The Willing Take the Bait

That night, the Qi Emperor came to the Hall of Inherited Blessing to discuss schooling with the little Crown Prince.

Qi Yuanzuo wore pale yellow nightclothes, his loose hair sticking out in every direction. He sat obediently cross-legged like a little hedgehog, facing the Qi Emperor and tilting his head up to listen.

His round eyes were innocent and docile. Every so often, he rubbed his sleepy eyes, melting straight into one's heart.

Whatever the Qi Emperor said, the little Crown Prince nodded and murmured his agreement.

That trusting gaze made the Qi Emperor overflow with fatherly love.

"Zhang Yao has already been transferred to Chang'an. Let him rest for two days, and then Zuo'er will begin his lessons."

"Study hard. I've prepared a little schoolbag and brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone for you. Zuo'er is a big boy now. No more lingering in bed."

The Qi Emperor rubbed his son's cheeks. The more he looked, the more incredible it seemed. The child who had once been no bigger than a cat had grown this much under his care.

He feared dropping him if he held him in his hands, and feared melting him if he held him in his mouth.

Everyone called him biased, but Zuo'er was the son he and the empress had waited five years for. No amount of doting could ever be excessive.

All his earnest hopes condensed into a single sentence:

"Eat well and grow up well."

"Your father doesn't need you to accomplish anything extraordinary. Being a ruler who preserves what he inherits will be enough."

"If you find it too tiring, your father will try his best to live until Zuo'er's son grows up. Then Zuo'er can become a retired emperor and live without a care for the rest of his life. That would be good, too."

The Qi Emperor smoothed the stubborn tufts atop his son's head, his heart brimming with tenderness like water.

Qi Yuanzuo nestled in his arms, truly reluctant to part with that affection.

He couldn't blame the others for being jealous. If their positions were reversed, he would be jealous, too.

Father and son cuddled for a while before the Qi Emperor patted him. "Your father is going to keep Lady Yin company tonight. Will you be frightened sleeping alone?"

Qi Yuanzuo immediately shook his head. "No. Go, Father."

Qi Yuanzuo understood. His father was in the prime of his vigor, and there were so many beauties in the harem. He could hardly expect the Qi Emperor to live like a widower with only his son for company.

The Qi Emperor lifted his quilt. "Your father will wait until you're asleep before going."

Qi Yuanzuo obediently closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.

The Qi Emperor proceeded to the Yi River Pavilion.

He had a purpose in coming here.

Lady Zhou had been stripped of her rank, but the Third Prince remained.

Zuo'er couldn't become a lonely ruler with no one at his side. The Qi Emperor wanted to cultivate trusted aides for him.

The Eldest Prince's lie last time had left the Qi Emperor with a poor impression of him. Besides, he was already old enough to understand things, making his disposition difficult to reshape.

The Third Prince was young enough to be raised into loyalty. He favored having Consort Yin raise him, which would bind the Yin Family firmly to the Crown Prince's ship.

He hinted subtly at his intentions, but Consort Yin declined to take the bait, saying tactfully,

"I entered the palace to care for the little Crown Prince on my elder sister's behalf. All I ask is to spend the rest of my life watching His Highness grow up, marry, and have children. Then I will have no regrets. I dare not shoulder such a weighty responsibility."

In the night, the emperor's expression was guarded, leaving his thoughts impossible to discern.

Without the Blood-Jade Bead Bracelet, the Qi Emperor's hands felt empty. This had been part of his reasoning when he first allowed Consort Yin to approach the little Crown Prince.

In the Qi Emperor's eyes, Consort Yin was merely a tool for assisting the little Crown Prince. Since I have ordered you to assist the Crown Prince, you must live for him and die for him. Now I want you to raise a child for his sake, yet you keep making excuses.

Are you truly devoted wholeheartedly to the Crown Prince, or do you harbor other intentions?

"If that is the case, so be it. It's late. Let us retire."

The Qi Emperor's gaze carried a suggestion. Consort Yin's instincts told her she would be better off refusing to attend him in bed tonight.

But the Qi Emperor rarely visited the harem, and he never summoned any one woman to his bed more than three times a month.

Although he had often stayed in her palace recently, they had only actually shared a bed twice.

She had secretly examined the bedchamber records and discovered that His Majesty indulged himself at most five times a month.

And each time, he chose someone different.

Serving His Majesty was an exceedingly precious opportunity. If she refused this time, who knew how long she would have to wait?

In the end, Lady Yin could not resist the temptation of pregnancy. With bashful tenderness, she undressed the Qi Emperor.

"Allow me to serve Your Majesty."

The scene during the day had unsettled Consort Yin. His Majesty disliked the Third Prince and the Eldest Prince, favoring only the little Crown Prince. Part of that was because His Majesty had raised him personally, but a son's standing also rose with his mother's, and the little Crown Prince was handsome besides.

Her status was high, and His Majesty often treated her tenderly. If she became pregnant and raised the child together with His Majesty every day, affection would develop, and His Majesty would surely look forward to it.

She didn't ask for her child to receive as much favor as the little Crown Prince. Surely asking for a tenth or a fifth of it wasn't excessive?

Lost in her thoughts, Lady Yin failed to notice that there was not the slightest trace of desire in the emperor's eyes.

After satisfying himself, the Qi Emperor called for water, washed, and left.

Unless the emperor ordered measures to prevent conception, the consorts generally did not bathe that night.

Lady Yin liked cleanliness. She had intended to rest briefly before washing, but somehow fell asleep.

Inside the Palace of Nurturing Origin.

The Empress Dowager studied the Third Prince's features and asked the elderly matron beside her,

"Does the Third Prince resemble His Majesty?"

The matron's voice was dry.

"His Highness the Third Prince is His Majesty's son. Naturally, he resembles His Majesty."

The Empress Dowager covered her mouth and chuckled.

Before long, footsteps approached.

"Your Highness, everything has been taken care of, just as it was last time."

The Empress Dowager laughed even louder.

The old matron's face was ashen, her heart seemingly reduced to dead ashes.

"I did manage the harem for several years, after all. The emperor is still too green. What use is guarding the Hall of Inherited Blessing so tightly that not even a breath of wind can pass through? He has protected a single blade of grass and lost a whole stretch of fertile soil."

The old matron smiled bitterly. It wasn't that the emperor was too green. The Empress Dowager had gone mad!

What mother would take revenge on her own flesh and blood like this?

The Empress Dowager admired the red polish on her nails. "I'm in a good mood today. Bring some people here to relieve my loneliness."

The old matron had already grown numb. Soon, several people dressed as eunuchs entered the hall, and all the servants in the Hall of Nurturing Origin withdrew.

The old matron meant to carry the Third Prince away.

But the Empress Dowager said, "Leave him here."

The old matron's heart trembled again. "Yes..."

Listening to the sounds from the floor, the Third Prince wished he were deaf!

His brain was overloaded. Reality was so absurd that he felt he would be better off dead.

He had thought sleeping with his sister-in-law and putting a cuckold's green hat on the Crown Prince was absurd enough. Compared with the Empress Dowager, he was practically normal!

Reeling from the shock of the Empress Dowager's group tryst, he scarcely dared delve into the implications of this madwoman's exchange with the old matron!

What did she mean?

What did she mean by protecting a single blade of grass and losing a whole stretch of fertile soil?

What was "just as it was last time"?

The Third Prince was a master of underhanded schemes. He could always devise vicious ideas that plunged beneath the lowest limits of human decency.

He had already guessed most of the truth, but it was so malicious that he could neither comprehend nor accept it!

Right now, he wished the Empress Dowager would die! Die immediately!

If he could move, the first thing he would do was strangle her!

As long as the Empress Dowager died, these things would remain secret!

In the darkness, the Third Prince stared wide-eyed. The face of the month-old infant was terrifyingly contorted.

As usual, Qi Yuanzuo got up only once the sun was shining on his backside.

He rubbed his eyes and dressed himself, then had the Fat Eunuch put on his shoes.

Qi Yuanzuo surveyed his surroundings, his eyes narrowing almost imperceptibly, and asked as though casually,

"Where's Bolao?"

Usually, Bolao wished he could take over every task that brought him close to Qi Yuanzuo.

After being put through his paces, he had restrained himself somewhat. But his wild nature had only been suppressed, not erased.

The Fat Eunuch and Simiao exchanged a glance.

"Your Highness, Bolao's clothes got dirty. He'll return after changing."

Qi Yuanzuo said nothing and began his breakfast.

When he finished eating, Bolao still had not returned.

Qi Yuanzuo did not ask about him again.

"Jiang Liang, come fishing with me."

Jiang Liang, who was dozing in a corner, jolted awake.

"Sure!"

Simiao swept a cold gaze over her. Jiang Liang shuddered, straightened her posture, and said gracefully, "As Your Highness commands."

Qi Yuanzuo's eyes curved in a smile.

"Auntie, don't scold her. As long as her manners are passable and she doesn't embarrass me in public, there's no harm in being more relaxed in private."

Simiao answered helplessly, "Yes, Your Highness."

Inwardly, Jiang Liang cheered, Long live the little Crown Prince!

The little Crown Prince was soft and adorable, clever and considerate. Working for a boss like this actually seemed rather nice.

Qi Yuanzuo went to the Golden Pool on the western side of the Imperial Palace. It was also part of the Imperial Garden, and swans, cranes, and carp were kept there.

Lotuses bloomed in summer, and willows swayed gently. It was a beautiful sight.

The fish in the Golden Pool were plump and sturdy, swimming lazily. They had no interest whatsoever in the little Crown Prince's meager fish feed.

Besides, the little Crown Prince was using a straight hook.

With dead-fish eyes, Jiang Liang watched the little Crown Prince imitate Jiang Taigong Fishing.

She grumbled inwardly, He had willing fish taking the bait, but you...

Fine. The little Crown Prince had a turtle.

One turtle in the pool was particularly eager to bite the hook.

It was the same one twice in a row. The little Crown Prince grew displeased and used his fishing rod to lead it around.

The turtle was perfectly willing, paddling its legs as it chased the hook.

Once it bit down, it refused to let go.