Fu Ye was determined to cure Fu Huang’s illness so that he could live comfortably as a fake prince in the future.
Before the Spring Festival, there were several major events in the palace. On the 27th and 28th of the twelfth month, the noble consorts and wives of the officials were to enter the palace to offer New Year’s greetings to the Emperor and Empress Dowager.
Early in the morning, the Empress Dowager sent someone to summon him.
Before dawn, Fu Ye began to wash and dress, assisted by Qingxi and the others. He wore his new clothes, which were not as formal as the court robes, though they were far more splendid than anything he had worn before. Still, they were considered informal attire. The design was quite fresh and innovative. This was the first time he wore a shirt with a white collar. The collar was very stiff, and he only now realized it was called a “forbidden collar.” It pressed against his adam’s apple and served not only to improve his posture but also to constantly remind him to be cautious in speech and behavior. This style was worn by court officials and aristocratic families and was a major fashion trend in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Although the collar was uncomfortable, it exuded a dignified elegance. As a member of the royal family, his forbidden collar not only pressed against his throat but also extended to the back of his neck, where it was embroidered with designs of the sun, moon, and stars, symbols of the royal family. The outer robe was the most luxurious part, especially the hemline adorned with golden water-ridge patterns, which shimmered like rolling waves of gold as he walked. The most splendid accessory was a jade belt from Hetian, with a gold phoenix buckle. The purple robe and golden belt together were dazzling.
When he looked at himself in the mirror, he found the colors radiant and magnificent.
Both Shuangfu and the Inner Keeper, who had come to check on him, were stunned by his appearance. The Inner Keeper returned to Fu Huang and chattered, “How did the Sixth Prince come to look like this? Normally, he has the grace of a jade tree, but today, dressed so meticulously, he truly looks like a divine being, noble and extraordinary! I’ve never seen such a sight in my life!”
Fu Huang replied, “You don’t need to say so much. I don’t intend to kill him.”
The Inner Keeper insisted, “I’m not just saying this to praise the Sixth Prince—this is the truth!”
Fu Huang didn’t respond to him.
The Inner Keeper added, “If Your Majesty doesn’t believe me, you can go see for yourself!”
Of course, Fu Huang wasn’t going to leave to see.
After breakfast, Fu Ye went to the Cien Palace.
He was already familiar with this route, and since it hadn’t snowed in the past few days, the corridors had been cleaned very well. He decided to walk, leading a procession of female officials and eunuchs in a grand procession. After finishing breakfast, Zhang Hou, who was strolling outside, saw them coming, and commented, “With such looks and demeanor, on the day of the ancestral sacrifices, I want all the citizens of the city to see him.”
This was also Fu Ye’s first time meeting the royal family and noble families from the capital.
At the Empress Dowager’s palace, he received the homage of these people.
Although he had to sit there like an ornament, unable to show emotion freely, the experience was worthwhile. His first public appearance was met with great acclaim.
In less than a day, his reputation had spread throughout the entire capital.
“Honestly, before seeing the Sixth Prince, I doubted his identity. After all, he had been missing for so many years, and his identity was confirmed only by the palace servants. It was a bit suspicious. But today, when I saw him in the Empress Dowager’s palace, he outshone even Lady Zhaoyang from back then. His appearance and demeanor were truly unprecedented. If he isn’t the dragon’s son, who else could be?”
“I only kneeled at the back, gazing at him from a distance as he sat next to the Empress Dowager. The sun was shining, and the room should have been dim, but he sat there, and it was as if a bright pearl was shining!”
“My older sister and I entered the inner hall and were only a few steps away from him. You know my sister, right? No one in the capital is more beautiful than her. But the Sixth Prince, compared to her, is equally stunning. Each has their own beauty, but if the Sixth Prince were a little fatter, I’m afraid my sister would have been overshadowed!”
“I think, aside from his looks, what’s even more remarkable is how kind he is. Perhaps because he’s been away for so many years, he doesn’t have the slightest bit of arrogance… you know who I mean, hush…”
“The Emperor was once like a jade tree in the wind… I’m just saying good things about His Majesty.”
“It’s a pity that my position is so low, and I don’t have the qualifications to enter the palace for an audience. I won’t have the chance to see him!”
“Wait for New Year’s Eve. The Prince will follow the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to the Grand Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices. Then they will go to Chonghua Temple to burn incense. I heard that the Empress Dowager will grant the Sixth Prince eight bearers for his palanquin, and everyone will be able to see him along the way. You should go early to get a good spot!”
“Eight bearers? Is that the rank of a prince?”
“Among the Emperor’s brothers, he is the only one and also a full-blooded sibling. To be conferred the title of a prince, isn’t it a natural thing?”
“Our dynasty is finally going to see some new changes!”
“You shouldn’t say that. If the Sixth Prince truly stands out, I’m afraid…”
Fu Ye sneezed.
“Your Highness, the Emperor has asked you to stand in for him during the ancestral sacrifice ceremony. It’s not as simple as just accompanying the ritual; it’s more complicated. You must practice carefully, as there cannot be even the slightest mistake in such an important occasion!”
Fu Ye took a deep breath and nodded.
Why did Fu Huang have to do this?
This wasn’t just about trust anymore, was it?
He could tell that Fu Huang was acting irrationally again, wanting to stir up trouble.
How could he entrust such an important sacrificial ceremony to him?
Not only was Fu Ye puzzled, but also Zhang Hou didn’t understand what Fu Huang was thinking.
Sun Gongzheng, while watching Fu Ye practice the sacrificial rituals, spoke to Zhang Hou, “I really don’t understand the Emperor’s actions here.”
Upon careful consideration, either the Emperor didn’t care at all, or he was setting Fu Ye up to fail, waiting for him to make a mistake so he could seize the opportunity to punish him.
If it were the former, they’d be lucky, but if it were the latter, that was truly unforgivable!
Zhang Hou replied, “You must keep a close watch. There cannot be any mistakes. The sacrificial ceremony must proceed smoothly, and the Emperor cannot be given any chance to find fault.”
The Inner Keeper was also confused about Fu Huang’s intentions. But since the will of Heaven was unpredictable, Fu Huang had always been one to act unpredictably. His true motives were beyond anyone’s guess.
Fu Ye might be trustworthy, but whether the Empress Dowager would use him for some hidden agenda… Even Fu Huang couldn’t be sure, and Fu Ye had his own suspicions. If there was a legitimate and capable prince to inherit the throne, the Empress Dowager would certainly not hesitate.
“What does His Majesty think?”
Fu Huang said, “Don’t you always tell me to take a rest? On New Year’s Eve, I’ll take you to the outskirts of the capital to relax.”
The Inner Keeper replied, “I’ve served His Majesty since I was young, my loyalty is well-known, Your Majesty! Whatever you wish to do, please let me know in advance!”
Fu Huang frowned. “If you have time for that, why not go see how he’s practicing the rituals?”
The Inner Keeper knelt down. “I will not leave.”
Fu Huang said, “If you think you can replace me in the ancestral rites just because you’re standing in for me, then my throne would have been overthrown long ago. I just think ancestral sacrifices are a bother. I don’t even know who my father is—who should I be offering sacrifices to?”
The Inner Keeper paused, speechless.
He slowly stood up and said, “Those are just rumors spread to confuse the masses, all to slander His Majesty in pursuit of the throne. Whoever dares to spread such nonsense should be put to death by Your Majesty.”
Fu Huang didn’t respond, merely saying, “Are you at ease now? Stop lingering here, you’ve been talking too much lately.”
Only then did the Inner Keeper leave and watch Fu Ye practice the rituals for a while.
Upon further thought, it made sense. A missing prince, with no soldiers or power, replacing the Emperor was nothing but a delusion. The Empress Dowager was only so diligent because she thought she had gained a small victory, but the road to the imperial throne was long and full of obstacles. Even in three to five years, one could barely reach the halfway point.
If the Sixth Prince was only focused on being a supporting king, and if the brothers were close and harmonious, that would be the best outcome. Fu Huang would gladly give up his life at that moment if it ensured peace for the family.
“Inner Keeper!” Fu Ye called.
The Inner Keeper made a respectful bow.
Fu Ye walked over and asked, “Did His Majesty send you?”
The Inner Keeper smiled. “Yes, His Majesty sent me to tell you not to work too hard. He also asked me to bring your favorite pastries.”
He handed over the food box, which contained purple gold cake, bean rolls, lotus root crisps, and some dried fruit.
Qingxi quickly took the box with both hands, while Shuangfu hastily brought hot water and a handkerchief. Fu Ye rolled up his sleeves, revealing his delicate white wrists, washed his hands, and said, “Perfect, I’m starving. Did my brother assign this task to me as a punishment? Tell him when you go back that I’m exhausted from all this work and have no time to read medical books. My hands are shaking, I can’t even hold the silver needles properly.”
The Inner Keeper laughed loudly, then realized he had lost his composure, quickly covering his mouth. “Your Highness, if you’re exhausted, just take a break. His Majesty always says that those of the royal family should not be burdened by the gaze of the world. If they can’t follow their own desires, then they are not living up to the privilege of their birth.”
Fu Ye ate some dried fruit and accepted the tea the Inner Keeper handed him. “That sounds like something he would say.”
The Inner Keeper lowered his voice. “So, Your Highness, just do your best. It doesn’t matter if you make a little mistake. There are still officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Tai Chang Temple around.”
Fu Ye said, “No, since I’m standing in for my brother at the ancestral rites, I represent him. I must do it perfectly, to the best of my ability. That’s the truth, not flattery, and you don’t need to pass that message along.”
The Inner Keeper made a bow.
He returned and passed on the message to Fu Huang: “Perhaps because His Highness grew up in a foreign land and wasn’t tainted by the bad habits of the court, the Sixth Prince is really different from other princes.”
When Fu Huang heard this, he could almost picture Fu Ye saying those words. Despite his delicate, beautiful appearance, Fu Ye was sharp-tongued and clever. Although his words seemed like flattery, they were oddly pleasing to the ear. He must have suffered much over the years to have honed such skills.
Thinking about it, it was indeed a sad story.
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