The Times Spent in Pretense

Hua Changkong’s gaze fell upon the meal box lying on the table. Servants from the Eastern Palace had just sent it over. Suspicious, he shifted his gaze to Hua Liuli. “Little Sis, did the crown prince figure something out?”　　

“Huh?” She took out a candied fruit from the meal box and placed it in her mouth.　　

“Discovered that you… have a delicate constitution, and thus require more food that nourishes the body.” Hua Changkong shot the box a glance. Sitting within were candied fruit, dried meat, pastries, and dried fruit, and they were all made using the secret recipes of the palace, giving off an alluring fragrance.　　

“Maybe he prepared these things to comfort me since I was almost abducted by evildoers?” Hua Liuli didn’t find anything amiss about the crown prince’s actions. “Back in Qinghan Prefecture, you people comforted me in the same way.” 

How could one’s family members be the same as the crown prince?　　　　

As he took in his younger sister’s carefree and happy appearance, Hua Changkong’s heart softened. He extended a hand. Stroked her head. “You’re right. Third Brother was overthinking it.”　　

“Here,” she said, grabbing a piece of dried meat and placing it in his hand. “For you.”　　　　

“Thank you. Our family’s obedient child is truly generous.” Gentle laughter spilled from Hua Changkong’s lips as he accepted the meat.　　

He recalled a great natural disaster occuring eleven years ago. At that time, the food in Qinghan Prectured had run out. Fallen mountain rocks had blocked off the path leading there, thus, the relief from the court could not get through. In order to feed their bellies, people resorted to hunting all of the rats near the army camp.

Life had been very hard to bear even in the general’s residence. His little sister had been very young, so anything tasty would always fall into her hands. But the barely-four little sister of his had seemed aware of things being different during that period, and would give the meat in her bowl to her family members before she was willing to eat any.　　

He could still remember it to this day. His tiny sister would tug at the corner of his clothes, holding up a dry and skinny sparrow’s wing. Would say that she wanted to share it with him half and half.　　　　　

“Third Brother, I’m fifteen now, not three. This kind of tone used to praise children won’t work on me.” In a pensive manner, Hua Liuli gazed at him. “Daddy and Mother will arrive at the capital soon. You just want me to say a few good words for you.”

“You truly don’t have a conscience.” Hua Changkong poked her forehead. “Play by yourself. I’m returning to my study to read some more.”　　

“Third Brother, can you not poke my forehead?” With a hand, Hua Liuli covered that part of her body. “This is a highly-intelligent brain that’s peerless in intelligence.”　

“Highly-intelligent? If that’s truly so, wouldn’t you be crying at home for three days and three nights?” Then Hua Changkong grabbed another candied fruit from the meal box before running off. 　　

The Dali Temple’s truly intelligent head, Sir Zhang Shuo, was deep in worry, however. Because he heard that the emperor was unhappy with him, and was preparing to have Lin Zhou take his place.  

He touched the top of his head, which was growing ever more thin in hair. Said to his trusted subordinates who were sitting in the room, “Correct all of your bad habits so that when the new boss takes office, he won’t be unable to tolerate them.”　　

In the past, he had contact with Lin Zhou. He was a very upstanding person, unable to put anything objectionable out of his mind. Zhang Shuo’s subordinates were great at carrying out their tasks, but they all had different personalities and were not serious. One would fear they were incompatible with Lin Zhou in working together.　　

Where could they find another high-ranking minister as good as him in this world? He couldn’t even keep his own position, and now had to worry about his subordinates’ relationship with the new head of the Dali Temple.

“Sir, this isn’t definite. The imperial decree with the appointment has not been issued yet. We still have a chance.” The Dali Temple had two deputy heads. One was Pei Jihuai. The other was Gou Jingqi. The two handled things differently, but shared a good relationship with Zhang Shuo. Gou Jingqi was an expert in handling the miscellaneous tasks of the bureaucracy. In the words of Zhang Shuo’s arch-enemy, he was a good-for-nothing advisor.　　　　

“What other chance do we have? Lin Zhou will become Prince Ying’s father-in-law.” The head of the Dali Temple sighed. In the past two months, important cases occurred in succession. And they even involved the imperial clan. Not only that, the mastermind had not been caught. It’s no wonder that the emperor was discontent with him. 　　

If he had known this earlier, he would have prayed in a Daoist temple. Beseeched the Three Pure Ones to bless him with luck. 　　

No, he should pray to the God of Literature to bless him with a smooth political career.　　

“Sir, although Lin Zhou will become Prince Ying’s father-in-law, it does not mean we have to rely on him,” said Gou Jingqi, touching his goatee. “We can choose the crown prince or the Hua clan, any of these two roads.”　　　　

“The crown prince?” Zhang Shuo waved his hands in a hurry. “The entire court knows his temperament. If we fail to curry favor with him and he ridicules us on the spot, then would I have any face left?”　　

Gou Jingqi stared at him, not a word leaving his mouth. Things had already come to this point. What’s the use of still wanting face? Although he thought this, he could not say it aloud. A dry cough. “Sir, then we can go to the Hua family.

“The Hua family is very influential right now. Even the crown prince has to give them face. This subordinate has heard that Defender General will return to the capital within a few days. We can pay a visit to the two younger generation members of the Hua clan now. Ask them to help say a couple beautiful words about your honored self in front of Defender General. In the event that Defender General is willing to say a few words of praise regarding your honored self to the emperor, many things will be settled.”　　　　

Zhang Shuo shook his head. “This official is unable to do something like currying favor with the younger generation.”　　

“Sir, are you worried about the younger generation?  What does that have to do with currying favor?” said Gou Jongqi. “The court ministers dare not offend the crown prince or provoke the anger of Prince Ying. Apart from the Hua clan, there are few people who would dare to concern themselves with this matter.”

The head of the Dali Temple did not comment on that. He turned to Pei Jihuai. “How goes the investigation on Lincui Palace’s poisoning case?”　　　　

“A palace maid from Lincui Palace died unexpectedly. She was the female official in charge of tableware there,” replied Pei Jihuai, expression grave. “No matter how we investigate, the evidence clearly all point toward Prince Ying.” 　　

Zhang Shuo sighed. “Although we still haven’t discovered who the true culprit is, this official believes they hate Prince Ying immensely.　　

“Seal the case. I will present all the evidence to His Majesty.” This case cannot be investigated any further. If it is, it will touch upon palace secrets.　　

Despite the fact that whenever he woke up, he always hated how ugly his balding head looked, he did not want his head to fall to the ground.　　

Prince Ying, who did not know he was deeply hated by the mastermind, left from Princess Shunan’s estate with an unsightly expression. The court eunuch who always accompanied him whispered some advice to him. But his advice was in vain, and actually angered Prince Ying so much that he kicked him a couple times.　　　　

Princess Shunan did not have a good temper. Because she had infuriated the previous emperor in her youth, he told the current emperor not to promote her into the princess royal. So that she wouldn’t grow even more out of control.

This became a matter of ridicule for a while in the capital. Then Princess Shunan grew well-behaved for a few years. But in recent years, now that the imperial princes and princesses had matured, she wielded her status as an elder, her bad habit flaring once more.　　

Two years ago, the emperor’s heart had softened. But just as he was preparing to issue an imperial decree promoting her to the princess royal, Princess Shunan flew into a huge argument with the crown prince.　　

Who in the court did not know that the emperor favored the crown prince out of all his sons? Not only did Princess Shunan lose out on the promotion, the emperor also scolded her greatly. Ever since then, she fostered an animosity against the crown prince. 　　

Today, Prince Ying had personally gone to the princess estate to plead leniency for the Tian family. But Princess Shunan donned the arrogance of an elder, criticizing the entire clan.　　

Prince Ying had always respected his maternal grandfather and his family to a deep degree. And so, he had worn a cold expression as he talked back to Princess Shunan, leaving the estate in a fit of  rage.　　

His personal attendant found Princess Shunan’s brain mysterious. She was an imperial princess, yet had offended both the eldest prince and the crown prince. What benefits did that bring her?　　　　

Venting out one’s anger would feel good for a moment. But after a prince ascended the throne, one would regret it to an immense degree. Did she not understand this logic?　

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“Your Highness.” Sir Tian, who had been waiting outside, noticed Prince Ying’s poor expression. And he deduced that Prince Ying must have been bullied. Sir Tian felt ashamed and touched, but did not know what to say. He could only salute him by raising his clasped hands. 　　　　

“Uncle, you don’t have to be like this.” Prince Ying reached out to support Sir Tian to his feet. His gaze fell upon the white hairs on his uncle’s temples, a wave of sadness washing over him. “Don’t worry too much about the case regarding your estate. Take care of yourself. If Ruidong is not not acting sensibly, beat him up.”　　

When children weren’t obedient, it’s mostly because they had been spoiled too much. They’d grow well-behaved once you beat them a little.　　

Tian Ruidong, who had come along with his father, stared blankly at Prince Ying. “Huh?”　　　

Let’s be reasonable. He had been very well-behaved lately. For Prince Ying to say those words, he obviously still held a grudge for what he had done the last time.　　

“Nevermind. Let’s pay a visit to the Hua estate.” Prince Ying supported Sir Tian onto the horse-drawn carriage. Then he turned to Tian Ruidong, expression grave. “You’re already this grown up. You ought to be sensible.”　　　　

All of a sudden, realization struck Tian Ruidong. Prince Ying must have been angered into insanity by Princess Shunan. Thus, he was venting out his anger on him.　　

Entering the room, Yuanwei changed out the incense in the censer. She turned to see the commandery princess reclining on a soft couch, eating candied fruit as she perused a book on gossip regarding all the officials in the capital. A smile on her lips, Yuanwei said, “Commandery Princess, word has it that the Tian family and Prince Ying have arrived at the estate. Does your honored self want to change clothes?”　　　　

“Why has Prince Ying come?” Hua Liuli set aside the book in her hands. Received the proffered cup of water from a servant girl and rinsed her mouth. These books were completely full of rubbish, actually saying that the crown prince was egotistical. That he liked luxury. She didn’t have to guess to know this: One of the imperial princes had purposely requested people to defame him.　　

“It seems it’s related to the Tian family.” Swift as lightning, Yuanwei helped her change clothes. “If your honored self does not want to meet them, this slave will have Yurong inform Third Young Master.”　　　　

“I’ll have a look. I’ve been in my room all day. It’s so boring.” Hua Liuli traced her brows with an eyebrow brush. They were slender and willow-like, making her seem ever more delicate.　　

“Commandery Princess should hold back a bit. It’s Prince Ying after all.” Yuanwei and Yurong supported Hua Liuli from the left and right toward the courtyard outside.　　

Master and servants reached the door to the main hall. Within was the sound of Hua Changkong and Prince Ying conversing.　　　　

“My silly sister is frail. After she returned to us, we’ve been continuously hiring physicians to examine her and prescribe her medicine. Today, she was finally able to eat, though with much difficulty.” 　　　　

“This old one was unable to look after our servants, causing Commandery Princess to suffer.”　　

“This is neither Sir Tian’s fault nor responsibility in the first place. The evildoers have vicious hearts. Fortunately, my silly sister was able to pass this trial and did not suffer too much. She is the apple of my parents’ eyes. If something happened to her, us members of the younger generation will be too ashamed to face them.”　　

“Third Young Master is lenient. This old one cannot forgive my own mistakes. May Young Master take these apology gifts.”　　

“Sir Tian is too courteous. These gifts are too precious. We of the younger generation cannot accept them.”　　

“Take them. These represent the kindly feelings of my humble estate.”　　

“Sir Tian, you are too polite.”　　

“It’s only natural. May you of the younger generation not disdain it.”　　　　　　

After a round of trying to politely decline the apology gifts, Hua Changkong had no choice but to accept them. Sir Tian appeared even more guilty after that; from the inside and outside, it seemed he found the gifts insufficient. Thus, come noon, he would have his son return with even more.