"Greetings, Your Highnesses."
The entourage of imperial consorts and concubines approached, graceful and elegant, but to the three little sprouts, they were simply too tall. Up close, all they could smell was the mingled scent of various perfumes and powders.
A few clever ones bent down, speaking gently and sweetly, "The Seventh Prince is so adorable. What a coincidence to run into you the moment we stepped out. It must be fate."
"What fate? Sister, you clearly took a detour to come here. I was the one passing by naturally."
They jostled and pushed, each vying for promotion with all their might.
Qu Dubian stood there dumbfounded, blinking.
What was going on?
His reputation had always been rather inauspicious. Logically, the consorts should be avoiding him.
He was still unaware of the emperor's intention to select a foster mother for him, nor had news of the abolition of the old system in the imperial court reached his ears. At this moment, he simply saw this as a great opportunity.
Time to test if any among these ladies could be someone to gain lifespan points from!
Consort He said with a beaming smile, "I have prepared a little gift for the Seventh Prince." She took out an exquisite thumb-sized golden tiger from her sleeve. "Your Highness, see, isn't it cute?"
Noble Consort Yu gritted her teeth. That was clearly a little trinket Consort He kept for her own collection. How did it become a specially prepared gift now? Pah!
She hurriedly said, "I prepared one too!"
Once the floodgates of gift-giving were opened, they couldn't be closed.
"Me too!"
"Here's one as well!"
The Sixth Prince was utterly astonished.
Was Seventh Brother this popular? Usually, these ladies hardly spoke to him! How infuriating, they even brought gifts!
Wen Xiaochun was a bit worried and wanted to take Qu Dubian back.
Ye Xiaoyuan pulled him gently and shook his head, smiling softly. "His Highness has his own ideas."
Qu Dubian flashed a standard smile with eight teeth showing. While walking towards the pavilion, he raised his hand and beckoned, "Pretty sisters, over here~"
"Oh dear, this child. You should address us by our titles or as 'Consort,' not 'sisters.' We dare not presume such familiarity," the consorts teased, covering their mouths with laughter as they followed him towards the pavilion. But the corners of their mouths were practically stretched to their ears. Though the Seventh Prince was young, his little mouth was truly sweet.
He was calling them young and beautiful. What consort wouldn't like to be praised like that?
Qu Dubian arranged for them to gather at the pavilion in the imperial garden. It was quite large and could barely accommodate everyone.
Then, with great effort, he clambered onto a stone stool. "Thank you for the gifts, sis... Consorts. I cannot accept them for nothing. I must offer something in return."
"No need, these are gifts we willingly give. How could we ask for anything in return from the Seventh Prince?"
"No, the tutor said that even towards elders, one must observe propriety," Qu Dubian insisted. "Fifth Brother, Sixth Brother, isn't that right?"
The Sixth Prince couldn't recall the tutor saying any such thing, but his instinct told him his younger brother studied better than him, so he immediately nodded. "Younger brother is right." He nodded, and naturally, the Fifth Prince nodded too.
Consort He hesitated. "Well then... Your Highness, anything will do."
"Xiaochun!"
Wen Xiaochun: "Your Highness."
"Take good care of the consorts' gifts. I will prepare the return gifts."
"Yes."
Qu Dubian understood clearly in his heart. The consorts were obviously targeting him. If he didn't accept the gifts today, he probably wouldn't leave this garden. Not knowing their true intentions, it was better to accept them all and offend no one.
The consorts came forward one by one to present their gifts.
Truth be told, they were still a bit confused. Things had inexplicably developed to this point. Their initial plan was to coax the Seventh Prince to their own palaces, entertain him well, and make him favor them.
Gifts covered the entire table. The last consort touched her hairpin, took off a simple hairpin—this fell into the category of having nothing suitable on her to give a child.
Each time someone approached, Qu Dubian repeatedly asked the simulator if this person could yield lifespan points.
Fate and encounters were the keys to initiating favorability. He couldn't wait passively; he had to take the initiative. If there was no fate, he would create it.
Unfortunately, by the end of his inquiries, the simulator remained as silent as death.
"Seventh Prince, what will you give in return?" Noble Consort Yu was genuinely curious, as the two eunuchs beside Qu Dubian didn't seem to be carrying anything.
Qu Dubian let out a long internal sigh, cursed the simulator once in his mind, and raised a smiling face. "This."
He lifted a small incense burner in his hand.
He got down from the stool and began distributing pinches of incense ash to each consort. The ladies had no choice but to catch the tiny bit of ash with their handkerchiefs.
They looked at each other, bewildered. "This is..."
Qu Dubian said with utmost seriousness, "This is His Majesty's beloved incense burner. The ash from his beloved incense is, of course, 'beloved ash.'"
'Beloved ash' sounded like 'beloved consort' in Chinese.
The pun made the consorts pause for a moment, then they burst into laughter, leaning back and forth. Heaven knew how bored they were in the rear palace; they rarely laughed so heartily.
If everyone started out aiming for promotion, now quite a few felt a spark of genuine fondness.
After dealing with the consorts, Qu Dubian walked over to the Sixth Prince, who was pouting with clear displeasure.
Sixth Prince: "If everyone gets one, then mine isn't unique anymore!"
"Yours is 'imperially bestowed ash,' theirs is 'beloved ash.' Clearly different," Qu Dubian lowered his voice. "Don't be angry, Sixth Brother. Let me tell you a secret about His Majesty."
The Sixth Prince's ears perked up high. Although his mouth was still pouted, his body leaned in honestly. "What is it?"
Qu Dubian stood on tiptoe, hooked his arms around his two brothers' necks, and said in a conspiratorial tone, "His Majesty needs someone to whistle for him to pee~"
The Sixth Prince was greatly shocked, even leaning back. "What! Father needs someone to whistle for him to pee?!"
The entire pavilion fell silent.
The palace servants: "......"
The consorts: "......"
Qu Dubian: "............"
He silently took two steps back.
Sorry, cheap dad. He originally just wanted to whisper it to placate Sixth Brother. He didn't expect this kid to be so dense.
The Sixth Prince covered his mouth.
Fifth Prince: "Heavens."
Is this something you can say out loud, you foolish younger brothers?
Noble Consort Yu murmured, "No wonder His Majesty doesn't visit the rear palace often... So it's because..."
He has this kind of hidden ailment... or preference?
Qu Dubian had already retreated to the side. He tugged at Ye Xiaoyuan's sleeve, looked up, and said gloomily, "Eunuch Ye, will we even be able to return to the Zichen Hall today?"
Ye Xiaoyuan facepalmed.
Your Highness... really.
He comforted him, "We won't be left without a place to stay, at least."
Qu Dubian: "Let's go, let's go." This place was not safe to linger.
Just as the master and his two attendants stepped out of the pavilion, they heard Noble Consort Yu say, "Seventh Prince, why not come to my palace for a visit? Don't be in such a hurry to leave!"
The emperor's matter could be discussed later. Grabbing hold of the child before them was what mattered now.
"My place is nice too, with delicious pastries."
"The gift just now was too crude. Your Highness, come with me to pick one you like."
The consorts surged forward one after another, even more enthusiastic than before, practically aiming for his cheeks and bottom.
Qu Dubian, frightened, immediately scrambled onto Wen Xiaochun's back, urging urgently, "Xiaochun, quick, quick!" If they stayed any longer, not only would there be no lifespan points, but his innocence and dignity would be lost!
They didn't even bother with the gifts they had just received and fled the imperial garden swiftly.
In the pavilion.
The Sixth Prince shivered, rubbing his arms. "Maybe it's not so bad that I'm not popular with them..."
They fled all the way to a garden behind Jingyang Palace.
The garden had no flowers and was somewhat barren, with only a few small cultivated plots where some radishes remained.
Guangshu Garden.
After the Founding Emperor conquered the realm, he most enjoyed farming, even involving the imperial consorts. This place was specifically opened up by him for the palace consorts to farm.
Later, by the time of Emperor Chongzhao's generation, the consorts no longer came. The Guangshu Garden's area had shrunk by half and it had become quite overgrown.
Imperial Consort Xuan was here selecting soil.
She appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six, dressed in simple, elegant clothing, her eyebrows like distant mountains, her demeanor reserved.
At that moment, she was holding a miniature hoe. Once she found suitable soil, she would shovel it into a wooden bucket carried by a palace maid behind her.
Hearing footsteps, she was quite surprised—did other people still come to this place?
Looking up, she saw an unfamiliar child already standing before her.
Qu Dubian said with curved eyes, "Hello there."
[Character: Imperial Consort Xuan
Favorability: 1]
The path twists and turns, yet you are nowhere in sight; just as hope seems lost, a village appears. Searching for someone a thousand times in the crowd, turning my head abruptly, that person is right there in the field, wielding a hoe.
Imperial Consort Xuan paused, "The Seventh Prince?"
Ye Xiaoyuan: "Yes, may I ask who you are, noble lady?"
The palace maid holding the bucket said, "This is our Imperial Consort Xuan."
Ye Xiaoyuan and Wen Xiaochun bowed: "We pay our respects to Imperial Consort Xuan. We stumbled in here by accident. If we have disturbed you, we hope for your forgiveness."
Imperial Consort Xuan lowered her head: "It's fine."
Imperial Consort Xuan.
They had actually heard of her.
This consort resided in Shunning Palace, right next to Consort Lan's Xiuxiang Palace. Even before the Emperor ascended the throne, she was known for living in seclusion. Rumors said she had deep conflicts with the Emperor.
They had thought that after the Emperor's ascension, he would at most give her a low-ranking title like Noble Lady, but unexpectedly, he directly conferred upon her the title of Consort.
She had remained in this consort rank for years without change, but she not only avoided seeing the emperor, she also consistently skipped morning greetings and banquets, gradually becoming a transparent figure in the rear palace.
Imperial Consort Xuan waited for a while, but the seventh prince showed no sign of leaving, so she had to say, "It's too cold here, not suitable for staying long. You should still take the Seventh Prince and leave."
Qu Dubian, however, simply squatted down right in front of her, propping his chin in his hands, his eyes expectant: "Consort Xuan, you're really pretty. It's almost noon, can I go to your palace to eat?"
Imperial Consort Xuan: "Aren't you returning to Zichen Hall?"
Qu Dubian squirmed: "I might get a beating if I go back."
Imperial Consort Xuan: "?"
Zichen Hall.
After the morning court session, Emperor Chongzhao heard that Qu Dubian had gone out to play and hadn't been brought back. He thought it was quite good for the child to go out and have fun.
He had been very busy lately, occupied with matters concerning the posthumous honors for Consort Yun and the opening of the memorial hall rites, while also handling the reopening of the school.
One of the six halls in the Eastern Garden had been burned down, but the princes couldn't stay away forever. Currently, the second and third halls had been tidied up and were ready for classes to resume.
When the Imperial Kitchen delivered the midday meal, Emperor Chongzhao remembered how the child had come over holding his bowl to beg for food yesterday. He didn't start eating immediately but instead glanced toward the door.
"Has Little Seven not returned yet?"
"Not yet."
Emperor Chongzhao: "Where did he go to play, that he's forgotten even to eat?"
Eunuch Yu was also puzzled, "Indeed. The little prince, who was often mistreated by the main kitchen, is usually very keen on eating."
"If you don't speak, no one will mistake you for a mute," Emperor Chongzhao said mildly. "Send someone to find him and call him back to eat."
Eunuch Yu shut his mouth and nodded.
A palace servant from outside entered carrying a food box. "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Empress has sent something over."
"The Empress?" Emperor Chongzhao was slightly surprised. Although he and the Empress were husband and wife, there was no affection between them. He only visited Fengwu Palace on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month.
She was aware of this and usually couldn't be bothered with him, showing more concern for palace affairs than for him. Would she send something?
"Yes."
Opening the food box, Emperor Chongzhao froze. Looking closely, everything inside were tonics for nourishing the body.
The palace maid from Fengwu Palace, keeping her eyes downcast, said, "The Empress said she originally didn't wish to disturb Your Majesty either, but this represents the collective wish of the consorts in the rear palace, hoping Your Majesty will take good care of your health."
"..."
Emperor Chongzhao's tone was strained: "...Do they think... my health is very poor?"
Fengwu Palace maid: "The consorts merely wish for Your Majesty to take care of your health. The message has been delivered. If there is nothing else, this servant must return to report."
Emperor Chongzhao waved his hand, staring at the tonics in the food box, falling into self-doubt.
Strange. Very strange.
"Go and ask what happened today."
Eunuch Yu gave a meaningful look. After a while, a young palace maid came in from outside. "Tell His Majesty, was there any incident in the rear palace today?"
The young palace maid's head was practically buried in the ground.
"The Seventh Prince met the various consorts in the Imperial Garden. The consorts gave him greeting gifts, and the Seventh Prince gave gifts in return... what he gave was... the ash from Your Majesty's incense burner."
Emperor Chongzhao: "Ash?"
"The Seventh Prince said that Your Majesty loves incense, so the incense ash he gave represents love... love ash."
Emperor Chongzhao choked several times, his expression contorting slightly: "He said that? And then?"
The young palace maid wore a pained expression, finally getting to the crucial point.
She didn't dare fully repeat the phrase 'His Majesty needs someone to whistle for him to pee,' but Emperor Chongzhao naturally recalled yesterday afternoon when his stubborn little son, covering his mouth and snickering, said to him:
"Give me the big black moth, or I'll tell everyone that His Majesty needs someone to whistle for him to pee."
Emperor Chongzhao felt his vision darken.
He had given the big black moth! He just hadn't explicitly told him so. Could it be that the little rascal thought he hadn't given it and had actually gone and told the entire palace?!!
He said with difficulty, "So the Empress sent these tonics because...?"
Eunuch Yu's eyelids twitched wildly as he signaled to Eunuch Bao with his eyes.
Eunuch Bao quickly tried to soothe him, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, don't be anxious. Perhaps there are still those in the palace who don't know!"
Emperor Chongzhao: "..."
Eunuch Yu: "..."
Emperor Chongzhao closed his eyes deeply. "Qu... Xiao... Qi!!"
"Bring him back to me!!"
