Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Throughout the gift-giving at the palace banquet, this was the first time the Emperor had offered such high praise for a gift.

Countless probing gazes fell upon him. When Ying Fusheng heard the Emperor's laughter, he seemed to snap out of his cautious worry. He looked up toward the high seat, a flicker of confusion on his face before he recovered and responded, "Thank you, Imperial Father."

The Emperor acted as if he hadn't noticed the undercurrents among the officials at the feast. For the first time, he looked directly at Ying Fusheng. From his elevated position, he could only see the small head bowed before him—such a frail physique for the royal family. At their first meeting, he truly hadn't paid much attention to this child; his behavior was proper and cautious, and compared to the calm confidence of the other princes, Ying Fusheng seemed somewhat timid.

His expression steadied as he observed Ying Fusheng standing respectfully in the courtyard. "The prayer offering is precious. None of your elder brothers thought of this. How did you come to present such a gift?"

At the Emperor's question, the expressions of the ministers darkened, and several princes at the princes' table changed color.

Ying Fusheng's fingernails pressed slightly into his palm as he maintained a restrained posture. "Your son's gift is far inferior to those of my elder brothers. The gifts my brothers prepared only show their outward form. However, during my illness, the Empress and His Highness the Crown Prince frequently went to pray. His Highness didn't speak of it, but that doesn't mean he didn't do it. I believe the same is true for all my brothers."

These words took everyone by surprise. The expressions of several princes at the table eased slightly. Sending gifts might seem trivial, but it was fraught with undercurrents. Otherwise, the Crown Prince wouldn't have gone to the trouble of crafting a fine Jade Beast Statue. Who won and who lost was evident from the Emperor's reaction. What was unexpected was that Ying Fusheng had actually helped the other princes out of a tight spot. Such words were not flattering; if he had seized the opportunity to claim credit, he would surely have received great favor from the Emperor. But he did not.

Though the Crown Prince managed to maintain a faint smile on his lips, there was no trace of amusement in his eyes. He felt no gratitude toward Ying Fusheng for his rescue; instead, there was a sense of being overshadowed. Behind him, some imperial clansmen and senior officials exchanged knowing glances, their gazes a mix of surprise and scrutiny, clearly plotting something.

In the silence of the banquet, Ying Fusheng spoke calmly from the courtyard.

"Your son is dull-witted and frail. When I was ill, my mother Consort recited sutras and prayed, and Grand Empress Dowager cared for me, allowing me to return from the brink of death." His words were earnest and precise. "Prayer is the wish of the people, and also the wish of the imperial family. The empire's soldiers have given their all. Though I cannot be there in person, I wish to do what little I can."

Consort Ning stiffened.

The consorts cast glances her way. It was well known that Consort Ning had been punished by being made to recite sutras and was even confined to her palace. With just these few words, Ying Fusheng had defused the situation regarding Wangyue Court and even attributed part of the merit to Consort Ning. How could such words come from a ten-year-old child? Clearly, Consort Ning had taught him!

Noble Consort Ning's well-maintained face froze. From the moment Ying Fusheng had presented those two paintings, everything had gone beyond her expectations. Flustered, she barely managed to maintain her composure. When had these things been prepared? How had that bastard dared to think of preparing them bypassing her? Yet she couldn't deny it—the credit fell squarely on her. Panicked, she looked around; in the distance, the Crown Prince didn't even spare her a glance. She could only stare into the courtyard, longing to pull that bastard down from there.

The candlelight in Wangyue Court flickered, casting a serene shadow over Ying Fusheng's lowered brows.

The atmosphere at the palace banquet had subtly shifted after this gift.

The Grand Empress Dowager looked kindly at Xiao Liu. These two gifts had indeed exceeded her expectations. While others had chosen gifts themed around weapons and beasts, Ying Fusheng's gift focused on prayer. She looked at the Emperor: "This child is sincere."

The Emperor's gaze shifted slightly. His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the dragon throne, a look of surprise in his eyes. This child seemed frail, but the will he displayed was more than that. He nodded in approval and suddenly asked, "Since you care for the soldiers and pray for them, do you know why they fight?"

At these words, the military officials in the banquet looked up, and the civil officials wore expressions of shock.

The Crown Prince's face grew even darker. His own gift had received no praise from the Emperor, and now Ying Fusheng had not only been praised but was even being questioned by their father in front of all these court officials!

Gazes from all directions fell upon Ying Fusheng like needles pricking his back. When he heard the Emperor's question, he paused for a moment as if thinking. The Emperor, in his elevated seat, showed rare patience. He rubbed the thumb ring on his thumb, his gaze seeming calm but penetrating.

Ying Fusheng's fingers tightened inside his sleeve, but his face showed no alarm, only a hint of distress.

"What, is this question so difficult?" the Emperor asked, though his eyes inadvertently swept over the civil officials' seats, where the Vice Minister of Rites was seated.

This question was not just difficult. Anyone among the court could see what was at stake, and the Emperor surely could as well!

Moreover, the banquet was filled with military generals, all watching. Even officials had to think twice before speaking, let alone a prince.

At the table, several military officials looked over.

General Qi, Qi Shen, sat upright. The young man beside him frowned slightly, his gaze falling on the prince in the courtyard.

Silence fell around them. Ying Fusheng in the courtyard was quiet for only a moment. His clear eyes seemed to hold a trace of sadness. His voice was clear and earnest: "To answer Imperial Father, your son does not understand grand principles. But during my illness, I heard the attendants say that soldiers fight to protect the nation and its people, to protect us."

At this, his voice became slightly subdued: "But when they go to war, they either win or never return. The soldiers might not come back. During my illness, I also hoped for Imperial Father's return. Since I feel this way, the soldiers' families must also have parents or children waiting for them. If they die on the battlefield, will they find their way home?"

As his voice faded, those present seemed not to have anticipated such a simple answer. The young prince's innocent reply echoed in Wangyue Court—the heartfelt response of a child. Prayer had no deeper meaning; it was merely a hope that the souls of the departed would find their way home.

The Emperor on his high seat was slightly startled. The sharp, penetrating look in his eyes seemed to melt like spring snow, replaced by a trace of surprise and complex emotion. "Good... well said."

His gaze fell on Ying Fusheng's thin shoulders. "Though you are young, you have a sincere heart. Rare indeed."

With that, he unexpectedly beckoned to Ying Fusheng. "Come, come to me."

At these words, several faces at the banquet changed. Consort Ning looked up in disbelief, and the Crown Prince could barely maintain his composure. Ying Fusheng's eyes widened in surprise. Meeting the Emperor's gaze, he bowed slightly and walked up the steps. The people beside him seemed to shrink away as the surroundings fell silent.

The scent of dragon ambergris was close at hand. His palms were cold as he approached the Emperor step by step.

The Emperor patted his thin shoulder. The unfathomable eyes that had been scrutinizing him now showed an unfamiliar warmth.

Ying Fusheng could even hear a soft chuckle. As the laughter subsided, the Emperor looked at the civil and military officials in the courtyard. "Did you all hear that? Some truths, sometimes you don't see as clearly as a child."

He nodded slightly at Ying Fusheng, his tone softening. "Do you know what must be done now?"

From the corner of his eye, Ying Fusheng saw the officials in the courtyard. The warmth on his shoulder was both comforting and heavy as a thousand pounds. A thousand thoughts swirled in his mind, but before the Emperor, they condensed into the innocence and confusion befitting his age. He said, "Your son does not understand."

The Emperor nodded but did not press further. His gaze swept over the assembled ministers. "The roads have a place of return, and families have a direction to look toward. Today, on the Grand Empress Dowager's birthday, we shall establish a Shrine for the Fallen Soldiers according to her wishes."

"In the Northern Campaign, the loyal souls of our soldiers forged the strength of Dayuan. Those who rendered service to the state shall be commemorated in the shrine. Let temples across the land hold seven days of prayer rituals, allowing the people to offer blessings, comfort the hearts of the living, and guide the soldiers' souls home."

Ying Fusheng was stunned.

The ministers rose one after another. "Your Majesty is wise!"

Dayuan valued martial prowess. Both the current and previous emperors had used force to end wars. Even the Grand Empress Dowager came from a military family. In such times, whether the imperial family believed in gods and buddhas was known only to them. But prayer was different. After days of campaigning and the resulting turmoil, the people needed something to rally behind. A gift of prayer, showing the Emperor's compassion for all under heaven, would be seen differently by the people.

The Emperor's voice softened. "The Sixth Prince, for his merit in the prayer offering, is granted a century-old ginseng to strengthen his constitution."

"The matter of establishing the Shrine for the Fallen Soldiers and the prayer rituals must not be delayed." The Emperor's gaze turned to the Vice Minister of Rites. "Vice Minister Ning, this task shall be yours."

Vice Minister Ning of the Ministry of Rites was flattered and startled. He immediately stood and hurried forward. "Your servant accepts the decree!"

Many at the banquet turned their eyes to Vice Minister Ning.

The Ning family had been quiet for years. But with the Sixth Prince's sudden rise to prominence today, the Ning family had ridden the wave.

As undercurrents surged through the banquet, Ying Fusheng bowed with his hands clasped. His eyelids drooped slightly, the earlier innocence vanishing without a trace. He gathered his robes and withdrew his sleeves. Only after receiving the Emperor's permission did he return to his seat.

Instantly, gazes followed him. At the princes' table, the looks were especially intense.

The Crown Prince barely managed to maintain his facade of fraternal warmth. He forced a smile at Ying Fusheng, but his hand under the table was clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palm. The First Prince and Second Prince, who sat nearby, regarded Ying Fusheng with interest. For the first time since the banquet began, they nodded to him in acknowledgment.

"Gentlemen, make yourselves at ease. A banquet is for shared joy," the Emperor said.

With the gifts presented, the palace banquet continued with music and dance.

Earlier that day, the Emperor had rewarded the military officers for their achievements. Now, through the Grand Empress Dowager's birthday gifts, he was distributing pensions. Many looked at Vice Minister Ning. Few believed that a gift so thoughtful had been prepared by a ten-year-old child; it seemed more likely that the Ning family behind the Sixth Prince had been plotting. At once, more eyes turned toward Vice Minister Ning and Noble Consort Ning. What had seemed like the Ning family's cautious restraint now appeared to be a matter of timing.

The banquet stretched on. After several rounds of wine, the atmosphere grew lively.

At this point, the Emperor excused himself for a brief rest. The mood in the hall shifted instantly.

The gift presentation and Vice Minister Ning made Ying Fusheng the center of attention among the princes' seats. His earlier childish yet highly praised words drew curious glances from many officials. It was his first time attending a palace banquet, and his every move and word displayed a deliberately quiet and restrained demeanor, with only a trace of elation lingering between his brows, as if he was completely unaware of the undercurrents running deep within the palace.

This behavior, seen by the surrounding officials, appeared simple. Seeing his joy worn on his sleeve made him easy to read, but their speculations about Vice Minister Ning were entirely different.

"Vice Minister Ning."

Vice Minister Ning suddenly received attention from his fellow colleagues. In ordinary times, he would never have enjoyed such glory. The Ning family had never been highly regarded at court, and though things had improved in recent years, their long absence from the imperial presence still left them somewhat lacking. But the Sixth Prince's appearance had brought him some limelight, and even those who previously disdained to speak with him came over.

He'd been nervous today because of the recent incident at the Wangyue Pavilion, but he never expected to gain the emperor's favor at the palace banquet. This not only delighted him but also gave him a sense of newfound clarity.

It was an unexpected joy. From a distance, he shot Noble Consort Ning a glare, warning her not to act rashly, and then used the chance to chat briefly with the official before him.

The Ning family had never been so glorious. After years of being stifled, Vice Minister Ning was now getting toasts from his peers at the banquet.

Among the princes' seats, Ying Fusheng followed the sound and glanced at Vice Minister Ning's triumphant appearance, a trace of mockery flickering under his calm facade.

He nudged the wine cup in front of him, its reflection showing the Ning family stepping into the light. Vice Minister Ning basked in the flattery of his peers, unaware that he had become the focus of many eyes.

Ying Fusheng averted his gaze. Not far away, among the civil officials' seats, several elderly grand councilors were seated, led by the Xu family of the Qingliu faction. Among them, an old man was nodding slightly, seemingly observing the commotion in the hall, his peripheral vision sweeping past him.

His eyes shifted subtly, and he understood clearly—the Xu family had long been the leaders of the Qingliu faction and Empress Xu's own family, a power that would one day help the crown prince rise to the throne.

The Xu family...

The reflection in his cup stopped swaying, and with a submissive expression, his gaze fixed on a distant point.

Among the consorts' seats, Noble Consort Ning saw her father mingling among the officials, and then looked at Ying Fusheng. Her face pale, she twisted her handkerchief in her hands.

"Sister, the Sixth Prince has really won the emperor's favor this time," said one consort.

"How could this be..." Noble Consort Ning barely managed to force a polite smile, but inside, she could not laugh at all.

The other consorts thought differently. The Sixth Prince's gift had clearly been carefully prepared.

Normally, Consort Ning never fights, but she was clearly saving her big move for now.

Several consorts wore smiles, but Consort Ning's panic grew with each passing moment.

The scene she had envisioned—the crown prince stealing the spotlight—did not materialize. She had contacted the Ning family in the Ministry of Rites beforehand, sending word to the crown prince's side, but her own family had ignored her hints time and again, showing no regard for her. Now, Ying Fusheng had stolen the show, and the crown prince seemed dull in comparison—this was not the outcome she wanted.

That said, as she swept the gathered ministers with a glance, she could've killed Ying Fusheng right then and there.

"Sister is usually so easygoing, but it turns out she put a lot of thought into that gift," another consort said pointedly. "You've even outshone His Highness the Crown Prince."

Just as Consort Ning was about to defend herself, the crown prince suddenly turned to face her. She instinctively tried to smile at him, but she saw his cold look, eyes wary and hostile toward her.

Author's Note:

Qi Shen is Zhou Ge's dad!

They're both still young~

Sheng Ge (begins his act)

Zhou Ge (frowning)