A Precious Pearl in the Imperial City

Sun Caiyao was brought to the Bright Moon Palace, where she slept soundly. When she awoke, daylight had already flooded the room. Birds chirped outside the window, and she stared blankly at the peony embroidery on the bed canopy for a long while.

Muffled sobs came from beyond the canopy. Propping herself up, she lifted the curtain and saw her mother wiping away tears.

"Miss Sun is awake."

Someone called out softly. A cushion was placed behind her back, a robe draped over her shoulders, and warm porridge spooned into her mouth. A woman reached for her wrist, as if checking her pulse.

"Deficiency in both qi and blood, excessive fright, and overthinking. Avoid further distress." Physician Liu withdrew her hand, walked to the table, and wrote a prescription before handing it to Madam Sun, who had stopped crying. "Your daughter is not seriously ill. With rest at home, she will recover in time."

"Thank you, Physician Liu." Madam Sun knew this physician was the granddaughter of Imperial Physician Liu, a renowned healer favored by the empress. She accepted the prescription gratefully.

"No need for thanks, Madam Sun." Physician Liu bowed slightly. "I shall take my leave now. Please ensure Miss Sun rests well."

Miss Sun?

Sun Caiyao stared blankly at Physician Liu’s retreating figure. Since her marriage to Yun Yanze, no one had called her "Miss Sun." Was this a dream?

"Caiyao, Mother will take you home now." Seeing her daughter awake yet silent, Madam Sun’s tears fell again. "His Majesty and the empress have granted permission. Once you wake, we leave immediately."

"Home?" Sun Caiyao trembled as she clutched her mother’s hand. "Where?"

"Sun Mansion. Your home."

"Truly?" She feared this was a dream.

Madam Sun nodded firmly.

"Then let’s go."

Even if it were a dream, she wanted to escape this palace.

"Miss Sun, these are gifts from Her Majesty the Empress. Please take them with you."

"Your dowry is being sorted by the Palace Administration and will be returned to you in a few days."

"The sedan is ready. Mind your step, Miss Sun, and avoid the cold wind."

This must be a dream. As a royal wife, how could the emperor and empress allow her to return to her family, bestow gifts, and even return her dowry?

Sitting in the swaying sedan, she watched as the palace gates drew nearer—just a few dozen steps, and she would be free.

Closer, closer. Sun Caiyao held her breath until the sedan passed through the towering gates and entered the bustling streets.

Amid the clamor of the outside world, she buried her face in her hands and wept uncontrollably.

Once, she had found these sounds vulgar and noisy. Now, she understood how precious they truly were.

[Because you were calling for help.]

The words echoed in her mind, along with Ming Jiuzhu’s expression when she had spoken them. Sun Caiyao would remember every detail for the rest of her life.

She would forever owe Ming Jiuzhu a debt she could never repay.

Upon returning home, the entire Sun Mansion treated her as though she had never married. Only then did she learn that Yun Yanze had been stripped of his title, expelled from the imperial lineage, and imprisoned for life in the imperial prison for attempting to assassinate his brothers and defying the emperor.

Despite Yun Yanze’s crimes, she, his consort, had not been punished. Instead, she was allowed to return home?

"Not only that, His Majesty has granted you the title of Lady of the County, permitting you to remarry." Madam Sun gazed at her daughter’s gaunt face. "Your father and I have prepared gifts to express our gratitude to the Ming family."

Sun Caiyao nodded. Jiuzhu had saved her from Yun Yanze’s clutches—thanks were necessary.

"Last night, Prince Chen and his consort risked His Majesty’s wrath to plead for your freedom." Lord Sun bowed respectfully toward the palace. "His Majesty, in his mercy, considered our family’s generations of service and not only released you but preserved your dignity."

The title of Lady of the County came with no land or income, but it shielded her and the Sun family’s reputation. It was the emperor and empress’s way of declaring to the world that neither Sun Caiyao nor her family had known of Yun Yanze’s treachery.

"His Majesty is benevolent, the empress kind, and Prince Chen and his consort righteous. Our Sun family has failed the imperial family." Lord Sun sighed. Years ago, the emperor had considered a match between Sun Caiyao and Prince Chen, but Lord Sun had disapproved of the prince’s carefree nature and tacitly allowed his daughter to grow closer to Yun Yanze.

Yet in the end, it was Prince Chen and Ming Jiuzhu who rescued her.

The man he had admired, Yun Yanze, turned out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

"Prince Chen and Ming Jiuzhu… pleaded for me?" Sun Caiyao sat dazed on the bed, lost in thought long after her father had left.

After Yun Yanze’s crimes were exposed—plotting against his brothers, planting spies, spreading slander—the officials who once praised him now wore expressions of shock.

No one dared speak in his defense.

The Eldest Prince was reckless, the Second Prince foolish, the Fifth Prince a wastrel—all these rumors, it turned out, had been spread by Yun Yanze and his mother.

As the imperial officials listed Yun Yanze’s crimes, some even suspected that last year’s assassination attempt on Prince Ning had been his own staged ploy.

Why else would he have suffered only a scratch?

When the recitation ended, Emperor Longfeng lamented, "A child’s faults reflect the father’s failures. This is my failing."

The ministers rushed to console him.

"Dragons sire nine sons, each unique. The Eldest Prince excels in martial prowess and decisiveness." Though sometimes too blunt.

"The Second Prince is benevolent and upright, with countless virtues." Though not always obvious.

"The Fifth Prince is intelligent, quick-witted, and pure of heart—loyal and filial." Surprisingly, it was Elder Chen, known for his stubbornness, who praised the Fifth Prince.

A brief silence followed before others joined in, particularly officials from the Ministry of Rites.

"Do you truly mean these words?" the emperor asked.

"Every word."

"We dare not deceive Your Majesty."

"Then I understand your hearts." Emperor Longfeng sighed. "It seems the matter of appointing a crown prince can no longer be delayed."

The ministers exchanged glances.

Did you just propose appointing a crown prince?

No, not me. Was it you?

Why are you looking at me? I just echoed praise for the Fifth Prince!

So none of us brought it up—His Majesty did it himself?

Weeks ago, they had urged the emperor to name a successor, but he had ignored them. Now, when they stayed silent, he brought it up.

What was this? Did things taste better when one suggested them oneself?

"After Yun Yanze’s betrayal, I’ve realized an empty throne invites trouble."

Ah.

"As a father, I should teach them about growth. As an emperor, I should make them understand responsibility."

Keep it simple—just speak plainly.

"Since you all praise the Fifth Prince for his pure heart, benevolence, and virtue, I shall follow the wishes of my ministers and appoint Fifth Prince Du Qing as Crown Prince."

The ministers: ?

Huh?!

Following their wishes?

No wonder he’s the emperor—this level of shamelessness is truly unmatched.

"Where is the Director of the Imperial Observatory?" Having declared his intention to "follow the ministers' will," Emperor Longfeng wasted no time. He turned to the Director, who stepped forward. "When is the next auspicious day for appointing a Crown Prince?"

"Your Majesty, fourteen days from now is an exceptionally favorable day, auspicious in every aspect."

"Good." Emperor Longfeng nodded. "Then we shall set it for that day. Do any of you have suggestions regarding the coronation ceremony?"

Listen to that—he’s asking for input on the ceremony, not opinions on the choice of Crown Prince.

As if any of their suggestions would actually make him reconsider.

"Your Majesty is wise!" Minister of Rites Li En stepped forward, exclaiming loudly, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, for selecting the finest candidate as Crown Prince."

The finest?

Ugh, what a shameless flatterer. How many benefits had the Ministry of Rites gained by cozying up to Prince Chen?

"The appointment of the Fifth Prince as Crown Prince is the will of the people."

This time, it was Minister Wang from the Ministry of Revenue who spoke up.

The others turned to look—who would’ve thought even the Ministry of Revenue would jump on the bandwagon so quickly?

After all, the entire Ministry had once admired the Fourth Prince. Yet here they were, switching sides so fast, trying to cling to Prince Chen’s coattails.

Tsk tsk tsk. How utterly pragmatic.

Now look at the Ming family’s eldest and third sons—Prince Chen was their son-in-law, yet they hadn’t uttered a single word of praise. Such integrity and pride.

Truly, the Ming family lived up to their reputation.

The appointment of the Fifth Prince as Crown Prince was now an unchangeable fact. Though not the eldest, he was born of the empress, making him the legitimate heir.

Choosing the legitimate son over the eldest was, by tradition, beyond reproach.

Had Prince Chen still behaved the way he did two years ago, they would have opposed this decision without hesitation. But they had witnessed his transformation firsthand.

They had seen the memorials he reviewed on the emperor’s behalf, the policies he enacted.

Most importantly, beneath the Fifth Prince’s unconventional demeanor lay a heart of compassion for the people.

He might not fit the rigid, idealized image of a Crown Prince, but he possessed the most crucial qualities of a ruler—

Benevolence and virtue.

The policies he had implemented across the provinces were proof enough.

So even when his methods occasionally bordered on the absurd, they turned a blind eye.

As night fell, Emperor Longfeng pulled Prince Chen to sit with him on the steps of Taiyang Palace, just as they had years ago in the overgrown garden of their old residence, munching on roasted sweet potatoes while stargazing.

Except now, instead of sweet potatoes, they held delicate pastries sent by Empress Su.

"Father." Prince Chen tilted his head back, straining his neck. "There are no stars tonight. Shouldn’t we go back? You can return to Mother, and I’ll go to my wife."

Here they were, an emperor and a prince, sitting on the palace steps like commoners.

At the mention of his daughter-in-law, Emperor Longfeng’s expression turned slightly odd. "Who would’ve thought that Ming Jingzhou, so refined and scholarly, would have a daughter with such… strength?"

"It’s not that she’s strong—she was just furious." Prince Chen defended her. "Last night, after we returned to Kirin Palace, I spent half an hour massaging her legs."

Stop, just stop.

A prince, shutting himself in his chambers to massage his wife’s legs for so long—this was hardly something to boast about.

"No need to explain. I understand." Emperor Longfeng patted his shoulder. "Son, as men, we must always be gentle with our wives. Never anger them, understand?"

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‍Ming family had served him with unwavering loyalty, generation after generation. If their daughter decided to beat you up, even I wouldn’t dare intervene on your behalf.