The next day.
After morning court, Emperor Chongzhao gave a slap to his youngest son, who was still sleeping.
Qu Dubian was slapped awake. He slowly sat up, a ▼-▼ expression on his face beneath a mop of messy hair.
Emperor Chongzhao felt a bit awkward under his stare. "How strange, why did you wake so late today?"
It's because I stayed up late last night, of course.
Qu Dubian yawned. "Did you need something?"
Emperor Chongzhao kept him in suspense. "You'll know soon enough. Attendants! Help the Seventh Prince wash and dress. After breakfast, bring him to the Western Warm Pavilion to see me." With that, he left.
How odd.
Qu Dubian went through his routine of washing, dressing, and practicing Tai Chi, then had breakfast.
Even with the Emperor's order, he still followed his usual pace, showing not a hint of hurry.
Wen Xiaochun: "Your Highness, someone from Shunning Palace is outside. They say it's a return gift from Lady Xuan and Princess Zhiyi."
His footsteps, just about to head to the Western Warm Pavilion, halted. Qu Dubian became interested. "Let's see."
Soon, the gift from Shunning Palace was carried in. It was a small cart, just the right size for a child. It looked like a rickshaw but had reinforced guardrails around it.
"Wow—"
This gift hit the spot perfectly. Qu Dubian had originally wanted a small cart to make getting to and from his studies easier.
He nimbly climbed aboard, and Wen Xiaochun took the rope attached to the front, pulling him effortlessly for a couple of laps around the hall.
Turning, pivoting—it was very agile.
Wen Xiaochun stopped. "It seems much more effort-saving." It even looked more comfortable than a palanquin, and it seemed like great fun. His Highness clearly liked it.
Qu Dubian played for quite a while, until Eunuch Bao came in to hurry him along: "Your Highness, His Majesty has been waiting for you for some time now."
Only then did he remember the matter with his cheap dad.
"Coming right away."
So he patted his bottom, got down from the little cart, and followed Eunuch Bao to the Western Warm Pavilion, where he was lifted over the threshold.
Rounding the screen, Qu Dubian immediately saw his cheap dad sitting on the kang table, and the beauty beside him.
He stopped right next to the screen.
The beauty smiled gently. "So this is the Seventh Prince. This is my first time meeting him. He is truly adorable."
Seeing his young son stop and not come forward, Emperor Chongzhao waved him over and also smiled. "Come here, come meet someone. You should call her Noble Lady Chu."
"..." For some reason, Qu Dubian had a sudden, vivid sense of his biological father remarrying, his stepmother arriving, and both trying their utmost to show him the warmth of their newly blended family.
He glanced at Noble Lady Chu. She wore blue-green robes and was very beautiful.
However, he felt the scrutiny in this Noble Lady Chu's eyes was different from a normal look; it made him somewhat uncomfortable.
"Greetings, Noble Lady Chu," Qu Dubian dawdled his way to Emperor Chongzhao's side and pouted. "What did you call me here for?"
His manner of speaking to the Emperor surprised Noble Lady Chu slightly. She glanced at His Majesty, who seemed accustomed to this mode of communication, which surprised her even more.
Emperor Chongzhao said, "How about you go stay in Noble Lady Chu's palace for a few days?"
Qu Dubian blinked and asked directly, "Is she the mother you've chosen for me?"
Emperor Chongzhao: "I've said it depends on whether you like her yourself. I won't force you too much, but you can't be too willful either. This Noble Lady Chu has a very good temperament. Since entering the palace, she hasn't fought over anything. She's not like those ladies who blocked you in the imperial garden. She will treat you very well."
Noble Lady Chu chimed in at the right moment: "Seventh Prince, how about coming to play at Noble Lady Chu's palace? There are many good things there. Noble Lady Chu lives in Changxin Palace. The Fifth Prince is there too; you can keep each other company."
Having said that, she reached out to take Qu Dubian's hand.
Qu Dubian directly avoided it. "Imperial Father, I don't want to go."
Noble Lady Chu awkwardly withdrew her hand.
"Nonsense," Emperor Chongzhao said. "Noble Lady Chu is also your elder. Do not be rude."
Noble Lady Chu: "Perhaps it's because this consort..."
Qu Dubian interrupted: "You said Noble Lady Chu is very gentle. Noble Lady Chu wouldn't get angry."
Noble Lady Chu was momentarily speechless. Her hand inside her sleeve unconsciously twisted her handkerchief. "Of course this consort isn't angry, Seventh Prince. Has this consort done something wrong?"
"I just don't want to go."
Stubborn again. Emperor Chongzhao, with a headache, grabbed his hand, his tone carrying a coaxing note. "Don't you miss your mother? Noble Lady Chu looks somewhat like her. You could try getting along."
"...A mother can't be replaced just by a face!"
That excuse sounded disgusting. The original body's birth mother would be utterly revolted if she knew. Qu Dubian was genuinely a bit angry this time.
Seizing the moment, he broke free in one swift move, jumping away from Emperor Chongzhao's side. Startled, Emperor Chongzhao reached out to grab him. Only after seeing his son land safely did he scold with a dark expression: "No manners! You could have caught yourself on the threshold! Jumping down from the footstool like that, what if you had fallen!"
Qu Dubian scurried out in a flash.
"I'm going out to play!"
Emperor Chongzhao angrily slapped the table. "Little rascal!" He picked up a cup of cold tea and drained it. "I'll be the death of me because of him one day."
Noble Lady Chu: "Your Majesty, please don't be angry. The young prince is just attached to his birth mother."
"I know. He's usually just a bit more energetic; he's not normally this unreceptive."
Emperor Chongzhao sighed. "But even a prince designated as Crown Prince from birth doesn't have reason to live with the Emperor forever. What kind of precedent is that?"
-
Qu Dubian sat in his little cart and headed straight for the Menagerie.
Here were kept the fierce beasts from the Emperor's hunts that hadn't been killed—like tigers and black bears—as well as rare and adorable small pets.
But the most numerous were cats and dogs.
The ladies of the rear palace and relatives of the imperial clan all loved coming here to select cats or hunting hounds.
Accompanied by a Menagerie attendant, Qu Dubian stopped in front of the kennels.
There were no foreign dog breeds from later eras here, only native hunting dogs and village dogs.
The kennel attendant said, "Young Prince, the puppies are over here. The ones you're looking at are all adult dogs."
He wiped cold sweat. Heaven knew how terrifying the scene was of the young prince standing with his hands behind his back in front of a cage, not even as tall as the dogs inside. He truly wished he could add two more locks to the outside of the cages.
Qu Dubian: "Eunuch, are there any that don't bite?"
The kennel attendant replied, "Dogs that bite wouldn't be in the adult kennels. None of these bite. This servant still recommends you choose a puppy. Raising it from young will make it more obedient when it grows up."
Qu Dubian used a long bamboo skewer to poke a piece of meat. Holding it, he walked past the cages. Instantly, the kennels erupted with barks. The dogs wagged their tails furiously, gazing longingly at the meat on the skewer.
After walking the length, at the very end, there was a large, completely black dog curled up in its original spot. It only gave a slight sweep of its tail, not coming forward to beg for the meat.
A Five-Black Dog.
Qu Dubian stopped and pointed. "I want that one."
The kennel attendant: "This one? This is a female dog. Good conformation, but she's a bit old. Not long ago, she had her last litter of pups. She's about to be sent away soon. Would Your Highness like to choose another?"
Qu Dubian approached this Five-Black Dog's cage, squatted down, and beckoned. "Big Black, Big Black."
The mother dog's ears twitched. She slowly stood up and walked to the edge of the cage. Wen Xiaochun tightly gripped the back of Qu Dubian's collar, ready to lift his young master up at the first sign of trouble.
The mother dog reached the edge of the cage and slowly lay down again. It didn't immediately eat the meat offered on the bamboo skewer but instead gently sniffed Qu Dubian's palm through the bars.
Qu Dubian: "Big Black, oh Big Black, do you want to come with me?"
The mother dog gave a low growl and ate the meat he tossed in.
Qu Dubian: "It agreed!"
The kennel eunuch: "..." Truly a child's thinking. It just ate a piece of meat, it didn't speak. Where does he see agreement?
"Your Highness truly wants this one?"
Qu Dubian pleaded: "Please let it out, Eunuch."
The kennel eunuch beamed with a smile: "Very well, please wait a moment."
Even if it was gentle, protective measures still had to be taken.
Soon, the black dog had its mouth fitted with a wooden device similar to a later-era muzzle and a leash fastened around its neck.
Under the watchful eyes of three eunuchs, as well as Wen Xiaochun and Ye Xiaoyuan, Qu Dubian played with it for over an hour—throwing balls, hiding things for it to find—until they became quite familiar with each other.
Every time he gave a command, Big Black would turn its head to look at him before carrying it out... Qu Dubian had a strange feeling that it wasn't him playing with the dog, but rather the dog indulgently playing along with him.
Once they were sufficiently familiar, Qu Dubian had someone bring in his small cart. He adjusted the leash to a suitable length and harnessed Big Black to it.
-
Evening.
Outside Shunning Palace.
"Your Highness!!!"
"Your Highness! Slow down! Slow down!!"
A small dog cart moved steadily and at a constant speed along the palace path. The cheerful rumble of wheels accompanied the child's hearty laughter. Qu Dubian spread his arms, feeling the wind. "Big Black is amazing!"
Having a dog pull a cart for fun was something he'd wanted to do in his past life, but he never had the time to raise a dog.
Although it might seem dangerous and unconventional to others, he was utterly happy—it was the most joyful and carefree he had felt since transmigrating, even more so than sliding down the high stone slabs.
Big Black pulled the cart with ease and steadiness; Wen Xiaochun only needed to jog lightly to keep up beside him.
Even Consort Guo in the rear hall of Shunning Palace heard it. She looked up and sighed, "There's actually such infectious laughter in the palace. It's been so long since I've heard it."
Not long after, the owner of that laughter knocked on the main gate of Shunning Palace.
A palace maid announced his arrival. When Consort Xuan came out to see, she exclaimed in surprise, "Little Highness, it's almost dinnertime. Why are you here?"
Qu Dubian grinned: "I came to thank Consort Xuan for the gift." He pointed behind him at the dog cart. "This thing, it's especially fun."
Big Black stuck out its tongue and wagged its tail at Consort Xuan with an air of mature dignity.
Ye Xiaoyuan, wiping sweat, gave her a helpless smile.
"..." Consort Xuan fell silent for a moment.
If she remembered correctly, this little cart was meant to amuse children, requiring a person to pull it from the front using the rope.
"I only assisted. Actually, Consort Guo made the cart. She's probably the most skilled in woodworking in the entire rear palace."
"Consort Guo is my mother." A little girl, around five years old with eyes like black grapes, peeked out from inside the palace gate, curiously looking at the younger brother with the cool dog cart at the entrance.
It was Princess Zhiyi, who had run out upon hearing the commotion.
Qu Dubian looked up: "Huh?"
Consort Xuan: "She is Zhiyi, the only imperial princess in the palace. You can just call her 'Elder Sister'."
Qu Dubian said obediently: "Elder Sister." He hadn't seen this sister when he came for a meal last time. He thought his 'dog emperor' father only had a bunch of sons and no daughters, but there actually was one.
In Princess Zhiyi's experience, her brothers and younger brothers never paid her any attention. She had never encountered a younger brother who would obediently call her 'Elder Sister', instantly giving rise to a feeling of being a 'little elder'.
She walked out from inside the palace and pressed a small wooden carved rabbit into his hand. "For you, younger brother. I drank your milk tea last time; this is Elder Sister's return gift."
Qu Dubian was very gracious: "Wow! Thank you, Elder Sister! I love it!"
"I... I liked it very much too," the little princess said shyly, her gaze secretly drifting toward the small dog cart parked at the palace entrance.
Her longing yet conflicted little expression was obvious to anyone.
Qu Dubian: "Elder Sister, I'll teach you how to play with the cart. Will you let me stay for dinner?"
Princess Zhiyi's eyes lit up: "Okay, okay! My mother cooks very well. Consort Xuan often comes to eat too."
Qu Dubian sneakily glanced at Consort Xuan, offering a shy smile.
"Consort Xuan..."
His expression, hoping for a meal, was no different from Princess Zhiyi's longing for the dog cart.
Consort Xuan said with amusement: "Just say it directly. Could Consort Xuan possibly not let you stay?"
Qu Dubian then very cheerfully had someone move the dog cart into the courtyard. He stayed in the yard, playing with the cart with Princess Zhiyi.
It was fine for him to drive back and forth on the palace paths himself; if he fell, he fell. But Elder Sister Zhiyi was someone else's child; it was better to play somewhere safer.
The sky gradually darkened, and lanterns were lit in the front courtyard.
Consort Guo came by once. Hearing her daughter laugh so freely for the first time, she stood rooted to the spot for a long while. The Seventh Prince spotted her from afar, resting his chin in his hands, smiling, and waved at her.
Consort Guo, however, just smiled, not disturbing them. She curtsied slightly and went to the rear small kitchen to help. The Seventh Prince was a very lovely and straightforward child.
Wispy cooking smoke rose.
The surrounding vegetable garden had been expanded considerably since his first visit, filled with the atmosphere of daily life.
Princess Zhiyi's nose twitched. She suddenly stopped the dog cart, got off, and took Qu Dubian's hand. "Come on, younger brother, let's go. Elder Sister will take you to eat something delicious."
Qu Dubian: "Elder Sister isn't playing anymore?"
"I smell Golden Horn Fritters. They're only good when hot. They won't taste as good once served at the table. Let's sneak some now."
She was clearly a seasoned offender. Using a handkerchief, she stealthily took two from the stove and hurried out, pulling her younger brother to squat on the steps outside to eat.
Golden Horn Fritters were actually crescent-shaped fried pastries filled with a mixture of mashed meat and lotus root. One bite offered a crispy, soft, and glutinous texture, with the aromas of meat and lotus root blending together wonderfully.
"These are really delicious."
"Glad you like them," Princess Zhiyi whispered, leaning closer. "Younger brother, can you come play with me often? I'm the only child here; it's so boring."
Qu Dubian: "Doesn't Elder Sister go to the school?"
Princess Zhiyi said: "Mother says a princess only needs to learn needlework and some talents. I can't go to the school with you all."
Qu Dubian slowed his eating.
Just as he was about to say something, a call came from the main hall: "Come wash your hands, it's almost time to eat!"
Princess Zhiyi then pulled him to wash up, and he temporarily swallowed his words.
What Qu Dubian didn't expect was that as soon as he sat down at the dining table, a palace maid came in to announce, "Reporting to Your Ladyship, Noble Lady Chu has arrived."
Qu Dubian complained inwardly: Was there a 'dinner interruption' debuff cast on him? Last time here, he was interrupted by the Emperor; this time, by Noble Lady Chu.
Consort Xuan set down her chopsticks: "Let her in."
After Noble Lady Chu entered, Consort Xuan noticed that behind her was Eunuch Bao from His Majesty's presence.
Noble Lady Chu first performed a curtsy, then glanced at the Seventh Prince, who was silently scooping rice into his bowl. "His Majesty has issued a verbal decree, ordering this concubine to bring the Seventh Prince to reside in Changxin Palace for a few days. I apologize for disturbing Your Ladyship's meal."
Noble Lady Chu took a few steps toward Qu Dubian. "Your Highness, the Seventh Prince, Changxin Palace has prepared your favorite dishes. His Majesty has said that for the next few days, your meals will also be prepared by the imperial kitchen and sent over, so you won't have to get used to other food."
Qu Dubian didn't even look up. "I'm not going. I'll finish eating here at Consort Xuan's place, then return to Zichen Hall." Consort Guo's cooking really was delicious.
Eunuch Bao stepped forward, looking troubled. "Your Highness, all your belongings... His Majesty has already ordered them moved to Changxin Palace."
Qu Dubian: "......"
The child, who had been happily devouring his food just moments before, instantly deflated, his little face falling.
Consort Xuan set down her chopsticks. "The child is having his meal. Is this the time for you to come in with a report? Where are your manners?"
Noble Lady Chu was full of apology. "Sister, I am truly sorry. This is His Majesty's instruction. He is also concerned that the young prince might have an upset stomach from eating here."
Consort Xuan: "So you're saying the food in my Shunning Palace is unclean."
Noble Lady Chu said, "This concubine didn't mean—"
"Enough," Consort Xuan raised her hand. "Throw them out."
Eunuch Bao: "Consort Xuan, this is His Majesty's..."
Consort Xuan: "Then let him come here and tell me himself."
Noble Lady Chu and her entourage were driven out of the main hall and waited outside.
Inside the hall.
Consort Xuan: "Eat in peace. They won't come in."
"Consort Xuan, will His Majesty punish you because of this?" Qu Dubian picked up another fried golden horn.
"Back in the princely mansion..." Consort Xuan paused, "...because of a certain matter, I... sparred with His Majesty in martial arts. Since then, unless there's something important, he doesn't come here."
Qu Dubian: "..."
If he remembered correctly, his cheap father didn't seem to know martial arts, did he?
So was it a sparring match or a one-sided beating?
He wiped his mouth and climbed down from the chair. "Consort Xuan, I should still go."
Consort Xuan's brows furrowed slightly. She stood up, walked to him, and crouched down. "Your Highness need not worry about me."
"That's not it," the child before her shook his head like an adult. "Noble Lady Chu is the mother His Majesty chose for me. I... don't really like her."
Consort Xuan: "If you don't like her, then don't go."
Qu Dubian: "His Majesty has already moved my things. He definitely wants me to go."
The emperor's controlling nature meant that even if he disliked it, even if he ultimately didn't choose Noble Lady Chu, he would still have to go stay for a few days. It was a peculiar form of 'being good to him.'
He hugged Consort Xuan. "I actually prefer it here with you, Consort Xuan. I'll come often in the future to play with elder sister."
If that dog of a father really found him a foster mother he felt uncomfortable with, then he would definitely turn into a palace drifter, sleeping here tonight and there tomorrow, just never settling down.
Consort Xuan was stunned.
Qu Dubian called Ye Xiaoyuan and Wen Xiaochun to pack up some food to take along, taking away half the plate of fried golden horns. Only then did he push open the hall door and walk into the darkness outside.
Consort Xuan watched as he avoided Noble Lady Chu's attempt to take his hand and climbed into his own little dog cart.
His small figure was hunched into a ball in the darkness, munching on the food he had taken from her, ignoring everyone. One could vaguely tell he was sulking at the emperor.
Consort Xuan instinctively reached out a hand.
Princess Zhiyi caught it.
The little princess said, "Consort Xuan, can younger brother stay here forever? I'm happy when he comes. I feel... Consort Xuan is actually very happy too."
Consort Xuan: "Me? Do I look very happy?"
Zhiyi stretched out her small hand and poked the corner of her mouth. "Yes, you're always smiling when younger brother is here. When he leaves, you go back to how you were before."
Consort Xuan covered the small hand, her own fingertips also pressing against the corner of her mouth.
-
The little dog cart traveled along the palace path. Qu Dubian didn't speak the entire way.
Ahead, a palace servant from Noble Lady Chu's side ran in front, removing the palace thresholds blocking the path in advance.
Arriving at the entrance of Changxin Palace, Eunuch Bao smiled apologetically at the little prince, whose face was set in a stern expression. "Your Highness, His Majesty has specially permitted the imperial kitchen to prepare your meals. They're all kept warm inside. You..."
Qu Dubian: "I even shared my milk tea with you!"
Eunuch Bao was stunned for a moment by his outburst.
Qu Dubian was angry. "His Majesty moved my things here, and you didn't even secretly tell me. Sure enough, not everyone is as good to me as Attendant Ye and Xiaochun."
"Oh, Your Highness, that's not it!"
"I'm not listening," he muttered sullenly, ignoring Eunuch Bao's explanation, watching as Xiaochun untied the rope from the big black dog.
The big black dog shook its fur, looking like it had enjoyed the run, its eyes even brighter than when in the kennels. It gently nudged Qu Dubian with its snout, showing affection.
Noble Lady Chu was startled and hurriedly said, "Quick, pull that dog away! It's filthy, how can it come into contact with a royal prince?!"
"I like him."
Qu Dubian turned his head. "You don't?"
Noble Lady Chu: "...I do, I'm just worried it might bite. But since Your Highness likes it... someone, take this dog inside and feed it well."
A palace servant came to lead it, but the big black dog wouldn't move.
Only when Qu Dubian took hold of its rope did it follow forward. In just one afternoon, it already knew who its master was.
Ye Xiaoyuan and Wen Xiaochun exchanged a glance, recognizing the young prince's faint but discernible aversion to Noble Lady Chu. They simultaneously stepped forward, preventing the Changxin Palace servants from getting too close to Qu Dubian.
Qu Dubian found a place to settle the small cart and the big black dog.
A servant from Changxin Palace brought a basin of raw meat. Qu Dubian fed it to the big black dog piece by piece, using a bamboo skewer.
He deeply disliked this act of strangers moving his belongings without permission. Whether it was Noble Lady Chu, whose aura he intuitively clashed with, or Emperor Chongzhao, this behavior directly stepped on his sore spot.
Qu Dubian turned into a little deaf person, completely ignoring the voices of the Changxin Palace servants urging him to go inside the hall to eat.
He focused wholeheartedly on feeding the big black dog.
-
Eunuch Bao returned to Zichen Hall and saw Yu Decai at the entrance.
Eunuch Yu asked quietly, "How did it go?"
"Oh my," Eunuch Bao said, "The young prince is truly furious this time. I've never seen the young prince lose his temper like that before."
Eunuch Yu: "Hurry inside. His Majesty is waiting inside. In just a short while, he's asked about you three times already."
Eunuch Bao composed his expression and went in to report.
He repeated what he had just told Eunuch Yu, wearing a worried frown. "Your Majesty, ever since coming to Zichen Hall, the young prince has always been gentle and polite to us servants and maids. This time, even I was scolded. You... perhaps you should go see the young prince yourself?"
Emperor Chongzhao heard this and felt a headache coming on. "The reason I moved him so quickly was precisely because I knew if he saw me, he'd pounce on me in an instant, and I wouldn't be able to shake him off."
"How did Noble Lady Chu behave?"
Eunuch Bao recalled: "She was quite accommodating toward His Highness, not getting angry even when he acted willful. When His Highness let go of the dog he picked from the menagerie, she was concerned for His Highness's safety."
"She seems decent enough. It's just Xiao Qi, ah."
Emperor Chongzhao pressed his temples. "Go to the treasury and pick out two boxes of the incense I made, and also take two gold ingots shaped as ruyi scepters. Tomorrow, deliver them all to Changxin Palace."
Eunuch Bao: "Noble Lady Chu seems to prefer agate."
Emperor Chongzhao gave him a strange look. "Who said they were for Noble Lady Chu? These are for Xiao Qi. I'm afraid he'll make a fuss."
Eunuch Bao: "..."
So this counts as a bribe then.
Isn't it a bit late for that, Your Majesty?
