Chapter 32 A Clown
On the night of the portrait painting, Xiao Jingzhan looked at the sleeping Su Jingyu and his heart stirred. He ordered someone to bring paper and ink.
He didn't need a reference; her eyes, her expressions, her every smile and frown were already etched in his heart. With each stroke of his brush, what flowed from his pen was not only her appearance, but also the soul of her in his eyes—that pure kindness, the unique charm she possessed when facing him, the gentle radiance of a woman about to become a mother, and her clarity and grace.
He painted with utmost concentration, each stroke imbued with an intense and unwavering affection. What he wanted to paint was not the dignified "Consort Su" on the imperial genealogy, but his own "Yu'er," a vibrant, lively, and unique treasure.
As he affixed his seal, he felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction. In this world, only he could capture her true essence.
When Xiao Jingzhan returned after handling official business, he saw Su Jingyu staring intently at the painting, her eyes and brows brimming with undisguised joy and emotion.
"Your Highness!" Upon seeing him enter, she immediately put down the scroll and flew into his arms like a joyful little bird. Looking up at him, her eyes sparkled, "This painting... was it painted by Your Highness? It's so beautiful! A thousand times better than the painters in the Imperial Painting Department!"
Xiao Jingzhan caught her, a pleased smile curving his lips, and lowered his head to kiss the top of her head: "Do you like it?"
"I love it! I love it so much!" Su Jingyu nodded vigorously, wrapped her arms around his waist, buried her face in his chest, and whispered, "Your Highness, how come you know everything... and you even made me look so beautiful..."
“My Yu’er, she’s always been like this.” Xiao Jingzhan hugged her tighter, the slight resentment he had felt because of the painter had long since been dispelled by her joy. He enjoyed her complete dependence and adoration, feeling that he would be willing to pluck the stars and the moon for her.
"Then... from now on, I will only praise Your Highness and never praise anyone else!" Su Jingyu raised her bright eyes and made a playful promise.
Xiao Jingzhan chuckled softly, his chest heaving with pleasure: "Good boy."
He held her close as they looked at the painting. The person in the painting was beautiful, but she paled in comparison to the vibrant and lively woman he held in his arms.
Sunlight illuminated the two embracing figures, and also the smiling faces of the people in the painting, filling the room with tender affection.
The royal nunnery on the outskirts of the capital was desolate and quiet. Princess Yongjia was confined there, her resentment growing stronger each day. When the news reached Prince An's residence, her elder brother, Prince Chang'an Xiao Jingming, felt sorry for his sister and was quite dissatisfied with the Crown Prince's ruthless treatment.
Prince An knew that Crown Prince Xiao Jingzhan was ruthless, and that directly pleading for his sister would be ineffective and might even backfire. After much thought, he decided to try another approach. Since he couldn't directly contact Consort Su, he thought of trying to curry favor with or pressure the Crown Prince in order to gain his sister's leniency.
He pondered that, besides Consort Su, what the Crown Prince cared about most now was the court and his reputation. If he could take the initiative to support one of the Crown Prince's political views in court, or show goodwill to the Crown Prince's faction on some trivial matters, perhaps he could ease the tension.
He even harbored some wicked thoughts, wondering if he could secretly find some "weaknesses" about the Crown Prince, even if they were insignificant, to use as bargaining chips in future negotiations. Of course, the latter was extremely risky, and he dared not act rashly for the time being, only trying the former first.
On this day, after the small court assembly concluded, Prince An stepped forward and spoke eloquently about the reform of the canal transport system. Although his words did not offer much new insight, he expressed considerable agreement and praise for the strategies previously proposed by the Crown Prince, adopting a rather humble attitude.
The emperor on the dragon throne remained calm and indifferent. Crown Prince Xiao Jingzhan, who stood before all the officials, did not even lift his eyelids, as if he had not heard anything. He was focused on the memorial in his hand, his demeanor cold and imposing.
Prince An's performance was excellent, but he received no response. It was as if he had punched a cotton ball. He felt embarrassed and annoyed, and could only retreat awkwardly.
The Eastern Palace, the Glazed Tile Pavilion.
Xiao Jingzhan was sunbathing with Su Jingyu by the window, carefully massaging her calves. He Yong quietly approached and whispered his report on Prince An's actions in court and some of his hidden thoughts that he had secretly discovered.
After listening, Xiao Jingzhan continued his work without stopping, his expression still gentle, but a faint hint of mockery and coldness flashed deep in his eyes. He helped Su Jingyu adjust her cloak and said softly, "My dear, the sun is getting a bit strong, let's go back inside and rest for a while."
After settling Su Jingyu down on the couch and carefully tucking her in, Xiao Jingzhan slowly walked out of the inner room. The warmth from before was instantly replaced by a chilling atmosphere. He stood with his hands behind his back on the veranda, gazing at the deep yellow leaves in the courtyard, his voice calm and even, yet carrying a bone-chilling coldness: "A clown, overestimating yourself."
Lu Chen appeared as if by his shadow, kneeling on one knee: "Your Highness."
"Last year, Prince An oversaw the renovation of the Nanyuan Horse Ranch. The accounts seem a bit unclear?" Xiao Jingzhan's tone was indifferent, as if he were discussing a trivial matter. "Have someone from the Censorate submit a memorial to the emperor. Also, the evidence against that scoundrel named Qian Li under his patron, who forcibly seized farmland and drove people to their deaths, should be brought to light. There's no need to implicate too many people; just let him stay in his residence and reflect on his actions for a few months."
"Yes!" Lu Chen accepted the order and disappeared instantly.
A cold glint flashed in Xiao Jingzhan's eyes. The Prince of An wanted to play such petty tricks? It was utterly futile. He couldn't be bothered to speculate on his specific intentions; whether it was a gesture of goodwill or a potential threat, it had to be nipped in the bud.
He wanted to tell everyone in the most direct way that any attempt to influence him in any way, especially any behavior that might disturb the peace of the Liuli Pavilion, was absolutely taboo and would inevitably come at a price!
The next day, the situation changed drastically.
First, an imperial censor impeached Prince An for embezzling funds from the accounts of his supervision of the repairs at the Nanyuan Horse Ranch. Then, a victim filed a lawsuit against Prince An's household, alleging that the prince's guests were abusing their power and influence. While not a capital offense, these accusations were enough to humiliate Prince An.
The emperor had always disliked the dissolute behavior of such noble sons, and immediately issued an edict reprimanding Prince An, ordering him to reflect on his actions in seclusion for two months, fining him half a year's salary, and severely punishing his wicked servants. Prince An himself was also fined three months' salary for failing to properly discipline his son.
When Prince An received the imperial edict, he was utterly shocked! He realized that his little schemes had already been seen through by the Crown Prince, who had retaliated with lightning speed! This was clearly a warning! The Crown Prince didn't even bother with pretense; he directly severed Prince An's outstretched tentacles and taught him a lesson!
He was so frightened that he dared not have any more delusions, completely abandoning any thought of intervening for his sister, and obediently stayed in the mansion to "reflect on his mistakes".
This turmoil, which came and went quickly, once again demonstrated to the court officials the Crown Prince's ruthless and unpredictable methods and his protective nature.
Prince An had only made a slight move, and had not even touched the core issue, yet he ended up in such a state.
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