Fengwu Palace.
In the main hall, consorts who had been to Cining Palace were kneeling in two or three rows.
Emperor Chongzhao sat beside the Empress, waves of anger rising in his heart. His tone was icy. "I truly had no idea musicians could be put to such use!"
The Empress looked somewhat embarrassed.
She hadn't expected the musicians from Cining Palace's square dancing troupe could also disguise themselves.
Had she known, she would have gone to see for herself.
Now, those who had seen it were being scolded, and those who hadn't were also being scolded. It was a real loss.
Noble Lady Rong felt wronged and whispered, "We merely associated with the musicians a bit more closely and did nothing else. We are all women..."
Emperor Chongzhao: "Women? Are there women who dress like that?"
He pointed at them one by one. "You, all of you! What's in your hearts, you know perfectly well. Don't make me spell it out, it wouldn't look good!"
The Empress poured him tea. "It's cooled. Please calm your anger."
"It was just this once. They were merely curious about something novel. It's not a major issue. They were just accompanying the Dowager Consorts, showing their filial piety."
Filial piety?
Emperor Chongzhao took a deep breath to soothe the anger in his chest and looked at the chief culprit.
At the very front knelt a wilted little radish sprout.
Qu Dubian knelt obediently on a cushion—yes, he even had a cushion.
Because the floor was cold, the Empress feared he might catch a chill and fall ill again, leaving her unable to explain to Consort Xuan.
The little boy wore a light-red martial arts jacket, a long cloth belt tied around his waist for practice, his hair hastily tied up and messy, with an ink smudge on his cheek.
Looking at his fingers, they were still streaked black and white.
A child's hands are short, and ink stains are unavoidable when writing, always hard to wash off completely.
The small bag slung across his shoulder didn't contain books, but a few green vegetables freshly pulled from the ground, still carrying some soil.
—Clearly, the child had been tending his little vegetable garden in Shunning Palace when summoned.
Quite the life enthusiast.
Childlike, but not the proper demeanor a prince should have.
The more Emperor Chongzhao looked, the more displeased he felt. "Look at what you're wearing."
He felt this couldn't go on. Even if this child was physically weak and not adept at studies, and he didn't expect him to inherit the throne, he should at least be raised to be sensible and well-mannered.
As a young child, he loved tinkering with messy things. A little dog cart was one thing, but now that he's a bit older, his influence in the rear palace had doubled.
Then there was Consort Xuan.
He had originally worried Consort Xuan might spank the child. But now it seemed Consort Xuan clearly indulged him too. Along with the entire Shunning Palace, even including Zhiyi, everyone accommodated him.
Qu Dubian lowered his head to look at his clothes.
"Consort Xuan made them. Aren't they nice?"
Emperor Chongzhao took a deep breath. "...But you can't wear this as everyday attire! Wearing it outside would make people think Consort Xuan mistreats you."
"Little Seventh, you are a prince. You have many elder brothers ahead of you, and your own health isn't strong. So I don't expect outstanding academic achievements from you, but at the very least, you should know to strive for improvement."
"But look at what you're doing, treating the rear palace as a playground. It's not enough that the Dowager Consorts, with their old bones, put up with your antics, you even drag other consorts into your mischief."
Qu Dubian: "But everyone seemed quite happy..."
Emperor Chongzhao paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, looking for something. Today, he absolutely must teach this brat a lesson!
A voice announced from outside: "Dowager Consort Liang has arrived!"
Qu Dubian's eyes lit up. He turned his head and whispered, "Grandma Liang, be careful."
Dowager Consort Liang, supported by someone, entered with a chuckle. "Alright."
Emperor Chongzhao stood up. "Dowager Consort Liang, you've come all the way from Cining Palace. Please, a seat."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Dowager Consort Liang was a senior who had served the late Emperor for a long time. She had shown some kindness to Emperor Chongzhao in the past. As an elder, he held a degree of respect for her.
After Dowager Consort Liang was seated, she looked at the kneeling consorts and the little radish at the front.
"Your Majesty, don't blame them. It's mainly us old ladies in Cining Palace who wanted some amusement. It's livelier with more people."
"And Little Seventh, it was our idea to do this. To play and have some fun. We're old, we don't have much time left, but we still need to be in good spirits, don't we? Little Seventh was just being considerate, finding ways to cheer us up."
"Your Majesty, please don't be angry."
Emperor Chongzhao glanced at the little radish kneeling ahead.
"As the Dowager Consort says."
With Dowager Consort Liang's arrival, the tension in the room dissipated considerably.
Qu Dubian stole a glance at Dowager Consort Liang.
Dowager Consort Liang secretly winked back at him.
In the end, Emperor Chongzhao decreed that musicians from the Music Bureau must wear their proper attire and were forbidden from random disguises. Consorts of the rear palace were not to disturb the Dowager Consorts in Cining Palace for no reason.
As for the consorts who had participated in the recent Cining Palace square dancing sessions, he penalized them three months' allowance for improper conduct.
Nothing more than that.
He did not order the Dowager Consorts to stop their activities. After all, they were his father's consorts. With Dowager Consort Liang present, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to interfere too much.
The Empress, along with the consorts being lectured, all breathed a sigh of relief.
They had thought His Majesty might impose severe punishment, like house arrest or something similar, and had mentally prepared themselves. Fortunately, it ended lightly.
Qu Dubian felt rather regretful. The Cining Palace Square Dancing Troupe had existed for such a short time before being declared disbanded. He wondered if there would be a chance for revival in the future.
Actually, square dancing isn't just for mothers and grandmothers; there are uncles and grandfathers too... Why doesn't His Imperial Father try it himself? He might discover a new world.
With that, the consorts rose, preparing to take their leave.
Qu Dubian also planned to leave with Dowager Consort Liang.
Emperor Chongzhao called to him, "Little Seventh, stay. I have words for you."
Dowager Consort Liang: "Your Majesty..."
"I know," Emperor Chongzhao said. "Everyone protects him. I won't make things difficult for him."
He waved his hand. Dowager Consort Liang could only give Qu Dubian a worried look before leaving with the Empress.
Emperor Chongzhao felt this couldn't continue. Otherwise, under his youngest son's lead, the rear palace would be turned upside down sooner or later. The thought that he still had at least four years before moving to the Princes' Quarters made his head ache.
His tone turned stern. "You must remember, this is the imperial palace. Palace rules are strict; one cannot act arbitrarily."
The little son before him lowered his head again. "So the palace isn't home."
"..." Emperor Chongzhao's heart inexplicably tightened. His tone softened slightly. "What I mean is, you can play, but don't cause such a commotion. You're six years old now. You should also know to strive for improvement and behave like a prince."
"I understand. I'll strive for improvement starting tomorrow."
He didn't talk back, complying almost too obediently. Yet Emperor Chongzhao felt strangely unsettled. His frown, instead of relaxing, deepened.
"Don't be angry anymore," Qu Dubian placed the few green vegetables from his small cloth bag in front of the cushion. "I grew these vegetables myself. I was going to bring them to you at Zichen Hall later, but I'm giving them to you now."
He set down the vegetables, patted his hands on his clothes, and looked at Emperor Chongzhao.
"Grandma Liang is waiting for me outside. I'll go now."
Emperor Chongzhao didn't say a word. Qu Dubian stood up and left.
After he left, Emperor Chongzhao looked at the few fresh, green vegetables on the floor and couldn't help but pinch the bridge of his nose.
"Was my tone very harsh just now?"
Eunuch Yu: "Well... it was alright."
Emperor Chongzhao: "And was I wrong to tell him not to spend too much effort on other things and to focus on his studies?"
Eunuch Yu: "Certainly not, Your Majesty."
Emperor Chongzhao fell silent.
But why did he feel like he had done something wrong?
Eunuch Yu could roughly guess His Majesty's thoughts.
Not just His Majesty, they had all grown accustomed to the Seventh Prince's noisy, quarrelsome way of interacting with the Emperor. This sudden change felt uncomfortable even to him, let alone the Emperor.
Emperor Chongzhao sat there for a while longer, his mood for visiting the rear palaces gone, and decided to return to the Zichen Hall.
With a flick of his sleeve, he snorted, "I shall see just how he plans to improve himself."
After a few steps, he turned his head. "Bring the vegetables."
Eunuch Yu: "We have them, Your Majesty. The Seventh Prince's filial offering. We'll have them prepared tomorrow."
Emperor Chongzhao gave an absent-minded hum.
Eunuch Yu knew that tomorrow, these vegetables must appear on the dining table, or the Emperor would surely be upset.
-
Qu Dubian walked along the path with Consort Liang.
Consort Liang was grinning from ear to ear. "Oh my, it's been years since I've seen the Emperor make such a face. When I return to the palace, I must share this story with the others."
Qu Dubian: "Thank you for coming to my rescue, Grandmother Liang."
Otherwise, he didn't know how much longer the lecture would have lasted. While he wasn't too worried about a beating, his cheap father's scolding was getting more and more long-winded, and he was afraid he might have fallen asleep on the spot.
"Don't mention it. Consort Xuan asked me to intervene. You should hurry back now, don't make her worry."
Qu Dubian was slightly taken aback, then smiled. "Alright."
After bidding farewell to Consult Liang, he returned to Shunning Palace.
Consort Xuan was indeed waiting for him.
Seeing him arrive, she first used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his brow. "Did His Majesty reprimand you?"
Qu Dubian took off the small cloth bag he was carrying and tossed it aside. "It wasn't really a reprimand, just a few words."
Consort Xuan: "Pay him no mind. You did nothing wrong. With so many bored ladies in the rear palaces, he doesn't care himself, yet he gives trouble to you, who came up with ideas to relieve their boredom. Petty, that's what he is."
She pointed to a pile of gifts behind her.
"These were sent by the consorts and ladies who often go to Cining Palace to dance, after the gathering at Fengwu Palace ended. They've been very happy these past days."
Qu Dubian: "Consort Xuan, today His Majesty told me to improve myself. If I never improve, if I stay just like I am now, playing around every day, would you be disappointed?"
Consort Xuan took his hand and led him inside. "His Majesty spoke to you about this?"
"More or less."
"Then, do you feel happy with how you spend your days?"
Qu Dubian nodded.
"That's good then. You are my... the child of my Shunning Palace. Being happy and joyful is more important than anything else." Consort Xuan paused. "And healthy."
Qu Dubian: "Would Consort Xuan think that the grown-up me would be very ordinary, very average?"
Consort Xuan: "Do you think Consort Xuan is ordinary and average? I don't go out often, I don't socialize much with outsiders. I just stay in my own palace, doing things I enjoy."
"Of course not."
Consort Xuan's life was exactly what he yearned for. Apart from the hated lack of freedom and not being able to leave the palace, nothing could be better.
"I don't think so either," she said, stroking the child's head. "Consort Xuan hopes you can continue like this, doing the things you love."
Ordinary and average, healthy and free.
Even if a bit foolish, never get swept into the whirlpools of strife and conflict.
Qu Dubian nodded, then blinked his eyes. "But I promised Father Emperor that I would improve from now on."
Consort Xuan pondered for a moment. "If you feel your health allows it, learning a bit more is fine. But it must be in moderation. No staying up late."
She had often seen the lamp in his small study within his bedchamber burning late into the night. He never told anyone what he was doing in there.
Qu Dubian grinned. "Mm!"
-
The next day.
After classes ended at noon.
Qu Dubian, holding Da Hei's leash in one hand and a homemade paper megaphone in the other, passed by the Zichen Hall. Raising the megaphone, he shouted, "Father Emperor, I improved myself today!"
His voice echoed in the vast space.
Inside the Zichen Hall.
Emperor Chongzhao: "..."
He was holding a piece of paper, the daily report on the rewards and punishments in the princes' classroom. It clearly stated: [Seventh Prince, for failing to complete his homework, punished to copy two large sheets of characters.]
The third day.
Qu Dubian, holding Da Hei, shouted again, "Father Emperor, I improved myself again today!"
Inside the Zichen Hall.
The report stated: [Seventh Prince and Fourth Prince were found 'cloud-wandering in dreams' during Tutor Xi's lesson, and were thus made to stand as punishment to refresh themselves.]
Emperor Chongzhao: "..."
The fourth day.
Emperor Chongzhao stood with his hands clasped behind his back, the punishment record clutched in his hand, waiting early by the entrance. He watched his youngest son leading his dog past from a distance, once again shouting towards him, "Father Emperor, I was super diligent today!"
The report stated: [Seventh Prince failed to complete his punishment copywork, further punished to copy three more sheets.]
Watching the 'diligent' retreating back of his son leading the dog away, a familiar sense of helplessness washed over Emperor Chongzhao. He let out a deep, heavy sigh.
