Chapter 96 |
The Hall of Purple Splendor.
On the table lay a freshly steamed fish, its aroma filling the air.
Emperor Chongzhao looked at his youngest son, who was sprawled across the table, and said in a low voice, "The fish is ready. Will you take your medicine now?"
Physician Yang stood by, his medical kit on his back.
He had arrived some time ago, summoned by a young eunuch sent by Chief Eunuch Yu not long after the Seventh Prince had arrived. Yet, his presence had been useless so far; the Seventh Prince was being stubborn, allowing only a pulse reading but refusing to take the medicine.
Qu Dubian extended two fingers like little legs, walked them over to Emperor Chongzhao's hand, pinched the imperial sleeve, and gave it a tug.
"Father, you try it first. If you don't eat, I won't feel right about taking my medicine either."
"..." Emperor Chongzhao picked up a morsel with his chopsticks. "If you still refuse after I eat this bite, I'll have someone pour it down your throat."
Watching the Emperor swallow, Qu Dubian then sprang up, declaring, "One who accepts food is silenced! Dad—"
Qu Dubian: "..."
Emperor Chongzhao: "Petty trick. You fooled me with this once before—that's how I lost my coral-inlaid blue screen. Your father isn't that forgetful yet."
He raised an eyebrow. "I know you want to stay longer at Shunning Palace, but it really isn't possible this time."
Qu Dubian wilted, slumping back down onto the table.
The fine, downy baby hairs at his hairline, usually so endearing, were now damp from the ice compress, clinging limply to his skin.
He looked pitiful indeed.
He muttered softly, "Why not?"
Emperor Chongzhao gestured. A palace attendant holding a wooden tray stepped forward and placed the medicine bowl on the table.
"Drink it first."
Qu Dubian had a clear grasp of the old man's tolerance for his antics. Knowing the limits of his willfulness, he picked up the bowl, frowning as he took small sips.
Emperor Chongzhao sighed.
Was it really such a big deal? It was just moving house. To become this reluctant, even making himself sick...
He could still return to Shunning Palace for lunch in the future. Sneaking back to stay for a night or two every now and then would be fine; just let him know, and he'd turn a blind eye.
Falling ill like this meant several more days of recuperation.
Emperor Chongzhao began, "During the late Emperor's reign, Princess Axiang—my sister—went to the Northern Frontier for a marriage alliance. Over the years, she has worked tirelessly to maintain peace there, devoting immense effort."
The Northern Frontier was not a unified empire but divided into three major tribes and sixteen smaller ones.
Among them, the three major tribes took turns occupying the position of the Royal Court, governing the other clans.
This system of rule led to even fiercer and more brutal competition.
Superficial obedience was common, with frequent incidents of tribes defying the Royal Court to raid border cities to the south. Even internal conflicts and uprisings occurred occasionally.
If the current Royal Court lacked sufficient power to intimidate, it was simply unable to suppress the other tribes.
The late Emperor sent Princess Axiang for the marriage alliance partly to support a tribe friendly to the Great Zhou in becoming the Royal Court, and partly to use the princess to balance the internal factions of the Northern Frontier, maintaining a divided yet overall peaceful state to prevent their unification.
Even so, several large-scale conflicts had erupted along the Northern Frontier border.
It was only in recent years, after the ailing chieftain of the most defiant tribe passed away, that the Northern Frontier had stabilized.
Thus, Princess Axiang submitted a memorial requesting to return to the capital for a visit—primarily to see Consort Zhou.
Axiang was Consort Zhou's daughter.
Consort Zhou was also advanced in years. She had fallen seriously ill some years back, her health declining, but later gradually recovered thanks to the square dancing Qu Dubian had introduced to the Palace of Compassionate Peace.
This visit was essentially a daughter returning home after a distant marriage. As her elder brother, whether for diplomatic relations between the two states or for familial bonds within the royal house, Emperor Chongzhao had to receive her with great ceremony.
"Axiang is returning with people from the Northern Frontier in her entourage. Therefore, everything in the palace—from cleaning to etiquette—must follow proper protocol. We must not lose face."
Qu Dubian asked, "When will Aunt Axiang arrive in the capital?"
Emperor Chongzhao replied, "In just a month. You must recover your health and move to the Princes' Quarters before they arrive. When Axiang returns to visit, she will certainly pay her respects at the Palace of Compassionate Peace. Shunning Palace is located close to it; it wouldn't do for her to say you lack propriety."
Qu Dubian understood completely.
His tactics of throwing tantrums and making a fuss to stay in Shunning Palace were utterly futile.
His cheap father cared so much about face that he would never risk breaching protocol in front of the Northern Frontier envoys over such a minor issue.
He got up from his chair and, sighing heavily, walked over to the large heated platform by the window, leaning back against it in a reclined position.
Emperor Chongzhao waved his hand, dismissing the other unrelated attendants from the hall, leaving only Chief Eunuch Yu and Ye Xiaoyuan.
Only then did he take a handkerchief, walk over, and sit down beside Qu Dubian. Gently wiping the water droplets from his cheeks, he asked slowly, "Are you angry?"
Qu Dubian kicked off his boots and tugged at Emperor Chongzhao's arm. "The Princes' Quarters are too shabby! Dad—"
Emperor Chongzhao didn't say things like "your brothers can live there, why can't you?" Subconsciously, he believed this youngest son was indeed much harder to raise than his other children.
It was a miracle he had survived this long.
"I'll have it renovated for you. It will be done within half a month, with the layout matching your current bedchamber," he said, holding Qu Dubian's hand and giving it a light pat. Suppressing his heartache, he whispered, "I'll even let you pick... three items from my private treasury."
"No, I want ten!"
"Deal!"
Qu Dubian: "..."
Darn it, should have asked for more.
Qu Dubian coughed a few times. "A new home needs its walls scented with incense... Yidianbai is moving too. I plan to get him a golden bowl, a golden spoon, and a golden doghouse. I want a 'golden house to hide the dog'!"
Emperor Chongzhao: "Why not say a golden house to hide you?!"
Qu Dubian's face lit up. "That works too, that works too!" A literal golden house—he wouldn't mind that!
Emperor Chongzhao's face darkened with exasperation. It took him several seconds to resist the impulse to swat him.
He stuffed the handkerchief into Qu Dubian's hand.
"Regarding the move to the Princes' Quarters, I'll handle the arrangements. Let Ye Xiaoyuan and Chief Eunuch Yu discuss it. No need for you to worry. Just rest properly."
Chief Eunuch Yu nodded to Ye Xiaoyuan.
After a brief discussion, they left Qu Dubian in the Hall of Purple Splendor and went together with craftsmen to survey the general layout of the Princes' Quarters.
Qu Dubian lay on the heated platform.
It was warm in winter and cool in summer, and with brocade cushions spread over it, it was extremely comfortable. He pulled over a pillow and lay down.
Across from him, Emperor Chongzhao sat cross-legged, reviewing memorials. He often worked late, slept insufficiently, and kept a cup of strong iced tea by his hand to stay alert. The wrinkles between his brows had deepened considerably compared to two years before.
Qu Dubian watched for a while and, without realizing it, fell asleep.
Hearing the soft snores, Emperor Chongzhao looked up. A few seconds later, he leaned over and spread a small blanket over him.
Then he took a sip of the strong tea and continued reviewing the memorials.
-
Qu Dubian managed to linger at Shunning Palace for another half month.
Consort Xuan was busy helping him pack, checking if the newly made bedding was suitable and comfortable, if it was what he was used to, while she and Concubine Guo took turns preparing all sorts of delicious dishes for him.
Even Zhiyi gained two pounds.
They looked at him as if he weren't moving to the Princes' Quarters, but to a refugee camp.
Qu Dubian found it both amusing and deeply touching.
Although he shared no blood ties with Consort Xuan, they had a mother-son bond forged by fate. Ten years of living together had long turned them into family. It was just that he had never quite managed to utter the word 'Mother'; for someone as thick-skinned as him, it was surprisingly awkward.
Zhiyi was like his own elder sister, and Concubine Guo was a dear elder as well.
Shunningning Palace was his home.
On the day of the move, the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Princes all came to help.
The Fourth Prince, having come of age, had already established his own residence outside the palace. The Fifth Prince was a year shy of doing so, and the Sixth Prince two years. The Fourth Prince had made a special trip back to the palace to lend a hand.
Of course, being somewhat lazy by nature, he mostly helped Qu Dubian carry light but valuable items.
Qu Dubian's courtyard in the Princes' Quarter was named 'Pinggui Court'. It was the largest one in the quarter, originally quite dilapidated, and had only been renovated after he chose it.
According to his specifications, the courtyard had no odd rockeries or strange stones. The front yard was kept clear for planting a garden, while the much smaller backyard featured a martial arts platform he had built.
Behind the house were two trees where he could string up a small hammock to rest in when tired.
The interior was furnished just like his rooms in Shunningning Palace.
Even the small study in the partitioned room was meticulously recreated.
Fifth Prince: "It's practically been completely redone," he remarked with feeling. "We've been living here in the Princes' Quarter, watching them work all this time. The speed was incredible."
Qu Dubian sighed: "His Majesty just wanted to kick me out of Shunningning Palace faster, that's all."
Sixth Prince said enviously, "How about we swap residences?"
Fourth Prince: "Back then, you were too lazy to fix up a place yourself and wanted a ready-made one. Now that Seventh Brother has put in the work here, you want to take it? That's hardly fair."
Sixth Prince: "None of your business. It's not like Little Seven did it himself either. His Majesty helped him, otherwise those palace servants wouldn't have been so diligent."
"Alright, stop," Qu Dubian intervened, skilled at breaking up their squabbles. "I just moved in. How about we have a little drinking gathering tonight? I'm twelve now, you know. No one is allowed to stop me this time."
Sixth Prince snorted: "Naturally. But I absolutely refuse to sit next to Old Fourth."
Qu Dubian exchanged a look with the Fifth Prince, who found an excuse and led the Sixth Prince away.
Fourth Prince frowned: "Consort Lan spoils him too much. Little Six's arrogance is getting worse; it's not good and he'll come to regret it sooner or later. Although, logically, now that he's in the Princes' Quarter and not constantly around Consort Lan, his temperament should have improved somewhat…"
The speaker might not have meant it, but the listener did.
Qu Dubian's hand paused. His mind flashed back to the accommodating, compliant smile on Fifth Brother's face when he persuaded Sixth Brother to leave earlier. His heart gave a sudden, heavy thud.
In his impression, Fifth Brother, though quiet, was gentle and kind at his core. He had chosen to attach himself to the Sixth Prince, and Qu Dubian couldn't force him to change that choice. He only stepped in to help Fifth Brother when Sixth Brother's bullying became too obvious.
But now... a thought abruptly surfaced in his mind.
Could Fifth Brother be intentionally indulging Sixth Brother?
Fourth Prince: "Little Seven, what's wrong? What are you thinking about?"
Qu Dubian snapped back to the present and shook his head. "It's nothing."
He was probably overthinking it.
-
That night.
The Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Princes dined together.
It was very late by the time Qu Dubian returned to his own courtyard.
For the first time, no one called him to go to bed. For the first time, there was no Elder Sister or Consort Xuan to bid him goodnight.
Qu Dubian found it hard to fall asleep.
He first went to the martial arts platform and went through a set of fist forms, circulating his inner energy twice through his body. The fatigue of the day seemed to dissipate considerably.
Ye Xiaoyuan handed him a towel: "Your bath is ready, Your Highness. You can go in a moment."
Qu Dubian: "No hurry."
He called out: "Liuliu."
Yi Shier appeared before him. He was almost off duty. "Your Highness."
His attire never changed—black martial attire that suited his good physique. In a past life, he would have been the cool, handsome type to charm many girls.
Qu Dubian circled him once, stroking his chin, but still couldn't quite imagine what face lay beneath Yi Shier's mask.
"Liuliu, don't go back tonight. Sleep here at Pinggui Court."
Yi Shier: "Alright. Is there something you need?"
Qu Dubian: "It's not about needing something. It's that you should live here from now on. I've set aside a room for you. Right across from Companion Ye."
Yi Shier was taken aback.
Qu Dubian: "It wasn't convenient back in Shunningning Palace. But now that I've moved out, you can be more at ease here in the Princes' Quarter. No need to hide in the shadows all the time."
He wasn't even a shadow guard anymore. Yet while living with him in the inner palace, Yi Shier had still avoided appearing whenever possible. It seemed rather pitiful.
For some reason, Yi Shier didn't agree immediately.
He seemed a bit nervous, his fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of his clothes.
Qu Dubian: "Hmm?"
After a long moment, Yi Shier asked haltingly, "Then... can I read novels and drink milk tea here?"
Qu Dubian nearly laughed. "I've cultivated two vegetable plots in the front yard. Just help me keep an eye on them, make sure Yidianbai doesn't chew up the seedlings. As for the rest... do as you please!"
Yi Shier let out a relieved breath: "Alright."