tree. Sitting in the seat beside General Qi along with the other “martial boors” of the Qi clan, he seemed separated from his surroundings by an invisible boundary. Yet, not a single general present looked down on him. His gaze was different from the others; he didn’t pay much attention to Vice Minister Ning, but instead focused on the Prince. There was a touch of scrutiny and inquiry deep in his eyes, as if he were observing something specific.
“Hanzhou,” Qi Shen said.
But the youth replied, “Father, he is a clever man.”
Qi Shen said, “The Imperial House does not raise the weak.”
As the youth sat upright, his gaze shifted past the composed Empress Xu and the Crown Prince. The contrast between the Ning and Xu families was immediate and obvious. Even so, he looked suspiciously at the restless Consort Ning, sensing a flicker of oddity.
The Ning family had endured for years only to break out now—but rather than that, it was better to say the person in the distance was different. Clearly, the tribute had already received a hall full of cheers, the Emperor had personally acknowledged him, and the rewards had been granted. Yet, beneath that timid and quiet face, there wasn’t a hint of joy. He was as quiet as a pool of stagnant water.
It was as if all this applause could not fill the ambition hidden in those eyes.
Perhaps sensing a faint, lingering gaze, Ying Fusheng’s movements came to an abrupt halt. When he raised his head again, his sight landed in the distance. The Qi family’s section was as quiet as before. He swept his eyes across the seats and locked eyes with someone.
The youth’s gaze was unrestrained and as sharp as a blade. His young face already lacked any trace of childishness, and the tumultuous, murderous aura between his brows seemed to overlap with a pair of eyes from a later life, making Ying Fusheng think suddenly of the eyes of a falcon.
After about three breaths, the youth withdrew his gaze. The cold brilliance around him dissipated, and that scorching stare vanished completely, as if it had never existed.
“He noticed me,” Ying Fusheng said.
Song An grew inexplicably nervous and followed his gaze, spotting a majestic and sturdy figure in the distance. “Do you mean the General of the North?”
Ying Fusheng didn’t answer. He simply brushed a few specks of dust from his court robes, his expression obscure and unreadable as he lowered his eyes. When he came to his senses, he pulled his thoughts away from those distant memories, and his expression returned to normal.
“It is nothing.”
…
Late at night, the palace banquet concluded, and the consorts returned to their palaces.
Having held back the entire way, Consort Ning almost couldn’t restrain herself and nearly ordered someone to go find Ying Fusheng directly. From the start of the banquet to the end, too many eyes had been watching; one wrong move and she would have been warned by the Empress Dowager, so she hadn’t dared to act rashly. But now that it was over, things were different. Too much had happened tonight, and she needed to know exactly who had given that brat Ying Fusheng the idea for that tribute.
“What do you mean you can’t find him?!” Consort Ning almost couldn’t keep her voice down upon hearing Bi Zhu’s report.
Bi Zhu had gone looking for him as soon as the banquet ended, but the Sixth Highness was no longer where he had been. “Perhaps he went somewhere else; this servant will go look again!”
The banquet had dispersed, and people were moving to and fro. Ying Fusheng had taken a detour on purpose.
The night wind was cold. Even before the banquet ended, Consort Ning had been impatient to send people to take him back. And indeed, with her personality, being able to endure until the end of the banquet was already her limit. The Crown Prince hadn’t shone this time, and as his biological mother, Consort Ning was bound to be anxious.
In the distance, Empress Xu’s procession had already moved far off. As Ying Fusheng watched, another figure appeared before him.
Auntie Yu, who served at the Empress Dowager’s side, was waiting outside the Moon-Viewing Pavilion with two palace servants. She approached Ying Fusheng and said, “The Empress Dowager noticed while she was in the courtyard that you did not look well.”
Ying Fusheng noticed the worried look in Song An’s eyes and only then realized his body was covered in a cold sweat. A sensation of alternating hot and cold surged from deep within his body. Even though he had carefully nursed his long-depleted constitution recently, being exposed to the wind at the Moon-Viewing Pavilion for half the night had caused his illness to return the moment the banquet ended.
“The Imperial Physician is already waiting at Cining Palace,” Auntie Yu said.
By the time Ying Fusheng arrived at Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager’s personal physician was indeed waiting. As Ying Fusheng moved to bow, the Empress Dowager asked, “Why didn’t you tell the servants when you were feverish?”
Ying Fusheng froze, seemingly not expecting her to ask such a question; he didn’t react for a long moment.
The Empress Dowager watched him briefly before waving the physician over.
He had been acting throughout the entire banquet, knowing exactly what kind of persona to put on to make those with ulterior motives lower their guard. Having worn a false mask for so long, by the time Ying Fusheng snapped out of it, the physician was already taking his pulse.
The main hall of Cining Palace was filled with the scent of sandalwood. As the physician took his pulse, the Empress Dowager stayed nearby. Having just come from the banquet, the majesty around her had not yet dissipated. Her usually expressionless face held an added layer of serenity, and she only leaned in to listen when the physician or Auntie Yu spoke, her fingers pausing or slowing as she turned her prayer beads.
“The night wind is quite strong; I don’t know why you didn’t wear more,” the Empress Dowager said, her eyelids lifting slightly.
Ying Fusheng paused for a moment and immediately admitted his fault: “This grandson will be more careful next time.”
The Empress Dowager said nothing more.
Ying Fusheng watched her sitting there; her carefully maintained face showed some signs of aging. Even now, as the physician spoke, she only listened to a few words indifferently, as if her slight reprimand just now had been an illusion.
“His Highness’s constitution is depleted; even a minor cold or wind is a hidden danger.” The physician had taken Ying Fusheng’s pulse many times lately and had long expected this nearly empty foundation. “This requires careful nursing.”
“Write a few tonics for him.” The Empress Dowager finally nodded in acknowledgment and said to Auntie Yu, “Light a few more braziers in the side hall. Do not let him catch a chill. It is late; take the Sixth Highness to rest.”
Before Ying Fusheng could speak, the Empress Dowager had already arranged everything perfectly. She was always decisive; once she finished giving orders, she raised her hand in a gesture. Auntie Yu stepped forward to support her arm—she was going to rest.
“Your Highness,” a servant reminded him.
Ying Fusheng then performed his salutations and followed the servant out.
Seeing Ying Fusheng disappear into the distance, Auntie Yu closed the window for the Empress Dowager and said softly, “Consort Ning sent someone to inquire. I have already refused them according to your instructions. Do we need to offer an explanation to Consort Ning?”
The Empress Dowager closed her eyes to rest, the hand moving her prayer beads slowly coming to a halt. “If even you could notice his face turning pale, yet Consort Ning did not, what has she turned a perfectly good Prince into?”
Auntie Yu paused upon hearing this. Having followed the Empress Dowager for many years, she understood the meaning behind those words. The Empress Dowager liked quiet and had always maintained a consistent, impartial attitude toward the Princes and Princesses of the harem. While the Sixth Prince staying at Cining Palace seemed like an exception, in reality, the Empress Dowager would have kept any other Prince for recovery under similar circumstances.
However, over this recent period, the Sixth Prince had been diligent with his morning and evening greetings. Though the Empress Dowager appeared indifferent, she had taken note of it. Especially regarding the gift he prepared—Cining Palace was full of her eyes and ears; she knew best whether he was sincere or not.
In the Empress Dowager’s heart, it was already a settled fact that Consort Ning could not raise a Prince well.
Auntie Yu said, “This servant understands.”
Cining Palace was extremely quiet at night. When Ying Fusheng returned to the side hall, he felt the warmth inside. Following the Empress Dowager’s orders, the servants had prepared everything.
Having stayed with his master in Cining Palace for some time, Song An felt the thoughtfulness of the servants—not just the Empress Dowager herself. It was completely different from the Weiyang Palace. He was about to speak to the Prince when he looked up and found him spacing out, staring at the charcoal brazier for a while.
“Auntie Yu said to bring all this Silver Flake Charcoal over,” a servant said.
Ying Fusheng turned his head. On the desk in the distance sat several inkstones, all newly sent by the Empress Dowager. Those precious inkstones were just left out in the open. Ying Fusheng lowered his head; the bed was warm to the touch, clearly pre-heated with a warmer, the heat lingering and not dissipating.
“Your Highness, the Empress Dowager is truly good to you,” Song An said.
‘Truly good?’ Ying Fusheng didn’t quite understand.
The servants were busy following the Empress Dowager’s orders, but given her character, she wouldn’t show favoritism to any Prince. Yet everything in the hall tonight was evidence of her favor. She could have simply sent a physician to the Weiyang Palace instead of keeping him here.
‘Did she discover something?’
He had been so conspicuous at the banquet; many people had noticed him.
His actions at the birthday banquet were indeed a bold gamble, but he had no other choice. Only this move could bring the Ning family and a marginal Prince like himself before the eyes of the high-ranking authorities. If he were allowed to return to the Weiyang Palace, Consort Ning would remember the Moon-Viewing Pavilion incident. Given her ruthlessness, it was hard to say if he would ever find another opportunity.
He was young and restricted at every turn; the only person who could suppress Consort Ning was the Empress Dowager. Ying Fusheng had plotted other things and even thought about using the Empress Dowager. He had planned to stay at Cining Palace by any means necessary after the banquet. Things like “face” and “rules” could be faked when needed and discarded when not. But before he could even act, the Empress Dowager had proactively kept him here.
The more he thought, the more his head ached. The Empress Dowager’s anomaly left him quite puzzled. Having been schemed against so much in his previous life, whenever he saw even a bit of kindness now, he felt it must have an ulterior motive.
Breaking a habit, Ying Fusheng pushed open the window.
Outside, the servants had withdrawn, leaving only two on night watch.
Ying Fusheng paused.
“Your Highness, the wind outside is cold,” Song An said, confused. “Is something wrong?”
Ying Fusheng closed the window, the thoughts in his mind scattering. “It is nothing.”
The warmth of the palace slowly enveloped him, and the chilling cold tangled in his bones dissipated slightly.
The Empress Dowager had left no other spies behind; it was even cleaner than the Weiyang Palace.
It was as if all these arrangements were simply… for his own good.