Chapter 1: Prince

The Eastern Palace bedroom was tightly shut, the warm yellow glow of the gauze lamp casting a soft light on the screen, outlining a graceful silhouette behind it.

The steward’s palace maid, Liu Ying, stood by with a plain silk ribbon in her hands, her gaze falling on the slender and graceful figure of her master, causing her cheeks to flush as she quickly lowered her eyes.

It had to be admitted that the figure before her was truly exquisitely beautiful. With a slim waist and long legs, her proportions were perfect, her fair skin radiant like jade but not fragile, enough to make any woman blush and heartbeat upon seeing her…

And now, she had to use raw silk to conceal this graceful figure.

Wrapping the raw silk layer by layer, tightening it, and then layering the clothes inside and out until the contours were completely obscured.

Tying up her hair, wearing the crown of the Crown Prince, Liu Ying cautiously picked up a silver needle prepared beside her. A hint of surprise crossed Liu Ying’s face as she approached the slender figure with the silver needle and a specially made dye.

Delicate fingertips reached out and pricked under her own eye.

After putting down the silver needle, the young man in the mirror casually wiped away the blood from the corner of his eye, his face delicate and unparalleled under the vermilion robe.

Even Liu Ying was mesmerized by this sight, her eyes slightly moist with tears.

Truly, they were so alike, being twin siblings.

As soon as the small vermilion teardrop mole was applied, the Crown Prince seemed to come alive before her eyes.

Without time for sentimentality, Liu Ying lowered her head and presented the newly polished black boots: “Your Highness, the Crown Prince is half an inch taller than you, and as you instructed, I have padded the insides of all the boots a bit higher.”

This was undoubtedly a gamble, where the slightest difference could mean losing everything.

No, “Your Highness,” rising in her boots, facing the closed and heavy doors of the bedroom, a cold light shone on her face.

She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and pushed open the doors of the bedroom.

In the early winter cold, ravens flew in from outside the city, perching contentedly on the palace walls, tilting their heads to watch the bustling crowd below.

In the Taiji Hall, the Deputy Minister of Justice, Liu Zhong, stood among the court officials, his eyes scanning around, unable to hide his smugness.

Since the Crown Prince encountered danger on his way back to the palace, he had been closed off for months, the entire Eastern Palace shrouded in secrecy. He spared no effort to provoke the court, just to expose the Eastern Palace’s disguise in front of everyone…

Only by confirming today in front of the Emperor that the Crown Prince was indeed dead could he smoothly nominate Prince of Yong as the Crown Prince.

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is somewhat frail, but there’s no need for him to seclude himself for so long. Disappearing for months, it’s unclear whether the Crown Prince truly caught a cold or if there’s some secret he doesn’t want others to know.”

He raised his voice, pretending to be righteous, “Little did I know, rumors are spreading throughout the court that there is no longer a Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace, only an empty shell.”

However, the fact that the gates of the Eastern Palace had been tightly closed for months was indeed true, and those who rebuked were also filled with doubts. At this moment, with such a momentum, if the Crown Prince didn’t show up, it seemed that they couldn’t bluff their way through.

Just as they were anxious, a low and gentle voice came from outside the Taiji Gate.

With these words, the noisy courtiers instantly fell silent, the leaders looking at each other in surprise.

The ravens took flight, and the standing courtiers automatically divided into two rows. Looking back, a slender figure appeared before them.

The young Crown Prince, with his black hair tied low, was wrapped in a white fox fur, only revealing a thin edge of his inner shirt sleeve. The fur collar encircled his sharp jawline, making his overly delicate face even whiter, as if it were carved from snow.

It seemed as if he had just crawled out of his sickbed, with a faint tiredness under his eyelids and a faint vermilion mole at the corner of his eye, showing a bit of weakness that was hard to distinguish between male and female.

As the Crown Prince of the Great Xuan, this face was indeed rarely seen in the world. Standing under the high gate, he seemed as if he could be blown over by a gust of wind, truly a sign of misfortune in one’s youth.

The young man passed through the bowing courtiers and looked at the middle-aged, white, and fat civil official in front of him. He raised his eyes slightly, and under the contrast of the snow-white clothes and his skin, his pupils showed an extreme blackness.

“Minister Liu seems disappointed to see me still alive?” The young man asked in confusion.

The named civil official lowered his head and explained, “I have absolutely no such intention.”

Although his words sounded respectful, there was no hiding his disbelief.

Who didn’t know that this little Crown Prince was famously placid mannered? It was politely called “benevolent,” but in less polite terms, it was “weak.”

“No such intention?”

The Crown Prince cleared his throat lightly and said, “But according to the words of the Imperial Censor, hasn’t the Great Xuan already ‘lost the Crown Prince’? Why don’t I tidy up and give the master behind Minister Liu a chance… to yield?”

The voice was light and weak, but it was enough to make Liu Zhong break out in a cold sweat.

“Heaven and earth can testify, I have no ulterior motives!”

His face changed, and he subconsciously defended himself, “Look, the rebels in Shu are about to reach the outskirts of the capital. Should we fight to the death or relocate the capital to avoid war? As the Crown Prince, you must come forward to discuss and share the worries for the Emperor!”

Pressuring him with national affairs and shifting the topic.

The young Crown Prince nodded silently, coughing softly several times, and then innocently weakly said, “To eat the ruler’s salary is to share the ruler’s worries. Isn’t that the duty of you all? If everything requires the Emperor and me to step forward, what’s the use of you all?”

“…”

Liu Zhong was speechless and embarrassed, his pig liver face turning red.

The courtiers were shocked and terrified, forgetting their prepared radical words for a moment, fearing that the Crown Prince would get upset and roll his eyes at them, so they kept pleading, “Your Highness, please take care of yourself!”

Just as they were clamoring, a clear and crisp bell rang from inside the Taiji Hall, echoing with a clear echo.

The old eunuch beside the Emperor came out in time, smiling obsequiously, “Your Highness, His Majesty summons you into the hall to pay respects.”

Having finished speaking, the Emperor looked towards his ministers before the steps and said, “Gentlemen, you have all seen His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. He is here in good health! If there are no further questions, please take your leave.”

When the Emperor spoke, how could the courtiers dare to cause trouble? They quickly bowed and said in unison, “We take our leave.”

The conspiracy fell apart without attacking, all because the Crown Prince appeared safely. Liu Zhong was bitterly disappointed. He didn’t know if it was an illusion, but the Crown Prince seemed somewhat different today.

Yet his face remained the same, with the distinctive teardrop birthmark, looking as frail as ever. Liu Zhong couldn’t pinpoint what was different; it was truly baffling.

…

Inside the Taiji Hall, a hundred everlasting lamps burned day and night.

As soon as she entered the hall, the scent of aloeswood mixed with the aroma of incense filled Zhao Yan’s senses, making her dizzy.

Behind the swaying curtains, she could see the Emperor sitting cross-legged in the center of the lamps, his eyes closed. A beautiful woman wearing a golden lotus crown and holding a feather duster stood beside him; she must be Consort Zhen, who had been favored in the harem in recent years.

Upon seeing the Crown Prince enter, the Daoist consort nodded respectfully and withdrew on her own.

A eunuch quickly brought a kneeling cushion, and Zhao Yan, lifting her robe, knelt down, displaying all the vigilance and patience she had learned throughout her life, mimicking her brother’s demeanor as she bowed deeply and said softly, “The son pays respects to Father Emperor.”

“Are you able to move around?” The Emperor’s calm voice came from behind the curtain, devoid of joy or sorrow.

Zhao Yan had rehearsed her lines well before coming here, and she deliberately lowered her voice, portraying the image of her brother’s “weakness” to the fullest. “Thanks to Father Emperor’s blessings, your son’s illness is no longer life-threatening. However, the imperial physician said that I have been ill for a long time and is still somewhat weak, so I need some time to recuperate.”

Even though the Emperor had keen insight, even if he harbored suspicions about the Eastern Palace, he wouldn’t excessively trouble an ill person.

Unexpectedly, the Emperor didn’t even lift his eyes, speaking politely as if to a stranger. “Since you’re improving, you should resume your studies that were interrupted. When you have time, continue your studies at the Chongwen Hall.”

Zhao Yan remained composed. “Yes.”

Then followed a long silence.

Although the man behind the curtain wore the attire of a Daoist, Zhao Yan didn’t know much about him despite him being her biological father. She only knew that he rose from a commoner to the throne, and in the early years of his reign, he worked diligently for the country. Later, he became obsessed with seeking immortality, favored Consort Zhen, clashed with his biological mother, the Empress Dowager who was devoted to Buddhism, and created a rift between them.

After the Empress Dowager’s defeat, she was relocated to the Huayang Palace, and they never met again.

Accompanying her to the palace was the nine-year-old Princess Xiao Zhaoyan.

Six years had passed since then, and the Crown Prince had died suddenly. With rebel armies at the gates and the ambitious Prince of Yong eyeing the throne, the Empress Wei, who was in dire straits, finally remembered the “exiled” princess in the palace.

Summoned by a secret decree, Zhao Yan was forced to assume the role of the Eastern Palace Crown Prince, facing an uncertain future…

Her thoughts drifting, Zhao Yan’s knees began to ache from kneeling, so she lowered her gaze and distracted herself by counting the candlelight shadows on the floor.

Just as she reached the sixty-first shadow, she heard hurried footsteps outside the hall.

An old eunuch rushed in, gasping for breath as he knelt outside the hall and exclaimed with joy, “Congratulations, Your Majesty! A rare snowfall has occurred, a sign of divine favor upon Great Xuan!”

The yellow curtains fluttered, carrying a chill of ice and snow in the air.

The Emperor, who had been silent like a statue, finally stirred and exclaimed, “Excellent, this is an auspicious sign from the heavens! Quickly summon the Shenguang Sect Master and Prince Su!”

Prince Su…

At the mention of this name, Zhao Yan couldn’t help but shiver involuntarily, recalling her mother’s muted warning on the night she entered the Eastern Palace.

A powerful figure in court, ambitious and ruthless, Prince Su Wen Renlin would be her most dangerous adversary.

Was she about to encounter this grim god for the first time?

She clenched her fingers quietly, but before she could recover from her anxiety, the Emperor behind the curtain stood up and said, “You may leave.”

This sentence was obviously directed at the Crown Prince.

Zhao Yan hadn’t even had time to react: after worrying for half a day, was she just being let go like this?

There were many rumors about the Eastern Palace in the court, but the Emperor didn’t even spare a glance at his “son.” Wasn’t this too hasty?

Although she was puzzled, Zhao Yan didn’t dare to delay, hastily saluting and taking her leave. As she stepped out of the main hall, a few snowflakes began to fall from the ink-stained sky.

In the corridor, a Daoist priest with a yellow crown and feather fan strode over, presumably the “Shenguang Sect Master” the eunuch mentioned.

“Pity the empty front seat in the dead of night, asking not for the people but for the spirits,” the priest recited as he approached.

Reciting Li Yishan’s poem, Zhao Yan couldn’t help but tug at the corner of her lips, hiding the mockery in her eyes.

Liu Ying was still waiting beneath the Taiji Gate, her palace dresses fluttering in the wind and snow, looking cold.

“Your Highness.”

Liu Ying came forward, her face as composed as ever, but the tense tone betrayed her worry. “What did the Emperor ask?”

Zhao Yan made a sound of affirmation and succinctly replied, “He asked if the Crown Prince’s health had improved. If it has, he is to go to the Chongwen Hall to resume his studies.”

“Was that all?”

“That’s all.”

So Liu Ying also fell into confusion. This went much easier than expected.

The court was full of intrigue and factionalism.

Zhao Yan had just witnessed the underhanded tactics of the Prince of Yong’s minions. As for Prince Su…

Thankfully, she didn’t encounter him.

“Wen Renlin.”

Zhao Yan carefully savored the name, trying to recall any memories associated with it.

Unfortunately, she had been exiled from the palace since childhood, raised by her grandmother, the Empress Dowager who prayed at the palace. She didn’t have much understanding of the recent situation in the court.

Military commanders who wielded power were likely ruthless individuals. Hearing that soldiers often suffered from severe hair loss due to wearing helmets for long periods, Zhao Yan’s thoughts wandered, conjuring up an image of a fierce and vulgar warrior with sparse hair, making her shudder involuntarily.

As the wind blew, snow fell heavier, covering everything in a blanket of white.

There was still a distance to the Eastern Palace, and with the slippery snow-covered roads, they couldn’t use the sedan chair. Zhao Yan, still playing the role of the fragile Crown Prince, had to find a secluded place to take shelter from the snow first.

“This snow might not stop for a while. I’ll go fetch oil umbrellas and cloaks. Your Highness, please wait here and don’t wander far,” Liu Ying frowned, concerned.

Knowing Liu Ying’s cautious nature and unwillingness to let other attendants in and out of the Crown Prince’s sleeping quarters for personal items, Zhao Yan gestured for her to go ahead and then added, “Wait.”

Liu Ying halted her steps, turning around to await further instructions.

Zhao Yan reached out and touched Liu Ying’s clothing, “Don’t forget to put on a cloak for yourself. You’re dressed too lightly.”

Liu Ying was momentarily stunned, then quickly bowed deeply and replied, “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Though the corridor provided shelter from the snow, it did little to block the wind.

Zhao Yan exhaled a white breath, remembering that at the end of the corridor was a warm pavilion adjacent to the Eastern Palace, where one could rest.

It was only about ten yards from where she was waiting for Liu Ying, so Zhao Yan instructed the accompanying eunuch to wait in the corridor while she ascended the steps and headed towards the warm pavilion.

Pushing open the door, warmth from the charcoal basin mixed with a delicate aroma of incense greeted her, reminiscent of spring.

Looking up, she saw the bamboo curtains swaying in the wind, revealing a tall figure leaning against the railing, engrossed in reading, one hand supporting his forehead and the other holding a scroll.

Unexpectedly, someone arrived first, which surprised Zhao Yan.

Thinking it over, she was now the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace; there was no reason for her to show timidity in front of others. Straightening her posture, she quietly stepped into the warm room.

Snowflakes drifted in through the curtain, melting into the pool.

The man sitting in the chair was very young, perhaps in his early twenties, dressed in crimson court attire with a jade belt. His black hair was partially tied up, partially hanging down, and his legs were crossed casually. His slender fingers occasionally turned the pages of a book, emitting a faint rustling sound.

From Zhao Yan’s perspective, she could see that his eyes were slightly closed, his long and dense eyelashes casting a light shadow on his eyelids. His eyebrows were like swords, his lips thin and pale, giving him a serene and gentle profile.

Beside him rested a fishing rod, with the fishing line disappearing straight into the pool of fragmented ice and snow, without a single ripple.

Unconsciously, Zhao Yan tiptoed closer, tilting her head slightly to observe him discreetly.

Those who could freely enter and leave the palace and leisurely fish in the snow were likely members of the imperial family.

But with the myriad titles and hereditary ranks in Great Xuan, it was hard to keep track. There were probably a hundred or more princes and crown princes who could enter the palace. Zhao Yan couldn’t recall when a graceful and handsome man like this had emerged from the imperial family.

The man wore an ancient, simple black ring on his cold, white index finger, with strange carvings resembling… some kind of bird of prey?

As Zhao Yan unconsciously lifted a corner of the bamboo curtain, trying to get a clearer view, she unexpectedly met a pair of deep, smiling eyes.

“Has the Crown Prince seen enough?” The beautiful man, who had lifted his eyes at some point, was now smiling at her.

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