Chapter 6 Entering the Palace

Chapter 6: Entering the Palace

Huai Quan had met with a firm rebuff at the Crown Prince's residence and scurried away.

Some palace eunuchs weren't worth offending, but offending the trusted confidants of Empress Jiang and Imperial Concubine Wei was a different matter.

After all, everyone's positions were clear to all parties, and Xiao Yunlang couldn't be bothered to put on an act for them.

He treated some court officials who were inextricably tied to the noble families the same way—if he scolded them, so be it; what could they do about it?

Even if he did nothing, as long as Xiao Yunlang remained Crown Prince, these people would want him dead.

So why not be straightforward? What was the point of playing games of deception and disguise?

His reputation for being reckless and unruly was built this way. To the noble families, the Crown Prince might as well have been a madman or a beast.

Xiao Yunlang casually picked up the paper Jiang Yanzhou had written on and gave it a shake: "Whether they think you're being threatened by me or enduring humiliation to put on a show for me, they'll become suspicious. Young Master Jiang, you really dare to speak your mind."

There's no telling how Huai Quan would relay the message when he returned.

"It doesn't matter." The pearls adorning Jiang Yanzhou's hair swayed gently, and he didn't seem to care at all. "I wasn't acting."

Xiao Yunlang gave him a meaningful look but didn't respond.

"Your handwriting..."

Jiang Yanzhou's graceful and serene demeanor suddenly vanished. His fingers, which had been holding his sleeve, retracted slightly, and his face flushed with embarrassment. Having such ugly handwriting seen by Xiao Yunlang still made him feel ashamed.

"It's not well written," Jiang Yanzhou's voice was muffled and low. "I've made Your Highness laugh."

Xiao Yunlang noticed Jiang Yanzhou's eyes darting around, unable to settle, his eyelashes fluttering nervously with shy and awkward little movements. The hand holding the paper paused.

Jiang Yanzhou was truly strange.

Even if he wasn't the capricious and spoiled young master from the rumors, he shouldn't be such a contradictory person.

In major matters, Jiang Yanzhou was calm and composed, flawless. Yet, whenever he encountered trivial matters, his emotions became impossible to hide, transforming from an emotionless, desireless celestial being into a vivid, living person in the mortal world.

Coupled with his face and sickly appearance, even Xiao Yunlang had to admit that he indeed looked pitiful and endearing.

But Jiang Linque's son shouldn't be like this.

If Jiang Yanzhou truly had a straightforward and honest nature, Jiang Linque would never have placed him by the Crown Prince's side as a spy—unless the father himself had misjudged and didn't understand what kind of person his own son was.

He couldn't even write characters smoothly, yet he could discuss court affairs.

Xiao Yunlang's smile faded. He put down the paper and remained silent for a moment. "What kind of life did you lead in the Jiang residence?"

Good question, I don't know either.

That's what Jiang Yanzhou thought, but he couldn't say it out loud. He answered cautiously, "The past is unbearable, so let's not mention it, shall we?"

To others, his words only reinforced the impression that he must have suffered grievances in the Jiang family.

At least Feng Lan and the other servants thought so.

But Xiao Yunlang might not. He was meticulous and didn't press further, simply instructing, "Bring two sticks of ink from my study to Yan Gui Xuan."

Jiang Yanzhou's eyes lit up. He felt that after their transaction, Xiao Yunlang seemed to have become easier to talk to.

So he mustered the courage to try asking, "Your Highness, could you also give me a few books? Any kind will do. The study in Yan Gui Xuan has no books."

Entertainment options in these times were limited. Jiang Yanzhou didn't enjoy wild parties, and his health didn't allow for horseback riding or archery. All things considered, only reading remained.

In this era, even an ordinary book could be a precious ancient text or a lost edition that hadn't been passed down to later generations. Jiang Yanzhou was eager for them.

After he could get out of bed, he eagerly went to the study, only to find there were no books to read.

Inside were only some famous calligraphy, paintings, porcelain, and precious ornaments brought in his dowry.

Although those antiques also amazed Jiang Yanzhou, and he pored over them for a long time, he couldn't stare at them every day.

With some books, he could pass the time.

Although Xiao Yunlang wasn't stingy, before the marriage, the preparations for Yan Gui Xuan were definitely not done with care. After all, it was for a member of the Jiang family to live in. The study was merely tidied up, with no concern for whether books were placed inside.

"Feng Yi, also take a few sets of books from my study," Xiao Yunlang said. "*Zhi You Jing Zhu* by Master Baihe, the literary excerpts by the Hermit of Taihu..."

With each title Xiao Yunlang mentioned, Jiang Yanzhou's eyes grew brighter. Those eyes were naturally expressive yet pure. Catching glimpses of them from the corner of his eye, Xiao Yunlang unconsciously added a few more sets of rare books.

Feng Yi initially memorized the list diligently, but as he continued, his expression gradually turned blank, then shifted to disbelief. He hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back—

Was His Highness planning to move his entire collection of rare books over?

Perhaps noticing Feng Yi's expression, Xiao Yunlang finally stopped just in time before emptying the library.

Xiao Yunlang halted. "Hmm, that's all."

Feng Yi accepted the order in a daze.

Jiang Yanzhou was so happy that his complexion became rosy. His pale cheeks finally gained a faint touch of color, like peach blossoms brushed by the wind. In his delight, he even forgot to be cautious: "Thank you, Your Highness! Then, can I also go out to buy books myself? I love reading."

Facing Jiang Yanzhou's pure and expectant gaze, Xiao Yunlang felt a strange twinge for the first time.

"...I have never forbidden you from leaving the residence," he said.

Not only had he not forbidden it, but rather, Xiao Yunlang had been waiting for Jiang Yanzhou to leave the residence.

Then someone would follow and report his every move to see if he posed any threat to the Crown Prince's residence.

But Jiang Yanzhou seemed to have just realized that he was free to come and go. His cheeks flushed, and the corners of his eyes curved with a smile.

As if he had truly never considered defying the Crown Prince.

This smile was dazzling, causing many of the attendants standing by to stare in a daze.

Xiao Yunlang silently averted his gaze.

Let's reward Yan Gui Xuan with two more green jade writing brushes, the Crown Prince thought, his face impassive.

*

Early the next morning, the Crown Prince's carriage departed from the residence, heading toward the imperial palace.

Jiang Yanzhou was dressed in a deep blue, gold-embroidered gown with phoenix and floral patterns, and wore a hairpin with pearls and a bright moon. Such luxurious attire only enhanced his radiant and stunning appearance, making him look peerlessly elegant and transcendent.

The Crown Princess's court attire had previously given the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau a headache. The Qi Dynasty's first male consort, and a principal wife at that—how were they to make appropriate clothing?

But after some time passed, neither the Emperor nor the Crown Prince made any special requests. Those below, accustomed to reading expressions and treating people accordingly, first made the attire according to styles that would absolutely not exceed regulations, not pushing for anything beyond that.

Xiao Yunlang hadn't inquired about it before, but today, seeing Jiang Yanzhou dressed like this, he couldn't help but take a few extra glances.

Not knowing what he was thinking, he instructed his attendants, "Later, have the Imperial Garment Bureau change the patterns on the Crown Consort's court attire. Have them draft patterns with phoenixes and cranes, and make two sets of each to be sent over."

In the Qi Dynasty, the phoenix pattern could only be used by the Crown Consort with the emperor's special permission. Xiao Yunlang was clearly taking matters into his own hands without consulting the emperor first, showing no regard for His Majesty's dignity.

But... cranes?

Playing it safe, Feng Yi asked if there was any particular significance to the crane pattern.

Xiao Yunlang watched Jiang Yanzhou board the carriage and said nonchalantly, "No particular significance."

The Crown Prince said, "It suits him."

Feng Yi: ...

Alright.

Whatever the master says goes.

Xiao Yunlang had no reservations about such things, just to make a point to the emperor: since they could force a male consort on him, what did it matter if he broke a few rules?

Xiao Yunlang lifted the curtain and boarded the carriage.

The carriage rumbled along, eventually stopping outside Xuande Gate of the imperial palace. Guards could not accompany them inside and had to wait outside.

Palace attendants had Jiang Yanzhou and Xiao Yunlang switch from their carriage to a sedan chair, and the group proceeded deeper into the palace.

Xiao Yunlang usually walked within the palace without a sedan chair, as he found them too slow.

However, the Crown Consort himself couldn't resist lifting the curtain to look outside.

Jiang Yanzhou himself was not lazy, but this body was truly weak, having to sleep until late morning every day. Having risen early today, he had been drowsy in the carriage until they reached the palace gate, when he suddenly perked up.

This was the Qi Dynasty imperial palace, that would be lost to future ages!

In museums, there were only models and handfuls of yellow earth, but Jiang Yanzhou was fortunate enough to see it today. How could he not take a good, careful look?

Jiang Yanzhou's eyes were full of wonder.

The majestic imperial palace, with its double-eaved halls and grand pavilions, slumbering in history books, emerged through the golden light of dawn, misty and magnificent.

Literati writing about the imperial palace always loved to describe it as imposing, majestic, and magnificent—and indeed, it truly was.

From afar, Jiang Yanzhou was first awed by the rows upon rows of grand halls shimmering in the golden mist. The imperial city stood firm, like a celestial palace, inspiring reverence at first sight.

Jiang Yanzhou marveled. If not for considering Xiao Yunlang's presence, he would have wanted to get down and walk around.

But as the sedan chair lurched along, Jiang Yanzhou's gaze gradually returned to the palace path before him. Vermilion roofs and emerald tiles lined the silent, towering palace walls that stretched as far as the eye could see. The palace complex was vast and deep, and it seemed they had been walking for a very, very long time.

Yet the palace walls followed like shadows, and they still hadn't reached the end.

Why was it so far... when would it end?

The long path was like shackles, casting heavy shadows that swallowed everyone who set foot on it.

This was the most magnificent and vast cage.

Jiang Yanzhou's initial awe at the palace had faded at some point, slowly replaced by a sense of suffocation. From amazement, he gradually grew restless and panicked, just wanting to quickly escape this unchanging palace path.

A branch by the wall trembled as a bird landed, shaking off a bit of frost and snow. A cold wind brushed past a corner of the sedan curtain, and in the silence, Jiang Yanzhou felt an inexplicable, bone-chilling cold.

He drew his hand back from the cold. The curtain fell, blocking the biting chill.

The sedan chair continued swaying forward. After a while, the footsteps of the bearers halted—they had finally arrived.

Jiang Yanzhou quietly sighed in relief. Assisted by a eunuch, he stepped out of the sedan and looked up, finally free from the suffocating palace path and able to see the opulent palace up close.

The plaque of Minghui Hall hung high. This was where the emperor handled government affairs and summoned ministers for discussions.

Jiang Yanzhou and Xiao Yunlang walked slowly inside, where they saw a figure in bright yellow seated high in the hall.

The current emperor, Emperor Yonghe, was over fifty, with graying temples. His face was lean, with high cheekbones, faintly hinting at the handsomeness of his youth, though the traces were shallow.

The deep furrows between his brows, formed over years of frowning, were difficult to smooth. He resembled an aged, angry beast still stubbornly clinging to its dignity, unwilling to let go.

Emperor Yonghe rose to power with the support of noble families but was also constrained by them. Throughout his life, he had wanted to prove himself a capable, true emperor, to show that he could reclaim imperial power and live up to his ancestors.

His life had its merits and faults, with mixed reviews in history books. As an emperor, he was not without achievements, but as a father, he had failed Xiao Yunlang the most.

Emperor Yonghe had been reviewing memorials earlier. Upon hearing the announcement, he set down his brush, ordered tea, and said without much warmth, "You've come?"

Xiao Yunlang was even colder, replying with just one word, "Mm."

When Emperor Yonghe saw Jiang Yanzhou, unlike others, there was not a trace of admiration in his eyes. Instead, his frown deepened.

Jiang Yanzhou was too good-looking, which was not a good thing for the emperor.

Jiang Yanzhou didn't know exactly how to perform the first post-wedding greeting ritual, as the books he had read didn't detail this etiquette.

He could only sneak a glance at Xiao Yunlang out of the corner of his eye.

But he found that after saying "Mm," Xiao Yunlang just stood there without moving.

He had no intention of speaking, nor did he offer any courtesy.

The Crown Prince made it clear he didn't plan to be particularly polite.

Jiang Yanzhou: ...Then what should he do?

Seeing Emperor Yonghe's furrowed brow deep enough to trap flies, Jiang Yanzhou had no choice but to brace himself, raise his hands, bow, and perform a common Qi Dynasty salute: "Your humble subject greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years."

Given his status, he should actually refer to himself as "your son" now, but neither Xiao Yunlang nor Emperor Yonghe pursued the matter of address.

Emperor Yonghe finally shifted his gaze from the Crown Prince to Jiang Yanzhou, his stern expression unchanged.

"Rise," he said in a deep tone. Although he disliked the Jiang family, he didn't openly make things difficult for Jiang Yanzhou, giving him due respect. "I heard you were ill some days ago. Are you better now?"

Jiang Yanzhou: "Thank you for Your Majesty's concern. I have recovered."

"The Empress is also very concerned about you," the emperor said meaningfully. "Go see her first, so she doesn't wait anxiously. The Crown Prince will stay. Having just started a family, I still have words of advice."

This was clearly asking Jiang Yanzhou to excuse himself.

The emperor had things to say to Xiao Yunlang alone and knew that Empress Jiang would definitely try to send the Crown Prince away to speak privately with Jiang Yanzhou. So, he arranged it with one sentence to avoid everyone having to engage in various hypocrisies.

Thus, Jiang Yanzhou withdrew as instructed. Before the hall doors closed, he looked back and saw Xiao Yunlang's figure.

Cold, rigid, and upright—it was not the posture of a son toward his father but a tense confrontation between two generations of rulers.

Jiang Yanzhou felt a bit sad.

If Emperor Yonghe had treated Xiao Yunlang a bit better, Xiao Yunlang would undoubtedly have grown into an enlightened sovereign, and his life would have been much easier.

Just as if Jiang Yanzhou’s parents had never abandoned him… but after the age of ten, Jiang Yanzhou never entertained such thoughts again.

After all, life doesn't deal in 'what ifs'.

A cool breeze swept along the corridor. Jiang Yanzhou didn’t know his way around the palace, so he could only follow the eunuch assigned to lead him.

They had assigned him a young eunuch as a guide.

There was no sedan chair for this leg of the walk. Jiang Yanzhou had thought that since he was already here, he might as well take in the scenery of the various halls. He hadn’t felt the cold at first, but as he walked, his hands grew increasingly icy.

Seriously? Jiang Yanzhou raised his hands and gently blew a warm breath onto them. He'd barely walked a few steps—this body really couldn't handle anything.

But the young eunuch was setting a brisk pace.

Jiang Yanzhou was struggling to keep up.

The eunuch was solely focused on leading the way and didn’t dare strike up a conversation with the Crown Princess Consort, completely unaware of Jiang Yanzhou’s state. Just as Jiang Yanzhou was about to call out to him, the eunuch suddenly stopped and bowed in a fluster.

It turned out that a group of people was standing squarely ahead on a white marble bridge.

The man at the center, dressed in princely robes, was casually scattering fish food into the water below. The lake's carp swarmed, fighting for the food in a lively frenzy.

He had a languid air, habitually tilting his chin up and narrowing his eyes. Even feeding fish had to be done with an air of superiority.

Jiang Yanzhou heard the young eunuch’s voice, tight with tension: “Your servant pays his respects to the Prince of Jin.”

The Prince of Jin!

Jiang Yanzhou was taken aback—this was Xiao Fengjin, the Prince of Jin!?

The Prince of Jin flung the remaining fish food aside, took a handkerchief from a maid beside him to wipe his hands, then turned around. Ignoring the bowing eunuch, he only glanced sidelong at Jiang Yanzhou.

As if he wasn’t the least bit surprised to see Jiang Yanzhou here.

Jiang Yanzhou, keen-minded, sensed something amiss in his reaction and felt a sudden pang of unease.

Wiping his hands, the Prince of Jin sauntered casually toward Jiang Yanzhou, offering a perfunctory compliment: “Second Young Master Jiang is quite the beauty, no wonder the Prime Minister kept you hidden away.”

As he drew closer, Jiang Yanzhou shifted his feet and actually took half a step back.

The Prince of Jin paused, his slanted eyes suddenly snapping back to focus, finally looking directly at Jiang Yanzhou.

He gave Jiang Yanzhou a thorough once-over, then curled his lips into an intrigued smile. The previously languid man suddenly seemed energized.

“What?” the Prince of Jin asked. “Are you afraid of me?”

Others feared him, and he found it amusing.

But Jiang Yanzhou wasn’t afraid.

He simply disliked Xiao Fengjin.

Intensely, intensely disliked him.