Facing Chu Tianyun's sarcastic tone, Consort Jin lowered her head even further and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. This concubine knows her wrong."
"Since you know your wrong, We will make an exception for you this time. We still have state affairs to attend to. If there is nothing else, you may withdraw."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. This concubine will take her leave."
As soon as she stepped out of the Imperial Study, Consort Jin's expression changed instantly. Her respectful demeanor vanished without a trace, replaced by boundless smugness as she looked up in the direction of the Cold Palace.
"Heh, you wretched woman! Back then, relying on your prominent family background, you lorded it over this concubine at every turn, and because you were the first to give birth to a dragon seed, you acted even more insufferably arrogant. Did you ever think that this concubine would also have such a glorious day?"
As the Emperor Chu's eldest son, Chu Ying had been the center of everyone's affection when he was born.
Everyone in the palace had racked their brains to praise him, predicting he would achieve great things in the future.
Consequently, even later when Consort Jin gave birth to Chu Hao, she had to endure plenty of cold glances and neglect simply because Consort Rong and her son cast too much of a shadow.
Because of this, Consort Jin had harbored resentment and jealousy right up to the present day.
That's right—all that talk about clearing up misunderstandings with the outside world was just a pretext to lull Emperor Chu into complacency.
Her true purpose was singular: to let her son, Chu Hao, trample on Chu Ying's dignity in broad daylight and rise above him.
She wanted everyone in the palace who had gossiped behind her back to see whose son was truly more capable!
Upon returning to Ningxiang Palace, Consort Jin's very first order of business was to have word of the Grand Academic Assembly spread far and wide.
To attain wealth and glory without returning to one's hometown was like wearing embroidered robes in the dark.
She and her son were about to soar to the skies; if she didn't broadcast the news and reap a flood of praise, likes, and shares, she would burst from holding it in.
After taking care of that, she sent someone to fetch Chu Hao.
"Mother, what on earth is so important that you had to drag me over here? I've got plans outside and I was just on my way to gamble—uh, study the Dao of scholarship and broaden my knowledge! Aren't you just wasting your son's time?"
As soon as Chu Hao stepped through the door, he let out a string of complaints, slumped into a chair, and casually grabbed a couple of red dates to toss into his mouth.
"What do you mean, wasting time? Mother has some tremendous good news to share with you."
Consort Jin, who always doted on her son excessively, ignored Chu Hao's rudeness. She looked him up and down, growing more satisfied the longer she stared.
This son of hers had truly won her an immense amount of face this time.
"Clap, clap."
She clapped her hands, and a maidservant quickly entered carrying a tray covered with a red silk cloth.
"What is this?"
Seeing the familiar outline beneath the red silk, Chu Hao immediately sat up straight.
"Naturally, it's the reward for that Qingyu An poem of yours." Consort Jin beamed with joy.
"Qingyu An? What Qingyu An?"
Chu Hao was about to reach out and lift the red cloth when he raised his head in utter bewilderment at her words.
"Why, the Qingyu An you composed the other day! That ci poetry has already made a name for itself throughout the Capital. What, could you possibly have forgotten?"
The son's reaction left Consort Jin visibly startled for a moment.
"Uh, Mother, you mean Qingyu An... Hehe, this son remembers now. That's right, I certainly wrote that piece."
His luck at the gambling dens had been poor these past few days, and he didn't have many coins left to his name. Now that wealth had fallen from the heavens, how could he possibly let it slip away?
He swiftly yanked off the red silk, revealing rows upon rows of silver ingots—at least several hundred taels worth. Instantly, his eyes curved into crescents of delight.
Forget Qingyu An or Baiyu An; he'd grab the silver first and ask questions later.
Just as he reached out to scoop them up, Consort Jin protected the tray with her hand and asked suspiciously, "Wait a minute, why do I feel like your reaction isn't quite right?"
"That's because, because..."
Chu Hao stammered, scratching his head until he hit upon an idea. "Lately, following Mother's instructions, this son has been studying diligently day and night without sleep, which led to a lack of rest and a dazed mind, causing me to temporarily forget about that Qingyu An."
Pointing to the dark circles under his eyes caused by consecutive all-nighters at the gambling tables, he put on a pitiful expression and said, "Mother, please look—this is proof of your child reading by the light of a burning candle."
This bit of a bitter-flesh trick actually worked!
"My son is so diligent and hardworking, no wonder you've made such rapid progress lately. Mother is very pleased."
Consort Jin proudly grabbed his hand and said in a slightly reproachful tone, "Still, don't blame Mother for nagging, but while diligence is good, you must also mind your health. Otherwise, how will you manage at the assembly in two days?"
"What assembly?"
Chu Hao asked curiously while still grabbing silver.
"Uh, Mother misspoke. I meant the banquet, the banquet! Remember the good news Mother just mentioned..."
Mentioning this got Consort Jin excited again, and she almost blurted out that Emperor Chu had ordered Chu Hao to step down into the arena to participate in the academic debate.
On second thought, however, her son was in a less-than-ideal state right now. To avoid a counterproductive result, she decided not to put too much pressure on him just yet.
So, displaying her own cleverness, she concealed the matter of the Grand Academic Assembly and merely told Chu Hao to attend the banquet and rest well over the next two days.
Anyway, in her view, with the talent Chu Hao had shown in writing Qingyu An, he would stand out just as easily whether he prepared or not.
"And here I thought there was some real good news. Isn't it just eating a meal in front of the Temple of Confucius? I'm great at that. Don't worry, Mother, this son will definitely arrive on time."
Thinking it was nothing more than a feast, Chu Hao was rather unimpressed, but with the silver safely in hand, he readily agreed.
...
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
An Empress and her son stood facing each other right at the entrance of the Cold Palace.
"Your Ladyship, His Highness looks truly jade-like, refined, and exceptionally handsome in this attire. If he goes to the assembly and gets snatched away by some young lady, what shall we do?"
At this moment, Chu Ying was dressed in a brand-new brocade robe, his hair bound with a golden crown, sporting sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes—prompting endless teasing from Qiaoyu nearby.
"Heh, if he really does get snatched away by some young lady, I'd actually be glad."
Consort Rong looked affectionately at her son, who was now a head taller than her. The fine lines at the corners of her eyes smoothed out as she straightened his lapels and admonished him:
"Two days from now is the assembly... For ten years, this is the first time your Imperial Father has ordered you to attend a public banquet. Remember, once you arrive at the Temple of Confucius, you must conduct yourself with proper decorum and on no account lose your manners."
"Rest assured, Mother, this son understands."
Chu Ying nodded. Mother and son exchanged a smile, leaving everything unsaid.
Even Chu Ying himself never expected that Chu Tianyun would break all precedent and allow a royal outcast like him to attend such a grand banquet.
When he first received the invitation, he simply couldn't believe it was real.
Ten years of withered glory, the world so cold and thin.
He truly hadn't imagined that after being abandoned in the Cold Palace for so many years, there would still come a day when father and son could meet again.
So be it. Before I leave, let me, Chu Ying, see just what kind of man you, Chu Tianyun, really are...
Chapter 17: The Assembly Arrives
Soon, two days passed.
The Lantern Festival had arrived.
Chu Ying bid farewell to Consort Rong early and arrived at the venue outside the Temple of Confucius.
Only then did he realize how naive his expectations had been.
After he presented his invitation, the young eunuch in charge of receptions actually led him to the seating area reserved for the descendants of nobility.
Worse still, it was the very last row.
Between his seat and the seats reserved for the princes in the front rows, there were at least three layers of separation: imperial relatives, civil officials, and nobility.
At this distance, trying to get close to Emperor Chu would probably be no easy task.
"Eunuch, did you assign me the wrong seat?" Chu Ying couldn't help asking.
"No mistake at all. Red invitations go in this section." The young eunuch double-checked the invitation in his hand and nodded with certainty.
"Is that so?" Chu Ying suddenly thought of a question. "Then what color are the princes' invitations?"
"Are you joking, sir? When the princes enter, what need do they have for invitations?"
"Ah, my apologies. It was a slip of the tongue."
Chu Ying smiled awkwardly, smoothed his robes, and sat down.
Mindful of his status as a guest, the young eunuch refrained from giving him an "are you an idiot" look; instead, he bowed and turned away.
"It seems I oversimplified things."
Chu Ying realized the truth now: Emperor Chu hadn't regarded him as a prince at all, which was why he had simply been sent a standard invitation.
An outcast of the royal family, sitting in the very last row among the scions of nobility—it certainly fit his status.
"Poor Mother, she actually thought this was a sign that someone wanted to bury the hatchet... I'll just have to keep this quiet from her for now."
Actually, Chu Ying didn't mind. For one thing, he harbored no illusions about Emperor Chu.
Secondly, it was just a banquet anyway. Wherever one sat, the food was the same. Sitting in the back where nobody paid attention meant he could probably eat in peace.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, he quietly looked around.
News of this grand talent assembly had spread like wildfire two days prior.
Consequently, several hundred meters away from the venue, a vast crowd of scholars could be seen gathered in the distance to watch.
However, due to the Imperial Guards standing guard, no one dared to cross even a single step over the boundary.
As for the courtyard of the Temple of Confucius close by, it was already packed with court officials, nobility, and invited scholars—numbering easily over a thousand people.
Such a scene could truly be called unprecedented.
The invited scholars had rarely ever witnessed such a grand spectacle, and each of them rubbed their palms together in excitement.
In the morning a humble farmer's lad, by evening stepping into the Son of Heaven's hall.
Having mastered the civil and martial arts, one sells them to the imperial household.
Today, His Majesty was personally present; the chance to display their talents had finally arrived!
As the last batch of important figures entered, the Donglan delegation finally appeared, seated alongside the imperial relatives directly opposite the princes' section.
As soon as Song Shishi sat down, she began peering around the princes' seating area, prompting Song Juran's curiosity: "Shishi, what are you looking for?"
"I wanted to see if the Fourth Prince has arrived yet. It seems he hasn't shown up, though."
Song Juran sighed and warned her: "Right, this occasion is of the utmost importance. As your older brother, there is something I must remind you of in advance..."
"Observe the etiquette, absolutely no willful or unruly behavior, and don't make a scene... Crown Prince Brother, you've said that eight hundred times already, I've memorized it ages ago."
Song Shishi wore a moderately tailored, magnificent ruqun dress, her delicate, jade-carved face framed by snow-white fox fur, making her look like a blooming white rose.
After finishing, she stuck out her tongue at her older brother—a gesture both playful and comical that forced a helpless chuckle out of Song Juran.
Taking the opportunity, Song Shishi asked in a low voice, "Crown Prince Brother, I don't understand. Why must we be so cautious over what is simply a banquet?"
"You don't understand," Song Juran sighed softly. "If I tell you, you might get angry."
"I'll only get angry if you don't tell me."
"I knew it."
"Well, are you going to tell me or not?"
"Fine, I can tell you, but you must promise me beforehand not to act willful."
Dealing with his sister's interrogation gave Song Juran a headache, and he had no choice but to respond: "Today's event is far more than just a banquet; there is also a talent debate segment. And yet, Emperor Chu specifically arranged for us to attend. Do you understand now?"
"Specifically arranged?" Song Shishi was no fool; she turned the words over in her mind and grasped a hint of meaning. "Could it be directed at us?"
"Yes and no." Song Juran smiled mysteriously.
"What does that mean? Could it be that Crown Prince Brother noticed something?"
"Let these words go out of my mouth and into your ears, and don't let a third person find out."
Hearing this, Song Shishi nodded quickly. Song Juran glanced around their surroundings before leaning in and lowering his voice: "To tell you the truth, this matter is also connected to the Northern Xiongnu."
"The Northern Xiongnu?"
"That's right. Ever since the Northern Xiongnu rose to power, they have become the Great Chu's greatest enemy. Over twenty years of conflicts, the Great Chu has suffered quite a bit at their hands."
"Especially in recent years, talents have continuously emerged among the Northern Xiongnu. It is said that among their five royal tribes, there has appeared a young female god of war named Dugu Liushuang. She has fought over a hundred battles, large and small, winning nearly every single one without a single defeat..."
"Wow, this Dugu Liushuang is that amazing?!"
Song Shishi's rosy little mouth formed an 'o' shape, terrified by the other's horrifying combat record.
"Not only is she formidable, but it is also said that this female god of war is not only accomplished in martial arts, but also possesses youthful beauty. Many seasoned veterans privately rank her appearance alongside the Three Beauties of the Realm."
"Alas, born to royalty, beautiful, and so great at fighting—it almost makes one a bit jealous."
Song Shishi puffed out her tender, snow-white cheeks, a flicker of mischievousness suddenly crossing the depths of her eyes as she bit her lip and smiled:
"Crown Prince Brother, since you hold this Dugu Liushuang in such high regard, how about you go win her over to be your wife?"
"Shh! Don't let people from the Great Chu hear you say that!"
Startled, Song Juran motioned for her to watch her mouth, nervously scanning their surroundings before finally relaxing.
Turning back, he whispered a warning to Song Shishi:
"Shishi, never make that kind of joke again. The Great Chu and the Northern Xiongnu are mortal enemies. Our Donglan is merely a small coastal nation dependent on the Great Chu; if anyone overheard you and it aroused Chu's suspicion, it would not go well."
He paused, then shook his head with a wry smile: "Besides, a marvelous woman like the female god of war is someone even this prince must look up to. How could I harbor the kind of presumptuous thoughts you speak of?"
Song Shishi curled her lip: "Well, she has to marry someone eventually."
Song Juran spread his hands helplessly: "Indeed, but unfortunately the groom won't be this prince."
"Then who will her future husband be?"
"Who knows? Without a doubt, it must be an peerless hero who looks down upon the entire world."
Shaking his head, Song Juran brought the conversation back to the main point: "Let's drop this topic and return to this grand assembly. The reasons behind it are far from as simple as you think."
"Over the past two years, the Great Chu has shown increasingly declining momentum when facing the Northern Xiongnu's offensives. Because of this, many smaller nations that previously maintained friendly ties with the Great Chu have developed ulterior motives and are stirring in secret."
"The more this happens, the more the Great Chu needs to demonstrate its strength to stabilize these countries and prevent them from defecting to the enemy side."
"Such a display of strength can be divided into civil and military forms. This talent assembly is very likely meant to warn us smaller nations that the Great Chu still possesses abundant talent and will not simply decline just because they suffered temporary military setbacks against the Northern Xiongnu."
Song Shishi nodded in sudden realization, looking impressed: "As expected of Crown Prince Brother, you're always smarter than ordinary people."
Then she let out a soft exclamation, her delicate eyebrows furrowing: "If the Great Chu is really holding this to show off its talent, won't we just end up serving as foils at this talent assembly?"
"What, with the Great Chu brimming with talent—where even a Fourth Prince is enough to make this prince feel inferior—did you seriously expect us to steal the spotlight?" Song Juran smiled bitterly.
"Ah, I almost forgot about that fellow. With him around, Crown Prince Brother really does have a hard time standing out."
Distressed, Song Shishi cupped her cheeks and subconsciously looked toward the opposite side's princes' seating area, her little face immediately registering surprise and disappointment.
"Huh? That's strange. The opposite side is completely full, yet there's no sign of the Fourth Prince? Where did the Fourth Prince go?"
Chapter 18: Who on Earth Is This Person?
Naturally, the Song siblings had no idea that the Fourth Prince they were looking for was not the real Fourth Prince.
The actual Fourth Prince was sitting right across from them, yawning constantly from staying up late to gamble, only to be completely filtered out by them.
Meanwhile, the Chu Ying they wished to see was currently arguing with a plump young man of about his own age.
As soon as the fatty appeared, he announced his background: a scion of nobility, son of the current Earl of Beihe, named Xu Feilong.
This fellow wasn't particularly overbearing; he had simply approached Chu Ying politely to say that Chu Ying was sitting in his seat and to request a swap.
"Brother Fat Dragon, say no more. This seat of mine was double-checked by the reception eunuch repeatedly and is definitely correct. You must have made a mistake yourself."
Looking at Xu Feilong's roly-poly, endearing figure, Chu Ying found himself blurting out 'Fat Dragon' and felt it was remarkably apt.
He then glanced at the seat behind him—the very last seat in the entire venue—and instantly understood the other's motives.
It was just like exam rankings in a classroom: the last place overall always drew the most scrutiny from all sides.
Whereas second-to-last, though only one spot higher, because the dead-last person was drawing all the "spotlight," wouldn't attract nearly as much attention.
"After all that, it turns out I'm second-to-last."
Chu Ying finally understood his positioning in Emperor Chu's mind, yet he had no intention of standing up and changing seats just to accommodate the fatty.
It was simple: if one could be second-to-last, who would want to take dead last?
Did I, Chu Ying, have no face to maintain?
"It's Feilong, not Fat Dragon."
Xu Feilong corrected Chu Ying's "slip of the tongue," cupped his fists, and bowed repeatedly. "Brother, I beg you. It's rare for me to be invited by the imperial court; if my dad finds out I sat in the very last seat, it'll practically kill him of anger."
"Oh? So by Brother Fat Dragon's logic, this humble one has no dad?" Chu Ying countered.
"Uh, this... this brother, please don't misunderstand. I didn't mean that at all."
Xu Feilong stealthily pulled a banknote from his sleeve and plastered on a flattering smile. "Brother, please, do me a favor and accommodate me."
"What does Brother Fat Dragon mean by this? Do you take me for someone who would compromise his principles for wealth?"
Fifty taels right off the bat? Where did this spendthrift come from? ... Chu Ying flicked his sleeve, feigning displeasure, while deciding to hook the other party first.
"Heh, how could that be? Just looking at your face, brother, I can tell you're a kind-hearted soul who loves to help others."
Xu Feilong pulled out yet another banknote.
Chu Ying's eyelids twitched. This sheep was far too plump; now wasn't the right time to shear it just yet.
"Hold on, Brother Fat Dragon. You know this isn't about silver; this concerns your and my reputation. How could I easily—"
"Understood, understood. Silver is precious, but reputation is worth even more, haha."
Without taking offense, Xu Feilong cheerfully reached back into his sleeve, only for an out-of-tune, mocking laugh to ring out nearby:
"Ha... Everyone, come take a look! Two bottom-feeders over here fighting over second-to-last place. Isn't that hilarious?"
As soon as those words fell, the surrounding crowd burst into uproarious laughter.
"Geng Mingzhong, it's you!"
The fatty shoved the banknotes back into his sleeve, stepped past Chu Ying to stand right in front of the newcomer, and glared at him with furious eyes.
"Brother Fat Dragon..." Chu Ying hurriedly chimed in.
"Brother, don't ask. His name is Geng Mingzhong. Like me, he comes from a noble background, and he's one of the people I loathe the most."
Xu Feilong's self-assured reply made Chu Ying twitch the corner of his mouth.
Is that what I was asking about?
I was asking why you put the silver away!
There used to be a hundred taels of silver right in front of me, and I failed to cherish it, only to regret it deeply once it was lost... Chu Ying's heart ached terribly, causing him to instantly lose any shred of goodwill toward Geng Mingzhong as well.
Geng Mingzhong wore the classic expression of a petty villain, holding a folding fan to act cool despite the freezing weather as his disdainful gaze swept across the two of them:
"Yo, isn't this the disgrace of the nobility, Young Master Xu? What's this? Brought along how much silver to squander in a place like this today?"
Before Xu Feilong could retort, Chu Ying took over the conversation directly: "How much silver he brought is any of your business? What, are your eyes turning red with envy?"
A beat behind, Xu Feilong shot Chu Ying a grateful look, then thrust his chin out at Geng Mingzhong: "Exactly! How I squander my money is none of your damn business. Just jealous that my family is richer than yours?"
"Hmm?!"
Geng Mingzhong was instantly provoked. He slanted his eyes to glare at Chu Ying, his tone laced with threat: "And who are you? If you've got the guts, state your name!"