Chapter 72: Prince Rui
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, we were married.
The palace coup that occurred that night seemed to have caused little stir within the imperial city.
The elite forces of the Zhenbei Army were far beyond what the long-stationed imperial guards or the pampered soldiers from the mild southern regions could hope to match.
It was less a confrontation between two armies and more a silent slaughter.
Some court officials were still asleep when they realized the court had already changed hands.
The most panicked were the Cui family of Donglin, the current in-laws of The Eldest Princess.
Over the years, the Cui family had made numerous enemies among the major clans while supporting the Crown Prince, particularly locking horns with the Sima Family in what could almost be described as a feud to the death.
Now that the Fourth Prince had been established as Crown Prince and the Sima Family had gained power, everyone speculated that the Cui faction would face extermination.
However, despite the Sima Family’s long-standing bitter hatred for the Cui family, they could do nothing against them.
For current court affairs were decided by Prince Rui.
Popular rumors claimed that Xuan Rui, the Wild Wolf King of the Northwest, possessed three heads and six arms, could single-handedly defeat a hundred men, and was a once-in-a-millennium war god for Daliang.
Having rendered meritorious service guarding the northwest, he was enfeoffed as Prince Rui by Emperor Jian and given control over the northwestern territories.
Though court administration remained under Emperor Jian and Grand Tutor Jin, every memorial required additional approval from the inner council before taking effect.
Those with discernment knew the true authority in the inner council now lay with His Highness Prince Rui.
The tree may crave calm, but the wind will not subside.
Though he left the Cui family untouched, they still contemplated reversing their fortunes against the odds.
As the New Year’s Eve approached, the palace prepared grand celebrations entirely managed by Consort Yu.
On Sima Shu’s first day back in the palace, Li Yuzhi brought the Crown Prince to pay respects. She expected to be forced to sever ties with the Crown Prince while enduring humiliation.
To her surprise, Consort Shu never mentioned past grievances, only instructing the Fourth Prince to focus on his studies and learn governance.
Indeed, now that the Fourth Prince had become Crown Prince and moved to the East Palace under the care of dedicated tutors and matrons, her role as adoptive mother existed in name only.
Remarkably, both of Consort Shu’s children had now truly come into their own.
Though Li Yuzhi considered herself no fool, she genuinely admired the other’s skill—years of strategic planning and enduring humiliation had ultimately brought victory.
All the consorts in the rear palace had become faded beauties, incapable of stirring further storms.
Just after selecting performances for the palace banquet, her maid brought startling news.
Last night at midnight, Consort Jin had been forced to drink a bowl of safflower by her attending matron, causing her to lose the child.
Not only the front court but the rear palace had completely changed hands.
Remembering Consort Shu’s gentle demeanor during their daytime meeting, Li Yuzhi broke into a cold sweat of terror.
She felt profoundly grateful for having treated both the Fourth Prince and the young princess well in the past.
That Consort Shu still entrusted her with rear palace affairs indicated she wasn’t viewed as an enemy.
Though Li Yuzhi had no desire to manage these tedious matters, for the sake of her future comfort, she could only devote herself wholeheartedly to satisfying that person.
·
Across the water from Changxin Palace, Jinlin Terrace stood empty and abandoned, a deserted palace hall.
Li Youqing now resided in Liushang Palace near the military affairs office, retaining her previous palace’s name with similar decor and arrangements.
Yet every evening, she would dine at Consort Shu’s palace and stay overnight there.
From childhood to adulthood, she had never received maternal care and affection, always feeling like she was living under someone else’s roof.
Only after being lulled to sleep by her mother that night did she finally understand what it felt like to have a settled heart.
From then on, she insisted on sleeping in Consort Shu’s chambers every night. Sometimes when the consort forgot, she would even take the initiative to grasp the other’s hand and place it on her own head.
Consort Shu would then stroke her hair tenderly with heartache, coaxing softly: “Sleep well, my dear daughter. Mother is here.”
Li Youqing felt she had no regrets left in this life.
She even began confiding in Consort Shu about matters concerning the Crown Prince, troubled by what she ought to do—
Should she plead with Xuan Rui to improve her Imperial Brother’s circumstances?
Sima Shu tapped her forehead sharply with a finger, exasperated. “Among men, it’s the victor who becomes king and the loser a bandit. Why should you mediate? Now Prince Rui holds overwhelming court influence. I’ve heard that for tomorrow’s palace banquet, all major clans are sending their noble daughters to present songs and dances. Even that unremarkable Cui girl is eagerly preparing a dance. Consort Jin at least knows her place—she removed the Cui name when the roster was presented, otherwise it would have been truly disappointing.”
“Mother, he wouldn’t be interested in anyone else,” Li Youqing declared confidently, only to receive another scolding from her mother.
“What man in this world doesn’t take concubines, especially someone like Prince Rui who stands above all others? Instead of worrying daily about him being swayed by other women, you should proactively place some of our own people by his side in the future.” Consort Shu thought of those illegitimate girls from their clan—they wouldn’t dare make waves—and decided to prepare them in advance.
Li Youqing refused to believe Xuan Rui would seek other women and didn’t wish to continue the topic, closing her eyes to sleep.
But when she woke in the middle of the night, recalling her mother’s words, she suddenly felt unsettled.
She hadn’t seen him for five or six days. Though she knew he was busy, the fact that they both resided in the palace yet didn’t meet felt increasingly unsettling.
Especially since during their recent brief encounters, he had behaved so domineering and fierce—so different from before.
Her unease grew steadily as she lay staring at the canopy above, pondering how likely it was that Xuan Rui would take concubines in the future.
Having grown up in the palace, she had never seen a man who didn’t keep concubines.
Even noble ladies in the capital would bring trusted maidservants when marrying, as a precaution.
In her heart, she knew her mother was right.
Yet with inexplicable certainty, she felt Xuan Rui would be different.
Unable to sleep, she turned toward the outside and vaguely discerned a dark shadow near the distant table. When she realized it was a human silhouette, she started in fright, quickly sitting up in bed.
“Ah—” Before her cry could escape, a large hand covered her mouth.
“Quiet.” The familiar voice was low and restrained.
Li Youqing froze in astonishment.
In the deep of night, in her own bedchamber—how could it be him?
After a long daze, she finally managed four words: “Your Highness, Prince Rui.”
Xuan Rui glanced up and, without a sound, pinned her completely to the bed.
Thinking of how she had just addressed him, he scoffed mockingly at the utterly defenseless young woman before him. “This prince keeps his word. When does Your Highness plan to repay the debt you owe?”
He was just that wicked, constantly thinking of ways to tease her.
Li Youqing had already seen through his mischievous tendencies and tried her best to keep her tone calm: “This princess owes you nothing.”
“Turning your back and denying everything.” Xuan Rui’s voice was low, his lips already impatiently pressing against hers.
It had been a long time since they had been this intimate, and he simply couldn’t hold back. Fortunately, Li Youqing still retained some rationality.
“Not here—this is my mother’s palace.” She urgently pushed him away. The man was breathing heavily, like a gravely ill traveler who, after finding an oasis, was abruptly separated from it, his face filled with frustration.
He soon realized this wasn’t an appropriate place either.
“On the fifteenth of the first month, we will be married.” His voice was hoarse. He then sat up, not even glancing at her again before rising and leaving.
Li Youqing hugged the quilt, turning to face the inner side of the bed, her mind buzzing, unable to believe what had just happened here.
He had only been here for such a short time, yet it felt as if the entire room, the entire bed, was already filled with his scent.
Tonight, she happened to wake up and found him here.
Did that mean he had come every night before—
At this thought, an involuntary sweetness welled up in her heart.
So, it wasn’t that they hadn’t met; it was just that he came after finishing his work, and she had already fallen asleep.
Or perhaps, he didn’t want to disturb her time with her mother, which was why he specifically chose to come at night.
Her restless heart could no longer calm down. This small incident had kept her awake all night.
By daybreak, when Zisu came to assist with her morning routine and saw her with two dark circles under her eyes, she couldn’t help but chuckle: “If this servant may say so, though Your Highness claims not to care, it seems you’re still quite bothered.”
It took Li Youqing a moment to realize they thought she was upset about what her mother had said the previous night, which had caused her insomnia.
“That’s not it at all! Don’t talk nonsense—hurry and do my makeup!” She sat before the dressing mirror, thinking she must cover up the dark circles no matter what, or she would be utterly embarrassed at the palace banquet.
At the same time, another matter weighed on her mind.
Tonight was New Year’s Eve, and the Crown Prince was alone under house arrest in Changxin Palace.
She wanted to visit him and bring him some food.
After all, he was the one who had protected and watched over her since childhood—she couldn’t simply turn a blind eye.
Especially since the Empress had shown her great kindness; one must not be ungrateful.
After finishing her preparations, she went to the small kitchen in her mother’s palace, intending to cook a pot of dumplings herself.
She remembered how, in the past, every New Year’s Eve, the Crown Prince would eat dumplings with her, watch the fireworks, and stay up late to welcome the new year.
But now, with everything that had happened, she didn’t know how she should face him in the future.
Once the brightest and most elegant moon in the imperial palace, he had fallen because of her, becoming a prisoner confined to Changxin Palace.
Between her and the Crown Prince, who was truly harming whom?
Li Youqing shook her head, dispelling these distracting thoughts, and firmly told herself that she had done nothing wrong. She had always maintained a sisterly affection and familial bond with the Crown Prince—she had no regrets.
The reason the Crown Prince lost to Xuan Rui was his own lack of strength.
And the reason he lost her was because he harbored wicked intentions, constantly scheming against her to satisfy his own selfish desires.
As for the guilt, reluctance, and concern she felt now, they all stemmed from the kindness she had received from him and the late Empress. It wasn’t that she had done anything wrong—it was simply the way things were.
One thing at a time—she quickly sorted out her thoughts and began focusing on making dumplings.
The servant in the small kitchen, seeing the little princess skillfully shaping the dumplings, thought to seize the opportunity to curry favor with the Prince of Rui and earn some reward money. In a flash, he dashed toward the main hall.
At this hour, the Prince of Rui had likely not yet returned from court.
Such a low-ranking servant had no chance of meeting the Prince of Rui directly. He merely relayed the news of the princess making dumplings to one of the prince’s attendants at the gate and received a pouch of reward money, returning cheerfully.
Now, everyone in the kingdom knew that His Highness the Prince of Rui and the little princess were soon to be married. On New Year’s Eve, if Her Highness was making dumplings, they were surely meant for the Prince of Rui.
Such is the way of the world: when the former Crown Prince was at the height of his glory, everyone revered and respected him. Now that he had fallen from power, it seemed as if no one in the palace even remembered that there had once been such a Crown Prince, beloved by the people.