[Birthday Palace Banquet]
On the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, the reigning Emperor returned to the capital in triumph from his personal military expedition. As the army reached the outskirts of the city, the common people erupted in cheers.
The gates of the capital were flung wide. The Emperor, clad in battle armor, led the way, followed by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the formidable Qi Family Army. Banners fluttered in the wind. The Great Yuan Emperor had spent half his life in the saddle, campaigning for years; it was his constant vigilance and personal leadership on the front lines that ensured the stability and peace of the Great Yuan subjects on this often war-torn land.
News had already spread far and wide that the Emperor had personally reached the border, taken the head of a barbarian general, and secured thirteen cities for Great Yuan.
As the heavy cavalry entered, the ground shook beneath the horses’ hooves. The people looked up at their majestic sovereign, followed by a vast host of thousands. The Qi Family Army accompanied the carriage into the capital in full glory, and upon reaching the walls of the Imperial City, the heavy troops disarmed and established their camp outside.
“We welcome Your Majesty’s great victory and triumphant return!” The civil and military officials, who had long been gathered there, raised their voices in a thunderous cry of “Long live the Emperor!”
The Emperor’s personal expedition and his crushing defeat of the Northern barbarians were celebrated as a feat of great heroism. The procession returned to the court, where an imperial assembly was convened.
The Emperor shed his heavy armor, donned his yellow robes, and entered the hall, which fell into a solemn silence.
The current prosperity of Great Yuan was due not only to the celebrated military expeditions but also to the character of the Emperor himself. In his youth, he had fought on the battlefields, seizing numerous cities. Before reaching middle age, his military merits were so great they “overshadowed the lord,” and he eventually took the throne through a coup during the old Emperor’s critical illness. Since his ascension, he had ruled with martial vigor, expanding the empire’s vast territories. This victory over the Northern barbarians, which drove them beyond the northern borders, secured ten years of peace for the frontiers.
The officials knelt in worship. The Emperor, in his prime, possessed an aura of natural authority honed by years of war and slaughter, making it difficult for anyone to look him directly in the eye. Only after he waved his hand and told them to rise did the officials dare to look up.
During this first assembly upon his return, rewards were distributed to the generals based on their merit, and news of a general amnesty soon spread throughout the palace.
Inside the Inner Palace, the consorts were dressed in their finest to welcome the Emperor. It was also the Empress Dowager’s birthday, and the consorts had all come to the Cining Palace to pay their respects.
As Ying Fusheng entered the hall, he noticed gazes coming from all directions. As a prince who had been kept by the Empress Dowager for a short stay, he naturally drew everyone’s attention.
After a few days of recuperation, his complexion had improved significantly. Aside from the lingering fatigue in his bones following the high fever and having grown noticeably thinner, he was much better off than he had been in the Weiyang Palace. Among the gazes fixed on him was that of Consort Ning. Having been confined for many days and seeing her duties snatched away by others, she had sent messengers to Ying Fusheng several times—even faking illness—but since he hadn’t returned to her palace, she was only just now seeing him.
When Ying Fusheng saw Consort Ning again, she seemed much more restrained. She was perfectly attentive in front of the Empress Dowager. When Ying Fusheng walked to her side, she wore her most motherly smile, showering him with concerned questions, fearful of doing anything that might displease the Empress Dowager.
“Imperial Mother,” Ying Fusheng said.
“Is your body feeling better, Sheng’er?” Consort Ning kept the smile on her face, her every word full of warmth to avoid the Empress Dowager’s disdain. After the incident at the Moon-Viewing Pavilion, the Ning family had sent word saying her actions were improper, forcing her to suppress her anger for days. Now, seeing this “brat’s” complexion improving, she still had to speak kindly: “There is a palace banquet tonight. Return to the Weiyang Palace in a moment to change your clothes.”
Ying Fusheng saw the Empress Dowager looking over and complied.
Seeing Ying Fusheng’s submissive manner, Consort Ning felt relieved that the boy hadn’t grown distant after being away for half a month. As Ying Fusheng walked toward the Empress Dowager to bow, Consort Ning’s eyes darkened slightly. “Didn’t I tell you to keep administering the medicine these past few days?”
Bi Zhu had instructed that dull-witted young eunuch, claiming the licorice powder was to help the Sixth Prince with the bitterness of his tonic. The eunuch had truly believed it; she had even checked the pharmacy a few times to ensure he was adding it.
Seeing the Sixth Prince’s current state, Bi Zhu could only say uncertainly, “Perhaps during this time, the Imperial Pharmacy gave him too many supplements…”
They didn’t know what kind of prescriptions the Empress Dowager’s personal physicians were using. Bi Zhu naturally hadn’t dared to commit the crime too brazenly, so she had kept the dosages small.
Consort Ning looked at Ying Fusheng and saw someone who appeared to be recovering from a long illness. She assumed Physician Chu’s prescription must be extraordinary to allow the “brat” to get out of bed. She thought to herself, ‘He truly has a stubborn life.’
“My Lady,” Bi Zhu knew her mistress’s temperament, “what shall we do about the Prince’s birthday gift?”
Consort Ning knew Ying Fusheng’s participation in the banquet was set in stone. If no gift was prepared, it would reflect poorly on her as his mother. Intent on keeping a low profile, she decided her gift must follow protocol: “Take a small portion from my own gift and attribute it to him. Give the instructions to his servants.”
She would just throw a couple of items together to make do.
After paying their respects to the Empress Dowager, each palace began preparing for the evening banquet.
When Ying Fusheng returned to the Weiyang Palace, he saw the gifts the other servants had prepared. He scanned them, picked out a few that were overly extravagant, and had Song An put them away in the storehouse.
Song An was stunned. Consort Ning hadn’t provided many items to begin with, and those were the most appropriate ones. “Your Highness?”
Ying Fusheng didn’t explain much. He simply placed two scrolls that looked like calligraphy and paintings into the birthday gift for the Empress Dowager and told Song An to watch over them, ensuring no other servants touched them.
As the music began, night fell.
The Moon-Viewing Pavilion was brilliantly lit. Singers and musicians entered to celebrate. As it was the first palace banquet since the Emperor’s return, the Directorate of Ceremonies and the Ministry of Rites dared not be negligent. The entire banquet was harmonious, filled with singing and dancing—a scene of great festivity.
When Ying Fusheng arrived, the brightness of the pavilion at night made him feel slightly dazed.
He had been reborn for several days; he had been deathly ill at the Weiyang Palace and the Cining Palace had been very quiet. This was the first time since his rebirth that he had appeared in such a crowded place. He looked at the families of the officials entering in pairs. To his ears, the festive noise turned into the sharp, piercing whistle of a cold wind, causing his palms to break out in a fine sweat. He shook himself out of the daze, blocking out the illusory sound of the wind and reacclimating to the liveliness before him.
The young princes and princesses of the palace stood together. As Ying Fusheng approached, those around him took notice. There were only so many members of the Imperial Clan, and every prince and princess had appeared at palace banquets before—except for the Sixth Prince. He had been sickly since childhood, frequently taking sick leave since he started school, and he never associated with his siblings. He was known for being reclusive and silent.
As he approached, the others merely observed him from a distance, making no move to come forward and greet him. Consequently, a faint, empty circle formed around him.
The exclusion and wariness of the others were glaringly obvious, yet Ying Fusheng acted as if he were oblivious. He walked straight toward the Crown Prince and bowed as he drew near. “Imperial Brother.”
Only then did the Crown Prince seem to notice him. Wearing a practiced smile, he said, “Sixth Brother, it seems your health has improved.” He then introduced Ying Fusheng to the nearby royals. Hearing the Crown Prince speak, the others offered a few perfunctory words, but they remained distant, making no attempt to close the gap or engage in conversation.
The atmosphere turned momentarily awkward. The Crown Prince then offered a seemingly helpful explanation to his younger siblings: “Sixth Brother rarely moves about the palace; they are simply a bit unfamiliar with you.”
With a glint of a smile in his eyes, the Crown Prince paused and asked pointedly, “Sixth Brother wouldn’t blame them, would you?”
Ying Fusheng watched the man’s performance. Normally, an elder brother in such a situation would encourage the group to get to know one another. Instead, the Crown Prince acted the part of a worried brother smoothing things over for the group, using his words to reinforce the divide while offering no bridge to invite Ying Fusheng into their small circle.
Malice was something Ying Fusheng had long grown accustomed to. He replied simply, “Of course not.”
He remained silent, his peripheral vision sweeping over the surrounding princes and officials—all of whom were high-ranking officials of significant status. Noticing that others were beginning to look toward the Crown Prince, he shifted his steps slightly and took a position right beside him.
The Crown Prince’s expression flickered at the move. Ying Fusheng was a man of few words, and since the other princes and princesses were already avoiding him, his presence beside the Crown Prince acted as a barrier, ensuring no one else approached. A sliver of private amusement flashed in the Crown Prince’s eyes; he proceeded to converse jovially with others, utterly ignoring the boy standing behind him.
Ying Fusheng counted the time. Before long, he turned his gaze toward the distance.
‘They’re here.’
The crowd at the banquet ebbed and flowed. As the night feast approached, the music swelled.
The palace attendants raised their voices in announcement as several figures appeared in the distance.
The Empress Dowager had arrived.
She was accompanied by Empress Xu at her side, followed by the consorts of the Inner Palace.
Catching sight of them, Ying Fusheng’s pupils contracted slightly, his gaze falling upon Empress Xu. Though she usually favored plain attire, today her palace robes were embroidered with golden phoenixes—magnificent and dignified, the very picture of the “Mother of the Realm.” Since their brief meeting at the Cining Palace, he noted that this woman—his biological mother—seemed little changed in her youth from how she would appear in the years to come.
In his previous life, while following Consort Ning, he had once seen her from afar dressed in her full regalia, exactly as she appeared now.
Empress Xu slowed her pace to support the Empress Dowager as they entered the Moon-Viewing Pavilion. The officials and their families bowed in succession.
As they passed through the central courtyard, the members of the imperial clan bent their waists in celebration. Seeing Ying Fusheng still lingering by his side, the Crown Prince knit his brows slightly but said nothing, stepping forward to lead the greeting.
Ying Fusheng caught sight of Consort Ning among the consorts; she was stealing glances at the Crown Prince. At that realization, he took a few steps forward and bowed directly behind the Crown Prince.
The Empress Dowager waved her hand to dismiss the formalities as the surrounding crowd wished her eternal peace.
“That must be the Sixth Prince, surely?” a noble lady remarked.
Consort Ning, standing nearby, looked over sharply upon hearing this. She had been focused on the Crown Prince, only to realize that Ying Fusheng had somehow moved right next to him.
The onlookers took note. The Crown Prince was of celestial lineage, and the siblings behind him were all “dragons and phoenixes” among men. However, the figure following him today was unfamiliar. As the officials looked closer, they saw a prince who, though thin and frail, had begun to outgrow his childhood features. Standing next to the Crown Prince, the resemblance was striking.
To a casual observer, the brothers looked remarkably alike. Ying Fusheng had previously had some baby fat on his face, but the severe illness had sharpened his features, bringing out a resemblance to the Crown Prince’s eyes and brows.
Ying Fusheng seemed to notice Consort Ning. After completing his bow, he raised his head and looked directly at her.
In that single look, Consort Ning froze. Without a direct comparison, she hadn’t realized it, but now that the “brat” was dressed in formal palace robes, the way he raised his eyes was the spitting image of the Empress!
Seeing the others standing still, she anxiously took a few steps forward, but Empress Xu had already noticed.
Empress Xu had last seen the child at the Cining Palace. After some time apart, he looked thinner from a distance, but more spirited than before. Recovery from illness was like “pulling silk from a cocoon”—slow and arduous—yet even while attending a banquet so soon after his fever, his etiquette was flawless and his manners impeccable. She looked at him with a touch more interest and asked Consort Ning, “Is his health improved?”
At the question, Consort Ning’s palms began to sweat. She regretted not using a stronger drug to keep him bedridden. Her anxiety spiked; if the Empress asked about him, others would surely pay more attention to the boy. In her desperation, she blurted out, “This child really is something—it’s so cold out, yet he didn’t even bring a hand warmer.”
As she spoke, she tried to move forward, intending to use that as an excuse to pull Ying Fusheng away.
Ying Fusheng would not let her succeed; he had come to this banquet specifically to stand before the public eye. Seeing her approach, he moved a few steps closer to the Crown Prince. With others crowded around, this move placed him further into the inner circle of the group. Consort Ning wanted to get closer, but the density of the crowd blocked her path, making her attempt look clumsy and impulsive.
The Empress Dowager shot her a glance, forcing Consort Ning to halt her steps.
Ying Fusheng followed the Crown Prince, his decorum toward the Empress Dowager and the others being perfectly refined. Having spent the last few days with him, the Empress Dowager already had a favorable impression of the boy. She knew he rarely attended banquets, yet his conduct now was steady and poised, unlike the rowdiness of the other princes.
Hearing the others’ comments and looking closely at the child again, she realized that rather than the Crown Prince, his face—now that it had thinned out—looked even more like the Emperor.
Seeing that she couldn’t get close, Consort Ning hurriedly signaled Bi Zhu to lead Ying Fusheng away; the banquet was too important to allow for any mistakes. But just as she was making these arrangements, she heard the Empress Dowager speak.
The Empress Dowager’s expression remained indifferent, yet she spoke: “Little Sixth is of age now. Lead him to the Princes’ seating.”
At those words, not only Consort Ning, but even the Crown Prince was stunned.
The seating for the princes was situated to the side; aside from the Crown Prince, the remaining seats were reserved for those who had already moved into the Princes’ Quarters or had left the palace to establish their own estates.
A flash of surprise crossed Ying Fusheng’s eyes. He knew his grandmother’s attitude toward him had softened, but he never expected her to change his standing in such a manner at this moment.
Empress Xu did not seem surprised. “Based on his age, it is indeed time for him to have a seat among the princes.”
Usually, the Sixth Prince rarely attended palace banquets, and his features made him look younger than he was. It was only through the Empress’s words that others remembered: the Sixth Prince was close in age to the Crown Prince and was indeed at an age where he should be independent.
As the others looked toward him, Ying Fusheng bowed. “Thank you, Grandmother.”
Empress Xu instructed the attendants, “Bring a hand warmer for the Sixth Prince, lest Consort Ning worry.”
Ying Fusheng paused for a beat. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Consort Ning instantly gripped her handkerchief tight, the panic on her face becoming nearly impossible to hide. Yet, since both the Empress Dowager and the Empress had spoken, she could not possibly disobey—especially not on the Empress Dowager’s birthday.
Before she could devise a plan, a loud shout suddenly rang out from the distance.
As the shout echoed, everyone present looked toward the source. Ying Fusheng saw a flash of bright yellow in the distance.
“The Emperor has arrived—!”
With that long, drawn-out announcement, the arrival of the sovereign caused everyone to fall silent and bow in greeting.