Jing Mu, hearing the movement at the door, turned around to look in that direction. In the candlelight, Emperor Qianning saw that his face was somewhat pale, and his eyes slightly reddened.
When Jing Mu was in the military camp, he had trained in martial arts for several years. From a distance, he had already heard Emperor Qianning’s footsteps and knew the man had taken the bait. At this moment, hearing the door open, he immediately put on the appearance of a startled bird. Looking toward Emperor Qianning in shock, he hurriedly gripped the flowers in one hand, freeing the other to wipe his eyes as though wiping away tears.
He quickly knelt down, and a few red azaleas accidentally fell to the ground.
“…Father Emperor!” he called softly.
At the age of transition into adulthood, a boy’s voice was hoarse and changing. Such a low call, in this silent environment, sounded somewhat rough and lonely.
“What are you doing here?” Emperor Qianning frowned. He was already unwilling to see him.
“…Reporting to Father Emperor, today is my mother’s…” Jing Mu’s voice stopped there. “During my confinement I privately left the palace. I ask Father Emperor to punish me.”
Emperor Qianning frowned, but his gaze was unconsciously drawn to the vividly red azaleas.
After a moment, he asked in a low voice, “How do you know your mother liked azalea flowers?”
Consort Yun’s appearance had been faint and elegant, like clear tea that only revealed its charm after careful tasting. Yet such a light woman had loved the blazing, fiery azalea. In spring, she would wear one at her temple, making her beauty even more striking, her purity tinged with allure.
“…I heard it from Lord Ye,” Jing Mu said softly. “Earlier… I once met Lord Ye in the palace, and I asked him what my mother liked. Lord Ye did not answer, and told me to meet him outside the palace again… These azaleas were transplanted from my mother’s courtyard.”
Emperor Qianning’s brows tightened further. “You met Ye Qingrui twice, just for this matter?”
“…Yes,” Jing Mu replied. “In my first year back in the palace… I wanted to offer my mother things she liked. But I failed to handle things properly and angered Father Emperor.”
Emperor Qianning naturally was not suspicious because of his inept handling of affairs, but he would not say that to Jing Mu.
“Did you speak of anything else?” Emperor Qianning did not believe him.
“We did,” Jing Mu said honestly, looking up at him. “When I first met Lord Ye in the palace, he said many other things, and advised me repeatedly.”
Emperor Qianning looked at his detached expression and felt both amusement and exasperation.
“What did he say?” Emperor Qianning asked.
“He told me to strive,” Jing Mu continued. “He said I must accomplish great things in the future, and that he and my cousins would help me. He also said the eldest brother is mediocre and has no maternal support, but I am different…” Jing Mu paused, then continued. “But Father Emperor, I have not studied much at all. I will surely disappoint Lord Ye.”
Emperor Qianning’s expression grew darker the more he listened. Jing Mu, as if unaware, continued speaking on his own.
When he finished, Emperor Qianning’s face was already dark as ink. He had long known Ye Qingrui was not honest, but he did not expect his disloyal intentions to be so blatant.
He knew his body was unwell, but he was unwilling to admit that he might not have many years left. To him, such schemes looked like people already waiting for his death.
On the contrary, in his rage, he found Jing Mu’s honesty somewhat amusing.
“Have you ever considered what Ye Qingrui meant by ‘accomplish great things’?” Emperor Qianning asked.
“I think it probably means becoming like Eldest Brother, serving Father Emperor as a minister,” Jing Mu said. “I also wish to be Father Emperor’s minister and do things for you. But I have not even finished the Four Books, so how could I compare with the scholars in court?”
“How could you not?” Emperor Qianning, pleased by his words, blurted out.
“Father Emperor—?” Jing Mu looked shocked.
Emperor Qianning immediately felt the words were inappropriate, but as an emperor, his words could not be taken back.
He changed the topic. “These flowers—are they truly from your mother’s chambers?”
Jing Mu lifted the azaleas toward him. “Yes, Father Emperor. They are from beneath her window.” He then looked toward Consort Yun’s portrait. “It is a pity I never saw my mother… If she had worn azaleas by her temples, she must have been extremely beautiful.”
These words softened Emperor Qianning’s gaze.
“Your confinement shall be lifted tomorrow,” he said. “You will no longer need to remain in Zhongli Palace.”
Jing Mu acknowledged.
Emperor Qianning felt he had said enough and turned to leave. But then Jing Mu called out again.
“Father Emperor, I still have one more matter,” he said.
“Speak,” Emperor Qianning replied.
“Lord Ye… also told me something else. I did not wish to report it, but his views differ from mine,” Jing Mu said. “He said I would only have the chance to be enfeoffed as crown prince if I remained in the palace.”
Emperor Qianning’s expression changed drastically. “He truly said that?”
“Yes,” Jing Mu said calmly. “But I am self-aware and have no desire for the position of crown prince. I only wish to serve Father Emperor in a small capacity. I have suffered greatly for over ten years and am different from my brothers. Being able to return to the palace is already a blessing; I do not dare wish for more.” He lowered his head, sincere. “Therefore, I ask Father Emperor to allow me to leave the palace and establish my own residence, and to sever Lord Ye’s intentions.”
Emperor Qianning was greatly shaken.
The intention to enfeoff Jing Mu and send him out of the palace was known only to himself and Shu Changyu. He believed Shu Changyu to be straightforward and foolish, unlikely to leak such matters to Jing Mu.
Then… this child truly had no desire for the throne at all.
As he was lost in thought, Jing Mu knelt again. “…I beg Father Emperor to grant this.”
“You have such intent; I am very gratified,” Emperor Qianning said, stepping forward to help him up.
He felt that this was the first child he did not need to guard against in secret.
Jing Mu, seeing this reaction, understood clearly in his heart. His bargaining chip had been sufficient. Now it was time to obtain his conditions.
“Then Father Emperor, after I am enfeoffed, may I continue studying under Shu Tutor?” he asked.
Emperor Qianning answered casually, “Since you have not finished the Four Books, everything shall continue as before. Shu Tutor will still teach you.”
Naturally, that was good.
——
The next day, Shu Changyu heard on the court floor that an imperial decree had been issued to enfeoff Jing Mu as a prince. Even the title had already been decided, and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau was ordered to select an auspicious site.
As expected, when the decree was issued, the court officials exchanged looks, each with their own thoughts.
The Eldest Prince was still in the palace, yet the Second Prince was already to leave and establish his own residence. He had not even stayed in the palace for a few months—clearly he was not favored and had been removed from the possibility of succession early.
Eldest Prince Jing Yan, though keeping his eyes lowered, also showed a complex expression. With Jing Mu becoming the first to leave and establish a household, his position as the eldest son raised by the Empress became even more weighty.
He turned and glanced at Shu Changyu, sneering inwardly—so I told you long ago to choose your side wisely, yet you played ignorant. Now that your master has fallen out of favor, you will soon come to me.
After court, Emperor Qianning once again summoned Shu Changyu to the study.
“I am thinking of placing Mu’er in the Ministry of War. What does my dear minister think?” Emperor Qianning asked excitedly.
Shu Changyu froze slightly.
Emperor Qianning continued on his own, “Though Mu’er has not finished the Four Books, he has served in the military for years. I heard he is quite valiant and has earned military merit, even holding the rank of centurion. Since he is leaving the palace, he should be given an official post. After consideration, the Ministry of War is most suitable.”
It took Shu Changyu a long time to process the meaning of these words.
But Emperor Qianning before him looked unlike anything he had ever seen. That expression of joy and ease truly resembled an ordinary father arranging his child’s future.
Yet how could Emperor Qianning possibly be such a man?
Shu Changyu naturally did not know about last night’s conversation between the emperor and Jing Mu.
“Do you think it inappropriate?” Emperor Qianning asked when he saw his silence.
He now trusted only two people besides Jing Mu—Shu Changyu being one of them. These two were unusually dull and straightforward, unlike the courtiers he usually dealt with.
Feeling in high spirits, he continued, “However, positions in the Ministry of War rarely involve actual battlefield command, mostly administration and oversight. I fear Mu’er may not be suited. Perhaps another department would be better.”
Then he suddenly had an idea. “Shu Sanlang, I think the Court of Judicial Review would be best.”
Shu Changyu finally came back to himself. “Your Majesty, regarding my position as Second Prince’s Grand Tutor—how should it be handled?”
Emperor Qianning waved his hand casually. “Mu’er mentioned it yesterday. I asked him whether you should continue teaching him, and he agreed. I also think it is fine, so it shall remain as it is.”
Shu Changyu frowned. “Your Majesty, I have nearly completed my river-control manuscript and intend to use it to manage the Yellow River in the future. Regarding my role as Grand Tutor, I ask Your Majesty to reconsider.”
Emperor Qianning paid it no mind—the Yellow River flooded every year; it had always been so. He did not believe Shu Changyu could truly become a Yu-like figure and solve it.
Compared to that, his son’s education was more practical.
“Let us decide after your manuscript is completed,” Emperor Qianning said dismissively.
By then, once Jing Mu’s studies were in order, even if Shu Changyu went off to manage the river for a few years, he would not care.