Chapter 47

Chapter 47

What the Xiao family thought no longer mattered to Ying Fusheng.

He would occasionally attend sessions at the Dali Temple, and when the Dali Temple's rulings satisfied him, some at court became uneasy. However, his imperial father strongly pushed this matter forward—investigate what needed investigating, confiscate what needed confiscating, and funds poured steadily into the treasury.

The lingering post-war problems began to ease, enabling the court's institutions to function properly. By the year-end audit, the treasury even showed a surplus. The emperor was overjoyed and ordered a revision of the tax policy to benefit the people. When the news reached the capital, the common people joyfully spread the word, and soon it traveled to all corners of Dayuan.

"Your essay was strongly recommended by the great scholar of the Imperial Academy, and His Highness praised it several times. His Majesty handed the tax policy to the Grand Secretariat for revision, and it has already benefited the capital region. Soon it will reach other parts of Dayuan," Shen Yunfei said, pulling Weng Yanqing aside to tell him the recent news. "The treasury is full, and the people are relieved. My father says this is a great thing."

Weng Yanqing knew this well, but he never imagined that the few tax suggestions he made would actually be adopted by the court, especially since they originated from the leaked examination essay. He quickly turned and knelt to thank him: "This humble subject thanks Your Highness for your patronage."

Ying Fusheng, sitting not far away, was quietly sipping warm tea as the two talked. He frowned at Weng Yanqing's words and had Shen Yunfei pull him to his feet. "Why thank me? This was your idea. If you had been born at the right time, you would have a place at court as well."

Weng Yanqing looked at the Sixth Prince, who seemed unwilling to take credit. It was always like this—whenever there was merit, he avoided claiming it.

But without the prince's push at the Imperial Academy, how could a simple case against the Shuntian Prefect have led to a sweeping anti-corruption campaign across the entire court? Only the wealth confiscated during this period could support the restructuring of Dayuan's tax system. Sometimes human effort has its limits, and finding the right opportunity is exceedingly difficult.

Moreover, removing so many officials at once would surely destabilize the government. Promoting the civil service examinations and purging the Censorate just happened to stabilize the chaotic court, allowing His Majesty to advance beneficial policies.

If even one link in the chain was missing, this would have been impossible.

Ying Fusheng grew tired listening to the two talk. When he left, Weng Yanqing and Shen Yunfei wanted to see him off, but he waved them away.

As he stepped out, light snow began to fall. Seeing Ying Fusheng enter the carriage, Shen Yunfei said, "The winter month has arrived. His Highness feels very unwell every winter."

Winter brought on the prince's drowsiness. His lessons at Wenhua Hall had already been delayed several times.

Inside the warm carriage, Ying Fusheng picked up the hand warmer that Song An had prepared earlier. "The Grand Tutor at Wenhua Hall sent someone to inquire. Your Highness has missed several lessons already."

"And at the Imperial Academy..."

Before he could finish, Song An saw the prince leaning against the window frame, his eyes closing.

Song An had to stop speaking and draped a coat over him. "Song An, what about the Imperial Academy..."

Earlier, after the Sixth Prince was appointed supervisor of the Dali Temple, His Majesty assigned two great scholars as his personal tutors. Since then, the prince attended classes at Wenhua Hall and then went to the Imperial Academy for the scholars' lessons. He often asked for leave before, but after all these events, the scholars' attitude toward him changed. They now wanted to impart all their knowledge to him.

Unfortunately, the prince's health was poor, especially in winter when cold symptoms flared up frequently. The scholars could do nothing about his condition. It was said they even went to the Imperial Medical Institute and ordered the doctors to cure him, only to be chased out by the physicians with dark scowls.

"Find an excuse to brush it off," Song An instructed.

The eunuch went to deliver the message to the Imperial Academy.

Ying Fusheng slept until the carriage arrived at Cining Palace before slowly waking up.

"Are we here?" he asked groggily.

He had always been numb to heat and cold, but after becoming accustomed to it, he grew to dislike winter. When winter arrived, a deep chill surged up from his bones, making his mind sluggish and his body stiff.

A while ago, it had been the Empress Dowager's birthday. This year, the celebration was kept simple. The emperor followed her wishes, avoiding extravagance. Afterward, the gifts from the palace feast were sent to Cining Palace. Among the gifts from the Xiao family, an additional piece of green jade was sent. The Empress Dowager glanced at it and had Lady Yu deliver it to Ying Fusheng.

The jade was wrapped in silk, simple in design, but on the back was carved a small character for "Xiao".

The Empress Dowager's intention was clear—this was the Xiao family's gift to Ying Fusheng.

The Xiao family had been busy with the Censorate matter lately. Xiao Yan acted decisively, regaining control of the Censorate in less than half a year and restoring its function of overseeing officials. Only after the dust settled did he send the Xiao family jade, a clear gesture of alignment, and he had it delivered through the Empress Dowager to give to him.

"The Eighth Prince is in the palace," Song An reminded him.

When Ying Fusheng entered the hall, he heard the Eighth Prince talking to the Empress Dowager, making her laugh. He slowed his steps and saw Xiaoqing flying erratically around the hall as the Eighth Prince teased the bird, making it dart up and down, much to the Empress Dowager's delight.

When Xiaoqing saw Ying Fusheng enter, it ignored everything else and flew straight to him.

Ying Fusheng had to extend his hand to let it land steadily.

The Eighth Prince, who had been teasing the bird, stopped and looked at Ying Fusheng, speaking in a low voice, "Brother Six."

Ying Fusheng nodded. "Eighth Brother."

The Eighth Prince seemed to want to approach but stopped himself, keeping his distance. He sat down at a far corner, occasionally glancing toward Ying Fusheng as he talked with the Empress Dowager.

"This Xiaoqing is always so docile with Your Highness," Lady Yu said with a smile.

The Empress Dowager beckoned Ying Fusheng to sit. "It's gotten heavier. Your health is poor, so sit down first."

After speaking, she looked at the distant Eighth Prince. "Xiao Ba, come here. Why sit so far away?"

Only then did the Eighth Prince rise and come closer. Since she had been unwell a few months ago, the Empress Dowager often stayed in Cining Palace, enjoying the company of the younger generation and often keeping them to chat.

Ying Fusheng listened to her ramble and noticed the gaze from beside him—the Eighth Prince kept stealing glances at him. He pretended not to notice, listening to the Eighth Prince chat with their grandmother. Unlike other princes who flattered, this eighth brother was more straightforward, even daring to tease Xiaoqing in front of the Empress Dowager, which actually endeared him to her.

Ying Fusheng stayed for the entire time. When the Empress Dowager showed signs of fatigue, he had Lady Yu escort her to rest. The hall was left with just him and the Eighth Prince. He stood to leave when suddenly the Eighth Prince called out.

The Eighth Prince stopped him, as if he had been bottling it up for a long time. "Is your health any better?"

"Thank you for your concern, Eighth Brother. It's nothing serious," Ying Fusheng replied.

"You haven't gone to Wenhua Hall for several days. I came to visit Grandmother today and to see you," the Eighth Prince said, looking at the seated figure. He hesitated briefly before muttering, "Are those imperial physicians quacks? Why can't they cure you?"

"This has nothing to do with them," Ying Fusheng said, hearing the naive reproach in his voice—as if in his eyes, any disease could be cured by a doctor. Such an unsophisticated view. "Even Hua Tuo himself were alive, some ailments cannot be cured quickly. My condition is much better than last year."

"Then you don't go to Wenhua Hall—is it because you don't want to attend lessons?" the Eighth Prince asked.

Ying Fusheng paused. "Something like that. I get sleepy, so I don't feel like going."

Hearing this, the Eighth Prince seemed to relax, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. "Mother said you're unwell and told me not to bother you."

At the mention of Empress Xu, Ying Fusheng's gaze flickered, his eyelids half-lowered. "Is that so?"

Just because he was unwell?... Since the Censorate case, the Crown Prince had grown much more composed. The Xu family's maneuvering at court was discreet but sufficient to completely distance the Eastern Palace from the matter. Yet anyone with eyes could see that without him taking charge of the case, things wouldn't have gone this far.

Because of this, even Consort Yun, who had been showing him favor, had gone quiet. At Wenhua Hall, the Seventh Prince no longer interacted closely with him. They were all wary. The Xu family couldn't possibly overlook him. In his previous life, Empress Xu had schemed until the very end for the false Crown Prince... For that reason alone, she must harbor resentment.

The Eighth Prince didn't think he had said anything wrong. Seeing Ying Fusheng silent for a long time, he asked cautiously, "Can I come play with you in the future?"

Empress Xu had never let him become entangled in schemes, raising him to be this way—carefree within the imperial family, which was rare. Though willful, he had a good nature and knew boundaries. As long as he stayed out of the succession struggle, he could live a peaceful, free life as a carefree prince.

When Ying Fusheng looked up again, his gaze was warm. "Of course."

The Eighth Prince's eyes lit up with excitement. "Great!"

As they spoke, Xiaoqing flew over, drawing the Eighth Prince's attention.

When the Eighth Prince walked away, the smile disappeared from Ying Fusheng's face.

He half-lowered his eyes, his gaze dark and unclear. "How are things at Kunning Palace these days?"

"The Empress is helping the Empress Dowager with palace affairs, so all internal matters now fall under Kunning Palace. As a result, many new palace attendants have entered the palace. I investigated their records—there's something suspicious," Song An said in a low voice. "Two eunuchs' identification tablets list their entry as three years ago... but when I asked around, some older eunuchs said they had never seen them before."

If they entered the palace three years ago, how could no one have seen them?

Those transferred to Kunning Palace would at least be well-known in the palace, if not thriving.

"The Empress tacitly allowed it—that means they entered through the Xu family's connections." Ying Fusheng thought to himself, *it’s as I suspected*. From the Empress Dowager's fainting to the turmoil in the Court and Country, this person behind the scenes has been remarkably patient, only now starting to place their people.

But as long as he makes a move, there will be traces to follow.

Song An said, "I have already sent people to watch them. I will inform Your Highness as soon as anything happens."

The sounds of the Eighth Prince and Xiaoqing playing echoed through Cining Palace. Xiaoqing was being chased up and down by the Eighth Prince, and the attendants of Cining Palace followed them from start to finish, afraid that these two little rascals might get into trouble.

Ying Fusheng watched calmly, without realizing it, for a long while.

As evening fell, a Kunning Palace attendant came to invite the Eighth Prince back to the palace. The Eighth Prince looked reluctant, but upon hearing that it was Empress Xu’s wish, he had no choice but to bid farewell to Ying Fusheng, saying he would come to play another time.

The lively sounds gradually faded, and Ying Fusheng realized he had been standing for a long time; when he came back to his senses, his body had grown cold.

He had just taken a few steps when the Eighth Prince suddenly ran back, stopped abruptly in front of Ying Fusheng, and said, "Brother Six, hold out your hand."

Ying Fusheng frowned. The Eighth Prince, unable to wait, had already reached out and grasped his wrist.

On his wrist and arm were faint red marks, visible through the clothing—Xiaoqing’s claws had left traces when she landed. Seeing this, the Eighth Prince muttered, "Just as I thought." By the time Ying Fusheng snapped out of it, a warm object had been slipped onto his wrist.

"It fits well," said the Eighth Prince as he slipped it onto Ying Fusheng's wrist. "I used to think you pretended to know things you didn’t, but you don’t even wear an arm guard when playing with Xiaoqing. You’ll easily get scratched by her."

After putting it on, he nodded in satisfaction. Hearing the court attendant’s call, he grumbled a few words, "I’m off. See you next time!"