On a still, windless night, Prince An sent out his most elite soldiers from the city to launch a surprise raid on the imperial army’s camp.
Little did he know, the Crown Grandson had already anticipated this. The surprise attack, naturally, did not succeed. The soldiers Prince An had sent out were almost entirely wiped out.
Upon hearing the dreadful news, Prince An was so overcome with rage on the spot that he coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood and collapsed unconscious.
By the time Prince An woke up, the Crown Grandson had already personally led his troops in and taken the city.
Lacking the courage to take his own life, Prince An ultimately surrendered, like a dog that had lost its master.
From the start of Prince An’s rebellion to the suppression of the uprising, half a year had passed in all.
The following year, in the third month, the Crown Grandson led the army back to the capital in triumph.
This was destined to become a battle forever etched in the memory of the officials and common people of the great Zhou dynasty. It also brought the Crown Grandson’s reputation to its very peak.
The moment the army entered through the city gates, the crowds lining both sides of the road to welcome them home were moved beyond measure, and with one voice they began to call out the Crown Grandson’s name.
Prince An, locked inside a prisoner’s cart, was still dressed in reasonably proper attire, though his gaze was dull and lifeless, like a living corpse.
Hearing the thunderous roar around him, Prince An finally showed some reaction, lifting his head in a daze to look around. A stone came flying from somewhere unknown and struck him square on the forehead, blood at once trickling down.
After that, it was not only stones that came flying. Rotten eggs, spoiled vegetable leaves, and all manner of filth followed.
Prince An hung his head in defeat.
The Crown Grandson sat upright astride his warhorse, his face, touched faintly by the hardships of campaign, still strikingly handsome and refined, his gaze sharp and piercing.
When the army returned in triumph, the Crown Prince and Prince Yan came in person to welcome them.
In the half year that had passed, the lingering poison in the Crown Prince’s body had been completely cleared; aside from a slightly pale and weak complexion, he was no different from any ordinary person now.
After dismounting, the Crown Grandson knelt on one knee before the Crown Prince. “This unworthy son has not failed Father’s expectations, and returns in victory.”
Watching the Crown Grandson, now so heroic and radiant, the Crown Prince’s heart swelled with both pride and excitement, and beyond expressing his approval, he found himself almost at a loss for further words.
After paying his respects to the Crown Prince, the Crown Grandson rose to his feet and turned to look at Prince Yan.
“It has been several months since we parted, and it seems Sixth Uncle’s wound has finally healed—you still look as dashing as ever,” the Crown Grandson said with composed courtesy, clasping his hands together in greeting.
Prince Yan, by contrast, was considerably warmer. “A’Yao, this time you put down the rebellion and captured Prince An alive—you’ve achieved a great feat. Father and your elder uncle are both proud of you, and even I, your uncle, cannot help but feel proud as well.”
The corner of the Crown Grandson’s mouth curved slightly. “Sixth Uncle is too generous with his praise. The great Zhou dynasty’s foundations are secure—anyone foolish enough to attempt treason and usurpation is no different from a clown jumping about on a stage. No matter who had led the army, Prince An was destined to fail.”
After a pause, he added, with a deliberately rueful sigh, “It’s just a pity that Sixth Uncle’s grave injury hadn’t yet healed at the time, making it unsuitable for him to go on the distant campaign. Otherwise, the two of us, uncle and nephew, could have set out together, fought together, and returned together—what a joyous thing that would have been. Truly a pity.”
These words struck right at the heart of Prince Yan’s sore point.
Prince Yan’s pupils contracted faintly, a flash of icy chill passing through them, before he quickly recovered his composure and affectionately patted the Crown Grandson’s shoulder. “That is indeed a great regret of mine as well. Well, what’s past is past—there’s no use dwelling on it further. The most important thing is that you’ve returned in victory, having rooted out a great threat to the great Zhou dynasty.”
“Father has already arranged a victory banquet within the palace. All the officials are already waiting there—they’re only waiting for you to enter.”
The Crown Grandson gave a slight smile, and even went so far as to link arms with Prince Yan. “Very well, let’s ride into the palace together.”
Prince Yan kept his smile in place outwardly, but inwardly, his heart suddenly sank.
That sharp, intimidating youth of before had now become utterly unreadable. He found that he could no longer see through the Crown Grandson’s true thoughts at all!
…
With the army’s triumphant return to the capital, no one was happier than the Emperor. For this victory banquet, he laid out the grandest possible arrangements. Any official residing in the capital was entitled to attend.
Many a low-ranking official who had never once in his life set foot in the imperial palace was now able to enter and attend the banquet. This honor, all of it, had been brought about by the Crown Grandson. Filled with gratitude, everyone’s regard for the Crown Grandson in their hearts grew loftier still.
Beyond the main hall, several side halls had all been set up for the banquet as well—nearly a hundred tables in all.
All the consorts of the palace, led by Noble Consort Wei, sat waiting in one of the side halls for the banquet to begin.
At the start of the new year, the Emperor had personally issued a decree raising Consort Wei’s rank. Now, Consort Wei had become Noble Consort Wei—the highest-ranking consort in the entire harem.
Above Noble Consort stood only the rank of Empress.
In years past, Empress Xu had likewise started out as an ordinary Consort Xu, then risen to Noble Consort, and later, in due course, had been formally invested as Empress.
Watching Noble Consort Wei’s rising fortunes, which even seemed to surpass those of the late Empress Xu in her time, it was plain to anyone with sharp eyes that the position of Empress would, sooner or later, likely fall to her as well.
There was certainly no shortage of sharp-eyed, calculating minds within the harem—who could fail to see this? And so, everyone now vied all the more eagerly to curry her favor.
Noble Consort Wei sat smiling at the head of the banquet table, surrounded by consorts of every rank within the palace. No few among them surpassed her in age and seniority, yet none could outshine her radiance.
As Noble Consort Wei’s trusted female official, Ling Jingshu, too, had truly basked in glory these past two months and more.
Just now, for instance, she hadn’t even needed to stand attending behind Noble Consort Wei; wanting only to find some quiet place to rest for a moment, she instead found herself surrounded by a crowd of female officials.
“On such a joyous day, why hasn’t Female Official Ling dressed in something brighter?”
“Female Official Ling is naturally so lovely that even in plain pale-green palace robes, she still outshines everyone around her. Standing beside her, the rest of us look rather shabby playing the supporting role.”
“Indeed, that’s just natural beauty—something the rest of us could envy all we like and never match. Speaking of which, no one in this palace has better fortune than Female Official Ling. Her Highness the Noble Consort treats Female Official Ling so well, there’s truly nothing left to say…”
On and on they chattered, the noise giving her a headache.
Listening to this stream of flattery, Ling Jingshu felt both helpless and rather amused. Yet she couldn’t very well turn and walk away in annoyance, so she could only patiently humor them with a smile. “Please, all of you, stop praising me so. I’m not nearly as wonderful as you all make me out to be.”
“As for having good fortune, that part is certainly true. Her Highness the Noble Consort has always treated me extremely well.”
Nearby, Xinyun found herself in much the same situation, likewise surrounded by other consorts’ female officials all trying to curry favor with her, unable to break free.
The two of them exchanged a glance and shared a faint, helpless smile.
Within the palace, the habit of fawning over the powerful while scorning the weak had long since become second nature. Whatever the case, being flattered was still far better than being mocked and disdained at every turn.
It was only because Noble Consort Wei had risen to such power that the two of them now basked in this reflected glory as well. In the past, those female officials who had once surrounded Empress Xu in glory and splendor had all along been locked away in the imperial prison, with no telling when they might ever be released.
An attendant approached Noble Consort Wei’s side and reported with an eager smile, “His Majesty sends word—His Highness the Crown Grandson has already entered the palace. The banquet may now begin.”
Noble Consort Wei nodded with a smile, and raised her voice to announce, “Today is a day of celebration for our great Zhou dynasty. Everyone, please don’t be so reserved! Let us all take our seats!”