A Precious Pearl in the Imperial City-Chapter 124

After the banquet, Jiuzhu noticed many officials surrounding her father and His Highness, engaged in conversation. She secretly tugged at Yun Duqing's sleeve and, standing on her tiptoes, whispered in his ear, "Your Highness, I'm going outside with my sisters-in-law to watch the fireworks."

"Alright." Yun Duqing saw how her hand still clung to his sleeve, though her mind had already flown to the company of the two princesses. He draped a light gauze cloak over her shoulders. "Don't stay out too long."

Jiuzhu nodded with a bright smile, lifted the hem of her long skirt, and dashed down the steps, as carefree and joyful as a little bird.

The officials speaking with the Crown Prince noticed how his gaze followed the Crown Princess until she and the two consorts had left the hall. They exchanged knowing smiles—it was clear the Crown Princess held an extraordinary place in His Highness's heart.

"Your Highness and the Crown Princess share such a deep bond—it moves this humble official."

A Crown Prince who cherished affection was far better than one who was cold and indifferent.

Yun Duqing dismissed the officials with a few words and, carrying a wine jug, took a seat beside Prince Huai and Prince An.

"Crown Prince, you—"

"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, it sounds more natural if you call me Fifth Brother." Yun Duqing poured wine for both of them. "As the saying goes, 'When brothers are of one heart, they can cut through metal.' See those officials heading this way? Help me fend them off."

"Of course, no problem!" Prince An agreed enthusiastically.

Prince Huai sighed inwardly. He had known that the moment the fifth prince sought them out, trouble would follow.

"Ah, Fifth Brother," he nudged Yun Duqing lightly with his elbow. "Your Crown Princess is so innocent and carefree. Do you really indulge her like this?"

"Eldest Brother, do you know why I became Crown Prince?" Yun Duqing picked up a wine cup, poured himself a drink, and clinked it gently against Prince Huai's. "She gave me the purest heart she had. So I must hold it close, protect it, and cherish it."

"Only then can I be worthy of her."

Fireworks bloomed in the sky, dazzling as stars.

Jiuzhu watched, mesmerized, her smile sweet and content.

"Jiuzhu," Princess Huai stood beside her, shielding her from the subtle, assessing glances of the noblewomen. "I never expected you to accompany the Crown Prince here today."

What she really meant was that such an unconventional act was best avoided. The court officials would never criticize the Crown Prince, but they would surely condemn Jiuzhu for leading him astray.

"Because I knew he would be happy if I walked up to the high platform with him," Jiuzhu replied, still gazing at the fireworks. "The higher one stands, the fewer companions they have. I couldn’t bear it."

"Bear what?"

"Bear the thought of him being alone." Jiuzhu turned to Princess Huai with a radiant smile. "Even the moon in the sky has stars to keep it company. Why shouldn’t His Highness?"

Princess Huai’s heart trembled at these words. She opened her mouth to speak, but as another firework burst in the sky, she swallowed all she had meant to say.

The capital was a place of calculated gains and losses. Few would ever say, "Because he needed it, I gave it." A pure heart was a rare treasure here.

The fireworks scattered like countless shooting stars.

If shooting stars could grant wishes, may the Crown Prince never betray this precious sincerity.

The ceremonial officer struck the chime, signaling the end of the fireworks.

Midnight approached, marking the conclusion of the Crown Prince’s investiture ceremony.

Jiuzhu returned to the hall with her sisters-in-law and spotted Yun Duqing beckoning to her discreetly. She hurried over in small, quick steps and sat beside him, their shoulders touching, heads leaning together.

"Did you enjoy the fireworks?" Yun Duqing held a cup of fruit juice to her lips.

"They were beautiful," Jiuzhu drank from his hand. "Princess Huai said that in all her years in the palace, she’s never seen such a grand display."

Emperor Longfeng cleared his throat when he noticed the young couple whispering intimately. Raising his wine cup, he declared, "The Crown Prince is still young. I ask all my ministers to assist him diligently for the prosperity of the realm."

The officials rose in unison, offering blessings for the empire’s enduring peace and prosperity.

As the midnight bell tolled, the day finally came to a perfect close.

With the Crown Prince now officially appointed, it was no longer appropriate for the other princes to remain in the palace. Seizing the emperor’s good mood, some officials suggested that the princes return to their respective mansions and resume their duties in the Six Ministries.

These officials all hailed from noble families. Emperor Longfeng glanced at his reticent third son, Prince Jing, and nodded. "My ministers speak wisely—"

"Your Majesty!" A messenger rushed in. "A sudden explosion was heard at the Western Mausoleum! The Imperial Guards used a spyglass and confirmed that the late Emperor’s tombstone has cracked!"

The festive atmosphere froze.

"Everything was fine just now. How could such an ill omen appear the moment the other princes were to return to the Six Ministries?" A Ministry of Rites official muttered just loud enough to be heard.

The words "sudden," "just now," and "spyglass" all pointedly absolved the Crown Prince of any involvement.

Though the remark was soft, the hall was so silent that everyone heard it clearly.

The head of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau stood under the weight of countless stares. "Your Majesty, since the late Emperor has given a sign, perhaps we should postpone the princes’ return to the Six Ministries?"

During the investiture banquet, the stars and moon had shone brightly, an auspicious omen. Yet the moment the other princes were mentioned, the late Emperor’s tombstone cracked. What did this mean?

It meant the Crown Prince was blameless—the fault lay with one of the other princes.

"Then let it be as the Chief Astrologer suggests. We shall delay this matter," Emperor Longfeng smiled gently. "It seems my late father knew I could not bear to part with my sons just yet and wished them to stay by my side a little longer."

The ministers voiced their agreement, though their glances toward the princes carried a new wariness.

Concubine Wei nearly crushed her wine cup in her grip. As the banquet dispersed, she lingered behind the other consorts and turned to glare at Du Qingke, who stood beneath the corridor. Her eyes burned with cold fury.

They had agreed to shatter the late Emperor’s tombstone during the Crown Prince’s banquet, creating an inauspicious omen that would cast doubt on Yun Duqing’s appointment. The chaos would then allow the other princes to return to their mansions and the Six Ministries, laying the groundwork for future plans.

The ill omen had indeed occurred—but at the worst possible moment, just as the emperor was about to consent to the princes’ return.

Was Du Qingke truly on their side, or was he a spy planted by Su Meidai?

"Mother." Prince Jing took Concubine Wei’s arm. "Allow me to escort you back to the palace."

Princess Jing released her hold on Concubine Wei and slowed her steps, falling behind the mother and son.

"Du Qingke cannot be trusted," Concubine Wei whispered to Prince Jing. "I suspect he feigned cooperation to mislead us, ensuring Yun Duqing’s smooth ascension as Crown Prince."

If not for their confinement within the inner palace, where their influence was limited, she would never have entrusted such a task to Du Qingke.

If not for fear of exposure, she would not have waited until the last moment to reveal the plan. She had assumed the Du family’s resources could handle such a trivial matter in mere hours—yet now, everything had gone awry.

Instead of undermining Yun Duqing, they had sabotaged themselves. What a masterstroke from Du Qingke!

Concubine Wei trembled with rage, yet under the watchful eyes of the crowd, she had to maintain a polite and composed smile.

Since Du Qingke showed no mercy, she wouldn't hesitate to retaliate either!

On his way back after completing his tasks, the steward of the Du residence was intercepted by the Imperial Guards.

The one who caught him was none other than Yu Jian. Having grown up next to a family that ran a fireworks workshop, Yu Jian was particularly sensitive to the scent of gunpowder. When the Du steward and his trusted subordinates rode past him, he immediately detected the smell and drew his blade to stop them.

"Officer, I am the steward of the Du residence, just returning from business outside the capital," the steward said, producing his identification token and entry records from other prefectures.

Yu Jian took the token and handed it to his subordinate behind him. Then he walked to the horses and plucked a few petals that had somehow clung to their tails.

If he wasn’t mistaken, these flowers were most abundant near the imperial mausoleum in the western outskirts.

Legend had it that these flowers were brought to the mortal realm by the azure birds from the Queen Mother of the West’s celestial court. The imperial family believed that planting these flowers around tombs would guide the souls of the departed back to the heavens, transforming them into immortals.

"The road from outside the capital surely doesn’t pass by the western imperial mausoleum," Yu Jian remarked, carefully storing the petals in a cloth pouch before waving his hand. "Take them away."

"Sir, I am the steward of the Du family! How dare you arrest us without any evidence? Aren’t you afraid of repercussions from the Du family?"

"I’ve even arrested the head of the Du family before. Why would I fear a mere steward?" Yu Jian scoffed. "I suspect you’re involved in the vandalism of the late emperor’s tombstone. Until the investigation is concluded, you’ll have to stay in the capital’s prison."

Without thunder or rain, how could a tombstone simply shatter on its own? The Imperial Guards didn’t believe in superstitions.

Today was the auspicious day of Prince Chen’s investiture as Crown Prince, and there were bound to be those scheming in the shadows. That was why Yu Jian had brought the Imperial Guards’ only telescope with him that morning.

To his surprise, a great merit had practically fallen into his lap.

Such an opportunity was too good to pass up—it would be a waste not to take advantage of it.

"Not just the men, take the horses too. Strip them of their shoes and outer garments and inspect them thoroughly. We need to trace their movements."

If he couldn’t become a loyal hound for Prince Chen’s estate, then serving the Crown Prince’s household would be even more glorious.

"Father, what do you think about the incident with the late emperor’s tombstone cracking…?"

"Undoubtedly man-made," Ming Jingzhou replied, sitting in the swaying carriage, his tone devoid of reverence. "Our Great Cheng Dynasty has seen many wise rulers. If there were truly any divine warning, it would be the tomb of another emperor that cracked—certainly not his."

Ming Jiyuan fell silent.

That actually made sense.

If ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‍it were sabotage, the perpetrators wouldn’t dare target the tombs of other emperors. But the late emperor? He was a lecherous, incompetent fool. Destroying his tombstone wouldn’t provoke much outrage from the imperial family—they might not even investigate seriously.

"Then who is helping the Crown Prince?"

With the fifth prince newly appointed as Crown Prince, the other princes being assigned to the Six Ministries wasn’t favorable for him. But now, whether this incident was man-made or an omen, the Emperor would never allow them to return to the ministries. Other officials wouldn’t dare bring it up again.

"Could it be… the Emperor himself?" Ming Jiyuan swallowed hard. Was His Majesty being a little too… "filial" in paving the way for the Crown Prince?

Ming Jingzhou coughed lightly. "Don’t speak nonsense. His Majesty is filial and benevolent—he would never do such a thing."

When the carriage stopped at the Ming residence, Ming Jiyuan stepped down and reached out to assist his father, only to spot two Daoist priests in blue robes sitting at the entrance.

The female priest sitting on the steps was munching on a large steamed bun with great relish. As the father and son descended from the carriage, both priests looked up at them.

"Revered Daoists, where have you come from?" Shen Ying stepped forward from the following carriage and bowed slightly. "The night is late. If you don’t mind, would you honor us by resting in our humble home?"

Ever since Jiuzhu returned, the Ming family had been exceptionally welcoming to Daoists.

"That would be acceptable," the elder priest said, handing her half-eaten bun to the younger one before standing and dusting off her robe. "Do you have hot water? We’d like to bathe first."

"Of course, of course." Shen Ying blinked in surprise. "Please, follow me."

"Many thanks." The elder priest entered the Ming residence, her gaze sweeping the surroundings before nodding approvingly. "This household is filled with righteous energy—a blessed family indeed."

"You honor us with your praise." Shen Ying smiled. "Might I ask where you two revered priests cultivate?"

The elder priest paused. "Ah, I forgot to mention. We are Jiuzhu’s Daoist masters. We don’t bother with formal titles—Jiuzhu has always called us Elder Master and Second Master. You may address us the same."

"So it’s you two immortals!" Shen Ying stopped in her tracks, and Ming Jingzhou and Ming Jiyuan quickly approached.

"We owe you our daughter’s life—a debt the Ming family will never forget. Please accept our deepest gratitude." Ming Jingzhou lifted the hem of his robe, preparing to kneel in reverence.

"Lord Ming, fate brought us to Jiuzhu. There’s no need for such formalities." The elder priest steadied Ming Jingzhou and Shen Ying with a single hand. Though she exerted no visible force, neither could kneel.

"You were exiled to harsh lands, separated from your child, all because you stood firm for the people. Heaven guided us to save Jiuzhu because of your virtue—not our merit." Her tone was calm. "If you kneel to us, we would have to kneel to you on behalf of the people."

"Besides, Jiuzhu brought us as much joy as we gave her guidance. Neither owes the other."

"Understood." Ming Jingzhou grasped her meaning and instead offered a deep bow.

"Earlier, I observed the stars and noticed a shift in Jiuzhu’s fate," the elder priest said, pleased that the Ming family didn’t insist on further formalities. "Did something significant happen to her today?"

"Immortal Elder, today His Majesty appointed the Crown Prince—Jiuzhu’s husband, Yun Duqing."

"I see." The elder priest gazed at the sky and chuckled. "Had we known, we wouldn’t have come to the capital at all."

Not long after Jiuzhu returned to the capital, she had divined her fate nine times—each reading foretold a life-threatening calamity this year.

But tonight, sitting at the Ming family’s doorstep, she recalculated and found the calamity vanished, replaced by an aura of nobility.

She had no desire to linger in the capital any longer.

What a wasted trip.