The First Imperial Prince's Residence.
The First Imperial Prince's steward was discussing matters with men from the Imperial Household Department, his back bent as he smiled apologetically throughout.
This May, after Emperor Deyuan's Longevity Celebration, the First Imperial Prince would leave the Capital City for his fief. Once a prince left for his fief, he could not return to the capital without an imperial summons.
When that time came, the First Imperial Prince's Residence would be reclaimed.
Tantai Ji's mother, Lady Wu, had originally been a lowly palace maid with no backing whatsoever. By chance, she had received the emperor's favor once and become pregnant.
Lady Wu had also been lucky. Emperor Deyuan had still been living in his princely residence then, where there had been none of the palace's bewildering assortment of abortifacients. Lady Wu herself had not known she was pregnant until she was almost ready to give birth, allowing the First Imperial Prince to be born safely.
Although the First Imperial Prince was the emperor's eldest son, his mediocre abilities and unremarkable looks had left him out of favor.
Even during his service in the Ministry of Works, his achievements had been ordinary, never showing so much as a mountain peak or a drop of water.
Even when granted a princely title, he had only been made a Commandery Prince.
His fief was small, wedged between the Prince of Zhennan and the Prince of the Southeast. If he offended either of those regional princes, he would not even know how he had died. He would be better off clinging to the Capital City and refusing to leave.
Those eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department, who looked down on people through a dog's eyes, naturally had no patience for the steward of his residence.
After dealing with the