Chapter 70: The Old Prince Next Door 23

Once the First Prince was delivered, Prince Chen stopped wearing a long face. Facing a child he liked, Prince Chen became a kind elder with a smile as bright as a flower.

The First Prince was carried in on a litter. His eyes were open and his mind was clear, but he lacked even the strength to speak.

His lips moved slightly; unless you understood lip-reading, you wouldn’t be able to hear a word the child said.

After Prince Chen and the others finished relaying what the child had said, his eyes instantly reddened. He covered his mouth and turned his face away, unable to bear looking any longer, yet the child offered a faint smile.

Su Huandan looked at Prince Chen in surprise. What exactly did he say?

To make you look so heartbroken.

After a long silence, Prince Chen spoke seriously to Su Huandan. “Let’s raise this child ourselves.”

Su Huandan arched an eyebrow. Had he completely let it go? Was he no longer concerned about the trouble this child’s background might bring?

She secretly added a drop of Spiritual Spring Water into a bowl of rice porridge and handed it to Prince Chen. Prince Chen personally fed the First Prince two mouthfuls. It really was just two mouthfuls; by the third, the child vomited.

Su Huandan grew worried. She hoped he wouldn’t throw up everything he ate, otherwise, the child wouldn’t survive.

After vomiting once, the First Prince fell into a deep sleep.

Prince Chen took Su Huandan’s hand and returned to their bedchamber.

“This child truly breaks one’s heart. Just now, he told me that he’s caused us trouble.” A child of only ten, perhaps knowing his end was near, possessed such a peaceful state of mind. With this kind of temperament, if the child truly survived, Prince Chen would support him for the throne no matter what.

After all, among the Emperor’s sons, this was the most outstanding child.

“You’re not blaming me anymore?” Su Huandan wasn’t without lingering fear. Before, she really hadn’t considered how the Empress’s side would react. In an era of imperial power, Su Huandan’s understanding was that the Emperor holding the power was the ultimate authority, so befriending him couldn’t be wrong.

But after hearing Prince Chen’s words, Su Huandan did feel some regret. Insufficient consideration could indeed lead to trouble, massive trouble.

Thinking about ancient affairs with a modern mindset was indeed incredibly foolish.

“Blame you for what? You were afraid I’d offend the Emperor; it’s not like I don’t understand your intentions.” It was just that she hadn’t fully realized the danger surrounding the First Prince.

A ten-year-old child was indeed not dangerous, but the factions connected to a ten-year-old child were exceptionally dangerous.

Reassuringly patting the Princess Consort’s hand, Prince Chen kicked off his shoes and sat cross-legged. While peeling peanuts, he watched his son held by the wet nurse nearby, his lips curling into a smile. “I’ve spent half my life fearing nothing in heaven or earth, and now I have to tuck my head in and live cautiously for this little thing.”

Su Huandan laughed. She briskly cracked two walnuts and popped them into her mouth. These things tasted truly fragrant, and life was no longer so nerve-wracking.

She had been afraid that once Prince Chen’s health improved, he would go back to being the man everyone loathed, which would be no good for their child.

If people couldn’t get revenge on the old man, wouldn’t they target the young one?

As long as Prince Chen didn’t stir up trouble for her son, everything would be fine.

Prince Chen: …

Have you no manners? I’m his father. Do you think you’re the only one who loves our son?

During the New Year period, there weren’t many palace banquets. There was one on New Year’s Eve, one on New Year’s Day, and for the remaining days, it depended on which consort the Emperor wished to spend the holiday with.

Regardless of whether she was busy, the Empress came to Yanshou Palace every day to see the First Prince.

The First Prince’s health was visibly improving.

From lying in bed with only half a breath left to being able to sit up and hold his own bowl to eat, the transformation was so incredible that not only the Empress, but every doctor in the Imperial Academy of Medicine¹ found it miraculous.

The First Prince wasn’t poisoned, injured, or even sick; he was simply physically weak. He couldn’t eat and was constantly lethargic, which caused his health to decline. According to medical principles, as long as he could eat, his body could be slowly nursed back to health.

But the imperial physicians had tried every method and couldn’t get the First Prince to take a single bite. What exactly had the Prince Chen couple done?

“How should I know? I stay by the First Prince’s side every day and I truly haven’t discovered anything. The First Prince started with only rice porridge, eating one or two mouthfuls, and now he can eat a small bowl. He’s also started drinking chicken soup, fish soup, and bone broth. At this rate, he’ll be able to get out of bed soon. His pulse is getting stronger by the day, and he hasn’t taken any medicine. I can tell from his pulse whether he’s taking medicine or not. What else do you want to know? I really don’t know anything else.” Imperial Physician Song was specifically in charge of the First Prince’s health, so it was no wonder the other physicians questioned him.

But he was telling the truth. The boy simply started eating bit by bit, his appetite increasing daily. Naturally, his body was slowly recovering.

Once the Lantern Festival passed, Prince Chen’s family was set to depart.

The Empress Dowager and the Emperor naturally had no objections. The New Year was over; it was time to go home.

But the Empress didn’t want them to leave. Her son had just been able to walk; if he left now and fell ill again, what would she do?

“Then send him to live at the Prince Chen Estate for a year,” the Emperor decided. When Prince Chen and Su Huandan returned home, they brought an extra child with them.

The First Prince had never been out of the palace and was curious about everything. From the moment the carriage passed through the palace gates, he remained pressed against the window, watching the scenery outside.

Prince Chen didn’t stop him. He even shooed away the wet nurse who tried to prevent the First Prince from lifting the curtain.

Only after the wet nurse left the carriage did the First Prince speak. “She is Mother’s trusted confidante from her dowry. I must show her some face to make things easier for Mother.”

Prince Chen scoffed. “You are a prince. Even if she is your mother’s confidante, there is no reason for you to be controlled by her. Your mother is the Empress of Dajing. Her ‘face’ is given by the court, by your father, by the imperial clan, by the civil and military officials, and by the people of the world. Your mother’s trusted maid has no right to enjoy that status.”

You are a prince; you must understand this principle.

The First Prince looked thoughtful and then nodded. This logic was different from what his mother taught him.

His mother always said they were mother and son, sharing glory and shame. She would protect his dignity as the First Prince, and he should protect hers.

Respecting his mother’s confidante was something his mother considered a way of giving her “face,” but his Imperial Great-Uncle said it wasn’t so.

After thinking it over, the Eldest Prince decided that his Great-Uncle was right.

The words Prince Chen used to instruct the Eldest Prince during his first night at the Prince Chen Estate reached the palace soon after.

The Emperor looked at the Empress and said, “I truly did not realize that your dignity required the Eldest Prince to flatter the servants by your side just to show you respect. Since when has the Empress of Dajing become so lacking in class? From now on, stay out of the Eldest Prince’s education. Do not corrupt a perfectly good prince.”

The Emperor certainly spoke his mind, but the Empress directed all her resentment toward Prince Chen.

What business of yours is it to interfere in the relationship between mother and son?

You should have just focused on looking after my son’s health. Why did you have to open your mouth?

The Empress truly loathed Prince Chen, feeling that he was driving a wedge between her and her son.

Because of this, she sent messengers to the Prince Chen Estate three times a day to deliver items to her son, and then had them whisper ambiguous, leading comments to the Eldest Prince.

Translator’s Notes