The Trick to Teasing a Noble Family's Son - Chapter 32.1

Eleven people arrived at the waterside pavilion in groups of three or four. When they got there, the pavilion was still empty, and under the arrangements of the palace servants, everyone took their seats. The Third Prince’s companions sat on one side, while the Crown Prince’s companions sat on the other. The seats at the head of both rows were empty, presumably for the Crown Prince and the Third Prince.

Wei Lan was seated in the second position from the head, the first occupied by the third son of the Wang family, Wang Yuan, and the third by Zhang Sheng, the son of the Minister of War.

Zhang Sheng appeared to be the oldest among them, around sixteen years old. Despite being a young man, he exuded a lewd aura, likely due to indulgence in bedroom affairs. He wore a robe with a red base and black edges decorated with cloud patterns, and a golden crown atop his head. What should have been a flamboyant and splendid robe was worn in a way that made him look sleazy. Upon sitting down, he poured himself a cup of wine and offered it to Wei Lan, “Brother Wei, drink.”

On the way, the eleven youths had already introduced themselves. Wei Lan had not spoken to Zhang Sheng much, so his enthusiastic gesture upon sitting down made Wei Lan raise an eyebrow slightly.

To be honest, Wei Lan didn’t particularly like men like Zhang Sheng. She preferred those like Xie Zichen, with a cold and aloof temperament, pure as snow, unstained by dust, or Lin Che, who was clear and innocent, someone who would blush just from a glance. If not pure, then someone like Wang Xi, who was flirtatious, or Su Cheng, who was enchanting. These were all acceptable.

However, men like Zhang Sheng…

Wei Lan smiled and poured herself a cup of wine, gently clinking cups with Zhang Sheng, then drank it all in one go. After showing him the empty cup, she said with a smile, “Nice to meet you, Brother Zhang.”

Zhang Sheng was slightly taken aback and frowned, “What, you don’t want to drink the wine I poured for you?”

“Oh?”

Wei Lan showed a surprised expression, “I thought we were toasting together. I didn’t realize you were pouring wine for me. My apologies, Brother Zhang…”

Before she could finish her sentence, a eunuch’s sharp voice echoed from afar, “His Majesty arrives…”

All turned to the pavilion’s entrance, where a yellow dragon palanquin stopped at the corridor, followed by a white and a red sedan, belonging to the Crown Prince and Third Prince Su Cheng, respectively.

After the three of them got out of their carriages, the Crown Prince and the Third Prince flanked the Emperor as they walked into the pavilion.

By the time they got off, everyone was already kneeling on the ground. The others, still young, couldn’t help but glance up at the Emperor. Only Wei Lan and Xie Zichen, old cucumbers painted green, kept their heads bowed steadily.

After a ceremonial kowtowing, they heard a voice saying, “Rise,” and they all got up and returned to their seats. Wei Lan finally got a chance to look at the person on the throne.

The current emperor was in his early thirties, but he looked like a teenager, barely appearing in his weak crown years. His skin was unnaturally white and tender, exuding a strange fairness. He was in high spirits, sitting on the high seat, seemingly very excited.

Seeing his appearance, Wei Lan’s heart sank.

Such skin colour was usually an indication of long-term use of Five-Stone Powder. In her previous life, this drug was extremely popular among the aristocracy. It not only induced a euphoric state but also made people look youthful, even making a sixty-year-old appear young. However, it was highly addictive and gradually led to insanity. When Wei Lan grew up, many long-term users of the drug died after a few years, revealing its true nature as a poison pill, and it was eventually banned.

In Great Chu, the drug wasn’t yet widespread. Wei Lan had only heard of it occasionally, yet here it was, on the emperor.

If the Emperor was using this drug, his days were numbered. She needed to plan ahead.

Xie Zichen knew this all too well.

The emperor secretly kept alchemists to craft immortality elixirs, often using Five-Stone Powder as a ruse. In the 25th year of Shengkang, five years hence, he’d die suddenly. By then, the Third Prince would be Crown Prince, smoothly ascending the throne.

Five years.

The man above, chatting jovially with his sons, radiating vigor, seemed far from someone with only five years left.

His appearance reminded Xie Zichen of the urgency of time, making him lower his eyes.

The Crown Prince’s downfall happened step by step.

During the spring hunt, the Crown Prince lost his most important support, Wang Xi. In the two years of study that followed, his greatest support among the six companions was lost: Lin Che defected to Su Cheng, Lu Chen and Ji Shao were useless scholars, and Wang Xi and Huan Heng were not there. The replacements, Xie Jie and Wang Xuan, were incompetent. Upon entering the court, they were immediately caught by Zhang Sheng and impeached.

With no new support, the Crown Prince’s only reliance was the Duke Zhenguo. But three years later, the Duke Zhenguo suddenly died, leaving the Crown Prince with no support. Then, Zhang Cheng from the Censorate persistently caught the Crown Prince’s minor mistakes, and in the spring of the twenty-fourth year of Shengkang’s reign, he caught the Crown Prince in an affair with Consort Xia, leading to the Emperor’s fury and the Crown Prince’s deposition. Unable to bear the humiliation, the Crown Prince committed suicide to prove his innocence.

The Crown Prince’s death somewhat restored his image in the eyes of others, but what did it matter?

He was dead.

Now, starting over, Xie Zichen wouldn’t let the Crown Prince repeat the same mistakes. He had saved Wang Xi, and replaced Xie Jie in the palace, giving the Crown Prince a stronger hand from the start.

The biggest wildcard was Wei Lan.

Thinking of this, Xie Zichen glanced at the young man opposite, who seemed to be deep in thought. Her expression was calm, as if she were listening intently to the person above, but on closer inspection, her gaze was slightly unfocused, clearly thinking about something else.

Once his gaze landed on her, it was hard to look away.

She was pouring herself some wine.

Her hands were more delicate than a man’s, fair-skinned, with slender fingers. Her joints were not prominently knobby like those of most men.

He remembered the feel of those hands, soft despite the calluses from martial arts, with the back of the hands smooth and tender.

Realizing his inappropriate thoughts, Xie Zichen quickly looked away, focusing on the Emperor.

After talking with his sons, the Emperor happily raised his cup and said to everyone, “You are all the finest talents selected from each family. The future of Great Chu rests with you! Come, I toast to you!”

With that, the Emperor drank his cup of wine in one go. Everyone followed suit, not daring to refuse. Then Wang Ci said, “Your Majesty has placed such great expectations on us. Xi is overwhelmed, fearing I may not live up to your grace. Your Majesty, could you encourage us more? Your golden mouth and jade words will surely bring heaven’s favor, smoothing our paths.”

Wang Xi’s aunt was a favoured consort in the palace. Having grown up in the palace, he was much loved by the Emperor. Hearing him speak, the Emperor chuckled, “You little rascal, always with a slick tongue! Save your sweet words for the young ladies. Trying to flatter me now? Speaking of which,” the Emperor scanned the group, “where’s the Changxin Marquis Shizi?”