Prince Gong was like a stubborn bull. No matter how Chief Councilor Ling wore out his lips, he refused to nod even once. He was just like a bull that refused to drink and had its head forcibly pressed down. When urged too urgently, he actually spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, spraying it across the bed curtains in dots and specks like someone’s painted peach blossom picture, startling both the attending servants and Chief Councilor Ling.
To be fair, Prince Gong had been robust since childhood, seemingly at the opposite extreme from the Crown Prince. In his fief, he regularly went horse riding and hunting. He also participated in the府guards’ training and persisted day after day, never abandoning it. But since the Imperial Guards arrived in Langfang, he had fallen ill and couldn’t recover.
Chief Councilor Ling sat on the small stool beside his bed, knowing what he was struggling with. He sighed and continued to earnestly persuade him: “I know Your Highness has high pride, but you mustn’t blame Elder Du for thinking of such a degrading method. Right now, aside from the Grand Prince, who else can speak before His Majesty? His Majesty originally suppressed this matter, treating it as a family affair. Since it’s a family affair, there’s absolutely no reason for outside ministers to interfere. Who doesn’t want to live and would dare meddle in the imperial family’s private matters? Even if you want to think of other methods now, you can’t. Whoever speaks a word for you faces death.”
Seeing Prince Gong cough more urgently, he lowered his eyes further: “It’s not that this humble one and Elder Du disregard your dignity, but at this moment, dignity cannot be considered. Think carefully—they may not want your life, but if they confine you for life in the capital, surround you with high walls like the loyal and obedient prince of the previous dynasty, would you be willing?”
The elder brother of the previous dynasty’s Emperor Ai had plotted rebellion and was stripped of his status, reduced to a commoner. From then on, he was walled in and confined to the Southern Garden, living out his pitiful life. Even the shade trees were cut down by Emperor Ai. All his children accompanied him until they died of old age in the Southern Garden—an extremely miserable fate.
Prince Gong had originally known that if he didn’t plan for himself, once Emperor Jianzhang and Empress Lu passed away, he would inevitably face this same end. New grievances added to old hatred, plus considerations for his future—that was why he had gritted his teeth and begun plotting for the future. Now hearing Chief Councilor Ling mention the loyal and obedient prince, his eyebrows twitched, but he still didn’t nod.
He hated the Crown Prince. Since childhood, he had grown accustomed to yielding before the Crown Prince—all good food and drink, everything he let him have first before their parents. But this yielding hadn’t earned him brotherly affection. The Crown Prince was wary of him, practically displaying it openly, causing Emperor Jianzhang and Empress Lu to decide early on to send him away to his fief.
Going to the fief was nothing. He originally had no grand ambitions. He had thought that when the time came, after marrying his cousin and making her his princess consort, he would be a carefree prince in that distant land.
Who knew that even this small dream would be stripped away by his Crown Prince brother and mother? When the Crown Prince married his cousin, all officials were given holiday, and fireworks were set off in the capital for three nights. He was like an abandoned, masterless pug dog, curling his tail and staying sick in Prince Gong’s residence for half a month.
After recovering, he had no attachment left. In a daze, he waited for the princess consort who was hastily arranged for him, married right after the Crown Prince, then hurriedly left the capital for Taiyuan to take up his fief—he didn’t want to stay in the capital even one more day.
The events that followed didn’t need further recollection. The Crown Prince was unkind first—even if he truly was a tail-wagging pug, he still had teeth.
But victors become kings while losers become bandits. He had lost and would accept it. How could there be any reason to seek the Crown Princess née Lu for mercy? He couldn’t do it. Thinking of that girl from years past, swinging on a swing and laughing carefree, his eyes grew hot, and even his chest began to ache. From the day he decided to kill that girl’s son, he never expected her to forgive him. Since he didn’t hope for her forgiveness, to now fantasize that she would reach out to pull him up—where would he find such thick skin?
Seeing him stubborn as a real donkey, Chief Councilor Ling finally couldn’t help but grow anxious: “Have you also considered—even if His Majesty doesn’t want your life, what about that Grand Prince?! Between you two, it’s merely uncle and nephew. Even Miss Song Six could persuade Empress Lu to be ruthless toward the Crown Prince, let alone you?! Taking ten thousand steps back, even if you won’t think for yourself, won’t you think for the young prince?!”
Prince Gong finally fell silent. Outside the room door were layers of Imperial Guards bearing embroidered spring knives. He reached up to cover his head, feeling somewhat nauseated.
He was no longer that youth who told his cousin he would only have her as his princess consort for this life and the next. The Crown Princess née Lu was also no longer that smiling, charming cousin from before. He had a pile of sons, and the Crown Princess née Lu had the Grand Prince.
He sighed heavily, then heard Chief Councilor Ling press on relentlessly: “You’ve been suppressed by the Crown Prince your whole life—do you want to watch the young prince also end up like the loyal and obedient prince of the previous dynasty?”
Chief Councilor Ling knew well how to persuade his prince. He simply couldn’t let go of face, but in his heart, he had long ago held more than just the Crown Princess née Lu alone. The long years of companionship, the continuation of his bloodline—he had long since unconsciously transformed from that youth into a father, an ambitious man.
The atmosphere grew tense. Chief Councilor Ling was about to speak again when knocking sounded outside. Wu Feng knocked on the door from outside, reminding Prince Gong and Chief Councilor Ling: “Your Highness, the princess consort has entered the residence.”
Princess Consort Yang had entered the capital later and had only just arrived. Chief Councilor Ling stood up: “Your Highness, please reconsider.”
Later that evening, Yang brought their son to check on Prince Gong’s illness. She sat on the bed edge, taking a handkerchief to carefully wipe Prince Gong’s hands and face. When the wet nurse carried in Prince Gong’s youngest son, she placed the little one beside Prince Gong.
The youngest son was born to a side consort. Yang raised him by her side. Now just over a year old, he still couldn’t walk, grinning toothlessly at Prince Gong with saliva dripping down. His eyes were unusually bright, carrying that special innocence and naivety unique to small children.
Prince Gong reached out to touch his little hand. The child’s hand was remarkably soft, and as soon as it touched his hand, it gripped tightly. Looking at his son’s bright crystalline eyes, at his wife’s dimples revealed as she lowered her head, he finally sighed softly.
He was no longer alone. It wasn’t just his own life and future he had to consider. He could no longer afford to lose.
The little one grabbed Prince Gong’s hand and tried to stuff it in his mouth. Yang quickly reached out to stop him, scratching his little cheek and scolding with a laugh: “What a little glutton, daring to stuff anything in your mouth.”
The little one’s mouth drooped and he cried out pitifully. Prince Gong rubbed his head twice but couldn’t soothe him and started coughing again. Yang hastily summoned the wet nurse to take the child away, then quietly sat beside Prince Gong herself, helping him drink water to moisten his throat. When his coughing stopped, she asked nothing, tucked in his blanket for him, lowered the bed curtains, and bent her head to make shoes for Prince Gong.