The Emperor slammed his hand down on the desk and said coldly, “Grand Princess Fuxi was personally appointed by Me. She bears the title of Grand Princess, and the other princes showing respect to their elder sister—what is wrong with that?”
The Grand Secretary said, “Showing respect to one’s elder sister is merely a matter of knowing and observing propriety; there is indeed nothing wrong with it. However, Your Majesty, Grand Princess Fuxi and the Sixth Prince share the same mother. If Grand Princess Fuxi grows powerful, then the Sixth Prince grows powerful as well. At present, rumors are spreading both inside and outside the palace that, because of Grand Princess Fuxi, Your Majesty intends to pass the throne to the Sixth Prince. Many officials have even begun currying favor with the Sixth Prince while disregarding the legitimate Third Prince. If this continues for long, it will surely lead to disaster. It may bring chaos to the inner court, set brothers against one another, and plunge Great Zhou into turmoil!”
Dantai Ji’s eyes darkened sharply.
Brothers turning against one another.
The Left Censor-in-Chief said, “Your Majesty was once the legitimate son as well. Yet the late Emperor had many heirs and delayed appointing Your Majesty Crown Prince, instead favoring Prince Yue, the son of Noble Consort Wang. Prince Yue subsequently forgot his place, harbored ambitions, and attempted to seize the throne, bringing suffering to countless people. Has Your Majesty truly forgotten all of that?”
Dantai Ji clenched his hands and closed his eyes.
It was true that the brothers had turned against each other. His younger brother, Prince Yue, had once tried to seize the throne. He had wanted to kill Dantai Ji and the Empress Dowager, and in the end, the former Emperor had slain him with a single sword stroke.
That must never happen again.
After a long while, the Emperor on the Dragon Throne opened his eyes, and his solemn voice rang out.
“By My imperial decree, the Third Prince is inwardly virtuous, gentle and benevolent by nature, and renowned for his kindness and authority. He shall be established as Crown Prince…”
All the ministers knelt as one and cried, “We receive Your Majesty’s decree!”
The Third Prince Dantai Yi was made Crown Prince and moved into the Eastern Palace.
There were no major changes in the palace.
Only the Empress’s Fengyi Palace remained lively for quite some time. It was said that all the palace maids and eunuchs there had received generous rewards.
As for the Palace of Eternal Joy, everything remained as it had always been.
When Cui Huaiyin received the news, she merely paused for a moment before lowering her head and continuing to peel an orange. Once it was peeled, she separated the plump segments, removed the white pith, and fed them one by one to her daughter, who was sitting beside her and earnestly reading a book.
Rongyao opened her mouth instinctively. Her cheeks were puffed out as she ate, thanked her mother, and continued reading.
Cui Huaiyin smiled and lowered her head to keep peeling the orange.
Chenxiang’s voice faltered. She glanced at the Sixth Prince, who was sleeping soundly in the sunlight nearby, and said, “Your Highness, the Third Prince has been made Crown Prince. Aren’t you—”
Before Chenxiang could finish, Cui Huaiyin looked up. Her calm gaze brooked no argument.
“The Third Prince becoming Crown Prince has nothing to do with us.”
Chenxiang lowered her voice. “Your Highness, have you truly never considered letting the Sixth Prince…”
“Do not speak nonsense.” Cui Huaiyin interrupted her. She glanced at her son, who was sleeping as though the sky itself might fall, and said, “Lin’er is lazy and indolent, and not even a tenth as clever as his elder sister. How could he shoulder such a burden? Let the capable take the position.”
Daoxiang, who was standing nearby, muttered, “But the Third Prince isn’t capable either. He’s not even a tenth as clever as our Princess.”
Cui Huaiyin turned to look at her daughter, her face full of pride and tenderness.
“All those ministers insisted on making the Third Prince Crown Prince, and His Majesty has already issued the decree. That means the Third Prince must be the most suitable candidate for the position. There is no need for us to mention this matter again.”
Daoxiang and Chenxiang opened their mouths, wanting to say something, but neither knew how to begin.
His Majesty had already issued the decree. What more could they say? Besides, both their mistress and the Princess seemed unconcerned. The Sixth Prince only knew how to eat, sleep, and laze about, and he himself had no objections either.
Thus, the Third Prince’s appointment as Crown Prince caused no significant trouble for the Palace of Eternal Joy.
The Emperor still visited the Palace of Eternal Joy whenever he had free time.
Cui Huaiyin remained his most favored consort.
But the greatest changes took place at the Wenchang Academy.
On this day, before heading to class, Cui Huaiyin hesitated for a while before seeking out her daughter for a private talk.
“When you go to class today and see your Third Younger Brother, you must not make him bow to you as you did before. You must bow to him.”
Rongyao stopped walking and looked up at her mother. “Because he is the Crown Prince?”
Cui Huaiyin crouched down and patted her daughter’s back, explaining patiently, “Yes. He is the Crown Prince, the heir to Great Zhou, and the future Emperor.”
“The future Emperor… like Father, the Emperor.” Rongyao’s long lashes trembled as she murmured.
“That’s right. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he will one day take your father’s place.”
“Third Younger Brother will be able to decide who lives and dies, just like Father?” Rongyao asked. “In the future, all of Great Zhou will obey him? He can build Great Zhou however he wishes?”
Cui Huaiyin nodded hesitantly, then asked worriedly, “Yaoyao, does it trouble you to bow to your Third Younger Brother?”
Rongyao shook her head. “No. Yaoyao was only wondering how Third Younger Brother will build Great Zhou in the future.”
Cui Huaiyin felt somewhat relieved and said, “Whatever he does, it will not affect the fact that you are Great Zhou’s Grand Princess. In the future, you will have your own princess residence and live freely and comfortably.”
Rongyao smiled at her mother without replying. She merely waved and said, “Yaoyao is going to the Wenchang Academy to study now. Goodbye, Mother.”
“Go on, then.”
Cui Huaiyin watched her daughter leave. As she gazed at the girl’s retreating figure, she could not help smiling with delight.
Yaoyao was so clever that she hardly needed any special guidance from her.
…
Wenchang Academy.
Unlike before, the servants attending the academy and the several accompanying students all bowed to the Crown Prince first.
Even Grand Princess Fuxi bent down and bowed to the Crown Prince.
The former Third Prince, now the Crown Prince, was clearly still unaccustomed to his new status. When he saw Grand Princess Fuxi bow to him, his face flushed scarlet. He hurried over and awkwardly helped her up.
Everyone instinctively looked toward Princess Fuxi.
Yet she merely smiled at the Third Prince as she always did, showing no change whatsoever.
The Second Prince, on the other hand, respectfully bowed to the Third Prince.
The Crown Prince hurried over to support him as well. “There’s no need for such formalities, Second Brother.”
Second Prince Dantai Chang said, “The Crown Prince is the heir to Great Zhou. There is a distinction between ruler and subject. We ought to bow to the Crown Prince.”
The Crown Prince froze for a moment, then straightened his back and said nothing more.
It was not only a matter of etiquette. Even the Crown Prince’s seat had been moved to the very front.
On this single day, everyone began treating him with a greater degree of respect.
Even the Fourth Prince, who usually loved playing with the Third Prince, no longer dragged him off to fool around as often.
When the Grand Tutor arrived, he bowed to the Crown Prince first as well.
Everyone could now sense that things were different.
Even the Third Prince himself noticed.
He had become the Crown Prince. He was no longer the same as before.
Aside from his father and mother, everyone treated him with greater respect.
Even his eldest sister, who had always been the cleverest and most favored by their father, now had to bow to him.
He felt an indescribable joy, yet at the same time, he was inexplicably afraid.
He told his mother about these uneasy feelings, and she said that once he grew older and became accustomed to it, he would be able to become a true Crown Prince and fear nothing.
Before then, he had to study hard—to study harder than anyone else.
But…
Dantai Yi stared at the book before him, his body trembling faintly.
