Chapter 1949: Baptism

The hour was not yet late, but the night had already deepened, and the welcome banquet at Hongde Hall concluded in a warm and harmonious atmosphere. Palace eunuchs led the way with lanterns, and Consort Xiao and her son slowly made their way toward their sleeping quarters, the lamplight casting its glow upon their faces, revealing two calm and composed countenances.

The journey was silent, and even upon returning to the chamber, they remained mute for a time. A palace maid brought a basin of water, and Consort Xiao took the silk cloth, gently wiping her face, as if to wipe away the drunkenness from her features.

At Hongde Hall, Xiao Chuo had also drunk some wine—fine grape wine from the Gaochang Circuit. In the Great Han of today, grape cultivation had spread everywhere, accompanied by the great development of the wine industry, but when it came to quality and taste, the wine of the Gaochang Circuit was still the most "authentic."

However, in recent years, due to the Anxi War, the brewing of wine had been affected, prices had risen day by day, and Gaochang wine, by virtue of its scarcity, had become a luxury item. In ordinary times, only the powerful and noble could enjoy authentic Gaochang wine.

Liu Wenji also washed his hands and face at a leisurely pace, still not speaking throughout the process. Only after the maidservants had been dismissed did Xiao Chuo, looking at her son who had been silent for so long, ask in a low voice: "Envious?"

Although Liu Wenji was only thirteen now, for the imperial family, that was not considered young. Xiao Chuo's question seemed to come out of nowhere, but Liu Wenji understood what she meant. After a moment's deliberation, he answered: "Envious!"

How could he not be envious? At the banquet in Hongde Hall just now, although it was only a family gathering, there was clearly an additional protagonist. A portion of Crown Prince Liu Yang's radiance seemed to have shifted onto Liu Wenhuan. In the past, within the Eastern Palace, among the brothers, Liu Wenji had always been in a state of follower and attendant, never contending, never even thinking of contending.

But today, when Liu Wenhuan received their father's approval and their grandfather's rewards, when others directed their gazes solely upon Liu Wenhuan, when the disparity in status and position became apparent, Liu Wenji felt a stirring of his heart.

At this moment, Liu Wenji could not accurately describe his feelings, but in any case, he felt somewhat uncomfortable—perhaps there was envy, jealousy, and also unwillingness.

Hearing her son's crisp answer, Xiao Chuo was rather surprised, for the first time examining him with a probing gaze. Originally, Xiao Chuo had thought that Liu Wenji would give the opposite answer to this question, even if only to express himself with some restraint, but the result was somewhat beyond her expectations.

And more than the answer itself, the subtle changes revealed behind it made Xiao Chuo somewhat flustered, yet also inexplicably expectant. She slowly approached, sat down beside Liu Wenji, and with a smile on her lips, said gently: "Why are you envious?"

Liu Wenji shook his head: "I don't know! Just envious!"

Xiao Chuo asked: "Is it envy of obtaining a noble title? Or of the favor of your grandfather and father?"

Liu Wenji was silent for a moment, then said: "Those are all things eldest brother deserves!"

Looking at her son's calm face, Xiao Chuo's expression gradually turned serious. She straightened his body and asked earnestly: "Tell mother! Do you want them too?"

Faced with this question, Liu Wenji was clearly somewhat nervous, his face unable to conceal an expression called anticipation. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice: "Your son merely feels that he should learn from eldest brother. When I reach sixteen, I wonder if I too can be like eldest brother—down-to-earth, traveling ten thousand li!"

Upon hearing this, a smile bloomed once again on Xiao Chuo's face, the rich joy even appearing radiant. She raised her hand and gently stroked the back of Liu Wenji's head, saying: "You need not necessarily travel ten thousand li; you may also read ten thousand volumes of books!"

Hearing this suggestion, Liu Wenji's eyes brightened slightly, but soon dimmed again: "Can reading ten thousand volumes of books also earn one a marquisate?"

"Wenji, you should know that you are different from those scholars of the world. You study and understand principles, not like them who do so for fame and fortune. Your birth determines that you need not worry over a mere noble title, and likewise, you cannot be too eager in striving for things that should rightfully come to you," Xiao Chuo said with a light sigh.

Liu Wenji listened very attentively to Consort Xiao's words, but he clearly did not quite understand, and directly shook his head: "Mother's words, your son finds somewhat hard to understand!"

Xiao Chuo still maintained an air of patient guidance, speaking softly: "Although mother does not wish to speak of certain matters, and even less wants you to be disturbed by them, since we have come this far today, you may as well listen. Half of the blood flowing in your veins is Khitan."

"But I have never considered myself a Khitan!" Liu Wenji suddenly burst out, speaking to Xiao Chuo with some agitation. His youthful face, though tender, bore a very serious expression, and his gaze was exceptionally resolute.

Meeting his resolute and questioning gaze, Xiao Chuo smiled slightly and said calmly: "Mother knows! Mother has never considered you a Khitan either, nor does she wish you to be one, but how others perceive you is not something we mother and son can control!"

"The Great Han has so many civil and military officials of all peoples, meritorious ministers and honored nobles, even founding elders—does the court not regard them as citizens of the nation? Are their achievements not recorded in the histories, and do their heroic spirits not receive sacrifices at the Zhaolie Temple?" Liu Wenji said.

"What you say makes a great deal of sense!" Liu Wenji's questioning was so forceful and resolute that Xiao Chuo's eyes grew even brighter upon hearing it. In a tone of approval, she said: "But some facts cannot be changed. Mother is indeed a Khitan woman who came south with your maternal grandfather—this point cannot be denied.

No one can deny that you are Han, because you are a grandson of the Great Han, with half of the most precious bloodline in the world flowing through your veins. However, if you wish to obtain the same things as your eldest brother, you are destined to put forth far more effort."

Hearing his mother speak thus, Liu Wenji's brows knitted tightly, and his teeth unconsciously bit down on his lip, very hard, almost drawing blood. But Xiao Chuo did not stop him. Today's words had clearly been a tremendous shock to Liu Wenji.

But these things were necessary to experience. Thirteen was not young—on the grasslands, one could even be considered an adult laborer at that age, and it was time to learn of the world. His fists clenched, his breathing heavy, his chest rising and falling several times, Liu Wenji suddenly raised his eyes to look at Xiao Chuo, his eyes slightly reddened: "Does grandfather and father also view me the way mother says?"

Upon hearing this question, Xiao Chuo's smile was warm and infectious, and she said softly: "You have been influenced by your father since childhood, and are often summoned to serve at your grandfather's knee. Do you feel that they have treated you differently or looked upon you with special regard?"

Liu Wenji thought for a moment, his tense body slowly relaxing, and answered with certainty: "No!"

"You must understand!" Xiao Chuo nodded slightly and said solemnly: "You may need to put forth several times the effort to gain the recognition of the foreign ministers and people, but the opinions of ten thousand foreign ministers and people are not as important as the thoughts of your grandfather and father!"

Seeing Liu Wenji lost in thought, Xiao Chuo continued unhurriedly: "Mother will answer your earlier question now. Reading ten thousand volumes of books may not necessarily earn you a noble title, but your eldest brother, traveling ten thousand li, has only traveled the northwestern route, and has only seen a corner of Anxi. If you can read ten thousand volumes of books, you can see the court, the myriad people, and the entire world."

The conversation between mother and son lasted a long time, continuing until the dead of night when Liu Wenji finally took his leave. At the end, Consort Xiao gave Liu Wenji one more admonition: to remember tonight's words but not to leak a single syllable to anyone outside. At the same time, his attitude toward his grandfather and father, toward the two consorts of the Eastern Palace, toward Liu Wenhuan, and even toward his youngest brother Liu Wenpeng, who was only one year old, must remain exactly as before, without the slightest neglect.

The greatest trait Liu Wenji had displayed in the past was obedience, along with stubborn adherence to principle and a heavy regard for promises. Matters he had promised his mother, he would be even less likely to go back on.

It must be said that the conversation that night moved Liu Wenji greatly. Although there were still many things he was puzzled about, and he even seemed rather muddled, the thirteen-year-old Liu Wenji underwent a baptism in spirit unlike anything he had ever experienced before.

As for how great an impact this baptism would have on him, and how much effect it would have on his future, that remained to be seen. At the very least, after that night, many people familiar with Liu Wenji noticed that some changes had taken place in the imperial grandson—some indescribable changes, somewhat strange, but not off-putting.