Eternal Night - Chapter 26
The courtyards, arranged in neat, square layouts, were interconnected, with main halls leading to side halls. The same red walls and yellow tiles, the same gold bricks and white jade railings. The palace was still called the Forbidden City. Purple clouds rose from the east, the Purple Star was the imperial star… it seemed that as long as it was ancient times, the ideas weren't too different. Yongye smiled, recalling that famous line: "You think you can fool me just by changing your clothes?"
Who is this bastard calling a devil? He realized his mistake and chuckled inwardly, realizing he'd gotten himself into a trap. He continued walking, lost in thought, when Prince Duan asked him a question, and he chuckled aloud, "Not as comfortable as the Prince's residence!"
Yongye's answer startled Prince Duan, who asked in a low voice, "Why?"
“The Emperor has three sons, while my father only has me. I don’t need to move out,” Yongye said with a smile.
Prince Duan couldn't help but chuckle. He slowly savored Yongye's answer, his gaze now filled with deeper contemplation. Yongye's mind had become so sharp after recovering from his illness. A ten-year-old child could utter such profound words. A single sentence encapsulated so much bloodshed, the slaughter fought for this beautiful palace. Prince Duan couldn't help but look at Yongye with new respect.
Yongye didn't notice Prince Duan's expression. He was very excited. Before, he didn't have a work unit and had only heard others talk about the lively atmosphere of their workplaces having New Year's Eve dinners every year. He never expected to experience it himself today.
Princess Duan suddenly sighed softly and took Yongye's hand: "This place is too big, come with your mother."
Yongye was taken aback; the touch was soft and yielding, and he felt a surge of joy. He wanted to speak, but then thought that Princess Duan might not like it, so he dismissed the idea.
Prince Duan, walking beside them, glanced at the mother and child; the way they walked hand in hand, so harmonious, softened his heart. He whispered to Yongye, "Yongye has never seen the Emperor before, are you afraid?"
Yongye shook his head. With three thousand beauties in his harem, he was only afraid that he would go blind from looking at them all tonight.
"Good boy, remember to call him 'Your Majesty' first, then 'Uncle Emperor'! You must say it." Prince Duan was increasingly at ease with Yongye; every interaction with this son brought him surprises. He felt a mixture of emotion and pride; after all, he was his child. Prince Duan felt a fatherly feeling slowly growing within him.
Yongye nodded. Seeing that Prince Duan and his wife seemed relieved, he smiled and said, "Father, don't worry, Yongye will greet them properly and won't embarrass the Prince's Mansion."
The New Year's Eve dinner was held in the Yuqing Hall, the Empress Dowager's palace. This was a magnificent building in the inner palace, second only to the Emperor's Longxiang Hall. The vermilion palace gates were wide open above the white jade steps, and palace maids and eunuchs lined up to the bottom of the steps.
When Prince Duan and his family of three arrived, the long, drawn-out announcement echoed for a long time inside and outside the empty hall.
All the concubines, princes, and princesses had taken their places. Upon entering the Yuqing Palace, Yongye was immediately dazzled.
A fragrant breeze carried the soft sounds of laughter, the tinkling of jade pendants, and the swaying of hairpins from all directions. He glanced up at the composed Princess Consort Duan, still finding her the most beautiful. A touch of pride welled up within him, and he gripped his fist tighter, raising his chin to the same height as Prince Duan.
"The heir apparent of Prince Duan?"
"She looks just like the princess, so beautiful!"
"I heard he used to be... an idiot!"
"...Is he mute?"
The voices behind him were extremely low; Yongye could hear a pin drop in the darkness. These voices, hidden in the shadows, were heard clearly, word for word. He sensed that Prince Duan was casting a worried glance at him. Yongye maintained his smile, and he felt Prince Duan seem to breathe a sigh of relief.
He walked behind Prince Duan, unable to see his expression, but sensed the whispers growing quieter. Yongye chuckled inwardly; his father's gaze was anything but sharp. Anyone caught in his eye had better shut up, lest Prince Duan lose his temper.
Yongye was moved by the Princess Consort's tighter grip on his hand. This natural display of protectiveness touched him. Regardless of whether the Princess Consort neglected him, she would not allow any outsider to harm a single hair on his head.
The Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress had not yet arrived. Prince Duan smiled and exchanged pleasantries with his uncle, Marquis Jing'an, and others before sitting down at a table. Yongye sat with the princes and princesses.
Princess Duan took Yongye's hand and said softly to the eunuch, "This is the first time the Crown Prince has come to the palace. Please take good care of him, Your Excellency."
The eunuch readily agreed and led Yongye over.
As he followed the eunuch to the corner of the main hall, he couldn't help but glance back. Princess Duan was still standing there watching him. Yongye's heart was struck hard, and he couldn't tell whether he was happy or sad.
At the table set up in the corner sat three princes, four princesses, two heirs, and a county princess. They had met many times before and were familiar with each other, chatting and laughing. When the eunuch led Yongye over, they all stared at him with wide, curious eyes.
Seeing that it was a group of children, and even though there were princes among them, Yongye didn't know how to greet them, so he smiled and sat in the last seat.
"Brother Yongye!" A six-year-old girl suddenly got up from her seat, ran to his side, and called out to him sweetly.
A six-year-old confidante
"Brother Yongye!" A six-year-old girl suddenly got up from her seat, ran to his side, and called out to him sweetly.
Before Yongye could even look at the three princes, he turned his head upon hearing the voice. He saw a pair of dark, jet-black eyes, ebony hair, and a cotton robe with a snow-white fox fur collar that accentuated her snow-white skin, red lips, and white teeth. Snow White! Yongye couldn't help but reach out and stroke her head, gently asking, "What's your name?"
"My name is Rose! I am Princess Rose of the Marquis of Jing'an! Brother Yongye, you are so beautiful!" Rose's voice was crisp and clear, and everyone at the table could hear it.
Yongye really wanted to give her a big kiss; she was so cute. "Rose is so pretty; she'll definitely be a great beauty in the future!"
"I love Brother Yongye! How about I marry you when I grow up?"
Yongye was stunned, then chuckled.
"You have no manners! You haven't even bowed to me, the prince! You don't know the rules!"
Yongye was taken aback. He saw that the person who spoke was very handsome, with well-defined features. He was wearing a black brocade dragon robe embroidered with a five-clawed dragon amidst clouds. His hair was tied up with a black jade hairpin. He was dressed in the formal attire of a prince. His eyes looked down at him with icy disdain.
To the left of the prince sat a handsome young man of the same age, wearing the same brocade dragon robe, only in purple, and with his hair adorned with a purple jade hairpin, exuding a gentle and refined air.
Further to the right stood a green-robed youth of similar age. Yongye recognized these as the three princes of Anguo, and stood up with a smile, bowing to them: "This is my first time in the palace, and I am unfamiliar with the etiquette. Greetings to the three princes. Greetings to the princess. Greetings to my two elder brothers."
"Second brother, this is Yongye's first time in the palace. He is young and unaware of the dangers," said the eldest prince, Li Tianyou, gently defusing the situation.
The Second Prince, Li Tianrui, snorted.
The Third Prince, Li Tianxiang, remained silent, only curiously observing Yongye.
As Li Yannian had described, the eldest prince was indeed gentle and refined, with a scholarly air and a very good temper. Remembering the task assigned by Youli Valley, Yongye quickly smiled at the eldest prince to express her gratitude.
"Rose, come back!" Li Tianrui shouted.
Yongye glanced at Qiangwei and saw her pouting, looking unwilling and frightened. He immediately understood why the Second Prince was making things difficult for her. Yongye's lips twitched. Jealous over a six-year-old girl? He wanted to laugh.
Yongye smiled; it was best to stay out of such matters. He was only ten years old, and he didn't want to be an enemy of the Second Prince right now.
"I want to sit next to Brother Yongye!" Rose suddenly shouted, biting her lip. She then tightened her grip on Yongye's clothes.
Yongye was both amused and exasperated, and coaxed Qiangwei, "Listen to me, your seat is over there, hurry back and sit down."