Ying Qionglou patted Wumian’s hand lightly and said nothing further on the matter. He merely rose and said, “I’ll return to my study now. There are still many affairs of state waiting. As for this matter, I’ll give it due consideration. I thank the Empress for her thoughtfulness.”

  Wumian nodded. “Then I shall see Your Majesty out.”

  She personally walked him to the door. Ying Qionglou took a few steps outside before turning back. “Go back in. Weren’t you saying you wanted to catch up on sleep? I’ll come visit you again in a few days.”

  Wumian leaned casually against the doorframe, her expression zy and soft, as though she really wanted to go lie down. She gave him a smile without any formalities.

  Ying Qionglou couldn’t help but smile back before finally turning away.

  “Shall I prepare the bed for Your Majesty to rest now?” Linshui asked softly.

  Wumian shook her head. “I’m suddenly not sleepy anymore. I’ll rest in the afternoon instead.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty. Guifei and the others did not look pleased at all when they left,” Linshui commented.

  “Let them have something else to fret about.” Wumian smiled faintly. “Guifei truly lives up to her title now.”

  Linshui understood what she meant. It was true—Guifei had shown no intention of loosening her grip over the inner pace.

  While Wumian was calmly speaking of Guifei, Guifei herself was seething with anger.

  Today, she had not asked Rong Fei to accompany her on her way back. Rong Fei was indisposed and did not wish to make the long walk.

  Ziju and Ziying, Guifei’s trusted attendants, knew well that their mistress was in a foul mood. One of them poured tea while the other helped her sit down.

  Ziju spoke gently to comfort her. “Even if the Empress spoke so, it doesn’t mean His Majesty will necessarily agree. And even if the Eldest Prince returns, what of it? He’s nothing more than an abandoned son without his maternal family to support him. Not even the te Empress Shen was granted a posthumous title. What future could he possibly have?”

  Guifei let out a cold snort. “Has the Empress gone mad? That child is the legitimate son of the te Empress Shen, and she wants to bring him back? Does she intend to raise him herself?”

  Ziying carefully set down the tea and added, “If Her Majesty truly harbors such thoughts, His Majesty will not stand by and allow it. This servant thinks the Empress is merely trying to please His Majesty. You oversee the affairs of the inner pace, Your Highness. She can’t interfere, so she’s trying to curry favor.”

  “That’s right. And as for the Eldest Prince’s position…” Ziju shook her head. “Our Emperor was named Crown Prince at the age of ten. Now, in court, no one has ever spoken of naming the Eldest Prince as heir. He’s already nine years old. It will be the same in the future. After all, there are other princes now.”

  Guifei drew in a long breath. “Of course I know all this. I simply hate it. That wretched Shen woman, leaving behind such a cursed child to vex me. What difference does it make if he returns? His days will not be easy.”

  “Your Highness, think no more of it. He’s no threat. If His Majesty loses interest after a year or two, the boy will suffer plenty. It’s Li Fei… she’s the true threat. She’s carrying a prince.”

  “Enough. Where’s my medicine? Bring it here,” Guifei waved her hand, taking a deep breath.

  Lately, she too had been taking supplements. She wished to bear a child. Her body was not incapable, but if she did not seize the opportunity now, it might soon be too te.

  As for the matter of the Eldest Prince returning to the pace, everyone harbored their own thoughts.

  In Min Fei’s quarters, the mood was tense. After all, her son—the Third Prince—was the only child presently in the pace.

  “Your Highness, should we not think of a way?” Meijiu asked cautiously.

  Min Fei shook her head. “There’s no need. His return will be a good thing. It will shift their attention away from me.”

  “Yes… The Empress truly has changed,” Meijiu sighed. “She used to oppose you in everything. Now, she behaves so virtuously, one cannot fault her in the slightest. His Majesty visits her more often, too. She’s still young. If she were to bear a legitimate heir in another year or two… if that happens…”

  Min Fei’s expression remained calm. “These matters are beyond me. Who can interfere in the affairs of the central pace? Even Guifei cannot.”

  “Yes, it’s just… this servant has always hoped the Third Prince would do well,” Meijiu sighed softly.

  “I hope for that too,” Min Fei replied calmly, “but time will tell. These things can’t be rushed. Don’t speak of it again.”

  Meijiu hurriedly nodded in agreement.

  Who wouldn’t hope for their child’s good fortune? Min Fei thought to herself. But it wasn’t yet the right time. It would be foolish to be anxious now.

  That day, while Emperor Ying Qionglou handled his affairs, his thoughts kept drifting.

  He kept thinking of the Eldest Prince.

  The boy had been born in the Eastern Pace.

  Shen Shi’s first pregnancy had ended in miscarriage. She had been young then, and no one had even realized she was pregnant until it was already too te.

  It wasn’t until the following year that she conceived again and gave birth to the Eldest Prince.

  The Eldest Princess had been born a year earlier; the Eldest Prince came the year after.

  At the time, Ying Qionglou had not yet reached twenty. He hadn’t really known how to dote on children, but he had liked them all the same. After all, they were his.

  And now, he hadn’t seen that child in years.

  Should he bring him back? He had promised Shen Shi that he would protect the boy, and he never held the child accountable for anything.

  But the pace was always filled with conflict. Would returning truly be good for him?

  Yet the Empress had made a valid point.

  “Lu Zhong,” Ying Qionglou finally spoke, “tomorrow, you go in person. Bring him back.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty. Shall I prepare a residence for the Eldest Prince?” Lu Zhong asked, though there was no need to ask—who else could it be?

  “Have him stay in the Southern Courtyard. When the princes grow older, they will all move to the Southern Courtyard. No need to leave tomorrow. First, send someone to notify them, let them prepare. You make sure the Southern Courtyard is cleaned and put in order.”

  “Yes. There are several fine halls in the Southern Courtyard. I will choose the best, rgest one and have it cleaned this very night,” Lu Zhong replied.

  Ying Qionglou gave a slight nod.

  The Southern Courtyard was located in the southwest corner of the imperial pace, far from the inner pace. It had remained empty since the previous emperor’s time.

  Back then, Ying Qionglou himself had already moved to the Eastern Pace, but the other young princes still lived with their mothers in the inner pace.

  And so, the Southern Courtyard had been left vacant.

  Now that it was being refurbished, the younger princes would all eventually move there.

  “Have the princes living in the Northern Courtyard moved there as well,” Ying Qionglou added. “They’re getting older.”

  The concubines of the previous emperor—those who were still young—were already in their twenties or thirties. It was indeed improper for them to continue living in the same quarters as the young princes.

  People in the pace always talked. It was better to avoid idle gossip.

  “Yes, Your Majesty. Leave it to me.” Lu Zhong bowed.

  “Those who have been serving him well at the secondary pace, keep them. Let him name those he wants to bring back. Better that he is cared for by familiar faces. After the inocution, he will need proper nursing.”

  Lu Zhong understood the Emperor’s intent and quietly noted it down. He couldn’t help but think the Empress was quite shrewd. With a few well-pced words, she had smoothly arranged for the Eldest Prince’s return. No matter what, the Eldest Prince would surely owe her gratitude in the future.

  That very day, word of the decision reached Guifei.

  After all, though the Southern Courtyard fell under the Empress’s authority, since the Empress had expressed no intention of overseeing it, Guifei naturally had to intervene.

  Unsurprisingly, Guifei smashed a teacup in fury when she heard the news.

  (Transtor Xiaobai: If I had 5 dolrs for every teacup smashed, I would be pretty well off)

  But no matter how furious she was, the matter was settled.

  After years of absence from the pace, the Eldest Prince was finally coming home.