"Do you also think I'm pitiful?"
The man suddenly spoke in the cold glow of dim candlelight, his voice devoid of warmth.
Yun Kui knew he must have overheard everything. His words tightened around her heart like a vise, sending faint threads of pain through her chest.
"I—I wouldn’t dare…" She shook her head, flustered. "Nor would I presume that Your Highness shares my wretched fate. I only… only believe that someone as kind as you deserves to be treated well…"
The Crown Prince lay silent, his gaze fixed on the canopy above, a self-mocking smile playing at his lips.
Yun Kui bit her lip and tentatively reached for his hand, her small fingers slowly curling around his.
"Whenever I was sad or afraid, Your Highness would always take my hand. Though you often wore a cold expression, I’ve never forgotten your kindness. I meant no presumption—I only feared that hearing such words might grieve you…"
A scalding drop fell onto his chest, and the Crown Prince stiffened slightly.
Yun Kui sighed. "When I was a child, I had no one. It felt as if the whole world had abandoned me. If someone had hugged me back then, I would have been grateful for the rest of my life… So, I wanted to hug you too."
The Crown Prince slowly tightened his arms around her, pressing a light kiss to her forehead before murmuring, "It's still early. Sleep."
Unwilling to dwell on the topic, Yun Kui obediently nestled against his chest, pushing away further restless thoughts.
By late March, the Empress and Prince Chen had been released from house arrest.
In just three months, the political landscape of the court had undergone a seismic shift.
Prince Chen never imagined that his maternal uncle’s family—once his greatest pillar of support—would collapse overnight. His shrewd and calculating cousin had thrown away not only his own future but the entire Xie family’s, all for the sake of a mere woman!
The Empress, too, had only just learned that during her confinement, Concubine Yin had grown restless, even securing a marriage alliance for the Fourth Prince with the daughter of a high-ranking minister—flaunting her ambitions for all to see.
Though the Xie family had fallen, she was still the Empress, and Prince Chen remained the legitimate heir. She would not tolerate an upstart concubine trampling over her dignity!
"Concubine Yin is nothing but a clown," the Empress said to Prince Chen. "Your greatest enemy—and your father’s—remains the Crown Prince. Until he is dead, all our struggles are in vain."
A flicker of ruthlessness passed through Prince Chen’s eyes.
Noticing his intent, the Empress swiftly cautioned him. "You’ve only just been freed—do not act rashly. Have you forgotten the lesson from last year’s sacrificial incident? When the Crown Prince uncovered the truth, we lost Deng Kang. Your father, ever mindful of his reputation as a wise ruler, will not openly oppose the Crown Prince, nor will he allow us to confront him directly."
Prince Chen clenched his fists. "Then what should I do?"
The Empress pondered briefly. "For now, remain still. Rather than drawing attention, let others fight while we reap the rewards. The Crown Prince’s ambitions grow ever bolder—your father is more anxious than you are. Once they’ve weakened each other, as the legitimate heir, your ascension will be inevitable."
Prince Chen’s expression softened slightly. "Mother is right."
Hadn’t his own father risen to power when the late Emperor and the regional princes were locked in deadly strife?
The Empress nodded. "Fortunately, you still hold office in the Ministry of Personnel. Strengthen your ties there, secure Chief Minister Chen’s support, and with the backing of your consort and concubines’ families, we won’t be without allies."
Prince Chen bowed slightly. "Thank you for your guidance, Mother."
——
At noon, the imperial street bustled with activity. The reconstruction of the collapsed Qian Gate lighthouse—destroyed during the Lantern Festival—was underway under the supervision of newly appointed Ministry of Works officials.
Amid the crowd, a middle-aged man in coarse brown robes suddenly rushed forward, clutching a child of four or five. He knelt before the half-built lighthouse, wailing in grief.
"The lighthouse collapsed because the Crown Prince cares nothing for human lives! My son’s legs were crippled! I beg the righteous officials to deliver justice for my child!"
Bystanders began to gather, murmuring among themselves.
One skeptic called out, "But wasn’t the collapse due to the Ministry of Works cutting corners? Weren’t several officials arrested for corruption recently? How is this the Crown Prince’s fault?"
"It was him!" the man roared. "He was right here that night—who else could it be?"
"I saw it too!" another voice chimed in. "There were assassins targeting the Crown Prince that night—maybe he sabotaged the lighthouse himself! If he’s capable of massacring a city, what wouldn’t he do?"
"But I heard most people were watching the opera at the Water Mirror Pavilion. The area around the lighthouse was barricaded by soldiers—many survived because of that. Some even say the Crown Prince saved them."
"Do you really believe that?"
"The Crown Prince is bloodthirsty and treats lives like weeds! How can such a man be our future ruler?"
The crowd grew restless, swayed by the spreading rumors. Soon, voices rose in condemnation of the Crown Prince’s alleged atrocities.
Suddenly, a sharp whinny cut through the clamor.
"Imperial Guards on duty! Clear the way!"
The crowd turned to see seven or eight dust-covered officers on horseback galloping toward them. The leading man—strikingly handsome—commanded immediate attention.
Though his temples bore traces of silver, his features were noble, his bearing dignified yet scholarly, exuding an air of authority that time could not diminish.
Yet his attire was not the standard flying fish uniform of the Imperial Guards, sowing doubt among the onlookers. A subordinate behind him announced, "This is the newly appointed Vice Commander of the Imperial Guards, Lord Sheng Yu!"
The title alone sent a ripple of fear through the crowd. Memories of the ruthless, monstrous-faced commander made them drop to their knees in haste.
Sheng Yu fixed his gaze on the brown-robed man. "The lighthouse collapse was caused by negligence within the Ministry of Works. That night, it was the Crown Prince who ordered the evacuation, preventing greater casualties. Spreading baseless rumors—what is your true motive?"
The people exchanged uncertain glances. Had the Crown Prince truly saved them?
Something about Sheng Yu’s imposing yet righteous demeanor made them instinctively trust him.
The brown-robed man, sensing the shift, stubbornly retorted, "Since when does the Crown Prince have a conscience? My son’s legs are ruined—that’s the truth!"
He beat his chest in anguish. "My poor child! Crushed by the lighthouse beams—his life is over! Who will give us justice?"
Sheng Yu tightened his grip on the reins, patience waning. "Whether your son’s injuries were truly caused by the collapse remains unverified. If you seek justice, you may accompany me to the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s prison and explain the matter in full."
At the mention of the prison, the man paled. "I only want answers for my son! Why should I be jailed? You’re just another of the Crown Prince’s lackeys!"
Sheng Yu signaled two officers, who swiftly gagged the man and dragged him away.
His sharp eyes swept over the kneeling crowd. "Let this be a warning. Anyone who spreads falsehoods will face the full penalty of the law."
The crowd shivered and hastily assented.
In Chengguang Hall,
Qin Ge reported the incident of the commoners causing trouble in the streets earlier that day.
Cao Yuanlu said approvingly, "His Highness truly has a keen eye for talent. Vice Magistrate Sheng is an upright man—unswayed by threats or bribes, unshaken by rumors, and willing to stand up for His Highness. He will undoubtedly become a trusted right-hand man in the future."
Though the Crown Prince had never met this man before, he knew Sheng Yu was both a scholar and a warrior, highly favored by the late emperor. Had Sheng Yu curried favor with the powerful and switched allegiance to Emperor Chunming back then, he would likely have risen to the highest ranks by now. He had once been on the verge of fame and glory, yet he willingly remained a mere thousand-household commander in the distant Pengcheng. This alone proved his steadfast principles and unyielding integrity.
As the Crown Prince pondered how to collaborate with Sheng Yu to expose Lu Qi’s past crimes, Zhao Yue requested an audience outside, claiming he had urgent news.
Zhao Yue had been sent to investigate the whereabouts of Yun Kui’s father. If it was urgent, it must mean he had uncovered new leads.
Granted permission, Zhao Yue entered at once and reported, "This subordinate has confirmed that among the officers who suppressed the bandits in Kaiyang’s Eastern Mountains that June, aside from the troops from Yizhou Garrison and Teng County in Shandong, there were also forces from Dahe Garrison and Pengcheng Garrison pursuing from the south. At the time, the Pengcheng Garrison commander dispatched one of his thousand-household officers to lead the operation—and that officer was none other than..."
The Crown Prince frowned slightly, guessing, "Sheng Yu?"
"Exactly," Zhao Yue nodded. "This subordinate discovered that Lord Sheng had clashed with those bandits multiple times and even suffered grave injuries."
Cao Yuanlu immediately added, "It’s possible Lord Sheng knows some clues. Moreover, Yun Kui’s mother was a healer—perhaps she even had dealings with them?"
Zhao Yue agreed, "That was my thought as well. With Lord Sheng’s assistance in the investigation, we could quickly narrow down the suspects."
Cao Yuanlu mused silently, The girl’s father might not have been a bandit at all. He could very well have been among the officers who suppressed them.
The Crown Prince, however, was in no hurry. Whether the man was alive or dead, they would soon find out.
Before the next morning’s court session with Emperor Chunming, Sheng Yu arrived at the Eastern Palace to meet the Crown Prince after concluding his duties at the Northern Administrative Bureau.
The Crown Prince, who always treated the late emperor’s trusted officials with respect, promptly invited him in.
Originally, he had planned to discuss official matters first before inquiring about the bandit suppression in Kaiyang’s Eastern Mountains. But the moment the strikingly handsome man stepped into the hall, the Crown Prince’s pupils constricted, and a bold conjecture flashed through his mind.
Cao Yuanlu’s eyes also widened.
Unlike Nanny Yan, who had once been an apprentice steward in Empress Huigong’s service, Cao had only glimpsed the martial arts champion from afar in the past and had long forgotten Sheng Yu’s appearance. Now, after carefully studying the man’s features and stealing a glance at the Crown Prince’s subtly altered expression, he realized His Highness had noticed something as well.
Had Zhao Yue not just reported that Yun Kui’s father might have been among the officers who suppressed the bandits, Cao Yuanlu wouldn’t have made the connection so quickly.
But now, it seemed increasingly possible...
Unaware of their thoughts, Sheng Yu strode forward, his gaze settling on the man seated solemnly in the grand chair. He knelt respectfully.
"Your servant, Sheng Yu, pays his respects to Your Highness."
(The dashing father makes his entrance.)
