A Precious Pearl in the Imperial City

The source of the rumor no longer mattered; what mattered was that it had already spread through the palace and might soon reach the common folk.

Some rumors, once they spread among the people, become deeply believed truths, passed down for centuries, even adapted into operas and stories, becoming fodder for countless idle conversations.

"It must have been that woman Su Meidai’s doing."

Liu An was the eldest son, and Su Meidai, to solidify Yun Duqing’s position as Crown Prince, would surely try to eliminate Liu An as a threat.

"That vile woman." Consort Xu trembled with rage as she turned to the eunuch who had delivered the news. "What else are they saying?"

"They say… they say you and the Du family’s head, Du Qingke, were deeply in love in your youth, pledged yourselves to each other, but were torn apart by the Previous Emperor’s decree..."

"Enough!" Consort Xu cut him off with a cold laugh. "Pledged ourselves to each other?"

She had indeed wanted to be with Du Qingke back then, but that spineless coward had claimed that imperial orders could not be defied—as the Du family’s heir, he couldn’t indulge in personal happiness.

Bah!

A man’s promise was worth less than the mud villagers used to patch their walls. At least that mud could shield against wind and rain. Du Qingke, that useless man, had only brought her shame.

Shame for her youthful naivety in falling for such a spineless creature.

If he didn’t still have some use to her now, she wouldn’t even spare him a glance.

"If even you all have heard these rumors, they must have already reached the Emperor’s ears." Consort Xu took a deep breath. "Tell the kitchen—I’ll prepare a meal myself."

All these years, she had feigned illness and stayed out of sight, unwilling to remind the Emperor of the mistakes she’d made back when he was still a prince.

But now, with this rumor circulating, she had no choice but to dispel the Emperor’s suspicions.

She remembered when she first arrived at the prince’s residence—there had been no other women then. She had once made him a bowl of nourishing congee, which he finished entirely, praising her skill.

After years without cooking, her hands were clumsy. It took her two or three attempts before she managed to recreate that silver ear and longan congee.

Placing the steaming bowl into a food box, Consort Xu hurried straight to Taiyang Palace.

"Consort Xu has arrived?" At the palace gates, Liu Zhongbao seemed to have anticipated her visit. He bowed. "His Majesty is expecting you. Please follow this servant."

"Thank you, Eunuch Liu." A pang of unease struck her as she watched the grand doors slowly open. After a moment’s hesitation, she stepped inside.

Liu Zhongbao blocked the attendants behind her. "His Majesty and Her Ladyship have matters to discuss. No one else may enter."

Emperor Longfeng sat at his desk reviewing memorials. Apart from him, there was no one else in the hall.

"You’ve come?" He set down his brush as she entered, his expression calm. "Sit."

"This concubine hasn’t cooked in years, but with my health improving lately, I prepared a bowl of silver ear and longan congee for Your Majesty." Consort Xu placed the bowl before him.

"I remember when you were first sent to the prince’s residence—you were unhappy. On the advice of your maids, you made this congee. When you brought it to me, your hands were shaking." Emperor Longfeng glanced at the still-warm bowl. "I don’t know where you heard the mistaken notion that I liked this congee. Since childhood, I’ve never cared for longan, let alone congee with it."

Consort Xu stiffened, staring at him in disbelief.

"But you were new to the residence, unfamiliar with everything. I didn’t want you to feel uneasy, so I forced myself to finish it." The Emperor walked to the window, his hands clasped behind his back as he gazed outside—not at her. "Consort Xu, take this bowl back with you today."

Consort Xu knelt. "Your Majesty, this concubine failed to learn Your Majesty’s preferences. I am at fault."

"Rise." Emperor Longfeng’s voice remained even. "You never wished to marry into the prince’s household. Neither of us had a choice. You didn’t know my tastes, just as I never learned yours. Where is the fault in that?"

"Your Majesty!" Consort Xu dared not directly address the rumors, yet she had to dispel his doubts. "You are Liu An’s father, the Son of Heaven of Great Cheng. As your consort, failing to understand your preferences is my failing."

"Liu An may be impulsive at times, but he is a good child." Emperor Longfeng said. "My uncle had a similar temperament."

Consort Xu held her tongue. During the Previous Emperor’s reign, the Empress Dowager’s entire family had been purged—even the Emperor’s uncle had not been spared.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." A flicker of hope rose in her. Did this mean the Emperor didn’t doubt Liu An’s lineage?

That wretch Su Meidai, no matter how favored she was—what did it matter?

To men, their children would always come first.

Through the window, Emperor Longfeng spotted Empress Su approaching and quickly returned to his desk. "Consort Xu, what scent are you wearing?"

Consort Xu was baffled. She often feigned illness—why would she wear perfume?

"Stay further away from me."

If she didn’t, he might not be able to explain himself clearly later.

"Your Majesty." Without waiting for announcement, Empress Su strode in. Seeing Consort Xu kneeling, she set down her own food box and glanced at the now-cooled congee. "It seems I’ve come at an inconvenient time."

"Husband and wife are one. There’s no such thing as inconvenience." Emperor Longfeng opened her food box with a smile. "These pastries look exquisite." He reached for one.

"Your Majesty—wash your hands. And test for poison." Empress Su lightly smacked his hand, then turned a mocking gaze on Consort Xu. "Consort Xu, rise. Your health is frail—you shouldn’t kneel for long."

"Thank you, Empress." Consort Xu’s heart burned with hatred at Su Meidai’s condescension, but she dared not show it, forcing a look of gratitude instead.

A maid from Bright Moon Palace helped her up.

She stood there, watching as the Emperor and Empress Su ate pastries and chatted like an ordinary couple. She might as well have been a candlestick or a vase for all the notice they took of her.

She had expected Empress Su to bring up her past with Du Qingke, using it to cast doubt on Liu An’s parentage. Yet the Empress said nothing—even ordering pastries sent to the princes’ residences after the Emperor praised them.

What was Su Meidai playing at? Pretending to be virtuous before the Emperor?

"My Lady, have you heard the rumors in the palace?" During Ming Jiuzhu’s morning toilette, her maid Chunfen whispered, "They’ve spread everywhere in just a few days. It feels deliberate."

"What rumors?" Jiuzhu asked curiously.

"They say Prince Huai isn’t His Majesty’s son, but the product of Consort Xu’s affair with Du Qingke."

"That’s impossible." Jiuzhu shook her head. "Prince Huai’s brows and nose are identical to His Majesty’s. Anyone with eyes can see that."

Thinking of the gentle Princess Huai, Jiuzhu added, "Later, I’ll visit the princes’ residences to spend time with my sisters-in-law."

Sudden rumors meant only one thing—someone was spreading them intentionally.

Empress Su, ever kind and upright, would never allow such gossip to fester.

"Stay for lunch with Eldest Brother and his wife. I’ll join you later." Prince Chen leaned down, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Wait for me."

At this moment, the one in the worst mood was Prince Huai. As a legitimate royal descendant, he suddenly found everyone around him suspecting that his mother had cuckolded his father, and the way people looked at him had changed.

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‍most outrageous part was when he recently encountered his third brother, Prince Jing. The moment the latter saw him from afar, he turned around and took a detour. With so many palace maids and eunuchs present, Prince Jing’s actions practically pointed at Prince Huai’s nose and declared to everyone: "Come and see, my eldest brother’s identity is truly questionable!"

Who would have thought that his usually quiet third brother could be so underhanded? Clearly not a good person.

"My Prince, stop pacing in front of me—it’s irritating!" Princess Huai finally lost her patience. "What’s the use of fretting here? Right now, the most important thing isn’t what the palace maids and eunuchs say, but whether His Majesty believes in you."

"Do you expect me to march up to Father Emperor and bring this matter into the open?" Prince Huai slammed the table in frustration. "This is like tofu fallen into ashes—you can’t blow it clean or pat it away."

Lowering his voice, he asked, "Do you think… this could be Empress Su’s faction plotting against me?"

Princess Huai shook her head slowly. "Father Emperor is already preparing to name the fifth prince as Crown Prince. Why would the Empress go to such lengths?"

"You’re just a woman—what do you know about the intricacies of court politics?" Prince Huai dismissed her opinion. "Don’t forget, I’m the eldest son."

"If you disdain me for being a woman, then don’t consult me at all." Princess Huai finally snapped, flipping the table in anger. "Go discuss it with your concubines instead!"

Startled by her outburst, Prince Huai’s bravado faltered. "It’s just a rumor. I’m still Prince Huai—are you so quick to abandon me now?"

Princess Huai let out a bitter laugh and raised a teacup, ready to hurl it, when the voice of Ming Jiuzhu sounded from outside the courtyard.

"Brother, Sister-in-law, are you home?"

Princess Huai set down the teacup and hurried out. "Sister-in-law Jiuzhu?"

"Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law." Jiuzhu glanced at Prince Huai, who had followed his wife out, and curtsied. "The weather is lovely today, and my husband and I were wondering if we could shamelessly impose on you for lunch. Would you be so kind?"

Before Prince Huai could react, Princess Huai beamed and nodded eagerly. "Of course, of course! Sister-in-law Jiuzhu, just tell me what you’d like to eat, and I’ll make sure it’s prepared. As long as you don’t mind our humble fare."

"You’re having something delicious and didn’t invite me?" Princess Consort An appeared at the courtyard gate with a playful smile, stepping inside. "I distinctly heard you mention lunch just now."

"If there’s good food, we wouldn’t leave you out." Princess Huai glared at Prince Huai, who was still standing dumbly in place. "Your Highness, aren’t you going to instruct the kitchen to prepare the meal?"

Sister-in-law Jiuzhu had come all the way from Kirin Palace just to help dispel the rumors—how could he be so slow-witted?

Did he really think the future Crown Prince and Crown Princess were desperate for a meal at their place?

Prince Huai jolted to his senses. "Sister-in-law Jiuzhu honors us with her presence—how could I be stingy? I’ll go supervise the kitchen preparations myself." He glanced behind Jiuzhu, noticing Yun Duqing wasn’t there. "When will Fifth Brother arrive?"

"My husband was summoned by Father Emperor earlier, but he’ll be here soon." Jiuzhu smiled. "Before leaving, he specifically told me to ask Eldest Brother to prepare fine wine and dishes—he plans to feast heartily."

Prince Huai’s face lit up with joy. "Ah, let him eat as much as he wants!"

For the first time in his twenty-some years of life, he found Yun Duqing utterly endearing.

Meanwhile, in Taiyang Palace, Prince Chen finished assisting Emperor Longfeng with official matters and prepared to leave.

The Emperor stopped him. "You still have memorials to review this afternoon—where are you going?"

"Father Emperor, today I’m having lunch at Eldest Brother’s place. Could you grant me half a day’s leave?" Prince Chen grinned, rubbing his hands. "Eldest Brother is hosting—I plan to eat my fill."

Emperor Longfeng paused, then smiled, his expression warm with approval.

"Go ahead." He closed the memorial in his hands. "Take half a day off—eat well."

The best way to dispel rumors isn’t to force people into silence.

It’s to act in a way that makes those rumors seem like foolish nonsense no sensible person would believe.