Chapter Forty-Nine: Birthday Gifts

Chapter 49: Birthday Gift

In the fifth year of Jing Rui's reign, winter.

During the morning court session, the officials once again brought up the topic of establishing an empress. Zhu Yunxuan listened to their impassioned requests in silence, then dismissed the assembly without giving any response.

The kneeling officials refused to rise, but the emperor on his throne had already swept his sleeves and left.

Over the past three years, Zhu Yunxuan had increasingly embodied the cold authority and unwavering decisiveness of an emperor. In the past, Liang Zhen had said that his gentle nature would prevent him from holding onto the throne. Now, without relying on anyone, he had firmly established himself as emperor.

Liang Zhen was ultimately mistaken. He had underestimated Zhu Yunxuan, believing that he couldn't survive without him.

With peace reigning across the land, aside from occasional pirate raids in the south, the empire enjoyed favorable weather and prosperity. The only matter causing concern among the officials and the people was the vacant position of empress in the central palace.

The conflict between the emperor and the officials over the establishment of an empress escalated repeatedly. At first, Zhu Yunxuan would use various excuses to evade the issue, but in the past year, he no longer bothered with justifications. All petitions for an empress or concubines were left unaddressed. Whenever the topic was raised in court, he would immediately adjourn the session. No amount of pleading or even threats of suicide by the officials could sway him.

The middle-aged emperor, without an empress or concubines, had an empty harem and no children. Rumors spread, yet Zhu Yunxuan remained indifferent. No one knew what he was thinking.

In the afternoon, noticing that the snow that had been falling for days had stopped, Zhu Yunxuan stood for a moment in the corridor outside the palace hall and instructed Gao An softly, "Accompany me for a walk outside."

"Would Your Majesty like to enjoy the scenery in the Imperial Garden? Shall I have a palanquin prepared for you?"

Zhu Yunxuan remained noncommittal, so Gao An took it as an affirmative. It was rare for Zhu Yunxuan to be in the mood to venture out, so Gao An promptly attended to the arrangements.

In recent years, except for necessary ceremonies and rituals, Zhu Yunxuan seldom left Ganyin Palace, let alone the palace walls. As the palanquin carried him along the labyrinthine paths of the imperial compound, he lifted his gaze to the gloomy sky. After a long while, he softly closed his eyes.

Just as he was lost in thought, a loud thud echoed ahead. Zhu Yunxuan snapped back to reality, frowning as he looked over. A snowball had burst upon impact, taking the life of a sparrow in an instant. From behind a section of the palace wall, a figure hastily retreated from a withered branch.

Gao An raised his voice, yelling at the wall, "Who's hiding there?! Come out!"

It was an abandoned and dilapidated palace, its gates tightly shut, seemingly uninhabited. The guards pushed their way in, revealing a trembling child who crawled out, prostrating on the ground with his head lowered. Through sobs, the child pleaded, "I... I didn't mean it... Please don't hit me..."

Zhu Yunxuan's brows knitted even tighter. He recognized the frail, shabbily dressed child before him – it was his ninth brother, Zhu Yunqiong.

Back then, despite executing Concubine Cheng, Liang Zhen had spared this child's life, confining him here all these years. Over time, Zhu Yunxuan had almost forgotten about the child's existence. Even when Liang Zhen had threatened him with the child's life three years ago before leaving, he hadn't eradicated the threat.

After several years apart, Zhu Yunqiong was now eight, but his emaciated frame made him appear no more than four or five. Kneeling fearfully before him, there was no trace of the spoiled tyrant that Zhu Yunxuan remembered.

Zhu Yunxuan's voice deepened, "What were you doing just now?"

The child stammered, "B-Breaking... sparrows, I'm hun... hungry..."

Zhu Yunxuan signaled to Gao An, "Investigate what's going on."

"Gladly."

Watching the shivering child huddled on the ground, Zhu Yunxuan fell silent for a moment before he sighed and instructed his servants, "Summon Doctor Fang to Ganning Palace."

After being taken to Ganning Palace, cleaned up, and given a full meal, the child finally regained some composure and recognized Zhu Yunxuan as his brother. He looked at him timidly. Zhu Yunxuan called the child over and asked, "Don't you usually have enough to eat? Why did you resort to breaking sparrows?"

The child shook his head, his head drooping as he replied, "Nanny doesn't give me any food, so I can only eat their leftovers. When I'm hungry, I sneakily throw stones at the sparrows. If I hit one, I climb over the wall to retrieve it. Then, when they're not looking, I roast it to eat."

Zhu Yunxuan took his hand, examining his arm covered in bruises. "How did this happen?"

"Nannies beat me, I didn't listen to them, so they punished me..."

Zhu Yunxuan's gaze turned cold, and he didn't ask any further questions. Instead, he instructed Doctor Fang to take the person to a side palace for a pulse diagnosis. By then, Gao An had returned and reported to him that he had gathered all the information. The Ninth Prince had been confined in that palace for years. Although it wasn't an official cold palace, the conditions were no different. There were very few servants attending to him, and they were all indifferent and reckless. Seeing that no one supervised them, they mistreated the prince. "Your Majesty, rest assured. This servant has already had those audacious individuals apprehended. Later, I will arrange for new attendants to serve His Highness the Ninth Prince."

Zhu Yunxuan remained silent, a shadow of melancholy further darkening his expression.

Two quarters of an hour later, Dr. Fang arrived to report that he had carefully examined the ninth prince's pulse. The child, during these formative years of growth, had overtaxed his constitution and developed a chronic ailment. Henceforth, he would be prone to frailty, requiring gradual and meticulous care. The prospect of a complete recovery, alas, seemed unlikely.

Zhu Yunxuan was momentarily at a loss for words. Earlier, on his way back, he had entertained the notion of killing several times. But now, at this very moment, his resolve wavered, and his heart softened.

After all, he's still just a child with an ailing constitution. Keeping him alive holds little consequence. It can be considered... as accumulating merit for his son, Rong'er.

Pausing in contemplation for a moment, he instructed Doctor Fang, "In the future, attend to Prince Nine's medical needs regularly. Prescribe whatever medications are necessary without hesitation."

He then instructed Gao An, "Relocate him to a cleaner residence and assign more experienced nannies to attend to his needs. Ensure that he is no longer mistreated."

Gao An informed Zhu Yunxuan that Zhu Yunqiong had already fallen asleep in a side palace. Zhu Yunxuan nodded. "Let him sleep. When he wakes up, send him to the new quarters I've arranged. Keep an eye on the subordinates."

"Understood."

Gao An promptly went to instruct his men to carry out the task.

When Zhu Yunqiong woke up from his nap, he was summoned by Zhu Yunxuan once more before being sent away. Looking at the child's shining eyes filled with both fear and gratitude, Zhu Yunxuan's heart softened even more. He reached out to pat the boy's head. "Go now. No one will bully you anymore. If you need anything, come tell me."

The child obediently agreed and expressed his gratitude. "Thank you, Emperor Big Brother."

Zhu Yunxuan was slightly startled, an uncommon smile flickering across his lips.

After dismissing Zhu Yunqiong, Gao An handed Zhu Yunxuan a letter he had just received, written by Zhu Yunjing. For the past few years, Zhu Yunjing still sent a letter every two months, detailing the child's life in his correspondence with Zhu Yunxuan, even though Zhu Yunxuan never mentioned the child in his replies.

Three years ago, Zhu Yunjing had taken their newborn child to the Southern Border alone. His efforts were not in vain; after half a year there, the child's congenital ailments were mostly cured, leaving him only slightly weaker than other children. With careful nurturing over the following years, the child had become no different from ordinary kids.

Zhu Yunxuan had not seen the child since. In his midnight musings, the only image that remained was of the infant wailing as he was taken from his arms. Each time he read Zhu Yunjing's letters, imagining the child's appearance, the emptiness and confusion in his heart deepened.

He had thought that sending the child away would help him gradually forget and move on, but now he realized that it was all futile.

Even the name 'Rong'er,' which seemed to have been casually coined by Zhu Yunjing, was a word he scribbled down in a fit of distress when the child's life was in danger.

May you be safe each day.

That was his only wish for the child. He knew, and Zhu Yunjing did too, yet they both tacitly avoided discussing it.

In his letter, Zhu Yunjing mentioned plans to start Rong'er's education next spring, hiring a renowned scholar from the Jiangnan region to tutor him. Through every line, he reminded Zhu Yunxuan that if he didn't want to establish an heir or have other children, he shouldn't delay bringing Rong'er back. It would be best to raise him as the rightful successor.

Zhu Yunxuan's expression darkened. For three years, Zhu Yunjing had persistently tried to persuade him, but it was his own inability to let go that kept him from moving on.

Zhu Yunjing continued with anecdotes about the children, mentioning that Rong'er was the most obedient and gentle among the three siblings, endearing him to all who met him. He would do whatever his elder brothers asked without complaint or rivalry. Undoubtedly, everyone had a soft spot for him.

He also mentioned Rong'er's upcoming third birthday next month, urging Zhu Yunxuan not to neglect him and to bestow rewards upon this young "nephew" as well.

Most people were aware that Duke Ding's estate had two crown princes. The eldest was destined to inherit the Duke's title, while the second would inherit from the Duke's wife. The emperor showed great favor to the Duke's family, granting generous gifts to both princes on their birthdays. However, few knew of the youngest son, who rarely appeared before outsiders.

Zhu Yunxuan had always kept a distance from Rong'er, trying not to invest too much emotion or attention in the child. Zhu Yunjing was well aware of his internal struggle but deliberately brought up Rong'er's existence to prompt him to acknowledge the boy's presence.

Noticing Zhu Yunxuan's sudden distraction, the tea by his side growing cold, Gao An signaled for someone to replace it and softly called out, "Your Majesty..."

Zhu Yunxuan regained his composure, barely touching his lips, then instructed Gao An, "Prepare a similar set of rewards as those given on the previous Duke Ding crown prince's birthday and send them to Minzhou..."

His gaze fell on a row of bamboo toys on the windowsill of the sitting alcove. They had been there for years, cleaned regularly by junior eunuchs, though their colors had faded with time.

He remembered... those words from Liang Zhen years ago, "These small trinkets are all I have left for him. Please, Your Majesty, ensure they reach him." In truth, he had never forgotten, but he had always avoided dealing with children, not daring even to give gifts to them, let alone deliver something on Liang Zhen's behalf.

After a long silence, Zhu Yunxuan spoke again, "Send those bamboo toys along with the rest."