Consort Gong continued, "After your father passes away, if the Imperial Court does not issue an imperial decree of grace, choose the few young men currently serving in your father's chambers as those to accompany him in Martyrdom Sacrifice. They should know that they are meant for Martyrdom Sacrifice. These days, they have grown ever more insolent and neglectful. When people are about to die, their conduct turns rebellious. Find an opportunity to put them out to pasture, then select some careful people from the outer court to serve your father. These newcomers will not need to die with him."
Martyrdom Sacrifice was not reserved only for childless concubines and wives. So that his descendants would have people to serve them in the underworld, the Founding Emperor would also bestow death upon the servants who regularly attended their masters, sending them to the grave alongside them.
People like Consort Gong who died in Martyrdom Sacrifice at least had a name attached to them. But the servants buried alongside them were like objects, noted down with a single line on the burial list: several vases, several slaves...
Consort Gong was afraid too, gripped by terror, and had no mind to consider such matters.
But Prince Zhou had submitted memorial after memorial, asking the Emperor to grant them mercy and exempt them from Martyrdom Sacrifice. That was when she began worrying about the people around her as well.
Her life and death lay in the hands of those above her. She could do nothing about that, but she could still manipulate the fate of those around her.
So she began methodically releasing her people.
As for the servants who would be buried alongside Prince Zhou, she could not make that decision.
Because she herself was someone destined to die. When the time came, the list and number of those for Martyrdom Sacrifice would be decided by the next Prince Zhou.
She did not think she could offer Zhu Youjue any advice.
But now, Prince Zhou had finally formally acknowledged Zhu Zijin's status as his heir and intended to make it a reality. Even if something went wrong with the succession to the title, Zhu Zijin, as the heir, would still have some say in the list of those buried with Prince Zhou.
Zhu Zijin had missed more than ten years of education, especially after he had been stripped of his status and reduced to a commoner at fourteen. He had barely touched a book since then. Nervous, he carefully memorized what the Princess Consort taught him, confirming it twice before agreeing.
Watching him leave, the Princess Consort sighed.
Nanny Qin refilled her tea and said with a smile, "Princess Consort, do not be anxious. There is still plenty of time. You can teach the Eldest Young Master more in the future."
The Princess Consort was heavy with worry. "I fear things will not go smoothly. Xinniang, if I must ultimately accompany the Prince on his final journey, you should leave the residence with him. Do not concern yourself with anything else. Just help him raise his children."
Heartbroken, Nanny Qin knelt before the Princess Consort's knees. "Since the Emperor agreed to release the Eldest Young Master, does that not mean he still wishes for the Prince to have a son to care for him in his old age? Should it not be only right and proper for him to be restored to the Imperial Genealogy? Once he is entered into the Imperial Genealogy, when the Prince reaches the end of his days, should not the Eldest Young Master inherit the title?"
The Princess Consort said, "The problem lies in his having a father like Zhu Youxian. If Prince of Xiangfu has the intention, even if he dares not lay a hand on Zhao Yuansong, he will still obstruct matters at court."
Nanny Qin was full of resentment. "That Prince is far too overbearing. Judging from what he has done these past six months, all that talk in the past about being unable to bear parting with his son was false. I fear it is the princely title he cannot bear to part with. He must have long been plotting for the younger brother to succeed the elder brother."
Princess Zhou said nothing, merely gazing outside with dark, unfathomable eyes.
After Zhu Youjue had twice refused their proposal to adopt one of his children, she had understood his intentions. The Prince understood as well.
With Zhu Youxian as a cautionary example, Prince Zhou was unwilling to force his brothers into giving him their sons or nephews as heirs.
Since they were unwilling, then let matters take their course. It was only that she...
Consort Gong lowered her eyes to look at her hands. She did not resent Prince Zhou, nor was she unwilling to die alongside him. She was simply unwilling to accept it.
A suffocating resentment filled her chest, leaving her burning with anger and constantly wanting to destroy something.
She was willing to die for Prince Zhou, but only on the condition that it was her own choice. She could choose to die, or she could choose not to die.
Rather than being forced to die.
Was being childless her fault?
None of Prince Zhou's eight women had borne a child, and none had even conceived. Anyone could figure out whose problem that was with their toes.
Why should they be forced into Martyrdom Sacrifice because they had no children?
But Prince Zhou was too good, so good that she could not bring herself to hate him.
Thus, she could only hate this system, hate the Imperial Court, hate the ancestors, and hate Zhu Youjue and the others plotting for Prince Zhou's title.
The atmosphere on Princess Zhou's side was not very good, but things were quite pleasant on Prince Zhou's side.
Perhaps Pan Yun's affirmation had given Prince Zhou a few more measures of confidence. Much of the sickness in his heart had lifted, and after drinking the second bowl of medicine prescribed by Tao Ji, he actually felt much lighter.
His mouth was bitter, so he wanted something sweet.
Thus, one old man and one young girl gathered together to eat sweet Treasure Porridge. It was really just various grains boiled until they blossomed, with a little sugar added.
The Attendant was delighted. The Prince had recently been unable to eat much. No matter how the Eldest Young Master coaxed him, he could only barely manage a few spoonfuls.
Seeing that his appetite was good, the Attendant's expression toward Pan Yun improved considerably. After serving the porridge, he cleverly withdrew to one side.
As Prince Zhou ate slowly, he said to Pan Yun, "I have raised several children in my residence. Zihou is simple and honest by nature, kind-hearted, but he likes to keep his words bottled up inside. I once mentioned adopting him to Fourth Brother, but Fourth Brother could not bear to part with him."
Pan Yun nodded. "He is the eldest son, after all. It is only natural that he could not bear it."
Prince Zhou nodded. "Later, I considered adopting Zifang. Zifang is intelligent, gentle yet steadfast. He also loves medicine, just like my late father, and would be well suited to inherit my late father's mantle. So compared with Zihou, I liked him even more. Unfortunately, Fourth Brother did not agree either."
Pan Yun caught the meaning and clicked her tongue. "He wanted to become Prince Zhou himself."
Prince Zhou smiled. "Among all my younger brothers, he is indeed one of the more suitable candidates. Though born of a concubine, he and I have always had a good relationship.
"I have never had a biological child, but I have raised an heir. When Zijin was taken away back then, my heart ached unbearably. I imagined that other fathers must feel as I did."
Therefore, he understood Zhu Youjue's refusal to give up a child for adoption. He had sincerely believed that Zhu Youjue could not bear to part with his son.
Until he brought Zhu Zijin back to his side again, and Zhu Youjue began to panic.
Zhu Zijin had only been in Kaifeng for five days when the child went out to play and disappeared. Rumors outside were raging like a storm. Prince Zhou suspected that someone had deliberately caused it, yet he also feared the rumors were true.
But because of Zhu Zijin's filial devotion, he also felt pity for the child and could not bear to send him away once more.
Perhaps Zhu Youjue had panicked. One day, he inadvertently mentioned wanting to adopt his eldest son, Zhu Zihou, out to him.
But he quickly regretted it, saying he had spoken nonsense while drunk and still could not bear to part with him...
At that moment, Prince Zhou understood that the deep brotherly affection he had believed in was not actually so deep.
He sighed, took a spoonful of porridge, and looked at Pan Yun. "And you, little friend? Why did you become a female Daoist priest at such a young age?"
Pan Yun was not yet a Daoist at that time, but that did not prevent her from becoming one.
She said, "My mother passed away when I was six. My father and brother worked hard and could not care for me. I also had talent for cultivating the Dao, so I became a Daoist."
She gilded herself with praise. "Do not let my age fool you, Prince. I have already cultivated for eight years."
Prince Zhou could not help laughing. "Are you even eight years old?"
Pan Yun said, "I was born with knowledge. I began cultivating from the moment I left my mother's womb."
Prince Zhou was superstitious, but he was not foolish. He still possessed basic judgment and was deeply suspicious of her claim.
"You do not believe me, huh~~" Pan Yun used her finger as a brush and drew a talisman in the air. Prince Zhou saw with his own eyes white light gather at her fingertips, forming a talisman that did not disperse.
Prince Zhou stared blankly at the talisman floating in the air. Pan Yun smiled faintly at him, pushed with her hand, and the talisman instantly flew toward Prince Zhou, shooting into his chest with a whoosh.
Prince Zhou felt refreshed in body and spirit, while much of the pent-up heaviness in his chest dispersed.
He looked at Pan Yun in astonishment.
Pan Yun said proudly, "Though I do not possess Senior Brother's skill in alchemy, I can still use talismans to seek auspiciousness and bless people with the qi of health."
In truth, it was simply sending the talisman into a person's body and allowing spiritual energy to slowly nourish the recipient, dispersing the sickness within them.
Someone with a mild illness might recover from it entirely. For a severe case like Prince Zhou's, it merely made him more comfortable, cleared his meridians, and brought the various currents of qi into slight harmony.
Such talismans were generally used together with medicine, allowing a patient's body to recover more quickly. They were auxiliary talismans.
It also helped that Prince Zhou had only recently taken his medicine and his body was currently processing its medicinal effects.
Once this talisman entered him, the medicinal power could flow more smoothly through his limbs and bones. Prince Zhou immediately felt the changes in his body.
His eyes lit up as he grabbed Pan Yun's hand. "So you are a little genius. Little friend, you are impressive, truly impressive."
Pan Yun said smugly, "Not only can I draw talismans, I can also tell fortunes. Prince, would you like me to calculate yours?"
Prince Zhou chuckled. "Have you not already calculated it?"
Pan Yun shook her head. "That was only face-reading. The information it yields is limited, nowhere near as abundant or accurate as what one can learn from a person's Eight Characters."
She had already calculated so much, and that was still limited?
Prince Zhou's heart grew hot, and he told her his Eight Characters.
Pan Yun took up a brush and began writing and drawing at the side, arranging his Nine Palaces Diagram.
Prince Zhou could understand some of it. After all, he was a superstitious man and had studied such things before. But what could this reveal?
Pan Yun counted again and again on her fingers, frowning slightly as she asked for the Eight Characters of Zhu Zijin, Zhu Zihou, and Zhu Zifang.
Those three children had been raised at his side since childhood. Prince Zhou knew their Eight Characters even better than their biological father did.
Pan Yun calculated again and could not help frowning.
Prince Zhou began doubting both her abilities and her motives again.
It could not be helped. He had been like this lately, trusting everyone for a moment and doubting them the next.
"What is it? Does someone's fate clash with mine?"
"Not that," Pan Yun said. "All three of them are beneficial to you. None of them clash with you."
Hearing this, Prince Zhou smiled and trusted her again.
"But it is strange. Zhu Zijin is clearly your heir, and he was even separated from you for a time. Why does he have such a deep father-son affinity with you? Judging from your Eight Characters, he ought to be your biological son."
Pan Yun said, "It is more like he was born to be your son, only to be reincarnated into another family."
Prince Zhou was utterly stunned.
Even after Pan Yun left, he still could not quite come back to himself.
When the Attendant entered, Prince Zhou was holding those four sheets of paper and looking them over.
The Attendant could not help saying, "Prince, this servant thinks the Young Daoist calculated it well. The Eldest Young Master ought to be your son. He also looks more like you, unlike the Second Prince."
How did he resemble him? He resembled his father. The two of them both resembled the late Prince Zhou.
But...
Why were the two of them the ones who looked most like his father? Was not Second Prince also his father's child? Yet he did not resemble him. Could it really be such a coincidence that Zijin did not resemble him either?
Could it be that the child's words were not flattery, but the truth?
The ten lucky numbers for this chapter are numbers ending in 1. Screenshots are proof. Look for Moyan.
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