Chapter 223: Unforeseen Discord
This day, after Gong Changan had finished his breakfast, a little eunuch from Ying Tong’s retinue came to find him.
“Fourth Young Master Gong, the Heir Apparent requests your presence!” the little eunuch said with a smile, his face full of flattery.
“Did he say what it’s about?” Gong Changan asked deliberately.
“Uh… this servant doesn’t know either, but you’ll know when you get there!” the little eunuch giggled.
Gong Changan asked no further, stood up, and followed him out.
Upon seeing Gong Changan, Ying Tong immediately grabbed him and said, “Good brother, please sit down quickly.”
Gong Changan quickly replied, “How can I possibly accept such a title from the Heir Apparent? I dare not, I dare not.”
On Ying Tong’s seat lay a calico cat, its belly facing up as it basked in the sun. Gong Changan knew this cat was Ying Tong’s beloved pet, fed better than any person.
“Why are you being so polite with me?” Ying Tong said, “Ever since you entered the palace, we’ve hit it off. What is there that I can’t call you?”
Seeing him like this, Gong Changan knew Ying Tong had something to ask of him. He didn’t expose it, offered a few more humble words, and then sat down.
As soon as he sat down, the calico cat approached with snuffling breaths, nuzzling into his arms.
“You furball, go play somewhere else!” Ying Tong said with a tone of indulgence.
Immediately, a little eunuch came and carried the cat away.
Ying Tong then said to Gong Changan, “This morning I heard that His Majesty will be testing my and Ying Bai’s articles in a few days. You know, firstly, we’ve been practicing archery and horsemanship a lot lately, and secondly, I’m not very good at literary pursuits.
I’m just afraid of being outdone by Ying Bai then, which would be too embarrassing. Can you help me out?”
“How does the Heir Apparent wish for me to help?” Gong Changan asked, blinking.
“I know you write well, so why don’t you write one for me? Don’t make it too good, try to make it sound like me,” Ying Tong said, feeling a bit awkward but compelled to ask.
He naturally trusted Gong Changan. Princess Consort Zhao had told him more than once that Wen Mingqian and her son were very reliable. Now that they were both in the palace, they could certainly support him.
However, his understanding of “support” was clearly not quite the same as what his mother had meant.
Seeing Gong Changan remain silent, he immediately asked, “What, is this matter difficult for you?”
“It would be my pleasure to resolve the Heir Apparent’s worries,” Gong Changan said, only speaking when the timing felt right. “However, this matter must absolutely not be known to anyone else, otherwise it will sound bad. I might get a beating from my Master, and it would also affect the Heir Apparent’s reputation, wouldn’t it?”
“Don’t worry about that. Besides you and me, no one else will know,” Ying Tong said. “Just write it, and I’ll memorize it later. We’ll burn the original manuscript, and no one will be the wiser.”
Gong Changan agreed, thought for a moment, and then wrote it out with a flourish.
Ying Tong received it as if it were a treasure, his eyes fixed on the paper, but he thanked Gong Changan, “Thanks to you, I’ll thank you properly later.”
Gong Changan, however, said, “I dare not accept the Heir Apparent’s thanks. I shall take my leave now.”
While Ying Tong ordered someone to escort Gong Changan out, he also said, “There are no important matters today. No one is to disturb me.”
After Gong Changan left Ying Tong, he went to find Ying Bai.
Ying Bai was reading. Upon seeing Gong Changan arrive, he put down his book scroll and smiled, “Why have you come? Have you eaten?”
“I’ve already eaten,” Gong Changan said, taking out a small scroll from his embrace. “A few days ago, I heard the Heir Apparent say he liked Gu Juezi’s paintings, and I happen to have one here. I just couldn’t remember which box it was in, but luckily I found it yesterday while looking for clothes.”
“Oh? You have a painting by Gu Juezi? That’s truly rare. There aren’t many in the palace,” the Prince of Chu’s Heir Apparent said, very pleased. He reached out and took the painting, opened it, and examined it closely, marveling.
The two heirs apparent raised in the palace were both of above-average talent, though the Prince Zhao’s Heir Apparent leaned towards martial arts, and the Prince of Chu’s Heir Apparent leaned towards literature.
Gong Changan, in his interactions with these two, intentionally or unintentionally catered to their preferences. As a result, his relationships with them grew closer and closer.
“Can I borrow this painting for a few days?” Ying Bai asked Gong Changan. “I’ll return it after I’ve had my fill of admiring it.”
“To speak like that makes us strangers, Heir Apparent. I had intended to give this painting to you anyway,” Gong Changan said. “I obtained it by chance, but I personally don’t care much for Gu Juezi’s paintings. Since that’s the case, it’s better to gift it to the Heir Apparent. This way, the painting won’t gather dust, and it will fulfill the Heir Apparent’s wish.”
“Changan, Changan, how can I praise you enough!” Ying Bai greatly admired him. “No wonder everyone speaks so highly of you.”
Gong Changan merely smiled slightly and said, “Heir Apparent, please enjoy it to your heart’s content. I shall take my leave now.”
From that day on, the Prince of Chu’s Heir Apparent carried the painting with him everywhere he went.
The next day, the weather was clear.
Both heirs apparent were in good spirits today.
The article Gong Changan wrote for Ying Tong received the Emperor’s praise, and they were given a day off.
Ying Tong said, “Come to my place. Yesterday, my mother sent a lot of good things into the palace, both food and toys. Feel free to pick whatever you like.”
The other two had nothing else to do, so they followed him.
Ying Bai, of course, was still holding the painting. Upon arriving, he sat down and opened it to admire it.
Unexpectedly, the calico cat that Ying Tong kept pounced on him. Ying Bai was startled by it and, fearing it would damage the painting in his hand, kicked the cat aside.
The calico cat let out a yelp, tucked its tail, and scurried to Ying Tong’s feet.
“What are you doing?!” Ying Tong frowned, clearly displeased, and tenderly picked up the cat. “It just wanted to play with you.”
Although Ying Bai reacted quickly, the cat’s claws had still scratched the painting. He felt as if his heart were bleeding.
Normally, he would have avoided a dispute with Ying Tong, but looking at the scratched painting, he found it difficult to suppress his anger.
“This is a masterpiece by Gu Juezi, and it’s been scratched by this little beast. How can I not be heartbroken?”
“It’s just a painting, what’s the big deal? I’ll compensate you with a hundred more,” Ying Tong said. He had always found Ying Bai’s tastes somewhat ridiculous. A few strokes by some obscure scholar, and it was worth losing sleep over? It wasn’t a beauty or a fine horse, what was there to scrutinize?
Ying Bai instinctively wanted to retort again, but Gong Changan quietly tugged at his sleeve.
“Your Highnesses, please calm your anger. What happened today was purely accidental. Prince Zhao’s Heir Apparent kindly invited us as guests, who would have thought the cat would suddenly get mischievous,” Gong Changan said with a smile, mediating. “Although the painting is damaged, it should be repairable by the palace craftsmen. Why don’t I take it to them now?”
With his interruption, Ying Bai also calmed down considerably, knowing that further argument would be useless. He said, “Very well, I’ll go with you!”
Ying Tong, on his end, was also very unhappy. His cat had been kicked hard and was trembling, as if about to vomit.
He tenderly stroked the cat and called to a nearby little eunuch, “Go fetch Wang Heng for me, let him examine this cat.”
Wang Heng was the palace veterinarian. The palace had horses, deer, and many other rare birds and beasts, so a veterinarian was naturally available.
