A Precious Pearl in the Imperial City

This should have been a bright spring day, with blooming flowers, beautiful people, and butterflies dancing in the air.

Yet even the most picturesque scenery can be marred by unexpected events.

The Orphanage was a state-funded institution established in various prefectures to care for abandoned children. If a child remained unadopted, they would be raised by the Orphanage until the age of fourteen before being sent out to make a living.

In recent years, as the people of Dacheng grew more prosperous, fewer children were being abandoned. Moreover, wealthy merchants and noblewomen often donated silver to the Orphanage, so the children there lived relatively comfortable lives. They were even taken on monthly outings by the Orphanage staff.

Today was another such outing. Most of these unadopted children bore physical disabilities, their pitiful appearances tugging at the heartstrings.

The children didn’t understand why the man leading them today was unusually harsh, nor why he was deliberately steering them toward the busiest part of the marketplace. Too afraid to protest, they stumbled along behind him, struggling to keep up.

One child, born with a crippled foot, limped heavily, unable to match the man’s pace.

"Hurry up, you useless wretch!" The gray-robed overseer barked when he saw the child lagging far behind. "Wasting the empire’s silver to feed a cripple like you is nothing but a disgrace to Dacheng!"

The children burst into frightened sobs—especially the crippled child, who curled into himself, too terrified to even cry.

"Shut up, all of you!" The overseer snapped. "One more sound, and I’ll abandon you right here. Disgusting brats." He strode over to the crippled child and kicked him twice. "Worthless trash."

"What do you think you’re doing?!" A bystander shoved the overseer away. "He’s just a child! How dare you treat him like this?"

"Mind your own business!" The overseer sneered. "Do you even know who I am? I’m the Orphanage’s head steward, a government official! You ignorant peasants better back off, or I’ll have the authorities arrest every last one of you!"

"In the very shadow of the Son of Heaven, under this clear sky—how dare you act so brazenly?!" The capital’s citizens were known for their righteous and compassionate nature. Far from being intimidated, they were incensed by his arrogance. "Go ahead and report us! See if we care!"

"That’s right!" Several burly men stepped forward, shielding the children. Noticing their disabilities, their hearts swelled with pity—and their fury toward the overseer burned hotter. "How can you lay hands on these helpless children? Have you no humanity?"

"I’ve worked at the Orphanage for ten years, and no one’s ever dared question me!" The overseer smirked. "I suggest you back off now, or once I return, these disobedient brats will pay for your meddling. And then—no one will be around to protect them."

"Is that a threat?" The crowd couldn’t fathom his sheer audacity.

"Let’s see who among you dares lay a finger on me!" The overseer snarled. "I’m an official appointed by the imperial court. Assaulting me is a crime punishable by imprisonment!"

Most of the marketplace vendors were ordinary folk with families to support, and they hesitated at his words. Yet the longer they endured his arrogance, the hotter their rage burned—like dry kindling meeting flame.

"If you’re too cowardly to interfere, then scram!" The overseer scoffed. "Remember this—never oppose the imperial court, or you’ll regret it—"

"Regret this, you spineless worm!"

A young nobleman in brocade robes lunged from the crowd and kicked the overseer square in the face. The man didn’t even have time to yelp before he crashed to the ground.

Dazed, the overseer lay there for a moment before mustering a feeble shout: "Y-You dare defy the imperial court—?!"

"You’re not the imperial court, you pathetic excuse for a man!" The nobleman hurled a sack of grain onto the overseer’s back, silencing him like a strangled goose—legs flailing, mouth gaping, utterly voiceless.

"Disgusting creature!" The nobleman dusted off his hands. Turning, he noticed the dozen or so children peeking at him from behind the adults. Clearing his throat, he added, "Good children shouldn’t imitate me. I’m only beating up a bad man."

He and his friends had originally come to the market near the Orphanage to buy grain and oil for donation. They never expected to witness such cruelty.

Thank heavens they’d come—otherwise, these children would have suffered in silence.

"In all my years, I’ve never met anyone more arrogant than us." The nobleman crouched beside the overseer, slapping his head with each rhetorical question.

"Who told you an Orphanage steward represents the imperial court?"

Whack!

"Under the Emperor’s very nose, you dare use your measly title to threaten commoners? I’ve roamed these streets for twenty years, and even I’m not this brazen!"

Whack! Whack!

"You think you can bully children and commoners in front of me? Do you even know who I am?"

Whack! Whack! Whack!

The overseer was too dazed to respond.

The onlookers, their anger momentarily sated, felt a wave of relief seeing the tyrant reduced to such a state.

"Young master, may we ask who you are?" A steamed-cake vendor handed each child a treat, her voice laced with concern. "This man has ties to the authorities. Won’t you face trouble for this?"

"Trouble? For beating scum like him?" The nobleman delivered a few more thunks to the overseer’s skull. "My name is Yun Yizhi, sixth-generation descendant of Emperor Taizong."

"A descendant of our founding Emperor—a member of the imperial clan!" To the common folk, the exact degree of relation mattered little. Any imperial descendant commanded awe.

"Thank heavens you intervened, young master. These children would’ve suffered terribly otherwise."

"How could anyone be so cruel to children?"

"Don’t worry. With us here, no one will harm these children." Under the crowd’s admiring gazes, Yun Yizhi straightened proudly. "And this wretch won’t dare retaliate. I’m a study companion to Prince Chen and currently serve as an imperial guard. Vermin like him wouldn’t dare cross me."

"Ah, a companion to Prince Chen! Wasn’t it another of His Highness’s companions who stood up for the scholars last time?"

"No wonder Prince Chen chose you as his companion. Such a kind heart, young master!"

When Yun Qirong arrived with the Imperial Guards, he found Yun Yizhi squatting at the market entrance with a dozen children, all happily munching on meat buns.

Their faces were smeared with grease, their laughter bright.

It would have been a heartwarming scene—if not for the bound and gagged man lying nearby.

"Gentlemen, ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‍what exactly happened here?" Yu Jian’s gaze swept over the children before settling on Yun Yizhi.

Of course. Anything involving Prince Chen’s circle was bound to be chaotic.

Before Yun Yizhi could answer, the surrounding crowd eagerly chimed in on his behalf.

Yu Jian’s frown deepened as he listened. He turned to the Imperial Guards behind him and ordered, "Take the manager of this orphanage away and hand him over to the Capital Prefecture for a thorough investigation."

"Yes, boss."

Two Imperial Guards dragged the groaning man in gray robes up from the ground, then "accidentally" let their hands slip, causing the man’s face to slam into the ground with a howl of pain.

"Oops, my hand slipped."

"Terribly careless of us."

The surrounding citizens thought to themselves: What a wonderful slip. They should slip a few more times.

By that afternoon, news spread from the Capital Prefecture—the man who claimed to represent the court was not only given thirty heavy strokes but was also sentenced to a severe punishment.

The people cheered, praising the officials of the Capital Prefecture and the royal scions alike.

The once-notorious royal scions now strode through the streets with their heads held high, their steps light as if carried by the wind. Some even began emulating their good deeds.

For a time, the usual street thugs vanished without a trace, and the capital’s atmosphere had never been better.

Who would dare provoke these royal scions, who now roamed the streets with a newfound passion for punishing evildoers?

The heads of noble families, however, were far from pleased.

"Speak up—who among us is the traitor?"

No one answered, for each believed everyone else could be the traitor—except themselves.

"Those royal scions, who were supposed to be at the gambling den, suddenly detoured to the orphanage. On the way, they even stopped to buy grain and oil, just in time to encounter those abused children." One family head scoffed in frustration. "Do you really believe such a coincidence?"

Who would?

The atmosphere grew tense. At this moment, whoever spoke first would seem the most suspicious.

"Was the plan to have the orphanage manager beat the children yours?" Du Qingke swaggered in, glancing at the gathered family heads before chuckling. "Did it work?"

His tone dripped with unmistakable mockery.

"Family Head Du, do you have a better idea?" The family head who had proposed the orphanage plan, stung by his tone, retorted, "If you have a superior strategy, we’d gladly follow it."

"Oh?" Du Qingke raised an eyebrow. "I came here to listen to your opinions, not to offer solutions."

"If you won’t contribute ideas or join our plans, why are you even here?"

"To gather experience."

"What kind of experience?"

"The kind that teaches you how to cope when a plan fails." Du Qingke sighed. "Unfortunately, none of you seem to be handling it well. I’ve learned nothing useful."

"You—"

"Ah, I just remembered—Prince Chen is supposed to recite The Records of Agriculture and Sericulture before His Majesty tomorrow. Do you think he’ll manage it?"

"Impossible. I couldn’t finish memorizing a poetry anthology in half a year. No one could memorize an entire book like that in five days."

Du Qingke gave the man a sidelong glance before silently looking away.

There’s a reason noble families are declining.

"Minister Wang, are you feeling unwell?" Outside Taiyang Palace, Ming Jingzhou noticed the Minister of Revenue constantly wiping sweat from his brow. "Would you like to rest for a moment?"

"I’m fine—just nervous." Minister Wang whispered, "Minister Ming, give us some reassurance. Can His Highness really recite the entire book?"

"Well…" Ming Jingzhou hesitated. "When I left Kirin Palace yesterday, His Highness’s recitation was still a bit… rough."

Rough?

How rough?

The officials grew even more anxious. Their current state of mind wasn’t far from how they’d felt during the imperial examinations.

"Gentlemen, His Majesty summons you." Liu Zhongbao emerged with a smile. "Please, come in."

"Eunuch Liu, has Prince Chen arrived yet?"

"Not yet. Please wait inside for a short while."

The officials knew their minds wouldn’t settle until the prince finished his recitation.

After entering the inner hall and paying their respects to Emperor Longfeng, they stood restlessly to the side.

If someone had told them two years ago that they’d be eagerly awaiting Prince Chen’s arrival, they would’ve thought that person insane.

Now, they were beginning to understand just how important Prince Chen was to them.

Every passing moment was torture—until a eunuch announced, "Your Majesty, Prince Chen and the Princess Consort of Chen request an audience."

The officials’ eyes snapped toward the entrance, their gazes as scorching as the summer sun.

As Jiuzhu stepped through the grand doors of Taiyang Palace, she hesitated and nearly retreated. Why are these officials staring so intensely?

Prince Chen took her hand and led her inside. "Father, I’ve come to recite."

Emperor Longfeng turned to Liu Zhongbao. "Prepare a seat for the Princess Consort."

"Father, my wife didn’t believe I could memorize the whole book, so I brought her along." Prince Chen grinned at the ministers. "Shall we begin?"

"Your Highness, wait!" One official pulled out a brick-thick copy of The Records of Agriculture and Sericulture from his sleeve and offered it to the prince. "Perhaps you’d like to review once more before starting?"

"No need. I’m ready." Prince Chen waved him off. "I’ve already gone over it."

He glanced at the man. Carrying this massive book in your sleeve couldn’t have been easy.

Ah, well.

He took the book, flipped through it briefly, then handed it to Jiuzhu with a smirk. "Admire your husband’s brilliance."

"Mm!" Jiuzhu clutched his sleeve and whispered in his ear, "Your Highness will definitely be the most amazing!"

Hearing her soft, trusting voice, Prince Chen—Yun Duqing—felt invincible.