He was Almost Absorbed by the System

Chapter Sixty Nine - ...Another One Comes

During the absence of Huáng Hòu, the Imperial Palace went through a few changes; many eunuchs were reassigned and the Emperor, unable to forget the loveliness of his two eldest sons, decided to take Male concubines into his harem. Feng Chun found that he was the one in charge of these changes rather than You Zhi. The little eunuch, who thought he had the Emperor's ear, found the old adage of when keeping tigers, always face them, counted for him. The Emperor was using him to feed matters to his Empress and did not trust him at all!

As the Emperor wished to have Male concubines, Feng Chun placed Rong Xing Fu in charge of the harem. Xing Fu was notorious within the ranks of eunuchs for accepting many lovers within the ranks of Palace Guards. As all eunuchs had no option than to lie beneath a man if they wished to have relations and Xing Fu was known to be particularly seductive, Feng Chun wished for him to teach the Male concubines ways to please the Emperor and protect themselves. He doubted the Emperor would learn to make a clear path for his sword! Rong Xing Fu was not displeased with this promotion, even offered to share his teachings with Feng Chun. The eunuch graciously declined.

The White Orchid Palace was filled with new servants as well as Xiao Ping, who held his Princes in embrace for several minutes as they reunited, even found they had to wipe away the eunuch's tears and mucus tainted face! Bo Ju Ting was moved into The Water Lotus Palace with the fifth Prince. The Emperor had found that the boy, renamed Wáng Laquan, resembled a china doll with the largest, doe eyes he had come to know. He was most pleased with the child's appearance. Many members of the Harem looked on in jealousy, especially as most had tainted their wombs in order to not be thrown out of the Palace and now the mother of his son was rewarded? They had to be reminded that the woman had suffered two years in the cold palace and only there as a son was born. What would happen if it were a daughter?  In addition, Bo Ju Ting was not allowed to use the title of Concubine and was no higher respected that a nurse maid. The Palace was for his son, not for the boy's mother.

The Emperor did wish to move one of the two older Princes into the Red Autumn Palace, but the boys refused to be separated and begged leniency of the Emperor. Wáng Yi Jun allowed them this one indulgence as he had been most impressed with the levels of education and martial arts each boy displayed. He especially enjoyed Yu Long's poetry. "Much better than the poems sent by that nameless man," he expressed. "The Emperor is a Cloud, while I am the Ground. I can only look up... this nonsense lyric!"

He even thought to reward Lâoshi Huang on his return, not aware that the boys talents were from their own hard work nor that he'd just ridiculed same man for his bad prose.

In contrast, the Emperor had found that the Crown Prince was not one for the eye. His doughy flesh, tiny eyes and piggy nose was truly a face only his mother could love. He had also been clearly over indulged, for this little dumpling was unrefined, throwing tantrums over the smallest of things and unable to suffer not getting his own way. The Emperor handed this little problem to Feng Chun, who had the boy moved into the Summer Blossom Palace and surrounded by new servants and teachers. None of Huáng Hòu's servants were permitted to see him. They howled and sobbed, prostrating before Feng Chun as they pleaded for his decision to be revoked.

"How is it the Crown Prince is so spoiled?" Feng Chun asked. "Was this impart not your own doing? Sow melons, reap melons. Sow beans, reap beans." He dismissed them but not without warning them that should they continue to fuss, he could have them ejected from the Imperial Grounds without trial.

These days held contentment for the two Princes. They were once again allowed to practice Martial Arts beneath the tutelage of a new Shifu, who was strict when he needed to be strict and gave praise when he needed to give praise. They also could study the Four Books and Five Classics, though Jie Long was naturally less pleased about this, he did not complain as it was better than what they had 'learnt' over the past four years. Both needed to work on their calligraphy, which unpracticed became uncouth, but Yu Long soon surpassed his brother once more in this and poetry and Jie Long could not be more happy for him.