A Precious Pearl in the Imperial City

"Your Majesty, having His Highness recite the entire book may take too much time. Why not have the officials present each select a portion for the prince to recite?" Ming Jingzhou stepped forward and suggested, "This way, we can verify His Highness's memorization while saving Your Majesty's time."

"The esteemed ministers need not make excuses for him. I know you are all kind-hearted and reluctant to see him lose face. But since he claimed he could recite it all, you may sit back and listen." Emperor Longfeng instructed Liu Zhongbao, "Liu Zhongbao, bring tea. Let Prince Chen recite at his own pace."

The ministers were momentarily stunned before realizing the emperor's implication—he suspected they might have colluded with Prince Chen in advance to help him cheat.

At this thought, they felt both regret and frustration. Why hadn’t they considered this idea earlier?

No, no—they were scholars. How could they entertain such deceitful thoughts?

Aware of their moral lapse, the officials silently turned their hopeful gazes toward Prince Chen, placing all their faith in divine intervention.

May heaven bless Prince Chen with an extraordinary memory and dazzle the court with his brilliance.

"Those who steal this book shall be severed—"

"Your Highness, that line is merely a curse printed by the publisher against book thieves. There’s no need to recite it." Ming Jingzhou cleared his throat. This performance was a bit too exaggerated—time to rein it in.

"In ancient times, those who preceded me—"

"Which section is this from?" one official whispered to a colleague from the Ministry of Works.

"The preface," the Ministry of Works official replied. "The Records of Agriculture and Sericulture compiles the wisdom of past dynasties on farming and silk production. The preface was written by our founding prime minister."

"When the seasons align, seize the moment; plant mulberries in spring. Mulberries benefit the people—do not neglect them."

Prince Chen recited faster and more fluently. The officials wiped sweat from their brows, occasionally stealing glances at the emperor’s expression.

"To the south lies a tropical isle, where grains ripen year-round, yielding delicious food."

Initially sitting rigidly upright, two older officials now leaned back in their chairs. Prince Chen had been reciting for quite some time—was this book excessively long?

Suddenly, Prince Chen stopped.

The officials tensed, their minds racing with worry.

What happened? Did he forget the rest?

What came next? Could they subtly—without being too obvious—prompt him?

Unfazed by their concern, Prince Chen calmly sipped his tea and turned to Jiuzhu.

Thinking he was nervous, Jiuzhu mouthed to him, "Your Highness, you’re amazing!"

Prince Chen smirked smugly. Just wait until I finish.

When he resumed, the officials exhaled in relief. Good, he hadn’t forgotten.

Was the prince looking to his consort for encouragement?

"Did you see that? The moment Princess Consort smiled at Prince Chen, he continued reciting," Official A murmured to Official B. "Such deep affection between husband and wife."

He reflected further and realized that since Prince Chen’s betrothal to the Ming family’s daughter, his reckless behavior had dwindled. Now, for the sake of scholars everywhere, he was laboring to recite this book.

Could this be... a prodigal son’s redemption?

At this thought, he glanced at Ming Jingzhou, whose expression remained calm and unreadable. The Ming family had raised an exceptional daughter.

Reading the entire Records of Agriculture and Sericulture aloud would typically take over an hour, yet Prince Chen’s recitation seemed even swifter.

He delivered the text effortlessly, while the officials tasked with verifying his accuracy strained their eyes comparing it to the written text.

"Were there any mistakes?" other officials whispered to the Ministry of Works representatives, who knew the book best.

The Ministry of Works officials shook their heads. "Not a single error. Flawless."

Hearing this, the officials’ emotions grew complicated. How much effort had Prince Chen poured into memorizing this?

"The people are the foundation of the state. Agriculture is the source of life."

Half an hour later, Prince Chen reached the final page. The weary officials straightened their postures, their gazes brimming with admiration and paternal warmth.

"Finished?" Emperor Longfeng stood and paced the hall, his back stiff from sitting too long.

"Your Majesty, Prince Chen has completed the entire text," the supervising officials reported, stepping forward to bow.

"How many mistakes?" The emperor glanced at his son, who had already sidled up to his consort, waiting for her to lift the teacup to his lips.

This infuriating boy.

"Your Majesty, Prince Chen’s brilliance knows no bounds. There were no errors whatsoever," the supervising official replied, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"None?" Emperor Longfeng eyed his son skeptically. "Recite the fifth volume’s sericulture chapter again."

His voice slightly hoarse, Prince Chen repeated the sericulture passage.

"Imperial Father," he said cheekily, "since I’ve memorized the entire Records of Agriculture and Sericulture, will you honor your promise...?"

"If you could memorize this in five days, why have you neglected your studies all these years?" Emperor Longfeng’s gaze turned dangerous. "Liu Zhongbao, fetch the rod."

"Your Majesty, you mustn’t!" The officials, initially delighted by Prince Chen’s feat, rushed to intervene at the emperor’s ominous tone. "His Highness must have studied day and night to achieve this. He deserves reward, not punishment!"

"Indeed! Perhaps His Highness was a late bloomer. His past recklessness was youth’s folly, but his reformation is cause for celebration. Punishing him now might crush his newfound diligence!"

"Imperial Father, please calm your anger." Jiuzhu spread her arms, shielding Prince Chen. "These past nights, His Highness burned the midnight oil to memorize this book. An emperor’s promise is worth ten thousand pieces of gold. If you won’t reward him, how can you punish him?"

She glared at the approaching eunuchs. "No one touches my prince!"

"Jiuzhu." Ming Jingzhou frowned at his daughter. "Do not disrespect His Majesty. Step back."

Jiuzhu bit her lip but neither lowered her arms nor moved an inch.

Behind her, Prince Chen gazed at her resolute stance, her arms outstretched in his defense. Gently, he took her hand and whispered in her ear, "Silly little pig, Imperial Father won’t strike me. Don’t be afraid."

No scenery in all the world could compare to this moment—her standing before him without hesitation.

He truly believed that even if faced with armies, flames, or blades, she would still stand in front of him just like this.

With a tug, he pulled her to his side and grinned at Emperor Longfeng. "Imperial Father, the princess consort merely worries for me. Please don’t take it to heart."

After a pause, Emperor Longfeng suddenly laughed, dispelling the tension in the hall.

"Du Qing, you have an exceptional princess consort." The emperor’s gaze at Jiuzhu was filled with unmistakable fondness, unbothered by her earlier defiance.

He ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍flicked his sleeve and seated himself upon the imperial throne: "By Our decree, the imperial harem has long lacked a mistress. In accordance with Heaven's will, We hereby appoint Lady Su as Empress. This is joyous news worthy of celebration. Considering the hardships faced by scholars across the realm, an additional imperial examination shall be held, that they may diligently cultivate their talents and showcase their brilliance."

Such an edict required the emperor's personal seal before being dispatched to the Ministry of Works, which would then distribute it to every province and commandery.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The officials, moved to tears, bowed deeply in gratitude.

At last, this matter had come to fruition.

"Imperial Father, this daughter-in-law acted improperly earlier. I beg for your punishment." Joy and sorrow are never shared between hearts. Jiuzhu hung her head and shuffled forward with small steps, kneeling before Emperor Longfeng in a deep bow of contrition.

"Du Qing, help Jiuzhu up at once." Emperor Longfeng gazed at the dejected girl with amusement, offering reassurance: "As a father, far from punishing you, I ought to thank you."

Jiuzhu looked up at him in surprise as Prince Chen stepped to her side and took her hand.

Their fingers intertwined—the most intimate gesture of clasped hands.

"As a prince, he possesses power and status envied by countless souls. Men fear him and seek to curry favor, yet none would stand before Us without hesitation for his sake." The emperor observed their joined hands with a smile. "When you acted, did it never occur to you that you might incur Our displeasure?"

"I... didn't have time to think." Jiuzhu studied him cautiously. "Imperial Father, you wouldn't actually strike His Highness, would you?"

"A grown man like him wouldn't learn his lesson even if We did." No sooner had Emperor Longfeng spoken than he saw Jiuzhu turn to flash his son a radiant smile.

And in his son's eyes as he looked at her—tenderness, love, and cherishing.

The gaze of a mature man beholding the woman who held his heart.

This eternal child had finally found someone to protect, becoming a man who could shoulder the heavens.

"Imperial Father, speaking this way will make Jiuzhu think you beat me often growing up." Prince Chen chuckled, pretending to whisper to his wife: "In truth, Father never laid a hand on me. His threats are all bluster."

Overhearing this "secret" exchange, Emperor Longfeng waved them off in mock irritation: "Away with you both, before We make good on those threats."

"Imperial Father, starting to beat him now would be called 'breaking the seal' in folk tradition," Jiuzhu piped up softly. "While striking him on the year's last day would be 'sealing the seal.' Are you planning to break the seal on His Highness?"

Prince Chen stared at his consort in disbelief. What was this?

When the emperor threatened punishment earlier, she'd bravely shielded him—why was she now volunteering folk idioms about disciplining children?

"Imperial Father, your son takes his leave." Sensing danger, Prince Chen hastily dragged his wife away by the hand.

Watching the young couple depart, Liu Zhongbao remarked with a smile: "Your Majesty, the prince and his consort are perfectly matched."

"Indeed." Emperor Longfeng laughed from the heart. "For a son of his temperament to encounter the Ming family's girl is the greatest fortune of his life."

"The princess consort's nature is truly exceptional. When this old servant first saw her, I thought her features most auspicious—the very picture of good fortune."

"Ah yes." The emperor sighed. Had Du Qing not coincidentally met the Ming girl that day at the royal hunting grounds, accompanying her to select a pony after that accident...

Some possibilities, as a father, he dared not contemplate.

The mere thought of such consequences filled him with dread.

To Du Qing, he was simply the most ordinary of fathers.

Hoping he'd stay healthy and free from illness, praying for his safety and longevity, wishing someone might love him and that he'd learn to love in turn. That when he and Mei Dai grew old and could no longer stand by his side, those who cherished him—and whom he cherished—would remain. So even with hair turned frost-white, he'd never know loneliness.

"Your Highness! Prince Chen, please wait!"

Officials emerging from Taiyang Palace hurried after the prince and Jiuzhu, bowing deeply: "We thank Your Highness on behalf of scholars throughout the realm."

"Scholars are subjects of Da Cheng. As a prince of this realm, is it not my duty to shoulder their burdens? No thanks are needed." Prince Chen glanced at the assembled officials—all familiar faces.

The man in robes embroidered with two-inch floral patterns had once impeached him for driving a man to drown.

Another in five-inch embroidery had publicly declared him an unlettered wastrel a year prior.

But being magnanimous by nature, he'd let bygones be bygones—these men had served Da Cheng well, after all.

"In the past... we may have misunderstood Your Highness," said an official in purple court robes with clasped hands. "We are grateful for your generosity in overlooking our offenses."

Fearing they might regale Jiuzhu with tales of his youthful escapades, the prince hastily interrupted: "Mere trifles, worthy sirs. Think no more of it."

Enough! Any more reminiscing would crack his image as the infallible prince in his wife's eyes.

"Fourth Brother, isn't that Fifth Brother surrounded by officials?" Prince Jing paused outside Taiyang Palace, squinting at the clustered figures. "I wonder if he's memorized that agricultural text yet?"

As Yun Yanze observed the officials' smiling faces, his heart grew heavy.

"Minister Wang once called Fifth Brother an ignoramus—see how amiably he smiles at him today." Prince An's eyes brightened. "Could he have memorized the entire Annals of Agriculture?"

Magnificent! My admirable Fifth Brother—just the ally I need!