Chapter 2: Troubles Come in Pairs

Chapter 2: Troubles Come in Pairs

The Empress's sixtieth birthday celebration was grand and lively, with all the princes in the court presenting their gifts to demonstrate filial piety. On such occasions, the powerful princes would subtly compete against one another. For someone like Prince Zhao Chang Nian, known for his indolence and obscurity, simply presenting a decent antique as a gesture was sufficient.

Taking the gift box from a nearby palace attendant, Chang Nian hurried into a side chamber, discovering that all the princes had indeed arrived. Even the Crown Prince, who usually made a late entrance, was already inside, engaging in small talk with others.

"Seventh Imperial Brother, why are you so late?" the Crown Prince asked casually, catching sight of her.

Chang Nian adjusted the jade crown on her head and replied with a smile, "I had an upset stomach yesterday."

Nodding, the Crown Prince didn't comment further. The others politely bowed their heads to her before resuming their conversations.

Such scenes were routine for Chang Nian. When she was young and her mother was still alive, she was never allowed to play with her imperial brothers. Curious back then, she had asked why. As she grew older and discovered that she lacked something her brothers possessed between their legs, she understood and fell in line.

Preserving her life was more important than fitting in.

"The time has come, Your Highnesses, please follow this way."

A palace attendant announced from outside. Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince straightened his robe, picked up his gift box, and led the group out.

The current emperor was known for his indulgence in pleasure. In his youth, he sired seven princes, three of whom have already been sent to their respective fiefdoms. Among the remaining four, including Chang Nian, rivalry was fierce, even though the position of the crown prince had already been decided. In every grand occasion, they would vie for superiority.

Chang Nian's greatest delight each year was witnessing his elder brothers' competitive gift-giving. One would present a jade statue of Guanyin, only for another to offer an even finer jade Buddha. One year, the crown prince presented an Eastern Sea coral tree, but the fourth prince outdid him by offering a red coral in the shape of a phoenix, causing the crown prince to lose face spectacularly.

Of course, the fourth prince's fate wasn't so rosy after that incident. Within two months, he was granted a title and exiled to a distant fief, isolated from any help.

Chang Nian followed the procession at the back, silently entering the grand hall. He wondered which unlucky brother would unknowingly compete with the crown prince this year.

Incense filled the air as the palace attendants led the way, drawing aside the exquisite silk curtains. The noble ladies, standing or seated, rose and bowed upon seeing the princes. Chang Nian walked quietly with his head down, listening as the senior maid called out, "Their Highnesses have come to pay respect to Empress Dowager!"

In the innermost part of the palace, the occupant of the Phoenix Throne lifted her gaze, her eyes filled with kindness.

The crown prince stepped forward and, holding the gift box, smiled. "Your grandson is unskilled, but I have scoured heaven and earth to find this trinket for my Imperial Grandmother. I hope she will forgive me for my sincerity."

"You child," the empress dowager chuckled, aware of the prince's eloquence. She signaled for someone to take the gift box, then opened it for all to see.

"Ahh!"

As the lid lifted, a gentle glow emerged. The senior maid looked down and exclaimed, "Empress Dowager has been speaking fondly of pearls lately, mentioning that the ones in the palace this year aren't satisfactory. Look, Your Highness the Crown Prince has found you a fine one."

The pearl was as big as an infant's fist, translucent under the lamp when held in one's palm. The Empress Dowager took it and examined it, nodding repeatedly. "Cheng'er truly knows how to be filial."

"A pearl this size must have taken a hundred-year-old oyster to produce, wouldn't you say?" A court lady nearby flattered, "It's not easy to come by such a treasure."

" Previously, I had the privilege of laying eyes on one that was only half the size of this, yet it was valued at a fortune and not easily acquired. It seems His Highness the Crown Prince has spared no expense this time."

"Yes, indeed, it's not something that can be achieved merely with silver."

The women chirped with envy, and the one seated at the highest position must have been inwardly delighted. The Crown Prince, observing their reactions, puffed his chest proudly while not forgetting to show his filial piety: "It doesn't matter how it was found, as long as Imperial Grandmother is pleased."

Empress Dowager's eyes crinkled with laughter as she pulled him closer, patting his hand affectionately before gesturing for him to sit beside her. She then continued to inspect the gift boxes being presented by those behind.

With the fourth prince's precedent, the others would not dare to compete with the crown prince by presenting similar gifts. However, Chang Nian observed that the calligraphy and paintings from the third prince and the intricate wine vessels from the fifth prince, though excellent, did not seem to please the Empress Dowager as much as the century-old pearl from the East Sea did. No matter how exalted her status, the Empress Dowager was still a woman, and women often had a fondness for beautiful ornaments. Ten scrolls of paintings were no match for half a single pearl.

Being an imperial prince who only sought to live a carefree life, Chang Nian's gift was a conventional antique vase, decent-looking but nothing remarkable. It was a simple offering that could easily be dismissed.

With this in mind, when it was her turn, Chang Nian approached obediently, kneeling down and presenting the gift.

The senior palace maid, well aware of the seventh prince's character, didn't hold high expectations. She had already prepared some polite remarks, ready to make casual conversation.

However, the moment the box was opened, a dazzling glow erupted, casting an eerie white light on the chief maid's face.

"..." All her prepared words were stuck in her throat. She glanced at the contents of the box, at a loss for what to say. Instead, she nervously carried it straight to Empress Dowager's sight.

Confused, the Empress Dowager glanced down and froze in surprise.

"...What is this, Nian'er?"

Long Nian was bent over, counting the peony petals on the carpet and didn't notice anything amiss. Hearing that the Empress Dowager seemed to be asking a question, she hurriedly replied, "Grandma, I wasn't sure about your preferences, so I just randomly guessed. If you don't like it, then... then I'll think of another idea."

The inner chamber gradually fell silent, even the whispering of the ladies-in-waiting had ceased entirely.

After waiting for a long time without anyone speaking, the eerie silence made Long Nian uneasy. She rolled her eyes and mustered the courage to look up.

It would have been better if she hadn't looked. The sight nearly scared her into wetting her pants. The Empress Dowager held her gift box, from which she had pulled out a string of hundred-year-old pearls from the East China Sea.

Indeed, a string of them, each pearl as large as the one the Crown Prince had sent, a total of eighteen.

The crown prince was no longer seated. He stood up and looked at her, his face as green as the tender cucumbers in the imperial kitchen.

Zhao Chang Nian: "…?"

This wasn't her gift!

"The seventh prince's gesture… is indeed extravagant, somewhat excessive," said those who had previously fawned over the crown prince, their expressions turning awkward as they forced a smile. "There has been recent warfare at the border, and it's tense. The crown prince still knows moderation, so why would Princess go too far?"

No, even if she wanted to go overboard, she couldn't have gone this far! Chang Nian was on the verge of panic. She was not favored, held no power, and received meager monthly stipends. How could she possibly acquire such a magnificent string of pearls? Besides, with her cowardly nature, she had always dreamed of avoiding the crown prince's gift; how could she have been so reckless?

"Empress Dowager..."

"It warms my heart," the Empress Dowager said, putting the pearls back into the box, her smile still kind. "Grandma likes them very much."

No, please don't like them! Chang Nian's face turned pale. Seeing the odd expressions on the faces around her and the stiff smile on the crown prince's face, only two words echoed in her mind.

It's over!