Chapter 10: The Young Boy in the Eastern Palace

After Jiang Mu's headache symptoms eased, she suddenly felt inspired and went to the kitchen to search for ingredients.

As a woman bound by domestic duties, hosting guests was not really her affair, yet she truly wished to show off a couple of hometown dishes to thank the Crown Prince and the Imperial Physician Li Li Xuanren.

However, the Crown Prince's arrival was sudden, and the family kitchen did not have many fine ingredients; after speaking with the cook, she grabbed a fish along with whatever other ingredients could be found in the kitchen and busied herself independently.

The cook was busy at the time and paid no attention to what the Grand Lady was doing; seeing her enthusiastically come to help share the workload, he was quite happy to save effort and trouble, though the shortage of stoves made things somewhat awkward.

Fortunately, through the cooperation and mutual courtesy of the cook and Jiang Mu, within a few quick moves, they completed a twelve-course family banquet right on time!

The cook was a northerner, and the dishes he prepared were ones the Crown Prince had already tasted in the palace, holding nothing extraordinary; however, the two dishes personally made by Jiang Mu struck him as stunning!

The Crown Prince pointed at the plate of fish sprinkled with green onions, minced garlic, and chili slices on the dining table and asked curiously, "This fish... what is it called, and what is the story behind it?"

"This is a common home-cooked dish of us Dongzhou people..."

Due to her limited education, Jiang Mu could not immediately think of any elegant name for the dish; she hemmed and hawed for a long while, so nervous that her mind went blank, unable to answer!

The fish was fully over a chi long, its scales clearly visible, its color a vivid red seemingly dripping with freshness, likely having been pulled from the water not long ago.

Finely chopped green onions were sprinkled over the fish, emitting bursts of fresh fragrance that intertwined brilliantly with the fish's savory aroma.

The surface of the fish meat was still coated in a layer of golden, crispy batter, sprinkled with bright red crushed chili peppers, spicy and numbing, making one's appetite surge.

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

The Crown Prince took a gentle bite, and instantly, savory juices flowed through his mouth accompanied by a spicy and numbing flavor.

"Incredibly delicious!"

The Crown Prince praised, "I have never tasted such a delightful mortal fish; it is truly a delicacy of the human world, excellent, excellent, quite interesting!"

As he spoke, he continuously sent slices of fish into his mouth, eating with great relish.

The Crown Prince then pointed at another dish, a thick soup stewed with octopus and taro, and asked, "Then what is the story behind this pot?"

Just as before, Jiang Mu looked at Jiang Jiang Mingyu with a troubled expression, attempting to plead for help with her eyes!

After Jiang Jiang Mingyu understood her intent, he immediately replied, "Hiding One's Name and Burying One's Surname!"

The Crown Prince: "Hiding One's Name and Burying One's Surname?"

"Yes, it is called Hiding One's Name and Burying One's Surname!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu, not knowing what name to give it at the moment, simply made one up on the spot to bluff.

The soup in the pot was rich in color and filled with an overflowing fragrance.

Floating inside were strips of octopus that were white with a hint of red, along with chunks of cut taro.

The red rice noodles were long and slender, the broth thick and sticky; with just a light lift, the long thin noodles would wrap around the chopsticks.

The Crown Prince tasted a mouthful of the soup, and the delicious flavor left an endless aftertaste; taro was rare in the north, so tasting this dish called "Hiding One's Name and Burying One's Surname" made him exceptionally happy.

"The great hermit hides in the city, the medium hermit hides in the wilds, the small hermit hides in the mountains... the flavor of this 'Hiding One's Name and Burying One's Surname' is superb!"

The Crown Prince said happily, "Jiang Xingqiu, later I will send someone to your residence to learn these two dishes so they may be presented to my father for tasting!"

After Jiang Mu received the Crown Prince's approval for her culinary skills, throughout the entire family banquet she was so happy she could not close her mouth, spending the whole day with joy on her eyebrows and greeting everyone with a smiling face.

When the family banquet ended, the Crown Prince, accompanied by Li Li Xuanren, bid farewell to the Jiang family; after both parties exchanged thanks, they turned to leave Jiangfu.

Because Jiang Jiang Mingyu was injured and unable to go out, Butler Zhang and Jiang's father went in his stead to see the guests off; just as the group walked out of the Jiang residence, they saw an eight-bearer palanquin with a yellow canopy and red curtains stopped right before the gate.

The Crown Prince skillfully climbed onto the palanquin with the support of his attendants.

Inside the palanquin, deep red soft curtains hung throughout, acting like a barrier that blocked off views from the outside world.

Outside the sedan, eight tall and mighty strong men shouldered this huge litter, standing with upright postures as if it required no effort at all; these eight strong men were the most powerful among the Crown Prince's hundred personal guards, specially assigned to carry the sedan.

Meanwhile, Li Li Xuanren sat in a green official sedan at the rear; this official sedan was carried by four strong men, its body decorated with exquisite carvings and gold threads, exuding an aura of dignity and solemnity.

After the Crown Prince's litter set off, the ceremonial guard immediately followed; at the very front of the procession, dozens of gong-beaters and drummers created a sky-shaking clamor that echoed through the entire street.

The Crown Prince's eight-carrier grand sedan moved slowly along the street, the litter splendid with gold and brilliance, resembling a moving palace; the deep red soft curtains inside faintly revealed the majesty and nobility of the Crown Prince seated within.

Closely following behind was Li Li Xuanren's four-carrier official sedan, carried rhythmically by four sturdy soldiers, stable and elegant as if flowing clouds and running water.

Behind them rode mounted guards; the fine horses wore magnificent saddles and bridles, their hoofbeats like thunder, their steps uniform, as over a hundred men advanced side by side, the guards clad in brocade armor, holding long spears and bows, their momentum soaring like a rainbow.

This magnificent scene attracted commoners along the route to kneel and bow to the Crown Prince one after another, wishing him a safe journey.

They were shocked by the Crown Prince's solemn and grand procession of a hundred men, staring dumbfounded and praising endlessly.

Under the careful care of his family, the injury on Jiang Jiang Mingyu's right chest healed quickly; by the time he returned to the Hall of Literary Glory as a study companion, it was already deep winter.

Seeing Jiang Jiang Mingyu recovered and returned, the Crown Prince was very delighted; when the day's lessons ended, using the excuse of making amends, he actively invited Jiang Jiang Mingyu to dinner at the Eastern Palace; Jiang Jiang Mingyu found it hard to refuse and thus agreed to go.

When the Crown Prince brought Jiang Jiang Mingyu back to the Eastern Palace, the Crown Princess "Ye Ye Hena" immediately came forward to welcome them.

Through the Crown Prince's introduction, it was learned that Ye Ye Hena was the thirteenth princess of the Great Khan of the Western Regions' "Shule Kingdom."

Ye Ye Hena possessed Western Regions bloodlines; her skin was as white as congealed fat, her features three-dimensional and luminous, her beauty stunning, truly possessing a beauty that could topple nations.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu had once heard a tutor mention that the Great Feng imperial family had a tradition of intermarriage with the Western Regions, so imperial family members were all handsome men and beautiful women with outstanding appearances, tall and majestic; today he finally witnessed such elegance with his own eyes and found that this rumor was indeed well-deserved.

Ye Ye Hena's face was fair, her bone structure dignified, her eyebrows and eyes as if painted.

Her pair of peach-blossom eyes were vivid and lively, the corners slightly upturned, and combined with her long feathery eyelashes, her entire gaze appeared soul-stirring.

Her nose was high and delicate, the corners of her mouth always holding a faint, barely perceptible smile, her spirit radiant.

The Phoenix Paying Homage hairpin on her head accentuated her beauty, while her purple palace attire highlighted her snow-white skin and rosy complexion, making her exceedingly enchanting.

Ye Ye Hena's speaking voice was also pleasant to the ear, like a clear melody, making one wish to listen endlessly.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu could not help but be captivated by her, thinking: Such a beauty is rare in the world; no wonder she receives the Crown Prince's favor.

Everything about Ye Ye Hena, from her appearance to her demeanor, exuded a unique Western Regions charm, and coupled with her noble status, she was truly a supreme being in the mortal world, capable of driving all living beings to madness.

But contrary to Jiang Jiang Mingyu's expectations, the Crown Princess did not join them for dinner; instead, after bidding farewell to the Crown Prince, she left the Eastern Palace under the protection of attendants.

"May I ask... where does the Crown Princess intend to go tonight?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu asked.

"Today is the fifteenth..." the Crown Prince explained: "On the first and fifteenth of every month, my beloved consort goes to the Spirit Terrace Temple on Mount Xishan to practice Zen meditation for one night, returning the next day."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu: "Zen meditation?"

The Crown Prince laughed heartily and said, "The beliefs of the Shule people are nothing strange."

After dinner, the Crown Prince used the excuse that there were no classes the next day and wished to keep Jiang Jiang Mingyu to stay overnight at the Eastern Palace.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu politely declined, citing his family's worry; unexpectedly, the Crown Prince said, "Rest assured, Jiang Xingqiu. I already sent someone to your residence earlier to inform them that you will be having dinner at the Eastern Palace today, and if it gets too late, you will spend the night here."

Seeing that he could not return home tonight, Jiang Jiang Mingyu had no choice but to agree and stay overnight at the Eastern Palace.

However, with the Crown Princess absent tonight, the Crown Prince was like an unbridled wild horse, unrestrained by anyone!

In the study, the Crown Prince and Jiang Jiang Mingyu sat around a low table, upon which rested a Go board carved from fine red sandalwood, with clear grid lines and a surface as smooth as a mirror.

On a whim, the Crown Prince invited Jiang Jiang Mingyu to play a game of Go with him.

At this moment, the Crown Prince toyed with a black Go piece in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed as he seriously observed the layout on the board; the black piece in his hand was carved from pitch-black jade, round and lustrous, clearly made of superior quality black jade.

The Crown Prince lightly tapped the board with his finger, pondering his next move.

After observing the board for a long time, the black piece traced a graceful arc under his fingers before landing in the northeast corner of the board.

Seeing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu also thought for a moment, then placed a white piece in the center of the board.

The Crown Prince chuckled teasingly, then placed another black piece on the intersection beside the white one, adopting a defensive stance.

Unfazed, Jiang Jiang Mingyu remained calm and placed his white piece exactly where he had originally intended.

Seeing that he remained unmoved, a hint of approval flashed in the Crown Prince's eyes, and he casually placed another black piece on the board.

The pieces went back and forth; although the Crown Prince's skill was superior, Jiang Jiang Mingyu showed no weakness, dealing with every move meticulously.

Although the Crown Prince gradually gained the upper hand, he was nonetheless impressed by Jiang Jiang Mingyu's skill and composure.

The white pieces were gradually falling behind, yet Jiang Jiang Mingyu remained utterly unperturbed; with an even calmer gaze, he thought for a moment before placing a white piece that caught the Crown Prince completely off guard.

The Crown Prince laughed in surprise, admitting that Jiang Jiang Mingyu excelled in steadiness, and this single move had nearly changed the tide of the game.

The Crown Prince admired Jiang Jiang Mingyu's skill and composure even more; although he won this game, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's outstanding performance left him deeply impressed.

Afterwards, the two discussed classics and the Dao, poetry, music, calligraphy, and painting, talking incessantly until late into the night, unwilling to stop.

On another whim, the Crown Prince ordered eyebrow trimmers and razors to be brought, had Jiang Jiang Mingyu rest his head on his lap, and proceeded to trim his eyebrows and shave his beard.

The Crown Prince was remarkably meticulous, carefully maneuvering the razor to trim Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyebrows stroke by stroke.

First, the Crown Prince removed the stray hairs between Jiang Jiang Mingyu's brows and around his eyelids, gently brushed away the shaved hairs with his fingers, then examined him closely to ensure nothing was missed.

Once the eyebrows were properly trimmed, the Crown Prince began to carefully shave Jiang Jiang Mingyu's beard.

The Crown Prince applied shaving cream tributed by the Kingdom of Shule, wetted the razor, and meticulously trimmed Jiang Jiang Mingyu's mustache and beard; his technique was skilled, and the razor scraped across Jiang Jiang Mingyu's cheeks with distinct sound and effect.

"May I ask Your Highness, how long have you been married to the Crown Princess?" asked Jiang Jiang Mingyu, resting his head on the Crown Prince's lap, starting a casual conversation.

"I married in the year I turned sixteen..." The Crown Prince frowned slightly, then continued, "Counting it up, this is the eighth year."

"Eight years!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu looked utterly confused and boldly asked further, "Has Your Highness... not yet borne a single son or daughter?"

With unspeakable bitterness, the Crown Prince said, "Indeed; my father is also troubled by this matter and even plans to... take another consort for me!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu replied, "In that case, this humble official offers his early congratulations to Your Highness on soon having a noble son."

The Crown Prince said, "There is no rush... my father's health is robust, so I have plenty of time."

A while later, after wiping off the shaving cream, Jiang Jiang Mingyu looked at himself in the bronze mirror; the beard that had once been left unchecked and grown wildly had been neatly groomed by the Crown Prince, making him look entirely refreshed, so refined and handsome that he seemed like a different person!

"Your Highness's craftsmanship... is so exquisite!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu stroked his own cheeks back and forth, praising him.

The Crown Prince snorted, humbly remarking, "It is nothing special, merely a clever trick."

Time quickly reached three quarters past the ninth hour (Hai hour); before long, it would be the third watch of the night; the Crown Prince, who had previously been full of energy and unable to sleep, now began to feel drowsy, so he ordered someone to escort Jiang Jiang Mingyu to the Piandian to rest.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu strolled out of the hall door, and just as he crossed the threshold, he saw eunuchs of the Eastern Palace lined up, leading a young boy who brushed past him.

The boy was about twelve or thirteen years old, his childish face not yet fully matured, with a few sparse whiskers not yet trimmed; dressed in snow-white robes, with a light touch of rouge on his face, he walked with small, quick steps deep into the palace.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu froze outside the hall, gazing at the path the boy had taken, unable to move for a long time.

In that moment, he felt waves of chill rising from the bottom of his heart, causing him to shudder repeatedly.

This chill came not only from the low night temperature but also from a faint sense of ominous foreboding.

The guide stood at the bottom of the stone steps, watching him, seeming both to wait and to urge him on.

Only then did Jiang Jiang Mingyu wake as if from a dream and hurriedly catch up.

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

The boy's childish face and the back view of his white robes lingered in his mind, refusing to fade.

He felt puzzled, thinking: Why would the Crown Prince, looking so weary, summon a young boy into the hall?

If it were for attending to him in bed, why was it not a maid?

All these incongruities filled him with an inexplicable dread.

Finally, Jiang Jiang Mingyu fell into a confused slumber, his mind full of doubts.

He slept heavily through the night without waking, and when he finally awoke, the sky was already bright...