Weiyang Palace.
The residence of the Third Prince's mother, Consort Wen.
"If Eldest Brother passes this assessment and establishes his own residence outside the palace, he will undoubtedly begin winning over hearts in the imperial court," the Third Prince worried. "I am two years younger than him. I must wait another two years before I can attend court and participate in governance. Two years is like an insurmountable chasm..."
As he spoke, he heard a couple of faint sobs.
The Third Prince looked up towards the window. "Mother Consort, there is no need for such distress."
Consort Wen lifted her head from a storybook, her eyes misty with tears. "What did you just say?"
The Third Prince: "..."
Consort Wen: "I got this volume of stories from Consort Xuan. Although they are tales of the common folk and the martial world, they are exceptionally moving. So tragic."
The Third Prince had no choice but to repeat himself. "Mother Consort, please take your child's serious matters more seriously."
Consort Wen set down the storybook and poured him a cup of tea.
"Whether he passes the assessment or not depends entirely on His Majesty's decision. It will be based on the results of this examination and his usual performance; it will take at least three or four days. Grand Tutor Fang only just submitted the examination papers to His Majesty today, and yet you come to me in such a hurry. This impatience shows you still lack tempering."
The Third Prince said, "Whether a prince is permitted to establish his own residence outside the palace is not something the court ministers can interfere with. It depends entirely on Father Emperor. Grandfather and the others won't be able to help."
"Hmm, I know that," Consort Wen said. "Those who can get close to His Majesty and have a say... the consorts need not be considered. Aside from them, there are only a few like Chief Eunuch Yu and Chief Eunuch Bao who serve in close attendance."
"They are all difficult to approach," the Third Prince said. "If I were to do anything, Father Emperor would surely see through it."
Consort Wen said, "You've forgotten someone. The Seventh Prince."
"Seventh Brother?"
The Third Prince fell into thought.
Consort Wen: "The Seventh Prince is often ill, perhaps his constitution was weakened during his time in the Palace of Peaceful Residence. His Majesty is very indulgent towards him; there are even his personal bowls and chopsticks kept in the Purple Dawn Hall. Weren't you jealous of that before?"
The Third Prince smiled awkwardly.
How could things from three years ago be the same as now?
The older he grew and the more he understood, the more he realized that Seventh Brother, being the youngest, frail since childhood, and average in his studies, posed little threat to any of them.
Once he established his own residence and attended court, it was questionable whether he could even stand firm on his own feet.
On the contrary, if they befriended him, the two forces behind him—the Sword-Wielding Marquis and the Xie family—could become assets.
Little Seven had a good temperament, lively and cheerful. His occasional mischief might only anger Father Emperor, but while he didn't interact much with his elder brothers, he was generally quite friendly.
"I will go see him tomorrow," the Third Prince said. "Mother Consort, you should also visit the Palace of Serene Tranquility more often."
Consort Wen: "I know. You need not concern yourself with matters of the inner palace."
Having formed a plan in his heart, the Third Prince bowed in farewell.
"Then, Mother Consort, your son will take his leave."
Not long after the Third Prince left, the person Consort Wen had sent to inquire about the Seventh Prince returned.
"He just left the Palace of Compassionate Peace? Hmm... The Seventh Prince does often visit the old dowager consorts there..." After a moment of contemplation, she instructed, "Fetch some gifts. Accompany me to the Palace of Compassionate Peace."
"To visit the old dowager consorts, and incidentally... Never mind, tomorrow will do. Tomorrow I'll go have a chat with Consort Xuan. The martial world storybook she gave me last time was quite good. Perfect, we can discuss it."
Consort Wen picked out a few gifts and walked gracefully towards the Palace of Compassionate Peace.
However, as soon as she reached the palace gates, she heard a strange, rhythmic music—dong dong dong qiang.
At the gate of the Palace of Compassionate Peace was also a rather familiar palace attendant—Chief Eunuch Liu, who served by Consort De's side.
Consort De was the mother of the Eldest Prince. Her presence at the Palace of Compassionate Peace now likely meant she too had set her sights on the Seventh Prince.
Consort Wen chuckled lightly. "Is Sister Consort De inside?"
Chief Eunuch Liu: "Consort Wen, Your Highness, you have come as well?"
Consort Wen: "Is this place not for me to come?"
"This lowly one has misspoken. Of course you may come. Consort De is inside."
"It sounds quite lively inside. What is happening?"
Chief Eunuch Liu hesitated. "Uh... It's something the Seventh Prince came up with. It's hard to describe. Would Your Highness prefer to see for yourself?"
Consort Wen entered the Palace of Compassionate Peace, and the music inside immediately became clearer. When she saw the scene before her, she was stunned.
The entire palace—including four dowager consorts, palace maids, and eunuchs—were all dancing a bizarre, strange dance.
Not only were they twisting about, but they were also clapping, raising their arms, and lifting their legs. This was the Seventh Prince's doing?
It was simply, simply...
Scanning the room, she didn't see Consort De and felt slightly relieved. Good, good. If Consort De wasn't dancing, she wouldn't have to follow the dowager consorts' lead and dance either.
But then she looked up and caught sight of a familiar figure on a slightly raised platform.
Looking closer, it was Consort De leading the dance on the platform.
Consort Wen: "..."
Really, sister? You're trying too hard.
-
The next day.
The Imperial School.
As soon as the Eldest Prince and the Third Prince entered, their gazes simultaneously fell on the second-to-last seat in the left row.
Qu Dubian, of course, knew nothing about Consort Wen and Consort De's visit to the Palace of Compassionate Peace the previous day.
He was catching up on sleep, with dark ink stains still lingering on both his hands.
The first dance he taught the dowager consorts at the Palace of Compassionate Peace had been well-received, so he planned to create a few more.
Last night, in the small study of his own palace quarters, he had been researching the differences between Great Zhou musical notation and modern notation. He got so tired he accidentally knocked over an inkstone and spent a long time washing his hands.
It must be said, the inkstick he had 'borrowed' from the Purple Dawn Hall was of exceptionally high quality. He washed for ages but couldn't get it completely clean, finally giving up and going to bed.
Zhiyi sat behind him. She took a blanket from Ye Xiaoyuan and deftly covered him with it.
This morning was Master Xi's class. Three years ago, it was the class the Fourth Prince and others used for sleeping. Now, three years later, they could no longer sleep. The only one who still could was Qu Dubian.
The Fourth Prince sighed wistfully. "I truly envy Seventh Brother..."
Zhiyi: "Shh, Fourth Brother, don't wake him. Little Seven is still growing."
The Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Princes all choked. They were still growing too.
Zhiyi took out her book, thinking to herself, "Even when Little Seven is sleeping, he knows a lot." The things the teacher explained in class that she didn't understand, Little Seven would explain to her again after returning to the palace.
But her younger brother said this was their secret.
She opened her book, waiting for Master Xi to arrive. Unexpectedly, it was Grand Tutor Fang who came to teach.
Grand Tutor Fang: "Master Xi was summoned by His Majesty after court. His Majesty has some matters to ask him. Today, this old man will be teaching you."
The Eldest Prince's scalp tightened.
Master Xi being summoned at this time was likely related to the examination paper he submitted yesterday.
Grand Tutor Fang walked to Qu Dubian's desk, glanced at the ink stains on his hands, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He lightly tapped the desk with his ruler. "Seventh Prince? Seventh Prince?"
Qu Dubian opened his eyes sleepily. "Hmm?"
He blinked, becoming slightly more awake. "Huh? Grand Tutor Fang, isn't today Master Xi's class?"
Grand Tutor Fang's tone was so kindly it could drip with honey. "Awake, are you? This old man is teaching today. Get up now, no more sleeping. Be careful not to fall ill again."
Qu Dubian: "..."
Everyone else: "..."
They all looked as if they had seen a ghost.
As if the usually cold, ruthless interrogator who mercilessly struck palms wasn't him at all.
What had gotten into Grand Tutor Fang?!
Qu Dubian was no longer sleepy, scratching the red mark left on his face from sleeping. "Grand Tutor, uh... is there a happy occasion in your household?"
Grand Tutor Fang, thinking of the Seventh Prince's exam paper from yesterday, said with a beaming smile, "Oh, no, not at all. I was just concerned about you."
After saying that, he began the day's lecture.
Zhiyi whispered, "Little Qi, is Grand Tutor Fang alright?"
Qu Dubian rubbed his own arm. "Don't know."
Right up until the morning lecture ended, Qu Dubian had a subconscious feeling that Grand Tutor Fang's expression wasn't quite right. He grabbed his elder sister and called Ye Xiaoyuan, ready to make a quick escape.
Unexpectedly, before they had taken two steps, the Eldest Prince and the Third Prince blocked his way together.
"Little Qi, in a hurry to leave?"
Qu Dubian: "Yes, yes, yes, Consort De told me to go home for a meal, and Da Hei is hungry too." Da Hei cooperatively barked twice.
The Third Prince stepped forward, making a rather elegant invitation: "Little Qi, your Third Imperial Brother has bought many delicious treats from outside. Would you like to come and taste—"
The Eldest Prince bumped into him, thrusting his hip hard to the left and sending the Third Prince flying with a shove.
The Third Prince fell into the flowers and shrubs beside them, instantly losing his composure: "Eldest Brother, you!"
In the blink of an eye, Qu Dubian was scooped up into the Eldest Prince's arms, who then remarked disdainfully:
"Third Brother, it's not that Eldest Brother wants to criticize you, but you're as thin as a chopstick. I feel like with a bit more force you might snap. You should practice more in the future. I heard your mother is selecting a princess consort for you. With your current physique, how will you take care of your future wife?"
Sometimes snatching someone away was just that simple and brutal.
The Third Prince looked at his scraped palm, which was bleeding slightly, and lowered his eyes. "Yes, I will remember Eldest Brother's advice."
The Eldest Prince was satisfied. "Come on, Little Qi, come with Eldest Brother for a bit."
Qu Dubian, having witnessed their dispute, couldn't help but sigh at his eldest brother's obtuseness. If he were the Third Prince, he would definitely take his wound to Emperor Chongzhao, wailing and crying as if to make the earth split and mountains crumble.
With a charge of 'not being fraternal' slapped on him, the Eldest Prince's chances of being granted a palace outside the imperial grounds would likely shrink by thirty percent instantly.
He didn't want to get involved. "Eldest Brother, let go of me. I have things to do."
The Eldest Prince: "What things?"
Grand Tutor Fang, having watched the spectacle for a good while, finally came over from behind, hands clasped behind his back. "It is I who have business with him."
"What, do you wish to contend with this old man for him?"
The Eldest Prince hastily waved his hands. "This student wouldn't dare."
He set Qu Dubian down, even taking a moment to straighten his younger brother's clothes, and gave him a gentle push forward. "As you wish."
Qu Dubian: "..."
He said to Zhiyi, "Elder Sister, you go back first. Tell Consort De I might be back a little late."
Zhiyi, holding Da Hei's leash, said, "Mm, come back early. We have things to do this afternoon."
Qu Dubian: "Mm."
Faced with the choice between being fought over by two imperial brothers and being taken away by Grand Tutor Fang, he chose the latter.
Grand Tutor Fang led him to a side hall. This was where the tutors usually graded assignments and occasionally rested or changed clothes. When they returned from court to teach the princes, they changed from their court robes into regular clothes here.
It was Qu Dubian's first time here.
He glanced around; signs of daily life were evident.
For example, the bamboo cup hanging on the wall.
Grand Tutor Fang seemed to really enjoy sweet milk tea, the extremely sweet kind. Qu Dubian had secretly seen him add a lot of honey to that bamboo cup.
"Sit."
They sat facing each other across a low table.
On it lay an empty Go board, with the stones placed in their containers.
Qu Dubian: "Grand Tutor, what did you need me for? I'm in a hurry to get back for my meal."
Grand Tutor Fang took out a neatly folded piece of paper.
He pushed it over to Qu Dubian with two fingers. "This is your exam paper from yesterday."
Qu Dubian: "What about it? Is there a problem?"
"Open it. Hold it up to the light."
Qu Dubian found this strange but did as he was told. However, when sunlight passed through the surface layer of the paper, he paused.
Grand Tutor Fang: "The exam paper is made of Jin-ceng Xuan paper. Depending on when the ink was applied, when held against sunlight, the back will reveal the characters from the initial strokes of the brush."
He smiled. "Little one, what you crossed out was the correct answer, and what you rewrote was the wrong one. Care to give me an explanation?"
Qu Dubian put down the paper, glanced at the old man's smiling expression, and three words popped into his mind.
Old fox!
