Yu Zi Heng

CHAPTER 7

38

The prince's teacher was ultimately selected from three individuals: a renowned scholar of the time, the head of the Hanlin Academy, and Shen Ying—Shen Duo's father, the former commander of the Jinlin Guards.

Minister of Rites, Uncle Li, was a classmate of my father's at the Imperial Academy and was known for his efficiency and expertise, making his rapid promotion understandable. I couldn't find any faults with these three choices, even if I searched high and low.

I mixed my family letters with the memorials and sent them off to the Imperial Estate by fast horse.

Fu Bao went to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to verify the accounts, while another palace maid served me tea.

“There's a commotion outside the study. Who's talking?”

“Replying to Niangniang, it's the First Prince insisting on seeing you.”

I set down my tea cup and looked at the maid.

After a moment, she was so frightened that she knelt down. 

“Niangniang, forgive me. I know I was wrong.”

“No, you don't know your mistake. You don't even understand why Ben Gong was angry.”

The maid buried her head, not daring to respond. As soon as she knelt, all sounds from Shuyue Residence faded away; everyone inside and outside the room held their breath.

It was better when Fu Bao was around; with her there, the others weren't as intimidated by me.

“Tell Ben Gong who's outside.”

“…It's… the First Prince…”

“You all know that it's the First Prince. The First Prince is of Imperial blood. Whether Ben Gong wants to see him or not is one thing, but who gave you the audacity to block a prince and deceive a Noble Consort? Have you been so indulged in the palace that you've forgotten the basic rules?”

“I know I was wrong. Please calm your anger, Niangniang.”

“You go and apologize to the First Prince. When he forgives you, you can return to your duties.”

“Yes.”

Before long, Chen Yuan entered.

This time he wore a moon-white outfit, a style that had been popular a few years back, likely made for him when the Empress was still alive.

Chen Yuan knelt down before me. “I know you are looking for a teacher for the princes, and I dare to request that you allow me to enter the study for my lessons.”

“On what basis?”

“I have nothing. All I have left is this body, so there’s nothing that could persuade you, Niangniang. If you don't agree, I will go ask Xián Fēi and seek the Emperor, one by one, until I find someone who can help me, but I will do so with a clear conscience.”

“Fine, go ahead and ask.”

Chen Yuan didn't say anything further; he bowed his head and prepared to leave.

“Why not ask the Empress Dowager? She dotes on her grandson the most.”

Chen Yuan's body trembled.

If Chen Yuan had an enemy in this imperial harem, it could only be the Empress Dowager—the one who had sent his mother to the Cold Palace.

The death of the late Empress had nothing to do with his mother; it was merely a way for the royal family to quell the anger of the Empress's family.

The Emperor held a deep disdain for Chen Yuan, partly because of his past disrespect towards the Empress Dowager.

“Chen Yuan, you are different from Chen Yang and Chen Xi. You have already played your trump card. If you don't change your strategy, you will never be able to get back in the game.”

“I will remember Niangniang's kindness.”

39

The Emperor finally returned to the palace with his large entourage.

Despite having gone out hunting, he returned looking plump and well-fed. 

I stood at the palace gates to welcome him, while Shen Duo stood outside as a guard. From a distance, he shot me a mocking glance.

I really missed the years when Shen Ying had thrown him to the Northern Barbarians and forbade him from returning to the capital…

Shū Fēi was holding the hands of the two princesses and Chen Yang, while the Empress Dowager held Chen Xi. The Emperor personally brought back the third princess, born to Shú Pín, which made the other concubines behind them green with envy.

Before I could even greet the Emperor, a figure in moon-white suddenly darted out from the palace gate.

It was Chen Yuan.

The young concubines didn't know his identity, but Shū Fēi and Xián Fēi recognized him, their faces showing uncontainable shock.

However, Chen Yuan seemed oblivious to the hostility around him, respectfully bowing to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.

His etiquette was impeccable, taught to him by the late Empress.

Chen Yang sneered and pointed at him while speaking to Shū Fēi, showing great disrespect.

But Chen Yuan continued to smile, greeting them with warmth, apologizing, and inquiring if the Emperor and Empress Dowager had enjoyed their spring hunt—anyone unaware of the circumstances would truly think they were a harmonious family.

The Emperor's expression was not good. The last time he spoke to Chen Yuan, they had exchanged words that should not have been said between father and son.

“Rebellious and unfilial, just like your mother!”

“Indeed, Your Majesty, just like the Empress Dowager!”

Ha, who would have thought that six-year-old Chen Yuan would be so spirited?

Yet, at this moment, Chen Yuan looked at the Emperor with respect and longing, his smile warm and considerate as he greeted the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager's gaze shifted from Chen Yuan to me.

I smiled back at her.

In the end, the Empress Dowager helped Chen Yuan up.

“It’s good that you recognize your mistakes. From now on, study with your younger brothers. You are the eldest brother and must not be naughty anymore.”

“Thank you, Grandmother! Thank you, Emperor Father!”

I boredly picked at my nails—what a picture of royal familial bliss.

40

As soon as Chen Xi returned to the palace, he shut himself in his small bedroom and refused to come out or let anyone in.

Yong mómó came to me. “Your Highness had a lot of fun on this trip. He didn't even get upset when the Second Prince provoked him. But now he’s like this. Please go see him, Niangniang. I'm worried that His Highness has something on his mind.”

I had just reported on various matters regarding the study to the Emperor and then went to check on the Empress Dowager. The Emperor was very unhappy about me letting Chen Yuan block the palace gate today, and he gave me a barrage of sarcastic remarks. The Empress Dowager also had some thoughts and admonished me a few times, so I was feeling quite exhausted, both physically and mentally.

“Ben Gong not going. He can sulk all he wants. Does he think he's still a three-year-old?”

However, Chen Xi still refused to come out for dinner that night.

After eating, I went over the palace affairs with the managers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. After bathing and changing, I went to Chen Xi's door.

“Chen Xi, open the door.”

The door opened immediately.

Chen Xi had been crying, and his eyes were red.

“I waited for Niangniang all day, and you're only coming to see me now!” Chen Xi said, wiping his nose, looking quite disheveled.

I lifted my skirt and sat on the doorstep, patting the space beside me. “Ben Gong only has fifteen minutes for you. Come, sit down and talk.”

Chen Xi obediently sat next to me. Fu Bao and Yong mómó consciously left the palace lantern behind and retreated with the other palace servants.

Chen Xi snuggled up next to me, resting his head on my lap, secretly wiping his nose on my skirt.

“Ben Gong knows why you're angry. It's because Ben Gong helped Chen Yuan, and you're scared.”

“Am I not good enough? Why are you still helping my elder brother? Do you want him to be your son too?” Chen Xi's muffled voice sounded. “I'm not as smart as my elder brother, and I'm not as tall. Do you dislike me? I… I won't go out alone anymore. I'll follow you. Don't abandon me.”

Chen Xi's words made me laugh.

“Chen Xi, Ben Gong know a lot of people will be angry with me for letting Chen Yuan out. But Ben Gong did it anyway. It's not because he's that great or because Ben Gong wants to get anything good from him.”

“Then why?”

“Because when Ben Gong saw him that day, Ben Gong realized you and him have similar features. Ben Gong suddenly realized that you are brothers.”

Chen Xi looked up at me, utterly confused, his big, watery eyes filled with bewilderment.

“Do you know how amazing family members are? Ben Gong's father passed away early, and when Ben Gong was brought back to the capital, Ben Gong faced relatives who were almost strangers. But the moment Ben Gong's uncle smiled, Ben Gong wasn't afraid anymore. Ben Gong's father was a scholar who achieved the highest honor in the civil service exams, while Ben Gong's uncle was a warrior. Ben Gong's father loved to brew tea with snow, while Ben Gong's uncle wanted braised pork for every meal. But they are so similar. Seeing him is like Ben Gong's father never left.”

Chen Xi said, “But my elder brother, Chen Yuan, and Chen Yang, we are not from the same mother.”

“If Yu Zi Yu and the others dared to say that, Ben Gong would whip them with a whip.”

Chen Xi smiled helplessly. “But brothers in the royal family are different from brothers in other families.”

“Chen Xi, is it only the throne that a prince desires?”

Chen Xi was taken aback by my directness. He looked slightly pale.

“The world is vast, and Dà Yè is but a small part of it. This palace is even smaller. The Emperor, Empress Dowager, and even you and I within this palace are like stars in the night sky. We can only see what's in front of us, so naturally, we compete for brilliance. But look at the endless expanse of the heavens, and you will understand how small we are. Trying to change this world is like an ant trying to move a mountain. First, we must recognize our own smallness before we can have the ambition to shine as bright as the sun and moon. If I don't shine, the world will be dark.”

I patted his shoulder. “Chen Xi, do you know how much you make Ben Gong envious? What you have naturally, Ben Gong may not achieve even after a lifetime of striving. What you have at your fingertips, Ben Gong has to endure ridicule and slander that others can't bear. If Ben Gong makes one wrong move, countless people will come to drink my blood and eat my flesh.”

“But even so, Ben Gong's not afraid. It's not because Ben Gong is daughter of Duke Chongwen, or because Ben Gong has an uncle who holds the power of the army, nor because Ben Gong is a Noble Consort in the palace, raising a prince.”

“Ben Gong was not afraid. Ben Gong wants to keep moving forward, just to see the scenery ahead. What's a palace, what's an emperor, what's Dà Yè? Ben Gong doesn't really care.”

“Ben Gong’s father said before he died that he would never give up, and you absolutely must never give up either.”

“Chen Xi, Ben Gong is asking you now, what are you afraid of? What are you trying to escape from? Is it Chen Yuan who's making you nervous, or are you afraid to face your own true and humble desires?”

Chen Xi was speechless, his mouth slightly open, but a light shone in his eyes.

“Go on, study hard with Chen Yuan. Read more books, see more people, and you'll know how to live your life without regret.”

Chen Xi suddenly hugged me, burying his head in my arms. “Thank you, Mother…”

41

The Empress Dowager personally chose a companion for Chen Xi—the only son of the Han family, a prominent family from Jiangnan. I strongly suspect that the Empress Dowager's family must have given a lot of pork to the Hans back when they were butchers, otherwise, how could the Hans give up their precious heir?

An only son for eight generations… that's a big deal. One slip-up, and the lineage could be extinguished.

And this kid, Han Ran, was sickly since birth. He'd faint if he walked too fast or took a deep breath.

What was the Empress Dowager after? Did she want him because he was young? Or because he was delicate?

When Chen Xi went to the palace gate to pick up his new friend for the first time, I didn't even dare to follow him—I was afraid I'd jinx him.

Even so, the Empress Dowager bragged to me: Only I could find such a good companion for Xi'er!

At that time, Chen Xi didn't know how ‘fragile’ his future companion would be. Forget about accompanying him in bullying boys and fighting, even carrying his own book bag would wear his shoulders raw.

So, Chen Xi carried his companion's book bag.

So, most of the time, I was confused about who was whose companion.

As for Chen Yang, because of his black history of having a companion seriously injured at a young age, no family dared to risk their child to accompany him in his studies. With no other choice, Shū Fēi found a nephew from her own family to be her son's unfortunate companion.

I thought; you can do that?

So, plump and fair-skinned Yu Zi Chen arrived at the study room with a bag of snacks and became Chen Yuan's companion.

Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter