Rebirth of the Unloved, Sickly Prince - Chapter 6

Mu Jue smoothed the fabric of his newly changed robes.

The stitching was fine, and the material was thick. In accordance with a prince’s formal attire, it was a stone-blue round-collar robe, topped with a snow-white fox fur cloak that blocked all the oncoming biting wind.

“Do you think things could truly be this good?”

Xia Ming froze for a moment. “But the things they sent are real, Your Highness. Perhaps… perhaps you’ve finished all the suffering meant for your entire life in these past ten-odd years, and now it’s time to start enjoying yourself.”

Mu Jue’s peach-blossom eyes curved into a very slight arc. Looking at how the hall was gradually being filled with fine objects, he said softly:

“…Perhaps.”

In any case, within this imperial palace, he had no say in the matter whether he was demoted to a desolate hall to starve and freeze, or suddenly became the object of fawning by palace servants. He was like an ephemeral ant trapped in a cage; if honey fell before him, he ate it; if a stone fell, he was crushed to death.

Seeing that the young man beside him had stopped saying strange things, Xia Ming began to poke at the newly delivered tea leaves and snacks, saying happily:

“Just you wait and see, Your Highness. There are many good days ahead. Maybe with just one word from Director Lu, he could even let you and Consort Li leave this—”

“It’s quite lively here at my Sixth Brother’s place.”

Mu Jue looked toward the entrance and rose to bow. “Crown Prince.”

The Crown Prince’s carriage was parked outside. He was still wearing his apricot-yellow court robes as he led several attendants into the side hall, scanning the room as he walked toward Mu Jue.

“Sixth Brother’s palace is quite crude; it was high time it was refurbished. If there is anything else you lack, just tell me. I’ll have people send it over.”

Mu Jue replied with a simple “Yes.” The youth’s expression was neutral neither pleasantly surprised nor disrespectful.

The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes, watching the young eunuchs finish their bows and resume moving furniture. Some of the ornaments brought in were of a quality that rivaled those in the Eastern Palace.

“I came here to tell Sixth Brother some good news. This morning, I petitioned Imperial Father to let you study at the Hall of Literary Brilliance with our other brothers.”

Study.

Mu Jue’s tone quickened slightly. “Did His Majesty agree?”

“He agreed, naturally. Sixth Brother can go to the Hall of Literary Brilliance tomorrow morning at the hour of the Rabbit (5:00 AM – 7:00 AM).”

“I thank the Crown Prince!”

“You are my Sixth Brother. It is only right for an elder brother to do something for his younger brother.” The Crown Prince smiled warmly and casually removed a white jade thumb ring from his hand. “Since you begin your studies tomorrow, consider this ring a gift from me.”

Mu Jue had never received a gift from anyone.

During past New Year festivals, the gifts bestowed by the Emperor to the various palaces always bypassed his side hall. Although the Emperor had never issued a formal decree of house arrest, Mu Jue was unable to attend most banquets, let alone leave the palace. Naturally, he had no opportunity to meet ministers or receive gifts.

He was momentarily flustered, looking blankly at Xia Ming, who looked back at him with equal bewilderment.

“What is it, Sixth Brother? Do you not like this ring?”

“…No.”

Mu Jue reached out hesitantly. The refined face of the Crown Prince before him held a genial smile, much like a kind elder brother in an ordinary household. In that moment of hesitation, he took the jade ring.

The Crown Prince must be a good person. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have such a stellar reputation across the empire. It was said the Crown Prince advocated for peace, wishing to avoid further conflict between Great Ning and the Northern Di out of compassion for the common people. He was certainly not a fatuous heir.

Mu Jue gripped the white jade ring in his hand and bowed deeply, speaking with sincerity.

“Thank you, Crown Prince. I will always remember that you were the one who allowed me to study at the Hall of Literary Brilliance.”

“It was a mere trifle; Sixth Brother need not take it to heart. I still have memorials to review, so I shall return to the Eastern Palace first. Tomorrow is your first day of school; I will come to see you.”

Mu Jue escorted the Crown Prince to the door and watched the carriage depart before looking down at the ring in his palm.

“The Crown Prince is truly generous. This jade ring looks very valuable,” Xia Ming remarked.

Mu Jue glanced sideways at Xia Ming with a hint of amusement. “Even if it’s valuable, a gift from the Crown Prince cannot be sold for silver.” He rubbed the ring; the jade was fine and felt warm to the touch. “Find a box and put it away carefully.”

“Your Highness won’t wear it?”

Mu Jue compared it to his own finger. His fingers were long and slender, with distinct knuckles due to his thinness. “The ring is a bit too large. It’s loose on me; it would fall off.”

Xia Ming took a look and saw it was true. He leaned in and whispered, “The Crown Prince didn’t even give you a gift that fits…”

“It was already difficult enough for the Crown Prince to get me into the Hall of Literary Brilliance.”

The Emperor disliked him. If not for the Crown Prince’s plea, the Emperor likely wouldn’t have spared him a single thought. Furthermore, this white jade ring was the first gift he had ever received from a relative.

Mu Jue urged, “Put it away carefully. Do not let it get damaged.”

“This servant knows. Don’t you worry, Your Highness!”

In the Eastern Palace, all the furnishings had been replaced with new ones. The young eunuchs moving things kept their eyes down, terrified of making a mistake that would earn them a scolding from the Crown Prince’s personal attendants.

“Your Highness, in this servant’s view, you are simply too kind. The Sixth Prince is relying on Director Lu’s support from last night and truly thinks the decorations in his palace actually dare to rival the Eastern Palace.”

The Crown Prince sat at his desk, opening a memorial. “Enough. If Director Lu hadn’t given the nod, those servants wouldn’t have dared send those things to the side hall. It has nothing to do with Sixth Brother.”

“But the Sixth Prince even accepted the white jade ring you gave him! That was bestowed upon you by His Majesty during your investiture ceremony! How dare a concubine-born son of a songstress.”

The Crown Prince tossed the memorial down. “Why are there so few memorials delivered today?”

“This… someone from the Eastern Depot sent word that Director Lu has already handled the important ones and forwarded them to the Six Ministries. They said Your Highness… shouldn’t… worry yourself too much.”

The Crown Prince put down his brush with a heavy thud.

“Then I must thank Director Lu. As for the ring as you said, Sixth Brother’s mother didn’t come from a prestigious family, and he grew up in that side hall without even a governess or eunuch to guide him. It’s only natural for him to be a bit crude and ignorant.”

“Yes. But the people below are all whispering that Director Lu has chosen the Sixth Prince, and now…”

“Sixth Brother will be sent to the Northern Di as a hostage in a few days.”

The Crown Prince interrupted the eunuch softly. He took a sip of tea and picked up his brush again, his tone softening.

“The Northern Di is a bitter, cold place. I see Sixth Brother’s constitution is frail; I fear he won’t be able to endure it. His food and clothing should be better during this time to nourish his body.”

“Furthermore, if the Northern Di sees a Prince of Great Ning dressed in rags, looking haggard and unable to recite even a few poems, it would damage the prestige of our empire.”

The eunuch bowed respectfully. “Yes, the Crown Prince is merciful. Having a brother like you is the blessing of a lifetime for the Sixth Prince.”

Mu Jue lost another night of sleep. Xia Ming was busy organizing the things he would take to school the next day.

“Will I be allowed to accompany you to the Hall of Literary Brilliance, Your Highness? I wonder if the Emperor will appoint a couple of study partners for you.”

“I heard the teachers there are the greatest scholars of the age. Their knowledge is profound. You mustn’t be lazy there, Your Highness.”

“What clothes do you want to wear tomorrow? What snacks should I prepare…?”

Mu Jue rolled over and sat up. Seeing the joyful smile on Xia Ming’s face, he couldn’t help but smile as well.

“Be quiet for a moment. If you keep talking to me, I won’t be able to sleep at all.”

“It’s just that we received so many good things today, and you can finally go to school. This servant is just too happy.”

“The snacks don’t matter. Did you pack the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone?”

“I did, I did. Everything is ready.”

Mu Jue nodded. “The Crown Prince said he would come to see me tomorrow. The other princes began their studies at age six. I… if I am too far behind the others, the Crown Prince will likely be disappointed.”

“Your Highness is brilliant; you’ll catch up quickly. I remember when you first started learning to write and memorize, you understood everything at a glance. You could recite the Analects after only a short time. You were much better than I was as a child.”

Xia Ming blew out the candle. “Get some rest, Your Highness, or you won’t be able to wake up at the hour of the Rabbit.”

Early the next morning, Mu Jue walked to the Hall of Literary Brilliance, with Xia Ming carrying his book box behind him.

The sun had not yet risen. Mu Jue tucked his hands into his sleeves, feeling the cold wind sneak in through the cuffs.

“It’s so cold… is the wound on your palm better? Be careful of frostbite.”

Mu Jue shook his head. “It’s fine. It won’t affect my writing.”

He had intentionally woken up half an hour early. When they arrived at the hall, the other princes and their study partners had not yet arrived.

He took the book box and said to Xia Ming, “Go back and take good care of Mother.”

He stepped into the classroom. His instinct was to head for the farthest corner, but he looked at his book box and sat near the front instead. He already knew less than the other princes; if he hid in the corner, he would understand even less. He didn’t want to waste the Crown Prince’s kindness.

There were shelves of books and scrolls beside the classroom. Mu Jue pulled one out to read. He was regretting that he hadn’t asked the Crown Prince how far along the lessons were when the door suddenly creaked open.

“I wondered who had arrived so early. It’s you. Yesterday, Brother Crown Prince said you were coming to study with us. I thought he was joking.”

A youth in magnificent robes entered. He was about three or four years younger than Mu Jue, with a round face that still had a bit of “baby fat.” He held his chin high like a proud little phoenix. This was the Crown Prince’s biological younger brother, the Ninth Prince.

Mu Jue rose. “Ninth…” He swallowed the words “Ninth Highness” and addressed him awkwardly. “Ninth Brother.”

He wanted to ask where the lessons were and held out his book. “Ninth Brother…”

A flash of disgust crossed the Ninth Prince Mu Heng’s face, and he slapped the book out of Mu Jue’s hand.

“Who is your ‘Ninth Brother’?”