Chapter 6

Chapter 6

The affair at Wangyue Pavilion had caused quite a stir, but it was ultimately calmed by spreading the story that it was an auspicious omen. However, news that Consort Ning had been severely reprimanded and confined to her palace by the Dowager Empress, and that the Sixth Prince had been temporarily kept at Cining Palace, still spread widely among the palace attendants. Consort Ning was usually approachable and enjoyed a good reputation in the palace, but no one would have thought her to be so negligent towards her own son and to receive a reprimand from the Dowager Empress.

People came and went in the palace; the past two days at Cining Palace had been somewhat hectic, first because of the Wangyue Pavilion incident, and then because of the Sixth Prince.

The Sixth Prince fell seriously ill. The imperial physician monitored him for two days straight before bringing down his fever. The Sixth Prince was young and frail, and the fever had nearly drained him.

"Is the Sixth Prince truly that ill?"

"Indeed—he fainted on the spot and even pleaded for Consort Ning... Consort Ning didn't even notice that the Prince's lips had turned white from the fever."

Outside Cining Palace, the palace attendants frequently cast sidelong glances at the maidservant waiting alone outside, whispering among themselves.

Bi Zhu, noticing the stares of those around her, gave an awkward smile but continued to wait outside Cining Palace. Consort Ning, confined to Weiyang Palace and unable to leave, had sent her to find the Sixth Prince. After the news of the bad omen reached the Ning family, the Consort realized that her actions at Cining Palace had been inappropriate. Fortunately, the Sixth Prince was easy to control; if she could persuade him to return, the rumors spreading through the palace could naturally be dispelled.

"Lady Yu, has the Sixth Prince awakened?" Bi Zhu hurried forward as she saw the female official from Cining Palace emerge.

Lady Yu cast an appraising glance at Bi Zhu. "Go back for now. The Sixth Prince will be recuperating at Cining Palace for the next few days."

Bi Zhu, who had waited half the day just to see someone come out, tried to say a few more words, but Lady Yu had already walked away.

Unable to see the Sixth Prince, she had no choice but to return and report to Consort Ning. Upon returning to Weiyang Palace, she saw the palace attendants who had been given a minor punishment by the Consort kneeling outside. Not only had these people acted on their own without permission, but they had also failed to stop the Sixth Prince from going to the Dowager Empress and had mishandled the message to the Ning family. If it weren't for the Consort's usual "good nature," these people would have been dealt with long ago—they were worthless wretches.

Bi Zhu watched with a cold expression as they pleaded for mercy, her gaze falling on the young eunuch kneeling nearby. She remembered this person—he had been running errands for her recently, delivering medicine and doing many other favors. "Song An, come here."

The kneeling young eunuch called out softly, "Elder Sister Bi Zhu."

Bi Zhu's mood eased slightly. This young eunuch was usually dull but was good with words. "The Consort is in a bad mood. Go to the small kitchen and prepare some mind-soothing tea."

Song An said nothing more and quickly went to carry out the task.

Weiyang Palace was deathly still. Inside the main hall, Consort Ning wore a worried expression. When she saw Bi Zhu return empty-handed, she looked behind her but saw no other attendants. "Where is he?"

Bi Zhu could only say that Cining Palace had kept the Sixth Prince for a short stay and that he couldn't return yet. "The Sixth Prince is still ill; the Dowager Empress likely hasn't thought much of it. In the past, when other princes were ill, the Dowager Empress also showed concern. I've inquired—only the imperial physician has been coming and going. There are no other unusual signs at Cining Palace. The Dowager Empress won't find out anything."

Consort Ning's expression soured. These past few days of confinement, coupled with the gossip she had heard, had left her unsettled.

She would thoroughly investigate who was behind the Wangyue Pavilion incident, but the immediate priority was to smooth things over with the Dowager Empress.

Bi Zhu was about to say a few more comforting words when a palace attendant rushed in to report—because of the successful arrangements for the Wangyue Pavilion, the Dowager Empress was greatly pleased and had bestowed gifts upon the consorts and concubines of the harem.

"And the gifts?" Bi Zhu asked.

The palace attendant stammered, "Weiyang Palace did not receive any."

"What did you say?!" Bi Zhu exclaimed.

What did it mean that Weiyang Palace's portion hadn't arrived?!

The Dowager Empress bestowed gifts on all the consorts and concubines, even a few junior concubines who had merely appeared before her, but no gift was sent to Weiyang Palace.

Consort Ning had always maintained a reputation for being unassuming, and without orders, the palace attendants did not dare to go out and inquire.

"The eunuch delivering the Dowager Empress's decree did not come to Weiyang Palace," the attendant added.

Bi Zhu instinctively looked at her mistress.

Upon hearing this, Consort Ning almost lost her composure, almost shattered the teacup in her hand, and accidentally knocked over the freshly served mind-soothing tea.

Song An, who had brought the tea, narrowly avoided being scalded and quickly knelt down, keeping silent.

"What are you standing there for? Clean it up!" Bi Zhu scolded, carefully checking if Consort Ning had been burned by the hot tea.

Song An lowered his head, concealing his resentment, and cleaned up the shattered pieces on the floor.

Clearly, the Sixth Prince had acted for Consort Ning's sake, but in her eyes, the Prince seemed to have no place at all.

On the surface, Consort Ning appeared concerned about the Prince's health, but Song An, who had personally attended to the Prince for many days, understood all too well. First, something had been added into the medicine, and then the Prince had been kept from communicating with others for days. If the Consort truly cared for the Prince, she wouldn't have visited him only once every few days.

In the Consort's eyes, the Prince held less weight than the gifts or her image before the Dowager Empress.

-*

Cining Palace was quiet. Ying Fusheng slowly regained consciousness.

The scent of sandalwood lingered, and warmth seeped into his bones.

His dull gaze gradually cleared, and after a moment, his thoughts returned. He glanced around the unfamiliar inner chamber of the bedchamber.

His eyes settled on two large, strikingly placed nanmu chests in the corner.

Suddenly, a voice came from within the chamber.

Ying Fusheng shifted his gaze to the distance.

"Your Highness is awake." Someone lifted the curtain and entered, followed by two palace maids.

A senior palace matron approached.

He quickly recognized her.

Lady Yu, the female official of Cining Palace, who had served the Dowager Empress for many years and handled all matters of Cining Palace on her behalf.

Sensing the Sixth Prince's slight discomfort in the unfamiliar surroundings, Lady Yu spoke: "Consort Ning has been confined as a minor punishment from the Dowager Empress. Your Highness need not worry; focus on recovering."

It was rare for princes to stay at Cining Palace. The Dowager Empress did not like to keep people, and the only prince who had ever stayed briefly was the Crown Prince.

The palace hadn't prepared much; this side hall appeared to have been hastily arranged.

Upon hearing this, Ying Fusheng wanted to call for Song An, but stopped before the words left his lips. He noticed Lady Yu's appraising gaze and thought of the many eyes watching Weiyang Palace after Consort Ning's incident. At this moment, he could not show too much concern for Song An.

The imperial physician conducted his examination, and Lady Yu did not linger long. After delivering her message, she left.

Ying Fusheng's gaze fell on the distant nanmu chests. A maid noticed and reminded him, "Your Highness, those are gifts from the Dowager Empress."

"Gifts?" Ying Fusheng was somewhat surprised. When he saw a few books among them that seemed out of place with the other gifts, it occurred to him—these were probably added later.

He looked out the window; Lady Yu had already walked far away.

The gifts were all valuable items. One chest was half-open, and Ying Fusheng noticed only a few of the exposed items, which were obviously valuable.

Before he could think further, the silence was broken as the outside suddenly became lively.

Vaguely, he caught a glimpse of a figure in bright robes passing by—it was the Crown Prince, who came daily to pay his respects to the Dowager Empress.

Ying Fusheng pondered briefly, then, with the help of a palace attendant, stood upright. Despite his illness, he said, "Help me dress. I have been staying here for several days and have received the Dowager Empress's gifts. I should go and pay my respects to Grandmother."

Cining Palace was livelier than usual today. As soon as he stepped out of the main hall, he could sense the different atmosphere within the palace.

Ying Fusheng looked up at the heights above. The air was cold and biting, as if the chill had seeped into his lungs. But he took a deep breath, his gaze falling upon the snow-covered path marked by footprints.

The barren palace path from his previous life was now covered in melting fresh snow. His vision blurred for a moment. Ying Fusheng stood still, slowly releasing his breath, feeling as if reborn.

He walked out calmly.

Before long, he saw from a distance the archery targets set up in Cining Palace. There was a small martial arts training ground here, fully equipped with weapons and a practice platform. Dayuan valued martial arts, and the Empress Dowager, coming from a general's household, could easily lift weapons weighing over ten catties.

Skirting the side hall’s training platform and walking further in, he reached the main hall of Cining Palace. The first thing he saw were several paintings of galloping steeds. Ying Fusheng averted his watchful eyes and followed the source of the sound. Several people were gathered there; palace attendants had opened up a space, and a few people stood outside the practice platform's railing. The Crown Prince, wearing brocade trimmed with fox fur, was standing beside the Empress Dowager, chatting and laughing, creating a lively scene.

Besides them, there was one more person.

A young prince, draped in splendid robes, was surrounded by two palace attendants. From a distance, he looked like a peacock hovering around the Empress Dowager.

Approaching closer, Ying Fusheng recognized who it was—

The Eighth Prince.

The Eighth Prince's birth mother, Lady Zhao, had died of a serious illness when he was young, leaving him motherless. His maternal clan, the Zhao family, had an ordinary position in court and little backing. The Emperor took pity on him for having no mother to raise him and later entrusted him to Empress Xu. Having been raised beside Empress Xu, the Eighth Prince regarded her as his mother. Later, he became the Crown Prince's right-hand man, and the Zhao family behind him were also part of the Crown Prince's faction.

At this time, the Eighth Prince was only eight years old, at an age of relying on the Emperor's favor and being pampered. In Ying Fusheng's memory, the Eighth Prince at this stage was a tag-along trailing the Crown Prince.

He stood still for a while. After the palace attendant announced him, the Empress Dowager snapped back to attention. Seeing Ying Fusheng standing outside, she beckoned him over: "Why is Xiao Liu here?"

At this call, both princes' gazes turned to him at the same time.

The Crown Prince was warm and natural, but the Eighth Prince looked him up and down, a hint of scrutiny in his eyes.

Ying Fusheng had experienced this kind of scrutiny many times. A single glance was enough to judge each other: in childhood, it was rejection from brothers; in youth, it was coldness and disgust from elders; later, it became the Emperor's reprimands and the palace staff in the cold palace kicking him when he was down.

Ignoring the two princes' scrutiny, he walked straight ahead and then saw the taming rack among the crowd.

On the rack stood a saker falcon, and the Empress Dowager was holding a food box to feed it.

"Grandson has come to pay respects to Grandmother." He made a bow and saluted.

The Empress Dowager waved her hand, glanced at Ying Fusheng, nodded perfunctorily, her mind still on the saker falcon on the taming rack.

The Crown Prince nodded to Ying Fusheng in greeting. He was dressed in fine clothes, his complexion rosy. Though young, his every gesture showed extraordinary bearing, his face full of high spirits.

He asked with a smile: "How is Sixth Brother's health? The other day I saw you faint, and I was very worried."

Ying Fusheng lowered his eyelashes, hiding the darkness in his eyes, and replied with propriety: "Thank you, Royal Brother, for your concern. I am already much better."

As they finished speaking, there was movement from the side.

"Come on, Xiaoqing, move about." The Empress Dowager was training her pet.

Ying Fusheng looked toward the sound and saw the saker falcon standing still with its wings folded. He understood the situation.

The Empress Dowager treated all her imperial grandsons equally; her temperament was hard to gauge. Even when the Crown Prince and the Eighth Prince came, her attitude toward them was limited to this. The only notable point was perhaps her preferences.

The Empress Dowager liked to keep birds of prey. The small saker falcon in front of her was one of her favorites. Because it had a strange cyan pattern on its body, it was named Xiaoqing. Due to a congenital defect, it couldn't grow large and was smaller than other saker falcons. It had been raised by the Empress Dowager since it was young, pampered, often flying around near Cining Palace, and had a strange temper.

But today, this bird was not very energetic.

The Eighth Prince looked at the saker falcon that barely moved today and said dismissively: "It's full and lazy."

"Eighth Brother, don't be willful." The Crown Prince gently scolded, then followed up on the Eighth Prince's words: "But Xiaoqing should also be tempered."

With that, he used food to lure the saker falcon to move. Dayuan valued martial arts; the Crown Prince had been trained as the crown prince since childhood, frequenting the practice platform. He knew a few beast taming techniques from the tamers. Xiaoqing was usually close to him, and stirred by the Crown Prince, it actually began to move. It flew several rounds in the air and ate the bait the Crown Prince threw.

Seeing her beloved pet's condition improve, the Empress Dowager reached out. The saker falcon swooped down and landed steadily on her arm. "The practice platform has taught you many things."

The Crown Prince replied modestly: "I only know the basics."

The Empress Dowager said no more, and her mood visibly improved a little.

The palace attendants of Cining Palace seemed very accustomed to the arrival of the Crown Prince and the Eighth Prince. The scene of harmonious grandparents and grandchildren was warm and cheerful. The Crown Prince played peacemaker, the Eighth Prince had a sweet mouth, and after a few exchanges, they had already put Ying Fusheng aside. Everyone's attention was on the Crown Prince. Even the composed Lady Yu of Cining Palace showed more expression when seeing the Crown Prince than usual.

The Eighth Prince enjoyed the feeling of being surrounded. Seeing that the Crown Prince didn't stop him, and having heard that their imperial grandmother had been in a bad mood these days, he threw bait several times, imitating the Crown Prince's method to make Xiaoqing fly a few times.

The bird of prey soared high and swooped down to catch, its movements swift and natural, drawing continuous praise from the palace attendants.

The bird spread its wings, leaped over the palace wall, circled around, and returned.

Ying Fusheng raised his eyes, his gaze involuntarily falling on the falcon spreading its wings in freedom. He stood quietly watching.

When the saker falcon landed, the gold-inlaid jewels on its feet glittered, presenting a picture of wealth and luxury.

Dressed in finery, Ying Fusheng thought.

While talking with others, the Crown Prince's gaze fell on Ying Fusheng several times. Compared to his eloquent speech in the hall a few days ago, Ying Fusheng's presence was now extremely weak. He had come only to pay respects, and when silent, he was like a transparent person in the crowd.

"Elder Brother Crown Prince, what are you looking at?" the Eighth Prince asked.

"Nothing, just looking at Sixth Brother who seems not too energetic." The Crown Prince chuckled softly and explained: "Compared to a few days ago, there's a difference."

With these words, Ying Fusheng was dragged into the spotlight.

The saker falcon Xiaoqing landed and stopped moving again. Seeing Ying Fusheng standing still over there, the Eighth Prince recalled recent palace rumors. It was said that during the Wangyue Pavilion incident, his sixth imperial brother had stolen the show and even caused the Empress to be scolded by the Empress Dowager, making the Crown Prince unhappy these past few days.

He had never liked this sixth imperial brother. In the schoolroom, this brother's studies were poor, often scolded by the Grand Tutor. He didn't fit in and always hid behind, as if doing something shady.

Just like now. The Eighth Prince had an idea. When throwing the bait, he slightly turned sideways and, taking advantage of no one paying attention, threw it outward.

A shriek sounded, and the saker falcon, as if provoked, suddenly flapped its wings and flew up.

Faced with this sudden situation, the palace attendants quickly made way.

Unexpectedly, the falcon flew wildly in agitation, swiftly crossing the crowd and charging to the periphery.

Ying Fusheng paused slightly and saw the swift figure flash before his eyes. He stepped back, but since he hadn't fully recovered, the sudden movement made him pant slightly. After the fever broke, the pain in his forehead came in waves, and his steps were unsteady.

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager couldn't help frowning.

As a member of the imperial family, he was too frail.

At this moment, the Eighth Prince shouted: "Brother Six, be careful!"

Though saying "be careful," a hint of darkness flashed in his eyes.

But the next moment, something no one expected happened.

The falcon, after crossing over the Sixth Prince, actually circled back. The falcon folded its wings and stopped, landing squarely on Ying Fusheng's shoulder!

The falcon's sharp eyes fixed on Ying Fusheng.

Ying Fusheng's headache slightly eased. Turning his head, he saw the falcon's gaze—sharp and cautious, judging whether he was prey. A captive falcon was a tamed wild creature, born with hunting instincts and a sense of territory. An unfamiliar scent in its territory would make it mark him as an enemy.

He had kept falcons before, back when he was in the cold palace.

The Cold Palace was remote, located on the edge along with the Imperial Beast Garden, where raptors were trained and flown year-round. To send messages beyond the palace walls, flying to the desert border, that person once gave him a fledgling. During the falconry training, his hands and even arms were covered with the falcon's claw marks. Day and night, when he was delirious, the only thing in the palace was a hungry falcon glaring at him, trying to eat his flesh.

He had seen fiercer looks than that before, let alone this falcon that was so fat it could barely fly.

Ying Fusheng's gaze swept over the falcon's feathered body, her wings pressed close to the body—a self-protective posture.

As Xiaoqing stared at him, Ying Fusheng looked back at it.

When their eyes met, this highly intelligent falcon seemed to sense something in Ying Fusheng's gaze. Seeming intimidated, she hopped back a step and watched him warily, neither attacking nor leaving.

The nearby palace attendants, afraid of disturbing the prince, came over on their own to take the falcon away.

Ying Fusheng stopped and lowered his eyes, his gaze lingering on her wing. Suddenly he said, "She seems to be injured."

The Eighth Prince thought he was frightened silly, and he sneered inwardly. This falcon had just been hunting; how could she be injured?

Seeing this, the Crown Prince glanced at the Eighth Prince, then stepped forward. "Sixth Brother, don't move. Let the attendants—"

Before he could finish, Ying Fusheng suddenly reached out and gently placed his hand on the falcon on his shoulder. The seemingly reckless move startled everyone around. This sudden action made the falcon flap her wings and struggle, but Ying Fusheng's swift hand held her wings, instantly calming her panicked flapping. Gradually, the falcon calmed down.

When the hidden wound was revealed, the Crown Prince's movement paused slightly. The Empress Dowager, about to step forward to stop him, her expression tightened.

"Quick, call the beast tamer!"

The beast tamer arrived quickly, not daring to delay, immediately inspecting the falcon. Noticing him frown without meaning to, the Empress Dowager's heart tightened. "Is there any serious problem?"

The beast tamer shook his head, and the Empress Dowager breathed a sigh of relief.

After a moment, the beast tamer stood up and said, "Originally it wasn't a big problem—just a common thorn injury, probably from passing through bushes... But it seems she forcefully spread her wings wide several times, and now the problem is somewhat serious."

The Eighth Prince shouted in shock, "What did you say?!"

As his words fell, the Crown Prince's body stiffened slightly, and the Empress Dowager's face darkened.