Two days later.
The eldest prince was granted permission by His Majesty to establish his own residence outside the palace.
Reluctant to part from his brothers, the eldest prince proactively petitioned Emperor Chongzhao to allow the second and third princes to attend court and observe political affairs.
The rather pitiful part was that after observing court, the second and third princes still had to leave with their tutors and return to the academy for lessons.
These were minor matters. The eldest prince leaving the palace and the three princes attending court together signaled the formal sounding of the horn for another round of the struggle for the heir apparent.
Half a month after the eldest prince formally began attending court, Emperor Chongzhao bestowed upon him the daughter of the Vice Minister of Revenue, Shu Fenglang, Shu Wenxin, as his principal consort, with the wedding to take place three months later.
-
Qu Dubian paid no attention to these developments.
He had fallen ill again.
After this illness, neither Consort Wen nor Consort De visited anymore. Shunningning Palace closed its gates to visitors, becoming exceptionally quiet.
[Remaining Lifespan: 6 years and 128 days]
[Simulatable Diseases: Fever, Rhinitis, Coughing Illness, Common Cold (Wind-Heat)... Allergies (several types), Myocarditis, Breathlessness, Gastroenteritis...]
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From widespread systemic illnesses to ailments of individual organs.
Through various combinations, two or three at a time, Qu Dubian felt his body was the simulation system's testing ground.
Sometimes, to match the simulation system's optimal disease cycle, his periods of illness would even be prolonged. Any other child would likely have succumbed long ago, but he was always lively and bouncing back after each simulation.
If he had this system in modern times, he could certainly have made outstanding contributions to the nation's medical field.
Forget modern times; even now, the Imperial Hospital was livelier because of him.
He really wanted to tell the Imperial Physicians not to worry about him, to just leave him be for a few days, and he would recover on his own.
But while he thought it, he couldn't say it. The previous year, fed up with being force-fed medicine, he had said it once, only to frighten everyone terribly. They thought his suffering was so great he didn't want to live anymore; Sister Zhiyi's eyes immediately reddened.
Consort Xuan didn't sleep all night, rushing to Zichen Hall to drag his nominal father over, and the two of them kept vigil by his bedside the whole night.
He didn't feel bad about troubling his nominal father, but he felt guilty causing worry for his sister and Consort Xuan.
So from then on, he never said those words again.
Each time, the Imperial Physicians would still scratch their heads recording his symptoms, prescribing formulas, and brewing medicine. Qu Dubian watched helplessly as Physician Yang and Physician Qiu, who frequently treated him, lost more and more hair while gaining more and more experience.
Sometimes, for illnesses not apparent externally, he would endure them himself, and it was best if they went unnoticed.
He had drawn many items from the daily check-in, a miscellaneous assortment, some fun, some boring, even including a "Seven-Colored Sunshine Calisthenics" routine.
Perhaps because he was close to Consort Xuan, some items were related to cultivation, along with seeds and boxing manuals, all of which he secretly passed to her.
After Consort Xuan learned them, she would, in turn, teach him.
This time, the simulation was chest tightness combined with a low-grade fever, mainly characterized by difficulty breathing.
Compared to before, it was a minor ailment. He wasn't even lying in his room but was on the roof of Shunningning Palace, stargazing.
Qu Dubian had one hand pressed against his chest, the other pillowed behind his head, legs crossed, a dogtail grass that had grown in Consort Xuan's flowerpot dangling from his mouth.
Zhiyi looked up and called out, "Little Qi, aren't you cold? Come down. The medicine is almost ready; you need to come down and drink it."
Qu Dubian lazily replied, "Sister, the air is better up here. I'll lie here a bit longer."
Zhiyi scurried inside, came out with a blanket.
"Little Qi, cover yourself with this. I'll throw it up to you."
"Sister, just put it there. The blanket will come up by itself in a moment."
Zhiyi understood. "Alright."
She looked around and placed the blanket on a rock.
Qu Dubian closed his eyes, leisurely listening to the summer evening insect chorus.
Soon, he felt a slight weight on him as Yi Shier covered him with the blanket and sat down silently beside him.
Qu Dubian: "Six-six, do me a favor?"
Yi Shier: "Hmm."
Qu Dubian: "Later, when the medicine is ready, secretly help me pour it out. Remember to avoid Ye Banban and Da Hei; they keep a very close watch."
Heaven knows, earth knows, he knows, and Six-six knows. It avoids the bitter medicine while putting others at ease.
Yi Shier: "Cannot."
Qu Dubian: "I'll give you your monthly allowance."
Yi Shier: "I have saved much money already."
Qu Dubian: "The medicine is really bitter. I can recover without drinking it."
Yi Shier: "Your Highness."
"Alright, alright..." Qu Dubian slightly opened his eyes. "Just teasing you. Look at the sky, at that particularly bright star."
"If only it could always be like this."
Yi Shier raised his head.
It was indeed very bright, but his attention wasn't on the sky. He discerned the young prince's currently uneven breathing—heavy, stifled, with occasional deep breaths.
A sign of chest congestion.
Shadow guards had training in suffocation-based interrogation. When a person is breathless, their limbs also grow weak.
That feeling is not pleasant.
Qu Dubian: "I've always wanted to ask, Six-six, why don't you take off your mask? I don't even know what you look like."
Yi Shier raised his hand, fingers brushing the edge of the mask for a moment, but ultimately lowered it again. "Habit."
He took out three hand-copied storybooks from his robe, all based on tales Qu Dubian had told him.
"Finished writing."
"Good," Qu Dubian didn't open them, just yawned.
Yi Shier: "What use does Your Highness have for them?"
Qu Dubian: "You'll find out later."
-
Half a month later, the eldest prince formally moved into his residence.
He held a banquet at his mansion, inviting his siblings, as well as the hundred officials and ministers.
Emperor Chongzhao gave his eldest son face, bestowing a plaque for the mansion which was hung above the main gate. In court, he explicitly stated that ministers could bring their families along.
The eldest prince was already betrothed; next would be the second and third princes.
This banquet at the eldest prince's mansion was not only a housewarming feast but also a social gathering for the three grown princes and the officials, and furthermore, a matchmaking event.
The first major social gathering of the year in the capital.
Carriages stopped outside the eldest prince's mansion as guests arrived one after another.
Consort De specially allocated two female officials from the palace to assist the eldest prince. For such an important banquet, any mishap would be a disgrace.
Even so, the eldest prince was run off his feet on the day of the banquet.
"That's right, over there, that area is for Zhiyi and the female family members from the Xie and General Xia households. The other side is for the second and third princes and the others. They, like me, will be seated near the court officials."
"Set aside a separate table of dishes. Little Qi is coming too. His constitution is weak; don't let him eat in the front courtyard. It's too noisy. Move him to the rear courtyard," the eldest prince said while walking.
"He was ill just a few days ago. Since he's coming this time, Father specifically instructed me to keep a close eye on him. Assign more people to watch the kitchen to prevent any mix-ups with the dishes."
"Yes, Young Eunuch Yuan came ahead of time to coordinate. There won't be any issues."
The winding covered walkways followed the meandering stream around the pond.
Each family had their designated seating area.
The gates of the eldest prince's mansion opened, and guests who had arrived early outside entered carrying gifts.
The eldest prince greeted them with a smiling face.
"Your Highness, may you be well."
"Your Highness, may you be well. We intrude upon your hospitality; we hope you will not mind."
"Not at all, my lords are well. Please, come in, come in!"
The ministers, dressed in informal attire, were followed by female family members who wished to attend. Maids and palace attendants led them to their seats.
Qu Dubian's carriage came to a gradual halt. He stepped down first using the footstool, then turned and extended his hand. "Elder Sister, come."
Zhiyi took his hand and alighted, looking around curiously. This was her first time leaving the palace and her first time seeing such a lively scene.
Nearby, officials bowed and offered greetings. Qu Dubian waved his hand. "Please go on inside. There's no need to mind us."
The Xie family's carriage stopped at a distance. Xie Jingshan and his wife approached with their eldest daughter. "Your Highness, the Seventh Prince."
These were not strangers. Qu Dubian cupped his hands in salute. "Uncle Xie, Auntie, Elder Sister Yuan."
Yuan Jie'er: "Greetings to both Your Highnesses."
She was a bit older than Zhiyi. Zhiyi was very familiar with Consort Xuan, and Yuan Jie'er was Consort Xuan's niece. Both girls knew of each other and felt an instant sense of familiarity upon meeting.
Zhiyi took her hand openly and smiled. "Just call me by my name. Shall we go in together?"
Yuan Jie'er nodded gently. "Alright."
"Elder Sister, you go ahead. I'm going to find Fourth Brother and the others."
"Then I'll go in first."
"Mhm."
Qu Dubian entrusted Zhiyi to Yuan Jie'er, found a palace attendant from the First Prince's entourage, and sent them together to the arranged seating for the female guests.
He himself went to the front hall.
The Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Princes were sitting at one table. Seeing him arrive, they all beckoned. "Seventh Brother."
Qu Dubian sat down next to the Fourth Prince. "Elder Brother's mansion is very spacious."
Fourth Prince: "I took a look at his bedroom. The bed is spacious too."
"Most importantly, he's free now, no tutors to oversee him," the Sixth Prince said enviously, stretching out his hand. The Fifth Prince silently handed him some shelled sunflower seeds.
Their dynamic had, without them realizing, reverted to this pattern. One was accustomed to giving orders, the other silently accepting them, though it was less severe than before.
Qu Dubian wished to change this, but as long as Noble Consort Rong submitted to Noble Consort Lan for a day, she would require her son to curry favor with the Sixth Prince for a day.
At most, he could act as a mitigating agent.
The four princes cracked sunflower seeds, enjoyed the spectacle, and watched their eldest, second, and third brothers chatting amiably with the assembled officials.
Then a call rang out: "Young Master Xia has arrived!"
A young lad in light blue martial attire strode in. With sword-like brows and starry eyes, his wrists bound with armguards, he smiled and cupped his hands. "Greetings to Your Highnesses. I've arrived a bit late; the roads were terribly congested."
The First Prince said heartily, "Not at all, not at all. Please take your seat."
The Fifth Prince whispered in Qu Dubian's ear, "He's the son of General Xia Hong, named Xia Fuyang. Elder Brother invited Lady Xia mainly for his sake."
Xia Hong had been at the frontier for three years, his noble rank swiftly rising to Earl. Becoming a Marquis might be a matter of a few more years. Consequently, Xia Fuyang had quickly become a highly sought-after figure in the capital.
His Majesty clearly intended to elevate Xia Hong's status, to further decentralize power in the Northern Frontier. With Xia Hong far away at the border and beyond anyone's reach, those with designs naturally turned their attention to Xia Fuyang.
Xia Hong had only this one son. There was also a younger daughter in the household, but she was an adopted orphan, the child of a fallen subordinate soldier, not his own flesh and blood.
The Fourth Prince, nearly ten years old with a still-chubby face, glanced over and saw things clearly. "Why are you telling Seventh Brother all this? So many people want to befriend Xia Fuyang precisely because he himself is a source of trouble."
He shelled a few sunflower seeds for Qu Dubian. "It's better for us to keep our distance."
Qu Dubian: "Thank you, Fourth Brother."
After eating the seeds, he clapped his hands clean. "I'm going to the rear courtyard, Fourth Brother. If you see Ye Banban later, don't forget to let him know."
Fourth Prince: "What are you going to the rear courtyard for?"
Qu Dubian: "Consort Xuan asked me to pass a message to Yuan Jie'er. I forgot, and just remembered now."
"Oh, I see. Then you'd better go quickly."
-
Rear Courtyard.
Qu Dubian sat under a willow tree for a while.
A figure dropped upside down from the tree, making a face at him. "Hey! Scared you, didn't I?"
Qu Dubian raised his hand and punched upwards.
"Ow—!"
The figure clutched his forehead, flipped down, and landed. "You are truly cold and heartless to me."
With a flick of his sleeve, he steadied himself. The newcomer, dressed in blue, was none other than Xia Fuyang.
