After leaving Yanfu Palace, Emperor Zhaoyuan dismissed Prince Ling, Prince Yun, and Cheng Chang, keeping only Prince Cong with him as the two walked slowly back into the inner palace.

The moon was bright, the stars sparse, and the layered palace towers stood as faint silhouettes in the quiet night. Emperor Zhaoyuan glanced into the distance and said, “It’s too late. Stay in the palace tonight.”

Prince Cong assented.

Since His Majesty wished to speak privately with his brother, the line of palace attendants dared not approach, keeping a distance of some eight zhang. Only a single attendant carrying a lamp walked ahead to light the way, his eyes lowered respectfully, his footsteps utterly silent.

“This afternoon, Chang’er went to the Censorate. Did you know about that?” Emperor Zhaoyuan asked, as though recalling something.

Prince Cong nodded and said he knew.

“He’s becoming more and more capable. He only returned to the capital this morning, and by afternoon he was already at the office. I hear he’s also had word sent to the Ministry of Justice — he intends to personally interrogate that fourth young lady from the Luo Fuyou household tomorrow morning. Luo, Luo… what was her name again?”

“Luo Shu,” Prince Cong said.

“Right, interrogate Luo Shu.”

Emperor Zhaoyuan laughed. “He also asked how the investigation into Yun Shuguang’s case was progressing, and said he wanted to review the file — it startled Wu Qi and Shi Yichun so badly that both old men came rushing to seek my instructions.”

Wu Qi and Shi Yichun were the Censor-in-Chief and the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, respectively.

After Cheng Chang’s disappearance, the Court of Judicial Review had immediately traced the matter to Pure Wind Court at White Cloud Temple, uncovering two of Yun Shuguang’s former subordinates there. Learning that the Third Young Master had gone missing while investigating the injustice done to the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor, they had combined the investigation into his disappearance with the case of the Marquis’s household. Now that Cheng Chang had been found and the missing-person case closed, the matter of the Marquis’s household’s “injustice” still remained unresolved.

“What could I say? Of course I approved it. In the past, Chang’er was always causing trouble, never applying himself to anything worthwhile. Now that he’s finally striving to improve, willing to share the court’s burdens, to share my own burdens — as his uncle, how could I not encourage him? Don’t you agree?”

The catastrophic defeat at Tage Steppe years ago, which had claimed the Crown Prince’s life, had long been a thorn in Emperor Zhaoyuan’s heart. Even now, though his stance on the matter had softened somewhat — he was willing to see Yun Luo’s name cleared — that didn’t mean he was ready to confront the case head-on.

That thorn had been lodged in his heart for so long it had grown into his very flesh; to pull it out all at once would surely tear something vital.

Prince Cong could tell there was more beneath Emperor Zhaoyuan’s words.

Prince Cong said, “Imperial Brother says Mingying has grown up. In my view, he’s still rather childlike at heart. I imagine he’s been through so much upheaval that he’s built up some pent-up frustration, and wants to get to the bottom of it thoroughly. Let him pursue it for now, Imperial Brother — once that frustration passes, he’ll likely let it go on his own. I’ll speak with him again later to help ease his mind.”

“If he wants to investigate, let him,” Emperor Zhaoyuan said after a moment. “There’s no need to say much more to him. From what I can see, Chang’er isn’t muddled anymore. What happened at White Cloud Temple was a great wrong done to him — he deserves to get to the bottom of it.”

“Your Majesty, Your Highness, mind the threshold.”

They had reached the end of the covered walkway, and the attendant leading the way spoke up in reminder.

Stepping over the threshold and turning a corner, the imperial garden came into view, pavilions and towers, jade trees and flowering branches gradually unfolding before them.

Emperor Zhaoyuan gazed at the scenery absentmindedly for a while, then suddenly sighed deeply. “Pingxiu, my health is failing badly.”

Pingxiu was Prince Cong’s courtesy name.

Hearing this sigh, Prince Cong’s footsteps abruptly halted.

The health of the Son of Heaven was among the most closely guarded secrets of the imperial family. The diagnostic records kept by the Imperial Academy of Medicine, once examined, were locked away in the Golden Pavilion under a nine-dragon lock. Even private discussion of the matter was forbidden — if word of it spread and reached the wrong ears, it could be construed as plotting rebellion.

Turning to see Prince Cong’s alarmed, apprehensive expression, Emperor Zhaoyuan gave a bitter laugh. “This morning the Imperial Academy of Medicine came to take my pulse. I pressed them to tell me the truth. Every last one of them ended up prostrate on the floor, trembling as though they had no backbone left, saying that if I rested carefully, avoided exertion and worry, I might have another five to seven years. But if not… perhaps only a year or two remain. But I am the Emperor — how can I avoid exertion and worry? I think… a year or two will pass very quickly indeed.”

Prince Cong cupped his hands and said gently, “Imperial Brother is the true dragon, the Son of Heaven. Whatever ails you now is surely temporary. Once spring comes and the weather warms, you will surely regain your health and vigor.”

Emperor Zhaoyuan let out a dry laugh. “You and I have walked this path together all these years, and now even you resort to such hollow words to placate me?”

He let his smile fade, gazing at the shimmering lake in the distance. “That’s why this afternoon, I summoned Wei Jie and had him take men from the Imperial Guard Bureau to thoroughly investigate Yun Shuguang’s case — to look into the injustice done to Xuan Zhi, Zhaoyuan’s betrayal, and… the true cause of the Crown Prince’s death.”

Hearing this, Prince Cong’s expression remained composed, but his heart gave a sudden jolt.

The profound grief over the Crown Prince’s death had settled over the deep palace halls like a haze that had never lifted for years. Now, was his imperial brother finally ready to step out from beneath that shadow?

Emperor Zhaoyuan said, “I truly wish I could see justice done for Chang’er. The Marquis of Loyalty and Valor’s entire household gave their lives in loyal service, and I wish to clear their name as well. But I am the Emperor, and I have too few heirs. Neither the third nor the fourth is fit to rule. At this critical juncture, I have no choice but to prioritize the stability of the realm, the order of the court. Pingxiu, can you understand me?”

This was already the second time Emperor Zhaoyuan had raised this matter.

Prince Cong nodded. “Your brother understands.”

Though the Emperor’s health was a closely guarded secret, there were no walls in this world without cracks, and word always leaked out eventually. The Crown Prince had been dead for years, yet the position remained vacant. Did the princes below harbor no ambitions? In recent years, countless memorials petitioning for the establishment of a crown prince had been submitted, all of them suppressed by Emperor Zhaoyuan. Now, at this critical juncture, with His Majesty’s health perhaps failing, the officials had all begun seeking their own paths forward — how many truly loyal ministers remained across the court?

It wasn’t that Emperor Zhaoyuan didn’t want to find out who had tried to harm Cheng Chang — to lay hands on a member of the imperial family was an act of outrageous arrogance!

But only someone from within the imperial family itself could possibly move against another member of the imperial family.

If he pursued the investigation with full force, it would inevitably stir up turmoil throughout the court. If pressed too hard, it might even provoke armed conflict, stirring resentment among the officials that the princes were forcing the Emperor’s hand.

Emperor Zhaoyuan thought that if he were still in the prime of his life, it wouldn’t matter — whoever dared cause trouble, whoever dared rebel, he could simply have them dealt with. But he was not in his prime; he didn’t even know how much time he had left. If he were to pass away with this mess unresolved, who would be left to clean it up?

The Great Sui dynasty had inherited a realm torn apart by the ravages of the previous dynasty, and only through the diligent governance of five successive emperors had it finally achieved this age of prosperity.

Conquering a realm was difficult; preserving peace within it was harder still.

With the crown prince’s seat empty, the Emperor’s days numbered, and no prince of sufficient virtue to inherit the throne, time would inevitably worsen factional strife, driving a wedge between ruler and subjects — the very foundation of the state would be undermined.

Once that foundation crumbled, the nation would begin to collapse from within, and peace could no longer be preserved.

Emperor Zhaoyuan did not want to see this age of prosperity ruined under his own reign.

But what could he do? This was a festering wound deep within the palace walls, one that everyone could see yet no one dared mention, left to fester slowly on its own. Emperor Zhaoyuan thought, so be it — like the First Emperor of Qin and Emperor Wu of Han before him, he would spend what time remained searching for some miracle cure.

Those emperors of old had sought the elixir of eternal life; his own wish was more modest — he only hoped for some remedy to cure this festering wound. His intent was sincere; may Heaven bear witness.

Prince Cong’s quarters lay south of Funing Palace, at Pifang Hall. When the two reached the fork in the path, Prince Cong bowed respectfully. “It grows late, Imperial Brother. You’ve labored hard today — you must be tired. Please rest well once you return to your chambers.”

Emperor Zhaoyuan said, “I’m not tired. I’m glad Chang’er has returned today.”

He paused. “Speaking of which, it was the Yun family’s daughter from the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor’s household who found Chang’er, wasn’t it? I intend to reward her, but I haven’t yet decided what would be fitting. What do you think?”

Prince Cong said, “In my humble opinion, an ordinary reward would suffice. The Yun family’s daughter requested leave to search for Mingying after her promotion to colonel, and now that she’s found him, it was simply her duty.”

Emperor Zhaoyuan gazed at Prince Cong for a long moment, then smiled. “Last time I mentioned that Chang’er and that Yun girl seemed to have grown rather close, you didn’t believe me — you said the Yun girl only sought him out of gratitude for his efforts to clear Xuan Zhi’s name. But now look — even Chang’er’s disappearance was tied to his investigation into her father, the Marquis’s, case. I hear—” he paused, as though recalling something, “—Chang’er even ran into some trouble on the road back to Jinling, because of her.”

“It seems the Yun girl fell ill and needed to rest at a relay station, and Chang’er ordered the whole procession to turn back, delaying the journey by nearly half a day. Oh, and I hear the prefect escorting them tried to steal the Yun girl’s credit, and Chang’er grew angry enough to have him driven off.”

“Did something like that really happen?” Prince Cong paused, then replied, “Your brother hadn’t heard of this.”

Emperor Zhaoyuan laughed. “As I said before — you, his own father, care less about this than I do, his uncle. Take earlier this year, when your wife wanted to arrange a match for Chang’er and after much deliberation settled on the Lin family from the Ministry of Rites. When I found out and had someone look into it, it turned out this Lin fellow was merely a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Rites — I wouldn’t even have remembered such a minor figure if it hadn’t been mentioned. Chang’er is to be made heir, and your princely title will eventually pass to him. A daughter from a fifth-rank official’s family is far too modest a match — it would do him a disservice. But then again, I think Chang’er’s principal consort ought to be someone who truly suits him. What do you think he likes? That Yun Xi, perhaps?”

Hearing this, Prince Cong’s heart tightened, and he clasped his hands together and bowed low.

“Yun Xi’s background is certainly good — the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor’s household, third rank, has guarded the northern frontier since the founding of the dynasty and earned great merit in battle. She would be a worthy match for Chang’er. But…” Emperor Zhaoyuan glanced at Prince Cong and said slowly, “It’s not quite suitable.”

As for why it wasn’t suitable, Emperor Zhaoyuan had already made his meaning quite clear between the lines.

Cheng Chang was to be the heir, the future prince. Since ancient times, princes had always been wary of any connection to military power — let alone marrying the daughter of a military family. Yun Xi’s background was good, but unfortunately, she belonged to the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor’s household, a family that held military command in its hands.

Prince Cong said, “Mingying has spent these past years indulging in mischief and hasn’t yet settled his heart on anyone in particular. As for his marriage, it will naturally be decided by his parents’ arrangement. I’m not well-versed in matters of selecting a match for him — if Imperial Brother and Grandmother Empress could help choose someone suitable for Mingying, that would be for the best.”

At this, Emperor Zhaoyuan seemed to recall something. “Speaking of Grandmother, I just thought of someone. Didn’t Chang’er often play with the second young lady of the Yu Zhong household when he was little? Last month she came to the palace to keep Grandmother company, and I happened to be there — I saw her, and she’s grown into quite a lovely young woman. Grandmother’s birthday is coming up soon as well. I’ll have a word with Yu Zhong, and during Grandmother’s birthday celebration, we can more or less settle the matter between his second daughter and Chang’er. What do you think?”

Prince Cong said, “Whatever Imperial Brother decides.”