Chao Ge sat at the head of the table, listlessly watching the wine cups pass between the guests below. He didn’t like such formal affairs, but Cai Dan, this old man, loved these kinds of events.
“Your Majesty, is the food not to your liking?” Cai Dan, the elder from Wugan, asked from the lower seat.
“It’s done very well,” Chao Ge smiled at him and raised his wine glass in the air.
It was Cai Dan who had insisted on bringing him back from his fief to inherit the throne. Although Chao Ge was not particularly happy about it, he still had to show some courtesy.
Chao Ge kept his smile, chatting for a few moments, and mentioned what he had seen last month in Yangzhou.
Cai Dan was not happy about his ruler’s sudden decision to visit Yangzhou. Although he understood that Chao Ge had gone there to open a sea route for transporting grain, he still thought it was a difficult undertaking that shouldn’t be planned at this time.
“Your Majesty, forgive me for speaking frankly, but as the king of the people, you should now constrain yourself, and not act as you did before. Moreover, the Second Prince still needs guidance.”
“Mm, Chao Lun is in his own study catching up on his lessons,” Chao Ge didn’t respond to the first part of Cai Dan’s words, and Cai Dan furrowed his brow, still wanting to speak further.
Chao Ge waved his hand, stopping him. “Elder, no need to say more. I didn’t indulge in wine and women in Yangzhou. Since I’ve sworn before the gods, I will surely abide by my oath.”
Chao Ge knew what some people thought of him. They feared that if he left a child behind, it might one day pose a threat to Chao Lun and the throne.
Looking at Cai Dan's aged face, Chao Ge found it hard to imagine what kind of mindset this long-serving minister, who had served through three reigns, must have had that he was willing to go against ancestral traditions to bring him back to the throne. It must have been an agonising decision.
Chao Ge felt an unexpected pang of guilt and ordered his attendants to bring more dishes to Cai Dan.
Actually, Cai Dan’s concerns were understandable. When the old king passed, Chao Lun was only ten years old, and his maternal family’s influence was too strong. If Chao Lun ascended to the throne, it was unclear who would truly hold power in Liangzhou.
Helpless, Cai Dan and the other old ministers could only bring Chao Ge back and wait for Chao Lun to grow stronger before planning his succession.
As it turned out, Cai Dan’s judgement was correct. Five years after Chao Ge took the throne, he governed diligently, focusing on reform and the welfare of the people. His private conduct had never faltered, and he paid great attention to Chao Lun’s education.
But what the future held was uncertain, and Cai Dan did not dare to draw conclusions. He was unsure whether someone who held great power would still be willing to return the throne.
At least for now, Liangzhou still needed Chao Ge. He was placed in this position with no room for personal desires.
Chao Ge drank his wine silently, and the court officials began to announce the musical program. Soon, a troupe of musicians and dancers entered in procession.
Chao Ge was uninterested, idly stirring the dishes in front of him. They were all beef and lamb, and he had no appetite.
……
"Hey, keep an eye out. When those people finish dancing and come out, we’ll sneak in."
Chao Lun whispered to Yan Guan, crouching behind the wall. The inner palace was heavily guarded, and entering through the main gate was impossible. Chao Lun had to find another way in.
“Your Highness, forgive me for speaking out of turn, but with your status, no one would dare stop you from entering directly…” Yan Guan's voice grew softer and softer.
“What do you know? I’m doing this because I want to.”
Alright, then. The young master wanted to have some fun, so how could he not go along with it? Yan Guan, embarrassed, lifted his skirt and followed Chao Lun.
“Come on, come on, this way.”
Chao Lun pulled Yan Guan along, stumbling as they climbed into the side chamber of the inner palace—Gongfang.
Chao Lun acted as if he hadn’t noticed anything and dragged Yan Guan into the garden. “Now that no one’s around, we’ll just circle around to the side hall, and it’ll be easier.”
Yan Guan said nothing. Even if he did speak, it wouldn’t matter…
In the brief moment when he was being pulled along, Yan Guan’s thoughts wandered for a while. He felt that the decision by Wugan and the court to bring Chao Lun’s cousin back to become the king was very wise.
Chao Ge grew tired of the music and dance after just a couple of glances. He instructed the court officials to make proper arrangements and then found an excuse of being drunk and unwell to slip away.
“Your Majesty, will you return to the palace to rest?” his attendant, Daxi, asked.
Chao Ge shook his head. “No, I came back in a hurry and haven’t had a chance to see Chao Bao properly.” Chao Bao was Chao Lun’s sister, now eight years old.
“The young princess has been calling for you every day these past two months.”
Chao Ge smiled. An eight-year-old child’s thoughts are fleeting—anything tasty or fun could distract her, so how could she always be thinking of him? Still, hearing this made his heart feel somewhat warm.
Standing outside Ximing Palace, Chao Ge instructed someone to send a message. Ximing Palace was where the Empress Dowager resided, Chao Lun and Chao Bao's mother, Consort Bayun.
The Bayun family had great power in the previous dynasty, and due to the competition for the throne, the Empress Dowager naturally didn’t favour Chao Ge.
“Your Majesty, please return. The young princess has already gone to sleep.”
Chao Ge looked at the woman before him, saying no more.
"The inner palace is hosting a banquet. Please bring some snacks for Chao Bao."
Daxi quickly handed over the food box to the attendants at Ximing Palace.
“Your Majesty is very thoughtful,” Consort Bayun said in a cold, indifferent tone.
"The Empress Dowager has retired early," Chao Ge was used to her attitude. She could behave this way simply by relying on her powerful family from the previous dynasty. Even during the reign of the late king, she was given special consideration.
Chao Ge walked down the corridor, his gaze fixed on the blurred shadow before him, lost in thought.
During his years in his fief, Liangxia had been at war, which affected the borders of Liangzhou. While he was able to quell the unrest and ensure the people’s safety, the political infighting in the court drained him emotionally.
Especially Bayun… Cai Dan had once mentioned that he had a bit of feminine kindness, and that was not wrong.
Chao Ge blinked slowly and drew his thoughts back in.
The Empress Dowager’s younger brother, Bulagan, was not much older than Chao Ge. From the age of fifteen, the two had been close friends until Chao Ge left for his fief. No one could have predicted that five years later, they would become political rivals in the court.
Chao Ge pinched the bridge of his nose. Bulagan had been causing him trouble for years. When family interests were at stake, even their friendship had become insignificant.
Chao Ge had barely rested since returning from Yangzhou, and thought he had finally found a moment of peace.
However, as soon as he stepped into his sleeping quarters, servants rushed in in a panic. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Second Prince has caused a scene in the inner palace!”
Upon hearing that it was Chao Lun, Chao Ge immediately felt dizzy. He knew that this troublemaker would cause trouble.
“What happened?” Chao Ge turned around and headed toward the inner palace.
After Chao Lun grew older, Chao Ge had intentionally reduced his meetings with his maternal family. He was worried that, due to his age and lack of resolve, people could manipulate him. That was also why he didn’t let Chao Lun attend the banquet today.
“The Second Prince sneaked into the orchestra, and several young lords didn’t recognize him, which angered the Prince. They just got into a fight!”
Chao Ge furrowed his brows and entered the inner palace’s side hall.
Inside was a bustling area where the musicians and attendants were getting ready. It was chaotic.
As soon as Chao Lun saw someone enter, he immediately straightened his back. “Big Brother, these lowlifes dared to hit me!”
On the floor, a group of people knelt, all with swollen faces and bruises, while Chao Lun appeared unscathed.
Chao Ge casually pointed at one of the kneeling men. Naturally, he didn’t believe Chao Lun’s side of the story. “Get up and explain what happened.”
The man, a member of the royal family, was known for his indulgent lifestyle, and infamous for his reckless behaviour. He certainly didn’t dare to speak of the real reason for the commotion, and knelt on the floor, drenched in cold sweat.
Chao Lun snorted coldly and yelled, “Hah! If you don’t want this two ounces of flesh, I’ll cut it off for you so it doesn’t harm anyone!”
Chao Ge was momentarily stunned, then quickly understood what was happening. He certainly hadn’t expected things to develop in this way.
While Chao Lun continued to curse loudly, Chao Ge’s head throbbed in frustration. He waved his hand to summon a palace attendant nearby. “Take these people down, they’re embarrassing themselves…”
It was quiet, finally, but Chao Lun was still upset.
“It was all men! Was it really that bad just being touched a few times?” Chao Ge handed Chao Lun a cup of tea.
“Of course it was! It wasn’t just a few touches! That thing was right against my waist!”
Chao Ge fell silent.
Chao Lun gritted his teeth and continued, “Those guys were like randy beasts! If I weren’t so agile, hmph!”
Chao Ge gave his younger brother a glance, feeling somewhat at a loss for words. “Maybe they just mistook you…” Chao Lun was much more solidly built than others his age, so it was hard to imagine that anyone would…
“Exactly! Oh, where’s the servant who came with me?”
“Who?”
“The one who came with me. The few of them intended to bully him, but I got to this room first. They’re blind, and as soon as the door opened, they shoved me right inside!”
“Let’s go and take a look,” Chao Ge said, feeling somewhat helpless.
This situation was awkward. The few royal family members involved were clearly in the wrong, so they didn’t dare to act recklessly. It could be dealt with easily, but Chao Ge feared that Chao Lun might lose his temper and directly have someone beaten to death.
The five people present were all taken to a lower room. The side hall had too many people and too many eyes, so it wasn’t a suitable place for questioning.
Among the four ruffians, there was also a dancer. Chao Ge was puzzled—when did his younger brother start associating with such people?
Chao Lun had a high status, and the maidservants serving him were all carefully selected by the Empress Dowager, so they were supposed to be trustworthy. Chao Ge couldn't help but feel suspicious.
“Come here.”
Yan Guan was in a daze, praying to his ancestors, hoping that if he could make it through today safely, he would go to the temple to light incense and make a vow of thanks.
Yan Guan stood up and walked toward Chao Ge, not daring to raise his head, and quickly knelt down with a thud.
“I know I was wrong, please, Your Majesty, show mercy.”
As soon as Yan Guan spoke, everyone in the room froze in shock.
Du De and his friends exchanged glances. What? It’s a man?!
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