Chapter 9

Chapter 9

"Take your seats--" the eunuch called out loudly, and the officials rose to enter the banquet.

Ying Fusheng, guided by the palace attendants, walked into the seating area where a newly arranged prince's table awaited.

The officials bowed in greeting. As Ying Fusheng bent down, he glimpsed a distant figure through his fingers.

When that familiar figure came into view beneath the imperial crown, the emperor's sharp brows and bright eyes revealed an unreadable expression. His face, younger than in later portraits, still carried an undeniable authority. The scent of bloodshed from the battlefield still clung to him, and as his gaze swept across, the surrounding crowd fell silent.

The eunuchs followed with lowered heads behind the emperor until he ascended to the elevated seat. The jade pendants of his crown clinked softly as he surveyed the officials below him. Without a word, the overwhelming pressure of the supreme ruler already overshadowed the entire Moon-Gazing Pavilion.

The emperor's sidelong glance swept over the civil and military officials in the hall, finally stopping at the head seat of the military section. There sat the newly returned General of the Northern Garrison, Qi Shen. Having set aside his dark armor, Qi Shen had a tension that ordinary men lacked—like a coiled wolf, ready to strike at any moment.

Behind him stood a group of generals.

The Qi family, the emperor's right-hand men and trusted aides through years of campaigns, had contributed greatly to the emperor's triumphant return to court. They had been granted the special privilege of stationing the Qi Family Army at the outskirts of the city.

Just by being present, they intimidated many civil officials.

"Brother Qi," the emperor said with a warm smile.

Qi Shen strode forward, stepping briskly, back straight, and bowed before the throne: "Your Majesty."

The emperor's expression was one of satisfaction, his sidelong glance moved past Qi Shen.

Among the tall and robust military officers, a young man followed behind Qi Shen. He held his own among the elders, bowing alongside his father with the same crisp efficiency characteristic of military men.

The Qi family's generals stood like a fortress at the banquet, drawing the attention of all the ministers. When Ying Fusheng looked up, those formidable generals came into view, particularly the two leaders of the Qi clan. He lowered his eyes thoughtfully and, when probing glances came his way, bowed his head to avoid those keen, wolf-like eyes.

"Today, we celebrate together as sovereign and subjects. There is no need for formality—please, take your seats," the emperor declared.

With these few words, the veteran ministers hailed the emperor's grace, and all officials offered their congratulations in unison.

Ying Fusheng collected himself as waves of praise rose around him. Despite years spent on campaign, the emperor's authority upon his return was undiminished.

In his youth, the emperor had expanded the realm through force, ruling with decisive ruthlessness and clever strategy, employing both benevolence and severity to create a decade of prosperity for Dayuan. Even now, regardless of civil or military officials, a single word from him could calm the restless hearts of the assembled ministers.

This was his father, the emperor.

Ying Fusheng followed behind the other princes. As he raised his head, he caught a glimpse of that majestic and solemn figure on the high seat. The last time he had seen his father in his past life, the emperor had been in a rage. His final memory of this father was those emperor's eyes filled with deep disappointment. Without many words, he ordered Ying Fusheng confined in the cold palace until the emperor's passing.

He suppressed his thoughts and followed the palace attendants to his seat.

The emperor took his place, and the music and dance began, officially starting the banquet.

On the high seat, the emperor turned to converse with Empress Xu. The warm atmosphere between the emperor and empress drew many eyes to the princes' table.

Especially toward the crown prince's seat, and upon closer look, they noticed an extra seat among the princes.

"Who is that?"

"That is the Sixth Prince."

At the banquet, many gazes fell upon Ying Fusheng.

The Sixth Prince was born to Noble Consort Ning. Years ago, the Ning family had committed offenses and lost the emperor's trust. Only in recent years had the Ning family gradually regained favor, with Lord Ning maneuvering for many years to be promoted to Vice Minister.

In the palace, Noble Consort Ning had been gentle and low-key, avoiding the spotlight in all matters, earning a fine reputation. Coupled with the Sixth Prince's lack of scholarly achievement and frail health, he was hardly noticeable among the princes and princesses. On ordinary days, the Sixth Prince seldom attended palace banquets, so many among those present only saw this prince, long bedridden with illness, for the first time today, prompting more than a few glances.

His placement at the princes' table today was the Empress Dowager's special decree, with his seat positioned just behind the crown prince.

Noticing so many gazes directed at herself and Ying Fusheng, Noble Consort Ning's anxiety grew and turned to resentment. If only this little bastard hadn't shown up, there would be no such trouble.

Today, the attendees were all high-ranking ministers of the court—a rare gathering of officials. Any change at the princes' table, however small, wouldn't escape these old foxes.

The young crown prince was exceptionally talented, and the empress came from the Xu family. The emperor naturally valued him highly. As for this Sixth Prince... the ministers swept their eyes across the princes' table, each lost in their own thoughts.

It was only when the music and dance reached a crescendo that everyone gradually immersed themselves in the pleasure of the feast.

After the procession, the entire court celebrated, and then came the gift presentation.

The presentation of gifts marked a key event in this national celebration, with the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet being the utmost priority.

The Imperial Clan and high-ranking officials of the court had long since prepared their congratulatory gifts. The gift presentation was a crucial link during the banquet. With the current emperor having been away on campaign for two years and returning this time to cleanse the court, his emphasis on military officials was evident. The gifts from the major aristocratic families, ostensibly for the Empress Dowager, actually conveyed their stance toward the imperial family through her.

The eunuch read out the gifts from the major clans and officials. The emperor on the high seat only gave them a brief glance and said little, occasionally asking a few questions about the Empress Dowager.

At the princes' table, several princes had their own thoughts.

Aside from the Fourth Prince, who died young, the current emperor had only three elder princes, all of whom had already established residences outside the palace and were sent by the emperor to gain experience in court. Apart from the Third Prince, who had yet to report for duty, the other two princes had achieved something: the First Prince served in the Ministry of Revenue, the Second Prince in the Ministry of Works, each with their own plans.

As the emperor's eldest son, the First Prince held a special status. He stepped forward first, presenting several heavy gifts—weapons forged from thousand-year-old black steel.

Dayuan valued martial prowess, and the Empress Dowager came from a military family. Within the palace, there were even imperial animal parks and training grounds. The specially made weapons presented on stage earned praise from every military officer present. Moreover, these weapons were tailored to the Empress Dowager herself—the very soft sword she favored in her younger days.

After this, the gifts from the Second and Third Princes were nothing special.

At this moment, the Eighth Prince, who had been under the care of the consorts, rushed forward. He strode to the center of the hall and bowed properly: "Father, I have also prepared a gift for Grandmother!"

Empress Xu's brows showed a hint of helplessness. The Eighth Prince's tendency to act spoiled and arrogant was not unusual, but rushing to present his gift ahead of others was rather reckless. What was brought out turned out to be a rather flashy beast-taming chariot.

This was one of the gifts Empress Xu had prepared for the Eighth Prince, and the child had carefully picked the flashiest one.

"Little Eight, his temperament hasn't changed a bit," the emperor said, his expression unchanged. He did not blame the Eighth Prince. He simply sat there, and the others at the banquet couldn't help but watch his face, trying to discern his attitude by reading his imperial countenance. However, the emperor's preferences were unclear; after many gifts had been presented, he hadn't shown much emotion.

The crown prince behaved appropriately, showing no irritation at having his turn cut in line. He looked at the Eighth Prince with what seemed like gentleness, but a flicker of relief flashed in his eyes—Luckily, he had changed his gift beforehand.

Due to his status as crown prince, the crown prince's seat was at the head of the table, beside several other princes seated together.

After the Eighth Prince presented his gift, the crown prince first spoke on his behalf: "Eighth Brother is innocent in nature, and he put considerable thought into choosing his gift."

Sure enough, at this moment, the emperor looked toward the crown prince.

The crown prince was deeply favored by the emperor, and because he had shown talent at a young age, earning successive praises from the Grand Tutor, he had been established early as the heir apparent of the Eastern Palace, holding a special status.

"The crown prince has grown quite a bit," the emperor said. Upon returning to the capital, he had heard many people praising the crown prince. Having not seen this child for a while, now looking at him, he indeed cut an impressive figure.

The Empress Dowager smiled and also praised the crown prince a few times. Holding a cup of water, she mentioned the recent circumstances of several princes. When her gaze swept past the princes' table and landed on Ying Fusheng, who sat upright, she commented, "Little Six is not bad either."

The emperor glanced at the frail figure at the end of the princes' table and acknowledged the Empress Dowager's words, but showed no great interest.

In the silent gaze, the crown prince rose and slightly brushed past Ying Fusheng beside him. Seeing that the latter remained unmoved, he withdrew his gaze and took a few steps to the center of the hall. All eyes fell upon him, and he declared: "Dragons surge across the desert seas, tigers roar across the northern plains conquered. Smoke and dust scatter, heavenly might appears, and the four seas and eight wastelands all bow their heads."

At these words, everyone around turned to look.

The crown prince was only ten years old, yet his scholarly elegance and brilliance were fully displayed. These four lines not only described the emperor's dragon-like and tiger-like martial might on campaign but also hinted that His Majesty would unite the world and receive the homage of all peoples.

In the center of the hall, the crown prince stood straight and tall, his eyes fixed solely on the emperor seated high above.

The officials murmured among themselves, while from the high seat, the Emperor’s gaze rested on the Crown Prince. After a long moment, he gave a slight nod: "My son’s poem carries a profound and lofty spirit, deeply pleasing to my heart."

Then, changing his tone, the Emperor lifted his golden goblet: "Yet how could this be achieved by my efforts alone? The horses that trample the sands charge toward ten thousand li of territory; it is the united resolve of the three armies and the officials of the court and country that drives this endeavor. This wine in my cup should be raised to the martial generals and worthy ministers present!"

With these words, the banquet officials surged with emotion, rising one after another to toast.

Consort Ning, observing the approving glances the surrounding officials cast at the Crown Prince—especially those few senior ministers who were usually so aloof—felt her earlier tension ease slightly and couldn’t help sneaking a few more looks at him. She had long known that this banquet would bring together members of the Imperial Clan from across the realm, and for this she had quietly made plans; the incident at Wangyue Pavilion had been an accident, and she was grateful her son had not been affected.

The Crown Prince’s confidence grew. Seeing his father the Emperor so pleased, he waved a hand, ordering the eunuchs to bring forward his tribute.

"On this day of national celebration, which also marks the Empress Dowager’s birthday, I offer this birthday gift for Grandmother, the Empress Dowager."

The eunuchs opened two chests of gifts. One chest contained neatly arranged scrolls of paintings and calligraphy.

Ying Fusheng followed the scene, watching as the eunuchs unrolled the scrolls. The first one displayed was a painting of ten thousand galloping horses.

From the high seat, the Empress Dowager leaned forward as if to get a closer look. She loved beasts, especially fine horses—Ying Fusheng had seen many horse-themed paintings in Cining Palace. This "Ten Thousand Horses" painting bore sharp, lively brushstrokes; the scroll was antique and the work of a master.

First, a poem as an introduction, then this horse painting—this tribute both praised the Emperor’s campaign and honored the Empress Dowager. With the horse painting at its head, these gifts were exceptionally well-prepared, surpassing those of the other princes and winning the favor of both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.

The Emperor nodded from the high seat, and the surrounding officials murmured their praise.

The Empress Dowager exclaimed several times in approval, clearly delighted with this gift.

The Crown Prince’s joy showed on his face, but he quickly suppressed it. "Grandmother, I am glad you like it. Bring forth the second gift," he said.

At these words, Empress Xu’s expression shifted slightly. She followed his gaze and saw eunuchs carrying an unfamiliar chest.

She asked her attendants in a low voice, "What is this?"

Among the gifts she had prepared for the Crown Prince, this was not included.

The eunuch had indeed only delivered the horse painting to the Crown Prince. Before Empress Xu could find out more, the gift had already been brought forward.

The chest was heavy, requiring four eunuchs to carry it in.

"This is a jade beast statue," the Crown Prince said, with a subtle gesture.

The eunuchs opened it as ordered, revealing statues carved from precious jade. The lifelike jade beasts seemed to merge with the raw jade, and the assembled officials gasped at the sight. Noticing their reaction, the Crown Prince concealed his delight—these beast statues had taken him half a year to gather and then had craftsmen working day and night to carve them to perfection.

Empress Xu’s expression changed drastically. Her fingers curled slightly, and she instinctively looked at the Emperor.

The Emperor’s posture remained unchanged. Even when the jade statues were unveiled, not a single brow moved; his gaze paused only briefly before returning to calmness.

While others whispered praises for the jade statues, Ying Fusheng remained unmoved. On his table, the wine in his cup swayed slightly; his gaze fell on the military officials seated across from him. The military officers had a far more imposing presence than the civil officials; the moment the jade statues appeared, several generals from the Qi family’s table furrowed their brows.

But the Crown Prince did not notice this. After all, how could mere scrolls be a proper birthday gift for the Empress Dowager? They were far inferior to the gifts from the officials. He began to elaborate to the Emperor on the jade statues, explaining how he intended this gift for an even grander occasion. But these past few days, sensing Empress Xu’s indifference and the Empress Dowager’s fading warmth toward him during their morning greetings, he had been forced to bring out the jade statues to win the Empress Dowager’s favor and demonstrate his respect for his father.

He carefully chose his words, intending to use the statues to extol the bravery of the soldiers and the Emperor’s achievements. But his scheming and delight vanished the moment he met the Emperor’s calm, expressionless face.

Consort Ning had been pleased by the Crown Prince’s thoughtfulness—these lifelike jade statues seemed a fine gift. But then she heard the Empress Dowager say simply, "The Crown Prince is thoughtful."

That single, weighty sentence drained the joy from Consort Ning’s face and silenced the assembled officials.

Many sharp-eyed guests understood that the Empress Dowager was not pleased with this latter gift.

The Crown Prince froze, his mind racing. Was it the gift? No—the Eighth Prince’s earlier gift had been even more extravagant, yet the Empress Dowager had not been so cold...

He was still young; his previous gifts had always been overseen by Empress Xu. This was the first time he had prepared such an expensive gift himself, intending to outshine the officials and win the favor of the two on the high throne. But sensing the Emperor and Empress Dowager’s lukewarm reaction, a rare panic surged within him.

In his confusion, his gaze wandered. He saw the First Prince sneering in the princes’ seats, and the other princes whispering among themselves. His panic turned to anger. That anger became solid when his eyes fell on another figure among the princes: Ying Fusheng sat calmly, his food untouched, his expression serene and aloof. When their eyes met, that calm self-possession, in the Crown Prince’s eyes at this moment, seemed like a silent provocation, deeply irritating.

Seeing that the jade statues were about to be removed, the Crown Prince suddenly said, "I hear the Sixth Prince has been ill for many days and has prepared a birthday gift for Grandmother."

At these words, countless eyes turned to Ying Fusheng.

Consort Ning was slightly surprised, but pushing Ying Fusheng forward now could help the Crown Prince by serving as a stepping stone.

From the high seat, Empress Xu’s eyes flickered, but the Crown Prince did not catch her subtle signal. Instead, he stepped back after drawing out Ying Fusheng. Empress Xu’s fingers touched the prayer beads in her sleeve; she looked at the Crown Prince and Ying Fusheng, frowned slightly, and when an attendant moved to act, she waved her hand to stop them, silently watching the hall.

The princes’ gift-giving was the highlight of the banquet, and especially so for the Sixth Prince.

It was no secret that the Sixth Prince had been staying at Cining Palace for some time. The harem consorts knew, and word had spread through the court.

Although the Sixth Prince was staying at Cining Palace only for his health, the Empress Dowager’s temperament made such a stay seem like a sign of favor. The banquet was meant for celebration; the Sixth Prince was young, and the value of his gift was a secondary matter. But once it became tied to his stay at Cining Palace, the meaning changed.

Several princes and princesses showed looks of anticipation, as if waiting for a show.

One nearby official paused. With the Empress Dowager displeased, offering a gift at this moment could be risky...

Under the weight of all eyes, Ying Fusheng first whispered a few words to his attendant, then bowed deeply to those on the high throne. He walked slowly to stand beside the Crown Prince, where the jade statues had already been removed, leaving the hall’s center empty. Standing together, a jade pendant hanging from his waist caught the faint moonlight, and his bright eyes were calm and clear.

By then, his attendant had already brought forward his gift. Compared to the gifts of other nobles, the chest for the Sixth Prince’s gift was plain and simple, and noticeably smaller.

Ying Fusheng nodded, and the attendant opened the chest to reveal several scrolls. As the scrolls appeared, whispers broke out. Throughout the banquet, many had presented famous paintings and calligraphy; doing so now would not normally be noteworthy. But with the congratulatory poem and the "Ten Thousand Horses" painting as shining examples, and following the Crown Prince’s tribute, before the scrolls were even unrolled, everyone had already guessed the outcome.

A trace of mockery flickered in the Crown Prince’s eyes.

"The gift I have prepared, Your Majesty, is two paintings," Ying Fusheng said, with a slight wave of his hand. The attendant unrolled one of them.

Two paintings. The scholars could tell at once that they were not the solitary works of a famous master honed over years, but rather freshly painted, as if just completed.

Moreover, the brushwork was immature. The artist had a certain form, but the strokes lacked practice—the lines were not crisp enough.

The composition was there, but the paintings were too crude. How could such things be presented to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager?!

The Crown Prince frowned at first, then, seeing this inferior work, he glanced sideways and was startled to see his father the Emperor gazing at it intently.

"Bring it closer," the Emperor’s voice rang out from the high seat.

Throughout the banquet, this was the first painting brought before the Emperor.

Empress Xu paused. When the painting was drawn near, she saw horses and soldiers at the top, and below, curling incense smoke; on closer look, it seemed that the common people’s incense offerings were lifting the fierce horses and brave generals. It was a painting meant for blessing—and it echoed her own thoughts. She had been frequenting temples these past months for just such a blessing; the "Ten Thousand Horses" painting she had prepared for the Crown Prince was also sent to the temple for prayers for months before being offered as a birthday gift. But the Crown Prince had never understood her intention, while Ying Fusheng’s idea was close to her own.

"Father Emperor has been campaigning at the front, while Grandmother Empress Dowager never slackened in chanting sutras and praying, often sending people to temples to bless the front’s peace and success," Ying Fusheng said, lowering his head respectfully. "The sons of Dayuan have been fighting long; the commoners of the capital have prayed to the gods for protection—to guard the soldiers’ health and also to honor the spirits of those who fell at the border."

After the Emperor had seen it, he ordered it brought before the Empress Dowager. From the start of the banquet, he had noticed this young child. To be honest, he could not clearly recall the boy’s appearance among the many princes and princesses, but now, he seemed somewhat different. "Let the Empress Dowager have a look as well."

The Empress Dowager was already fond of Ying Fusheng. Seeing the painting, she remembered that her attendants had mentioned the Little Sixth had once asked for brushes and ink. The banquet had seen many famous masterpieces, but the meaning of this painting pleased her greatly.

The Emperor’s attitude stiffened the Crown Prince’s posture, and Consort Ning’s expression turned extremely sour.

Many eyes fell on Consort Ning. She had no idea that Ying Fusheng had prepared such a thing. She had ordered someone to give him two random pieces as a gift, but now, the items he presented were things she had never heard of. The gazes that came from all directions assumed that she had prepared them for him. The feeling of being exposed under everyone’s scrutiny was unbearable; she wore a smile but inwardly her handkerchief was nearly torn to shreds.

But the matter did not end there. As the crowd buzzed with discussion, a voice fell from the high seat—

Ying Fusheng, hearing these words, showed a trace of shame and embarrassment on his face.

His hesitant demeanor seemed quite interesting to the Emperor—the boy had been on his best behavior all feast and was finally showing a childlike side—who remarked, "What is it?"

Ying Fusheng then had someone unroll the scroll. As soon as it opened, the brushstrokes looked even messier.

From top to bottom, the strokes ranged from immature to skilled, making it difficult to discern the painting's intent.

"What is this?" the Emperor frowned.

Ying Fusheng explained, "This is a painting using incense ash."

"This humble son is slow-witted. I sought out eminent monks and requested some incense ashes to use as ink... As for these traces, they were drawn by pilgrims who recently visited temples to pray. They hold the prayers of the common people." At this, he pointed to several strokes and continued, "But this humble son has never left the palace, so this may be somewhat careless. This painting holds the sincere hearts of children and the painstaking care of scholars... Though the artistry is crude, it conveys the people's feelings toward the frontier soldiers and the imperial family, so I present it as a congratulatory gift."

The ministers at the feast instantly realized what this was—a prayer painting from a hundred families.

The war had been long, and even though His Majesty had returned victorious, the Dayuan dynasty needed time to recover. From the Emperor's rewarding of military officers and his toasts at the feast, it was clear he intended to placate the generals and key officials. Under such circumstances, it was no wonder that the Crown Prince's gift of the Jade Beast Statue had received the Empress Dowager's cold indifference. A jade statue made with such effort and expense, rushed day and night, would provoke resentment among the military officials who had fought on the front lines with limited supplies.

Meanwhile, the Sixth Prince's gift, though equally time-consuming, involved sending people to temples to pray, distributing alms to accumulate blessings, and using the Empress Dowager's name to appease the generals, soothe the people on behalf of the imperial family, and glorify the Emperor's achievements.

It was essentially a triple win. Two simple prayer paintings, with immature brushwork, but crafted with heartfelt intent—these were excellent gifts.

The feast fell silent, but suddenly a hearty laugh came from the high seat.

The Emperor's gaze rested on Ying Fusheng without saying much else, but his demeanor showed great delight.

"A prayer painting from a hundred families—this is a gift of extraordinary value."