Chapter 471 – Extra: Prince Duan

Chapter 471 - Extra: Prince Duan

Prince Duan was quite the wayward child in his youth.

It was partly due to his own immaturity and partly because of the people he encountered who were not sincere.

Among all the princes, he had one of the most humble origins.

Whenever the Emperor saw him, he couldn't help but think of Lady Zhang.

Unfortunately, Prince Duan himself didn't strive to improve. He fought with his elder brothers and quarreled with his younger ones. He was disliked by both humans and canines alike.

Empress Lan was also not without ulterior motives in raising him. With ambitions in mind, she nurtured him, perhaps also due to her longing for a child after years of infertility. As a result, she raised him in a rather unconventional manner.

Nonetheless, despite her mixed intentions, Empress Lan had genuinely loved this child.

Perhaps because of his own waywardness and the dislike from others, the Third Prince became even more attached to Empress Lan.

When Empress Lan passed away, he was already quite grown up, but at an age where he was impervious to reason.

He was convinced that everyone in the palace had wronged his mother concubine, a belief that remained ingrained in him for many years.

By the time he was finally sent out of the palace, his mind was less clouded, and he had gained some understanding.

Yet, it was still a faint realization, and he lacked the wisdom to navigate the complexities of life.

Nonetheless, regardless of the circumstances, his sister born of his mother was the one he held dearest. He felt a strong urge to protect her.

During his three years outside, he often thought of his sixth sister and the palace. It was a place where human emotions were cold, but it was still his home.

In time...

Perhaps he eventually learned to reconcile. For children born in the palace, you either receive great affection or learn to disregard everything. Otherwise, like the Third Prince, one must learn to find compromise.

His wife and concubines held no particular charm.

He didn't particularly love or dislike them.

In truth, he had once encountered an excellent young lady.

She was a kind and innocent girl. Unaware of his status, she met him during his southern journey.

He came to her aid when she found herself in distress.

They spent several months together, and in the end, he provided a dowry for her, found a reputable family as her support, and sought a decent husband for her.

He knew all too well that such an innocent girl, brought back to the capital and the royal mansion, would soon change.

Either she would be worn down by the intrigues of a large family, or she would become a cunning and resentful woman of the inner courtyard.

Why subject her to that?

Wasn't it better for her to remain amidst the picturesque landscapes of the southern lands?

Many times, he no longer dwells on what lies ahead.

One could imagine being an affluent prince, but he had also offended Her Majesty and the Crown Prince. Fortunately, both of them were magnanimous individuals.

Yet, when the new emperor ascended the throne, he was burdened with numerous responsibilities.

At that time, the Third Prince had already matured into the esteemed and composed Duke of Stability.

Prince Duan often found it incredulous that he frequently enjoyed drinking sessions with Prince Yi.

Frequently, after excessive drinking, he would inquire, "Brother Seventh, why do you think His Majesty is at ease? What is it about me that makes him think I'm competent?"

Prince Yi would always respond with a smile, saying nothing.

It wasn't until much, much later that he finally patted his shoulder and said, "In this world, there are countless capable individuals. But someone like Third Brother, you are a rare find. Why would His Majesty want to use you? Can you guess?"

Why indeed?

Drunk as he was, Duke Duan never managed to figure it out and didn't bother to ponder further. Anyway, the next time they drank together, he'd ask the same question again.

Prince Duan is a man who holds grudges from his childhood deeply. For instance, Empress Xie.

When Empress Xie fell from grace, he was the first to present a memorial in defense of Concubine Lan.

Yes, Concubine Lan was indeed guilty, but her crime didn't warrant death. Had she not fallen into Empress Xie's hands, perhaps she could have lived?

Both Mother of Prince Shiyi and Mother of Prince Shier were punished, yet they still lived on.

That's why he couldn't bear it.

Prince Duan is generous and righteous.

His brothers often turn to him for help.

Back then, when Prince Wu was vying for the throne, he pulled out all the stops, but unfortunately, his aspirations were never fulfilled.

After the new emperor ascended the throne, there was no place for him in official duties. It was a time when he was so distressed that he lost hair every day.

At that point, Prince Wu already had four or five children; he had long given up on the idea of the imperial throne. Didn't this family need food and drink?

It was Prince Duan who spoke up for him, pleading for some position, however humble.

When Qin Wang left the capital, it was only he among the royal family who came to see him off.

In truth, he understood better than anyone why the others had stayed away.

Qin Wang had once been the Crown Prince – that alone was reason enough for caution.

But Prince Duan didn't care. He still came.

Not just because he knew the Emperor wouldn't take offense, but also because, even if he did, what difference would it make?

They were all brothers; how could things escalate to such a point?

If blamed, he wouldn't mind. He'd simply hand over his duties and retire into old age.

Prince Duan was well aware that their father had doted on the Emperor above all else. Yet, it was Qin Wang whom their father felt most guilty towards.

Whenever he thought of this, Prince Duan would mutter, "Anyway, it wasn't me."

Yet, having grumbled, he reflected that Father Emperor hadn't favored him, but had indeed tolerated him.

Considering how wayward he'd been as a child, Father Emperor hadn't treated him poorly after bringing him back from the southern palace.

He had received all that was due, and one shouldn't solely remember the negatives.

After all, he eventually learned what kind of person his birth mother had been.

Whenever he thought of this, his heart would be filled with clarity.

In court, he was known for speaking up for justice.

He would lend support to anyone whose words resonated with him, even if it meant challenging the Emperor himself.

Emperor's temper was volatile; he often clashed with Prince Duan. But over time, the courtiers came to understand that Prince Duan was an upright man.

There were countless instances.

He was also very down-to-earth. In his leisure, he would stroll about, and if he enjoyed someone's performance, he would make it a point to watch every day.

Pretending to be an ordinary person, I hold my favorite character close.

I can share drinks and engage in deep conversation with the troupe leader, offering advice on how to improve their performances.

I have a fondness for chess, though I'm quite a poor player. I constantly seek out Prince Jing, annoying him to the point that he now avoids me by locking his doors.

In others' mansions, one might keep common pets like dogs, horses, cats, or birds.

Some rarer souls might even keep a peacock for its splendor.

He, on the other hand, raised rabbits.

There was nothing inherently wrong with rabbits; domesticated ones, with their snowy white fur, were quite pleasing to the eye.

But while others kept theirs in enclosures, he allowed his to roam free.

Within a year, the entire Duke of Tan's estate was overrun with rabbits.

Word even reached the emperor, who, desiring rabbit meat, sent men to the Duke of Tan's residence to catch some.

He accepted them all, not minding who caught them.

Eventually, the rabbits ruined his garden, causing significant damage.

Then he started breeding hunting dogs.

Now, he didn't need to leave home; he could enjoy hunting every day.

The servants in his household had their fill of rabbit meat until they were sick of it.

He also had a great fondness for spicy food, but unfortunately, his digestive system couldn't handle it. The more he couldn't have it, the more he craved it. The imperial physician visited every other day, and eventually, the Emperor ordered that no one should serve him spicy dishes.

Not serving it at home would solve the problem? He could always go out to eat. Eventually, famous restaurants in the capital became reluctant to host him; they would kneel and plead, "Prince Duan, if only you wouldn't eat spicy food, anything is possible..."

Later on, he wanted to raise pigeons, but fortunately, Princess Duan, Fu, managed to dissuade him. The rabbit holes all over the estate had already caused her to trip several times.

If he started raising pigeons, they would likely end up nesting inside the buildings.

Among the younger generation in the capital, if one were to mention a troublemaker akin to a demon king, Princess Second's chief maid would certainly be included, along with Princess Duan's eldest daughter from the Duke of Wang's residence.