Yi Shier was taken down from the chains.
The stray hairs on his forehead were damp against his mask. "The price?"
"There is one."
The Shadow Guard leader opened his palm, revealing a pill.
"Three-Day Slumber. The antidote will be sent to you regularly. From now on, you are no longer a Shadow Guard."
Three-Day Slumber was a poison. The antidote had to be taken every three days, or one would die in their sleep. It was considered a rather mild poison; they had considered that if Yi Shier ever forgot to take it, this manner of death wouldn't frighten people.
Not confined to the Emperor's side, but confined to a prince's side—in the end, from the moment they entered the palace and became Shadow Guards, they had forever lost the right to freedom.
He was allowed to live because he hadn't been a Shadow Guard for long. But even so, an extra layer of security with poison was needed, entrusting his life to the hands of a child.
Yi Shier threw his head back and swallowed it.
"Also, His Majesty has instructed that the Seventh Prince cannot stand the smell of blood. Before your wounds heal, it's best you don't appear. If the Seventh Prince insists on seeing you, you must ensure the smell is completely dealt with."
Yi Shier pushed himself off the wall and staggered to his feet.
"Understood."
After walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped.
The Shadow Guard leader thought he was going to give a farewell speech, so he straightened up slightly, ready to offer some appropriate words of comfort.
Yi Shier: "If I'm not a Shadow Guard anymore, can I still collect the monthly stipend?"
The leader: "..."
Yi Shier pondered: "Which pays more per month, being a Shadow Guard or looking after a child?"
"..."
"Where will I live from now on? How long is the workday? Are there any requirements?"
The leader suppressed the urge to kick him. "Get out!"
-
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice.
Qu Dubian stretched lazily. Heaven knew how much security those remaining thirty-plus days of lifespan gave him every morning upon waking.
The days of waking up in a burning panic to immediately practice Tai Chi were gone forever.
"Where is Yi Shier?"
Simulator: [200 meters from the host.]
Qu Dubian didn't yet know that Yi Shier had been assigned to him and was still figuring things out on his own.
The real-time distance sensing couldn't exceed 300 meters; beyond that, it was ineffective, which was why he couldn't sense him before.
So it seemed now that his cheap father had released Yi Shier. This distance... seemed to indicate he was guarding his cheap father?
But regardless, after the scene he had caused, Yi Shier probably wouldn't be executed so casually anymore.
Securing a future major meal ticket was a good thing!
After finishing his Tai Chi and morning meal, Qu Dubian planned to go out for a stroll. The number of people whose favor he could currently gain was far, far too few. Previously confined to the Jiu'an Palace, he couldn't interact with many people, but now those restrictions were gone.
He needed to walk around more, see if he could run into anyone.
The Emperor hadn't finished court yet, so the entire Zichen Palace had no one who could control him! He, Qu Dubian, was the current big boss of Zichen Palace.
He tugged at the hem of Ye Xiaoyuan's robe, struggling to stride forward. "Ye, hurry up, hurry up, or we might not be able to leave later."
"Your Highness! Your Highness, perhaps you should leave the incense burner behind?" This childcare duty was utterly exhausting for Eunuch Bao. "This is His Majesty's favorite small incense burner..."
The young prince really liked the incense personally blended by the Emperor. These past few days, whenever he had a free moment, he would hold it and sniff it.
Holding it was one thing, but why take it out when leaving the palace?
The gleaming, golden gilded incense burner was immensely valuable just in craftsmanship, even inlaid with many gemstones. Some might find gold and jade vulgar, but Qu Dubian did not; he loved them.
"We're just going out to play for a while; it won't get broken. His Majesty said I could play with anything I want." Reaching the long staircase in front of Zichen Palace, he noticed the smooth stone slabs on either side of the steps. His eyes lit up, and he shoved the incense burner into Ye Xiaoyuan's hands.
"Xiaochun, I want to slide down."
Wen Xiaochun acknowledged and, lifting the hem of his robe, quickly walked to the bottom of the stairs. Standing at the lower end of the stone slab, he smiled. "Your Highness, come on."
Qu Dubian slid down with a whoosh.
Eunuch Bao cried out in alarm, "Yo-Your Highness!!" Turning to see Ye Xiaoyuan's calm expression, he stomped his foot in anxiety. "Young Eunuch Yuan, aren't you going to stop him??"
This was madness! If he got hurt or bruised, it would be a punishable offense!
Ye Xiaoyuan: "His Highness swings on swings more dangerously than this; we're used to it. With Xiaochun there, nothing will happen." He smiled, his tone softening. "Besides, His Highness is thinking of us."
Eunuch Bao: "???"
He shot a horrified glance over.
Was this man insane?
Ye Xiaoyuan: "His Highness just doesn't want us to carry him down the stairs, afraid we'd get tired."
Qu Dubian had already safely reached the bottom and turned to wave at him. "Ye!"
Ye Xiaoyuan said to Eunuch Bao, "The young prince is little, but he's the one who thinks most of us servants. Eunuch, I'll take my leave now."
Watching the retreating figures of the master and his two attendants, Eunuch Bao suddenly remembered and beat his chest in distress. "The incense burner! That's an imperial object!!"
If it were dropped and shattered, it would be a crime!
Wen Xiaochun and Ye Xiaoyuan pretended to be deaf. "Where would Your Highness like to go play?"
Qu Dubian: "The Imperial Garden?"
In all those palace intrigue dramas, it's the favorite spot for consorts to run into the Emperor. He had to go check it out.
-
The news that the Emperor intended to select a consort to rear the Seventh Prince topped the discussion charts in the rear palace.
Some consorts who had claimed illness and rarely came to Fengwu Palace to pay respects to the Empress were now visiting more and more frequently these days.
No matter how much ill luck was rumored about the Seventh Prince, he was still a royal prince. Those of them without children weren't fools.
The Emperor allowing Noble Consort Rong to exceptionally raise the Fifth Prince was an exception among exceptions.
The consort he selected to rear the Seventh Prince would definitely have to be a principal consort, at least of Concubine rank or higher.
Among the existing seven principal consorts of the Eastern and Western Twelve Palaces, five already had princes of their own, so naturally they wouldn't be considered by His Majesty.
That left only Imperial Consort Xuan and Concubine Liang, both without children.
But Imperial Consort Xuan had secluded herself from the world for years and didn't see the Emperor, and Concubine Liang was under house arrest for fighting over favor, so neither qualified.
Therefore, it was highly likely His Majesty would select one from among the Noble Ladies and promote her to Concubine—or even Consort was not impossible—to rear the Seventh Prince.
This was a golden opportunity to soar to the skies!
Not to mention any hidden benefits, just the monthly stipend for a Concubine or Consort was much higher than that of a Noble Lady.
If they didn't seize this chance, with so many high-ranking consorts with heirs above them, when would they ever get their turn by mere seniority?
Thus, these Noble Ladies and Constant Attendants who felt they might qualify for the competition frequently rushed to Fengwu Palace, just to glean news from Zichen Palace and learn about the Seventh Prince's preferences.
The Empress was utterly annoyed and claimed illness, saying she was unwell and canceling morning audiences for the next few days.
The Emperor had made it clear: the Seventh Prince would not be given to her, the Empress, to rear. This matter was too entangled with the former court and even involved ancestral and old regulations.
Getting involved in these affairs would only bring her harm, no benefit.
Now, a group of consorts, having been shooed out of Fengwu Palace, were each lost in their own thoughts.
A young palace maid came running from the distant palace path, panting as she reported to her mistress: "News from Zichen Palace... they say... the Seventh Prince... the Seventh Prince..."
"You're killing me with suspense! What about the Seventh Prince?"
The little palace maid finally caught her breath and said, "The Seventh Prince has gone to the Imperial Garden!"
Smack!!
The little palace maid was slapped across the face.
Her mistress hissed angrily, "You wretched girl, don't you know to keep your voice down?"
When she looked up again, all those who had just been calling each other 'sisters' were now scurrying away at a brisk pace, all heading in the same direction.
-
Imperial Garden.
This place, frequented by The Emperor, had no bare, neglected corners.
Deep winter.
Here, a grove of plum blossoms was in full bloom.
The yellow plum blossoms were elegantly sparse and refined, their fragrance subtle and faint, adding a touch of crisp purity to the winter day. It was unclear what variety they were.
Qu Dubian, holding a small incense burner, spotted the Sixth Prince from a distance, struggling to climb a plum tree.
The Fifth Prince stood stiffly, holding a porcelain vase, watching the Sixth Prince climb.
After much effort, he hadn't moved an inch.
Qu Dubian waved his hand. "Fifth Brother! Sixth Brother!"
The Sixth Prince turned his head, surprised. "Seventh Brother? You're better?"
"Sixth Brother and I originally wanted to visit you, but Father Emperor said we mustn't disturb your convalescence," the Fifth Prince added.
Qu Dubian said, "Thank you for thinking of me, Fifth Brother and Sixth Brother. Aren't you supposed to be at the study hall?"
The Sixth Prince clapped his hands and released the tree trunk. "I heard the study hall was moved from the Third Palace to the Second Palace. They're still tidying up; we'll go the day after tomorrow."
"Sixth Brother, if you want plum blossoms, why not have them help you?"
The eunuchs and maidservants attending the princes behind them weren't just for decoration.
"These past couple of days, Mother Consort hasn't been well. The imperial physicians from the Tai Hospital have come several times, and she's been in low spirits," the Sixth Prince sighed worriedly. "When Mother Consort is in a bad mood, she makes me recite texts... I'm picking plum blossoms to cheer her up. They must be picked by my own hand."
So you dragged the Fifth Prince here to hold the vase and stand freezing with you?
Qu Dubian glanced at the Fifth Prince. The other boy was clearly accustomed to such things. Probably afraid of dropping the vase, his hands were frozen a purplish hue, yet he hadn't tucked them into his sleeves.
Who knew how long the Sixth Prince planned to wrestle with this tree. If this went on much longer, Fifth Brother, still a child, wouldn't be able to hold a brush to write.
"Fifth Brother, hold this for me for a moment."
Qu Dubian took the vase, set it on the ground, and handed the incense burner to the Fifth Prince. The Fifth Prince looked somewhat at a loss. "Seventh Brother..."
"It's His Majesty's incense burner."
The Fifth Prince's eyes instantly widened, and he couldn't help but hug it tighter. "Father Emperor?"
Qu Dubian stood on his tiptoes with effort, hooking an arm around the Sixth Prince's neck. "Compared to plum blossoms, wouldn't your mother consort prefer something from His Majesty?"
The Sixth Prince thought for a moment. "Yes."
"Both the incense burner and the plum blossoms have a fragrance, right?"
"Right."
Qu Dubian said, "So, if you give your mother consort the ashes from inside the incense burner, wouldn't it be just as good? She might even like it more."
"..." The Sixth Prince fell into deep thought. "Seems so. But why not give me the whole incense burner?"
Qu Dubian said, blinking without a hint of guilt, "His Majesty's belongings cannot be given away casually. But since Sixth Brother and I are good friends, I can secretly give you some ashes. These are Imperial Bestowal Ashes, truly extraordinary."
The Sixth Prince looked at him for a moment, then suddenly let out a "Wah!" and hugged him, deeply moved. "Wuwu, Seventh Brother, you're so good! I used to think you were annoying. As long as Mother Consort is happy and doesn't make me recite texts, I'll be your friend forever!"
Qu Dubian nodded with a beaming smile. The two of them together scooped out a tiny bit of incense ash from the small burner and poured it into the vase.
Ye Xiaoyuan and the other attendant, who witnessed the entire process of how their young master hoodwinked someone: Happy, pleased. Our young master's healthy, lively appearance is truly adorable.
The attendants from the Palace of Elegant Fragrance, who witnessed the entire process of how their Sixth Prince was hoodwinked: On the verge of speaking but holding back, sighing. Forget it, it's always been like this.
Having generously shared a smidgen of Imperial Bestowal Ashes, Qu Dubian rescued his Fifth Brother's frozen, purple hands.
Suddenly, urgent footsteps sounded in the distance. Listening closely, the footsteps seemed to be coming from all directions.
The palace servants around them were also bewildered, turning in circles to bow to the noble ladies, constant companions, and other consorts arriving from every side.
The little mistresses, adorned in either delicate, graceful, or charmingly vibrant attire, approached swiftly, their hair ornaments swaying gently, adding who knows how much color to the Imperial Garden.
However, due to their hurried pace and grave expressions, at first glance, the procession of consorts moving together carried an indescribable sense of pressure.
Qu Dubian hugged the small incense burner tightly, looked around, and sighed inwardly. Had they all estimated that his cheap dad was about to finish court and come here to wait for him?
Just as he was about to drag his Fifth and Sixth Brothers away, he suddenly heard a consort shout, "The Seventh Prince is over there!"
In an instant, the gazes of all the consorts focused on the shortest child in the middle. Gentle, affectionate (wolf-like, tiger-like) smiles stretched across their faces.
"..."
The amused, spectator's smile on Qu Dubian's face, his hands tucked into his sleeves, froze. His pupils shook with shock.
This whole spectacle... was actually for him???
