Chapter 8: Eastern Palace
The sky was gradually darkening.
The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled over the Eastern Palace, adding a touch of solemn majesty.
Prince Zhangwu stood with his head bowed, his heart uneasy.
The man seated at the head was thirty-six years old, with a fair face and beard, thick eyebrows and long eyes, exuding a noble demeanor. When smiling, he was mild and approachable; when silent and unsmiling, his authority was innate.
This man was precisely Prince Zhangwu’s father, His Highness the Crown Prince of the Jing Dynasty.
Grand Tutor Pang’s voice echoed in the hall: “…His Highness the Prince has a benevolent heart and could not bear to see the Pei Clan female dependents in dire straits and destitute. He extended a slight aid.”
Then, he lightly reported each instance of the “aid” extended.
His Highness the Crown Prince imperceptibly furrowed his brows and glanced at his eldest son.
The fourteen-year-old youth was at the age of hot-blooded impulsiveness. He was thrown into disarray by a little girl with yellow hair, losing his composure in his actions.
Pleading for the Pei Clan and seeing them off—this was winning a good reputation for the Eastern Palace.
All the male members of the Pei Family were dead, leaving only a pile of elderly, weak, women, and children. It was unknown how many would arrive alive in Youzhou. Bearing the grave crime of treason, there was no possibility of turning things around.
Such a worthless pawn was not worth wasting money and grain or personnel on, let alone pledging the Eastern Palace’s banner.
Prince Zhangwu lowered his head even more: “This son was momentarily soft-hearted and did wrong. Please punish me, Father Prince.”
The Crown Prince’s expression was indifferent as he said neither lightly nor heavily: “Only this once, not to be repeated.”
Prince Zhangwu secretly breathed a sigh of relief and respectfully assented.
In the eyes of the world, His Highness the Crown Prince had a mild temperament and broad-mindedness.
When the Crown Prince was angry, not even his brows moved. With a light touch, someone was demoted with their career ruined, or a family was ruined, nation destroyed, with heads rolling.
No need for great upheavals or thunderous rage. The majestic imperial power hung like a sword overhead, ready to fall at any moment. How could it not inspire awe?
His Highness the Crown Prince turned his head and sighed to Grand Tutor Pang: “A Li is young and shallow, full of woman’s benevolence. He will hardly achieve great things in the future.”
His Highness the Crown Prince could be dissatisfied with his son.
As officials of the Eastern Palace, however, they could not wantonly commit insubordination.
Grand Tutor Pang was slick and worldly, smiling as he replied: “His Highness the Prince has a benevolent heart and bestowed favor on the Pei Clan. If this matter spreads, it will be a fine story.”
Pausing, he added: “His Highness the Prince is young and vigorous, unacquainted with women. Encountering a clever girl, it is inevitable that he would be somewhat soft-hearted and hesitant.”
His Highness the Crown Prince nodded slightly: “That makes sense. I will instruct the Crown Princess to select two beautiful palace maids to serve A Li.”
In the palace, imperial princes and grandsons nearing adulthood would all be assigned beautiful palace maids to guide them in such matters.
Prince Zhangwu had thin skin and blushed at these words, his handsome face turning red.
Suddenly, an image of a clear and heroic girl’s face flashed in his mind. A trace of wistfulness surged in his heart.
“Your Highness,” an eunuch hurried in and bowed to report: “His Highness Prince Wei has arrived.”
Before the words finished, a figure entered.
Entering the Eastern Palace without announcement so brazenly and casually showed Prince Wei’s arrogance and domineering nature.
Prince Wei was twenty this year, just reaching twenty years old. Prince Wei had inherited Empress Liu’s good looks—pale lips and white teeth, a face as delicate as a woman’s. Before Emperor Xiaowen, he was sweet-tongued like honey, adept at coquetry and acting cute.
Emperor Xiaowen’s favoritism toward his youngest son Prince Wei was known to all inside and outside the palace.
His Highness Prince Wei swaggered in and casually cupped his hands toward the Crown Prince, considering the ceremony done.
The Crown Prince remained impassive, smiling as he asked: “You’re not attending Father Emperor—why have you come to me?”
Prince Wei deliberately let out a heavy sigh: “These past two days, Father Emperor has been enraged over the Pei Clan brothers’ treason. This younger brother spoke out of turn, saying a few good words for the Pei Family, and was scolded by Father Emperor, then driven out. So I came to find Eldest Brother.”
He hypocritically comforted the Crown Prince: “I know Eldest Brother has been feeling bad these past two days. What’s done is done—don’t be sad, Big Brother. The Pei Clan brothers were wildly ambitious and scheming. It’s good they were executed; better than them plotting rebellion later and implicating the Eastern Palace!”
The Pei Clan brothers were Eastern Palace partisans, loyal to the Crown Prince. Pei Zhongde was reported by a subordinate, and dozens of suits of armor and over a hundred crossbows were found in the Pei Family storeroom, after which he was interrogated, convicted, and beheaded.
Everyone with eyes knew this was Prince Wei secretly striking from the shadows, clipping the Eastern Palace’s wings and deterring the Crown Prince’s faction.
Now the Pei Family had been beheaded and their home confiscated, with the family womenfolk exiled to Youzhou. Prince Wei was smug inside—this was coming to the Eastern Palace to show off his might!
Too much bullying!
Prince Zhangwu listened with rising fury and couldn’t help lifting his head.
Prince Wei happened to turn his head, meeting the indignant Prince Zhangwu’s gaze, and maliciously curled his lips: “I hear you saw off the Pei Family members out of the city today, sent them money and grain, and dispatched guards to escort them all the way.”
“Could it be you’re afraid the Pei Family female dependents might encounter some blind refugees or bandits on the road?”
Prince Wei was fickle in mood, ruthless and cruel. The threatening undertone in his words made Prince Zhangwu’s back chill and his heart grow cold.
Prince Zhangwu struggled to keep his expression steady: “Nephew’s every word and action cannot escape Fifth Uncle.”
This uncle-nephew pair differed by only six years. One was the prince born of the successor empress, doted on by the Son of Heaven; the other was the Eastern Palace’s legitimate eldest son. In status, both were equally noble.
Prince Wei had Emperor Xiaowen backing him, a father-in-law wielding military power, and large numbers of civil and military officials defecting to his banner—his influence was vast, and even the Crown Prince had to avoid clashing with him.
Prince Zhangwu was meek and obedient before the Crown Prince, playing the filial son, using only Eastern Palace personnel, and had yet to form his own true confidants.
The gap was more than a thousand miles.
Prince Wei cast a disdainful glance, and Prince Zhangwu silently lowered his head.
The Crown Prince’s voice rang out: “All the male members of the Pei Family are dead, leaving only the elderly, weak, women, and children. I had A Li go see them off, fulfilling the final years of ruler-subject sentiment.”
“These are trivial matters, not worth mentioning.”
“It’s late—I’ve had the imperial kitchen prepare a fine feast. You and I brothers can have a few cups.”
Prince Wei gladly agreed: “This younger brother has long missed the fine wine in the Eastern Palace. Let’s drink to our hearts’ content tonight.”
The two brothers chatted and laughed, the atmosphere harmonious and amicable.
When imperial brothers vie, it’s the Pei Family members who die.
At this moment, who remembered the unjustly killed Pei Zhongde?
Two hours later, Prince Wei left the Eastern Palace with unsteady steps.
Behind him followed a beauty with light lotus steps and a graceful figure.
This beauty was the Crown Prince’s concubine. During the banquet, she served at the side and caught Prince Wei’s eye, so he demanded her. The Crown Prince was exceedingly generous and immediately gifted the beauty.
Prince Wei took the beauty back to his palace and used every means to torment the delicate beauty until she was covered in bruises and barely breathing.
After satisfying himself, Prince Wei called over his confidant guard and ordered: “Send men to follow the Pei Family. Once they’ve traveled a few hundred li to Jizhou, find some refugees to go there.”
“Don’t kill them all—leave a few for show.”
“Right, secretly bring back that Sixth Sister Pei. This king wants to see for himself what this girl who bewitched my nephew looks like.”
This confidant guard was named Wu Zhong, who specialized in handling such dirty errands for his master. Unfazed, he cupped his hands and accepted the order.
……
When Du Shaohua was completed, I announced a new book for April 28th. I couldn’t hold back and released it a week early. Wondering if any readers are here on time to dive into the new pit today ^_^
