Version 06, Second Edition
Residence of Peace Hall.
Unlike the Emperor, who had to rise at three or four in the morning to prepare for court, Qu Dubian slept until he woke naturally.
While washing his face, he thought with a sense of schadenfreude.
Heh heh, I wonder if that cheap dad of mine cried when he woke up from his dream~
He had set this lifetime as the final one in the six-life tragic romance, rather than a reincarnation where they could meet again, because he understood very well—what you cannot have is always the best.
A beauty lost forever is harder to forget than one you might encounter again.
This holds true regardless of status or position, a common affliction of the world.
Actually, sketching out the six-life romance was a necessity. After all, he wasn't entirely clear on the details of the original host's mother's interactions with the Emperor, having only what Ye Xiaoyuan had told him. The phantom of 'Yueqing' in the dream risked saying more and erring more. It was much easier to handle if it was something fabricated like past lives.
When fabricating it, he focused more on the story's emotions, using snowflake-like fragmented flashbacks. He made no mention of the dynasty's court systems or cultural customs, and directly skipped over policies and wars.
The main reason was his lack of understanding of this world's Great Zhou Dynasty. If, while crafting the dream, he accidentally blended in memories of national policies, conditions, or military backgrounds from other dynasties, violating taboos of this dynasty and angering his cheap dad, it could very well lead to immediate disaster.
This way was good. The dream contained only the love line. If his cheap dad believed it, no matter how much he dug into previous dynasties, he wouldn't find anything conclusive, ultimately arriving only at the Buddhist conclusion of 'a flower is a world, a world is a flower.'
Moreover, even if his cheap dad didn't believe the dream's content, a seed of suspicion towards the Astrological Bureau would surely be planted in his heart.
He had only subtly hinted at the matter of the child through Yueqing's phantom at the very end of the dream, hoping to awaken a bit of paternal affection in his cheap dad.
-
Several more days passed.
Wen Xiaochun went to the Palace of Harmony and Prosperity each time to fetch paper and writing brushes, and each time was turned away, finally having to give up.
Qu Dubian's progress in learning to recognize characters hadn't even begun before it stalled. He counted the days, frequently glancing towards the hall's entrance, but still did not see the expected event happen.
There was no fanfare delivering warmth, no subtle attention or concern, and any improvement in living conditions was out of the question.
He simply felt that his cheap dad was truly cold-hearted.
Three or four days had passed, and not a single person had shown up.
Even if he didn't believe the dream at all and didn't want to come himself, shouldn't he have sent someone to check on his own child? At the very least, send some food! He was still a child, growing!
An emperor's heart is as deep and inscrutable as a needle in the sea. Perhaps the original host's mother wasn't as favored as Ye Xiaoyuan had claimed.
Forget it, let it be for now.
If this path is blocked, think of another.
Qu Dubian called out towards the outside, "Xiaochun!"
Wen Xiaochun pushed the door open and entered. Seeing that he had already put on his inner garments, he smiled slightly, "Your Highness, why didn't you wait for this servant to come in? Dressing yourself is such a hassle."
"It's faster this way." Mainly, he was also a bit embarrassed, as he wasn't truly a two-year-old child. He could manage the inner clothes himself, but the outer garments were more troublesome and required help.
Wen Xiaochun quickly got him ready. A hot towel wiped over his face immediately refreshed Qu Dubian.
"Let's go out for Tai Chi."
The light coming through the window was clear and fine, a good day.
He was already quite proficient at Tai Chi, but he still had Wen Xiaochun lead him from the front each time; doing it together gave more momentum.
The small courtyard had bluish-grey brick flooring. In the less-trodden corners, some withered yellow weeds remained. In summer, to avoid mosquitoes and insects, they absolutely had to be removed; in winter, they could be left alone.
Two clotheslines were strung across the spot in the yard that got the most sun.
Today, no clothes were hanging on the lines. Some firewood was laid on the ground to air out, dispelling dampness and mildew.
Only an old elm tree and the stone table and stools beneath it, favored by winter sparrows, held a somewhat appreciable charm.
Qu Dubian stood in the part of the courtyard with the best morning light, looking around. A peaceful, ordinary life was quite nice too.
"Your Highness, shall we begin?"
"Oh, yes!"
Qu Dubian gathered his focus and began practicing the forms seriously.
They had just finished. Qu Dubian had a light sweat on his brow when Ye Xiaoyuan entered the courtyard from outside, carrying a meal box and fuming with anger. As soon as he entered, he said, "The main kitchen is simply too much!"
"What happened?" Wen Xiaochun hurried over and took the meal box from his hands. "You're back much later than usual. What happened?"
When Ye Xiaoyuan saw Qu Dubian in the courtyard, he had already subconsciously reined in his anger.
He always avoided showing any negative emotions in front of Qu Dubian. Acting like this now meant he had truly been bullied beyond endurance.
Qu Dubian came over and tugged at Ye Xiaoyuan's clothes. "What's wrong, Companion Ye?"
Ye Xiaoyuan crouched down and lovingly wiped the thin sweat from his face. "You should go inside after finishing. Staying outside, you might catch a chill."
"Companion Ye, did Eunuch Fu from the main kitchen bully you again?" Qu Dubian instead grasped his hand and asked.
Wen Xiaochun also said, "Yes, tell us. Don't make us worry."
Ye Xiaoyuan held back, but ultimately recounted what had just happened.
It turned out that during yesterday's evening meal, Eunuch Fu from the main kitchen had gone to Consort Lan's palace. Somehow, a teacup was thrown at his head, leaving a dark purple, bleeding wound.
When Ye Xiaoyuan went to fetch the morning meal, he asked a concerned, polite question, which provoked Eunuch Fu into a thunderous rage. Not only did he kick Ye Xiaoyuan several times, but he also caused the meal box to fall to the ground, spilling all the food inside.
It definitely couldn't be eaten.
Being kicked a few times didn't matter to him, but the young prince couldn't go hungry. Such a small child, missing one meal, what if something happened?
"... This servant thought to see if I could get another portion. If nothing else, at least a bowl of rice porridge, or maybe a sweet cake."
As he spoke, anger crept back into Ye Xiaoyuan's expression. He opened the meal box. Inside were only two shriveled-looking steamed buns and a bit of pickled vegetables.
"That Eunuch Fu sneered and mocked, saying these pickles were the main kitchen's specially made winter delicacy, and we were actually getting the better deal, and that we should be grateful to have anything to eat at all. This servant clearly saw that these pickles were over-fermented, basically inedible, and that's why they were given to us."
"Pickles, pickles, if he's so good at pickling, what's he doing in the main kitchen? The Castration Chamber is where he should showcase his talents!"
"Ahem!" Wen Xiaochun, who was also angry, choked slightly upon hearing this.
Ye Xiaoyuan immediately realized and regretted, "This servant spoke recklessly. Such words dirty Your Highness's ears."
Qu Dubian stood on tiptoe to pat his back soothingly, understandingly saying, "Companion Ye, I don't understand. You can curse if you want."
He could choose not to know that the Castration Chamber was where eunuchs were castrated before entering the palace.
Yes, that's right, he didn't know.
"..." Looking into those clear, innocent child's eyes, Ye Xiaoyuan really couldn't bring himself to curse anymore. "Sigh, let's go in and eat first."
Today, there was no steaming rice porridge, no sweet pancakes or rice cakes. The master and his two servants sat around the two steamed buns and the bit of pickled vegetables, the atmosphere somewhat heavy.
Qu Dubian slowly nibbled on his food.
The taste was actually not bad. Although the steamed bun was a bit hard, it had more of a wheat aroma than those in later times. The pickled vegetables were slightly saltier than usual, but overall, it was quite acceptable.
If he weren't so small and his teeth weren't so weak, he could have finished this half bun with pickled vegetables in just a few bites. As it was, he could only nibble on it slowly with sips of warm water.
Qu Dubian thought for a moment and said, "Ye Xiaoyuan, I'll go with you to the main kitchen at noon."
Ye Xiaoyuan: "That won't do, how could Your Highness go there personally?"
Qu Dubian: "I am the prince. If I go, I go. They wouldn't dare hit me."
Ye Xiaoyuan was about to say more, but saw the child's serious expression. "If I'm there, they won't bully you, Ye Xiaoyuan."
Ye Xiaoyuan pressed his lips together.
After the prince finished eating, Ye Xiaoyuan, figuring he was full, handed him his books and went out with the food box.
He didn't go to the kitchen to eat as he usually did. Instead, he squatted directly on the steps outside the hall, pulled up his sleeve, and gave his eyes a fierce wipe, leaving a dark stain on the fabric.
Not long after, Wen Xiaochun sat down quietly beside him.
"How useless I am," Ye Xiaoyuan said. "His Highness protects me like this, yet I can't even manage a proper breakfast. At such a tender age, how can he be expected to face the cold stares of the servants in the main kitchen?"
His eyes were red, tears were falling, yet his voice was unnervingly steady.
This was the first time since Wen Xiaochun had entered the Ju'an Hall that he had seen him shed tears.
"I just feel His Highness should have been born carefree and happy. Whenever he suffers the slightest grievance, my heart feels as if it's frying in oil. Back when Her Ladyship was still carrying His Highness, she once said that sage wisdom is a cage, and imperial power is shackles. She wished for His Highness to be wealthy, ordinary, safe, and free.
I didn't understand it then. I thought, the imperial family... such immense wealth and status, how could it sound so terrible in Her Ladyship's words. Now I'm starting to understand a little. At least when my parents were alive in my childhood, I didn't have to fight or scheme just for a bite to eat."
Wen Xiaochun was silent for a moment. "His Highness is still young. He doesn't understand these things."
Ye Xiaoyuan: "He will understand someday."
After saying this, Ye Xiaoyuan's mood finally improved. He wiped his tears and returned to normal.
He took out the remaining half bun Qu Dubian had left from the food box, broke it in two, and gave one piece to Wen Xiaochun.
"The rest must be kept for His Highness. You can have this half, right? I bet you're not hungry," Ye Xiaoyuan stated with certainty.
"......"
Wen Xiaochun, acting as if deaf to the growling of his own stomach, took the quarter of a bun.
He also stated with certainty, "I bet I'm not hungry either."
As the noon meal approached.
Inside the room.
Qu Dubian tore up the paper on which he had drawn a roast chicken and, taking Ye Xiaoyuan and Wen Xiaochun with him, headed for the main kitchen.
His words that morning hadn't been idle talk.
If his cheap father couldn't be relied on, then he would take matters into his own hands.
No paper and brush was one thing, but now even food was running out! If things continued like this, forget about living a long life in obscurity, he'd starve to death first.
He was a prince, ground down to this state! No matter where he complained, the main kitchen would be in the wrong!
Noon was the busiest time at the main kitchen, with people from every palace present. The bigger the scene he caused, the better, until someone finally took notice.
-
Eunuch Yu felt the Emperor was in a rather poor mood.
In the three or four days since that grand court assembly, His Majesty had only visited the inner quarters once to see Consort Lan, and he stayed for less than half an hour.
Let alone summoning any other consort or concubine.
These past few days, Eunuch Yu had lost quite a few hairs just dealing with the ladies who came under the pretext of delivering snacks but were actually hoping to see the Emperor.
But no one, including Eunuch Yu, knew what was behind Emperor Chongzhao's recent quiet and withdrawn demeanor.
"Go to the Ju'an Hall. Take the opportunity to see how the child's meals, clothing, and daily necessities are," Emperor Chongzhao said abruptly.
Eunuch Yu was startled inwardly but replied, "Your Majesty, you...?"
Emperor Chongzhao frowned. "Go see if there have been any oversights. He's almost three years old. Presumably, even if I show some concern now, it shouldn't affect Yueqing..."
Eunuch Yu: "As you command."
The sun must be rising from the west, he thought, this is truly a turn of events.
Just a few days ago, he had thought it would be remarkable if His Majesty remembered to send charcoal to the Ju'an Hall. Now, the Emperor was sending him personally.
He didn't dare delay and set off immediately, making the main kitchen his first destination.
As the chief eunuch, he knew all too well that if one wanted to mistreat someone, food was always the first target.
Let's first see how the little prince's meals are.
He hoped those servants hadn't gone too far.
