Chapter 40: First Signs of Brilliance

Chapter 40: First Signs of Brilliance

The emperor left the feast first, followed by the rest of the officials.

Chen Shuoan lingered at the back of the crowd, rubbing his stomach—he was stuffed to the gills.

Tomorrow everyone had the day off, and everyone was beaming.

Chen Shuoan had eaten like a king and figured he'd walk a bit longer before heading back to Guangyang Palace.

He intended to find Yuan Rang, and sure enough, spotted him talking with a man.

The man looked frail and sickly, standing a head shorter than the fourteen-year-old Yuan Rang, his face showing signs of illness.

Qin Zhonglian knew Chen Shuoan didn't know a single person here and introduced him: "This is the princes' older brother. Two years ago, His Majesty granted him a courtesy name and the title of Prince Ping."

"He's twenty?" Chen Shuoan asked.

In this world, men came of age at eighteen, receiving courtesy names and official posts.

Princes were given their titles at eighteen, no longer required to live in the palace or attend daily lessons at the imperial study—no wonder he seemed so unfamiliar.

"Yes," Qin Zhonglian nodded, then added, "The Crown Prince is the second son, yet he's three years younger than Prince Ping."

"What's that got to do with anything?" Chen Shuoan didn't understand why he brought this up.

"Starting from the Crown Prince, the princes' birth years are all quite close together—some only months apart," Qin Zhonglian lowered his voice, sharing imperial secrets with him. "Rumor has it that Prince Ping's birth mother's family once ran the harem, throwing their weight around for three years and leaving the imperial line sparse. It only eased after Consort Xia's family was brought down."

"Apparently, Prince Ping's health was ruined by the harem consorts' scheming during that time."

Chen Shuoan had taken in too much gossip today and was struggling to digest it all—he was utterly stunned.

"No wonder he looks like he's in bad shape."

"It's just hearsay—don't take it too seriously."

Chen Shuoan nodded, recalling a passing mention in the original book that Prince Ping had ulterior motives and had caused trouble for the male lead, though the details escaped him now.

"Grand Dowager, this is the son of Grand Tutor Chen and the son of the Duke of State Stabilization."

A female attendant with a swallowtail bun was leading the Grand Dowager this way.

Qin Zhonglian snapped back to attention, guiding Chen Shuoan to bow toward the approaching Grand Dowager. "May the Grand Dowager enjoy boundless blessings."

"Mm." Bai Gudan acknowledged, gesturing for them to dispense with formalities. She gave Qin Zhonglian an extra glance and smiled slowly. "The young Qin heir is indeed quite the talent."

Qin Zhonglian rose and said modestly, "You flatter me, Your Grace."

Bai Gudan chuckled lightly and ignored him after that.

She looked Chen Shuoan up and down, her eyes cold and sharp, though a warm smile curved her lips: "So you're Reader-in-Waiting Chen?"

A chill ran down Chen Shuoan's spine. He tried to shake off the intense discomfort and forced himself to answer, "Yes."

Bai Gudan's delicate fingers wore ornate nail guards; she moved her fingers, the guards clicking softly. She asked, as if she didn't already know: "Serving under His Highness the Sixth Prince?"

Chen Shuoan was so done.

You already know this, so why the hell are you asking?!

He could write a ten-thousand-word rant in his head, yet his face betrayed no irritation as he answered again, "Yes."

Bai Gudan's lips curled into a smile, her tone sickly sweet and kind.

Her face was half-hidden in shadow, her eyes seemingly locked on Yuan Rang standing nearby.

"Good boy."

She smiled, sweeping her long sleeves as she turned—the white jade earrings dangling from her ears swaying gently with the motion, the tassels on her phoenix crown swaying softly in the air.

Bai Gudan's soft, slender hand rested lightly on the female attendant's arm, revealing a green jade bangle on her fair wrist. She moved with grace and poise.

The Grand Dowager was led away by her attendant, leaving a trail of familiar sandalwood scent as she passed Chen Shuoan.

————

Liu Fengnian saw Prince Ping depart and stepped forward to stand beside Yuan Rang, bowing. "Please, Your Highness, come with me."

Yuan Rang raised an eyebrow, his gaze drifting toward Chen Shuoan waiting in the distance. He smiled at Liu Fengnian. "My mother has been missing you terribly lately. Grandfather, would you come to Guangyang Palace?"

Liu Fengnian could see right through him—the autumn night was cold and the temperature was dropping fast, and Yuan Rang simply didn't want the young Master Chen waiting any longer.

Yuan Rang smiled at Chen Shuoan, walking slowly to stand before him, taking both his hands and wrapping them in his own, warming them with his body heat.

A smile spread across Chen Shuoan's face as he pulled his hands free, then mischievously pressed them to Yuan Rang's exposed neck, warming his palms first, then the backs of his hands.

Yuan Rang let him have his fun.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he deliberately tickled Chen Shuoan's palm.

Chen Shuoan giggled, running his finger over that Adam's apple, then suddenly leaned in to examine it closely.

Yuan Rang felt the warm breath against his bare skin, and the pressure on his vulnerable throat was impossible to ignore—his hands hanging at his sides clenched into tight fists.

"During puberty, a surge of male hormones makes the thyroid cartilage grow and push forward, forming an Adam's apple. It also lengthens the vocal cords, making the voice deeper," Chen Shuoan said, pulling his hand away from Yuan Rang's neck and guiding Yuan Rang's hand to his own Adam's apple, earnestly explaining, "You'll be hitting your voice-change period soon, Your Highness."

Yuan Rang's eyes were locked on Chen Shuoan, his attention entirely captured by that small, delicate Adam's apple bobbing up and down with each word—he hadn't absorbed a single word of Teacher Chen's biology lesson.

His large hand completely enveloped the fragile neck before him, skipping the small talk and going straight to playing the victim.

"Recently I've been waking up in pain every night—maybe it's growing pains." His lashes drooped, a pitiful, hurt look on his face as he asked weakly, "Shuo'an, can you stay with me tonight?"

Chen Shuoan, as naive as ever, had been tricked into Yuan Rang's bed more times than he could count. He reached out and gently patted Yuan Rang's head a few times, saying sympathetically, "Of course. Just wake me up if it hurts."

Guangyang Palace.

"Yan Bi's men have found that iron mine in Shuozhou. Xia Jinggu has been picked up for questioning."

"Xia's commissioner has always kept his mouth shut. I'm not worried." Yuan Rang lounged on the couch, fingers lightly stroking the jade Pixiu on his wrist. "What about Third Brother?"

"He reportedly hasn't had a good night's sleep in months. When he learned His Majesty had sent investigators, he flew into a rage—He Sui's men have been taken out one by one."

Yuan Rang chuckled softly. "Those men under He Sui don't cover their tracks well. If Yuan Wu caught their trail, they deserved their fate. Tell our County Magistrate He to keep himself clean and stay clear of them."

"Naturally."

"Father hinted today that after the new year, he'll issue a decree granting Pingshuo and Bozhou to me." Yuan Rang lowered his lashes, his tone flat and detached.

A faint smile curved Liu Fengnian's lips. "You've won this round, Your Highness."

Yuan Rang quirked the corner of his mouth, his eyes half-closed, as if utterly exhausted.

"Grandfather, I have only three months left to be with him."

"You are but fifteen this year, Your Highness. It's only natural to have distractions on your mind."

Liu Fengnian was stunned for a long moment before he finally spoke again: "My boy... matters of the heart are a small thing. I had thought you understood that."

"It's not just a distraction."

Yuan Rang cut him off abruptly, opening his narrow phoenix eyes. His voice was soft but carried real weight: "I will seize the throne, and I will not let him go."

Liu Fengnian was so startled he couldn't help stepping back half a step.

Before him stood a youth with a cold, unyielding heart, already showing an iron hand. His still-youthful face was now etched with wild ambition.

It sent an inexplicable chill down one's spine.