Eastern Palace!

The Crown Prince hadn’t slept all night. Only this morning at daybreak did he return to the palace to doze for a while. Now, he was heading on foot to Fuyang Hall once again.

The eunuch outside the inner chamber stopped him.

He said: “Crown Prince, His Majesty said that without his orders, no one is permitted to enter.”

“Not even this Crown Prince?”

“His Majesty’s order—this servant can only obey.”

“Step aside. I must see Father Emperor.”

“Crown Prince…”

That eunuch couldn’t stop him. Just as he watched Jinghua about to push that door open, coincidentally—

Someone inside opened the great door, and the two nearly collided.

Eunuch Zhang, the old eunuch by His Majesty’s side, bowed and said: “Paying respects to the Crown Prince.”

“This Crown Prince wishes to see Father Emperor.” Jinghua said directly.

“His Majesty is waiting for you inside.”

Jinghua’s face filled with delight as he quickly rushed inside.

Eunuch Zhang didn’t follow him in. After coming out, he closed the door.

As soon as Jinghua saw Emperor Qizhen lying on the bed, his eyes reddened. He immediately knelt down, crawled forward, and kowtowed loudly on the ground.

Sorrowfully and grievously, he cried out: “It is this son’s incompetence that allowed someone to harm Father Emperor, causing Father Emperor to be bedridden with illness.”

How fake that was!

He was just short of crying himself breathless.

Emperor Qizhen coughed a few times, sat up from the bed, leaned against the edge of the bed, looked at Jinghua kneeling on the ground, and said: “I’m not dead yet. What are you crying about?”

Not dead?

Why isn’t he dead yet!

Jinghua felt hollow inside.

He quickly got up and walked to the bedside, wiping his tears as he looked at his Father Emperor, asking with extreme concern: “Father Emperor, is your body better? Last night, this son stood guard outside the door all night, deeply worried in his heart.”

“I know your intentions.”

“Fortunately Father Emperor is alright. Otherwise this son truly wouldn’t know what to do!”

As he spoke, his eyes reddened again!

Emperor Qizhen’s body was very weak. He had practically no strength even to speak. After coughing twice more, he said: “Jinghua, I ask you—as Crown Prince, what are your duties?”

“Father Emperor bestowed the title of Crown Prince upon this son, hoping that this son would be like you—diligent in governance and loving toward the people, cultivating writings and upholding culture, seeking blessings for the people of Great Lin.”

“Can you accomplish these things?”

“This son knows he often causes Father Emperor worry, but this son guarantees he will definitely accomplish them.”

But Jinghua was muttering to himself in his heart!

He thought—could Father Emperor be testing him?

Considering whether to depose him?

My goodness, child, you’re overthinking this.

Emperor Qizhen was neither very satisfied nor very disappointed with his answer. He said: “Jinghua, Father Emperor is also old. Sooner or later, the Great Lin realm must be handed over.”

Hand it to me, hand it to me.

Jinghua’s eyes brightened as he continued listening attentively.

“You grew up by my side from childhood. I understand your temperament best. You are too content and comfortable. You don’t give much thought to anything. It’s precisely because of this that I worry you don’t have trustworthy generals and worthy ministers by your side.”

“This son understands Father Emperor’s concerns.”

“Regarding this Crown Princess selection, your marriage cannot be delayed any longer. The legitimate daughter of the Ji family has fallen ill and cannot be selected. I have chosen another person for you.”

Jinghua asked: “Who is it?”

“Huiwen.”

As soon as those two words were spoken, Jinghua froze. After quickly processing this, he pressed: “Father Emperor, how can Kong Yu become Crown Princess? Didn’t Father Emperor say you would add some power to this son’s side? The Kong family has long since declined. Kong Yu, she…”

“The Kong family’s decline is true, but after deep consideration, I ordered the Hanlin Academy to handle the matter.”

“Father Emperor…” Jinghua’s face turned ashen.

Emperor Qizhen knew he was getting anxious, so he said: “The Kong family is your mother’s natal family. Although it has declined, its influence remains, absolutely no less than the Ji family. This matter has been decided. You should also prepare well for the grand wedding. I am currently unwell. Everything will be handled by the Hanlin Academy.”

Despite his ten thousand unwillingnesses in his heart—

“Yes, this son obeys the command.”

“Alright. You may leave. I wish to rest.”

“Yes!”

Jinghua retreated to the side, bowed, and went out.

From beginning to end, Qizhen never mentioned that during the great fire, Jinghua didn’t come to rescue him but fled instead.

It was precisely because of this that made Jinghua even more nervous.

It was like clearly having an itch somewhere on his body but being unable to scratch it no matter what.

When the door behind him closed, Jinghua’s filially devoted face instantly fell.

His heart felt very uncomfortable!

After returning to the Eastern Palace, he ordered someone to summon his teacher, Pan Chong.

This Pan Chong wasn’t a court official—he was just a schoolteacher, a man of letters. Jinghua had studied reading and writing under him since childhood. Though he was a teacher, he also understood a few things about court matters.

Take last year’s imperial birthday celebration, for example. That Jinghua could think to switch Jing Yi’s birthday gift to suppress him—this wasn’t something a good-for-nothing crown prince could have thought of.

This idea had been devised by this gray-haired Pan Chong sitting before him now.

Jinghua was very anxious, half his body leaning on the desk, saying worriedly: “Teacher, what should we do? Last night when Father Emperor awoke, the first person he saw was Jing Yi, not me. Last night during the great fire, I actually fled right in front of Father Emperor. Just now, Father Emperor even told me he wants to make Kong Yu the Crown Princess. Doesn’t that mean the Ji family’s power won’t be on this prince’s side? Teacher, please tell me—is Father Emperor… thinking of changing the Crown Prince?”

Compared to Jinghua’s nervousness, Pan Chong was much calmer.

After thinking carefully, he asked: “Has the Crown Prince heard some rumor? Learned that His Majesty wants to change the Crown Prince?”

“Not exactly, but I’m extremely panicked in my heart. Just now Father Emperor even asked me what the duties of a Crown Prince are. Asking such things out of the blue—how can one not overthink?”

“Crown Prince, don’t panic!” Pan Chong’s face showed shrewd contemplation: “His Majesty has only met Prince Yi alone once so far. That doesn’t prove anything. Perhaps it’s just about other matters. Moreover, regarding this matter of the Ji family’s legitimate daughter suddenly falling ill and withdrawing from the Crown Princess selection list, His Majesty seeking another Crown Princess candidate for you is also normal.”

“What Teacher says is not wrong, but…” Jinghua heavily sighed: “I just can’t figure out what exactly Father Emperor wants to do?”

Pan Chong then offered advice, saying: “May I ask the Crown Prince—who is the person closest to His Majesty?”

Jinghua furrowed his brow: “Consort Xiao?”

“No!”

“It’s not?”

“It’s that Eunuch Zhang by His Majesty’s side.”

“Zhang Quan?” Jinghua suddenly realized, slapping his thigh: “Right! Teacher is right. Zhang Quan has been by Father Emperor’s side since Imperial Grandfather was alive. He is indeed the closest person. But why does Teacher suddenly ask this?”

Pan Chong appeared to be an old man who had read books all his life, but in those eyes that had settled with the passage of time, there was also a trace of cunning and sinister intent.

He said: “There are no walls in this world that don’t let wind through. If His Majesty truly plans to change the Crown Prince, the first person to know would be that Eunuch Zhang. Why doesn’t the Crown Prince go sound him out? Then you’ll know everything.”

This truly awakened the dreamer with a single phrase!

Jinghua was greatly delighted, yet also worried.

He nodded: “That’s right. That old fellow must know.”