The Emperor’s intention to groom Prince Heng put significant pressure on the Crown Prince. In his panic, he followed Taohua’s advice and went to pay respects to the Emperor.
Emperor Mingde was still recovering from illness. Seeing the Crown Prince arrive, his expression wasn’t particularly welcoming. “What brings you here?”
Prince Wu Yin stepped forward and bowed respectfully. “Father’s dragon body is not yet recovered. Naturally, I should come to visit regularly.”
The Emperor snorted lightly, his gaze penetrating as he looked at his son. “Given your nature, you wouldn’t come without reason. Speak plainly.”
Wu Yin chuckled softly and bowed. “Minister Qin is already preparing for the Qingming rituals. Any royal consorts who passed away less than ten years ago are to be included. While reviewing the records, I… found a name and wasn’t sure if it should be added to the list.”
“Oh?” Emperor Mingde raised an eyebrow. “Whose name?”
“Consort Shu, née Chu.”
The Emperor was briefly taken aback, his expression changing slightly as he looked at Wu Yin with displeasure. “You come to ask me about such a person’s name? Don’t you know how to handle matters?”
Consort Shu Chu was Prince Nan’s birth mother. She had been sent as a hostage to the Wu Kingdom for many years, only returning to Great Wei two years ago, to die of illness shortly after. Rumors suggested she had fallen in love with the Wu Emperor and no longer wished to serve Emperor Mingde, thus seeking death.
Emperor Mingde despised such an unfaithful woman. Lacking concrete evidence, he could only pretend she didn’t exist, not even enshrining her spirit tablet in the temple. This extended to his poor treatment of Prince Nan. Naturally, she wouldn’t be included in the Qingming rituals.
“I’m simply being thorough in my duties, which is why I came to ask Father,” Wu Yin pressed his lips together and continued. “Consort Shu Chu died under unjust circumstances, her grievances never reaching Your Majesty’s ears. Now her bones are cold, and no one dares to seek justice for her. I boldly request that Father investigate the mystery surrounding Consort Shu’s death.”
“Absurd!” The Emperor was furious. “You, the Crown Prince, instead of focusing on state affairs, are meddling in matters of my harem? Consort Shu has been dead for two years. What is there left to investigate? What use would it be?”
“Father, please calm your anger,” Wu Yin said earnestly. “Though Consort Shu is gone, Prince Nan still lives. Have you forgotten? Prince Nan is already sixteen and has been back in Great Wei for two years, yet he’s seen you fewer than twenty times. I find him diligent in his studies, naive to power struggles, and truly a good child. That’s why I thought of Consort Shu’s grievances and wished to seek justice for mother and son.”
Emperor Mingde was momentarily stunned his brow furrowing.
He had been deliberately ignoring Mu Wuxia, always feeling the child didn’t resemble him and doubting Consort Shu’s claim of pregnancy before leaving. But hearing Wu Yin speak this way, he realized that the usually sparing-with-praise Teacher Qian had praised Prince Nan many times before him, speaking highly of the prince and urging the Emperor to acknowledge this excellent son.
Had he been wrong?
After a long silence in the great hall, the Emperor finally spoke. “Alright, you may go now. Regarding the inclusion in the rituals, let me consider it further.”
“Yes, Father.” Wu Yin breathed a sigh of relief and respectfully withdrew, immediately sending for Prince Nan to come to the Eastern Palace.
“I’ve already spoken well of you to Father. He seems to be reconsidering his view of you and Consort Shu,” Wu Yin said to Mu Wuxia, patting his shoulder as if seeking credit. “Your good days are coming.”
Mu Wuxia was surprised, not expecting the Crown Prince to suddenly act this way. He instinctively glanced at Taohua standing nearby.
Taohua smiled, her eyes full of composure, clearly having known about this in advance.
He had thought her current situation was difficult, and even if she had pledged allegiance to him, she wouldn’t be able to do much. Unexpectedly… she was so capable? Mu Wuxia was deeply impressed, but could only bow and thank Wu Yin: “Thank you, Royal Brother.”
“Come now, we’re brothers. No need for thanks,” Wu Yin said softly. “Since becoming Crown Prince, I’ve felt quite lonely. Among the princes, only you can be confided in. In the future, if you have nothing pressing, come visit me in the Eastern Palace often. Naturally, I’ll continue to speak well of you to Father.”
“Alright,” Mu Wuxia nodded, but after a moment’s thought added, “But Royal Brother, don’t mention me too often to Father. He might become displeased, and that would be unfavorable for you.”
That was true; the balance had to be maintained carefully.
“If this servant may speak frankly,” Taohua interjected with a smile, “Praising someone without reason would be inappropriate anywhere. If Your Highness truly wishes to support Prince Nan, why not subtly showcase his talents to the Emperor? This way, His Majesty will see Prince Nan’s merits and also recognize Your Highness’s ability to identify talent in others. Isn’t a ruler’s duty to know people and use them well?”
“Well said!” Wu Yin looked at her with surprise and delight, pulling her to his side. “How are you so clever?”
Mu Wuxia’s heart skipped a beat, watching Jiang Taohua nervously, fearing she might reveal herself to the Crown Prince.
But who was Taohua? Raised in the cracks of the Zhao palace, she was most adept at understanding people’s thoughts and acting. Following Wu Yin’s praise, she blushed and smiled softly, gently coquettish: “Your Highness mustn’t tease this servant. I’ve merely learned from observing the officials coming and going in the study. I’m afraid I’m just embarrassing myself.”
“If you were born into a noble family and learned these things from childhood, you’d surely surpass all those officials combined!” Wu Yin exclaimed. “This must be a natural talent, right?”
“If it can help Your Highness, this servant can try to learn more from others.”
Hearing this, Wu Yin was thoroughly pleased. If not for Prince Nan’s presence, he would have embraced her and cherished her dearly.
“This palace maid does seem quite likable,” Mu Wuxia suddenly spoke up. “Royal Brother, why not give her to me?”
“What? You want to snatch her too?” Wu Yin laughed helplessly, immediately shielding Taohua behind him. “Not a chance. Everyone covets my treasure. I intend to keep this palace maid by my side. She’s not for anyone else.”
Mu Wuxia pressed his lips together. “So she’s that important? Does this mean she doesn’t do any menial tasks?”
“Of course not,” Wu Yin looked at him and smiled. “But escorting guests out is fine. When you leave later, I’ll have her see you out.”
“Thank you, Royal Brother,” Mu Wuxia bowed.
Wu Yin looked at him with deep eyes and sighed. “Wuxia, you’re still young. Even Meng’er is older than you. When she becomes my side consort in the future, you’ll have to call her sister-in-law. You can address each other as brother and sister, but don’t think beyond that.”
Hearing this, Taohua quickly waved her hands. “Your Highness jests. This servant is but a commoner. How could I dare to address a prince as a brother? Wouldn’t the princesses be angry?”
Wu Yin glanced at her and smiled. “What are you afraid of? Great Wei has no princesses, and Wuxia has no sisters. Addressing each other as brother and sister in private, no one will blame you.”
Great Wei has no princesses?
Taohua was stunned, staring at Wu Yin in disbelief. She asked again, “Has Great Wei never had any princesses? Including those who have passed away?”
“Never,” Wu Yin smiled. “Father’s four children are all princes. There have never been any princesses, which has made the idea of a princess even more precious. Unfortunately, no one has given Father a daughter. If someone did, she would surely be the apple of Father’s eye.”
Taohua’s body stiffened as she slowly turned to look at Mu Wuxia.
“I don’t know why, but you always give me the feeling of being like my sister.”
“My sister is already dead.”
“If possible, I’d like to address you as brother and sister too.”
…
She had a good memory and clearly remembered Prince Nan mentioning he had a sister. Yet now, the Crown Prince was saying Great Wei had never had a princess.
Why was this?
It seemed as if a long-sealed door of secrets before her had suddenly cracked open, releasing countless dust-laden things that made her cough.
“What’s wrong?” Wu Yin looked at her curiously. “Are you that surprised?”
“…Yes, this servant always thought the Emperor would have many princesses and princes, but there are no princesses at all.” Taohua lowered her eyes and smiled. “It seems this servant has lucked out.”
“Haha,” Wu Yin patted her back. “Go escort Prince Nan out of the palace. Chat with him along the way. If you two get along well, I’ll be even happier.”
Mu Wuxia nodded and rose to take his leave. Taohua also bowed to the Crown Prince, then turned to lead Prince Nan out of the palace.
Neither spoke along the way until there were fewer people around. Then Jiang Taohua softly asked, “Does Your Highness still favor Wu Kingdom’s etiquette?”
Mu Wuxia was startled, not expecting this to be her first question. He hesitated before nodding. “Yes, having grown up in Wu, I’m accustomed to everything there.”
“Including treating Wu’s princess as your sister?” Taohua asked.
Mu Wuxia grew nervous, clenching his hand. “There’s nothing wrong with that, is there? After all, when I was in Wu, that princess took good care of me. It’s only natural to consider her a sister.”
“If this servant remembers correctly,” Taohua looked at him and smiled, “hostages wouldn’t be kept in the palace, but confined separately in another residence. And princesses generally never leave the palace, rarely even meeting outside officials. How could she have taken care of you?”
Mu Wuxia pressed his lips together, lowering his eyes. “The details of that situation need not be discussed. Why are you asking about this?”
“This servant is suddenly very curious,” Taohua tilted her head. “Or rather, I’ve been curious for a while. Why would someone like Shen Zaiye recklessly choose to support your ascension? Why is your relationship with him so strange? He seems to be wary of you, yet you also seem somewhat afraid of him… Just now, a possibility suddenly occurred to me.”
Mu Wuxia halted his steps and quickly covered her mouth with his hand, frowning. “Women who are too clever don’t live long. If you want to live peacefully, you’d better not speak of this.”
Taohua’s eyes moved, looking at the young man before her in a daze. After a moment, her resolve strengthened. She removed his hand and said, “Alright, this servant won’t say anything. But wherever Your Highness wishes to go, this servant will do everything in her power to guide you there.”
(End of Chapter)