He had failed to memorize the passage Grand Tutor Gao had assigned him yesterday.
Grand Tutor Gao cast a long look at the pale-faced Crown Prince, his brows drawn in a heavy frown.
“Why is Your Highness so frightened? You merely failed to recite your lessons. Such a trifling matter, yet it has made Your Highness turn pale! Failing to memorize the text is a small fault, but an unsteady heart and a timid nature are far more serious. You must be punished!”
Just as the Crown Prince was about to rise and accept his punishment, the Grand Tutor turned to Gu Shen'an.
“When the Crown Prince makes a mistake, his study companion must be punished in his stead. Gu Shen'an, ten strokes on the palm.”
At the Grand Tutor’s command, Gu Shen'an rose and held out his hand to receive the punishment.
The Crown Prince stared at Gu Shen'an, his fists clenched tightly. His eyes reddened, and his body trembled.
Seeing this, Grand Tutor Gao’s brow furrowed even more deeply.
He sighed and shook his head.
As the Crown Prince’s tutor, he had watched him grow up since childhood. How could he not know that the boy was weak-willed and timid by nature?
Fortunately, the Crown Prince was still young. With stricter guidance, perhaps he could yet be set right and grow into a dignified heir to the throne.
As he thought this, his gaze drifted involuntarily to Princess Fuxi nearby, and he could not help feeling profound regret.
Why was the imperial child he valued most a princess?
If Princess Fuxi had been a prince, then even if she had not been born of the Empress, he would have risked his old life to persuade His Majesty to name her Crown Prince.
But alas, Princess Fuxi was, in the end, a woman.
She could not be made Crown Prince.
Grand Tutor Gao withdrew his gaze, no longer allowing his thoughts to wander. As usual, he resumed his stern expression and watched over the group of children.
Rong Yao looked toward Gu Shen'an as he received the strikes on his palm. Her brows knit slightly, and her expression changed.
In a rather poor mood, she turned the pages of her book.
This would not do.
…
The Third Prince’s appointment as Crown Prince caused little stir within the inner palace, but at court, it became the subject of much discussion among ministers and officials.
That day, at Bai Xiang Tower—
Several officials from the Censorate had gathered for a private banquet.
The occasion was to welcome the newly appointed Right Assistant Censor Fan Xiuwen.
Right Assistant Censor Fan Xiuwen had arrived in the capital several months earlier. Yet only days after his arrival, he had fallen ill. Claiming that he was unaccustomed to the local climate, he had remained at home on sick leave for months, only returning to court in recent days to assume his post.
After several rounds of wine, the Left Assistant Censor smiled at Fan Xiuwen, who sat with impeccable posture, handsome features, and a distinctly heroic air.
“Lord Fan, yesterday, when so many officials petitioned His Majesty to appoint the Third Prince as Crown Prince, why did we not see you kneeling in the hall to support the petition? Could it be that Lord Fan is dissatisfied with the Third Prince becoming Crown Prince?”
Fan Xiuwen glanced at the Left Assistant Censor with calm indifference. “I have only recently arrived in the capital. I have not met the Third Prince, nor have I met any of the other princes. How could I speak of dissatisfaction? I simply have no basis on which to judge.”
The Left Assistant Censor chuckled. “I thought perhaps you favored the Sixth Prince. After all, he is the younger brother of Grand Princess Fuxi. These days, many of the common people and merchants who have benefited from her policies support Grand Princess Fuxi.”
“Grand Princess Fuxi is but a woman, yet at such a young age she has already won the hearts of the people. She is the first of her kind in all of history.”
“A mere woman, you say?” Fan Xiuwen spoke in a low voice, his gaze cold as it fell upon the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief. “Grand Princess Fuxi presented the golden sweet potato, capable of saving the lives of the people of Great Zhou, and offered wise policies for the salt administration, thereby enriching the imperial treasury. Yet in Your Excellency’s eyes, the Grand Princess of Great Zhou can be dismissed simply as ‘a mere woman’! If His Majesty were to hear those words, I wonder whether he would commend you for them!”
The Left Vice Censor-in-Chief sobered by half at once. Rising hurriedly, he bowed. “I was drunk and spoke nonsense. We are colleagues, Lord Fan. I beg you not to repeat my muddleheaded words from today’s drunken state to anyone else.”
“I have never liked discussing others behind their backs, nor do I enjoy spreading gossip,” Fan Xiuwen said. Then he raised a cup of wine. “Thank you, gentlemen, for hosting this welcoming banquet for me. It is late, so I shall take my leave.”
With that, Fan Xiuwen drained his cup, rose to his feet, and departed.
After he left, the private room fell silent for a moment before quickly becoming lively again.
“Lord Fan is upright and impartial by nature. That is simply his temperament.”
“Indeed. I have heard that Lord Fan dislikes social engagements. The fact that he came today has already honored us.”
“It is for the best that Lord Fan has left. His temperament is too forthright—he cannot abide a jest. Now that he is gone, we need not mind our words and may drink a little more. Come, come, I’ll drink first in tribute…”
…
That day, Rong Yao rose early and hurried toward the outer court.
After slipping past numerous Imperial Guards, she hid in the rear hall of the Golden Throne Hall and peered through a dragon-patterned screen at the scene within.
The eunuchs guarding the back entrance had long since grown accustomed to it. They merely lowered their heads and pretended not to see.
Princess Fuxi had one day off from the Wenchang Academy every ten days.
On that day, Princess Fuxi would invariably come to the Golden Throne Hall to secretly watch the morning court.
Today was no exception.
His Majesty had never instructed them to drive Princess Fuxi away, so naturally they behaved as though they had never seen her.
Princess Fuxi was bright, clever, and full of life. Seeing her always amused them as well.
At last, all the ministers had arrived.
Today was a grand court assembly. Every official in the capital ranked seventh grade or above had come to the Golden Throne Hall. Before His Majesty arrived, the ministers chattered endlessly among themselves, making the hall noisier than a marketplace.
Rong Yao craned her neck to look inside. Her father had not yet arrived. The officials stood in small groups, talking among themselves about who knew what.
Rong Yao studied each of them carefully.
Starting from the front, she saw Grand Secretary Zhang and the other Grand Secretariat ministers, as well as several Ministers of the Six Boards. She also saw her maternal grandfather. He was yawning, as though he had not slept well. Looking farther back, she recognized everyone—until her gaze settled on a face that was both familiar and unfamiliar. Her eyes lit up.
It was Fan Xiuwen!
He stood amid the crowd without speaking to anyone, straight and upright like a stalk of green bamboo.
Compared with four years ago, Lord Fan had grown quite a bit taller. He was sturdier than before, more tanned, and more handsome. Though he was somewhat shorter than the other officials, no one would ever think him small.
She watched him intently. Perhaps Fan Xiuwen had sensed something, for he suddenly looked in her direction.
Rong Yao quickly withdrew her gaze and ducked out of sight.
When she looked again, the woman was still in the same posture as before—cool and proper, every detail immaculate.
Rong Yao popped a candied fruit into her mouth and continued observing the officials in the hall.
“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!”
At once, the Golden Throne Hall fell silent.
All the officials swiftly took their places according to rank, civil officials on the left and military officers on the right.
After paying their respects to the Emperor, the ministers soon began stepping forward to deliver their reports.
The Ministry of Revenue reported on the silver recently collected and submitted to the imperial treasury.
The Ministry of War discussed provisions and military supplies.
The Ministry of Rites sought an imperial decree for sacrifices to Heaven and Earth.
The Ministry of Personnel reported on official appointments and transfers.
The Ministry of Works requested authorization to repair the river channels.
The Ministry of Justice reported on the punishment of corrupt officials.
Naturally, there were also matters concerning the Grand Secretariat and the Censorate.
They were all routine affairs that could be readily handled. The officials were accustomed to such proceedings, holding their ivory tablets as they waited quietly for the court to be dismissed.
Seeing that the ministers appeared to have nothing further to report, Wang Zhong was about to announce on the Emperor’s behalf that court was adjourned.
But then, an official from the back suddenly raised his tablet, strode forward, and declared in a ringing voice, “This minister, Right Assistant Censor Fan Xiuwen, has a matter to present!”
