Ye Chen and Ye’an deserved punishment for failing to wake Yanyu for morning court as they should have.

The Chancellor declared righteously, “Your Majesty — ought we not, by proper rule, dock the Crown Prince’s stipend and have him copy the imperial texts, so as to give an accounting to your subjects and to the people of Xuanzhao?”

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince serves as an example to all your subjects. Such disregard for court propriety, I fear…”

“Your Majesty.” The Minister of Justice stepped forward two paces, his tone full of pained reproach directed at the Chancellor. “His Highness must surely have his reasons. Without asking first, the Chancellor has seen fit to presume over Your Majesty and determine the Crown Prince’s punishment himself — is this… is this appropriate?”

Docking stipends and copying texts — that was directly imposing punishment on the Crown Prince. What gave a Chancellor the right to presume over the sovereign and determine the Crown Prince’s punishment? Was that even within the rules?

Giving an accounting to “your subjects”?

Who counted themselves among his subjects??

Don’t drag him into it and get him punished!!

Out of consideration for that wayward son of his at home, he could not possibly stand together with the Chancellor!!

Besides, if he aligned himself with the Chancellor, His Majesty — who protected the Crown Prince so fiercely — would turn around and give them all a thorough dressing-down!

Wait for what?

The other officials all echoed in agreement. “This subject believes the Minister of Justice makes a fair point.”

“This subject also agrees with the Minister of Justice. How can the Chancellor presume over His Majesty and determine punishment for His Highness?”

The Minister of Justice’s mouth twitched. These people were none of them fools either.

After the cluster of officials finished their clamorous debate, Prince Xuan spoke at an unhurried pace with magnanimous ease. “I need not trouble myself over the Chancellor. The Chancellor may, as he himself has suggested, have his stipend docked for one year and copy the imperial texts — and only when he has fully absorbed the rules may he return to court.”

“Your Majesty.” The Chancellor’s face was a picture of disbelief.

“The Crown Prince must also be punished. Last night, I tasked the Crown Prince with reviewing the memorials. Given the volume — by that hour, he would have been working until past midnight — but this is still no justification for arriving late to morning court.”

Prince Xuan swept his gaze across the assembled officials and struck the imperial desk with a resounding blow. “His stipend shall likewise be docked for one year.”

That wretched boy had been at odds with him for months. The fact that he had come to morning court at all was something that had taken considerable effort to secure. The Chancellor was making an issue of Yanyu being a quarter of an hour late — and as for the stipend, having it or not made little difference to Yanyu either way.

Punishing Yanyu was his way of indirectly explaining to the officials the reason behind Yanyu’s tardiness.

He would deal with Yanyu properly himself in private later.

The Chancellor clenched his fist, his knuckles white. With His Majesty framing it this way, what more could he say?

The Crown Prince had been late because he was attending to Xuanzhao’s affairs — and yet he and the Crown Prince were both being stripped of their stipends together. It both silenced the officials and left the Chancellor with no grounds to object. His Majesty’s handling of matters was truly something one could not help but admire.

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince acted in service of Xuanzhao. This old subject believes the Crown Prince bears no fault, and asks that the punishment be set aside.” The Minister of Justice led the way, and the hall at once filled with voices pleading on Xuan Yanyu’s behalf.

The Chancellor’s temple throbbed with rage, yet he had no choice but to also kneel and plead on Xuan Yanyu’s behalf.

He could hardly be the only one still standing while everyone else, Crown Prince included, was kneeling.

“Outrageous. We have said — this is no justification. Even had the Crown Prince been reviewing memorials through the entire night, he ought still to have arrived at court on time.” Prince Xuan’s expression darkened. “Court is dismissed. Crown Prince, attend me in the imperial study.”

Prince Xuan left with a heavy air, and Xuan Yanyu followed closely behind.

In the hall, the officials murmured amongst themselves that Prince Xuan had been rather too strict with the Crown Prince — docking a full year’s stipend was excessive.

The Crown Prince had been late for the sake of Xuanzhao’s affairs, not for personal reasons. If he were to work himself to exhaustion, what would become of Xuanzhao?

For His Majesty to punish the Crown Prince on those grounds would surely chill the Crown Prince’s heart.

Prince Xuan had achieved exactly the effect he had intended, and Xuan Yanyu’s image in the eyes of the officials had risen considerably as well.

The Chancellor ground his back teeth and left the hall with quick strides, unable to bear being there a moment longer.

——

Imperial Study.

Prince Xuan brought his hand down hard on the imperial desk, his expression cold. “Explain — why were you late today?!”

“Your son acknowledges his error and accepts punishment. Father may deal with it however he sees fit.”

“You…” Prince Xuan narrowed his eyes.

Had he been too lenient with Yanyu?

To the point where Yanyu dared to provoke him time and again.

Looking at things now, Yanyu’s careless and idle manner was no good for Xuanzhao.

Was it possible that in the future, after Yanyu ascended the throne, if Yan Yunning acted willfully, Yanyu would be late to morning court again, just as he was today?

Without anyone needing to say it, he already knew why Yanyu had been late today.

“Kneel.”

Xuan Yanyu pressed his lips together. Prince Xuan wore an expression of gravity he had never seen on his father’s face in all his years growing up.

“Father, the reason I was late to morning court today is that Yunning suddenly had a nosebleed. I was worried, and only after Imperial Physician Wen examined her and confirmed there was nothing serious did I feel at ease enough to make my way to the court hall.”

When he had risen that morning, Yunning had tugged at him. He had just been about to get up when he noticed blood seeping from her nose. Only after Imperial Physician Wen confirmed there was nothing wrong did he have the peace of mind to attend morning court.

“Is that true?” Prince Xuan said sternly.

“Father, if you don’t believe me, you may summon Imperial Physician Wen and ask. I would not deliberately use Yunning’s health as an excuse to escape blame.”

Prince Xuan gave a cold scoff. “This is still no reason. This reason is not sufficient to justify your tardiness at morning court.”

“Your son understands.” Xuan Yanyu accepted the reproach with a humble attitude.

“Go kneel at the ancestral shrine. Reflect carefully on what it means to conduct yourself properly as a Crown Prince.” Prince Xuan turned to Eunuch Feng, who was waiting at one side. “Have someone keep watch over the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Prince Xuan was still in the heat of anger and had not specified how long Xuan Yanyu was to kneel.

——

Crown Prince’s Bedchamber.

Yan Yunning, who had been waiting a long while for Xuan Yanyu, suddenly stood up and murmured to herself, “Why hasn’t Xuan Yanyu come back yet today?”

“Crown Princess.” Just as Yan Yunning was about to send someone to check, Qiuci came running in, breathless.

“This servant just heard from Ye Chen — His Highness has been punished by His Majesty. He is presently kneeling at the ancestral shrine. He has also been docked a full year’s stipend, and Ye Chen and Ye’an are kneeling alongside him.”

Yan Yunning’s brow gave a small jump. “What was the reason?”

“Because His Highness was late to morning court today.” Qiuci said, puzzled. “His Highness has attended court before — how could he have been late?”

Yan Yunning bit her lip. It was her fault. If not for her being hungry last night and sneaking that pastry, she would not have had morning sickness, and she would not have disturbed Xuan Yanyu.

“Crown Princess, shall we go and see His Highness?” Qiuci asked.

“No.” Yan Yunning slowly settled back into the sandalwood chair.

If she went to see Xuan Yanyu, she would inevitably displease Prince Xuan.

Merely because Xuan Yanyu had been late to morning court — given how much Prince Xuan doted on Xuan Yanyu, he would not normally punish him for that.

In all likelihood, Prince Xuan was punishing Xuan Yanyu because of her, just as Qiuci had said. Xuan Yanyu had never been late to morning court before — why would it suddenly happen now?

Prince Xuan knew Xuan Yanyu far too well to fail to guess the reason.

If she went to see Xuan Yanyu, Prince Xuan would grow angry, and be even less likely to release Xuan Yanyu from the ancestral shrine.

If she stayed away, Prince Xuan might calm down after a while and go himself to bring Xuan Yanyu out.

He had never been punished before, yet he was being punished by Prince Xuan because of her. She wondered whether Xuan Yanyu was feeling resentful inside.

And the man Yan Yunning was imagining to be resentful was, at this very moment, lying on a meditation cushion with his legs crossed and his hands laced behind his head — entirely at ease — while Ye Chen and Ye’an knelt on either side of him.