Chapter 103

Chapter 103

The secret guards were formed by the Emperor's master to protect him, but their duties were not only to safeguard the Emperor's safety. They also secretly carried out many tasks for the Emperor that could not be openly acknowledged, including eliminating those who could not be killed openly and investigating the movements of various princes and ministers. Over the years, they had incurred quite a bit of resentment.

In fact, he had long been aware that if the Emperor were to pass away one day, most of these secret guards would likely not end up well.

A new ruler brings new officials. No matter which prince ascended to the throne, they would probably want to cultivate their own forces and would not use these old retainers.

The Emperor did not want him to serve under the Crown Prince, and he understood that. He had also long expected this outcome.

He had thought that their best outcome would be to disband, but he never expected the Emperor to find them a new master.

But who is this new master? Which prince, princess, or concubine?

Emperor Chengwu looked at Liang Quan and, after a moment of silence, said, "Your new master is Princess Baoning."

Princess Baoning?

That short and chubby little Princess Baoning is his new master?

Liang Quan was so shocked that his mouth hung open, and he couldn't speak for a long time.

He had thought of everything, but he never expected his new master to be the little Princess Baoning from the Eastern Palace.

How would he report to her in the future?

When he knelt down, he would still be taller than her. Would he have to crouch down to report? Or should he first lift the little princess onto a table?

Seeing him stunned, Emperor Chengwu glared at him, "What, are you dissatisfied with your new master?"

Liang Quan quickly shook his head, "Your Majesty saved my life, and everything I have now was given by Your Majesty. Whatever Your Majesty commands, I will do."

Emperor Chengwu snorted, "You speak well, but when I told you to study hard and become a general, why didn't you listen? And these past few years, I've been urging you to start a family, why did you ignore that?"

These two things were true, so Liang Quan kept his mouth shut and did not dare to refute.

Seeing him frown and appear reluctant, Emperor Chengwu asked again, "If you have no dissatisfaction with your new master, why do you look so miserable?"

Liang Quan looked troubled, "Your Majesty, Princess Baoning is such a young mistress. When I kneel, I am still taller than her. I don't know how to follow her."

When serving under the Emperor, he only needed to follow the Emperor's orders. But Princess Baoning is such a young child. What if she cries? And does she still need to be fed milk?

Imagining himself holding a bowl of milk, chasing after a crying Princess Baoning to feed her, he felt a shiver run down his spine. He immediately knelt down and crawled a few steps to Emperor Chengwu, "Your Majesty, perhaps when you pass away, you could take me with you."

Emperor Chengwu angrily slapped his head, "Look at you, so cowardly. I put so much effort into cultivating you, and now you're scared off by a little child?"

Liang Quan rubbed his head and, for some reason, suddenly felt his nose sting. Like when he was a child, he rested his head on Emperor Chengwu's knee, "Your Majesty, I don't want a new master. I just want to follow you. If you live, I live; if you die, I die."

Seeing Liang Quan like this, Emperor Chengwu also felt a pang of sadness.

When he first found this child, he was so small yet so resilient. Even when he was nearly cooked and eaten, he didn't shed a tear. Later, he hardly ever saw him cry. But now, just because he was being given a new master, he was acting so pitiful. He had truly spoiled him.

Emperor Chengwu sighed softly and gently patted his head, as he had done years ago, "You are a good child. I can't bear to take you with me. When I am gone, protect Baoning well. Baoning is different from other children. Only if you protect her for me can I rest in peace, and our Daxuan can continue steadily."

Liang Quan grunted in acknowledgment, "I will definitely protect Baoning."

Just as he would protect the Emperor, with his life.

Emperor Chengwu continued, "I have always treated you as a son. Although the Crown Prince has never said it explicitly, he also treats you as a younger brother. You should treat him as an elder brother."

Liang Quan nodded: "Alright, from now on I’ll call the Crown Prince ‘big brother’ in my heart."

Emperor Chengwu smiled: "In the future, your big brother will be in charge of the empire. He’s kinder and values loyalty and righteousness more than I ever did. As long as you do not plot rebellion, your big brother will surely treat you well."

Liang Quan raised his hand to the sky: "I swear, I’ll never betray my big brother."

Emperor Chengwu: "Take good care of Bao Ning. Protect her until she’s grown up and safe. If she still needs you, stay by her side. If not, find a quiet place to settle down."

Liang Quan: "I will remember."

Seeing him so obedient, Emperor Chengwu laughed: "Did I ever tell you about when you were little?"

Actually, he had told him before, but Liang Quan wanted to hear it again, so he lied: "No, Your Majesty, please tell me."

Emperor Chengwu patted his shoulder and reminisced: "That year, I passed by our hometown Liangzhou, came across a small stream, and led the horse to drink water. You were lying there, naked, in the grass..."

---

After leaving Chong’an Palace, Xue Song and Princess Huayue stopped by Fengyi Palace to inform the Empress before heading out with their rewards.

Shen Zhinuo and her three siblings, along with Di Guihong, returned to the East Palace with boxes of all sizes.

As soon as she entered the main courtyard, Shen Zhinuo ran towards the house: "Mom, Nuo Er’s back!"

Hearing her cheerful voice, the Crown Princess smiled and came out to greet her. She picked up the little girl who rushed over and said, “Slow down!”

Shen Zhinuo pointed to the several boxes brought by the palace servants: "Mom, the Emperor gave us all rewards. Can you keep Nuo Er’s for me?"

The Crown Princess had heard about the Emperor’s rewards yesterday, so she wasn’t surprised, and nodded with a smile: "Alright, Mom will keep them for you and give them to you when you’re older."

Then she looked at the older children: "Wei Yan, Wei Qing, Hui Er, you’re all grown up now. It’s time to manage your own things."

The three siblings nodded obediently.

The Crown Princess put her little daughter down and squatted in front of Di Guihong, touching his little face: "Hong, should we keep your things with Auntie, or would you like to manage them yourself, like your brothers?"

Although she and the Crown Prince planned to raise Hong as their own child, after all, he was not their biological child, so it was better to ask the child's opinion on financial matters.

Di Guihong glanced at the little chubby girl leaning against the Crown Princess, and bowed to her: "Auntie, I’d like to keep them myself."

The Crown Princess smiled and touched the little boy's head: "Alright, then Hong will keep them himself."

So the boys and Princess Wen’an had the palace servants carry the boxes to their own courtyards.

After the palace servants left, Di Guihong opened the lid of the box and called Zi Xuan and Ying Chun over.

The two stared at the dazzling box of gold and silver, utterly shocked: "Young master, why so many treasures?"

Di Guihong said nonchalantly: "These are rewards from the Emperor. Help me catalog and store them carefully."

Zi Xuan and Ying Chun solemnly agreed, and without delay, immediately got to work. Zi Xuan went to get the account book, Ying Chun brought several empty brocade boxes, and the two cataloged the treasures, carefully sorting through the jumble in the box.

Seeing them busy but organized, Di Guihong sat on the couch and started flipping through a medical book. After a few pages, he suddenly instructed: "If you find anything that comes in pairs, set them aside."

Zi Xuan happened to pick up a pair of jade bracelets, and held them up to ask: "Does this count as a pair?"

Di Guihong nodded: "Yes, put them in a separate box. I’ll need them later."

---

That evening, the Crown Prince wrapped up his duties and rushed back to have dinner with his family.

At dinner, the kids excitedly talked about all the rewards they got from the Emperor. The Crown Prince smiled and nodded: "Good. Make sure to visit your grandfather more often when you can."

Shen Weiyan and the others nodded in agreement.

Shen Zhinuo set down her chopsticks and slid off her chair, then went to fetch her dagger, placing it on the table in front of the Crown Prince: "Father, Grandfather said this dagger is worth a fortune."

As she spoke, she pointed at the sapphire with her little finger: "Father, do you think this gem is worth a lot?"

Hearing the skepticism in the little girl's voice, the Crown Prince couldn't help but laugh. He picked up the dagger: "Let me take a look."

Before he finished speaking, the Crown Prince was startled. He flipped the dagger over and scrutinized it carefully, then lifted his little daughter onto his lap: "Nuo Er, tell me everything. How did Grandfather give you this dagger?"

Shen Zhinuo explained everything that happened. After finishing, she noticed her father's serious expression and asked curiously: "Father, is this dagger too precious? Should I not have taken it?"

The Crown Prince patted his daughter's head and smiled: "Since Grandfather gave it to Nuo Er, Nuo Er should take good care of it."

Shen Zhinuo nodded in agreement.

After the meal, Shen Zhinuo took the Little General for a stroll in the courtyard to help with digestion. Princess Wen'an and Shen Weiqing followed along. Only the Crown Prince, the Crown Princess, and Shen Weiyan stayed behind.

The Crown Princess asked curiously: "What is it, Your Highness? Is there something unique about that dagger?"

The Crown Prince nodded: "If I'm not wrong, that dagger is a badge of the secret guards. Liang Quan also has one."

Both the Crown Princess and Shen Weiyan were shocked. The Crown Princess grabbed the Crown Prince's hand: "What does His Majesty mean by this?"

The Crown Prince replied: "It must be due to the A Tong incident. His Majesty is worried about Nuo Er's safety and intends to have the secret guards protect her."

Shen Weiyan asked: "Grandfather is used to those secret guards. If he gives them to Nuo Er, what will happen to Grandfather's own protection?"

The Crown Prince sighed: "Your grandfather first prepared the succession decree, and now he has given the secret guard token to Nuo Er. I fear he is making arrangements for his passing."

At these words, the three of them fell silent, each overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

After a while, the Crown Prince stood up: "I need to go to Chong'an Palace. Weiyan, come with me."

The Crown Princess nodded: "For such an important matter, Your Highness should personally express gratitude to His Majesty."

The father and son then left together to see Emperor Chengwu.

---

In Qianzhou, at the residence of Prince Yu.

After the Eighth Prince relayed some capital news to the Fourth Prince, he excused himself, citing tiredness, and went to rest in his quarters.

The Fourth Prince sat alone in the room for a while until hunger struck. He then stood up, walked out, and asked the maid waiting outside: "Where is my wife?"

The maid respectfully replied: "Your Highness, the Princess Consort said she wasn't feeling well and went to her quarters to rest."

The Fourth Prince's expression darkened. After a moment of silence, he strode out, leaving the main courtyard. After walking some distance, he arrived at a secluded courtyard. Ignoring the gatekeeper's salutations, he entered the courtyard and approached the room. Hesitating for a moment, he pushed the door open and entered.

Ji Qiu hurried out from the inner chamber and curtsied: "Your Highness."

The Fourth Prince asked: "Where is my wife?"

Ji Qiu whispered: "Your Highness, the Princess Consort is tired and has gone to bed."

The Fourth Prince frowned and waved his hand, his tone still relatively mild: "Alright, I understand. You may leave."

"Your Highness, the Princess Consort has instructed that no one is to disturb her," Ji Qiu said softly, glancing towards the inner chamber with a worried expression, hesitating to leave.

The Fourth Prince's face immediately turned cold: "Guards, take her away."

Ji Qiu's face turned pale, but before she could plead, the Fourth Prince's Consort's displeased voice came from inside the room: "Ji Qiu, you may leave."

Ji Qiu quickly complied and retreated.

The room fell silent. The Fourth Prince stood still for a moment, pressing his temples to calm his anger, then walked into the inner chamber. There, he saw the Fourth Prince's Consort lying on the bed, dressed in white sleeping robes, her back turned to him.

Looking at her delicate figure and fair neck, the Fourth Prince's eyes darkened. He walked over, sat on the edge of the bed, placed his hand on her waist, and pulled her up forcefully, pressing her against his chest. He leaned his forehead against hers and whispered through gritted teeth: "What have I done to upset you now?"