“Imperial physicians are within the residence, the Crown Princess need not worry.”
The youth lowered his eyes, his voice gentle yet distant, as if imitating a harmonious married couple, “I do not like the harem contending in jealousy and losing propriety, the Crown Princess should keep this in mind.”
Lin Yuanjin’s gaze fell upon his face, listening carefully to his voice.
“After paying respects to Father Emperor and Mother Empress, a banquet will be bestowed in the palace.” His eyelashes trembled slightly, and he added, “You and I are newly wed, we ought to be deeply devoted like a pair of mandarin ducks, our actions and words must not err.”
“Alright, I know.” Lin Yuanjin smiled, “The nanny has taught me.”
Having given his reminder thoroughly, Cui Yiyu said no more.
The Crown Prince had thrown this hot potato into his hands and no longer concerned himself with anything else, yet he had no choice but to consider the troubles that might arise afterward.
Lin Yuanjin looked at Cui Yiyu’s brows and eyes, and before she knew it, fell into thought.
She had once heard that some, unable to obtain the one they loved, would seek comfort in others with similar appearances. She did not know whether others could distinguish the Crown Prince from Cui Yiyu, but she could not trace one person through another at all.
To look one more time felt like desecration.
The carriage moved forward, the two remained silent along the way, each harboring their own thoughts. Upon arriving at the palace gates, they alighted, then boarded sedan chairs. After some time, the two finally walked hand in hand to the Xuanyang Palace where the Emperor and Empress resided, and waited for the eunuch Rong to announce them.
The palace stood majestic like a mountain, doors and windows painted vermilion. Before the hall, white stone steps were covered with a long carpet, the railings entwined with lifelike dragon carvings, jade held in the dragons’ mouths, their whiskers like clouds—grand and imposing.
Elite guards stood all around, silently watching those before the hall.
“Summon the Crown Prince and Crown Princess for audience!”
Hearing the eunuch’s shrill voice, Lin Yuanjin’s heart tightened, she followed closely at Cui Yiyu’s side. The surroundings were utterly silent, and the imperial pressure of the Son of Heaven unconsciously pressed upon her shoulders and back.
“Do not be afraid.” Cui Yiyu slightly turned his head, looking at her, calmness and composure revealed in his brows and eyes.
Lin Yuanjin suddenly thought of his earlier silent response.
She was the Crown Princess chosen by the Emperor; they naturally knew what kind of person she was, so there was no need to hesitate.
The one who should be more nervous was not her.
Lin Yuanjin steadied her heart, the tension on her face eased, and she walked along the long carpet into Xuanyang Palace.
The two walked to beneath the high platform, extended their hands forward, and together performed the grand kneeling salute, only after bowing eight times did they hear laughter from above.
“Rise quickly, bestow the banquet!” The Emperor smiled and waved at the attendants beside them, letting them help the two stand up, his dragon countenance filled with delight, “It has been a long time since our family has had a joyous occasion. Now that the Crown Prince is married, it truly deserves grand celebration!”
The Emperor wore a liumian crown, with thick brows and narrow eyes, his gaze sharp. Amid his delight was a trace of scrutiny; at the corners of his eyes and nose were the folds of age. Perhaps due to his advanced years, or his busyness with state affairs, the beard he kept was streaked with white.
The palace maids who had long been prepared entered in a continuous line, holding long trays.
One after another, delicately prepared dishes and wine were placed upon the tables. Soon, palace maids with slender waists and musicians entered in order. The maids’ long sleeves were like clouds as they danced in the center, dispersing the oppressive stillness from before.
“I have long heard that Minister Lin’s young daughter is graceful and gentle, virtuous and kind. Fortunately, the Crown Prince and I share the same intentions, thus achieving today’s good match.” The Emperor lifted his wine cup, looking with satisfaction at the pair seated shoulder to shoulder behind the table.
Lin Yuanjin’s fine brows were like leaves, her bright eyes lively, her dark pupils still filled with curiosity toward everything before her. Hearing this, she could not help but smile and press her lips together, like a young bride newly married, not yet tainted by worldly affairs, her thoughts clear and thus appearing especially pure.
The two seated together were a perfect match of talent and beauty, exceptionally well-suited, like pearls and jade set among rubble; wherever the gaze fell, it felt illuminated, bringing comfort to body and mind.
“His Majesty speaks most rightly.” Empress Cui sat beside the Emperor, her appearance beautiful, her smile dignified, like a crabapple overshadowed by a pear blossom. “You are young now, but do not only indulge in sweetness all day; you must also consider the matter of continuing the lineage.”
“Your son will keep it in mind.” Cui Yiyu slightly bowed and replied obediently.
He turned his eyes and saw Lin Yuanjin taking small sips of fruit wine, his gaze pausing. He raised his hand and, using the public chopsticks, placed a piece of tender white fish belly into her bowl, his knuckles lightly tapping her wrist.
Lin Yuanjin lifted her eyes to look at him and smiled, yet did not, as Cui Yiyu had expected, set down her wine cup and obediently eat the dish. Instead, she turned and placed a piece of braised mandarin duck meat, cooked until soft and tender, into his bowl.
Back and forth.
Seeing the young couple harmonious, the Crown Princess’s smile sincere and unfeigned, the Emperor narrowed his eyes in satisfaction. Rarely, a trace of reminiscence appeared as he lowered his voice and spoke to Empress Cui, “The matter of the Crown Prince’s secondary consort can be delayed.”
Empress Cui watched the Emperor’s expression and knew he had been stirred by sentiment. Her hand holding the chopsticks tightened slightly, and she smiled as if nothing were amiss, “Naturally, it is no problem.”
“It is only that Xinyi, who grew up with the Crown Prince as childhood sweethearts, has been wronged. But having waited so many years, she would not mind waiting a little longer.”
The Emperor responded with a perfunctory “Mm,” as if he had not taken it in at all.
Cui Yiyu had been especially sensitive to gazes since childhood; it was impossible for him not to notice. He only became more earnest in playing the role of a husband caring for his wife.
Whatever the Emperor wanted to see, Cui Yiyu acted accordingly.
“Don’t just focus on me.” Lin Yuanjin lightly nudged his arm. After finishing the dishes he had repeatedly placed for her, she covered her lips with a handkerchief, truly unable to eat any more. The palace attendants beside her, whose duties of serving food had been taken over, merely smiled without speaking.
Cui Yiyu paused, not expecting that a girl in the midst of growing would be full after just a few bites.
He turned to look at the mandarin duck meat in his own bowl. Under the Emperor’s gaze, he suppressed his discomfort, the tips of his ears faintly reddening. He picked it up with his chopsticks and, as if nothing were unusual, placed it between his lips. He barely chewed before his throat moved and he swallowed it whole, tasting nothing.
“Speaking of which, I have heard that in recent months, the Crown Prince’s residence has often summoned imperial physicians for consultation.” The Emperor mentioned it casually, as if a concerned father, “Has the busyness of autumn caused you to neglect your health?”
“Your son is unfilial, causing Father Emperor concern.” Cui Yiyu immediately set down his chopsticks and looked at the Emperor. “In truth, your son has always studied diligently, unfamiliar with matters of pleasure. Yet with the wedding approaching, unwilling to disappoint Mother Empress’s expectations, I specially requested the imperial physicians to help regulate my body, hoping to soon conceive an imperial heir with the Crown Princess.”
After speaking, he glanced sideways at Lin Yuanjin, as if he would not have admitted such a matter in public unless he had no choice.
Empress Cui’s brows furrowed slightly, as if she had been completely unaware of the Crown Prince frequently summoning imperial physicians.
“Oh? You have only just married, yet the Empress is already eagerly thinking of holding a grandchild.” The Emperor laughed heartily, then looked at Empress Cui, “Back then, I was nearly thirty before I had Jie’er.”
“At that time, war was unceasing and the situation perilous. How could it compare to the current peace under Your Majesty’s rule?” Empress Cui immediately smiled in mild reproach, “It is this concubine who is too impatient.”
This meal was one where each person harbored different thoughts.
Strangely, only Lin Yuanjin ate and drank her fill, feasting her eyes as well, gaining the most pure and simple joy.
“It is getting late. I still have matters to attend to. You mother and son may speak.” The Emperor waved away Eunuch Li’s hand at his side, stood up directly, and with attendants following behind him, strode away.
Cui Yiyu noticed that Empress Cui seemed somewhat distracted. Looking at Lin Yuanjin, he said softly, “Take someone and go out for a walk. I will come shortly.” He then turned and waved his hand, dismissing those around them.
“Alright.” Lin Yuanjin nodded and was led out of the hall by the nanny beside Empress Cui.
Those within the hall gradually left and dispersed. In no time, it became much quieter, leaving only Empress Cui and Cui Yiyu.
He walked slowly to stand before Empress Cui. Only then did she seem to awaken from a dream, hurriedly grabbing his hand, filled with worry, “Jie’er, what is going on?!”
“Are you unwell? It has been several months, why did you not tell Mother Empress?” Empress Cui truly did not believe his seemingly reasonable explanation just now. “What exactly is wrong, is there some problem?”
“Who is the imperial physician in your residence, is he even competent?!”
“Your Majesty.”
The youth’s single utterance was like the clear scattering of spring beads, cutting off her string of urgent, almost aggressive questioning.
Under the Empress’s stunned gaze, Cui Yiyu withdrew his hand from hers. His pitch-black eyes were deep and calm. The aura around him peeled away like a mask; his gentleness and refinement faded, suddenly revealing beneath it a deathly stillness and a blade-like sharpness.
He was not the Crown Prince Zhou Jie!
Empress Cui suddenly stood up, her eyes wide. The table before her was overturned by the force of her movement, plates and cups rolling and shattering across the floor.
“It’s you?” Empress Cui’s expression changed abruptly, staring at Cui Yiyu in disbelief, subconsciously lowering her voice, “How could it be you?!”
“What exactly has happened to Jie’er! How could he dare let you face His Majesty?!”
“The Crown Prince is physically weak, but has no serious illness or grave injury. Your Majesty need not worry.” Cui Yiyu spoke calmly, “By the Crown Prince’s order, yesterday’s fasting and abstinence rites were also carried out by this subordinate.”
He had already faced the Emperor alone yesterday.
Empress Cui rebuked, “He cannot even leave the residence anymore—what illness is it exactly? Explain it clearly to this palace!”
“This subordinate does not know.” Cui Yiyu replied evenly.
“What?” Empress Cui’s face filled with disbelief. Seeing Cui Yiyu remain silent, she could not tell whether he truly did not know or was pretending not to know, but it only made her more anxious. “The Emperor has already begun to suspect, there must have been ministers in court who raised questions. Outsiders all know, yet we still do not!”
“You are a blade raised by my Cui family, and now you treat this palace’s words as the wind passing by your ears?”
Cui Yiyu lifted his robe and knelt on the ground, his lashes lowered like shadows, “When His Highness consults with the imperial physicians in his chambers, all others are dismissed. This subordinate has no way of knowing.”
Nor would he dare to know.
Silence spread through the air, and he could also feel the gaze upon his shoulders and back like needles.
Empress Cui stared at the youth below, gradually reflecting.
The scenes from the banquet just now passed through her mind.
Cui Yiyu had acted very well, flawless to the point of perfection. He had deceived even her, his biological mother, let alone the Emperor who had many heirs, or Lin Yuanjin who had just married into the family.
Just now he said the fasting rites were done by him—surely it was far more than that.
“Yesterday’s wedding—was it also you who went?” Empress Cui narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly and asked meaningfully.
“Yes.” Cui Yiyu answered respectfully, as if he were merely completing an ordinary task, “At night, the Crown Prince’s condition was still fine. He entered the bridal chamber with the Crown Princess. This morning, he departed, and this subordinate entered the palace in his place.”
Empress Cui’s gaze as she looked at the youth below the steps was like that of someone examining a slightly dulled blade.
The scene he had just acted out in the hall before the Emperor with the Crown Princess had no flaws—he had done it very well.
But the problem was that he had done it too well.
That was the Crown Princess of her own son.
“You have done well. Since the Crown Prince wishes to conceal this from you, then you need not investigate further.” Empress Cui eased her expression, returning to her usual gentleness, and said lightly with a smile, “Later, deliver a letter for this palace.”
At this age, a youth was no longer a child— even if he had been castrated, his figure and face would not change much, would they?
