Chapter 35: It’s Not Bad to Pick a Concubine for the Crown Prince

Chapter 35: Selecting a Concubine for the Crown Prince Isn’t a Bad Idea

It was the month of pomegranates, four days after the Dragon Boat Festival, when the Empress Dowager finally returned to the capital from Mount Zhaolian.

Emperor Qingzhen, a model of filial piety, had gathered princes, nobles, court ministers, and the imperial consorts early on the day of her arrival to welcome her in the square outside the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

Since her departure from the capital in March of the previous year to offer prayers at Mount Zhaolian, over a year had passed.

The reason was that one morning, the Empress Dowager claimed the late Emperor visited her in a dream, instructing her to visit the Buddhist temple on Mount Zhaolian in Fengcheng County. She said it was a sacred site where prayers ascended straight to the heavens, ensuring Great Zhao’s peace and prosperity.

Pei Yun naturally believed in the Empress Dowager’s sincere devotion, but whether it was truly due to the late Emperor’s dream remained unknown.

After all, the late Emperor in the Empress Dowager’s words, though not as cruel as Emperor Yuancheng, was just as feckless and debauched. In the year before his death, despite his severe illness, he had still taken a palace maid to bed, resulting in the birth of the Sixteenth Prince—now Prince Yong.

The Empress Dowager’s entourage arrived close to noon, and Emperor Qingzhen personally helped her descend from the carriage.

Compared to before her departure, the Empress Dowager, after her long retreat in the tranquil, spiritually charged mountains, appeared not only healthier but also more radiant.

However, age and the fatigue of travel took their toll, and she rested in the Palace of Compassion and Filial Piety for several days after her return.

In her past life, it was during these days that the Empress Dowager summoned Pei Yun to discuss selecting a concubine for the Crown Prince.

This time, Pei Yun waited in the Luminous Hall for the summons, but it never came. Later, she learned that the Empress Dowager had been upset upon hearing about Li Shurui’s misdeeds. Though Li Shurui had been spoiled, her charm lay in her sweet words, often delighting the Empress Dowager with flattery.

Now, returning to find her favorite granddaughter absent and exiled to a girls’ school in Quye, the Empress Dowager was too dispirited to call for Pei Yun.

To lift her spirits, Emperor Qingzhen, knowing her love for lively gatherings and family reunions, held a banquet in the imperial garden on the tenth day after her return.

In the southwest corner of the garden stood the Stargazing Pavilion, surrounded by trees. Sitting there, one could enjoy the lake view while cool breezes made it pleasantly shady.

Ladies of the court attended, with Noble Consort Gao and other imperial consorts seated beside the Empress Dowager—though a few were missing. Consort Shu was absent due to illness, and Concubine Zhen, formerly Consort Zhen, was also absent, likely because Emperor Qingzhen feared her presence would remind the Empress Dowager of Li Shurui and sour her mood.

First, the children paid their respects to the Empress Dowager. Seeing Li Jin, Li Qian, and Rong Jieer all grown taller, she beamed and instructed Nanny Feng to give each a red envelope, calling it belated "evil-warding" money.

Wet Nurse Sun then brought Chen’er for the Empress Dowager to see. When she had left, Pei Yun had not yet given birth, so this was her first meeting with the nearly eight-month-old boy. Holding the sturdy, thriving child, she smiled brightly—though her joy soon dimmed slightly.

"In the year I’ve been away, the palace has only added this one child? No other good news? Prince Yu is in his thirties, and the Crown Prince is twenty-eight, yet each has hardly enough."

Her gaze swept over her grandsons and their wives.

Princess Consort Yu was possessive and overbearing. Though Prince Yu had concubines, they were all handpicked by the princess consort, who likely ensured they drank contraceptive tonics afterward, preventing any pregnancies.

As for the Crown Prince, the Eastern Palace had only Pei Yun, and he was often away on political duties—at least twice a year, each absence lasting a month. Combined with his lack of interest in women, how could the imperial line flourish?

Finally, her eyes settled on Prince Cheng. "Prince Cheng has been married nearly a year, hasn’t he? Princess Consort Cheng still shows no signs?"

Taken aback, Princess Consort Cheng hesitated, unsure how to respond. Prince Cheng quietly took her hand, but before he could speak, Noble Consort Gao interjected, "Your Majesty, I, too, eagerly await news. But such matters come by fate—we must be patient."

"True," the Empress Dowager nodded. "Like the Crown Princess—childless for years, then suddenly pregnant, delivering such a healthy boy. Such matters are unpredictable."

Just then, a sudden retch drew everyone’s attention. Princess Consort Yu, Liu Meier, pressed a hand to her chest, looking unwell.

Most present had borne children, and even those who hadn’t recognized the signs immediately.

"Princess Consort Yu, are you...?" The Empress Dowager’s voice was laced with delight.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty," Liu Meier said sheepishly. "I meant to wait until this pregnancy was more stable before sharing the good news. But this child is already making me miserable—barely a month in, and already causing trouble. Who knows if it’s a boy or girl..."

The room fell silent, but all understood: Princess Consort Yu’s "reluctance" was a pretense. She had deliberately displayed her morning sickness to seek favor before the Empress Dowager.

"That is indeed a cause for joy," the Empress Dowager said approvingly. "Whether it's a boy or a girl makes no difference—I’m quite fond of daughters, after all. They’re more affectionate..."

Her voice cut off abruptly, as if she had recalled something, and her expression dimmed slightly.

But soon, she continued, "While daughters are precious and should naturally be cherished more, one must not spoil them excessively. Lest they grow arrogant from indulgence, ruining their temperament."

Everyone present understood she was referring to Li Shurui.

Princess Consort Yu, of course, caught the implication as well and inclined her head in assent, promising to raise Rong Jie'er properly in the future.

The Empress Dowager’s smile returned, but her gaze shifted to Pei Yun. "Since Princess Consort Yu is already expecting her third child, the Crown Princess ought to follow suit. Another daughter like Rong Jie'er would be quite lovely."

Hearing this, Pei Yun found the words oddly familiar and couldn’t help but frown slightly.

Perhaps noticing her silence, the Crown Prince’s deep voice interjected, "As Grandmother says."

The Empress Dowager then added, "If the Crown Princess finds it difficult to manage alone, she need not bear the burden by herself. After all, the Crown Prince is the heir apparent—a thriving brood in the Eastern Palace would only stabilize the court."

At these words, Pei Yun suddenly remembered—this was precisely what the Empress Dowager had said in her past life when summoning her to broach the topic of a secondary consort for the Crown Prince.

The Empress Dowager had not abandoned her intentions; she had merely delayed voicing them. And this time, she had chosen to speak openly at the banquet before so many.

Though subtle yet unmistakable, her meaning was clear—no one present could have misunderstood.

Liu Meier’s lips quirked faintly, thinking to herself that this time, even if it wasn’t a secondary consort, the Eastern Palace would at least gain a concubine or two.

As the heir apparent, the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace stood empty. Previously, there had been no one to intervene, but now that the Empress Dowager had returned, how could she stand idly by? Pei Yun’s comfortable days might be over.

Liu Meier was not the only one harboring such thoughts—many noblewomen present shot covert looks, eager to see how the Crown Prince would react.

Yet before the Crown Prince could speak, a eunuch scurried over to announce that the martial arena below had been prepared, and His Majesty summoned the Crown Prince and the other princes for a martial exhibition.

The Crown Prince rose to his feet, and Pei Yun had no choice but to stand as well. With a gentle smile, she softly advised, "It’s only a spar, Your Highness. Don’t overdo it—take care not to be injured."

The Crown Prince nodded. His dark, ink-like eyes lingered on Pei Yun for a long moment. His lips parted slightly as if he wished to say something, but in the end, he merely uttered calmly, "This one knows."

Princess Consort Yu and Princess Consort Cheng also exchanged a few words with their respective husbands before watching them descend the platform.

By the rippling lakeside, a simple arena had been set up. Even the scorching summer heat could not dampen Emperor Qingzhen’s enthusiasm for watching the martial contest below.

The participants were divided into four teams: the Imperial Guards and the three major garrisons defending the capital. Each team had selected six able fighters, while the Crown Prince and the other two princes joined the Imperial Guards’ team.

From her high perch, Pei Yun spotted Pei Xuan standing among them. Since returning to the capital, her elder brother had been entrusted by Emperor Qingzhen with the important task of taking command of the Divine Machine Battalion, one of the three major garrisons.

However, this time, Pei Xuan was merely leading his team and would not participate personally.

His posture was as straight as a pine tree, clad in a light blue robe, his hair tied neatly with a jade crown. His striking looks and noble air drew the attention of many on the Star-Gazing Platform just by standing there.

Pei Yun faintly overheard murmurs—likely discussing her brother’s engagement to Jiang Lanqing.

Her mother, Lady Zhou, had acted swiftly. Not long ago, she had already selected an auspicious wedding date for the two, set for next month. She had even openly brought Jiang Lanqing to a scent-tasting soirée hosted by the wife of a ministry undersecretary in the capital.

By now, the entire capital knew that the newly victorious Duke of State Stabilization was about to marry the daughter of a minor magistrate from the borderlands.

Sensing the varied gazes directed her way, Pei Yun acted oblivious, merely plucking a frosted grape from the fruit tray offered by a palace maid and popping it into her mouth.

Just then, the surroundings grew noisier again.

She languidly glanced up and saw the Crown Prince leading Prince Yu and Prince Cheng toward the arena.

The three men had stripped off their ornate robes and changed into light, practical clothing.

It was midsummer, the hottest time of the year. Though Emperor Qingzhen had specifically arranged the competition for the cooler morning hours to prevent heatstroke, and the arena was shaded by trees, the blazing sun was relentless. Soon, sweat poured down their faces—not only Prince Yu and Prince Cheng but even the Crown Prince couldn't bear it, quietly hiking up his sleeves.

Compared to Prince Yu's soft middle and Prince Cheng's lean frame, the Crown Prince's thick arms and rippling muscles were particularly eye-catching.

Many noble ladies hid their faces behind handkerchiefs, peeking between bashful gestures. After all, what young woman wouldn’t want a strong and sturdy husband to protect her?

The noblewomen present also cast subtle glances, their gazes carrying deeper implications. Unlike the unmarried girls, women who knew the marriage bed understood the benefits of a man’s robust physique.

Pei Yun knew this intimately.

While others could only imagine, she had firsthand experience—how those powerful arms effortlessly lifted her, trapping her firmly, leaving her entire body subject to his will.

Lately, Pei Yun had begun to suspect that the Crown Prince wasn’t so ascetic as he seemed. Since the Empress Dowager had suggested she choose a concubine for him, she thought it might not be a bad idea to pick one herself.

With another woman in the picture, the Crown Prince would naturally spend less time in her palace.

The rules of this competition were simple: the side with more men remaining on the platform after the length of a burning incense stick would win.

To prevent injuries, no weapons were allowed—only hand-to-hand fighting.

To ensure the soldiers wouldn’t hold back out of deference to the Crown Prince and the princes, Emperor Qingzhen had declared beforehand that anyone caught holding back would face military punishment—forty strokes of the cane.

With this order, the soldiers feared not being aggressive enough. They didn’t care if it was the Crown Prince—they immediately began grappling.

The order of matches was determined by drawing lots. The first round matched the Imperial Guards with the Five Barracks Army.

The three remaining Imperial Guardsmen had lost heart upon hearing that Emperor Qingzhen intended to place the Crown Prince and the two princes in their team. The Crown Prince was decent—he even visited often their training grounds for archery and horsemanship—but Prince Yu and Prince Cheng…

Their concerns were not unfounded. As the gong sounded and the two sides clashed, they watched Prince Yu get effortlessly thrown to the ground without resistance. Prince Cheng, though slightly better with some showy techniques, could only barely cling to his opponent.

Seeing this, the three guardsmen had little hope left. The Five Barracks Army wasn’t even the strongest among the three major garrisons, yet they were struggling this much—victory seemed unlikely.

Just as they resigned themselves to doing their best, they saw the Crown Prince take down a burly man single-handed and kick a slighter opponent off the platform with his foot.

Perhaps too stunned, the others froze momentarily. Seizing the opportunity, the Crown Prince shoved one dazed fighter into another from the Five Barracks Army. Their skulls cracked together loudly.

The absurd scene sent the platform into mayhem. The three Imperial Guardsmen rushed forward, pushing the dazed duo off the platform before teaming up to subdue Prince Cheng’s opponent.

Just like that, they inexplicably won the first round.

Emperor Qingzhen, delighted, cheered loudly. On the high platform, the Empress Dowager and the others were equally exhilarated by the dramatic match—except for Liu Meier, who was far from pleased.

She had only just gained favor with the Empress Dowager by announcing her pregnancy, yet within half an hour, Prince Yu had shamed her completely.

Liu Meier, the eldest daughter of one of the capital’s three great noble families, had been considered the top candidate for Crown Princess after Shen Ningjia’s death. Yet not only had she failed to become Crown Princess, she had married Prince Yu—without power, weak-willed, and gutless.

As Liu Meier stewed in frustration, Rong Jieer, having finished the last grape on her plate, tugged at her sleeve. "Mother, I want more grapes."

Liu Meier shot her an irritated glare. "No more. You’ll just get greedy."

Scolded for no reason, Rong Jieer pouted, her eyes wandering until they landed on a nearly full plate of grapes nearby.

Noticing Rong Jieer’s longing gaze, Pei Yun subtly pushed the fruit plate forward and smiled warmly.

Sure enough, Rong Jieer scampered over. Her large, round eyes blinked timidly as she asked, "Crown Princess, may I have some of your grapes?"

"Of course," Pei Yun teased gently. "But first, you must call me Third Aunt."

This was no trouble at all. Rong Jieer immediately grinned sweetly and called out, "Auntie Yun," and Pei Yun slid the plate of grapes her way without hesitation.

Watching the little girl carefully peel the grapes and pop the plump, juicy flesh into her mouth, Pei Yun’s thoughts drifted to the child she’d lost. Her child would’ve been just as sweet and bright as Rong Jieer. Had she been safely born, perhaps Pei Yun wouldn’t have considered ending her life in her past life.

Li Jin and Li Qian, the two brothers, were escorted by eunuchs as they leaned over the railing of the high platform, squinting to make out the match below. But it was too far, and they couldn’t see much.

They begged to go down and watch up close.

Li Jin ran over to ask Pei Yun’s permission. She agreed but warned, "Don’t go near the lake. Be careful not to fall in."

Seeing Rong Jieer had finished her grapes and was listening absently to Li Jin’s words, Pei Yun smiled and asked, "Does Rong Jieer want to go with her brothers?"

Rong Jieer nodded her little head.

Pei Yun leaned in abruptly and said slowly, enunciating each word, "Then Rong Jieer must be very careful. You’re still small. If you fall into the water—whether it’s the lake or a well—water demons will snatch your ankles and drag you down to the bottom..."

Her voice was low and eerie, and she deliberately seized Rong Jieer’s leg. The girl froze, then let out a piercing scream.

Princess Consort Yu, seeing this, hurriedly pulled Rong Jieer back, soothing her with pats on the back while glaring daggers at Pei Yun. "Rong Jieer is just a child. Why scare her like that? What if she’s scared senseless?"

Pei Yun waved it off. "Just a joke. Why so serious, Princess Consort Yu?"

Princess Consort Yu glared at her, sure Pei Yun was messing with her.

Pei Yun saw her thoughts but only smiled without a word.

She wasn’t so childish. And if she truly wanted revenge, she wouldn’t do something so trivial.

The reason she did this was because she knew what had happened to Rong Jieer in her past life.

In that life, during this very banquet, Rong Jieer had somehow fallen into a deep well in a corner of the imperial garden. Though palace eunuchs found her in time to save her life, she had been submerged too long and woke up left slow-witted. In her grief, Princess Consort Yu miscarried, losing the child she now carried.

Because of this incident, Emperor Qingzhen was furious, punishing many palace maids and eunuchs. The palace sank into mourning, and the Empress Dowager’s earlier suggestion of selecting a consort for the Crown Prince was quietly dropped.

Pei Yun had no love for Princess Consort Yu, but Rong Jieer was a good child.

All she could do was give this grim warning, hoping Rong Jieer would listen this time and stay away from the water’s edge.

Terrified by Pei Yun’s words, Rong Jieer didn’t dare go down, burrowing into her mother’s skirts. So Li Jin took Li Qian’s hand and went to watch the match below.

The Five Barracks had lost to the Three Thousand Barracks, and now the Imperial Guards and the Divine Machine Battalion were competing for first place.

Of the three major battalions, the Divine Machine Battalion was the strongest. Pei Xuan had brought back several skilled fighters he had trained in the army, incorporating them into the battalion, two of whom were in today’s lineup.

Given the Imperial Guards’ current state—though they had defeated the Five Barracks—they were unlikely to stand a chance against the Divine Machine Battalion.

From the start of the match, Prince Yu and Prince Cheng were pinned down, though they were tenacious. Prince Yu clung stubbornly to the ground, while Prince Cheng mimicked his earlier tactic, grappling with his opponent. The Crown Prince and the other three Imperial Guards managed to take down two opponents, but they also lost one of their own, leaving the situation still unfavorable.

Pei Xuan stood to the side, cool as a cucumber, as if he had no doubts about the outcome.

But then, just as Prince Cheng was being forced toward the edge of the platform, he suddenly roared and threw himself to the side, taking them both down.

The watching soldiers made way for the two little imperial grandsons who had come to watch the excitement. The moment Li Qian squeezed through, he saw Prince Yu, bloodied and beaten, sprawled on the ground. Crying out "Father!" he burst into tears.

Though Prince Yu was no match in open combat, he wasn’t about to go down without a fight, remembering the Crown Prince’s advice before the match. He had been looked down upon all his life and knew full well that even his own consort thought him worthless.

But hearing his eldest son call out to him now, he stiffened, lips pressed tight. As one opponent approached, he suddenly seized the man’s leg. When the man stumbled forward, Prince Yu shoved him hard—only for the man to grab him in turn and drag him down off the platform.

From the Star-Gazing Terrace, Princess Consort Yu shot to her feet at the sight of Prince Yu’s fall. Only when she saw him struggle to his feet did she exhale in relief, sneering under her breath, "Idiot."

Pei Xuan's brow furrowed, as if surprised that the so-called strategy of the Crown Prince involved such dirty tricks one after another.

Emperor Qingzhen, however, kept his cool. While outsiders praised his Crown Prince for being upright and honorable, he knew well that beneath the surface, the Crown Prince was cutthroat competitive and would go to any lengths to achieve his goals when fixated on something.

How could someone meant to rule ever be truly virtuous?

After another round of fierce competition, only the Crown Prince and a general from the Divine Strategy Battalion remained on the field.

The contest had reached its climax. On the high platform, everyone held their breath, including Pei Yun, who watched intently.

She racked her brains but couldn’t recall the outcome of this match in her past life—whether the Crown Prince had won or lost. At the time, her mind had been consumed by the Empress Dowager’s order for her to select a concubine for the Crown Prince, leaving her too seething to care about the match’s result.

Though uncertain if it mirrored the past, this time, the Crown Prince emerged victorious.

Despite the nail-biting showdown, the match ended when the Crown Prince pinned down the burly general just as the incense in the burner burned out...

The final opponent the Crown Prince faced was Zhong Wan, a battle-hardened veteran in his early thirties who had followed Pei Xuan through life-and-death battles for nearly a decade.

Initially, Zhong Wan had sneered at these silver-spoon nobles, assuming they were too soft to wield a blade, let alone possess real skill. But after crossing swords with the future emperor, he ate humble pie wholeheartedly, even regarding him with newfound respect.

The happiest spectator was Emperor Qingzhen. He couldn’t care less about the injuries or earlier humiliations suffered by Prince Yu and Prince Cheng. He had deliberately placed his sons in the competition to ensure they didn’t turn into spoiled brats, especially Prince Yu and Prince Cheng, whom he feared would become lazy gluttons.

In his youth, the Emperor had fought on the battlefield, and even after over two decades on the throne, he still made time to train and maintain his physique. He refused to let his sons become good-for-nothing wastrels.

On the Star-Gazing Terrace, the Empress Dowager also smiled warmly as she watched Emperor Qingzhen reward the Crown Prince, his two brothers, and the Imperial Forest Army soldiers.

From a distance, Pei Yun noticed that the Emperor presented each with a dagger. However, when Fang Xi handed the dagger to the Crown Prince, he balked at taking it, seemingly saying something to the Emperor. The Emperor looked surprised, nodded, and spoke a few more words before the Crown Prince finally accepted the gift.

What exactly was said remained unclear due to the distance.

Though they hadn’t won first place, the remaining three teams also received rewards.

After the crowd dispersed, the second imperial grandson, Li Qian, ran tearfully to Prince Yu, touching his wounds as if asking if they hurt.

Prince Yu shook his head, battered but smiling, and lifted his son into his arms, gifting him the dagger he had just received.

Li Jin turned and watched the scene with envy. Unable to resist, he glanced up at the Crown Prince—only to find the Crown Prince already looking at him. A moment later, the Crown Prince extended his own dagger toward him.

"This blade is sharp. Be careful not to hurt yourself or others."

Li Jin accepted it with both hands, cradling it joyfully against his chest and nodding emphatically.

After changing clothes, the Crown Prince and his brothers ascended the Star-Gazing Terrace. Paying respects to the Empress Dowager, they took their seats. Compared to the bedraggled appearances of Prince Yu and Prince Cheng, the Crown Prince appeared relatively composed, though soaked through.

Princess Consort Cheng and Princess Consort Yu busied themselves ordering palace maids to fetch ice and medicine, personally using clean cloths to tend to their husbands’ hands and faces.

Pei Yun also took a cloth from Shu Yan and offered it to the Crown Prince. Yet, instead of accepting it immediately, the Crown Prince subtly glanced behind him.

Pei Yun seemed to understand but played dumb. Asking her to fawn over him was absolutely out of the question.

Besides, everyone knew the Crown Prince didn’t dote on her, and he wasn’t so injured that he couldn’t hold the cloth himself. There was no need for her to force attentiveness.

Just then, a young eunuch hurried over with an embossed case, stopping before the Crown Prince and bowing respectfully. "Your Highness, His Majesty ordered this servant to deliver this to you."

The eunuch’s arrival drew the attention of many present.

Pei Yun suddenly recalled the earlier scene during the rewards. Could this be something the Crown Prince had requested from Emperor Qingzhen?

Curious, she watched as the Crown Prince opened the lacquer box. The lid blocked her view, leaving her momentarily unable to see its contents.

Then the Crown Prince lifted his gaze to her, took her hand, and—in full view of everyone—slid a mutton-fat-white-jade bracelet with red veins onto her slender wrist.