“During the reign of the late emperor, he had three sons. In truth, the heir he favored most in his heart was the eldest son. It’s just that child…”
He paused, his voice tinged with a trace of melancholy: “He perished in a battle, protecting the late emperor. That was the first and only time I saw the late emperor display such a fragile and helpless expression. He was a good child…”
“Your granddaughter knows—it was Crown Prince Mingxuan,” Shen Tinghe interjected.
Upon ascending the throne, the late emperor posthumously honored this prematurely deceased eldest son as Crown Prince, with ceremonial honors that even surpassed those later accorded to His Majesty.
“After the eldest son passed, the second son, Prince Qi, was inadvertently separated during the turmoil of the times, with no news of his whereabouts. At that time, only the third son—the present His Majesty—remained by the late emperor’s side, raised and meticulously educated under his guidance.”
“Later, Prince Qi was found and brought back, but his temperament had been warped—violent, unruly, and difficult to tame. The late emperor looked upon him with deep anguish, yet understood that such a disposition was truly unfit to bear the weight of the nation.”
“After weighing the options, the throne was passed to His Majesty. When necessary, Prince Qi was even used as a whetstone to temper His Majesty’s gentle nature.”
He paused briefly before adding, “As the late emperor approached his end, he always felt he had wronged this second son too greatly, leaving behind a final wish for His Majesty to treat Prince Qi kindly.”
“His Majesty likely also feels indebted to this elder brother, which is why he has indulged him all these years. As long as it is not a grave offense, whatever Prince Qi does, His Majesty always tends to minimize the consequences, often turning a blind eye.”
These matters were the first time Shen Tinghe had heard of them.
So that’s how it was… she murmured inwardly.
If Prince Qi had not been lost back then, with his status as both the legitimate and eldest son, perhaps the imperial throne would indeed be occupied by someone else today.
Shen Jun sighed softly: “Children are all debts.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Tinghe recalled the past events within her own family and remained silent for a moment.
On the day of the Thousand Flowers Banquet
Only families with outstanding achievements and flourishing imperial favor were qualified to host this banquet.
Last year, it was organized by the Prince of Dingshan’s residence; this year, it was the turn of the Duke of Changguo’s estate.
Today’s Thousand Flowers Banquet was no longer merely an elegant gathering for composing poetry, engaging in archery, or martial contests.
It had gradually become the most important social occasion for noble young ladies and gentlemen in the capital, and even more so, an “invisible arena” where mothers from various families sought suitable matches for their children.
Unmarried men and women displayed their talents and grace here, while married couples consolidated connections and gathered information, creating a scene of bustling excitement.
Outside the Duke of Changguo’s estate, carriages and horses were already lined up in a continuous stream, with splendid sedan chairs forming long queues. The air was filled with the fragrance of perfumes and the shimmer of hair ornaments, accompanied by the lively clamor of voices.
When the blue-curtained carriage from the Prince of Dingshan’s residence slowly approached and stopped before the estate gates, the bustling crowd, originally eager to enter, spontaneously parted to make way.
The carriage door opened, and the first to alight was Lady Shen of the Prince of Dingshan’s residence.
She wore a moon-white beizi and a hairpin adorned with kingfisher feathers and embedded with eastern pearls. Though not heavily made up, she could not conceal the dignified grace cultivated since her childhood as a princess.
Calmly supporting herself on her maid’s hand, she stepped down from the carriage with measured steps, her gaze sweeping serenely over the crowd.
Following closely behind were her two children.
Her daughter, Shen Tinghe, was dressed in a lotus-root-colored ruqun embroidered with jade magnolia branches, its hem trailing on the ground like a budding peony in spring—delicate and charming.
Her son, Shen Chengzhou, wore a sapphire-blue casual robe with arrow sleeves, standing tall and straight with handsome features.
A perfectly measured smile lingered at the corners of his lips, though it did not reach his eyes, appearing somewhat perfunctory.
“Your attire today, Lady of the Estate, is truly so beautiful that one cannot look away. Standing beside you, we all feel ashamed of our own plainness.”
The speaker was Lady Zhang, her face beaming with a smile, the flattery in her tone nearly overflowing.
“And Miss Shen, look at her appearance—truly like a creature made of water. My own daughter would probably be too embarrassed to show her face.”
Lady Li also hurriedly stepped forward, looking at Shen Tinghe with such warmth as if she were her own niece.
Lady Shen was already accustomed to this. She nodded slightly, her smile proper yet distant, responding to each in turn.
After finally managing the “welcoming” at the entrance, the three entered the mansion and dispersed, each blending into their own circles.
The rear courtyard of the Duke’s estate was paved with bluestone slabs, with winding corridors on either side.
A maidservant led the way with her hands clasped, guiding Shen Tinghe through a small path shaded by bamboo groves. From afar, they could see many figures gathered around the Clear Heart Pavilion.
All were noble young ladies of marriageable age from the capital, sitting in small groups of three or five. Pearls and jade ornaments swayed gently at their temples, and laughter drifted intermittently with the warm breeze.
Just as Shen Tinghe stepped onto the white jade platform in front of the pavilion, a figure in goose-yellow hurried over in embroidered shoes: “A He!”
“A Xi.” A smile rippled in Shen Tinghe’s eyes as she stepped forward to meet her.
The newcomer was Zhou Chenxi, the eldest granddaughter of the Left Vice Director of the Ministry of Personnel, whose grandfather was also a senior official at court.
She had been close friends with Shen Tinghe since childhood and was known for her straightforward and cheerful nature.
Zhou Chenxi affectionately linked arms with her: “Come quickly with me. A Wan and the others have been waiting for you in the pavilion for a long time.”
The two walked side by side through the flower beds. Along the way, many noble ladies caught sight of Shen Tinghe and immediately quieted their laughter, turning to curtsy slightly and softly addressing her as “Miss Shen.”
Shen Tinghe nodded gracefully in return, her demeanor naturally composed and serene.
“In another two months, it won’t be easy for us to meet again, Crown Princess.”
Zhou Chenxi leaned close to her ear, lowering her voice for the last three words, her tone tinged with playful laughter.
Shen Tinghe lightly patted her arm, a hint of shyness flickering in her eyes: “You’re teasing me too.”
Entering the Clear Heart Pavilion, the stone table inside was laid with candied fruits, fresh fruits, and celadon teacups. Gu Linwan was sitting on a stone stool and rose with a smile upon seeing her.
“A He, you’ve finally arrived. We’ve been waiting for you for so long.”
“I lingered a bit longer at the entrance, so I’m late.”
Shen Tinghe took a seat and picked up a teacup for a sip: “You all seemed lively just now. What were you talking about?”
Zhou Chenxi popped a lychee into her mouth and mumbled: “About the matter concerning Lord Lin Qizhang a few days ago.”
“You’ve heard about it too?” Shen Tinghe looked up.
Gu Linwan smiled: “Thanks to A Xi, our know-it-all, who always gets news faster than anyone. We just heard about it from her.”
“But how did you know?” Zhou Chenxi raised an eyebrow, pressing further.
Shen Tinghe set down her teacup and said softly: “When Lord Wang entered the palace to report to the Crown Prince, I happened to be in the Eastern Palace and overheard a few words.”
“Oh~” Gu Linwan and Zhou Chenxi exchanged a glance, drawing out the syllable, their eyes full of teasing.
“What kind of look is that?” Shen Tinghe shook her head helplessly.
“Naturally, we are praising His Highness for his wisdom.”
Zhou Chenxi set aside her playful expression, her tone indignant: “That scoundrel Xie Liao, relying on his status as a relative of the imperial family, actually dared to do such a thing. I heard that Miss Lin was supposed to marry her childhood sweetheart and fiancé in just half a month. Such a good marriage was ruined by him. Thankfully, His Highness ordered him thrown into prison!”
Gu Linwan was about to respond when a clear, haughty female voice cut in.
“Your Highness is benevolent and generous, and naturally would not allow evildoers to escape justice, even if they are members of the imperial family. When my grandfather taught Your Highness, the first lesson was on the benevolence of a ruler.”