When the Deposed Crown Prince Was Reborn as Troublemaker - Chapter 72

The First Prince, You Yuyi, was impulsive by nature. In front of others he could still keep up appearances, but when trouble arose and there was no one around to advise him, his true self would show.

As for the Third Prince, You Yushan, You Yusui only remembered that this third imperial brother of his had muscles where his brain should have been. He listened to Consort Xian in everything — whatever Consort Xian told him to do, he did. It was entirely reasonable, then, that on this trip to investigate the case alongside You Yuyi, without Consort Xian watching over him and with You Yuyi’s impulsiveness leading the way, he had been dragged straight into a pit.

What You Yusui had never anticipated, however, was that the two of them would expose their identities before even reaching Dayang County, and moreover reveal an attitude of refusing to rest until they had found evidence. It was no wonder, then, that the powerful clans of Dayang County, upon hearing the news, had struck first.

Furthermore, those sent to assassinate them had been disguised as refugees. Even if the two princes were unfortunately killed, the county magistrate and the powerful clans of Dayang County could simply pin the blame on refugee bandits — and since it had not happened within Dayang County’s borders, what would it have to do with them? As far as anyone was concerned, they would have had no knowledge that two imperial princes had ever come to Hedong Commandery.

At this moment, You Yusui had already nearly suffocated to death from frustration. After he calmed down, he thought that even if, across however many lifetimes, he had died before You Yuyi and You Yushan, You Fengyun still could never have allowed those two fools to inherit the throne. In all likelihood, they would have been cut down by You Fengyun himself to pave the way for a new emperor.

You Yusui believed that You Fengyun was capable of killing his own maternal grandfather, and equally capable of hounding Prime Minister Su to his death without regard for years of loyalty between ruler and minister. In any case, the Su family and the Li family would, in all probability, fall completely from power. A new wave of scholars from humble origins would be elevated once more, and the great clans would be suppressed to their lowest point.

After You Fengyun had cleared away all those who posed a threat to the new emperor’s succession and left behind those who could be of use, the transfer of imperial power would thus be smoothly completed.

Even across fifteen rebirths, You Yusui could not claim that he felt not even a trace of envy toward that future heir to the throne.

Cui Yan noticed that You Yusui’s expression had fallen somewhat and asked, “Your Highness, is something troubling you?”

“No.” You Yusui shook his head and said, “Send people to search carefully for Prince Yan and Prince Wu. Make sure they are brought back whole and unharmed.”

You Yusui had decided he could not let You Yuyi and You Yushan die so easily. Wasn’t keeping them alive to be a thorn in his father’s side rather satisfying?

Beside him, Cui Yan could not help but show a look of surprise, then replied, “Understood.”

When the words had fallen, Cui Yan walked out of the room, leaving You Yusui alone in quiet rest.

When nightfall came, a servant outside You Yusui’s room came forward to ask whether he wished to attend the banquet.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince,” the servant called softly from outside the room, “Magistrate Li has sent someone to inquire whether Your Highness is free to attend the banquet.”

Although Magistrate Li already knew that You Yusui had agreed to attend, he still made a point of sending someone to ask, fearful that His Highness might suddenly change his mind.

From the couch where he lay, You Yusui spoke, “This prince will rise now.”

Shortly after, servants filed in one after another to attend to You Yusui’s grooming and dressing.

His long hair, black as raven feathers, was pinned up with a gold crown. The formal robe he had worn was changed for the silver-vermillion everyday garment he usually wore, which only made his features more brilliantly beautiful — as resplendent as a peony in full bloom.

Standing to one side, Cui Yan watched and could not help but think to himself: this beautiful, it truly had not been a waste of the rare and precious flower fertilizer Lord Xie had given him.

“Let us go,” said You Yusui, rising.

When the words fell, the attendants waiting outside lowered the palanquin. The undercover guard disguised as Huo Xiling steadied You Yusui as he settled into it, and then the party set off toward the venue where Magistrate Li had arranged the welcoming banquet.

The welcoming banquet Magistrate Li had arranged was held on the upper floor of a three-storey building. From each of the eight corners of the eaves hung lanterns made of coloured glass, brilliant and translucent, more dreamlike and vivid than paper lanterns.

The bowls and chopsticks set out for the banquet were of jade and silver, and the drinking cups were fashioned from gold — lavish beyond words. As for the dishes, in his eagerness to emphasize their rarity, Magistrate Li had very nearly gathered everything that flew in the sky, ran on the land, and swam in the water.

And that was not all: jade screens were set around the room, red coral trees taller than a grown man stood in place, and the pots holding those coral trees were filled to the brim with pearls — an extravagance pushed to its very limits.

Among those present to accompany the guest at the banquet were the heads of the Qi and Wei families, as well as the lesser powerful clans closely connected to them. Beyond these men, the daughters of Magistrate Li and of the Qi and Wei families had also attended.

They all wore their hair in the styles fashionable in Chang’an and dressed in the latest popular garments, their beauty shining under the lamplight, lovelier than flowers.

Their fathers looked on at the daughters they had so carefully raised with deep satisfaction in their hearts. Whether the entire clan could flourish and prosper now rested on the shoulders of their daughters!

Just as the assembled company waited in excited, nervous anticipation for the arrival of His Highness the Crown Prince, a young eunuch’s cry of “His Highness the Crown Prince arrives!” sent the tension in their hearts surging to its peak.

The Crown Prince’s palanquin was carried directly up to the upper floor. His Highness, dressed in his silver-vermillion everyday robe, sat within it, idly toying with a white jade pipe in his hands. Bathed in the glow of lamplight and moonlight, His Highness appeared ever more beautiful, as though not quite of this world — and with a single lift of his gaze, he reduced all their daughters to wooden posts by comparison.

The moment all three daughters caught sight of You Yusui’s hands, they could not help but hide their own beneath their sleeves. Their hands bore none of the elegant, luminous, well-defined beauty of his, and they felt themselves lacking, to say the least.

When they then looked upon You Yusui’s face, a sense of bewilderment overtook them as to why they were even there in the first place. Their fathers had actually asked them to win the affections of a man more beautiful than themselves. Could this possibly succeed?

You Yusui, upon noticing the several young women present at the banquet, had a fairly clear understanding of what these people had in mind. Even with death at their doorstep, they were still dreaming of rising to the heavens in a single step.

“We pay our respects to His Highness the Crown Prince,” everyone said in greeting, bowing.

“Rise, all of you.” When the words fell, You Yusui took his seat at the head of the table with Cui Yan’s support.

Beside him, Magistrate Li at once said, “Ling’er, why are you not quickly pouring wine for His Highness the Crown Prince?”

No sooner had the words fallen than Magistrate Li received furious glares from the heads of the Qi and Wei families.

This Magistrate Li was plainly exploiting his position again to steal an advantage — the closest water, first to cool the thirst.

The young woman named Ling’er complied and walked with proper decorum to stand before You Yusui to pour his wine.

Magistrate Li watched this with agitation. He was furious at how wooden his daughter was — told to pour wine, she just poured wine. Couldn’t she show a bit of herself?

Just as Li Ling’er was about to pour the wine into You Yusui’s cup, a slender, fair hand, white as jade, covered the mouth of the cup.

“This prince is not well and does not drink wine,” You Yusui said directly, without so much as glancing at the woman beside him.

The smile on Magistrate Li’s face went stiff. He quickly corrected himself. “Ling’er, pour tea.”

From beside him, Cui Yan spoke up. “There is no need for the trouble, Magistrate Li. His Highness will drink nothing but Wuyi Mountain summit Da Hong Pao picked before the first spring.”

When the words fell, everyone present could not help but murmur inwardly: goodness, that is tea worth a fortune — only the imperial family could afford to pamper the Crown Prince so.

In that moment, Magistrate Li could barely keep his composure.

He had thought he had brought out the very best he had to offer, yet the other party had not spared it a second glance.

You Yusui smiled at Magistrate Li and said, “It is of no matter — this prince will simply drink spring water.”

When the words fell, the undercover guard disguised as Huo Xiling produced a bamboo tube and poured You Yusui a cup of spring water.

Beside him, Cui Yan could not help but grumble inwardly: what a performance. When he brewed medicine, he had never once seen you demand that he use spring water.

In the end, the young Miss Li Ling’er, who had been sent by her father to pour wine, could only withdraw in embarrassment.

You Yusui felt a surge of private pride at the sight. He had not looked at that young woman twice — Xiling, when he found out, would surely be very pleased.

After the awkward wine-pouring episode had passed, the head of the Qi family spoke up. “What is wine without music? My daughter has studied the pipa quite well — allow her to show off her modest skills before His Highness.”

The head of the Wei family chimed in beside him. “My daughter’s dancing is also not bad — why not let her perform a dance for His Highness?”

You Yusui gave a nod, curious to see what they could come up with.

And so the daughters of the Qi and Wei families walked to the centre of the room and began to play the pipa and dance. However, neither young woman could compare to the musicians and dancers of the palace who made their living by such arts; in You Yusui’s eyes, they were altogether unremarkable.

When the piece came to an end, the head of the Qi family asked You Yusui shamelessly. “How did Your Highness find this piece?”

You Yusui turned to look at the head of the Qi family, then said with all seriousness. “This prince feels that your honourable daughter’s musicianship still requires refinement. Why not send her to the Imperial Music Bureau to study for a few years? She might well reach a standard fit for distinguished occasions.”

Having said that, You Yusui proceeded to offer a thorough critique of the Qi daughter’s pipa technique — where her touch was imprecise, which notes had not been played cleanly, which areas needed improvement.

“Ah?” The head of the Qi family was left completely dumbstruck.

No, no, no — what he had asked was whether the Crown Prince had taken a liking to his daughter, not whether her musicianship still required refinement! The head of the Qi family felt a pained helplessness at You Yusui’s complete misreading of the situation, as if speaking to a chicken while the other spoke to a duck.

You Yusui then turned to the head of the Wei family. “The same applies to the Wei family’s young lady.”

The head of the Wei family: ……

In an instant, all three men who had prepared to offer up their daughters felt a sharp pang in their chests.

After a moment, Magistrate Li forced a smile and said, “In that case, let us bring in the dancing girls.”

When the words fell, dancing girls, musicians, and singers filed in one after another, and the music and dancing at the banquet finally returned to a decent standard.

Once the atmosphere had grown lively again, the head of the Qi family prepared to present his red coral tree, taller than a grown man, to You Yusui as a gift.

“This piece was obtained from the Eastern Sea,” the head of the Qi family said. “A coral tree of such size is a rare treasure in this world. If Your Highness is pleased with it, please do accept it.”

You Yusui propped his chin on his hand and said, “This prince does have several red coral trees in the palace, but none of them are as vivid in colour as this one. Bring it closer — let this prince have a proper look.”

When the words fell, someone immediately went to move the red coral tree over.

You Yusui was privately delighted and could not resist reaching out to touch it — and then everyone heard a crisp snap, and the entire room froze where they stood.

The red coral tree had actually been snapped in two by His Highness the Crown Prince. Snapped in two!

You Yusui, holding the broken branch of the red coral tree: ??? What just happened? Who am I? Why am I here?

He had only applied the slightest bit of pressure — why had it broken?

You Yusui stared at the red coral tree and fell into deep thought. The assembled company stared at the clean break and fell into silence. Was it not possible — just perhaps — that the old fellow from the Qi family had bought himself a fake?