Chapter 1006: Chapter 844, Gather Up

Empress Dowager, using illness as an excuse, often summoned Imperial Consorts, Princes, and Princesses to Cining Palace to talk, among whom the most summoned were those Princes who served at the imperial court.

Inside Qianqing Palace, it was heard that the Crown Prince and others had gone to Cining Palace again. The Emperor merely responded with a faint “Hmm,” while Xiao Yeyang, who had come to report, silently lowered his head.

After the death of the Princely Heir and Jiang Jinghui, did the Empress Dowager and Duke Cheng’en know that the Jiang Family was no longer able to train another obedient and understanding young Prince, and had turned their gaze onto the adult Princes instead?

The Jiang Family still had plenty of resources in their hands, but it was uncertain whether the Crown Prince and others could withstand the test.

After finishing his report, Xiao Yeyang left the palace. Just as he was approaching the palace gate, he unexpectedly met the Fourth Prince.

The Fourth Prince took the initiative to greet him, “I’m also leaving the palace, shall we go together?”

Xiao Yeyang glanced at the Fourth Prince, nodded in agreement, and as they walked towards the palace gate, casually asked, “I heard you went to Cining Palace with the Crown Prince and others to see the Empress Dowager, how come you left so quickly?”

The Fourth Prince looked at Xiao Yeyang, knowing he had just come from Qianqing Palace, thought to himself, surely Father has noticed their visits to Cining Palace, and replied with a light smile, “The Empress Dowager has never favored me. Every time I visit Cining Palace, I leave as soon as I have paid my respects.”

Xiao Yeyang nodded and did not ask further.

The Fourth Prince hesitated briefly, then ventured, “You went to the palace; why didn’t you visit the Empress Dowager?”

Xiao Yeyang raised an eyebrow at the Fourth Prince and laughed, “The whole of Beijing knows the Empress Dowager’s attitude toward me, why would I bother asking for trouble?”

He paused, then laughed meaningfully.

“Besides, since the Empress Dowager is ill, I think it’s better for us to disturb her less as she recuperates.”

Hearing this, the Fourth Prince was struck by a thought, saw Xiao Yeyang quicken his pace, seemingly unwilling to speak further, and smiled while changing the subject, “The pastries my sister-in-law sent were much to Daohua’s liking, send my thanks to her when you return.”

Xiao Yeyang replied, “It’s just a few pastries, no need for thanks.”

The last time they visited Four Seasons Manor, the Fourth Prince and his family were also at a manor in Tangyu Mountain. Daohua had invited them over to the manor, and when they left, gave Daohua plenty of treats to take along.

As they spoke, the two had already exited the palace gate. Xiao Yeyang deftly bid farewell to the Fourth Prince, and then mounted his horse and rode away.

Watching Xiao Yeyang’s retreating figure, the Fourth Prince carefully reflected on the words he had just said, and immediately decided to refrain from joining the Crown Prince and others in visiting Cining Palace in the future.

Although the inquiry into the Lantern Festival fire had concluded that it was caused by a palace servant’s error, he intuitively felt that there was more to it.

He was also vaguely disturbed by the increasingly delicate relationship between the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Jiang Family.

The Emperor secretly paying attention to their visits to the Empress Dowager showed his concern.

Perhaps… this was a moment to pick sides.

To stand with Father, or with the Jiang Family–he naturally chose the former, even though he had hearing difficulties, lacked a chance at the throne, being valued was still better than being marginalized.

Not long after the Fourth Prince left the palace, the Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince also left one after another.

A Prince who does not wish to be Emperor is not a good Prince. Among the adult Princes serving as officials, probably only the Fourth Prince, who suffered from hearing difficulties, did not aspire to the throne.

The Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince also longed for the Empress Dowager’s favor to gain the Jiang Family’s support and thus increase their chances to ascend to the throne, but, the Crown Prince’s father-in-law, and the Fifth Prince’s maternal grandfather had advised both of them, warning them not to become too close with the Jiang Family or the Empress Dowager.

Both felt that the Emperor was perhaps intentionally suppressing the Jiang Family and therefore retracted their ambitions.

…

Pingxi Hall.

After returning, Xiao Yeyang mentioned the fact that the Crown Prince and others went to pay respects at Cining Palace to Daohua. Unless it involved confidential matters, he shared other issues with her to ensure she was informed about outside events, to prevent being outmaneuvered.

Daohua: “Does the Empress Dowager and the Jiang Family intend to win over the Prince for their own use?”

Xiao Yeyang particularly appreciated Daohua’s clarity of thought; he hardly needed to explain much for her to understand what he meant.

“The Jiang Family has always been bold, their likely aim is to pull down the Royal Uncle and then promote a Prince they can control, just as it happened when the Royal Uncle ascended the throne.”

Daohua, curious, asked, “Which Prince do you think the Empress Dowager has her eye on?”

Xiao Yeyang shook his head, “It’s not clear yet.” He smiled at Daohua, “What do you think?”

Daohua, resting her chin in her hand, pondered, “Each Prince who attends court has some backing; to easily control them, she should choose the weakest one. The Fourth Prince has the humblest origins among them, but he has a hearing issue, that rules him out directly.”

“Of the remaining Crown Prince, Second Prince, Third Prince, and Fifth Prince, they all have strong maternal families. If I had to choose, I’d definitely pick the one who has some leverage over him.”

She looked towards Xiao Yeyang.

“Among these, the Crown Prince and others, is there someone who has committed some particularly disgraceful deed? Something that, once exposed, would ruin his reputation?”

Xiao Yeyang’s eyes narrowed, “I really don’t know about that.” He stroked his chin, maybe he should pay more attention to the princes in the future.

August 1st was Daohua’s birthday.

Since Xiao Yeyang had kept her awake until late the night before, it was well past dawn when Daohua finally opened her eyes slowly.

Rubbing her eyes, Daohua sat up and saw Xiao Yeyang, dressed in informal attire, standing at the desk painting with a brush, “What are you doing so early in the morning?”

Xiao Yeyang glanced at her with a smile but didn’t speak, continuing to focus on his painting.

Daohua got dressed and walked over to the desk, where she saw a portrait of herself sleeping on the bed.

Xiao Yeyang finished the last stroke and looked at Daohua, “Today you turn eighteen. I’ve captured how you look at eighteen so that when we grow old, we can look at it together.”

Daohua playfully squinted at Xiao Yeyang, her eyes full of mirth, “A portrait while sleeping, isn’t that a bit informal?”

Xiao Yeyang laughed, “It’s just for us to see, why need it be so formal? Besides, I was short on time today, otherwise, I would have included myself.”

Upon hearing this, Daohua quickly shook her head, “Let’s not.”

Xiao Yeyang: “What, you don’t want to be in a painting with me?”

Daohua: “Of course not, I don’t mind being portrayed together in everyday life, just not while asleep.”

Xiao Yeyang chuckled, “As I said, it’s for us.”

Daohua carefully blew on the ink of the painting, “The portraits you’ve painted for me, I’ve carefully stored them,” she said with a smile, “to show our children someday.”

Xiao Yeyang hugged Daohua from behind, laughing as he asked, “What, feeling ready for children? I see you like that little fellow Morpho quite a bit.”

Daohua: “Children are so adorable, of course I like them. But if I were to have children, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to take care of them well.” Her face showed slight unease.

Xiao Yeyang was speechless, “There are nannies and maids, you know.”

Daohua rolled her eyes, “Please, it’s our child, to leave to nannies and maids, you really are capable. Let me make it clear now, if we have a child, you need to spend time with them every day.”

Xiao Yeyang hastily said, “I definitely will.”

Daohua then mentioned Zhou Jingwan, “Jingwan is due this month, not sure which day exactly. I haven’t even prepared a gift yet.”

As Xiao Yeyang thought about recent times when Yan Wentao would engage him in guessing whether his first child would be a son or a daughter, he too began to fantasize about his and Daohua’s future children.