A Precious Pearl in the Imperial City

Shen Ying took the pastries out of the steamer and turned to see her son walking in with a dejected expression. She smiled and asked, "What's the matter?"

"Mother, ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‍let me handle that—don't burn your hands." Ming Jiyuan took a cloth from the maid and carefully transferred the steamed pastries onto a tray. "Jiuzhu and Prince Chen seem to be getting along very well."

"It's good that they're close." Shen Ying picked up a pastry and held it to his lips. "How does it taste?"

"Not too sweet, not too heavy—just right." Ming Jiyuan's eyes brightened. "Mother, it's been so long since you last cooked, but your skills are still impeccable."

He reached for another pastry, but Shen Ying swatted his hand away. "What’s the rush? Take these out for your sister and brother-in-law to try. And bring out the rest from the pot too."

Ming Jiyuan widened his eyes in disbelief. "Mother, I’m your own son."

Was Prince Chen’s status now higher than his in her eyes?

"If you're jealous, you could always find someone to marry and bring her home. Then you’d have in-laws welcoming you too." Shen Ying stepped past her pitiful-looking son without a glance. "Hurry up and bring the tray."

With a resigned sigh, Ming Jiyuan followed his mother, carrying the pastries. Clearly, an unmarried man held the lowest status in the Ming family.

"Why did you stop playing cards?" Shen Ying entered the courtyard and set the pastries on the table, addressing Prince Chen and Jiuzhu, who sat together. "Your Highness, Jiuzhu, try these freshly made pastries."

After the maids helped them wash their hands, Prince Chen took a bite and immediately began praising Shen Ying’s culinary skills with such sincerity and earnestness that Ming Jiyuan started doubting whether the imperial chefs were mere incompetents who couldn’t even make decent pastries.

He took a bite himself—it was good, but surely not that extraordinary?

Watching his mother beam under Prince Chen’s flattery, realization dawned on him.

Married men are truly shameless.

Once Jiuzhu and Prince Chen had left in their carriage, Ming Jiyuan stood at the gate and asked Shen Ying, "Mother… what do you think of Prince Chen?"

"Better than you, at least." Shen Ying glanced at him. "You’ve just started at the Court of Judicial Review—spend more time reviewing case files."

If a man couldn’t boast a family, he’d better make his career impressive.

"How is he better than me…?" Ming Jiyuan recalled how, just three years ago, his mother had called Prince Chen somewhat frivolous. Now, everything had changed.

Ming Cunfu seemed to read his thoughts. After the elders had retired, he whispered, "Noticed how the family’s attitude toward Prince Chen has improved drastically?"

"Yes." Ming Jiyuan nodded. "Ever since he became Jiuzhu’s husband, Mother looks at me with nothing but criticism."

When he’d first returned to the capital, she’d doted on him, even insisting on serving his tea herself.

Now, everything was different.

"You don’t understand. Before, Prince Chen was just a prince—an outsider. Now, he’s family." Ming Cunfu cracked a peanut. "Family and outsiders are two entirely different matters."

"Besides…" He chuckled. "Third Uncle and Aunt have seen how Prince Chen treats Jiuzhu."

None of the other princes treated their consorts with half as much devotion.

"Aunt’s kindness to Prince Chen is her way of wishing them well." Ming Cunfu shook his head, tossing the peanut shell onto a plate. "Third Brother, you’re still young. You wouldn’t get it."

"Watch your tone." Ming Jiyuan lightly kicked his shin. "No respect for your elders."

Ming Cunfu staggered. "Third Brother, be gentle. I’m just a frail scholar—I can’t take your kicks."

Ming Jiyuan flicked his sleeve and scoffed. "I know what you mean."

After a long silence, he turned toward his own courtyard. "I understand."

Halfway there, he turned back. "When you found Jiuzhu… was she truly living well?"

Ming Cunfu nodded. "Though life in the mountains was simple, her two masters treated her with great kindness."

"That’s good." Ming Jiyuan sighed. Perhaps it was time he accepted that his sister was now happily married to Prince Chen.

At Zhangliu Palace, eunuchs and maids cleaned the courtyard Prince Chen had recently occupied, carefully storing his belongings. If the Kirin Palace had no immediate need for them, they would be sealed away in private storage.

Items once used by a prince could never be given to others.

"Cough, cough, cough!" Prince An stood at the courtyard gate, choking on the dust kicked up by the sweeping. "Are they planning to dig up the entire courtyard and start fresh?"

A eunuch carrying a scroll stumbled, and the painting unfurled at Prince An’s feet.

"Now this is a painting!" Prince An bent to pick it up, admiring it. "Misty mountains merging with clouds, a lone boat drifting on the river—exquisite."

"No seal or inscription." Prince Jing stepped closer. "Could this be Jiuzhu’s work?"

"Second Brother, Third Brother, what are you looking at?" Prince Chen entered the courtyard and froze when he saw the painting in Prince An’s hands.

"Fifth Brother, the painting fell—I merely picked it up. I wasn’t snooping." Prince An hastily handed it over, anxious not to offend before securing Prince Chen’s favor.

"No matter." Prince Chen took the painting and rolled it back up.

"Fifth Brother, is this… your consort’s handiwork?" Prince Jing praised, "As expected of the Ming family. The scenery, the composition—truly a masterpiece."

Prince Chen glanced at him and nodded. "Mm."

Then he left with the painting.

"So it was Jiuzhu’s." Prince An elbowed Prince Jing as they watched him go. "A shame we didn’t get a longer look."

In his memory, Prince Chen had never shown much interest in art—so who else’s unsigned painting would be kept in his quarters?

"Indeed." Prince Jing glanced toward the palace gates. "A real shame."

"What’s a shame?" Prince Huai strode over. "Stop whispering like conspirators and use your heads for once—think about how to get out of the palace!"

Living in such cramped quarters was unbearable.

"Eldest Brother, the palace isn’t so bad." Prince An shrugged. "All expenses covered by the imperial treasury—no need to spend our own silver."

With their stipends still suspended by the Emperor, moving out would drain their personal funds.

Why waste money when they could save it for their consorts’ jewelry?

"You’d stay here just to pinch pennies?"

"Pinch pennies?" Prince An scoffed. "Do you know how many mouths a princely household feeds? Banquets, gifts, utensils, provisions—it all costs money!"

"Life is so good like this—no need to report to the Six Ministries at dawn, no worries about the household expenses of the princely estate, ordering whatever I crave from the kitchen without spending a single coin of my own." Prince An grew more enthusiastic as he spoke, unable to hold back his admiration: "If only Father Emperor would let me live like this forever."

Prince Huai had always known his second brother lacked ambition, but he never imagined the man could be so utterly devoid of drive.

Among the imperial family’s descendants, how could there be such an unambitious outlier?

"Forget it. Just go scatter grains and catch sparrows," Prince Huai said, regretting that he had wasted his breath on Prince An.

What did a meager official stipend matter? The gifts from subordinates and the tangible power in one’s hands—weren’t these far better than pinching pennies?

"Thank you for the reminder, elder brother. With spring here, there’ll surely be plenty of sparrows."

Prince Huai nearly choked on his own fury when his sarcastic remark was taken seriously by his second brother.

"Elder brother, don’t take it to heart." Prince Jing watched Prince An’s cheerful figure disappear into the distance. "Second brother doesn’t understand—birds in spring can easily find food and won’t be lured by mere grains."

Prince Huai gave him a look of sheer bewilderment. What nonsense was this?

None of his younger brothers were normal.

He turned on his heel and strode away, only to bump into Yun Yanze returning from outside. With a cold snort, he marched straight back to his own courtyard.

"Third brother, what’s wrong with elder brother?" Yun Yanze didn’t seem bothered by Prince Huai’s inexplicable temper. He turned to Prince Jing with a smile.

"Fifth brother came by earlier and took a painting. Elder brother suggested we find a way to move out of the palace, but second brother refused, leading to some… unpleasantness."

"A painting?" Yun Yanze asked casually, "What kind?"

"A masterpiece of breathtaking scenery—mountains and rivers in perfect harmony." Prince Jing’s voice brimmed with awe. "A pity my brushwork is too lacking to capture even half its elegance."

"Third brother, your painting skills have always been the best among us brothers. Why belittle yourself?"

"That painting wasn’t fifth brother’s work—it was his consort’s. A pity the Ming family’s paintings are never shared outside their household. Otherwise, I’d gladly pay a fortune for one."

Yun Yanze sighed. "What a shame. I’ll never have the chance to admire it."

"If you don’t mind, fourth brother, you could visit my courtyard. I’ll try to sketch a rough imitation for you." Prince Jing offered. "Though my skills pale in comparison to fifth brother’s consort, I can capture a fraction of her style."

An imitation… of her style?

Yun Yanze gave Prince Jing a faint smile. "Then I’ll trouble you, third brother."

"Your Highness, what’s that you’re holding?" Jiuzhu noticed Prince Chen carrying a scroll and peered at it curiously.

"Just some idle scribbles I did in my spare time." Prince Chen handed the painting to Yang Yiduo. "With peach blossoms about to bloom, I need to practice before painting with you."

Jiuzhu called out to Yang Yiduo, "Steward Yang, bring the painting here for me to see."

Without hesitation, Yang Yiduo bowed and presented the scroll to Jiuzhu, completely bypassing Prince Chen’s opinion.

Prince Chen watched nervously as Jiuzhu held the painting. Would she realize now that all his past praises of her artistry had been lies?

He feared nothing else—only that his little Ming piglet might be hurt.

Whether the painting was good or not didn’t matter. What mattered was that Ming piglet enjoyed herself.

"Your Highness’s painting… isn’t bad." Jiuzhu examined it carefully. "But it’s too literal, lacking a bit of poetic charm."

Seeing Prince Chen’s silence, she quickly added, consolingly, "But the brushwork is excellent—even better than mine."

Prince Chen: "…"

Staring at Jiuzhu’s face, which clearly read "I know yours is worse, but I’ll humor you anyway," he silently stepped closer, took the painting back, and gazed at her tenderly. "The essence of painting lies in its spirit. Mine still falls short—you’ll have to teach me more."

"Of course!" Jiuzhu patted her chest confidently. "No problem!"

Watching her radiant smile, Prince Chen pulled her into his arms, hiding his expression against her hair.

A real man knew when to bend.

Making his wife happy wasn’t surrender—nor was it deception. It was… romance.

Sun Caiyao changed into a new spring gown, eager to show it to her husband. But as she reached his door, she overheard his voice from inside.

"Are you certain the Taoist temple where Ming Jiuzhu was raised is here?"

She froze.

"Your Highness, it’s confirmed."

"Who’s there?" Yun Yanze’s tone sharpened abruptly.

"It’s me, Your Highness." Sun Caiyao lifted the curtain and entered, glancing at the unfamiliar eunuch in the room. "This attendant seems new."

"Your Highness Consort, this lowly one serves in the Palace Domestic Service." The blue-robed eunuch bowed.

"I see." Sun Caiyao set down the pastries she’d brought, feigning indifference. "Your Highness, try these fresh spring flower cakes."

"Thank you for your trouble." Yun Yanze took a sip of tea. "Rest first. I’ll join you for the meal shortly."

"Very well." Sun Caiyao stepped out, staring at the embroidered hem of her gown with a bitter smile.

Her husband would rather investigate Ming Jiuzhu’s childhood home than spare her a single glance.

Her meticulous grooming today felt like a joke.

"Your Highness Consort, the Imperial Wardrobe Office seeks an audience." Bai Shao approached softly. "Will you receive them?"

"I will." Sun Caiyao walked ahead, masking her dejection. "Bai Shao, having served Her Highness the Consort Dowager for years, have you ever seen His Highness show affection for any woman?"

Bai Shao shook her head. "Never."

"Lately, he’s grown distant." Sun Caiyao sighed. "If I knew what kind of woman he favored, I’d arrange a concubine for him myself—if only to see him smile again."

"Your Highness Consort, don’t think like that." Bai Shao urged. "His Highness isn’t one for frivolous pursuits. Bringing in a concubine might only drive you further apart."

Sun Caiyao’s heart ached more. When the wardrobe official explained that her other spring outfits would be delayed, she frowned.

"You promised otherwise before."

"Your Highness Consort, please forgive us. But Prince Chen has commissioned multiple sets for his consort, and the Wardrobe Office is overwhelmed."

Sun Caiyao nearly snapped—Must my order wait just because Prince Chen spoils his wife?

But she only smiled politely. "If it’s for fifth brother and his consort, a delay is no issue."

"Thank you, Your Highness Consort!"

The official bowed repeatedly.

Sun Caiyao stared at her skirt. Her husband wouldn’t notice her new clothes anyway—while Prince Chen personally ordered gowns for Ming Jiuzhu.

"Deliver this letter to the Taoist temple where Ming Jiuzhu was raised." Yun Yanze handed a thick envelope to the blue-robed eunuch.

The sender’s name on the envelope read: Ming Jiuzhu.