“Yi Guang.” The words had barely left my mouth before even I found myself ridiculous. It was the middle of the night, An Yin was still asleep, yet apparently this matter could not wait another moment.
“This servant is here.”
“Add another page to my personal attendants. His name is Ning Xuan.”
“Yes.” Yi Guang was perceptive. Or rather, everyone serving closely beside me was the elite among elites and absolutely trustworthy. Even Yi Xuan, who often seemed absent-minded and unserious, became swift and immaculate the moment he handled real business. Talking to people like them was simple. Say half of what you meant, and they could infer the rest. Even if they could not, they would investigate until they found what you needed.
“Transfer him over tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
I had seven such men who stayed constantly at my side as personal attendants, and another seven martial men who protected me from the shadows. They acknowledged only me as master, regardless of my status or title, abandoning their original names and backgrounds to serve as the Seven Civil Attendants and the Seven Martial Guards, following me as faithfully as my own shadow.
Despite sleeping late and waking again in the middle of the night, I rose early. At morning court I was, as usual, not particularly attentive, because the reports being discussed had already begun arriving at my residence the previous afternoon. In some respects, I probably knew considerably more than Father Emperor did.
“Fifth Brother.” The moment court ended, a voice came from among the officials. I turned and froze. It was rare indeed for this particular elder brother to take the initiative to speak to me. For one absurd instant, I almost looked around to see what day it was, but stopped myself in time.
If it had been Eighth Brother, I would have answered without hesitation, “Why are you shouting? We’re still before the emperor. Aren’t you afraid Father Emperor will give you a proper scolding for making so much noise?” In an ordinary household, everyone would avoid such punishment, but within the imperial family, a father personally scolding his son was practically a rare form of imperial favor. Even during childhood, when we most needed our parents’ teaching, we had been handed over to governesses and tutors. Now that we were grown, why would Father Emperor waste words on such matters? If such a day really came, it would probably signal disaster rather than fatherly affection. Eighth Brother and I had long understood this particular dark joke between us. We merely laughed and let it pass.
But the man before me was the legitimate eldest son and the contender Mother Empress supported with all her strength. Until the day I actually sat upon the throne myself, I could only give him every courtesy due to his position, and more besides. “Eldest Brother.”
He gave the slightest nod in response, then looked me up and down for so long that I began following his gaze over myself in confusion. At last he spoke, his expression full of meaning. “What is it? Some happy event at your residence lately?”
“Huh?” For once, I genuinely had no idea what he meant.
“Stop hiding it.” Taking my surprise for an attempt to play dumb, Feng Xuanzhe smiled more broadly. “I heard you recently brought the leading courtesan from Xinfeng House into your residence as a male concubine and gave him the standing of a proper young lord.”
I deliberately smiled with a mixture of embarrassment and pride. So he was talking about Liu Yin. “Nothing remarkable. He’s only a courtesan. His face is decent enough, but after looking at it for a few days, I’ll get tired of him.”
For some reason, the words sounded almost as though I were warning myself that my interest in Ning Xuan should also fade after a few days.
“I doubt that.” Feng Xuanzhe studied me with amusement. “You looked completely lovesick during court just now. Father Emperor glared at you several times. Did you know?”
“Huh?” This time it was not an act. I truly had no idea the lofty Father Emperor had actually noticed an insignificant pawn like me.
Apparently my hopeless, good-for-nothing behavior pleased Feng Xuanzhe. His smiling face held the affection of an elder brother mixed with unmistakable disdain and contempt. He clapped me heavily on the shoulder several times and spoke with great earnestness. “Whatever you do, don’t overdo it. You’re young, but you still need to take care of yourself.”
“Eldest Brother, what are you even saying?!”
“All right. I’m going to pay respects to Mother Empress. Come with me. Ever since you left the palace, received your princely title, and established your own residence, you hardly visit her.”
“No, Eldest Brother. Aren’t you already there to fulfill my filial duties for me? I…” I winked pointedly. “I have urgent business back at the residence. Another day. Please say a few good things for me to Mother Empress. I’m not like Eldest Brother, who can keep his household perfectly organized. My residence is terribly busy. I really can’t get away.” I smiled suggestively. Naturally, he understood what I was implying and was only too happy to see me apparently drowning in sensual pleasures. Mother Empress would be delighted by my present state as well. If anything, seeing me diligent, ambitious, courteous, and trustworthy would probably be exactly what they least wanted.
“Fine.” Feng Xuanzhe agreed readily, turned, and left without another word.
I turned toward home as well. Such a crude little probe. It was almost remarkable that he had reached his current position. Mother Empress truly had invested everything in him. What a pity that investment was destined to be lost.
Yet when I finally reached the gates of my own residence, I hesitated. Returning directly after morning court this early was extremely unusual. Outsiders could naturally blame Liu Yin for my sudden eagerness to return, but I knew perfectly well what the real reason was. I had a home before me, yet somehow I stood there wondering whether to enter or stay outside, unconsciously pacing back and forth before the gates.
“Move along, move along! This is Prince Rong’s Residence…” The servant who had started forward to chase me off went deathly pale after only two sentences. “Y-Your Highness! Why are you pacing outside instead of going in to rest?”
Feeling guilty but refusing to show it, I stiffened my face. Frightening one servant was easy enough. “Insolence. Must this prince report his movements to you now?”
With my head high, I strode straight inside without looking back. In the end, I had still returned directly after court, even if there had been a slight delay…
“Your Highness?” Yi Xuan, still tidying the study, turned with undisguised surprise.
So coming home this early really was that strange…
I cleared my throat and gave a low grunt. Looking around, I saw no one except Yi Xuan. “Where is everyone else?”
His eyes darted quickly, landing immediately on the heart of the matter. “Yi Guang went to deliver your order. He should return later with the person who will be serving in the main courtyard.”
Having intelligent and capable confidants around was certainly useful, but when there were too many of them, or when they were simply too clever, they occasionally forgot to preserve their master’s dignity. Even in private, that made them rather deserving of punishment. For example…
“Master just came back, and you’re going out again?”
All I had done was glance toward the door.
“You haven’t even finished cleaning from this morning. This prince will walk around for a while. If Yi Guang comes back, have him wait in the study.”
The accusation that he was delaying proper work was half genuine and half excuse. Yi Xuan remained only half convinced, but his hands undeniably began moving much faster.
The moment I stepped outside, my feet seemed to know the destination better than I did. Without thinking, I made my way to the garden. Sure enough, beside the lotus pond, crouched amid the grass, was a familiar figure turned partly away from me. A book lay open before him, and a stalk of straw hung from his mouth. He chewed it distractedly, occasionally letting it sway, his entire face full of gloom.
My mood brightened instantly. Bringing this person to my side had probably been the right decision. Perhaps from now on I would wake every morning in a good mood, simply because I could see him.
“What are you thinking about so seriously?” Around him, I had never once bothered to restrain my urge to play tricks. I even deliberately indulged it, teasing and provoking him with childish little games I should long ago have outgrown, yet somehow never tired of them. Somewhere deep inside, I felt that this person might fill the enormous blank spaces in my life, places I had never even realized were empty.