But the Empress Dowager was determined to make Fu Ye the center of attention at the ancestral ceremony. In her mind, the royal family had suffered enough under Fu Huang’s rule. It was time to introduce a new representative for the family.
Having been away for fourteen years and with the ancestral ceremony coinciding with the New Year festival, Fu Ye could not escape becoming the focus of everyone’s attention. However, he felt that he should show his loyalty and make sure Fu Huang understood that he did not intend to steal the limelight.
He had worked hard to build a positive reputation, and he didn’t want it to be lost just because of a ceremony to acknowledge his heritage.
But Fu Huang didn’t seem to care much about the ceremony.
Having spent some time in the palace, Fu Ye realized that Fu Huang wasn’t the kind of tyrant known for indulgence and excess. His cruelty seemed more like a domineering and authoritarian style, ruling through fear rather than respect.
In the past few days alone, Fu Huang had executed more than ten officials.
“The Emperor despises extravagant and indulgent behavior from his subordinates—greed, lust, accepting bribes, exploiting the common people, forming cliques, dereliction of duty, and seeking pleasure with prostitutes,” Shuangfu told him. “One minister was even whipped for marrying too many concubines. Another who enjoyed banquets and pleasures had his family assets seized and was exiled to a cold region for hard labor.”
It became clear that the Emperor’s message was: If I can’t enjoy comfort, no one else will either.
Fu Ye summed it up: The Emperor didn’t like it when people lived too comfortably, so did this mean he himself had been living too luxuriously?
Recently, Fu Ye noticed that he was wearing a different set of clothes every day.
Some of them looked similar, but they were never the same.
When he asked Shuangfu, he learned that the Wardrobe Bureau was not simply making him a few new outfits; they were making him new clothes every day!
It turned out that most of his clothes and accessories were only made once, and never cleaned or repaired. Even the most exquisite robes were only worn once.
Shuangfu explained that if clothes were washed and worn again, it was considered a sign of frugality. If the Emperor did this, it would be recorded in the palace annals. The late Ming Emperor was known for his diligence and had earned the reputation of “only changing clothes after three washings.”
In ancient times, clothes weren’t made to withstand repeated washing, and the dyeing techniques weren’t as advanced as modern ones. Washing could damage delicate fabrics, especially those with intricate gold thread or flower embroidery.
Xiao Ai remarked, “Actually, in modern times, wealthy people’s clothes are also never washed.”
Well, Fu Ye thought, he couldn’t even imagine such a life. High-end custom-made clothes worn only once were beyond his comprehension.
So, Fu Ye decided to order that his clothes should be washed three times before being replaced, and he cut down on his daily meals by two dishes.
His intention was to earn Fu Huang’s favor by showing that he wasn’t living indulgently.
After all, every action of his was likely being reported to the Emperor.
Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager also heard about this.
It was said that upon hearing the news, the Empress Dowager “beat her chest and wept,” saying, “The Sixth Prince practices frugality and should serve as a model for our kin,” and then she also halved her own meals.
Fu Ye couldn’t tell whether the Empress Dowager was acting, but since she had set an example, other nobles followed suit.
As a result, Fu Ye stood at the door, feeling uneasy as he watched the palace attendants line up with food boxes, heading to the main hall of Qingyuan Palace.
The Emperor had always been a picky eater, refusing to eat this or that, disinterested in gold or beautiful women, yet when it came to food, he was never frugal.
The Emperor, after all, only needed to handle state affairs for the people. Everything else was trivial. Even if he indulged in luxurious meals, it wasn’t a big deal—he never wasted anything, always sharing leftovers with the palace servants.
Fu Ye felt that being caught between these two mother and son figures was truly difficult!
One day, Fu Ye was learning etiquette in the music pavilion, walking back and forth with over twenty pounds of clothing on him. From a distance, he saw the Emperor arriving, accompanied by a group of attendants.
However, the Emperor didn’t come too close, instead standing in the corridor in front of the palace gates.
He guessed that the Emperor was likely discussing state matters, with a group of senior officials behind him.
But when the female attendants from the Bureau of Etiquette saw the Emperor, they immediately knelt. Fu Ye had no choice but to raise his arm and salute.
His arm ached from the strain, and it was difficult to lift it.
The winter ceremonial robes were simply too heavy.
He was also physically weak, with his slender shoulders sagging as if the cumbersome etiquette and clothing were about to crush him.
Perhaps he looked pitiful, which seemed to satisfy Fu Huang, who enjoyed seeing others in distress. That evening, Fu Huang summoned him to the main hall.
Fu Ye’s arm was swollen, and he was exhausted when he arrived at the main hall. “Why did you summon me, Your Majesty?”
“To dine.”
Fu Ye looked up in surprise. “Huh?”
The Inner Keeper had already prepared a bowl and chopsticks for him.
Currently, Fu Ye either ate with the Empress Dowager or alone. When he ate with the Empress Dowager, the rules were strict, with palace attendants serving the dishes in a very refined manner. Every bite was small and focused on health. When eating alone, it was a little more relaxed, and he ate faster.
The Empress Dowager was frugal by nature and followed a vegetarian diet, so her meals were simple and not extravagant.
But the meals in the Emperor’s palace were truly astonishing, full of exquisite dishes. However, the rules were stricter here. Every dish had to be tasted by an eunuch before it could be served, and Qingxi was responsible for helping him with the serving. At the table, Fu Ye could barely touch any of the dishes, as the etiquette required him to only eat a little from each.
As a prince, Fu Huang was used to such a dining style, but Fu Ye couldn’t adjust. He couldn’t eat what he didn’t want, nor could he eat too much of what he liked.
It was also hard for him to watch Fu Huang eat.
It seemed like no matter what Fu Huang ate, it had no taste, and he ate very little.
Fu Ye couldn’t understand where he got the energy from.
Dining in Qingyuan Hall was even quieter than at the Empress Dowager’s place. Fu Ye found it hard to enjoy his meal. He couldn’t eat whatever he wanted, and the sight of Fu Huang eating, combined with the pressure he felt, made the whole experience feel like a punishment.
After the meal, he excused himself and left. The Inner Keeper said, “Your Highness, sharing a meal with His Majesty is a great honor.”
“I know!” Fu Ye replied.
“I am truly overwhelmed and filled with joy,” he added sarcastically.
The Inner Keeper’s lips twitched, and he remarked, “With Your Highness present, His Majesty seems to have eaten quite a lot today.”
What?
That’s considered ‘a lot’?
Even a chick eats more than he does!
The Empress Dowager was quite concerned about Fu Ye dining with the Emperor.
However, dining together with his brother was a gesture of goodwill from the Emperor, so she couldn’t say anything about it. She only complained to Sun Gongzheng, “He just doesn’t want me to be comfortable. Seeing how close I am with Ye’er, he insists on interfering.”
Sun Gongzheng sighed in response, “The Sixth Prince has it hard. Dining with His Majesty should…”
Make the food tasteless.
Although dining with Fu Huang was stressful, Fu Ye still accepted the Emperor’s gesture of goodwill. He thought that if the truth about his identity as an imposter couldn’t be kept hidden, then if he could make a place for himself in Fu Huang’s heart, or even become someone indispensable to the Emperor, his chances of surviving would be much higher.
Though it was difficult, it wasn’t the worst hardship he had ever endured.
He reminded himself to maintain an optimistic and grateful attitude—only then could a person truly be happy!
So, while accompanying him during meals, he also learned etiquette, read medical books, and prepared a medicine mixture for Fu Huang to drink.
Of course, giving medicine to the Emperor wasn’t as simple as it seemed. It had to be tested by the Imperial physician, tasted by the eunuchs, and only after ten days or half a month could it be presented to the Emperor.
Fu Ye even personally tasted the medicine to show his sincerity.
The very next day, Fu Huang ordered him to bring the medicine over.
Fu Ye held the medicine and said, “This medicine, I was planning to present to His Majesty after the New Year.”
Fu Huang reached out his hand.
Fu Ye hesitated for a moment, then handed the medicine over.
Unexpectedly, Fu Huang took it and drank it immediately.
The Inner Keeper offered some candied fruit, but Fu Huang didn’t eat any.
Fu Ye said, “…The Imperial physicians said it should be tested for half more…”
“If the words of those fools were useful, I wouldn’t have to drink this,” Fu Huang asked, “Have you memorized everything I asked you to?”
Fu Ye shook his head.
Fu Huang’s expression darkened: “You only look sharp, but you’re no good.”
Fu Ye replied, “I haven’t had time recently.”
Perhaps Fu Huang’s action of drinking the medicine gave him some courage. Fu Ye couldn’t help but vent a little, though his tone was mild. He said, “Recently, I have to study etiquette, read medical books, and personally prepare medicine for Your Majesty.”
Fu Huang didn’t think much of it: “Is that all?”
Fu Ye replied, “…”
There was no point in arguing with someone who was a “study genius.”
“The articles are so obscure and hard to understand.”
Fu Huang didn’t respond to him anymore.
Fu Ye then asked, “Aren’t you worried that there might be poison in this medicine?”
The Inner Keeper was cleaning the medicine bowl, and with a loud “clink,” the bowl fell to the floor.
“Your Highness, please don’t joke like that!”
Fu Ye bent down, picked up the bowl, and held it carefully in his hands.
Fu Huang didn’t answer him.
He left with the Inner Keeper.
The Inner Keeper said, “Your Highness, you almost scared me to death!”
“But didn’t you say that when presenting medicine to His Majesty, there are several procedures that must be followed? It’s even recorded, right?”
The Inner Keeper replied, “His Majesty trusts you very much.”
Fu Ye didn’t fully believe this.
Someone like Fu Huang would never consider him one of his own so quickly.
How long had they even known each other?
The Inner Keeper said, “I told His Majesty that Your Highness personally prepares the medicine and tests it yourself. Such sincerity is truly moving.”
Fu Ye raised his hand, hiding his face in his sleeve, and said loudly, “With His Majesty trusting me like this, even if I have to walk through fire, it would be difficult to repay such kindness!”
The Inner Keeper laughed awkwardly and pulled him aside, saying, “I have a few heartfelt words to share with you, Your Highness.”
He appeared somewhat embarrassed and awkward, saying, “Your Majesty knows countless people, and no one can hide anything from His Majesty’s eyes. Moreover, His Majesty hates being deceived.”
Fu Ye: “!!”
Well, now he wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.
“So, Your Highness really doesn’t need to feign deep emotions. You only need to know that His Majesty trusts you, and that’s enough.”
“But why does His Majesty trust me so much, even though I’ve been away for so many years?”
The Inner Keeper replied, “Didn’t you relieve His Majesty’s chronic pain?”
That was true.
Perhaps when Fu Ye was allowed to use acupuncture on him, Fu Huang had started to “trust” him.
If Fu Ye wanted to kill him, he could have done it at any time, whether through silver needles or poison. Since that hadn’t happened, and there had been some results from the treatment, Fu Ye did indeed seem trustworthy. It was also possible that compared to the daily torment Fu Huang endured, the fear of death no longer seemed so significant.
Thinking of this, Fu Ye felt sorry for Fu Huang. He imagined that if Xiao Ai were here, she would probably say he should pity himself more.
The Inner Keeper went back to the palace and reported Fu Ye’s words to Fu Huang.
Fu Huang, uninterested, replied, “Whether I trust him or not doesn’t matter. I’m already in this state; I won’t die from a stronger poison.”
The Inner Keeper paused for a moment and said, “Maybe Sixth Prince really can cure His Majesty’s condition.”
Fu Huang continued flipping through the memorials, not bothering to respond to him. He simply said, “The house I bought for you on the outskirts of the capital—when you have time before the New Year, you can visit.”
The Inner Keeper kneeled immediately: “I am willing to live and die in the palace.”
Fu Huang said, “Whether you’re a eunuch or a palace maid, there’s no rule that you must die in the palace. I’m tired now, you may leave.”
The Inner Keeper wanted to say more but feared angering him, so he quietly left, sobbing by the door. Fu Huang, hearing this, felt a headache coming on and called, “Bring Fu Ye here.”
The Inner Keeper quickly went to summon Fu Ye.
Fu Ye: “Didn’t I just take the medicine?”
The Inner Keeper replied, “His Majesty might just want you to accompany him for a chat.”
Fu Ye: “…”
You really scared me!
When Fu Huang called him in, there was no other reason—he simply had him stand there by his side. After Fu Ye had been standing for a while, Fu Huang finally said, “Can’t you sit down?”
Fu Ye replied, “If Your Majesty doesn’t speak, can I sit down on my own?”
Fu Huang, already irritated by both him and the Inner Keeper, felt a dull pain between his brows. Fu Ye then said, “Let me rub Your Majesty’s head. Combining inside and outside, you’ll feel better.”
Fu Huang responded, “If you’re free, recite the sacrificial text.”
Fu Ye had someone bring over the sacrificial text and began reciting, “In the sixth year of the Changxing reign, in the first month…”
Fu Huang said, “Recite it in silence.”
Fu Ye immediately closed his lips.
He felt a very uncomfortable emotion, subtle yet powerful, as if he feared Fu Huang genuinely trusted him. This fear seemed to stem from the dread of what would happen when the truth was exposed, but it also seemed to come from other sources. However, as someone whose life was not in his own hands, pitying an emperor seemed almost laughable.
He simply put more effort into reciting the sacrificial text than usual.
Xiao Ai said, “You have this bad habit.”
Fu Ye sighed.
“Everyone has their own needs and destinies. You’re just trying to survive, so what’s wrong with that?”
Fu Ye replied, “That’s true.”
Immediately, his mindset relaxed considerably.
Xiao Ai: “…”
Fu Ye rolled up the sacrificial text and said to Fu Huang, “Your Majesty, I’ve memorized it.”
Fu Huang lifted his gaze toward him.
“You don’t believe me?” he said, then quickly corrected himself, “Your Majesty doesn’t believe me? I can recite it for you.”
Fu Huang said nothing.
Fu Ye began to recite the text.
He stumbled a few times in the middle, and Fu Huang seemed on the verge of scolding him, but restrained himself.
When Fu Ye got to the third-to-last or fourth-to-last line, he got stuck. The words were on the tip of his tongue, swirling around in his mind, but he couldn’t recall them!
Fu Ye clenched his fists in frustration.
Seeing this, Fu Huang’s annoyance finally subsided, and he said, “Go back and copy it again.”
Fu Ye stormed off angrily.
Fu Huang felt that the medicine he had taken had indeed had some effect.
It seemed to have something calming in it because he felt a little drowsy.
It was the first time the emperor had gone to bed this early.
The Inner Keeper was more convinced than ever that the returned Sixth Prince was a gift from heaven. There was a relaxed, festive air throughout the entire Qingyuan Palace.
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