Chapter 10: The Boy in the Donggong

After Jiang’s mother’s headache eased, she suddenly felt inspired and went to the kitchen to search for ingredients.

As a woman of proper conduct, she had no duty to entertain guests, but she desperately wanted to showcase a couple of her hometown dishes to thank the Crown Prince and Physician Li Xuan.

Unfortunately, the Crown Prince had arrived unexpectedly, and the kitchen had little to spare; after speaking with the cook, she grabbed a fish and whatever other ingredients she could find, and set to work on her own.

The cook was busy at the time and had no time to observe what the Lady Jiang was doing; seeing her enthusiastically helping to lighten his workload, he was glad to have one less burden. The only discomfort was the insufficient number of stoves.

Fortunately, the cook and Jiang’s mother cooperated and showed mutual courtesy, and in no time at all, they completed a home banquet of twelve dishes on schedule!

The cook was from the north, and the dishes he prepared were familiar to the Crown Prince from the palace; but the two dishes made personally by Jiang’s mother left him astonished!

The Crown Prince pointed at the fish on the table, sprinkled with green onions, minced garlic, and chili flakes, and asked curiously: “This fish… what is it called? What’s the story behind it?”

“It’s a common dish among people from Dongzhou…”

Jiang’s mother, with limited education, couldn’t think of a fancy name right away; she stammered for a long while, her mind going blank from nervousness, unable to answer.

The fish was over a foot long, its scales clearly visible, its color a vivid, dripping red—likely just pulled from the water.

Finely chopped green onions were scattered over its surface, releasing a fragrant aroma that mingled beautifully with the fish’s natural freshness.

The fish’s flesh was coated in a golden, crispy crust, dusted with bright red chili flakes, spicy and numbing, making one’s appetite surge.

Jiang Mingyu picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and brought it to the Crown Prince’s lips.

The Crown Prince took a small bite; the fresh, savory juice instantly spread through his mouth, mingling with the spicy and numbing flavor.

“Incredibly delicious!”

The Crown Prince exclaimed, “I’ve never tasted such a marvelous fish—truly a culinary treasure. Excellent, excellent, quite intriguing!”

As he spoke, he kept loading fish slices into his mouth, eating with great relish.

The Crown Prince then pointed to another dish—a thick soup made from octopus and taro—and asked: “And what’s the name of this pot?”

Jiang’s mother, just as before, looked at Jiang Mingyu with a pained expression, silently pleading for help!

Jiang Mingyu understood at once and replied: “Hidden Identity.”

The Crown Prince: “Hidden Identity?”

“Yes, that’s its name—Hidden Identity!” Jiang Mingyu didn’t know what else to call it, so he made up a name on the spot.

The soup in the pot was rich and fragrant, its aroma filling the air.

Floating within were pale-pink octopus strips and cubed taro.

The rice noodles were long and slender, the broth thick and viscous; a light tug would wrap the strands neatly around the chopsticks.

The Crown Prince tasted the soup; its savory flavor lingered deliciously. Taro was rare in the north, and now that he had tasted this “Hidden Identity,” he was especially delighted.

“Great concealment lies in the marketplace, medium concealment in the wilds, small concealment in the mountains… this ‘Hidden Identity’ tastes exquisite!”

The Crown Prince said happily, “Xingqiu, I’ll send someone to your household to learn these two dishes, so I may present them to my father for tasting!”

After receiving the Crown Prince’s praise for her cooking, Jiang’s mother was beaming throughout the entire banquet, her face lit with joy, smiling warmly at everyone.

After the banquet ended, the Crown Prince and Li Xuan bid farewell to the Jiang family; after mutual thanks, they turned to leave Jiangfu.

Jiang Mingyu, still injured and unable to go out, was replaced by Zhang the steward and Jiang’s father to see them off; as the group stepped outside Jiangfu, they saw an eight-man palanquin with a yellow canopy and red curtains parked at the gate.

The Crown Prince, with practiced ease, climbed into the palanquin as his attendants assisted him.

Inside the palanquin, deep red silk curtains hung all around, like a barrier shielding the occupant from outside view.

Eight tall, powerful men bore the massive palanquin on their shoulders, standing tall and upright, seemingly without effort. These eight men were the strongest among the Crown Prince’s hundred guards, specially assigned to carry the palanquin.

Li Xuan rode in a smaller, green official palanquin behind, carried by four strong men; its body was adorned with intricate carvings and gold thread, radiating dignity and solemnity.

As the Crown Prince’s palanquin began to move, the procession immediately followed. At the front, dozens of gong and drum players created a thunderous clamor, echoing down the entire street.

The Crown Prince’s eight-man palanquin moved slowly along the road, gilded and magnificent, like a moving palace. The deep red curtains within faintly revealed the Crown Prince’s imposing and noble presence.

Following closely behind was Li Xuan’s four-man official palanquin, carried by four sturdy soldiers in a rhythmic, fluid motion, steady and graceful.

Behind them rode mounted guards, their horses adorned with splendid saddles and bridles, hooves thundering in perfect unison, over a hundred riders advancing together. The guards wore embroidered armor, wielding spears and bows, their aura like a storm.

The magnificent scene drew crowds of onlookers who knelt to bow before the Crown Prince, wishing him safe travels.

They were awestruck by the Crown Prince’s grand hundred-man procession, gaping in wonder, praising endlessly.

Jiang Mingyu’s right-chest wound, under careful family care, healed quickly; he returned to the Wenhua Hall as a companion to the Crown Prince, now deep in winter.

The Crown Prince was delighted to see Jiang Mingyu recovered. When the day’s lessons ended, he invited Jiang Mingyu to dinner at the Donggong under the pretense of apology; Jiang Mingyu, unable to refuse, agreed to go.

Upon returning to the Donggong, the Crown Princess “Ye Hena Zha Shi” came forward to greet them.

Through the Crown Prince’s introduction, Jiang Mingyu learned that Ye Hena Zha Shi was the thirteenth princess of the Kingdom of Shule in the Western Regions.

Ye Hena Zha Shi had Western Region blood, her skin as smooth as congealed fat, her features sharply defined and luminous, her beauty radiant—truly a celestial vision.

Jiang Mingyu had once heard his tutor mention that the Great Feng imperial family traditionally married into the Western Regions, so imperial members were always strikingly handsome or beautiful, tall and majestic. Today, he finally saw it with his own eyes—this rumor was indeed true.

Ye Hena Zha Shi’s face was fair, her bone structure elegant, her eyebrows and eyes like a painted scroll.

Her peach-blossom eyes sparkled vividly, the corners slightly upturned, enhanced by long, fluttering lashes that made her gaze utterly captivating.

Her nose was high and refined, her lips always curved in a faint, elusive smile, radiating charm.

The phoenix-arriving crown on her head accentuated her beauty; her purple palace gown set off her snow-white skin and rosy cheeks, making her exquisitely alluring.

Ye Hena Zha Shi’s voice was melodious and sweet, like a clear melody that made one want to listen endlessly.

Jiang Mingyu couldn’t help but be captivated, thinking: such a beauty was rare in the world—no wonder she held the Crown Prince’s affection.

Everything about Ye Hena Zha Shi—from her appearance to her mannerisms—radiated the unique allure of the Western Regions, combined with her noble status, making her the supreme wonder of the mortal world, driving all to obsession.

But to Jiang Mingyu’s surprise, the Crown Princess did not join them for dinner; after bidding farewell to the Crown Prince, she left the Donggong under the escort of her attendants.

“I wonder… where is the Crown Princess going tonight?” Jiang Mingyu asked.

“Today is the fifteenth…” the Crown Prince explained. “On the first and fifteenth of every month, my beloved wife goes to the Xishan Lingtai Temple to meditate overnight and returns the next day.”

Jiang Mingyu: “Meditate?”

The Crown Prince laughed heartily. “Their Western Region beliefs are nothing unusual.”

After dinner, the Crown Prince, claiming no lessons tomorrow, invited Jiang Mingyu to spend the night at the Donggong.

Jiang Mingyu politely declined, citing family concern; but the Crown Prince said: “Xingqiu, rest assured—I already sent word to your household earlier today: you’re dining at the Donggong tonight, and if it grows late, you’ll stay overnight.”

Jiang Mingyu realized he couldn’t return home tonight, so he agreed to stay at the Donggong.

Yet with the Crown Princess absent, the Crown Prince seemed like a horse freed from reins, unrestrained!

In the study, the Crown Prince and Jiang Mingyu sat around a low table, on which rested a chessboard carved from fine redwood, its grid lines clear, its surface smooth as a mirror.

The Crown Prince, suddenly inspired, invited Jiang Mingyu to play a game.

At that moment, the Crown Prince held a black stone in his fingers, frowning slightly as he studied the board; the black stone, carved from pure black jade, was perfectly round and glossy, unmistakably of superior quality.

The Crown Prince lightly tapped his finger on the board, contemplating his next move.

After studying the board for a long while, the black stone traced a graceful arc under his fingers before landing in the northeast corner.

Jiang Mingyu, upon seeing this, thought for a moment, then placed a white stone in the center of the board.

The Crown Prince smiled playfully and placed another black stone beside the white one, establishing a defensive posture.

Jiang Mingyu paid it no mind, calmly placing his white stone exactly where he had intended.

Seeing Jiang Mingyu unmoved, the Crown Prince’s eyes flickered with approval, and he placed another black stone on the board.

Back and forth they played; though the Crown Prince held superior skill, Jiang Mingyu matched him fiercely, never yielding.

Though the Crown Prince gradually gained advantage, he was deeply impressed by Jiang Mingyu’s skill and composure.

The white stones fell into disadvantage, but Jiang Mingyu remained calm, his gaze even colder; after a moment’s thought, he placed a white stone that caught the Crown Prince off guard.

The Crown Prince laughed in surprise, admitting that Jiang Mingyu’s steadiness had nearly turned the tide.

The Crown Prince grew even more impressed by Jiang Mingyu’s chess skill and composure; though he won the game, Jiang Mingyu’s performance left him in awe.

Afterwards, they discussed classics and Dao, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, talking endlessly until late into the night.

The Crown Prince, suddenly inspired, ordered a razor and eyebrow trimmer brought, and asked Jiang Mingyu to rest his head on his lap so he could trim his eyebrows and beard.

The Crown Prince was remarkably careful, moving the razor slowly, shaving each hair with precision.

First, he plucked stray hairs around Jiang Mingyu’s brow and eyelids, gently brushed away the trimmed hairs with his fingers, then examined closely to ensure nothing was missed.

Once the eyebrows were done, the Crown Prince began carefully trimming Jiang Mingyu’s beard.

He applied Shule’s tribute beard cream, dampened the razor, and meticulously shaved Jiang Mingyu’s whiskers. His technique was expert; the razor glided smoothly across Jiang Mingyu’s cheeks with a soft sound.

“May I ask, Your Highness… how long have you been married to the Crown Princess?” Jiang Mingyu, resting on the Crown Prince’s lap, began casual conversation.

“I married at sixteen…” the Crown Prince frowned slightly, then added: “Counting now, it’s been eight years.”

“Eight years!” Jiang Mingyu looked puzzled, then dared to ask: “Has Your Highness… never fathered a son or daughter?”

The Crown Prince sighed, unable to speak plainly: “Yes. My father is troubled by this too—he’s even considering giving me another concubine.”

Jiang Mingyu: “In that case, I humbly wish Your Highness an early heir.”

The Crown Prince: “No rush… my father’s health is strong. I have plenty of time.”

After wiping off the beard cream, Jiang Mingyu looked into the bronze mirror—his once wild, unkempt beard had been neatly trimmed by the Crown Prince, transformed into a clean, refined look, making him seem like a different man!

“Your Highness’s skill… is incredibly precise!” Jiang Mingyu ran his fingers over his cheeks, praising.

The Crown Prince snorted, modestly: “It’s nothing—just a trivial trick.”

Time soon reached the third watch; the Crown Prince, who had been full of energy and unwilling to sleep, now began to feel drowsy, and ordered Jiang Mingyu taken to the side hall to rest.

Jiang Mingyu stepped out of the hall, and as he crossed the threshold, he saw a line of eunuchs leading a young boy past him.

The boy was about twelve or thirteen, his face still childlike, with sparse, untrimmed whiskers, dressed in snow-white robes, his face lightly powdered with rouge, stepping daintily into the inner palace.

Jiang Mingyu froze outside the hall, staring at the path the boy had taken, unable to move.

In that moment, a chill rose from deep within his heart, sending shivers through him.

This chill came not only from the night’s cold, but from a creeping sense of dread.

The attendant leading the way stood at the stone steps, watching him—as if waiting, as if urging.

Jiang Mingyu finally snapped out of his trance and hurried after them.

That night, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

The face of the boy, still childlike, and the back view of his white robe haunted his mind.

He felt puzzled, wondering: why would the Crown Prince, looking so weary, summon a boy into the hall?

If it were for bedding, why not a maid?

All these oddities filled him with a nameless dread.

In the end, Jiang Mingyu fell into a drowsy sleep, his mind full of unanswered questions.

He slept fitfully, then woke abruptly to find the sky bright with daylight.