Chapter 84 (None)

Previously, Consort Duan took advantage of her pregnancy to want Fanying Pavilion. Although Emperor Yuanming made a foolish move to exchange her with Consort Zhao, he actually had the idea of ​​having Jiang Ling give it up.

Times have changed. Jiang Ling is now an old man in the harem, while Emperor Yuanming, having reigned as a peaceful emperor for many years, has grown increasingly fond of fresh and vibrant young women. Most importantly, these young women are innocent and carefree, making it easier for him, whose heart and eyes are shrouded in the heavy grime of worldly desires, to be admired and appreciated.

Jiang Ling had anticipated this and made preparations, so he readily agreed, saying, "The Emperor's harem is too large, there is really no room for everyone. How about this, I will move to the Imperial Garden, and Consort Wu can also move into the main hall."

Emperor Yuanming frowned and said displeasedly, "The residence in the Imperial Garden is only a place for me to rest when I stroll around. What kind of decorum would it be if you moved there?"

"That damned bastard! He only cares about causing trouble, but doesn't care about solving it," Jiang Ling cursed inwardly, but remained calm on the surface and asked, "The imperial harem is overcrowded. What does Your Majesty intend to do about it?"

Emperor Yuanming couldn't answer, and said sternly, "I will make the arrangements myself, you don't need to worry about it."

"I never meddle in matters that aren't my responsibility," Jiang Ling said with a smile, calmly adding, "Since Consort Wu is moving in, does the Emperor intend for her to live in the front hall or the back hall?"

The main hall is in front and the bedroom in the back. Generally, the main hall is the main hall for entertaining guests and banquets. Although the bedroom in the back is spacious, Xiao Yunzan and Xiao Yunlang lived with Jiang Ling. In addition to the study, bedroom and living quarters, only the side rooms in the east and west annexes were left.

The other side rooms of the palace were also inhabited by concubines of lower rank, and the side rooms of the annex of Fanying Pavilion were equally spacious. Consort Wu was different after all. As Emperor Yuanming's favorite, she was better off living in the original Qingyuan Pavilion, where at least she could occupy the east side of the main building and be on equal footing with Consort Xia.

Emperor Yuanming had never thought of these things. Jiang Ling's questions gave him a headache, and he fell silent for a moment.

"There is a way," Jiang Ling said calmly.

Emperor Yuanming was immediately invigorated and said, "Tell me in detail."

Jiang Ling smiled and said, "A-Zan and A-Lang should move into the palace immediately to make room for Consort Wu."

Xiao Yunzan and Xiao Yunlang were both young children. Even though Emperor Yuanming favored Consort Wu, he would never have said anything to them about moving out immediately.

"Alang will start school after the New Year, when he will be just four years old. It's hard to say whether Alang will be able to sit still. His wrists are not strong enough, so reading and writing will be difficult and torturous for him. The teachers at the school are all important officials of the court and great scholars of the country. It is really a waste of their talents to have them take care of young children."

Jiang Ling's voice was neither loud nor soft, and his tone was flat, revealing no emotion whatsoever, but Emperor Yuanming's old face turned burning hot.

“I will move to the Imperial Garden, and A-Zan and A-Lang will come with me. Then Fan Ying Pavilion will be freed up. A-Zan and A-Lang will stay by my side for a year or two before going to school. By then, they will be older and more sensible and will be able to concentrate on their studies.”

The princes' teachers were all high-ranking officials of the court, including members of the Hanlin Academy and Grand Secretaries, who took turns serving as tutors. Xiao Yunzan was mischievous, loved to ask questions, was quick-witted, and his childish words often left people both amused and exasperated. Xiao Yunlang had only recently been weaned, and even when eating, he would spill his food all over the floor, let alone study in the school.

Although Emperor Yuanming was the Son of Heaven, he still had to be careful, especially to avoid being accused of disrespecting scholars.

The common people can be disregarded; only those who win the hearts of the scholar-officials can win the world.

"Enough, let's not bring this up again!"

Emperor Yuanming was speechless, his face flushed, and he said, "Azan and Alang are indeed a bit too young. Don't send them to school yet. You should take good care of them and teach them properly."

Jiang Ling said, "I'll have Wenjuan arrange for us to pack our bags and try to move out as soon as possible."

"Where are you moving to?" Emperor Yuanming was furious and embarrassed. He glanced at Jiang Ling and said in a deep voice, "You still want to move to the imperial garden? That's ridiculous! My concubines have no reason to live in the inner palace!"

"I did it all for the Emperor!"

Jiang Ling echoed her grievances, but she was not trying to back down; she genuinely wanted to move to the Imperial Garden to get away from the conflicts between Consort Lin and Consort Zhao and find some peace and quiet.

“If I don’t move out, am I supposed to make Consort Wu live in the side room? Consort Wu is a noble lady, wouldn’t that be an insult to her? Even the Emperor would feel sorry for her.”

Emperor Yuanming said with annoyance, "I've arranged for her to live elsewhere, so you don't need to worry about it."

Jiang Ling was exceptionally sensible and generous. "Your Majesty, let me move it. Please don't make things difficult for the other sisters."

"Don't talk nonsense! When have I ever made things difficult for anyone?" Emperor Yuanming's eyes widened in anger as he glared at him. "Who dares to disobey my decree!"

Jiang Ling almost burst out laughing. If Emperor Yuanming were stripped of his imperial status, all that would remain is a body covered in grease.

Seeing Emperor Yuanming's face turn ashen, Jiang Ling suppressed a laugh and made a nonsensical suggestion in a serious tone: "Your Majesty, let Consort Wu move to Qionghua Pavilion to serve you day and night. Your Majesty is busy with state affairs and it's tiring. With Consort Wu by your side to comfort you, Your Majesty can relax a bit."

"What kind of behavior is this!" Emperor Yuanming laughed in anger, pointing at Jiang Ling and saying, "Stop talking nonsense, or I'll deal with you. If anyone's really going to be moved to Qionghua Pavilion, it will be you who moves them..."

Jiang Ling was immediately alarmed. Seeing that Emperor Yuanming seemed to be thinking seriously, he quickly changed the subject and asked, "Your Majesty, how are the eldest and second princes?"

Upon hearing the names Xiao Yunrui and Xiao Yunjue, Emperor Yuanming's mood instantly soured. He lost all interest in thinking about anything else and let out a long sigh.

“Arui is taciturn and keeps his thoughts to himself. Ajue, on the other hand, is cheerful but can’t stand being taken advantage of and will not admit defeat when he gets angry. They are both good kids and are blood brothers after all. Blood is thicker than water. Once they calm down and their anger subsides, they will be fine with each other.”

Jiang Ling smiled but said nothing. The bones of Emperor Yuanming's brothers were broken, but their tendons were still connected; they had only lost their lives.

Funing Palace.

Xiao Yunjue clapped his hands triumphantly and laughed loudly, "Mother, that's all I got from that one punch!"

He clenched his fist and swung it forward. Consort Zhao was startled and leaned back, exclaiming with a startled laugh, "Oh dear, little ancestor, don't move! Your mother can't take a punch from you!"

"My mother is a weak woman, how could she withstand a punch from me?" Xiao Yunjue said with pride and arrogance, "That skinny monkey only dares to kill cats and dogs to vent his anger. When facing me, he is no match for me."

Consort Zhao asked in surprise, "The Crown Prince killed cats and dogs?"

“That day when he came to school, he had a dog's tail in his book box, intending to secretly put it in my desk to scare me, but Zhao Shun saw it and he stopped.”

The princes had companions when they went to school. Zhao Shun was the nephew of Consort Zhao's family. He was two years older than Xiao Yunjue and was strong and tall.

Xiao Yunrui also had study companions; the Lin family sent several relatives of similar age from Shu Prefecture to the palace to accompany him in his studies. However, Xiao Yunrui was aloof and indifferent to them.

"Zhao Shun secretly told me that he had heard rumors that the skinny monkey often asked Fu Shun and the others to catch wild cats in the palace to kill and play with. Since wild cats were hard to catch, he had people send dogs in from outside the palace."

Xiao Yunjue became dissatisfied and waved his arm dismissively, "Mother, they're just a few cats and dogs, why are you so concerned? Skinny Monkey can't recite his lessons, his face is as white as a dead man, and his whole body is trembling!"

He mimicked Xiao Yunrui's shaking, his body and face trembling as he laughed, "Hahahaha, Mother, didn't you see? It's absolutely hilarious! That skinny monkey thinks he's clever, but now he's shown his true colors! Hahaha, does he even dare to challenge me!"

Consort Zhao smiled as she looked at Xiao Yunjue, lovingly pulled Xiao Yunrui to sit beside her, wiped the fine sweat from his forehead, and said softly, "Ajue, don't fight with him in the future. No matter what, he is the elder, and you must respect your elder brother."

"Pah!" Xiao Yunjue spat, unconvinced, "So what if he's the elder? He's just older! In terms of literature and martial arts, how can he compare to me!"

Xiao Yunjue grew impatient, jumped up, and glared at Zhao Defei. "Mother, you're always worrying unnecessarily. So what if the Lin family is a century-old clan? One punch and they're completely subdued! In the school, those few cowards from the Lin family didn't dare utter a sound. The world belongs to the Xiao family! Mother, I'm leaving!"

"Where are you going? Have lunch before returning to your palace!" Consort Zhao hurriedly said.

Xiao Yunjue disliked Consort Zhao for being too strict and nagging, and had no patience to dine with her, so he ran away without looking back.

Consort Zhao had no choice but to give up and hurriedly ordered, "Quickly follow A-Jue, oh dear, outer garment, quickly send the outer garment over, don't let him get cold!"

The palace maids and eunuchs were being directed around, and they caught up with Xiao Yunjue with his sable cloak, escorting him away.

Consort Zhao stood under the eaves, watching Xiao Yunjue walk out the gate until his robes disappeared from sight. Her expression turned indifferent, and she said coldly, "Granny Xie, you keep a close eye on A-Jue. Give all the servants a good talking-to; they must keep a close watch on A-Jue and not slack off even for a moment!"

Granny Xie quickly agreed and reassured her, "Your Highness, don't worry, the Second Prince is very clever."

"A-Jue is clever, but he is still young. The Lin family is a family with a history of hundreds of years. They have chosen outstanding young men from the family to enter the palace as study companions. They are not pushovers. A-Jue is a prince, while they are commoners without any official rank. If they dare to help the eldest prince fight against A-Jue, that is true insubordination. The Lin family has come to an end from this point on."

Consort Zhao frowned and sighed softly, "I don't want to discourage A-Jue. He may have won this fight, but he actually lost. If Xiao Yunrui had hit him, he would have endured a few punches. Xiao Yunrui is thin and weak, so his blows to A-Jue would have been nothing more than a tickle. A-Jue's counterattack caused Xiao Yunrui to bleed. Even though he started the fight, A-Jue has become the one who is disrespectful, cruel, and ruthless."

The First Prince's bedroom.

Incense burned in the room, and Granny Zhong added a handful of sandalwood to the incense burner, the fragrance slowly spreading. The stench of blood and medicine in the room was gradually suppressed.

Xiao Yunrui leaned against the soft cushions on the couch, his head wrapped in a cloth, his lips as white as his face, without a trace of blood.

"Does it still hurt?" Consort Lin asked gently as she sat down on the edge of the couch.

"Mother, I'm not in pain anymore." Xiao Yunrui lowered his eyes and whispered, "Mother, I'm useless. I've made you lose face."

"It's alright," Consort Lin said, then after a moment's thought, she continued, "You're weak. You should have thought things through before you acted. You're no match for him. This applies to both fighting and war. Losing is fine; you should learn from it. Arui, where do you think you went wrong?"

Xiao Yunrui said, "Mother always teaches me to stay calm and not lose my composure. I was so angry that I lost my temper and couldn't stay calm. The second son is fat and strong. I am not as strong or big as him. I shouldn't have acted rashly."

Consort Lin shook her head gently, a flash of disappointment in her eyes, and said, "You are the elder brother, you shouldn't hold a grudge against your younger brother. Since you have, you should quickly smooth things over, for example, by using the excuse of teaching the Second Prince a lesson, and then it would be right for you to hit him. If he fights back, then it will all be his fault. Even so, you still haven't lost. The Second Prince's physique makes it seem like he's bullying you. If you were more seriously injured, or fainted, the Second Prince would be seen as a fratricide, a cruel and heartless person."

“Mother, I thought that even so, Father wouldn’t really punish him,” Xiao Yunrui said, staring blankly at Consort Lin.

"The crown prince is half the ruler of the country. The emperor can be incompetent, but he cannot be cruel. The court officials will be afraid and wary of him. The selection of the crown prince is not something that the emperor can decide alone. It must have the support of the court officials."

Consort Lin explained, and Xiao Yunrui stood there stunned, then suddenly raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face. He hit hard, and five red marks quickly appeared on his pale face.

"Mother, I am useless, I am a useless piece of trash!"

Xiao Yunrui squeezed out the words through clenched teeth, raised his hand and slapped her again, his face contorted and ferocious, his eyes sinister, "Mother, I am a good-for-nothing, I have disappointed you."

The applause was crisp and clear, echoing in the quiet room. Granny Zhong and Xiuyun stood in the corner, barely daring to breathe.

Consort Lin stared intently at Xiao Yunrui until blood trickled from the corner of his mouth before she spoke: "The most pathetic person is the one who hurts themselves. Arui, you have indeed disappointed me somewhat."

Xiao Yunrui stopped and came over, his hand hanging limply at his sides. The bloodstains on his fingertips floated before his eyes, reminding him of the night of Emperor Yuanming's birthday.

After the banquet ended and he left Lanyue Palace, Xiao Yunrui bid farewell to Consort Lin with trepidation, "Mother, I'm going back to my palace. Please rest early."

Granny Zhong held the umbrella over Consort Lin's head. Her expression was not very clear under the umbrella in the night. Xiao Yunrui seemed to see her glance at him, but it seemed that his eyes were playing tricks on him and he could not see anything clearly.

Consort Lin passed by him without looking back.

The cold winter rain drizzled down, as if falling on Xiao Yunrui's heart, chilling him to the bone.

The Lin family did everything in their power to support the mother and son. Consort Lin poured all her heart and soul into him, caring for him with patience, meticulousness, and attention to every little detail. If he couldn't finish his homework or read well, she would ask him to complete it again and again, and read with him.

He tried his best to study, but no matter what he did, he couldn't learn well. The words danced in his mind, but he couldn't remember them. Compared to the study companion sent by the Lin family, he seemed as stupid as a pig.

Back then, her eyes, just like now, couldn't hide her disappointment.

Smelling the blood, Xiao Yunrui's smile was sinister and eerie, etched on his swollen face. His expression suddenly turned crazed, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at Consort Lin, gritting his teeth as he said, "Mother, I'm not a fool! I will prove you wrong!"