Consort Xian was stunned.
She was feeling dejected, so where could this happiness come from? Surely Pan Hai wasn’t speaking sarcastically to mock her?
Although she felt Pan Hai wouldn’t do something so absurd, Consort Xian still couldn’t help but feel irritated. She coldly said, “Eunuch Pan, I don’t know where this happiness you speak of comes from?”
Pan Hai, who had just been bewildered by Emperor Jingming, naturally wanted others to experience the same feeling. He smiled, bowed, and said, “Madam Consort Xian, you may not know yet, but His Majesty has just decreed to bestow the title of Prince Yan upon the Seventh Prince—”
Before he could finish, Consort Xian exclaimed in surprise, “Eunuch Pan, surely you’re not making fun of me?”
“Oh my, Madam Consort Xian, I wouldn’t dare to jest with you even if I had a hundred lives. Moreover, I couldn’t bear the crime of falsely transmitting an imperial edict.”
“Did His Majesty truly bestow the title of Prince Yan upon the Seventh Prince?”
“It’s true.”
Consort Ning took a step back, raising her hand to her forehead.
She was a bit dazed and needed a moment to process this.
“Madam Consort Xian, I must go to transmit the edict now.”
Seeing Pan Hai about to leave, Consort Xian couldn’t afford to wait. She hurriedly said, “Eunuch Pan, please wait a moment!”
“Does Madam Consort Xian have any further instructions?”
Consort Xian immediately slipped a gold ring to Pan Hai and whispered, “I wonder what happened in the Imperial Study that made His Majesty bestow the title of Prince Yan upon the Seventh Prince?”
Pan Hai smoothly placed the gold ring into a hidden pocket in his sleeve and smiled, “Please don’t put me in a difficult position, Madam Consort Xian. I can only congratulate you. As for what happened in the Imperial Study, it’s not something I can speak of casually.”
Pan Hai was a favorite of Emperor Jingming and kept his lips tightly sealed. Consort Xian could only watch him leave, her heart itching like cat scratches.
Having received such news, she naturally did not need to go to the Imperial Study anymore.
No matter what, the Seventh Prince was her son, and being granted a princely title was a matter of honor for her as his mother.
The reason Consort Xian didn’t care for Yu Jin was partly due to never having bonded with him, but more importantly, because Emperor Jingming had fallen seriously ill right after Yu Jin’s birth. Everyone believed the Emperor despised this son, which made her the laughingstock of others.
The most common thing those consorts said in private was, “What does it matter if Consort Xian has two sons? Raising a son who brings misfortune to the Emperor is worse than having none at all.”
Now it was all good. Her son, who supposedly brought misfortune to the Emperor, had been granted a princely title by His Majesty. Those childless consorts could only cry to the moon now.
However, what was the Emperor thinking? The Seventh Prince had caused trouble, so why grant him a title?
As Consort Xian walked back pondering this, she nearly slipped and fell. Only then did she stop her wild speculations and hurriedly return to her chambers.
Emperor Jingming’s edict sent shockwaves through the entire harem.
“His Majesty granted the Seventh Prince a title. What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure. I only know that Consort Ning went to the Imperial Study, and then His Majesty issued the edict to grant the Seventh Prince a title.”
“Hiss— I never thought Consort Ning would be someone who repays evil with kindness.”
“Repay evil with kindness? I’d sooner believe the Seventh Prince was born to Consort Ning!”
Rumors flew wildly through the palace, becoming more and more outrageous. Consort Ning was so furious she nearly coughed up blood.
Soon after, a eunuch arrived carrying many silks and jewels, saying they were gifts bestowed by the Emperor.
As soon as the eunuch left, Consort Ning kicked the gifts into pieces, but she didn’t dare to confront Emperor Jingming anymore.
The Emperor’s actions were too unpredictable. If she went and somehow brought more benefits to that wild child, she wouldn’t have been able to live with herself.
Some consorts who had originally planned to complain to Emperor Jingming also fell silent.
The situation was too complex; it was safest to wait and see.
In the Imperial Study, Emperor Jingming leaned back in his chair, leisurely reading a storybook.
Hmm, the world was finally peaceful.
In the Imperial Clan Court, several princes were confined in an empty room, and the atmosphere was tense.
“Seventh Brother, are you sober now?” The Fifth Prince glared fiercely at Yu Jin.
Yu Jin smiled and said, “Fifth Brother misunderstands. I wasn’t drunk.”
The Fifth Prince immediately seized on Yu Jin’s words, laughing loudly, “You told Father Emperor you drank too much, but now you say you weren’t drunk. Seventh Brother, this is deceiving the Emperor!”
Yu Jin raised an eyebrow, appearing even more calm and composed compared to the Fifth Prince’s agitation: “Drinking two large jars of wine isn’t too much? I said I drank too much, not that I was drunk.”
“You—” The Fifth Prince was furious. He raised his fist and charged forward.
Several princes hurried to hold the Fifth Prince back.
“Fifth Brother, we’ve all been confined here. If you start another fight, we won’t be able to leave in just three days.”
The empty room of the Imperial Clan Court could make even royal nobles tremble in fear. If their father hadn’t specified they could be released after three days, they would be crying by now.
“That’s right, Fifth Brother. You’d better calm down,” the Eighth Prince advised the Fifth Prince, then glanced at Yu Jin with a cold smile. “It’s beneath our dignity to argue with someone like him!”
“Uh, I didn’t know you had such dignity, or what kind of dignity I have,” Yu Jin said calmly.
Trying to out-talk him? Whether it was physical or verbal, if he lost, he wouldn’t be Yu Jin!
The Eighth Prince chuckled, “Fifth Brother, have you noticed? Some people just lack self-awareness. A prince without a title at his age, isn’t that embarrassing to speak of?”
The Fifth Prince laughed, “If he knew what embarrassment was, he wouldn’t have made a fool of himself at Prince Qi’s mansion.”
“Ah, I see now,” Yu Jin showed a look of sudden realization.
Everyone turned to look at him.
Yu Jin leaned against the cold wall, smiling, “So after all this time, what you’re proud of is your princely title. But I don’t understand, for a title that any male can get just by eating and waiting until they’re sixteen, what’s there to be proud of?”
Everyone was stunned by the question.
They had heard that the Seventh Prince had considerable prestige in the Southern army, but so what?
They were princes. If they had no ambition, being a prince was enough to live a carefree life. If they had ambition, they would strive for that position. Who would go lead armies and fight wars?
No matter how much prestige one had in the military, it couldn’t compare to having a place in their father’s heart.
However, no matter how they thought about it, there wasn’t much to be proud of in being naturally granted a princely title.
The Eighth Prince, of course, wasn’t willing to let Yu Jin have the upper hand. He sneered, “It’s still better than being nothing. You don’t even qualify for that eat-and-wait title.”
“Eighth Brother—” the Sixth Prince called out.
Even if they wanted to mock the Seventh Prince, they shouldn’t drag themselves into it. What did he mean by “qualify for that eat-and-wait title”? It sounded awful.
The Eighth Prince realized his mistake and quickly smiled at the Sixth Prince.
Yu Jin lowered his eyes, too lazy to look at these people anymore.
What he wanted, he would obtain himself!
“What, nothing to say now?” the Eighth Prince asked smugly, seeing Yu Jin silent.
Just then, the door suddenly opened, and several people filed in. An official walked to the front, greeted all the princes, and then came before Yu Jin: “Seventh Prince, please stand up. These people are here to take your measurements for new clothes.”
Yu Jin stood up nonchalantly, while the others were all bewildered.
“What are the measurements for?” the Fifth Prince couldn’t help but ask.
The official hurriedly replied, “His Majesty has decreed for us to prepare for the Seventh Prince’s investiture ceremony.”