A Precious Pearl in the Imperial City

Jiuzhu woke up before dawn, roused by hunger. Glancing at Prince Chen, who was still asleep, she quietly slipped out of bed.

"Where are you going?" Prince Chen opened his eyes and caught her hand. "It's still dark."

"I'm hungry." Jiuzhu rubbed her stomach, blushing as she recalled how they had skipped dinner the night before. "Your Highness, are you hungry too?"

"Wait here." Prince Chen got out of bed, draped an outer robe over Jiuzhu's shoulders, and said, "Stay seated. I'll call the servants to prepare something for you."

As he passed her, he bent down and pressed a light kiss to her cheek, feigning composure. "Be good and wait for me."

If not for his ears, which burned bright red and betrayed him, he might have passed for a perfectly composed, mature, and tender husband.

Hands clasped behind his back, he strode out with deliberate elegance, lifting the curtain to the outer chamber. "Attendants!"

"Your Highness." The eunuchs and maids on night duty hurried to their feet and approached.

"Prepare breakfast." He glanced at the still-dark sky outside—admittedly, it was rather early for a morning meal.

"Your Highness, Chunfen has already instructed the kitchen to have everything ready. This servant will fetch it at once." The maid bowed and withdrew.

Prince ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍Chen nodded in satisfaction. When it came to serving Jiuzhu, the Ming Family's attendants understood best.

He sighed, missing the bootlickers at the Chen Prince's Mansion—at least they could read his slightest expression and anticipate his needs.

After breakfast, Jiuzhu sat before the dressing table, arranging her hair.

"Your Highness, aren’t these accessories too extravagant?"

"Today, you’ll be meeting your four sisters-in-law. Your fabrics and jewelry must be of the finest quality." Prince Chen carefully painted a floral design on her forehead, then leaned in to whisper, "As a princess consort, if you dress too plainly, they may praise your modesty to your face, but behind your back, they’ll assume I don’t value you."

"A woman, yet forced to wield her husband’s favor as a weapon." Jiuzhu lowered her lashes, the smile on her lips fading slightly.

"The world is often unjust to women." Prince Chen selected a pair of dangling hairpins and secured them in her hair. "Though I can’t change everyone’s minds, I’ll do my best to shield you from such unfairness."

When he was young, his mother had told him that most women in this world suffered hardships. She had urged him never to grow into a man who mistreated them.

"I’ve always known you were a rare and remarkable man, Your Highness." Jiuzhu looked up at him with a smile.

Prince Chen accepted the compliment without hesitation.

As the saying goes, love sees no flaws. Since Jiuzhu adored him, of course she believed him to be extraordinary.

Perfectly logical.

At first light, the two set out from Kirin Palace toward Zhangliu Palace.

"Since we didn’t go yesterday, will it seem impolite?" Seated side by side in a palanquin, Jiuzhu watched palace servants pass by with lanterns in hand. The sprawling palace stretched endlessly before them, and she instinctively leaned closer to Prince Chen.

"Do you really think they wanted to meet us out of pure goodwill?" Prince Chen chuckled. "For years, they’ve resented me but never dared show it. Now, they finally have a legitimate reason to make me bow to them—they’ve been looking forward to this."

Jiuzhu: "..."

The bonds between royal brothers were truly complicated.

"Once we reach Zhangliu Palace, leave everything to me." He toyed with her hand in his grasp. "I won’t let you suffer any slights."

"Mm." Jiuzhu nodded.

Before entering the palace, her father had briefed her on the temperaments, backgrounds, and rivalries of the five princes.

The gatekeeper of Zhangliu Palace, roused by knocking, yawned and straightened his wrinkled robes. Before he could ask who was there, a voice boomed from outside: "Prince Chen and Princess Consort Chen request an audience with the four princes. Open the gates!"

Prince Chen and Princess Consort Chen?!

The gatekeeper scrambled to unbolt the door, not daring to lift his head. "This lowly one greets Your Highness and Her Highness."

"Are my four elder brothers awake?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, the four princes are still asleep."

Prince Chen led Jiuzhu into the courtyard. "No matter. Bring fruits and refreshments. The princess consort and I will wait in the outer courtyard. Do not disturb them—let them wake naturally."

The servants agreed aloud, though none dared leave the prince and princess consort unattended. While serving tea, a few quietly slipped away to alert their masters.

Prince Chen arched a brow at the retreating figures but pretended not to notice. Smiling at Jiuzhu, he remarked, "After living here for a time, moving out feels strange."

Jiuzhu giggled softly. Turning, she noticed a few familiar-looking maids gazing at her hesitantly. She beckoned them over. "Come here."

"Princess Consort." One maid pulled a braided tassel from her sleeve. "This is the knot pattern you admired last time. This servant made a new one for you."

"Princess Consort, here’s the decorative cord I crafted for you." Another maid presented a delicate woven bracelet.

Prince Chen: "..."

With his wife around, did his princely dignity even stand a chance?

Prince Huai was deep in slumber when persistent calls roused him. He sat up, face dark with irritation. "What is it?"

Last night, stewing over Yun Duqing standing them up had kept him awake until the wee hours. What earth-shattering matter demanded his attention now?

"Your Highness, Prince Chen and his princess consort have come to visit."

"What?!" Prince Huai rubbed his bleary eyes and glanced out the window. Fury surged through him. "It’s not even dawn—what is he doing here?!"

Was the man insane?

After waiting all day yesterday without a single visitor, now, when everyone was sound asleep, he decided to show up.

Yun Duqing couldn’t behave like a normal human being to save his life!

"Prince Chen said there’s no need to wake you specially," the eunuch added hastily, watching his master’s face twist in rage. "Your Highness may rest a while longer."

"Help me dress." Prince Huai took a deep breath. Though the words sounded considerate, he couldn’t actually leave Yun Duqing waiting outside—especially with the Ming Family’s daughter present.

If he made Yun Duqing cool his heels in the courtyard, the emperor would hear of it within the hour.

"Send word to Princess Huai. Have her freshen up and join Fifth Brother’s wife for conversation."

Prince Yun Yanze and his wife arrived before Prince Huai. Approaching Prince Chen, Yun Yanze greeted them warmly. "Fifth Brother, Fifth Sister-in-law, you’ve come quite early."

"Fourth Brother." Prince Chen smiled. "Since my wife is new to the palace, of course I’d bring her to pay respects to our elders."

"Little Pig." He tapped Jiuzhu’s hand lightly. "Come, greet Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law."

"Fourth Brother, Fourth Sister-in-law." Jiuzhu rose to bow, but Sun Caiyao swiftly intercepted her. "No need for formalities among family. Please, sit."

"Fourth Sister-in-law is right." Prince Chen raised a brow, grinning. "Jiuzhu, relax."

Sun Caiyao’s smile nearly faltered. By convention, brothers and sisters-in-law should exchange polite refusals before proceeding with formal greetings. She hadn’t expected Prince Chen to be so blunt—when he said they needn’t stand on ceremony, he truly meant it, letting Ming Jiuzhu sit without hesitation.

Even more bizarrely, Jiuzhu obeyed without protest, not even attempting to uphold propriety.

The atmosphere grew awkward, but thankfully, Prince Huai arrived just then, easing the tension in Sun Caiyao’s heart.

“Elder Brother is up as well?” Prince Chen remarked, ignoring the dark circles under Prince Huai’s eyes. “Early to bed and early to rise keeps one healthy. Sit and have tea with me.”

You’re the only one who can sleep soundly at night—the only one!

Prince Huai forced a strained smile as he took a seat beside Prince Chen. “Little Brother, you’ve come unusually early today.”

“Last night, I reflected deeply and realized I shouldn’t disturb my four elder brothers in the evening.” Prince Chen gazed at the dawn struggling to break through the horizon. “Yet, not seeing you all left me restless, unable to sleep or eat. So, I brought my princess consort to visit you all this morning to show my sincerity.”

Bullsht.

Prince Huai didn’t believe a single word Yun Duqing said.

Since childhood, when had Yun Duqing ever adhered to propriety?

Even at the late Emperor’s funeral, he’d dared to sneak beef jerky from his sleeve—though, to be fair, he’d shared it, and Prince Huai had partaken as well. But that incident alone proved Yun Duqing had no regard for rules.

Would he really lose sleep over something like this?

If Yun Duqing had the audacity to say it, Prince Huai didn’t have the face to believe it.

Suppressing his disgust, he managed a magnanimous smile. “Fifth Brother, you’re too bound by etiquette. Don’t trouble yourself like this next time.”

If this kept up, even if his elder brothers could endure it, their hairlines certainly couldn’t.

Prince An was the last to arrive, adjusting his belt as he walked. “Fifth Brother, you’re here far too early.”

Prince Chen repeated his earlier explanation.

Prince An: “…”

Absurd. Who would believe that?

He glanced at Jiuzhu, only to find her nodding emphatically, her eyes brimming with unwavering trust in her husband.

Well, the world is full of all kinds of people. Some couples are just… unusually compatible.

Once all four elder brothers and their wives had gathered, Prince Chen finally took Jiuzhu’s hand and bowed to them in unison.

“Among us sisters-in-law, you’re the youngest, and I’m the eldest,” Princess Huai said, handing Jiuzhu a prepared gift. “With few others in the palace, we should meet more often.”

“Thank you, Eldest Sister-in-law,” Jiuzhu replied warmly.

“This is my gift for you, Fifth Sister-in-law,” Princess Consort An said, her voice as striking as her beauty. “I’ve always adored lovely people. If I visit Kirin Palace often in the future, don’t find me a nuisance.”

Jiuzhu accepted the gift box, studying Princess Consort An’s face intently. “Second Sister-in-law is the true vision of beauty.”

Delighted, Princess Consort An laughed and slipped a bracelet from her own wrist onto Jiuzhu’s.

She adored women like Jiuzhu—sweet-tongued and discerning.

Princess Consort Jing seemed quieter, exchanging only a few polite words before retreating behind her elder sisters-in-law.

“Ming—no, Fifth Sister-in-law,” Sun Caiyao murmured, lowering her gaze. Every time she stood beside Ming Jiuzhu, she lacked the courage to meet her eyes.

Jiuzhu’s presence was a silent reminder—she was a thief.

The upbringing her family had given her warred endlessly with her selfish desires, tormenting her.

“Fourth Sister-in-law?” Jiuzhu tilted her head. “Is something wrong?”