Chapter 93 |
"All ministers, you may rise."
Emperor Chongzhao took his seat at the front.
Qu Dubian also sat down. The princes were seated relatively close to the ministers.
The dishes on the table were passable. Qu Dubian wasn't a picky eater, so he quietly ate while pondering how to increase Yu Ruo's favorability.
Bonding? Sincerity for sincerity?
How was that possible? The other party was here under duress. If he rushed over declaring he wanted to be friends, who knew how many years it would take to break through that psychological defense.
As he thought, he stealthily reached for the fruit wine on the Fourth Prince's table.
Emperor Chongzhao coughed heavily.
Qu Dubian withdrew his hand as if nothing had happened, lowered his head to shovel food into his mouth, and casually poured himself a cup of milk.
"As in previous years, everyone may eat, drink, and speak freely. Do not mind my presence."
The ministers all voiced their assent, then cast subtle glances towards the Nanning prince.
The Third Prince set down his wine cup with a clack and said with a smile, "I've heard the people of Nanning are skilled in dance—sword dances, flute dances, even fan dances. I have long heard of Prince Yu Ruo's exceptional talent. Now that you have entered our Great Zhou and coinciding with this auspicious occasion, perhaps you would honor us with a dance?"
The atmosphere suddenly turned somewhat delicate.
Qu Dubian looked up, his eating pace slowing.
Whether Nanning people were skilled in dance wasn't really important. Whether Yu Ruo could dance wasn't important either. What mattered was that the moment this request left his third brother's mouth, it carried an insulting implication.
If Yu Ruo danced, Nanning would lose face. If he refused, he would need a suitable reason.
Emperor Chongzhao lightly chided, "Third Prince, do not be discourteous."
But he did not outright tell Yu Ruo not to dance.
Yu Ruo examined the wine cup in his hand for a moment, then smiled. "Naturally, I am willing to perform. However, on such an occasion, a solo dance by myself might be rather monotonous."
"Since the Third Prince suggested it..." He paused thoughtfully, then extended an invitation to the First Prince. "I have heard the First Prince is also adept at sword dances. Would you care to join me? It could be considered an expression of your filial devotion to His Majesty."
Yu Ruo stood up and cupped his hands. "However, I only know one piece. Coincidentally, it is a famous melody of Great Zhou, called 'The Soul's Return at Cang Mountain.'"
Emperor Chongzhao's eyes instantly narrowed.
"The Soul's Return at Cang Mountain" was a famous piece from the previous dynasty, telling the story of a general who, after winning a great victory, became arrogant and aloof, only to be captured at Cang Mountain and reduced to a prisoner.
This dynasty had preserved it, often using the piece as a warning.
Pulling his eldest son into dancing to this tune was an overt act of mockery.
The First Prince was about to retort when his waist was pinched by Shu Wenxin. His face contorted momentarily, and the words on the tip of his tongue suddenly took a detour in his mind, emerging as: "Ah, my filial devotion to Father Emperor has already been fully expressed in the New Year gifts. Today is Prince Yu Ruo's occasion. This prince will not steal your spotlight."
Yu Ruo feigned distress. "Could it be that not a single prince of Great Zhou is willing to perform a dance in the hall to express filial piety?"
He deftly shifted the burden of the awkward situation onto the Great Zhou princes by slapping on this "filial piety" label.
The Diarist sighed inwardly, meticulously recording the scene.
Now, dancing was not an option, but not dancing wasn't either.
If they danced, the historians would record: 'Nanning Hostage Prince and a Great Zhou Prince jointly performed "The Soul's Return at Cang Mountain."' The mockery would be blatant.
If they didn't dance, and all the princes found excuses to refuse this act of "filial piety," how would the Emperor save face?
If the Emperor interrupted now and told Prince Yu Ruo he needn't dance, it would mean failing to assert dominance and instead falling into a trap, still ending up at a disadvantage.
Looked at from any angle, they were about to lose face, and no one wanted to be the one who made the emperor lose face.
Yu Ruo was scanning the princes, each one silently cursing their luck as his gaze passed over them.
A few seconds later, his eyes suddenly landed on Qu Dubian.
"How about... the Seventh Prince? I've heard you have been frail and sickly since childhood. Last time, our Duke of Lu even knocked you over. You must have caused His Majesty considerable worry over the years. To express gratitude for His Majesty's deep affection, would you be willing to accompany me in a dance as a demonstration of your filial piety?"
"......"
"......"
Consort Xuan frowned. "Your Majesty, Xiao Qi only recovered his health a few days ago. He is in no condition to perform in the hall."
The Fourth Prince pressed down on Qu Dubian's wrist, shaking his head to signal that this was a trap he shouldn't enter.
The Fifth Prince cast a worried look. The Sixth Prince hadn't quite grasped the situation, but since everyone seemed reluctant, dancing must be a bad idea.
Seventh Brother is so unlucky.
Emperor Chongzhao looked at his youngest son. The boy still had a tiny smudge of oil by his mouth; he seemed to have been eating quite heartily.
Qu Dubian swallowed the food in his mouth and looked into Yu Ruo's eyes—
A hint of amusement was hidden within them.
Was this revenge for ruining his extortion plan back then?
Targeting him second? Did they think he was a pushover? Did they think he'd play the subservient fool for anyone just for some favorability points?
He didn't need his that badly.
Favorability from a hostile prince was hard to raise anyway. He could simply do without it.
Qu Dubian believed in settling scores on the spot; he'd never wait until the next day unless waiting allowed for a more devastating retaliation later.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin, stood up, and gave a proper, formal bow with cupped hands towards Emperor Chongzhao.
"......"
Emperor Chongzhao shifted uncomfortably.
"Prince Yu Ruo keeps talking about expressing filial piety, as if the hall is lacking something without it. Father Emperor, actually, this matter is quite simple to resolve." Qu Dubian clasped his little hands behind his back.
The corner of Emperor Chongzhao's mouth twitched. He was very familiar with some of his youngest son's mannerisms. Whenever the boy put on this overly formal act, he was either about to trick someone or mock someone.
This little rascal, on such an important occasion... he wouldn't dare scheme against his own father, would he?
He could only secretly brace himself and say, "Speak. How would you resolve it?"
Qu Dubian: "As the saying goes, 'Let the ruler be a ruler, the minister a minister, the father a father, and the son a son.' Nanning was defeated in war, so naturally, they are the ministers. Since they are ministers, then you, Father Emperor, are their sovereign and father figure."
"Now that Prince Yu Ruo has come to our Great Zhou, isn't it akin to a marriage alliance? Why not deepen the bond further? Simply have Prince Yu Ruo acknowledge you as his foster father, make him your son. That way, no matter what dance he performs or what song he sings, it would all be an expression of filial piety!"
The smile faded from Yu Ruo's face.
Emperor Chongzhao was taken aback, then burst into hearty laughter.
Qu Dubian asked, puzzled, "What's so funny? We're all generous people here. We won't be jealous of our father gaining another son."
"Hahahaha, excellent, excellent," the Minister of Revenue chortled, unable to contain his delight. "Although the Seventh Prince's words are rather blunt, the reasoning behind them is sound."
The Fourth Prince couldn't help but laugh too. "You really have a way."
Qu Dubian sat back down. "Well, Prince Yu Ruo, do you accept or not?"
Having regained face, Emperor Chongzhao now stepped in to smooth things over. "Alright, alright, he has his own father emperor. Let's all be harmonious. Prince Yu Ruo, Xiao Qi is still young. Do not take it to heart. Please, sit and eat. Eat and drink your fill so you may return to rest."
Yu Ruo cupped his hands and sat down.
He glanced at Qu Dubian once more.
Qu Dubian poured himself another cup of milk, musing to himself that his favorability points must have just plummeted to zero.
The next second.
[Yu Ruo Favorability +1]
Qu Dubian: "?"
He couldn't help but look up across the hall.
What's wrong with you, man?
Yu Ruo raised his wine cup towards him with a smile.
Qu Dubian finished his milk, wiped the ring of milk residue from his lips, and went to speak with the Fourth Prince, not even glancing at him.
How strange. Could he be a pervert?
Halfway through the New Year's banquet, Qu Dubian left early. He always felt Yu Ruo's smile was ill-intentioned; he had already stumbled twice because of him. Who knew what other tricks he might play in the latter half of the banquet?
After the banquet concluded.
Yu Ruo returned to his own residence.
Thinking about what happened at the banquet today, he smiled.
"That Seventh Prince is... quite interesting."
Gu Xin: "Does Your Highness favor the Seventh Prince more? But it was the Second Prince who initially came to the residence to fetch you and show you goodwill."
He was rather indignant, after all, his own lord had suffered two setbacks, both at the hands of the Great Zhou's Seventh Prince.
Yu Ruo: "That Second Prince is too slick, his words leave no openings. He appears unambitious and non-confrontational, but when he sought me out today, he subtly informed me that the Crown Prince and the Third Prince are at odds."
"Do you really believe the Great Zhou imperial family is genuinely warm and friendly towards us? It's merely that there is profit to be gained from me."
There was another sentence he didn't say aloud.
He didn't believe the Seventh Prince had truly broken his schemes twice by mere accident, nor did he want to attribute the Seventh Prince's words in the hall to childish talk that just happened to resolve the situation—
There aren't that many coincidences in the world.
-
After the New Year's banquet, all officials were on holiday.
Qu Dubian also had no lessons; this was a rare period of leisure and freedom.
He planned that after tomorrow, he would spend a couple of days at the Marquis's residence, and a couple of days at Shunning Palace.
Then he would leave the palace to play wildly with Xia Fuyang and Xi Zixing, to deepen their friendship.
His side was peaceful and tranquil.
Elsewhere.
The Eastern Depot.
Wen Xiaochun had been leaving early and returning late these past few days, having largely handed over the work of the Inspection and Transport Office to his deputy.
His complexion grew paler and more unpleasant by the day.
Until the night of the New Year's festival, with fireworks blooming outside, he returned from the Eastern Depot and went straight into his room, locking the door behind him and not allowing anyone in.
He hugged a wooden bucket, feeling like he might vomit, but after holding it for a long time, nothing came up.
Bloody and cruel scenes flashed one after another in his mind.
Time went back to the night after the Nanning envoys left, when Eastern Depot Director Cui Rong encountered him:
["Interested in working for the Eastern Depot? You've reached the top as Chief of the Inspection and Transport Office. To go further up from here, many positions have less real power than the Inspection Office."
"Your martial arts foundation is decent, you're literate, can read and write, have some learning in you. Staying here is a waste."
"If you have any ambition, come to the Eastern Depot. First, we'll test your nerve and mental fortitude."]
After consideration at the time, he actually agreed without much hesitation.
Then, these past few days, he had been almost entirely in the Eastern Depot's dungeons.
From observing punishments to carrying them out himself.
Today, he executed three condemned prisoners using three different methods of torture. Cui Rong said he was excellent, and if he wanted to join, he could enter the Eastern Depot immediately after resigning from the Inspection Office.
Yet Wen Xiaochun felt an indescribable, subtle fear.
He didn't feel it much while observing, but after personally carrying out an execution, his hands and whole body stained with the smell of blood, he had a momentary vision of the young prince standing before him.
Looking somewhat disgusted, covering his nose, then turning away to vomit.
His Highness detests the smell of blood.
He sat listlessly until dawn, unable to grasp a clear thread in his mind.
Only when the sky began to lighten did his deputy knock on his window: "Chief, your customary New Year's gift has been delivered again."
Wen Xiaochun moved to the window and took the small box inside.
Ever since he came to the Inspection Office, every year at this time, His Highness and Xiao Yuan would send him a gift.
He opened it.
Inside the small box was a star-shaped white gemstone and a familiar little note, which read:
This gemstone has a natural internal green fissure, just like the little scar by Xiaochun's eyebrow. This morning we ate plump, round cabbage and pork dumplings~
Wen Xiaochun brought out a box, placed the gemstone inside. The box contained all the gifts he had received over the years.
He placed the box on the table, gently pushed it forward so the beam of morning light coming through the window fell upon it. Standing in the unlit room, he said to the deputy still waiting outside the window:
"Familiarize yourself with the duties of the Chief as soon as possible."
-
[Ding! Wen Xiaochun's favorability has reached 60.]
[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained one year of lifespan.]
[Total remaining lifespan: 7 years and 75 days.]
Qu Dubian was currently at his maternal grandmother's home.
Hearing the message, he was taken aback. How did it suddenly max out? Could the gift he sent have pleased Xiaochun that much? But the gifts sent in previous years were similar.
He opened the favorability list to check.
He found that Wen Xiaochun's entry had now become:
[Name: Wen Xiaochun
Favorability: 60 (Maximum reached. Any future increases will not be counted by the simulator.)]
He had asked the simulator before why the maximum wasn't 100. The simulator said it's very difficult for humans to revere, like, or anticipate someone without any personal desire whatsoever. 60 is already a very difficult value to reach.
Wu Siwan poked her grandson. "What are you doing, spacing out?"
Qu Dubian pulled his thoughts back. "It's nothing, Grandma. Keep at it, a few more stitches and our Da Hei will have new clothes to wear."
Da Hei had been feeling the cold more and more these past few days. He really hoped the weather would warm up quickly.