For the people of the capital, the New Year passed in a lackluster manner. Everything followed the usual customs; nothing was amiss, yet it was exceptionally uninteresting.

 

After the New Year, the marriage of Crown Prince Xiao Jin was once again on the agenda. There was a rift between the Empress and the Crown Prince, but the Empress still took this matter to heart.

 

The Empress took a liking to Shen Wei, the Minister of War's legitimate daughter, Shen Wanzhu. The Empress met her in person and found her to be dignified and graceful, with a character both gentle and assertive. Most importantly, she was very sensible and intelligent.

 

Such a woman becoming the mistress of the Eastern Palace would be a good thing for Xiao Jin.

 

After learning of this, the Emperor only commented that they should ask for Xiao Jin's opinion, and then he did not inquire further.

 

Xiao Jin naturally had no strong opinions, but the Empress did not immediately finalize the decision, saying they should observe her character further. These matters did not particularly concern Xiao Jin.

 

Days passed one by one.

 

The capital remained the most prosperous place in Da Zhou, with various events happening daily. Officials in the capital came and went, some falling into obscurity while others rose to prominence.

 

In contrast, Xiao Shan's days could be described as carefree. In a place where he was the undisputed leader, it would be out of character for Xiao Shan not to live comfortably.

 

Of course, as the saying goes, where there are people, there are conflicts.

 

Yunnan was no exception; there were always some disgusting and dirty affairs happening.

 

Xiao Shan could have ignored them, but the first time he encountered a case where the son of an official forcibly took a common girl, he acted decisively.

 

Without a second thought, he sent people to investigate the official's entire household. From the son forcibly taking the girl, to the father's embezzlement, and the wife's family abusing their power, the investigation even uncovered connections to a group of officials in the capital.

 

The nature of the case thus changed, and the people involved also shifted.

 

With Xiao Shan's ruthless methods, the officials in Yunnan behaved themselves for quite some time.

 

They had no choice; they had to behave.

 

Although some secretly impeached Xiao Shan for his overly harsh methods that could easily implicate the innocent, when the memorials reached the capital, the Emperor did not think Xiao Shan had done anything wrong, let alone anyone else.

 

So, they could only tuck their tails and do their jobs, lest they end up in the same situation one day.

 

Xie Zhui said that Xiao Shan liked to make an example out of others.

 

Xiao Shan did not deny this. They were in a world severely lacking in oversight. The territory was vast, and even if he walked tirelessly every day, he couldn't see everything. In the shadows, too many tragedies occurred unseen, and some people might spend their entire lives without ever getting the chance to seek justice before him.

 

Therefore, when injustice appeared before him, he naturally would not let those who committed the acts go unpunished.

 

Some officials privately discussed uniting against Xiao Shan, aiming to leave him with no one to use in Yunnan, effectively making him a powerless prince.

 

This proposal received much praise and agreement.

 

To be honest, if the civil and military officials united, it would be a very formidable force. If they wanted to accomplish something, they could even influence the Emperor's decisions, let alone deal with Xiao Shan, who was merely a prince.

 

Everyone excitedly toasted each other, but then someone quietly remarked, "While that reasoning is sound, the problem lies in the fact that Xiao Shan is a prince, and a favored one at that."

 

Someone, feeling pleased, couldn't help but mockingly retort upon hearing this dampening comment, "What do you mean by that? If you're scared, you can back out. We're not forcing you to join us."

 

"I'm not scared. I'm just considering that Xiao Shan has three thousand guards..."

 

"So what if he has three thousand guards? Can he use them to replace our positions?"

 

"......"

 

Hearing this, someone couldn't help but feel a pang of unease. Those three thousand men were loyal only to Xiao Shan, and it was quite possible for him to promote a few of them to official positions.

 

Moreover...

 

"Master Zhang, don't be upset. What I mean is that we need to understand the Emperor's intentions thoroughly. What if we all resign in unison, and the Emperor agrees, even sending others to replace us? What then?"

 

"Is... is that possible?"

 

"Master Zhang, considering how much the Emperor values the Prince of Yunnan, who do you think is more important, us or the Prince of Yunnan? As I mentioned earlier, if the Emperor orders our dismissal, the Prince of Yunnan could immediately find replacements for us from his three thousand guards."

 

Hearing this, the others also felt a chill run down their spines, suddenly realizing how foolish the proposal was.

 

Indeed, Xiao Shan was a prince, with the Crown Prince and the Emperor above him. Pressuring Xiao Shan would be utterly pointless.

 

So, everyone took another drink and said, "The Prince is quite a straightforward person. We should just be cautious in our dealings with him in the future."

 

"Yes, yes, we are all loyal to the Prince."

 

When they wanted to overthrow him, they referred to him as Xiao Shan.

 

But once they had second thoughts, they no longer dared to casually mention Xiao Shan's name, instead referring to him as the Prince of Yunnan.

 

Xiao Shan had no idea that a group of people had almost united to isolate him.

 

To be honest, even if he knew, he wouldn't care.

 

With his temperament, if these people dared to talk about resigning one moment, he could make it happen the next.

 

However, by May, just after the Dragon Boat Festival, the officials in Yunnan breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't that the looming presence of Xiao Shan had completely disappeared, but rather that the noose around their necks had loosened a bit.

 

The mountain would eventually return, but in the meantime, they could relax a little.

 

The reason was that Xiao Shan had returned to the capital.

 

Why choose to return to the capital during the hottest month of May? It was because the Emperor had fallen ill, and reportedly, the illness was quite serious.

 

Officials from other regions were craning their necks, looking towards the capital, eager to know if the Emperor's illness would lead to a change of reign. Only the officials in Yunnan harbored the rebellious thought that if it weren't for the Emperor's illness, they would have to remain on edge while working.

 

Now, it was just perfect.

 

The thought was so rebellious that no one dared to express it openly.

 

***

 

Upon receiving Xiao Jin's letter, Xiao Shan immediately packed up as quickly as possible and, along with Xie Zhui, headed for the capital.

 

Xie Sui also accompanied them back.

 

Their return journey was faster than when they came, and while the adults managed, Mingming suffered quite a bit.

 

The once chubby little boy had lost a lot of weight from the journey and had tanned significantly. Fortunately, he was strong and healthy, and didn't fall ill much along the way, but he was quite restless from sitting in the carriage for long periods.

 

Seeing how much he was suffering, Xiao Shan initially considered riding ahead to the capital quickly, leaving Xie Zhui and Xie Sui to travel at a slower pace.

 

But Mingming was very attached to him, and would become restless if he didn't see him for a while. Seeing his pitiful little face, Xiao Shan couldn't bear to leave him behind.

 

After a fast-paced journey back to the capital, Xiao Shan sent Xie Sui back to the prince's residence and, without even changing his clothes, headed straight for the imperial palace.

 

Having been away from the capital for many days, the palace guards had changed several times and did not recognize his face, naturally stopping him.

 

Before Xiao Shan could take out his identification token, he heard Xiao Rong's mocking voice from behind, "I was wondering who it was. Isn't this my third brother? Back from Yunnan?" Xiao Rong's words were spoken with a hint of gritted teeth; Xiao Shan was his nightmare. Even without seeing his face, just from the back, he knew it was Xiao Shan.

 

Without turning his head, Xiao Shan looked directly at the guards and said, "Didn't you hear what my Eldest Brother said? I am Prince Xiao Shan. Step aside."

 

The palace guards were well-informed about the happenings within the palace. They knew the Emperor was ill and had been hoping for Xiao Shan's return. Now that he was back, they naturally didn't dare to stop him and quickly stepped aside.

 

Xiao Rong watched Xiao Shan's back, thinking that Xiao Shan intended to leave him behind and show his concern for the Emperor alone. He wouldn't let Xiao Shan succeed; he would go too.

 

So, Xiao Rong also hurriedly walked towards the palace.

 

When Xiao Shan entered the hall, Chang Le was standing guard outside the door. Seeing Xiao Shan, Chang Le was startled and stepped forward to greet him, "Your Highness, weren't you still a day away? Why didn't you send word ahead?"

 

Xiao Shan, looking somewhat haggard from the long journey, directly asked, "How is Father Emperor?"

 

Chang Le sighed quietly and said, "He is still ill. The Crown Prince is inside. Your Highness will understand once you see him."

 

Xiao Shan nodded and pushed the door open.

 

As soon as he entered the hall, he was met with the smell of medicine. The Emperor was recuperating in the inner hall, and the medicinal scent lingered heavily in the outer hall, indicating that he had been taking medicine for a long time.

 

Xiao Shan walked to the door of the inner hall and heard Xiao Jin persuading the Emperor to take his medicine, with the Emperor responding that he would take it later. Hearing the Emperor's voice, Xiao Shan took a deep breath and said, "Father Emperor, your son has returned."

 

"Third Brother?" Xiao Jin's surprised voice came from inside. Moments later, the door opened, and Xiao Jin's face appeared.

 

Xiao Shan greeted Xiao Jin, and the two entered the hall together.

 

The Emperor was leaning against the headboard, looking unwell. The room was stuffy, and a bowl of medicine sat on a small table by the bed. Upon seeing him, the Emperor's expression turned sour, and he looked away with a huff.

 

Xiao Shan walked over, picked up the bowl of medicine, and said, "Father Emperor, please drink the medicine quickly. It will lose its effectiveness if it cools down."

 

Xiao Jin added, "Father Emperor, Third Brother must have been very worried about you during the journey. Look at him, all dusty and travel-worn. He must have hurried back. If you care for him, you should put his mind at ease."

 

The Emperor knew he had to drink the medicine sooner or later. Finally, he took the bowl and drank it down.

 

The bitter taste lingered in his mouth for a long time. Perhaps it was due to his mood or the sudden illness that had brought other thoughts to his mind. Over the past few days, a notion suddenly rose in the Emperor's heart.

 

So, the Emperor looked at Xiao Shan and then at Xiao Jin, saying, "You are not young anymore. With this illness, a thought suddenly came to me. Why not abdicate the throne to you? I could become the Retired Emperor and enjoy a few leisurely days."

 

Xiao Jin had not expected the Emperor to say such a thing. He was so frightened that he turned pale and immediately knelt on the ground, pleading, "Father Emperor, you are in the prime of your life. Why say such things? Your son dares not accept this."

 

The Emperor thought to himself, who would want to be the Crown Prince for life? However, he was quite satisfied with Xiao Jin's reaction.

 

Just as he was about to continue speaking, the Emperor caught sight of Xiao Shan and, noticing his calm demeanor, his thoughts shifted and he said, "And you, what do you think of this proposal?"

 

Xiao Shan replied, "If Father Emperor wishes to abdicate, then let it be so." As he spoke, he touched the Emperor's hand, which was somewhat hot, indicating the fever had not fully subsided.

 

The Emperor's eyelid twitched, and Xiao Jin suddenly looked up with a stern expression, "Third Brother, shut your mouth. What nonsense are you spouting?" Then he turned to the Emperor and said, "Father Emperor, Third Brother has always been outspoken. Please don't take offense."

 

"The way I see it, he's not just being outspoken; he has his own thoughts," the Emperor said, his expression turning sour as he looked at Xiao Shan. "I would actually like to hear his thoughts."

 

Xiao Jin dared not signal Xiao Shan with his eyes at this moment and could only watch him with furrowed brows.

 

In his heart, Xiao Jin could only hope that Xiao Shan understood that the Emperor was both their father and their sovereign. Especially at this critical juncture, it was crucial not to truly anger him.

 

Xiao Shan rubbed his slightly itchy nose, then looked at the Emperor and said helplessly, "Father Emperor, you are the Emperor, the Son of Heaven. The entire realm is yours, and you can make any decision you wish. If you say to abdicate, then Second Brother has no choice but to take the throne, even if reluctantly. If you say not to abdicate, that is also perfectly reasonable. After all, being a Crown Prince and being an Emperor are very different, and Second Brother has much to learn from you."

 

"Fortunately, no matter where Second Brother sits, you are strong and healthy, able to guide him and ensure he doesn't stray from the right path. I believe that is the luckiest thing of all."

 

The Emperor hadn't expected to hear such words from Xiao Shan. It was as rare as a dog spitting out ivory.

 

Xiao Shan's words conveyed a single message: the Emperor could do as he pleased because he was the Emperor.

 

The Emperor was quite satisfied with this response. Seeing Xiao Shan's exhausted face and the word 'haggard' practically written all over him, and considering that he himself had taken medicine and wanted to rest, the Emperor chatted with them a bit more before sending them away.

 

Just as the two of them stepped out of the palace hall, Xiao Rong approached. Knowing that the Emperor had gone to sleep, his face immediately soured. He silently bowed towards the interior of the hall and then, after giving Xiao Shan a glare and exchanging some pleasantries with Xiao Jin, he left.

 

Xiao Shan didn't take his behavior to heart.

 

While escorting Xiao Shan out of the palace, Xiao Jin spoke in a low voice, reprimanding, "You were too bold in front of Father Emperor. You're a father yourself now; how can you still be so casual?"

 

Finally, Xiao Shan let out the yawn that had been stuck in his throat and said, "Second Brother, this is just my nature, and Father Emperor knows it well. If I hadn't spoken up, I would have suffocated. I was just telling the truth. Once Father Emperor's health improves and his mind clears, this will all blow over."

 

"Pei, pei, pei*! What do you mean by 'suffocate'?" Xiao Jin said. "Don't ever mention that word in front of me again."

*or ptooey, the onomatopoeia of spitting

 

Xiao Shan nodded and asked, "How is Father Emperor's health? How did he suddenly fall ill? Why is there no one by his side?" According to protocol, the Emperor's concubines should be attending to him when he is ill. Yet, there was no sign of them in the hall.

 

Xiao Jin explained, "It started with the heat. He indulged in too much cold, which upset his stomach. Coupled with the continuous court sessions, he suffered from heatstroke. Then he developed a fever and has been ill on and off since."

 

"Father Emperor didn't want the concubines to attend to him, so he dismissed them. Imperial Physician Su said that Father Emperor has some pent-up frustration. If he can release it, his illness will improve significantly."

 

Xiao Shan thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll bring Mingming to the palace to see Father Emperor tomorrow."

 

Xiao Jin smiled, "Father Emperor has always been fond of Mingming. If you bring him to the palace, it might just cheer him up and help him recover from his illness."

 

Xiao Shan nodded in agreement.

 

By the time he returned, Mingming had already gone to bed, and Xie Zhui was waiting for him.

 

After taking a warm bath, Xiao Shan pulled Xie Zhui into bed to catch up on some sleep.

 

TL NOTE: Please don't skimp on the stars for the translation - I'd really like to see how far Leon goes and how far we can increase the number of chapters. Thanks~!

If you want to buy me a coffee ko-fi.com/kimsu