A Precious Pearl in the Imperial City

When Prince Chen met Ming Jingzhou and received several yellowed books from him, he understood one truth: you can escape your father, but not your father-in-law—there will always be someone who can make you write like the wind.

"Father, what kind of books are these?" Jiuzhu curiously took one and flipped through it. After a moment, she handed it back to Prince Chen with a pained expression. "I recognize all the words, but I can’t understand a single sentence. Your Highness, doesn’t your head hurt reading books like this all day?"

"What’s so difficult about it?" Seeing Jiuzhu’s admiring gaze, Prince Chen instantly felt refreshed and invigorated. "Shall I explain it to you tonight?"

"Really? That would be wonderful!" Jiuzhu’s large eyes sparkled with delight. "Your Highness is so amazing!"

"It’s nothing." Prince Chen slightly lifted his chin. "Not even worth mentioning."

A man who earns his wife’s admiration is a truly outstanding man.

Ming Jingzhou watched this scene with a smile.

It turned out that even the most unruly man could compromise for the sake of a single glance.

At this moment, as a father, he finally felt completely at ease.

When a man changes his old habits and strives to be better, just to earn a single admiring glance from her, it means this woman already holds the most unique place in his heart.

That kind of thing is often called—love.

"Your Highness, the books have been delivered. This official takes his leave." He stood to depart.

Seeing him about to leave, Jiuzhu tried to persuade him to stay for dinner, but Ming Jingzhou refused. "Your brother is handling a case at the Court of Judicial Review today and will return home late. I must go back to accompany your mother for the meal."

Hearing this, Jiuzhu immediately stopped insisting and nodded with a smile. "Father is right. Mother shouldn’t dine alone."

"I’ll escort Father-in-law out." Prince Chen stood and whispered in Jiuzhu’s ear, "Tonight… I’ll explain the book to you."

With that, he walked away smiling.

Jiuzhu froze for a moment before slowly covering her face.

Her celestial prince had just been so improper!

"Father-in-law." Once outside Kirin Palace, Prince Chen spoke. "His Majesty has asked me to perform the sacrificial rites in his stead. I’ve agreed."

Ming Jingzhou paused. Between him and Prince Chen, there had always been the proper distance between a minister and a prince. By no means could he be considered a "confidant" in Prince Chen’s eyes. He hadn’t expected the prince to share an unannounced matter from the Emperor with him.

"Your Highness is already a grown man of integrity. As His Majesty’s son, there is nothing improper about you performing the rites in his place." Ming Jingzhou cupped his hands respectfully. "This official believes Your Highness will perform flawlessly."

The wind lifted the hems of their robes. After a moment of silence, Prince Chen said, "I only wish to be my father’s child."

"Your Highness has always been His Majesty’s good son." Ming Jingzhou understood Prince Chen’s meaning. "This official believes His Majesty thinks the same."

Prince Chen looked at him without responding.

With that, Ming Jingzhou bowed to Prince Chen. "Your Highness, this official takes his leave."

"I ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‍thought Father-in-law’s views might differ from His Majesty’s."

"Perhaps they once did. But when Your Highness stepped into the Ministry of Rites and diligently recited what this official gave you, my perspective changed greatly." Ming Jingzhou paused. "This official saw in Your Highness some of His Majesty’s finest qualities."

"In the past, this official was mistaken." Ming Jingzhou performed a deep bow. "Rumors are fearsome, and I too fell prey to hearsay."

Prince Chen returned the gesture as a junior. "Father-in-law is not at fault. This prince truly was idle and unlearned."

"No. Your Highness possesses a sincere and benevolent heart." Over this period, he had carefully investigated the rumors surrounding Prince Chen—accusations of oppressing scholars, bullying noble heirs, and humiliating military officers—only to find each incident had just cause.

The scholar he "oppressed" was a heartless man who deceived women’s affections.

The noble heir he punished had ridden his horse into a child.

The officer he "humiliated" had privately slandered Empress Su and attempted to force a commoner’s daughter into becoming his concubine.

Each incident had been twisted into evidence of Prince Chen’s arrogance. Every faction had eagerly tarnished his reputation.

The fault lay not with the straightforward prince, but with the corruption hidden beneath false propriety.

As for himself, though he had never spoken against Prince Chen at court out of respect for imperial decorum, neither had he ever sought to understand him.

The arrogance ingrained in scholars had blinded him with prejudice—unaware that the very prince he misjudged had once saved his daughter’s life.

Were it not for Jiuzhu, he might never have recognized Prince Chen’s virtues.

"Father-in-law, today you…" Why such sudden praise?

Were there even more books waiting to be copied?

Prince Chen grew uneasy.

"Your Highness need not worry. The Ministry of Rites officials will oversee the sacrificial rites." Ming Jingzhou laughed heartily. "With them present, no one can play tricks."

After seeing Ming Jingzhou to the palace gates, Prince Chen encountered Prince Huai and Princess Huai on his way back, having just left the inner palace.

Prince Huai looked unwell, his sleeves stained with traces of medicine.

"Fifth Brother." Seeing Prince Chen, Prince Huai forced a smile.

"Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law." Prince Chen offered a perfunctory salute.

Prince Huai didn’t mind. For him, Yun Duqing’s half-hearted courtesy was already an improvement. "Where is Fifth Brother coming from?"

"Just escorted Father-in-law through Vermilion Bird Gate." Prince Chen noted Prince Huai’s exhaustion. "Eldest Brother should rest more."

"Thank you, Fifth Brother." Princess Huai spoke first. "Her Highness Consort Xu has been gravely ill these past days. His Highness has been attending to her tirelessly and has grown quite weary."

"Consort Xu is ill again?"

The word "again" carried layers of meaning.

He remembered Consort Xu’s perpetual poor health—always falling ill yet persisting through the years.

Hearing of her current condition surprised him not at all.

"Fifth Brother." Prince Huai spoke again. "I’ve heard there’s an elderly imperial physician in the academy who, in recent years, only attends to His Majesty and Her Majesty. This brother shamelessly begs you to help summon Imperial Physician Liu to Zhaoxiang Palace to examine my mother."

The physician Prince Huai mentioned was over ninety, surrounded by descendants, yet still clear-minded.

Out of compassion for his age, the Emperor and Empress had declared he would only attend to them, though in truth they rarely summoned him.

Prince Chen hadn’t expected Prince Huai to make such a request. Their fraternal bond hardly warranted it.

Had sharing hotpot in Yun Yanze’s quarters that one time fostered such brotherly affection?

"This matter isn’t mine to decide. The elderly physician is advanced in years. If Eldest Brother insists, send a palanquin to invite him respectfully." Prince Chen didn’t make difficulties. "I’ll speak to His Majesty and Her Majesty on your behalf. But regardless of whether Imperial Physician Liu agrees, you must not pressure him."

"Thank you, Fifth Brother." Prince Huai bowed deeply, his sincerity evident in the curve of his spine.

"Consort Xu’s health comes first." Prince Chen waved it off, giving the matter no further thought.

Prince Huai watched his retreating figure, lost in thought for a long while before turning to the equally exhausted Princess Huai and saying, "You should return to the Kirin Palace to rest. I’ll send someone to fetch Imperial Physician Liu."

Princess Huai sighed as she noticed the dark circles under his eyes. "Your Highness, Consort Xu’s health hasn’t improved yet. You mustn’t exhaust yourself."

"I know." Prince Huai, never one for subtlety, failed to notice the tender concern in his wife’s gaze and simply urged her to go rest.

As a man, he could endure more, but women weren’t as physically resilient. It was better for her to get some sleep.

After arranging for someone to summon Imperial Physician Liu, Prince Huai returned to Zhaoxiang Palace.

Consort Xu was already awake, propped up against the headboard, the room thick with the bitter scent of medicine.

"Mother, are you feeling any better?" Prince Huai set down what he was carrying and strode to her side.

"It’s nothing, just an old ailment that’s plagued me for years." Consort Xu coughed lightly. "You needn’t trouble yourself here. Let Princess Huai attend to me—you should go and rest."

"How could she understand your needs as well as I do?" Prince Huai missed the deeper meaning in her words and dismissed the suggestion outright. "Bring the medicine. I’ll help you take it."

A palace maid glanced at Consort Xu, who gave a slight nod.

"Earlier in the palace, I ran into Fifth Brother," Prince Huai said after feeding her the medicine, setting the bowl aside. "He seems to be on good terms with the Ming family."

Consort Xu smiled weakly. "It seems the Ming family still holds some regard for their daughter, Jiuzhu."

"I had assumed they would abandon Jiuzhu to protect their family’s reputation. It seems I was wrong." His expression twisted briefly before settling into calm resignation. "Now that Fifth Brother is the only legitimate son among us, favored by Father, I have no choice but to let go of my ambitions."

Perhaps he should have given up long ago—on the day their father ascended the throne, when he saw the emperor in his dragon robes carrying Fifth Brother on his back.

Consort Xu coughed again but remained silent.

"Mother, you’re ill. I shouldn’t burden you with such matters." Noticing her pallor, Prince Huai assumed the medicine was too bitter and handed her a piece of candied fruit. "Earlier, I asked Fifth Brother to speak to Father on my behalf and request Imperial Physician Liu to examine you..."

Consort Xu seized his hand. "This is just a minor ailment. We mustn’t trouble the old physician."

"You’re seriously ill—how can you call it minor?" Prince Huai insisted. "Mother, I know you’re considerate, but for your health, I must be selfish this once."

"Don’t worry. I’ve already sent a palanquin to fetch him. He won’t be overexerted."

"What?" Consort Xu’s grip tightened, her nails digging into his skin. "You mean he’s already on his way?"

"By now, he should be close." Prince Huai winced but didn’t pull away, relieved that her strength suggested her condition hadn’t worsened.

"No." She released his hand abruptly. "Liu An, send Imperial Physician Liu back. I don’t need his examination."

She knew of this physician—a master of his craft, capable of diagnosing any illness with precision.

"Why?" Prince Huai frowned. "Are you worried Father or Empress Su will disapprove? There’s no need. Fifth Brother never agrees to anything unless he means it..."

"I said no, and that’s final!" Consort Xu’s voice rose, sharp and strained. "Liu An, listen to me. Send him back."

At her shrill tone, Prince Huai’s expression shifted as realization dawned. "...Very well."

The room fell silent. Consort Xu motioned for the attendants to leave. "It seems you’ve guessed?"

Prince Huai’s lips parted, but no words came out.

Just then, a eunuch’s voice sounded outside the door. "Your Highness, Imperial Physician Liu is unwell and unable to come."

Consort Xu visibly relaxed.

"However, his granddaughter has inherited his skills. Would you like to summon her instead?"

"A woman? What use is she in medicine?" Prince Huai replied through the door. "Since Imperial Physician Liu is unwell, we’ll wait until he recovers before inviting him to the palace."