51. The Phoenix Takes Flight, the Voice of Youth

“Your Highness, look—after the Mid-Autumn Festival, these chrysanthemums have bloomed even more beautifully. The one nearby, West Lake Willow Moon, is vivid and pure, with plump buds; when fully open, it shines on the water like the bright moon. The one farther off, Phoenix Spreads Its Wings, is a dazzling blend of red and yellow—doesn’t it look just like the legendary phoenix unfurling its wings?”

The autumn breeze was gentle, still carrying the lingering warmth of late summer. In the Cold Spring Courtyard, flowers bloomed in riotous color, their petals scattered like flowing gems. Xi Yue had always adored chrysanthemums and spoke of the varieties with familiar ease. From a distance, Xu Guiyi simply smiled with quiet composure.

“Didn’t the palace say His Highness Prince Chu would be coming today? Why isn’t he here yet?” Xu Guiyi turned to ask the attendants at her side.

Before anyone could reply, Madam Wu approached to report, “Your Highness, Prince Chu has arrived—he’s already gone with the Crown Prince to the Yonghui Pavilion.”

Xu Guiyi’s eyes brightened with delight. “Then I’ll head over now. Are the pastries and refreshments ready?”

Xi Yue bowed and answered, “They’ve been prepared long ago—all of Prince Chu’s favorites.”

Xu Guiyi walked briskly toward Yonghui Pavilion, but before she reached the door, she heard a clear, youthful voice, soft and sweet as glutinous rice, “Fifth Brother, why is it that the moment I enter, you insist on testing my archery?”

Fu Lanchen’s voice responded—stern and crisp, “Less chatter! Stand straight, lift your head, chest out, level your shoulders, ground your stance, extend your arms, keep your fingers still, focus—release!”

A sharp “whoosh” sounded; likely, the arrow had already flown.

Then came a round of applause, with Shen Yu unabashedly praising, “Well done, Your Highness Prince Chu! This arrow was splendid—you haven’t forgotten a thing we taught you.”

“Ah! Fifth Brother, why did you hit me?” Xu Guiyi suddenly heard Fu Xun cry out.

Fu Lanchen replied coldly, “I strike you so you’ll remember: when you’re perfectly capable of doing something well, why complain and grumble before you even start? You’re neither decisive nor efficient—where is your manly bearing?”

Fu Xun obediently stood still, knowing this was only the first round today—there was no escaping it.

Listening outside, Xu Guiyi thought to herself: whether rebuking his officials, sparring with the emperor, or teasing the crown princess, Fu Lanchen always spoke with the utmost brevity, never wasting a word. Yet, when playing the elder brother and lecturing his younger sibling, his demeanor and tone were exactly like the old scholars at the Imperial Academy.

Once Fu Lanchen finished, Xu Guiyi gestured for Madam Wu and Xi Yue to wait outside, then entered to greet Prince Chu.

“Fifth Sister-in-law!” Fu Xun’s look of desperate hope nearly made Xu Guiyi laugh aloud.

She went to pay her respects to Fu Lanchen. “Greetings, Your Highness.” She saw him standing stern-faced, gripping an arrow—no doubt the one he’d just used on Fu Xun.

With a gentle smile, she took the sleek-feathered arrow from his hand and handed it to Prince Chu. “Little Eight, your fifth sister-in-law didn’t see your last shot. Will you shoot another for me?”

Fu Xun blinked eyes bright as stars and said softly, “Alright.”

What a good child!

So Xu Guiyi and Fu Lanchen stood together, while Shen Yu called out mischievously, “Prince Chu is so well-behaved before the Crown Princess! Clearly, children need both husband and wife to educate them, balancing sternness with kindness!”

Fu Lanchen shot a cool glance at Shen Yu, his eyes icy, signaling him to be silent.

And look—Fu Xun’s second arrow struck the bullseye as well.

Xu Guiyi was inwardly delighted, smiling as she gently caressed Fu Xun’s brow. Her tone was soft, “It’s thanks to Prince Chu’s intelligence, and also to the Crown Prince’s excellent teaching. Little Eight, aren’t you going to thank your fifth brother?”

A little boy, all grown-up in manner, bowed formally. “Fu Xun thanks Fifth Brother for his guidance.”

Shen Yu protested, “Prince Chu, do you only thank your fifth brother?”

Fu Xun naturally turned to Shen Yu and bowed again. “Thank you, Cousin Yu.”

Fu Lanchen couldn’t help glancing at Xu Guiyi, his expression finally softening a little. Then he turned to Fu Xun. “I’ll let you off for today.” He was about to take Fu Xun’s hand, but Fu Xun slipped away and hid behind Xu Guiyi instead.

“I want to play with Fifth Sister-in-law.”

Xu Guiyi’s heart skipped a beat—oh heavens!

She didn’t even have to look to know Fu Lanchen’s face had darkened. She forced a smile. “Your Highness, I’ve been at the Eastern Palace for a year, and this is Little Eight’s first visit. Let me show him around today. If you have any instructions, just let me know.”

Fu Xun peeked around her sleeve to check Fu Lanchen’s mood.

He snorted, then turned to walk into the room. After a few steps, unable to contain his annoyance, he stopped, turned back, and said harshly, “Have you never heard that too much motherly kindness spoils a child?”

His words struck all present into silence.

Xu Guiyi shielded Fu Xun with her left hand, her right raised protectively, as if to block Fu Lanchen’s imposing manner.

“Please, Your Highness, calm your anger.”

But then again, this child had both father and mother—why was it Fu Lanchen, a half-brother, who was saying this?

Shen Yu, too, feared Fu Lanchen might really lose his temper. “Crown Prince, let’s not get worked up.”

The tension hung thick, and just as Xu Guiyi and Fu Xun were about to yield to Fu Lanchen’s fury, the prince relented, as mighty as a guardian deity.

“I still have memorials to review today. I’ll leave Prince Chu in your care, Crown Princess.”

Xu Guiyi seized the moment, replying swiftly, “I’ll look after Prince Chu well and will not betray your trust.”

Before the Crown Prince could reconsider, Xu Guiyi hurried Fu Xun back to Chunhui Hall.

Meanwhile, Shen Yu stroked his chin, murmuring thoughtfully, “I can’t help but feel the Crown Princess treats Prince Chu differently. And, you know, Prince Chu has always been raised with the strictest etiquette by Consort De. Yet, see how the wives of Prince Zhao and Prince Qi, who’ve been married into the royal family for years, aren’t nearly as close to him as the new Crown Princess. Isn’t that odd?”

Fu Lanchen’s phoenix eyes half-closed, his voice low, “What are you trying to say?”

Shen Yu shrugged and spread his hands. “I don’t know myself—it just feels strange, but I can’t put my finger on it.”

Fu Lanchen turned toward his study. “Let’s talk about Zhang Qi instead.”

Shen Yu seemed interested in this, catching up quickly. “Did Zhang Qi agree to cooperate with you?”

Fu Lanchen closed the study doors himself. “He asked to meet tomorrow night at midnight, at the Yanxue Pavilion.”

Shen Yu laughed. “Need me to guard you, Your Highness?”

Fu Lanchen shot him a sidelong glance. “No need.”

Shen Yu huffed, raising his brows in mock indignation. “Why can’t I be involved? Don’t you want the Shen family’s support in the future?”

Fu Lanchen tapped the desk with a bent finger, lazily fixing his gaze on Shen Yu, smiling with casual indifference. “Well, now that you’re a year older, you’re already trying to bargain with me.”

Shen Yu scratched his head sheepishly, his ears turning red. “That’s not what I meant. I just want to know what you’re doing. I want to help.”

Fu Lanchen’s mocking smile faded, his tone solemn. “If you make the slightest misstep, you’ll be ruined for life. I don’t want you involved. Besides, the Marquis of Yongjia’s household is just an outsider in this matter—you don’t need to get mixed up.”

Shen Yu’s expression was more serious than ever. “But what about Cheng Jingyun and Zhang Qi? You’d rather choose them as allies than trust me?”

Fu Lanchen’s brows furrowed, a trace of impatience in his tone. “I told you, you’re not the same as them. If one day I fall from grace, I’ll need the Marquis of Yongjia’s family to provide for and protect my mother. So, A’Yu, don’t get involved in this.”

Shen Yu finally relented, turning away, but asked with quiet sorrow, “Zhan, as Crown Prince, is it really worth wagering everything on a game everyone thinks is lost?”

Fu Lanchen’s eyes were cold and clear, his face expressionless. “Dust rises, dust falls—all in the turn of a hand. A’Yu, what makes you so sure I will lose?”

In Chunhui Hall, nine-year-old Fu Xun was fascinated by everything, running back and forth countless times, never tiring.

“Fifth Sister-in-law, this set of Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea in lacquered woodcarving is lifelike—the artisan must have been incredibly skilled.”

“Fifth Sister-in-law, that pot of Phoenix Spreads Its Wings is so elegant and noble. Do you like chrysanthemums too? My mother keeps many in her palace—tomorrow I’ll send you some even prettier ones.”

“Fifth Sister-in-law, here’s a seven-stringed zither—can you play? I’d like to hear ‘Green Yi’…”

Chunhui Hall was suddenly livelier than ever, the attendants bustling about in delight.

Xu Guiyi propped her chin in her hand, exhausted from answering. “I can’t play. That’s Lady Lu’s zither—she often comes to play for me.”

Fu Xun finally stopped running and sat down obediently, letting Xi Yue wipe his hands.

“Lady Lu must play beautifully.”

Xu Guiyi pouted, laughing. “She does. Do you want to hear her now?”

Fu Xun picked out a piece of chestnut cake from the box and took a bite. “Not right now. Is Lady Lu’s music better than Fifth Brother’s?”

Xu Guiyi took a piece of Golden Wind Jade Dew cake. “Do you often hear your fifth brother play?”

Fu Xun shook his head. “Yes, he taught me to play.”

Xu Guiyi narrowed her eyes. “Your fifth brother is the Crown Prince—he still finds time to teach you the zither? Besides the three principal tutors, he has had at least ten other teachers in the six arts over the years, and he still teaches you? Remarkable!”

Fu Xun seemed to take it as a matter of course. “Not just music—he’s taught me chess, tea ceremony, poetry, calligraphy, military strategy, archery, horsemanship… Anything he knows, he teaches, and he’s very strict. Compared to Father, I’m more afraid of Fifth Brother.”

Xu Guiyi mused, “Then why do you stick to him?”

Fu Xun had already picked up a second piece of chestnut cake. “But of all my brothers, I like Fifth Brother the most. Mother says, even if he’s strict, it’s for my own good.”

He seemed to really like chestnut cake, so Xu Guiyi slid the whole plate over to him, affectionately patting his rosy cheek.

“Little Eight, have these past years been good to you?”

Fu Xun grinned, simple and honest. “Very good—Father, Mother, and Fifth Brother all treat me well.”

That’s all that matters.