The autumn rain fell delicately, creating ripples in the lotus pond beyond the latticed windows.

Zhu Jun’an sat upright in his chair, draped in a gray squirrel fur cloak lined with Luzhou silk, reading a book.

Wisps of incense smoke rose from a gilded crane-shaped censer.

After reading for a while, he couldn’t help but look up. Seeing only two palace servants standing with lowered hands outside his study, he inevitably asked, “Minister Chen hasn’t arrived yet?”

Feng Chengshan, who stood by his side, smiled and said, “Your Majesty, please don’t worry. Minister Chen is discussing matters with Minister Zhang right now. He’ll be here shortly.”

Zhu Jun’an looked at Feng Chengshan: “What matters are they discussing? He agreed to meet me at the third quarter past noon.”

Feng Chengshan, with his fair complexion, respectfully replied with lowered hands: “This old servant doesn’t know. If you wish, I can go urge Minister Chen immediately. However, when the cabinet is in session if this old servant rudely interrupts to deliver a message, I fear it would disturb the ministers’ discussions of important state affairs… Since Your Majesty only wishes to consult Minister Chen, it should only take a few words, so waiting a bit longer shouldn’t matter, don’t you think?”

Zhu Jun’an’s fingers gripping the book pages turned white.

After a long pause, he smiled: “Since Minister Chen is in discussions with Minister Zhang, I’ll wait a while.”

Feng Chengshan had someone bring a bowl of red dates, fritillary bulbs, and white fungus soup for Zhu Jun’an.

Zhu Jun’an took a sip and frowned: “Why is it so sweet?”

Feng Chengshan replied: “This was personally prepared by Consort Zhuang for you, just delivered! The fritillary bulbs are only as large as pearls and of exceptional quality. Your Majesty has been coughing these past few days, this is perfect for you.”

Zhu Jun’an was nearly fifteen years old.

If he were an ordinary prince, he would already have several concubines by now. Some might even have children already.

However, since his ascension to the throne, Zhu Jun’an had only selected palace ladies once. He disliked harem affairs, so there were few consorts in his harem. This Consort Zhuang was Zhang Julian’s niece. After being selected, she held equal status with the Consort that his mother had established for him, and even showed signs of superiority.

These servants were just eager to curry favor with her!

Zhu Jun’an disliked Consort Zhuang, not because she wasn’t beautiful, but because she always tried to manage his affairs, wanting to inquire about every little detail. He found it annoying but dared not say so. Besides, the Empress Dowager had warned him that power-hungry relatives were a great taboo. Zhang Julian’s influence was already too great, and if he allowed Zhang to control the imperial harem as well, he would truly become a puppet.

This position is so frustrating! Zhu Jun’an felt utterly humiliated. He couldn’t even summon a single official!

Unable to bear the sweetness, he took just one sip before setting the white fungus soup aside and returning to his book.

Within a quarter hour, Chen Yan’yun arrived, unexpectedly accompanied by Zhang Julian.

“This subject was delayed in discussions with Minister Zhang. I apologize to Your Majesty for my tardiness,” Chen Yan’yun said with clasped hands.

Zhu Jun’an’s delicate face broke into a smile: “My matter is trivial, it’s fine to ask later! I didn’t expect Minister Zhang to come as well. Minister Zhang has visited less frequently lately, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you.”

Zhang Julian stood up with clasped hands: “If Your Majesty misses this subject, you need only send someone to call for me. Today I wanted to see how far Your Majesty has progressed with your studies. I heard you were reading the ‘Lüshi Chunqiu’ a few days ago?”

Third Master Chen also sat down, sipping tea while listening to Zhang Julian instruct Zhu Jun’an on his studies.

Yesterday, he had overseen the trial of Xie Sixing and his accomplices with the Minister of Justice. Xie Sixing and several others were sentenced to beheading, while the rest were sentenced to exile. Today Zhang Julian had sought him out about this matter. Despite involving more than ten lives, it was still a minor case that Zhang Julian needn’t concern himself with. Yet he had discussed it with Chen for half an hour, causing him to be late for his appointment with Zhu Jun’an.

Zhang Julian stood beside Zhu Jun’an, his temples graying, thick eyebrows extending into his hairline, naturally imposing even without anger.

“…’ Once learned what the Yellow Emperor taught Zhuanxu, above there is the great circle, below there is the great square, if you can follow this model, you will be the father and mother of the people.’ Indeed, in the ancient times of peace, they followed the ways of Heaven and Earth. Does Your Majesty understand what this means?”

Zhu Jun’an’s face reddened: “I’ve only just started reading it a few days ago, how would I understand its meaning?”

Zhang Julian smiled: “When I used to teach Your Majesty, you had this same temperament. If you don’t understand the meaning of reading, how can you study properly? This passage uses the Yellow Emperor’s teachings to Zhuanxu as an example. Above is Heaven, and below is Earth. If you govern according to the principles of Heaven and Earth, the country will be peaceful and prosperous, with favorable weather.”

Zhu Jun’an could only nod.

Zhang Julian withdrew his hand to drink tea, then smiled at Chen Yan’yun: “It seems you haven’t taught him well!”

Third Master Chen stood up again, smiling faintly and humbly: “I naturally cannot compare to the teacher.”

Zhang Julian replied softly: “You’re just being modest. When you placed third in the imperial examinations, your name resounded throughout the Northern Metropolitan Region.”

Lowering his head, he noticed the bowl of white fungus soup on Zhu Jun’an’s desk: “I see this soup has gone cold. Why hasn’t Your Majesty drunk it? Is it not to your taste?”

How could Zhu Jun’an dare speak the truth? “This was prepared by Consort Zhuang for me, of course I like it… I just ate half a bowl more at noon and have no appetite now.”

Zhang Julian smiled: “Although Consort Zhuang’s beauty and talent may not match other consorts, her temperament is gentle, and she makes excellent soups, serving Your Majesty wholeheartedly. Recently, Consort Zhuang sent word to her mother saying she and Consort Jing hit it off immediately, but their palaces are not in the same location, making conversation inconvenient. If Your Majesty sees that Consort Zhuang serves you attentively, perhaps you could let Consort Zhuang and Consort Jing live together…”

Consorts of different ranks naturally had their separate residences.

He was seeking a promotion to Consort rank for his niece!

Third Master Chen lowered his head to drink tea.

Zhu Jun’an paused for a moment, then his face turned pale. He said with difficulty: “I shall discuss this with the Empress Dowager!”

Zhang Julian hastily said: “This subject was merely speaking casually. If Your Majesty doesn’t feel she deserves a promotion, please don’t elevate her on my account. I shouldn’t have mentioned these harem matters… I only thought of my niece and momentarily lost my propriety. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness!”

Zhu Jun’an nodded: “I understand, I don’t blame you, beloved minister.”

His tone, however, had subtly changed.

Zhang Julian seemed not to notice and maintained an extremely respectful demeanor.

Third Master Chen saw that the tendons on the back of Zhu Jun’an’s hand were tensed, and knew he could barely contain himself.

He was still young after all—how much patience could he have?

Chen Yan’yun also recalled what Gu Jinchao had said. These past two days he had been busy deliberating Xie Sixing’s crimes and hadn’t had time to address Fourth Master Chen’s matter. However, he had already ordered his subordinates to investigate. If Chen Yanwen truly had colluded with the Imperial Household Department, it must have been at Zhang Julian’s direction…

He disliked being controlled by others, regardless of who they were.

If Zhang Julian had truly gone this far, there would be no need to show any courtesy.

Zhang Julian had grown old, and in recent years his leadership had become increasingly muddled, with the factional strife among his subordinates growing ever more severe.

Yet Zhang Julian had been his teacher, and as the saying goes, “one day as a teacher, lifelong as a father.” Zhang Julian had been kind to him.

He couldn’t bring himself to be ruthless immediately.

Chen Yan’yun’s heart was heavy with concerns.

…

Gu Jinchao was watching Chen Xuanyue write.

His guange calligraphy style was quite unattractive, crooked, and slanted, as if unable to stand straight in the wind.

After watching for a long time, Gu Jinchao shook her head helplessly: “I originally thought you were pretending to write poorly, but it turns out it’s genuine… When Third Master returns, I’ll have him find some copybooks for you to practice with!”

Chen Xuanyue was equally helpless: “Aunt, I can’t help it. Perhaps I’m just not cut out for this!”

“Are you trying to be lazy?” Gu Jinchao exposed him, gathering up his practice materials. “Practice makes perfect. With diligent practice, you’ll improve.”

Chen Xuanyue made a painful sound and fell back onto the lounge bed.

Chang Suo was rolling back and forth on the lounge bed, playing by himself. Since learning to roll over, he often played like this, always wanting someone to watch him.

Seeing Chen Xuanyue suddenly lie down, he seemed quite curious, rolled over to look at him, and even tugged at Chen Xuanyue’s hair with his little hand.

Chen Xuanyue caught Chang Suo’s hand, held him in his arms, and smiled: “Little Chang Suo, would Ninth Brother take you flying?”

“Flying” meant spinning Chang Suo around in circles—he loved it when people played this game with him.

Chang Suo seemed to understand and smiled directly at Chen Xuanyue.

Gu Jinchao stopped him: “How strong are you? Don’t play this game with him!”

Chen Xuanyue said: “Aunt, I’ve been practicing for so long, it’s fine. I won’t lift him too high.”

That was true. He had been learning from the masters at Heyan Tower, and in the past half year, he had grown much taller, nearly as tall as Chen Xuanxin now.

Chen Xuanyue sat cross-legged holding Chang Suo, playing with him for a while. Chang Suo laughed with glee, showing no fear at all, instead finding it quite fun. When tired, he nestled in Chen Xuanyue’s arms, hugging his neck and looking around.

Chen Xuanyue’s forehead was sweaty as he smiled at her: “See, you should trust me!”

Gu Jinchao couldn’t be bothered to speak further and had a maid bring hot water to wipe his face.

Chen Xi arrived.

She had grown considerably taller, wearing a short pink cherry blossom jacket and a light-colored sixteen-panel Xiang skirt. Her delicate face was as lovely as a flower.

Upon arrival, she took Gu Jinchao’s hand and said pitifully: “You haven’t returned for days, I didn’t know where to play!”

Gu Jinchao asked about her progress with the zither and whether she had improved in embroidery under the new seamstress.

After Chen Xi finished speaking with Gu Jinchao, she sat on the lounge bed. Seeing Chen Xuanyue holding Chang Suo and playing with a brush, she quietly asked him: “Ninth Brother, what are you playing?”

Chen Xuanyue looked up at her, raising an eyebrow and smiling: “What’s the matter?”

Chen Xi inexplicably felt a bit embarrassed, her face reddening as she murmured: “Just asking…”

Chen Xuanyue turned his head away, ignoring her, and said flatly: “Why ask?”

Chen Xi was stunned. She felt that her Ninth Brother had changed somehow. He didn’t seem foolish anymore… but the feeling was strange, and she didn’t know why.

Chang Suo, however, waved his little chubby hands at Chen Xi, babbling.

Gu Jinchao came in with a book and called Chen Xi over: “What are you saying to your Ninth Brother?”

Chen Xi shook her head without speaking. Gu Jinchao thought her expression was strange—had she discovered something about Chen Xuanyue?

It wasn’t good for Chen Xuanyue to keep pretending to be foolish. Gu Jinchao wanted to find an opportunity to reveal the truth about Chen Xuanyue. She just didn’t know when the right timing would be, especially since it involved Chen Yanwen. She wanted to wait until Third Master Chen had resolved Fourth Master Chen’s matter before speaking.