Words of Appeasement

After Consort Gong finished giving instructions, she continued, "After your father passes away, if the court issues no imperial decree, then the ones to be buried with him should be the young lads who are currently serving in your father's chambers. They should know they are destined to be buried alive. These days, they've become more and more arrogant and negligent. This is how people act when they are about to die, becoming rebellious. Find an opportunity to keep them around, and select some careful individuals from the outer courtyard to serve your father. These newcomers will not need to be buried with him."

Being buried alive wasn't limited to childless consorts and ladies. The Founding Emperor, so that his descendants would have servants in the afterlife, also decreed that the personal servants who attended his masters closely were to be put to death and buried with them.

For people like Consort Gong, being buried alive had a name. However, these servants buried alive were treated like objects, merely noted on the list of offerings: a few vases, a number of slaves...

Consort Gong was also filled with fear and trepidation, unable to focus on these matters.

But when Prince Zhou repeatedly petitioned the Emperor for leniency and exemption from being buried alive, she began to worry about the people around her.

Her life was in the hands of those above, and she was powerless. However, the lives of those around her, she could still influence.

Therefore, she began to strategically release her people.

As for the servants Prince Zhou was to be buried with, she had no say.

Because she herself was a person on the verge of death, the list and number of people to be buried alive would be decided by the next Prince Zhou.

She didn't think she could offer any suggestions to Zhu Youjue.

And now, Prince Zhou had finally formally acknowledged Zhu Zijin as his adopted son and intended to solidify this status. Even if there were any unexpected issues with the succession of the noble title, Zhu Zijin, as the adopted son to be buried with Prince Zhou, would have a certain degree of influence on the list.

Zhu Zijin had missed over a decade of education, especially after being demoted to commoner status at fourteen. He had barely touched a book since then. He nervously jotted down what the Princess Consort had taught him, confirming it twice before agreeing.

Watching him leave, the Princess Consort sighed.

Nanny Qin refilled her tea and said with a smile, "Your Highness, don't worry. There's still plenty of time. You can teach the Eldest Young Master later."

The Princess Consort was filled with worry. "I'm afraid things won't go smoothly. Xin Niang, if I ultimately have to accompany the Prince in death, then you and he should move out of the manor. Don't concern yourself with anything else; just help him raise the children."

Nanny Qin was heartbroken and knelt before the Princess Consort's knees, saying, "Since the Emperor has agreed to release the Eldest Young Master, it means he still wishes for the Prince to have a son to care for him in his old age. Isn't it only right and proper for him to be re-entered into the Imperial Genealogy? Once he's on the Genealogy, when the Prince passes away, the noble title should be inherited by the Eldest Young Master."

The Princess Consort replied, "The problem lies with him having a father like Zhu Youxian. Prince of Xiangfu is ambitious. Even if he doesn't dare to make a move against Zhao Yuansong, he will obstruct it in court."

Nanny Qin resentfully exclaimed, "The Prince is too overbearing! Looking at his actions over the past six months, all his previous talk about not wanting to part with his son was false. I fear he couldn't bear to part with the princely title and has been plotting for brother-to-brother succession for a long time."

Prince Zhou's Princess Consort remained silent, her gaze fixed on the outside with deep contemplation.

Ever since Zhu Youjue had refused their proposal to adopt a child twice, she knew his intentions, and the Prince understood as well.

Because of Zhu Youxian's precedent, Prince Zhou was unwilling to force his brothers to give up their sons or nephews for adoption.

Since he was unwilling, they would let fate take its course. But she...

Consort Gong lowered her gaze to her hands. She didn't resent Prince Zhou, nor was she unwilling to die with the Prince. It was the unwillingness to accept it.

A suffocating resentment filled her chest, making her furious and wanting to destroy something.

She was willing to die for Prince Zhou, but only if it was her own choice. She could choose to die or choose not to die.

Not to be forced to die.

Was being childless her fault?

Prince Zhou's eight women couldn't conceive, and not even a single pregnancy. It was obvious to anyone with a brain whose problem it was.

Why should they be forced to be buried alive for being childless?

But Prince Zhou was too kind, making it impossible for her to hate him.

So, she could only hate the system, hate the court, hate the ancestors, and hate Zhu Youjue and others who coveted Prince Zhou's title.

While the atmosphere in Prince Zhou's Princess Consort's chambers was grim, the mood in Prince Zhou's chambers was quite good.

Perhaps Pan Yun's affirmation had given Prince Zhou more confidence, alleviating much of his mental burden. Moreover, as he was drinking the second bowl of medicine prescribed by Tao Ji, he felt his body significantly lighter.

His mouth was bitter, so he wanted something sweet.

Thus, an old man and a young man sat together, eating sweet Treasure Porridge, which was essentially various types of rice cooked with flair and a little sugar.

The attendant was overjoyed. The Prince hadn't been able to eat much lately, and even with the Eldest Young Master's coaxing, he could only manage a few spoonfuls.

Seeing his good appetite, the attendant's attitude towards Pan Yun improved considerably. After serving the porridge, he cleverly retreated to the side.

Prince Zhou ate slowly, saying to Pan Yun, "I have several children I've raised in my manor. Zihou is simple and kind-hearted, but he tends to keep things bottled up. I once mentioned adopting him to Fourth Brother, but Fourth Brother was reluctant to part with him."

Pan Yun nodded, "He is, after all, his eldest son. It's normal not to want to part with him."

Prince Zhou nodded. "Later, I considered adopting Zifang. Zifang is intelligent, gentle yet firm, and like my late father, he enjoys medicine. He would be perfect to inherit my late father's legacy. So, compared to Zihou, I liked him even more. Unfortunately, Fourth Brother didn't agree either."

Pan Yun pondered this and clicked his tongue, "He wants to be Prince Zhou himself."

Prince Zhou smiled and said, "Among my many younger brothers, he is indeed the most suitable one. Although he is a son born of a concubine, we have always had a good relationship.

Although I have no biological children of my own, I have raised an adopted son. When Zijin was taken away, my heart ached. I imagine other fathers would feel the same as I do."

Therefore, he understood Zhu Youjue's refusal to adopt. He genuinely believed he was reluctant to part with his son.

It wasn't until he summoned Zhu Zijin back to his side that Zhu Youjue began to panic.

Zhu Zijin had only been in Kaifeng for five days when the child got lost after going out to play. Rumors spread like wildfire. He suspected it was deliberate, yet he also feared the rumors were true.

However, because of Zhu Zijin's filial piety, he felt sorry for the child and couldn't bear to send him away again.

Zhu Youjue might have panicked. One day, he inadvertently mentioned wanting to adopt his eldest son, Zhu Zihou, to him.

But he quickly retracted his words, claiming he had spoken nonsense while drunk and was still reluctant to part with him.

At that moment, Prince Zhou realized that the deep brotherly affection he had assumed did not run that deep.

He sighed, took a spoonful of porridge, and looked at Pan Yun. "What about you, little friend? Why did you become a female Daoist priest at such a young age?"

Pan Yun wasn't a Daoist priest yet, but that didn't stop her from becoming one.

She said, "My mother passed away when I was six. My father and brother were busy and couldn't take care of me. I also had a talent for cultivating the Dao, so I became a Daoist priest."

She gilded herself. "Your Highness, don't let my young age fool you. I've been cultivating for eight years."

Prince Zhou couldn't help but laugh. "Are you even eight years old?"

Pan Yun: "I was born with knowledge. I started cultivating from the moment I left my mother's womb."

Although Prince Zhou was superstitious, he wasn't an idiot. He still had basic judgment and was full of doubt about her claims.

"You don't believe me~~" Pan Yun used her finger as a brush and wrote a talisman in the air. Prince Zhou personally saw white light condense at her fingertips, forming a talisman that didn't dissipate.

Prince Zhou stared blankly at the talisman floating in the air. Pan Yun smiled slightly at him and pushed her hand. The talisman instantly flew towards Prince Zhou and, with a whoosh, landed in his embrace.

Prince Zhou felt refreshed, and the gloom in his chest dissipated significantly.

He looked at Pan Yun in surprise.

Pan Yun said proudly, "Although I don't have the Pill Dao abilities of my senior brother, talismans can bring good fortune and help people absorb healthy energy."

In essence, it was about infusing the talisman into a person's body, allowing spiritual energy to slowly nourish the recipient's body and dispel illness.

For mild cases, they might be cured just like that. For severe cases like Prince Zhou's, it would make him feel better, clear his meridians, and harmonize his energies.

For example, if his stomach qi improved, he could eat more, digest better, and absorb more energy.

This type of talisman was usually used in conjunction with medicine, which would help patients recover faster. It was considered an auxiliary talisman.

It also benefited from the fact that Prince Zhou had taken his medicine not long ago, and his body was currently processing the medicinal effects.

Once this talisman was infused, the medicinal effects could travel more smoothly throughout his body. Prince Zhou directly felt the changes in his body.

His eyes lit up, and he grabbed Pan Yun's hand. "So you're a little genius! You're amazing, little friend, truly amazing."

Pan Yun said smugly, "I can not only draw talismans, but I can also tell fortunes. Your Highness, would you like me to calculate yours?"

Prince Zhou chuckled. "Haven't you already calculated it?"

Pan Yun shook her head. "That was just physiognomy. The information obtained is limited and not as extensive or accurate as what can be derived from a person's birth date and time."

She had already deduced so much, and it was still limited?

Prince Zhou's heart burned with anticipation, so he told her his birth date and time.

Pan Yun took a pen and began writing and drawing, arranging his Nine Palaces Diagram.

Prince Zhou could understand some of it. After all, he was superstitious and had studied it before. But what could this reveal?

Pan Yun counted on her fingers again and again, frowning slightly. She then asked Zhu Zijin, Zhu Zihou, and Zhu Zifang for their birth dates and times.

These three children had been raised by him since childhood, so Prince Zhou was more familiar with them than their own father. Naturally, he knew their birth dates and times.

Pan Yun calculated again and couldn't help but frown.

Prince Zhou began to doubt her abilities and intentions again.

He couldn't help it; he had been like this lately, trusting someone one moment and doubting them the next.

"What is it? Is someone suppressing me?"

"That's not it," Pan Yun replied. "All three of them benefit you; there's no mutual suppression."

Upon hearing this, Prince Zhou's face lit up with a smile, and he trusted her again.

"But it's strange. Zhu Zijin is clearly your adopted son, and he was separated from you for a time. How can he have such a deep father-son bond with you? Looking at your birth dates and times, he should be your biological son."

Pan Yun said, "It's as if he was destined to be your son, but was just born into another family."

Prince Zhou was stunned.

He didn't fully recover until Pan Yun left.

When his attendant came in, he was looking at the four pieces of paper.

The attendant couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, I think the young Daoist priest calculated it well. The Eldest Young Master is indeed meant to be your son. He also looks more like you than the Second Prince."

That wasn't resembling him; it was resembling his father. Both of them looked like the late Prince Zhou.

But...

Why were those two the most like their father? Wasn't the second son also his father's child? He didn't resemble him. Was it just a coincidence that Zijin also didn't resemble him?

Could it be that this child wasn't just saying flattering words but was telling the truth?

The ten lucky numbers for this chapter are those ending in 1. The screenshot is proof. Find Moyan.