Chapter 4: The Poor Crown Prince

The mountain night was quiet, the road rugged, the lantern light thin, illuminating only a few feet ahead. As they went on, the path improved in some places but grew narrower, and soon the carriage could no longer pass.

“Miss, please change to the sedan chair.”

They called it a sedan, but it could hardly be called that. It had no roof and two men lifted it from front and back. The wooden frame looked solid, the carving was fine, delicate and pretty, and the cushions were brocaded and fragrant, so visibly very comfortable.

Tang Wanning took the older lady’s hand to get in and sat down.

The chair was carried steadily, not a bit of sway, so Tang Wanning loosened her grip on the wooden frame and started to take in the scenery. Looking around, she realized the place was actually quite nice. Leafy branches, mountains tinted like ink, at the end of a long stone path near a cliff the silhouette of a house was elegant and refined, like a fairy dwelling, rare in the mortal world…

Far better than some shabby village down the mountain.

It was just too quiet, lacking the bustle of people.

Tang Wanning asked the two people brought from the village, “This place is beautiful. Have you been here before?” After all, it was nearby.

“No.”

They answered in unison. The younger girl looked genuinely clueless and really didn’t know, but the woman in her forties was evasive, as if avoiding the subject.

Tang Wanning fell silent and quietly looked around.

Soon they reached the house gate. The sedan did not stop but continued to the west side compound. The bearers waited until Tang Wanning steadied herself, then clasped their fists and bowed, “Our lord has orders: please rest here, Miss. Before dawn he will complete the search and capture the thieves, and then this servant will escort you back. The master of this place is absent, so Miss need not be formal, make yourself at home. If you need anything, tell one of the household servants. But it is late and this house is on a cliff. Since you are unfamiliar with the place, it’s best not to go for walks. Safety first.”

“Thank you.”

Tang Wanning politely replied and, with the two women, one older, one younger, went into the room.

Her first impression of the room was still one of refinement and grace: the carved patterns on the tables and chairs, the light gauze edging of the bed canopy, an incense burner in the corner, a floral vase on the windowsill, the overall tonal transitions… it didn’t seem ostentatious, yet it was clearly well thought-out and the details showed craftsmanship. Four characters summed it up: an orchid-scented chamber.

The room had great taste—unobtrusive, not flamboyant—possessing a unique aesthetic charm.

Her gaze skimmed the flowers by the window and Tang Wanning smiled. Clearly the room hadn’t seen much use lately and bore signs of hurried arrangement, yet the details were so well attended to. From the light gauze to the subdued embroidery to the branches, everything showed consideration for a young lady. Either the house’s owner was polite, or the servants raised by the owner were.

She reached out and touched the teacup on the table. Even the tea had been freshly brewed.

When others treated you like that, a guest ought to gratefully partake and not waste it.

Sipping her tea, Tang Wanning pointed at the woman in her forties beside her and said, “Go ahead and speak.”

“Speak… speak about what?”

“For example, what’s your name, where is this place, who lives here…” Tang Wanning tapped the table with her fingertip, somewhat suggestively, “Since you know the answer, I won’t trouble others or go out there and make a nuisance of myself trying to find out.”

At the first sentence the woman’s expression was fine, but after the second line came out she was frightened into kneeling and could not speak loudly, “No, no, Miss, please…don’t…”

Tang Wanning smiled, “Then please do me the favor of explaining.”

“Miss, please don’t put this humble one in difficulty… My surname is Xu, I’m called Xu Sanniang. My husband is also from the village. We’re honest folk and never did wrong. I really don’t know where this place is, or who the master… who the owner is…”

“You don’t know? Then why do you get frightened just by mention of it?” Tang Wanning nodded toward the young girl standing to one side. “Why isn’t she afraid?”

Xu Sanniang refused to speak.

“Won’t say? Fine.” Tang Wanning stood and made a move to walk out.

“I’ll tell you, Miss, I’ll tell you!” Xu Sanniang hurriedly blocked her and gritted her teeth, “I truly don’t know whose property this is. Usually it’s guarded tightly. If anyone from the village strays near, they’re driven off. People say that…” she glanced toward the window and lowered her voice to a whisper, “a noble… has come and gone here.”

“A noble?”

“This humble one has only heard about it from others…”

Tang Wanning lowered her eyes to think.

The question was tricky but not impossible. This house was delicate and elegant, yet cold and precarious. Whatever others felt, she had one impression: wealthy and willful. At the foot of the imperial city, rules and regulations were everywhere, so whoever dared do this and still erect such a house and keep its refined mystery could not be ordinary. Money alone wasn’t enough. It had to be someone from the noble circle, someone with power. The Tang family held the title of Earl Xuanning, and even though the one who earned that title had passed, reputation and status was important to such circles. Servants wouldn’t casually call someone a ‘noble’ and ministers wouldn’t either. No matter how high their rank, without a title they wouldn’t be called a ‘noble’. Those who were lucky enough to get a title might be peers, but still wouldn’t be called a ‘noble’ in that lofty way. Such an honorific pointed upward.

That left only the imperial clan. And if the master of this house were really from the imperial family, it would be prestigious to be associated with him. Since the Earl’s estate was so close to this estate, perhaps it might be a bit too presumptuous for the Earl to consider themselves as neighbors, but surely it would be at least an honor, something people could boast about with confidence. So why were the villagers so tight-lipped and afraid to even mention it?

Tang Wanning could think of only one reason: this ‘noble’ had committed some wrongdoing. Getting close would likely bring misfortune, so best avoid it.

Eliminating possibilities like that left very few candidates.

“Really don’t know… or you still can’t say?” Tang Wanning looked at Xu Sanniang. “It’s the Crown Prince—”

Xu Sanniang immediately clapped a silk handkerchief over her mouth, sweating anxiously, “My lady! You really mustn’t say that!”

Tang Wanning understood then. It seemed she was right.

Members of the imperial clan, both men and women, often committed misdeeds, but today’s matter was different. Fang Jiwu, the Deputy of the Privy Council, was going around trying to capture someone in the night. If this house had anything to do with Fang Jiwu, whether subordinates of his or the dwelling of someone whose property could be requisitioned for the raid, he could act without asking anyone. But given that she had to wait for a long time after her servant had sent her reply before Fang Jiwu came knocking again, it was obvious he had gone to seek instructions from someone during that downtime. Calculating the timing, it fit that it was here.

The Privy Council was the highest military authority. The head of the Privy Council was an old general whose health had declined in recent years, and most affairs had been handed to his deputy. Now that the realm was pacified and there were no wars, the court favored civil over military officials, and no one opposed this arrangement. Fang Jiwu, as the deputy, often executed orders. Whoever could command him wasn’t exactly a distant relation. Who else could it be?

There was only one candidate: the deposed Crown Prince, Zhao Cong.

In this dynasty, Emperor Yuan founded the Great Jing court, winning the realm step by step. Zhao Cong, as the legitimate eldest son, followed his father on campaign after campaign. He was brave and skilled, and had the army’s loyalty, actual power, and morale. Later, after Emperor Yuan took the throne, Zhao Cong even commanded all the armed forces and coordinated the frontlines. His position remained solid until peace settled over the land. With reconstruction to be managed, Emperor Yuan needed civil officials to govern, and the civil ministers, following Prime Minister Xin Boqi, favored the second prince Zhao Yan, born of Consort Xin. They frequently accused the Crown Prince of being unlettered, hot-tempered, and bloodthirsty, therefore unfit to be heir. After making a whole bunch of accusations, they forced the Emperor to depose the Crown Prince, reducing him to the Prince of Xiangyang.

In those times rank and title determined status: the second prince Zhao Yan was granted the title Prince Ping, and when the Crown Prince was demoted it wasn’t just a one-step fall.

The Crown Prince still commanded great prestige among the military, so the court ministers could not simply kill him outright. Their strategy was likely more gradual: first strip him of his position, then suppress him, chip away at his military power bit by bit, smear his name, perhaps poison his health, eat away at him step by step… once all his advantages were gone and no one remembered his former glory, Zhao Cong would truly be useless and could be killed.

Tang Wanning thought the Crown Prince was a little pitiable.

But… did he even know who she was?

She narrowed her eyes and asked Xu Sanniang and the young girl, “My family is holding a wedding today. You know that, right?”

“Yes, yes, we know.”

They exchanged a glance. The little maid was timid and dared not speak, head nearly bowed to her chest. Xu Sanniang said carefully, “A daughter of the family was to be married and the Second Prince was the formal match, and the ceremony should be finished by now. Miss, sooner or later you’ll meet your own match as well.”

So no one truly suspected that she was supposed to be the one ‘formally matched’ to that Second Prince, and they thought she was just being petulant or jealous?

Tang Wanning smiled. In olden times women’s private affairs were strictly kept, so an engaged girl’s name rarely leaked. At most people would say ‘so-and-so’s daughter’ or mention birth order. Outsiders wouldn’t know details and nobody in this faraway estate had ever seen her before, so the village servants not recognizing her was normal. But Zhao Cong and Zhao Yan had been rivals for so long, wouldn’t he pay attention to his opponent’s news? Wouldn’t he at least check on such a major event as a marriage?

If he knew and still brought her in, calmly indifferent, unsurprised, merely polite in his care with no probing, acting as if unaware…

Yes, Zhao Cong must be here. At this hour of the night, on such a difficult road and in such a short time, even if he wanted to slip away, where could he go? Rumor had it he was framed by the Second Prince’s faction, poisoned, paralyzed below the waist and unable to move properly. The man couldn’t even ride a horse.

Tang Wanning also wanted to pretend ignorance. After all, it was a rare chance to pretend that she didn’t know anything, and it was better to just leave each other alone. As long as he didn’t try anything funny, she wasn’t going to bring harm to him. It was just that…

She was hungry.

It couldn’t be helped. She had slept the whole day, went through so much turmoil after waking, only had a cup of tea… Tang Wanning whispered that she hadn’t eaten. Of course, she could afford to miss a meal or two. But this place was so refined and everything done with care. If the servants knew how to look after guests, the food would surely be delicious, fit for royalty. She wouldn’t be able to enjoy such luxuries once they had to leave this place!

Tang Wanning pointed at Xu Sanniang, “You go and ask for some food.”

Xu Sanniang was stunned, “Miss, you mean… what?” What on earth?! Thinking of food at a time like this!

Tang Wanning said lazily, “Didn’t those men say, if you need anything, just ask?”

Xu Sanniang could hardly believe her ears.

That was polite talk! They were already imposing on others! How could they trouble them further?

Tang Wanning sat up, “To be frank, I’m quite frightened right now. If I don’t eat something, I won’t feel settled.”

Xu Sanniang was dumbfounded. This woman didn’t look the least bit frightened!

But since her mistress had spoken, this servant had to go and ask.

As she expected, Tang Wanning had an unforgettable, very delicious late-night meal and decided to accept the favor. Though the servants had surely arranged it, and she personally was too little and weak to do much for Zhao Cong, at most…tomorrow she’d help humiliate the Second Prince a little and make him lose face!

After eating, Tang Wanning set down her bowl, “Alright, time to sleep.”

Xu Sanniang’s eyes nearly popped out.

You’re going to sleep? Weren’t you asleep all day and just woke up?!