"Little Qi, do you know what type of person my favorite is?"
Qi Yunruo's stare fell upon Li Chen, and he spent some time going over his thoughts. In the end, he said, "People like Brother Ji."
Li Chen did not respond to that. As they walked, he moved the topic of conversation elsewhere. "In my youth, I lived in my grandmother's palace. When my grandfather was still young, although he had been the only prince from the legitimate line, he suffered from the previous emperor doting on the sons of his most favored consort. Prince Fu and Prince Yu. Once my grandfather ascended the throne, he had eyes for only my grandmother, and they were very loving toward one another. However, because his brothers and the other imperial concubines had poisoned him in the past, my grandfather's body was full of illness. When my Imperial Father was only eight years old, my grandfather left the world."
"I've also heard before that Emperor Mingzong and Her Majesty, the empress dowager shared a deep love," said Qi Yunruo.
"My grandfather and grandmother shared a harmonious marriage. That much is true. Never had they lied to one another. Furthermore, my grandfather never hid from my grandmother the matters of the court. For this reason, grandmother dared to support Imperial Father later on. She arrested Prince Fu and Prince Yu, who had intentions of forcing Imperial Father to abdicate the throne. She a.s.sisted Imperial Father, acted as his backing, until he came of age and could take over the reins of government.
"Whenever my grandmother spoke about grandfather in my presence, her face would light up. Everyone said that grandmother turned my Imperial Father into a puppet ruler during his youth, ruling with absolute authority in the shadows. That she imitated Emperor Wu of Han¹. Only I knew that my grandmother was returning my grandfather's love for her by working this hard. Coupled with the fact that she needed to protect her son, she left the inner courtyard and dashed head first into the outer court."
As Qi Yunruo considered the empress dowager's current situation, he sighed in his heart.
"Back then, I wanted to rise to the highest position. It was the most magnificent thing. It was also the most lonely. But my grandfather was fortunate. He met grandmother."
After the current emperor had ascended the throne, he gradually diminished the influence of Empress Dowager Lan and promoted the families of Empress Zhou and n.o.ble Consort Yuan. Seeing the situation, the Lan clan retreated by themselves. The Zhou and Yuan family were kept at the same rank. And the current emperor became the person above all in Li Country.
It was lonely at the top.
Qi Yunruo gazed dazedly at Li Chen's towering figure. All of a sudden, a feeling he couldn't quite put into words swallowed him whole. He realized that standing in front of him wasn't a gentle prince, but an ambitious contender to the throne. His heart felt a faint brush of loneliness.
On the first day of the lunar new year, Qi Niqun entered labor. Li Chen was at the imperial palace and had not yet returned. Qi Yunruo stood in Qi Niqun's courtyard, a fur scarf² wrapped generously around his neck. He stared at the direction of Qi Niqun's main chamber.
Liubai and the others were busy like no tomorrow. The prince estate had long since sent a messenger to Count Ziyang's estate. Although normally, a daughter's paternal family would not visit the daughter's new household on the first day of the lunar new year, the situation was atypical. Their daughter was about to give birth. Countess Ziyang couldn't help but worry, and even called Qi Yunshan, who had been studying, to come along.
Not wanting to be in the same place as the countess, Qi Yunruo had waited outside in the courtyard of his sister's residence. For some reason, Qi Yunshan also did not stay inside. They could still hear Qi Niqun's screams, however. As Qi Yunruo stood there expressionless, his brother paced back and forth, his gaze never straying from the main chamber.
A while later, it seemed Qi Yunshan wanted to talk to someone, if only to ease his own concerns. He said to Qi Yunruo, "You're not worried?"
Qi Yunruo glanced at him. "I've asked the older female servants and they said all births occur in such a fashion. The physicians are on standby. The princess consort will be fine."
But Qi Yunshan continued to pace in a worried manner. Qi Yunruo stopped himself from looking his way, finding him too annoying to the eye.
Although Qi Niqun's first time giving birth wasn't difficult, it couldn't be considered smooth either. Her labor contractions had started after Li Chen left for morning court and lasted until the afternoon. Yet her cervix had yet to dilate.
Qi Yunshan had no appet.i.te. The countess could only drink a bowl of light porridge. On the other hand, Qi Yunruo returned to Lakeside View House to eat lunch, before slowly making his way back to Winter Plum Courtyard. He watched with cold eyes as Qi Yunshan struggled to sit properly.
As it was the first day of the lunar new year, once Li Chen had arrived at the imperial palace, he and the other princes and members of the imperial clan followed the emperor and empress to the Palace of Merciful Peace, paying respects to the empress dowager outside. After that, they made their way to the Ancestral Hall to pay respects. When it came time for the noon meal, Li Chen had yet to receive news of the princess consort going into labor. Thus, he felt slightly worried about the late delivery.
Li Chen stared distractedly at the dancers and shows at the new year celebratory event. His heart was not into it. After the scheduled entertainment, the empress called him over to her palace for a chat. As she looked at him, she smiled. "Are you worried about the princess consort?"
He returned the smile. "Imperial Mother is laughing at me. Son-Official³ is just a little concerned because it will be Miss Qi's first birth."
The empress said, "That Miss Qi is fortunate. There will be no issues with this birth."
"Son-Official thanks Imperial Mother for the auspicious remarks."
Before the Fourth Imperial Prince had permission to enter, he rushed inside and completed the full ceremony of paying respects to the empress. Then he turned to Li Chen, a smile on his lips. "So Second Brother was here."
The empress gestured for the Fourth Imperial Prince to approach. Displeased, she said, "Why are you still unable to keep calm? This palace believes that your Imperial Father will bestow you the t.i.tle of 'Yong⁴' once you have reached of age. To tell you to be steady and not so like a child."
Before the start of the new year, the Fourth Imperial Prince had already turned fifteen years old. However, everyone could clearly tell that the emperor wanted to wait until they received good news from the battlefield before bestowing this prince a t.i.tle.
"Imperial Father helped me find an estate that is close to Second Brother's," said the Fourth Imperial Prince. "In the future, I will visit often. May Second Brother not find it a bother."
The empress knocked on the Fourth Imperial Prince's forehead playfully. "Before you have even received your own estate, you already think you will be annoying?"
Li Chen watched this scene, his expression neutral. A slight smile graced his lips. "You and I are full-blooded brothers. Of course I won't find you a bother."
After that, they exchanged a few more words before a low-ranking eunuch entered the room and kowtowed before them. "Reporting to Your Majesty, the empress, the emperor has summoned His Highness, Prince Chun."
The empress sent Li Chen off while smiling. "There will probably be some good news."
After Li Chen left, the Fourth Imperial Prince stayed by the empress' side. A servant curtsied before entering the chamber. By the empress' ear, they said, "Princess Consort Chun gave birth to a daughter one hour ago."
The empress smiled once more, albeit emotionlessly. The Fourth Imperial Prince stood behind her as he ma.s.saged her shoulders. He lightly said, "Second Brother surely is fortunate."
The empress patted his hand. "Tomorrow the n.o.ble personages and important officials will enter the imperial palace. This palace will help you carefully examine what kind of person Miss Su is."
"Currently, Marquis Wuding's position is not as high as that of Count Ziyang."
"It cannot compare now," the empress said in a calm manner, "but that does not mean it will remain so in the future!"
