A Marrow Cleansing Pill

Beside him, Seventh Prince Zhao Hongsheng was bent over his books, studying bitterly.

Hearing the commotion from Zhao Hongming's side, he turned to look over, a trace of envy surfacing in his eyes.

Born into the Imperial Family, with the throne hanging before them like bait, brotherly affection was always the thinnest thing.

So long as there was even the slightest chance, every one of them would sharpen their heads and squeeze their way in.

A prince like Fifth Brother Zhao Hongming, without power or influence, had instead gained a life of carefree ease.

He had heard that Father Emperor had even allowed him into the Martial Repository Pavilion.

It was hard to imagine that if he went there to study Martial Arts, his mother consort would probably beat him half to death once she found out.

"A sage, enlightened himself, enlightens others; but one muddled himself cannot enlighten others."

Fourth Prince Zhao Hongli's reading voice suddenly yanked Zhao Hongsheng's thoughts back. He no longer looked at Zhao Hongming and the other, lowering his head to continue studying hard.

His Mother Empress had told him that a true man, born between Heaven and Earth, must cultivate a vast and righteous spirit and bring blessings to the countless common folk.

Yet the prerequisite for all of that was ascending the imperial throne.

He had heard that Father Emperor had recently considered selecting a new Heir. He could not afford even the slightest slackness.

Seated near the back, Zhao Hongming noticed Seventh Prince's gaze but said nothing.

The brotherly bond between him and these princes was more or less confined to the Imperial Study and these palace walls.

Once they reached fifteen, aside from a few princes permitted to remain in Daliang, the capital of Wei Country, the rest would Establish a Manor and Be Bestowed a King Title.

By then, they would be scattered to the ends of the earth. They might not see one another for years at a time—what brotherly affection could possibly remain?

They might even turn against one another someday over certain interests.

Thus, spending too much effort maintaining this so-called brotherly affection was truly unwise.

After a while, it was roughly Mao Hour.

Scholar Sun, who was teaching at the Imperial Study that day, entered and prepared to begin the day's lesson.

Before the lesson, however, he conducted a pre-class check.

It was basically a recitation of what they had learned the previous day, requiring every word to be correct.

This portion had always had nothing to do with Zhao Hongming.

Since his former self had not been valued and only half-understood these classics of benevolence and righteousness, there was no point asking him. These Confucian scholars had long since given up on him.

As usual, Scholar Sun called on Fourth Prince and Seventh Prince.

The two recited flawlessly from beginning to end.

Scholar Sun repeatedly praised them for their intelligence and diligence.

Once the checking was over, Scholar Sun began today's lesson: "Illumine bright virtue, and bring harmony to the nine clans."

During class, Scholar Sun spoke with a tongue that flowed like a river, yet Zhao Hongming could not summon the slightest interest.

He summarized it briefly: the core idea of the lesson was that the Imperial Family's duty was to ensure the people lived and worked in peace and contentment.

And for the people to live in peace and contentment, the family first had to be harmonious, with elder brothers kind and younger brothers respectful. See the nation through the family; see the great through the small.

He had learned such principles countless times in his previous life and had long grown tired of them.

Time trickled by, drop by drop.

By the time they had endured until Chen Hour and practiced calligraphy for a while, the morning lesson was considered over.

As usual, Zhao Hongming prepared to go to the inner palace to pay his respects.

At that moment, Fourth Prince Zhao Hongli, with whom he usually had little interaction, suddenly called out to him. "Fifth Prince."

Zhao Hongming paused and looked at Zhao Hongli in confusion.

With a warm smile, the latter asked, "I heard Fifth Prince truly intends to cultivate Martial Arts?"

Zhao Hongming did not know what medicine he was selling in his gourd and said, "Just practicing casually, to strengthen my body."

"That is good too. Perhaps cultivating Martial Arts will bring Fifth Prince great benefits as well." Zhao Hongli called out loudly, "Little Xuanzi, quickly bring over what I prepared."

It was as though he had been waiting outside with it all along.

The moment his words fell, a Little Eunuch entered carrying a square box.

"Since Fifth Prince is cultivating Martial Arts, I have little else to offer." Zhao Hongli picked up the box and said, "This is a Marrow Cleansing Pill. It can assist martial artists in opening their meridians. I believe it will help Fifth Prince's cultivation, so I brought it along today."

Zhao Hongming's heart stirred, and he instantly understood Zhao Hongli's intentions.

He was using him to build prestige.

They had just learned about illuminating bright virtue and bringing harmony to the nine clans, and he immediately put into practice what he had learned.

His purpose was practically written all over his face.

Sure enough, Scholar Sun, who had yet to leave, saw this scene and scrunched his face into a smile like an old chrysanthemum, feeling that today's instruction had been highly successful.

The look he gave Fourth Prince carried much more approval.

If Fourth Prince made a few arrangements afterward, he might earn the fine reputation of "cherishing his younger kinsman" by that afternoon.

Seventh Prince, being younger after all, did not consider this layer of things. Somewhat annoyed, he knew Fourth Prince had stolen a march on him today.

Zhao Hongming knew that, with the resources currently at his disposal, obtaining this Marrow Cleansing Pill would not be easy.

Since someone was "using" him, it was only proper that he collect a little "payment."

He did not expose the scheme and maintained his persona as a poor student.

Zhao Hongming first showed surprise, then declined politely. "A Marrow Cleansing Pill is worth a hundred gold pieces. This is far too precious; I cannot accept it."

This pointed out the pill's value, further elevating Zhao Hongli's gesture, then advanced by retreating.

He had gone to such lengths and had even learned in advance what the morning lesson would cover.

So long as Zhao Hongli was not a fool, he would definitely stuff the Marrow Cleansing Pill into his hands. There was no way Zhao Hongming could refuse it.

The following developments were exactly as he had expected.

The flush on Zhao Hongli's face deepened as he laughed heartily and forcibly placed the Marrow Cleansing Pill in his hand.

"Our brotherly affection—how could a mere Marrow Cleansing Pill compare? Just accept it without worry."

At this point, Zhao Hongming said no more. He accepted the Marrow Cleansing Pill openly, then showed a grateful expression. "Then thank you, Fourth Brother."

"No matter. It is getting late. Fifth Prince, I shall go pay my respects first."

"Please, Fourth Brother."

After he left, Eighth Prince Zhao Hongguang looked somewhat dejected and muttered beside Zhao Hongming, "Fourth Brother really makes a fuss over everything. Giving someone a gift, and he still had to make it so fancy and showy."

Zhao Hongming had not expected Eighth Prince to be rather clever as well, able to see some of the underlying twists at such a young age. He teased, "If you gave Fifth Brother something too, just like him, Fifth Brother would not mind."

"Ah? Then I will have to go plead with Mother Consort again."

Zhao Hongming flicked Zhao Hongguang on the head with a finger. "I was just teasing you, and you took it seriously."

After leaving the Imperial Study, Zhao Hongming looked up at the azure sky and could not help letting out a long sigh.

Sometimes, being a prince was truly exhausting.

Not only did he have to rise early for morning lessons, he also had to run from palace to palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and Father Emperor.

All year round, there was scarcely any rest.

After paying respects came breakfast. Once breakfast was over, he continued studying the classics, histories, masters, and collections at the Imperial Academy in the morning; the afternoons were for riding and archery, martial skills, and the Art of War.

Only after enduring all that until You Hour—around five in the afternoon—could the day finally end.

Zhao Hongming was slightly better off now. Since he was cultivating Martial Arts, he only needed to study the Art of War in the afternoon, while he could arrange and control the rest of his time himself.

Perhaps in others' eyes, this was already a sign that the Son of Heaven had abandoned him.

After all, for a Royal Scion with little hope in Martial Dao, if he did not diligently study at the Imperial Academy, he could not possibly achieve anything in the future.

But Zhao Hongming had plans of his own.

Earlier, he had examined the maps.

Beyond Great Wei, wolves surrounded it on every side.

All the better territories had long since been granted out.

When he left the palace and received a king title in the future, without the support of his mother consort's faction, he would most likely be sent to some savage land.

Without some strength, he would not even know how he died wherever he went.

As the saying went, one without far-reaching worries would have immediate troubles.

Therefore, before leaving the palace to establish a manor, he had to make use of the palace's resources to raise his cultivation as much as possible.

That was the true kingly path.

New book—please send recommendations and keep reading~