Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

Day… This is Xian’er’s third son… This is Xian’er’s fourth son… and here’s the fifth son! This child is only seven years old, but don’t underestimate him because of his age. A few days ago, while traveling with the guards, they encountered mountain bandits from Yi tribes. This child grabbed his bamboo sword, stepped out of the carriage, and scolded them: ‘The might of China is here—how dare you barbarians not flee!’

The old emperor had given up on the current heir apparent—after all, his crown prince was adamant about not letting the crown princess give birth to a fifth child due to her complications during childbirth. Since he couldn’t hope for a legitimate grandson, any other son would do for succession.

Thinking of this, the emperor felt distressed. “You tell me, how could Xian’er say something like ‘I don’t want to be crown prince’ so casually? And now he says it doesn’t matter if his wife has more children or not. He’s the firstborn—who am I supposed to pass this empire I worked so hard to build to, if not him?”

The Empress Dowager Dou sighed, “Back in the day, poverty forced me to have a child at the age of fourteen. It damaged my body, but worse, it made Xian’er frail and sickly from birth. Although martial arts have strengthened him enough to run and jump, he’s still fundamentally weak. Xian’er fears that if he ascends the throne and dies unexpectedly, it will bring disaster upon Da Xia.”

The old emperor’s hands rested on his knees, trembling uncontrollably.

The Crown Prince was known to fall ill easily in winter, and he was often exempted from attending court during the season. Two years ago, he caught a winter sickness that lasted two months, only recovering in the spring.

He often suffered from a lack of appetite, throat pain, or stomachaches. When the pain flared up, his stomach would feel cold. These ailments had become routine for the Crown Prince. The most alarming incident occurred in the seventeenth year of Emperor Tian Tong’s reign when the Crown Prince was inspecting the population registry in Linying County. Midway through the inspection, he suddenly vomited blood and collapsed. Guards rushed him back to the capital.

The hall was silent, with only the sound of heavy breathing.

After a long pause, Empress Dou spoke softly, “Xian’er has long said that his health is not suited for the role of Crown Prince. It has always been us who forced him to stay in the position, raising the Crown Grandson to stabilize his status.”

The old emperor clenched his trembling hand into a fist. “Hmph! So what if we’re forcing him? I’ll force him anyway! If the Crown Prince is weak, I’ll assign more palace attendants to him. I’ll even create an inner cabinet for the Eastern Palace to handle official duties on his behalf. All the Crown Prince needs to do is give his seal of approval! As for the Crown Grandson, once Xian’er ascends the throne, the Grandson will become the Crown Prince. It’s only natural for him to assist with state affairs!”

He quickly regained his resolve. “The throne belongs to Xian’er, and no one else can take it!”

As for the troublesome Crown Grandson, the emperor had a plan. Before deciding on a new heir, he would observe him for a few more days to see if anyone else dared to stir up trouble. If they did, he’d deal with them all at once.

With that, there was no need to throw the Crown Grandson into the dungeons to “hone his temperament” again.

But the emperor regretted not throwing that troublesome boy back into the dungeons when he had the chance.

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On New Year’s Eve—also called “Year-End,” the emperor hosted a banquet for the court officials and celebrated the night with them. The ministers, in turn, were not allowed to return home to celebrate with their families.

Palace attendants stacked piles of firewood, millet stalks, and pine branches into a bonfire. With a “whoosh,” they lit it ablaze, and the flames danced brightly. This tradition, called “Banquet Blaze,” was a spectacle for Xu Yanmiao, who was seeing it for the first time.

On the steps of the palace, candles and lamps illuminated the hall as though it were daytime. The emperor, empress, and concubines wore ceremonial attire, feasting and reveling in the festivities.

The tables were laden with New Year delicacies, including spiced wine, Tusu wine, and an assortment of symbolic dishes said to ward off illness and extend longevity.

The entertainment began with performances.

Twenty-four boys aged twelve to sixteen, wearing masks and red costumes, performed in rows of six. Drums thundered, and horns blared, exuding a raw and primal beauty.

The master of ceremonies wore a four-eyed golden mask, a bearskin cloak, and a black and red robe, holding a ceremonial “banner.”

The performance involved singing, drumming, and horn-blowing, with someone chanting the names of deities.

The atmosphere was lively.

In the surrounding pavilions, officials and their families clapped and cheered. Even commoners were allowed to attend this special event to witness the exorcism ceremony.

Scholars recited poems to celebrate the occasion, hoping to catch the attention of influential figures and achieve instant fame.

Xu Yanmiao, however, was focused on snacking.

He munched on various treats like candied lotus balls, honeyed ginger beans, and almond pastries. While others played, he ate.

When the exorcism performance ended, the dance segment began. Finally lifting his head from his feast, Xu Yanmiao noticed that the lead dancer was Qin Zheng.

Leading a folk dance troupe under the guise of celebrating New Year’s Eve, she performed the “Birds Flock to the Phoenix” dance. Throughout her performance, her eyes never left the Empress Dowager. She even smiled at her several times.

[Oh my!] Xu Yanmiao thought, biting into his pastry and glancing at the old emperor.

[“Oh wow, the old emperor looks furious!”]

Then he looked at the Crown Grandson.

[“Oh, the Grandson is shocked! His dear Qin Zheng hasn’t looked at him once, hahaha!”]

[“Well, no wonder! Qin Zheng prepared this dance for the Empress Dowager, not him. She wants to show the Empress Dowager that she’s doing well, dancing when she wants, studying medicine when she wants, and even learning from a female tutor to enrich herself lately.”]

At the head of the hall, the Empress, holding the phoenix seal, smiled faintly as she listened.

Beside her, the emperor’s face darkened further.

Below, the Crown Grandson called out, “Ah Zheng! Ah Zheng!” His officials even tried to explain, “Your Highness, it’s clear Qin Zheng only admires the Empress Dowager…”

“Impossible!” The Grandson fumed. “My grandmother is already sixty years old!”

Unfortunately, as he shouted this, the dance ended, and the hall fell silent. His loud remark, “My grandmother is already sixty years old!” echoed across the chamber.

The old emperor slammed his cup down with a loud “bang.” Finally, the enraged emperor, who felt his wife was being coveted, found his target. With a face darker than ever, he roared, “Sixty? So what! Your grandmother could be ninety, and she’d still be a peerless beauty!”

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