Xiao Ji had truly misunderstood his fair, plump, and handsome Crown Prince father. This wasn’t actually the Crown Prince’s true appearance – over these past two years, he had been caring for Empress Xu during her illness, plus managing the long journey from Beijing to Nanjing, all of which fell under his responsibilities. So the Crown Prince’s current weight was actually the result of losing about twenty pounds.

Knowing that his father, due to his heavy build and inconvenience, preferred quiet and scholarly pursuits, Xiao Ji brought out the calligraphy he had practiced daily over the years to show his father. From initially fat earthworm-like strokes to his current dignified and elegant script – despite his young age, he had already developed his own distinctive style, clearly showing he had put in tremendous effort.

Crown Prince Zhu Gaoxu nodded in praise as he looked, repeatedly saying it was well-written. When he nodded, his plump cheeks trembled like blocks of summer bean jelly, quivering back and forth.

That evening, Emperor Yongle indeed came to test Xiao Ji’s horsemanship and archery – having won the realm from horseback, he naturally placed greater emphasis on martial skills.

His birth mother, the Crown Princess, felt heartbroken seeing her son so thin and frail, his clothes hanging loosely on his frame like they were draped over a rack. Having grown accustomed to her plump husband’s appearance, her son seemed all the more pitifully weak by comparison. But with her parents-in-law present, she dared not voice her concerns.

Just as Xiao Ji was about to change into clothes suitable for riding and archery, Empress Xu lovingly pulled him into her embrace and chided Emperor Yongle: “Enough, enough! Our eldest grandson has come home – he’s not some candidate arriving in the capital for examinations. Testing this and examining that right from the start – he’s still just a seven-year-old child who’s exhausted from the long journey and hasn’t even had a proper meal since returning home. What if he falls ill from exhaustion? Whatever business you have can wait until tomorrow.”

Empress Xu had directly overruled Emperor Yongle’s words right in front of her son, daughter-in-law, and eldest grandson.

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess were accustomed to such scenes and showed no surprise. Emperor Yongle laughed: “Zi Tong speaks correctly. Our eldest grandson has indeed grown thin. Let him eat dinner and rest early – we’ll discuss matters tomorrow.”

Xiao Ji was slightly startled. He had only heard from his foster mother about the deep affection between the emperor and empress – all of Emperor Yongle’s children were born to Empress Xu. The empress was a tiger daughter from a military family, the legitimate eldest daughter of Xu Da, the greatest founding hero of the Ming Dynasty. When pregnant with Second Uncle Zhu Gaochi, she had actually ridden on horseback, tied Second Uncle Xu Zengshou behind her horse and dragged him for two li, pretending to cut off his fingers to force him to quit gambling forever – she was truly both wise and brave.

He had also heard from his foster father about how during the defense of Beijing, Empress Xu had led ten thousand garrison troops against Li Jinglong’s five hundred thousand southern army. When weapons were exhausted and manpower insufficient, she organized the city’s women and children to hurl stones and pour cold water down the walls, creating an ice wall overnight. After days of bitter fighting, they finally held out until Emperor Yongle’s reinforcements arrived. For all these reasons, Empress Xu earned Emperor Yongle’s deep respect.

But hearsay could never compare to the direct shock of witnessing it firsthand – Empress Xu was far more assertive than the legendary virtuous and gentle noble lady of her reputation.

Xiao Ji observed carefully and gradually understood the dynamics. The empress Xu presented to the outside world was merely the empress that imperial power required, different from her true self. Behind closed doors in the palace, Empress Xu held a more transcendent position than any other empress.

At the family banquet, Xiao Ji was practically using all his senses – he wasn’t eating a meal but consuming various pieces of information. He desperately wanted to understand his family members and family relationships. He only ate the dishes placed directly before him, having no idea what anything tasted like anyway.

Not saying an extra word or taking an extra step, he was cautious at every moment and alert at all times. Returning to his own home, Xiao Ji’s experience was comparable to Lin Daiyu entering the Jia mansion. Lin Daiyu was a guest, but Xiao Ji, despite being the most legitimate master, had to invest even more thought than a guest in trying to understand this strange family.

When Emperor Yongle set down his chopsticks, Xiao Ji also stopped eating – he couldn’t distinguish hunger from fullness, and meals were tasks for him rather than satisfaction of appetite. If he could choose, he would rather eat two simple pork and scallion steamed buns, then lick the crispy crumbs from his palms afterward – that would be perfect.

After dinner, Xiao Ji followed the Crown Prince and Crown Princess in taking their leave. The family of three walked from Kunning Palace to the Eastern Palace – a distance equivalent to crossing a small mountain in Yunnan.

Hu Shanwei had already explained in detail to Xiao Ji the layout of the Eastern and Western Six Palaces and the Eastern Palace. Xiao Ji noticed the palace servants ahead were clearly taking a detour, but since the Crown Prince and Crown Princess said nothing, he could only remain silent, following half a step behind his parents with mechanical precision.

Passing an intersection, they saw construction ahead – a large area had been walled off, with clanging sounds from within as if road repairs were underway.

Recalling his foster mother’s explanations, Xiao Ji understood the reason for the detour – ground subsidence had occurred ahead, with soft foundation causing instability in the surrounding palace walls and buildings. For safety, they had simply built a wall around the area. Since the direct route was impassable, they had to take the longer way.

The palace route network was intricate, but Xiao Ji memorized the new path, ensuring that even without a guide, he wouldn’t get lost in the palace.

The route wasn’t difficult to remember – because the Crown Prince was a large, plump man who walked slowly, huffing and puffing with great effort.

The Crown Princess periodically used her handkerchief to wipe her husband’s sweat – this should have been a servant’s task, but the Crown Princess did it personally, suggesting the parents had a good relationship.

Xiao Ji wondered silently: According to protocol, the Crown Prince could ride in palanquins and carriages within the palace. Why wasn’t he using one when he was this exhausted?

Of course, he only thought this – he dared not ask aloud.

Only after the Crown Princess had used three handkerchiefs did the family of three reach the Eastern Palace with its green glazed tile roofs.

When they left Kunning Palace, the sky was still relatively bright, but by the time they reached the Eastern Palace, it was already lamp-lighting time.

The Eastern Palace gates stood wide open, brightly lit. Whether major or minor palace servants, or consorts and concubines of various ranks, all stood respectfully to the side, welcoming these three legitimate masters.

Xiao Ji’s eyes were dazzled by the sight. In the main hall, after the Crown Prince and Crown Princess were seated, family members came forward to pay respects.

The Crown Princess pointed to a consort sitting to her right – a woman with a peony-like complexion, composed demeanor, and bearing that rivaled the Crown Princess herself – and said: “Ji’er, this is Consort Guo Liangdi.”

Through his comprehensive Ming Dynasty harem encyclopedia Hu Shanwei, Xiao Ji knew his father had a consort from an extremely distinguished background. The Guo family had produced two marquises, one noble consort, one prince’s wife, one prince consort, with family disciples all holding official positions – a veritable display of power and influence.

Among them, Noble Consort Guo had nearly been made empress, but sadly died of illness after grieving over her son Prince Lu Wang’s death from mistakenly consuming elixir pills (Hu Shanwei certainly wouldn’t tell the truth that Consort Guo was actually executed by Emperor Gaozhu for poisoning the filial and healthy Emperor Zhu Biao).

More importantly, the Guo family had survived through the Hongwu, Jianwen, and Yongle reigns, remaining steadfast. During the Jingnan Campaign, Guo family disciples secretly passed intelligence and created various smokescreens, achieving great merit. Not to mention Side Consort Guo’s achievements during the Beijing defense, when she donned armor and joined Empress Xu on the city walls to fight the enemy.

After the father was enfeoffed as Crown Prince and mother as Crown Princess, Consort Guo was also enfeoffed as Eastern Palace Liangdi, ranking just below the Crown Princess – they were practically equals.

Xiao Ji quickly paid respects to his stepmother Consort Guo Liangdi.

Consort Guo Liangdi stood to receive his bow, giving Xiao Ji a new understanding of this transcendently positioned favored consort. Consort Guo Liangdi was not someone who relied on favoritism for arrogance – her etiquette was impeccable. She hadn’t remained seated but stood to receive the legitimate eldest grandson’s bow.

Moreover, Consort Guo Liangdi waved her hand, and attending servants brought forth substantial greeting gifts: “Just some small trinkets for you to play with.”

Since Consort Guo Liangdi was giving gifts, Xiao Ji naturally didn’t believe they were merely “small trinkets” and thanked her with due solemnity.

Consort Guo Liangdi smiled at the Crown Princess: “When he was little, I used to hold him often – soft and round like a dumpling. Five years have passed in a flash, and now he has such a little gentleman’s manner, making him even more endearing.”

The more well-behaved Xiao Ji appeared, the more the Crown Princess’s heart ached. In those turbulent times, no one could guarantee Beijing could be held. As the Yan Prince’s mansion’s only grandson, they had to find ways to preserve this “ember of hope.”

Everything came with a price. Though her son was preserved, and the Mu Chun-Hu Shanwei couple had raised the child well, she could sense her son’s anxiety and alienation. A seven-year-old boy should be at the mischievous age that even dogs would find annoying, but her son’s mature behavior made her both heartbroken and guilty.

Raising children was problematic if you worried too much, but equally problematic if you didn’t worry at all and they suddenly became adult-like in maturity – it felt like gaining a son for free, leaving one feeling uneasy.

Consort Guo Liangdi had touched upon the Crown Princess’s concerns, giving her a sense of finding a kindred spirit. The Crown Princess naturally pulled her son closer, touching his face for the first time in five years. Under his fair skin, she could feel bone – “My child, you’re too thin. Now that you’re home, I’ll nourish you properly.”

The moment his mother touched him, Xiao Ji tensed up, analyzing what his mother meant. Did she imply that his foster father and foster mother hadn’t raised him well? He couldn’t let his mother misunderstand his foster father.

Xiao Ji quickly said: “In Yunnan, foster father and foster mother took very careful care of your son. Everything A… everything Shanxiang little sister had, your son had too. Your son is just exhausted from the long journey and lost appetite on the road, becoming somewhat thin. He’ll recover in a few months.”

Xiao Ji had originally wanted to say “A’Lei little sister” but changed mid-sentence, feeling that since A’Lei was seven years old, it wasn’t appropriate to keep calling her by her childhood name, so he switched to her formal name “Shanxiang.”

Actually, the Crown Princess had no intention of blaming the Chun-Wei couple – it was just a mother’s instinctive expression, saying her son was thin. But her son was clearly over-anxious and misunderstood her meaning.

Alas, even between birth mother and son, they couldn’t be casual and relaxed. One careless moment could lead to misunderstanding.

The Crown Princess felt somewhat dejected, but the Crown Prince rubbed his protruding belly and said to Consort Guo Liangdi: “Did you save some food for me? I’m still hungry. I’d like Ji’er to eat with me – two people eating together makes it more enjoyable.”

Consort Guo Liangdi burst into laughter: “I knew the Crown Prince wouldn’t dare eat freely in front of His Majesty and Her Majesty, and that you walked back today. You must be hungry too. I’ve prepared a feast long ago – the dishes are being kept warm over hot water, just waiting for the Crown Prince to return and begin.”

The Ming imperial family’s parent-child relationships were like inherited misfortune, passing from generation to generation, each with their own pain. His Majesty and Her Majesty weren’t unloving toward their eldest son, but as the nation’s heir apparent, being too obese ultimately affected his health. So the emperor and empress both wanted the Crown Prince to eat less and walk more. The Crown Prince was a filial son and naturally agreed, never going against his parents’ wishes. But with his massive frame eating a normal person’s portions, he was truly suffering from hunger.

Xiao Ji understood why his birth father didn’t ride in palanquins: he was trying to lose weight.

With Consort Guo Liangdi’s teasing, the Crown Princess immediately emerged from her melancholy, thinking there would be plenty of time ahead to repair the mother-son relationship.

So the Crown Princess also smiled: “Now the Crown Prince has an even more legitimate reason to have a late-night snack.”

The Crown Prince laughed honestly: “Just filling the stomach a little, won’t overeat. Come, son, accompany your father for a midnight snack.”

Compared to others, the Crown Prince was most naturally close to Xiao Ji – perhaps because fat people inherently have an affable quality.

Xiao Ji followed the Crown Prince out of the main hall, wondering about the Eastern Palace’s other Li-surnamed consort who had borne a son and was enfeoffed as Liangyuan. The little brother might be sleeping in swaddling clothes and unable to come to the main hall to meet his big brother, but why didn’t Liangyuan Li have a seat in the main hall? Liangyuan ranked just below Liangdi…

Xiao Ji truly had endless worries. With a mind full of concerns, he accompanied the Crown Prince for the midnight snack. The Crown Princess and Consort Guo Liangdi took turns serving him dishes. When elders bestow food, one cannot refuse. He had to finish everything placed in his bowl. Xiao Ji ate until he was quite stuffed but dared not refuse.

Finally, the Crown Prince sighed: “You two have forgotten about your husband after having a son, just keep piling food into his bowl. That’s enough – you can’t become fat in one meal. Be careful the child gets indigestion.”

Consort Guo Liangdi laughed: “The imperial physician said you should eat less and move more. Using chopsticks to serve food counts as movement too – we’re doing this for your own good.”

The Crown Princess personally ladled a bowl of ham and tofu soup: “Drink this and stop – don’t eat anymore.”

The Crown Prince nodded, staring at the soup ladle in the Crown Princess’s hand: “Hey, don’t just ladle broth – that’s like drinking water. Ladle some ham pieces in there. This ham is already sliced thin as paper and cut into fine strips – it barely takes up any space.”

The Crown Princess said: “This ham has been stewed in soup – all the flavor is in the tofu. Eating the tofu is the same as eating the ham.”

She didn’t add a single strip of ham – just two pieces of tofu and a bowl of broth.

The Crown Prince was helpless. The dignified heir to the throne actually “submitted” to his wives’ arrangements, drinking the tofu soup and stopping there.

But Xiao Ji found the Crown Prince even more endearing – the Crown Prince’s longing expression for meat was just like A’Lei little sister’s!

Xiao Ji wondered: should he secretly bring some meat for his birth father starting tomorrow?

Meanwhile, as little Xiao Ji in the Eastern Palace was using his father as a breakthrough point to gradually understand and integrate into the imperial family, Ji Gang had just completed his escort mission and reported back. Having spent the entire journey tensely guarding this precious child’s safety, he was exhausted. Without even returning to his mansion, he immediately went to Weng Tang (the bathhouse name) to soak and relax after submitting his report.

Jinyiwei had already cleared the bathhouse for him – how could Director Ji’s “noble body” be watched by others? In the large circular pool, only Ji Gang was soaking alone.

Just as Ji Gang was about to fall asleep from comfort, his confidant came over saying: “The female official Jiang Quan from Princess Nankang’s mansion wants to speak with you. It’s so late – should we have her come tomorrow—”

Ji Gang looked at him coldly: “I’ve already said that if Female Official Jiang has business, she should report directly. This place isn’t suitable for meeting – arrange a pleasure boat, and I’ll go speak with her.”

Years ago when Mao Qiang was subjected to death by a thousand cuts, it was Jiang Quan who went to the death cell to deliver a jug of nerve-numbing wine, reducing Mao Qiang’s pain. Ji Gang remembered Jiang Quan’s great kindness, and now that he was in power, he took special care of her.

On the Qinhuai River, pleasure boats dotted like stars, shuttling along this jade belt. Jiang Quan wore a hood and veil, showing only her eyes, as she boarded the boat.

Ji Gang was already properly dressed, respectfully inviting Jiang Quan to sit: “Female Official Jiang seeks me out in the middle of the night – is there urgent business?”

Jiang Quan removed her hood and veil, lifting her head. In the lamplight, her eyes were completely red and swollen: “I have no personal business – it’s Princess Nankang… That beast Hu Guan actually secretly married a courtesan as his outside woman! How can a noble princess share a husband with a prostitute! But Nankang has been deceived by Hu Guan’s sweet words…”

It turned out that after Princess Nankang married Hu Guan, he knew his lifelong wealth and status depended on the princess, so he worked hard to please and serve her, winning the princess’s heart and even fathering a son, Hu Zhong.

Princess Nankang lost her mother young and was passed between several concubines for care during her childhood and youth. Her living environment was unstable, and though Female Official Jiang Quan always protected her, it couldn’t compare to having a birth mother. She grew up with a weak character.

Women with extremely love-starved hearts are often easily deceived by scoundrels and men’s temporary tenderness and sweet words. With Hu Guan’s slight manipulations, Princess Nankang became devoted to him. Having borne him a son made her trust Hu Guan even more.

Jiang Quan, having weathered many storms, saw through Hu Guan’s true nature at a glance and constantly advised Nankang to maintain a princess’s dignity and not be manipulated by her consort. Hu Guan then played the wronged innocent, badmouthing Jiang Quan to Princess Nankang.

Princess Nankang became increasingly dependent on Hu Guan while gradually distancing herself from Female Official Jiang Quan, who had grown up with her. Jiang Quan was helpless, thinking that for the sake of her great-grandson Hu Zhong, she couldn’t break up this family. Though Hu Guan was bad, he surely wouldn’t dare mistreat the princess. They’d muddle through somehow.

Jiang Quan turned a blind eye, and knowing this female official had extensive connections and was formidable, Hu Guan didn’t dare go too far. Both sides called a truce and coexisted peacefully.

Using the princess to accumulate wealth, Hu Guan became lustful after achieving comfort and got involved with a top courtesan from the Qinhuai River.

Jiang Quan had been guarding against Hu Guan and obtained evidence of his misdeeds, immediately exposing this matter to Princess Nankang. But Hu Guan denied it and somehow secretly hid the courtesan away, creating a situation with no evidence. He even counter-accused Jiang Quan of being psychologically twisted, deliberately sowing discord between the couple, and wanted to drive Jiang Quan from the princess’s mansion.

Princess Nankang chose to believe Hu Guan, but out of years of affection, couldn’t bear to part with the loyal Female Official Jiang Quan. The princess advised Jiang Quan not to be so suspicious and paranoid – at her age, wouldn’t it be good to spend her twilight years peacefully at the princess’s mansion?

How could Jiang Quan swallow this insult? She was a determined woman who had studied hard for ten years to become a female official and find her daughter!

She superficially agreed with the princess, apologized to Hu Guan in repentance, employing delaying tactics. Once Ji Gang returned, she immediately sought him out in the middle of the night, asking Ji Gang to help find the courtesan Hu Guan had hidden away, so Princess Nankang could see Hu Guan’s true face.

After listening, Ji Gang said: “Years ago when Director Mao was subjected to death by a thousand cuts, it was Hu Guan who led the attack, fabricating charges against Director Mao and wrongfully killing a court minister. I know Hu Guan did this to avenge the Eastern River Marquis’s family, and it was also because Emperor Gaozhu wanted to kill Director Mao to appease public anger. But since he willingly became someone’s weapon, he should know the consequences of being a weapon.”

“However, Hu Guan is Princess Nankang’s consort. The relationship between Female Official Jiang and Princess Nankang – others might not know, but how could I not? For catching a rat, injuring a precious vase isn’t worth it. Now that Hu Guan dares to scheme against Female Official Jiang and deceive Princess Nankang, new hatred added to old grudges – I will never let him off. Just say the word – how do you want Hu Guan dealt with?”

Jiang Quan’s gaze turned icy: “With him around, Nankang will never be happy. She’s falling deeper into the love trap and will eventually suffer a fatal blow. Better to cut losses early. However Director Ji wants to deal with him, that’s how I want him dealt with.”