Li Chengzhen remained silent.
The Empress Dowager said, "Eunuchs are people too—they have parents and families. Have you considered their loved ones when you cruelly took their lives?"
Li Chengzhen raised his head, his pupils dark and hollow. "Eunuchs are servants. You once told me, Mother, that servants are forever beneath us, born lowly by fate."
Killing a few servants was hardly a matter of consequence.
The Empress Dowager sighed deeply, her voice tinged with sorrow. "Do you not realize that the foundation of the Great Qing Kingdom is built upon the very servants you despise? Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it."
Li Chengzhen wore a blank expression.
Seeing his innocent yet wicked demeanor, the last traces of warmth in the Empress Dowager’s heart slowly faded—this child would never be fit for the throne.
Night had fallen. The palace attendants scrubbed the bloodstains from the bedchamber clean, replacing the bedding and curtains with fresh ones. Li Chengzhen lay back on his bed, the cold glow of palace lanterns casting eerie shadows across the room.
The Empress Dowager sat by his bedside, patting his hand gently. "Sleep now. Your grandmother will stay until you drift off."
Li Chengzhen gazed at her with pleading eyes, his lashes reddened, his voice sullen. "Grandmother, it’s been so long since you last stayed with me... You’re always with Chengtai and Chengyou."
"I don’t like them. They steal Father’s attention, they steal you away, and now they want to steal my throne..."
The Empress Dowager said nothing.
The room fell into silence, broken only by the soft patter of rain against the window lattice. Slowly, Li Chengzhen’s eyelids grew heavy, and he slipped into slumber.
In sleep, his face looked pure and innocent, betraying none of the cruelty that lurked beneath.
After leaving his chambers, the Empress Dowager arranged for the deceased eunuchs to be buried and sent generous compensations to their families. The old nursemaids and guards who had attended Li Chengzhen were all executed.
At dawn the next day, she summoned Li Yuanjing and briefly explained the situation.
The child’s mind was already twisted beyond correction. After deliberation, Li Yuanjing and the Empress Dowager decided Li Chengzhen should rest for a time, free from studies and archery.
...
Time passed swiftly. Five or six days later, Li Chengzhen remained alone in his vast courtyard, his emotions a mix of relief and melancholy.
Without the burden of rigorous lessons, the weight on his shoulders seemed to lift. Yet the daily doses of calming medicine and the confinement of the courtyard left him restless.
One afternoon, he sat on the stone steps of the courtyard, tilting his head back to gaze at the square of sky framed by palace walls. A pair of wild geese flew overhead.
Li Chengzhen stared blankly, his heart heavy with bitterness.
Thud—
A small pebble rolled to his feet. Puzzled, he looked around and spotted movement in the corner of the courtyard—two figures emerged from the bushes, covered in dust, their hair disheveled.
It was Li Yao and Li Chengyou.
Brushing off the dirt, Li Yao tiptoed toward him, whispering, "Little brother..."
Li Chengzhen blinked in confusion.
Li Yao lowered her voice further. "Father posted guards at the gates, forbidding anyone from entering. But Chengyou found a way—he dug a hole beneath the back wall. I’ve never crawled through a dog’s den before!"
Li Chengyou trotted over, his sturdy frame circling Li Chengzhen before he muttered, "Second Brother, did you upset Father? Don’t be sad. Yao-jie and I brought you something tasty."
With that, he lifted his robe and produced a fragrant oil-paper bundle.
Inside were golden, crispy fried crabs.
Li Chengzhen scoffed, turning his head away. "I won’t eat it."
Li Chengyou huffed. "No wonder Father’s angry—you’re too stubborn! These crabs are delicious. Just try one!"
Li Chengzhen had never liked this foolish younger brother.
And he absolutely refused to accept food from him.
Pouting, Li Chengyou plopped onto the steps and began eating by himself. Meanwhile, Li Yao took Li Chengzhen’s hand, her voice gentle. "Father’s temper will fade. Once it does, you’ll return to the Imperial Academy."
The truth of the eunuchs’ deaths had been kept secret. Li Yao assumed her brother had merely erred and was being disciplined.
Li Chengzhen lifted his eyes to the geese soaring above. "Sis... I hate studying. I hate archery too."
He truly despised it.
From the moment he could walk, his days had been filled with forced lessons, horseback riding, and archery. Sleep was scarce, and his mother’s voice echoed in his ears like a curse.
Li Yao smiled softly. "Then don’t study. Don’t practice archery. Do what you love."
Li Chengzhen lowered his head silently. Unsure how to comfort him, Li Yao simply sat beside him, sharing the view of the confined sky.
Li Chengyou waved two golden crabs under his nose. "So crispy. Really not gonna try?"
Li Chengzhen snapped, "No!"
He resented Li Chengtai and Li Chengyou—not just for their talents, but for the freedom they enjoyed. He envied their playful, carefree childhoods.
For the next several evenings, Li Yao and Li Chengyou slipped through the hole to keep him company.
Li Chengyou brought an assortment of treats—flaky pastries, lotus seed cakes, sesame milk balls, and finally, roasted duck. Under relentless pestering, Li Chengzhen reluctantly took a bite.
"Good, right?" Li Chengyou’s eyes sparkled.
Chewing slowly, Li Chengzhen glanced at his stout, sunburnt younger brother.
Suddenly, he didn’t seem so detestable.
And the nights didn’t feel quite so terrifying.
For those few days, the childhood he’d missed was briefly restored.
After dusk, Li Yao and Li Chengyou crawled back out, convinced their visits went unnoticed, and dashed back to Cining Palace.
Unbeknownst to them, a eunuch hidden by the palace gates exhaled in relief before hurrying to Yongning Palace to report to Shen Wei.
Reading by lamplight, Shen Wei chuckled at the news and instructed Cai Lian, "Climbing through holes must wear their clothes thin. Tell the Internal Affairs Office to prepare extra sets for those two."
Cai Lian obeyed but hesitated. "Mistress, the Second Prince is vicious. How could you be sure he wouldn’t harm Princess Yao and Prince Chengyou?"
Shen Wei turned a page. "Even the wickedest soul holds a sliver of goodness."
Besides, she had eyes watching. Had Li Chengzhen lashed out, guards would have intervened at once.
...
Meanwhile, in Kunning Palace—
Rumors swirled through the court: Li Chengzhen had angered the Emperor and Empress Dowager, hence his confinement. The Empress snapped her prayer beads in frustration.
Useless fool!
The entire Tan family had pinned their hopes on him, yet he squandered every opportunity.
Restless, the Empress convinced herself that without her guidance, Li Chengzhen had grown dull-witted. That night, she took a lantern and stole out of Kunning Palace.
She would see him, scold him, and steer him back onto the rightful path.
