Inside the Imperial Son’s Residence.
The two young eunuchs who had been dismissed finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Had the Second Prince’s reaction indicated… acceptance of their consolation?
“Let His Highness have some time alone,” Xiao Dezi said with heartfelt concern yet helplessness. They had already done their utmost.
Xiao Chengzi, short and stout, remained more taciturn. Glancing at the darkening sky, he stepped out the door: “I’ll fetch His Highness’s evening meal. After all that happened today without food or water, His Highness must be starving.”
“Return quickly, and be careful of trouble,” Xiao Dezi couldn’t resist adding, his words trailing off. He knew Xiao Chengzi was meticulous and reserved, never competing for attention before the prince—a reliably steady character. But…
With today’s news spreading, the palace’s tendency to fawn on those in favor and bully the disadvantaged might mean more difficulties for them.
“I’ll endure it,” Xiao Chengzi lowered his gaze, saying no more. The dignity of eunuchs meant little; being targeted and tormented was one thing, but today the palace was likely buzzing with unpleasant gossip about the Second Prince… Such situations tested the restraint of even the most loyal.
They had to swallow their anger and remain silent.
The prince’s position in the palace was already precarious enough… Any dispute would find no one to advocate for him. Xiao Chengzi never wanted to see the prince again return from a confrontation empty-handed, left alone to bear the bitter helplessness and despair.
“I’ll conceal it well,” Xiao Chengzi repeated earnestly before leaving.
…
In the Second Prince’s residence, Qi Chengming, exhausted after a whole afternoon of careful probing, leaned on the short couch, propping his chin as he sat pondering.
He had finally pieced it together.
Organizing what he now knew…
The Second Prince’s maternal grandfather’s family was the Weiyong Count’s Mansion. Though it sounded imposing, it was essentially a case of “killing the goose that lays the golden eggs” and “out of sight, out of mind”—the old general version. Now it was merely an empty title. The old man, riddled with injuries and illness, convalesced at home with no money, power, or troops. His daughter had entered the palace early and died young; his son and eldest grandson had fallen in battle. The second grandson’s remains were never recovered. Only a ten-year-old youngest grandson remained in the mansion—the Second Prince’s cousin, still unable to uphold the family’s legacy.
…With such maternal relatives, no wonder they held no significance in the succession struggle.
When the other princes framed the Second Prince into establishing a fiefdom in Liuzhou, they couldn’t offer any help, likely receiving news too late. If not for the Director of the Imperial Clan Court assisting in vetting the quality of the Hundred Imperial Guards, Qi Chengming feared he might not even survive to reach the fief.
Before leaving to establish his fiefdom, he’d probably have to exit the palace to console the mansion full of the elderly, weak, and infirm.
…
Combining the basic introduction from the succession struggle novel Qi Chengming had read with the two eunuchs’ supplementary details, he mentally outlined the foundational situation of the princes:
The current Hongren Emperor had seven sons and four daughters, but only five sons and one daughter survived.
The First Prince, aged fifteen, was Consort Shu’s son. Intelligent, studious, and gentle-natured, he had already participated in court politics for two years. He was the first prince in the dynasty exceptionally permitted to remain in the capital instead of establishing a fiefdom. As the eldest son, many considered him a potential crown prince.
The third prince, being the same age as the original host at thirteen, was already considered an adult and eligible to establish a fiefdom. However, the emperor’s decree had been delayed, and before Qi Chengming transmigrated, rumors were circulating in the palace that the third prince might exceptionally be allowed to remain in the palace.
—Because the third prince was Rong Fei’s son, he excelled in both literary and martial arts, surpassing even the eldest prince in the emperor’s favor. With the crown prince yet to be designated, how could such a proud individual willingly establish a fiefdom and forfeit his eligibility for the succession struggle?
Many also believed that unless the emperor explicitly favored the eldest prince as the heir, he would not send the third prince away.
The fourth and fifth princes had died young, though they were said to have been exceptionally bright in their childhood.
The sixth prince, the legitimate son of the Empress, was only ten this year. Even though he was not yet of age to participate in the succession struggle, with his older brothers already showing their ambitions, he could not afford to sit idle. He was the object of loyalty for those who adhered to the principle of “legitimacy first, seniority only in its absence.” Moreover, the Empress carried significant weight—her father was the Director-General of Foreign Waterways, a high-ranking official of the first rank.
The seventh prince, the youngest at eight, was born to a palace maid but was raised under Shun Fei’s care. Although the Hongren Emperor largely ignored him, the seventh prince’s intelligence and youth, coupled with the stark contrast to the original host, earned him some affection.
The Hongren Emperor’s only daughter was the legitimate princess born to the Empress, now twelve years old.
…
Qi Chengming sighed.
After all the calculations, only the original host’s situation was the most tragic and riddled with unanswered questions.
The original host was the second prince. His birth mother had once held the rank of pin, but now she was untraceable, leaving him to grow up alone in the Imperial Son’s Residence. No other consorts took him in, and the emperor showed no intention of extending any kindness. Only Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi had stayed by his side.
He was the lowest-ranking prince in the palace. Despite his seniority, the emperor deliberately neglected him, and even the seventh prince, with the humblest origins, received more favor. The third prince, being the same age, often bullied him, and he had no one to rely on.
Although his granduncle, the Director of the Imperial Clan Court, was on good terms with his maternal grandfather, imperial clan relatives from the Court of the Imperial Clan could not freely appear in the palace, let alone assist the second prince. They could only offer discreet support during festivals.
“What exactly happened back then…” Qi Chengming murmured, stroking his chin.
His wet nurse had also been absent from the palace for a long time. It seemed that before establishing his fiefdom, he would need to find a way to investigate this matter. Qi Chengming had a premonition—understanding what had occurred in the past was crucial.
Otherwise, the emperor’s ambiguous attitude toward him would be a severe disadvantage in the impending succession struggle.
Even mere survival would become exceedingly difficult.
“Hey… this is too much!” “But…”
Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside but quickly faded away.
Startled, Qi Chengming rose from his bed, put on his boots, and opened the door with a frown. “What’s going on?”
Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi stood at the doorway, surrounded by a few familiar cleaning maids and eunuchs. Everyone’s expressions were grim. Upon seeing Qi Chengming, their faces showed a mix of indignation and suppressed resentment, the atmosphere heavy with gloom:
“Your Highness, the Second Prince, it’s…”
“Xiao Chengzi, you explain,” Qi Chengming called on him.
He saw that the one being surrounded was mainly Xiao Chengzi. The young eunuch was still holding a food container in his hand, his expression extremely grim, and his appearance was disheveled, as if he had just been pushed around and beaten.
“The meal provided by the main kitchen today is really…” Xiao Chengzi’s voice was hoarse, almost unable to continue. His head hung low, and he pursed his lips somewhat shamefully.
He had already prepared himself for being targeted today. When he arrived at the main kitchen of the Imperial Kitchen, he indeed heard a lot of gossip, such as, “The Second Prince has been driven out to Establish a Fiefdom. It seems the Third Prince will stay.” “I heard the Emperor was furious.” “Do you think the Second Prince can even survive reaching the fiefdom? That’s Lingnan—what’s the difference between that and exile?”
Xiao Chengzi could only clench his fingers, pretending nothing was wrong, gripping so tightly that his palms were pierced. He endured until it was his turn to collect the meal, but two senior eunuchs gave him a hard time again. He had to put on an ingratiating smile and offer silver, only to find—
Steamed buns, thin porridge, and a bowl of overcooked kale stew.
Although the stew was hearty, who didn’t know… steamed buns and porridge were what palace maids and eunuchs ate? This was so shabby it couldn’t even be served to the Second Prince!
Xiao Chengzi wanted to offer more silver to exchange for edible food, but the people in the Imperial Kitchen treated the down-and-out Second Prince as if he were already dead.
Their tone was still polite, but when it came to food? None. The stoves were all reserved for other consorts, with no space to spare. The stew was also part of the prince’s allotted meal, and no matter how picky he was, this was all there was.
No matter how much Xiao Chengzi could endure, at this point, he couldn’t hold back anymore.
He didn’t even try to argue, knowing it would be futile. Without a word, he simply snatched a plate of Eight Treasure Rice, grabbed the food container, and ran for his life.
“…And then?”
Qi Chengming had already stepped over the threshold to the doorway. Looking at the mess on the ground outside in the distance, he had already guessed what happened and continued asking.
“It was me… I ran too slowly.” Xiao Chengzi stood stiffly, filled with self-reproach, wishing he could bury his head in the ground.
He hated his short and stout build, how useless it was. If it had been the tall and lean Xiao Dezi going today, perhaps he could have done better.
The result was…
The people from the main kitchen wouldn’t let it slide. They chased after him, saying things like, “The ingredients for each palace are fixed. This belongs to another consort—you really can’t take it!” They overturned the plate of Eight Treasure Rice, shoved and hit him a few times, then quickly retreated without even uttering any harsh words.
They were still very clear about whom they could bully. Even if they looked down on the Second Prince, they wouldn’t humiliate him to his face. Similarly, they didn’t dare to actually overturn the food container Xiao Chengzi was carrying, leaving the Second Prince with nothing to eat at all.
“It’s not your fault. What you were carrying wasn’t just my meal alone.” Qi Chengming’s expression was calm, showing no anger.
He first comforted the self-blaming Xiao Chengzi.
Such a heavy food container also included the evening meals for Xiao Chengzi and Xiao Dezi, his two personal eunuchs. Xiao Chengzi alone was carrying enough for three people and still managed to run all the way, only being caught up near the Imperial Son’s Residence. That was already impressive and shouldn’t be criticized.
“Besides, who said steamed buns and porridge are too shabby for me to eat?”
Qi Chengming attempted to make a joke, though he most likely believed he was speaking the truth, “Perhaps by the time we reach Liuzhou, I won’t even get to eat such fine white steamed buns and porridge anymore—come quickly, let’s all eat first.”
As these words fell, the atmosphere in the Imperial Son’s Residence seemed to suffer a heavy blow, growing even more subdued.
The young eunuchs and palace maids slowly dispersed, returning to their respective duties. What else could they do? The Second Prince had always been mistreated, and now that things had come to this, they could only let it pass… just like every other time.
However, some of the palace servants had flickering eyes, lost in thought, as if new ideas had taken root in their minds.
Qi Chengming calmly glanced outside, no longer observing the reactions of the palace staff. He genuinely called for Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi to enter the hall, insisting they finish their meal first.
Although before his transmigration, such a dinner would have been his ordinary, everyday meal—hardly mistreatment for a prince of his noble status—the suffering Xiao Chengzi endured had happened right before his eyes.
Qi Chengming couldn’t swallow this grievance.
…He was being sent to Liuzhou to Establish a Fiefdom, but he wasn’t being exiled, much less already dead!
He had to find a way to reclaim his dignity.
Author’s Note:
Mini Theater:
At this moment, Wang Shuo was sitting at home, crying over a stewed chicken: “Wahh… I can’t eat this!”
(Just thinking about what kind of harsh life his cousin had endured since childhood… he lost his appetite.)
(Even if they brought his cousin back to their Weiyong Count’s Mansion to raise him! At least he wouldn’t have grown into such a sickly and frail physique, ahhh!)
The old but still capable of beating his grandson Weiyong Count: “?”
Furious, he picked up his boot and began chasing his grandson in circles: “—Can’t eat? Looks like you’re still not hungry enough! How about a boot to eat! Or a beating to eat!”
“Ouch! Oww!”