Among the literary talents of Jiangzuo, Yuan stands unrivaled as the foremost.

In the study of Yonghui Pavilion, Fu Lancheng was restless, his mind plagued by vexation, unable to find tranquility.

“Weiyuan, have you heard a loud, bothersome noise?” Fu Lancheng asked impatiently.

The question startled Guard Wei, who was lighting the lamps. He inquired softly, “Your Highness, what sound do you mean?” Surely it couldn't be the crackling of the candle flames?

“It’s the sound of people talking, very noisy. Haven’t you heard it?” Fu Lancheng described urgently.

Since the Crown Prince had spoken so specifically, Guard Wei listened closely. He held his breath, straining for any hint of disturbance, but after a long moment, he heard nothing at all.

“Reporting to Your Highness, it is very quiet all around. Your subordinate has not heard any other sound.” Weiyuan lowered his head, a boyish mixture of stubbornness and submission.

Just moments ago, Fu Lancheng had entered with an angry expression, which all the usual servants in Yonghui Pavilion had witnessed. Who would dare make any noise at such a time, knowing it would be courting disaster?

Fu Lancheng, agitated, stood up and walked to the window, stretching his ears to listen intently. Outside, he saw only spring waters dotted with floating lanterns and the lush green of the surrounding grass and flowers.

The vibrant spirit of spring, even at midnight, seemed unwilling to rest.

Weiyuan set aside the candle and moved to Fu Lancheng’s side, asking quietly, “Your Highness, can you tell from which direction the sound is coming?”

Fu Lancheng’s face darkened. The noise had vanished so abruptly—was it merely a hallucination?

Weiyuan guessed as much and gave a sheepish smile. “If I may, perhaps it is because Her Highness the Crown Princess has just moved into the Eastern Palace, and Your Highness is not yet accustomed. Now that we have another mistress and more maids serving her, it is naturally livelier than before. In time, Your Highness will become used to it.”

Fu Lancheng paused for a long while, finding nothing to refute.

Watching the Crown Prince slowly return to his seat, Weiyuan sighed softly. Over the years, Fu Lancheng had rejected many who tried to draw close, always alone, driven by his own obsessions.

The Crown Princess was quiet by nature, and Chunhui Hall was far from Yonghui Pavilion. If the Crown Prince was already uneasy, what would happen when more concubines moved into the Eastern Palace?

Weiyuan was startled by the thought. If memory served, before the Crown Prince and Princess’s wedding, His Majesty and the Empress had, by tradition, arranged for two consorts, and one Baolin chosen by the Crown Prince himself.

But as the principal wife, the Crown Princess entered first. Now, with her newly wed, the consorts and Baolin would have to wait.

“You may leave,” Fu Lancheng said coldly.

“Yes, Your Highness. I shall withdraw.” Weiyuan dared not linger, bowed deeply, and departed quickly.

Behind him, several crystal lamps lit the study as brightly as day, casting Fu Lancheng’s face pale as snow.

Meanwhile, in the Emperor’s Deqing Hall, a rare silence like snow filled the air, and the gathered ministers exchanged anxious glances.

The reason was clear. Today, the Censorate had impeached the Prefect of Hongzhou, one of the five counties of Jiangdong, for corruption, bribery, deceit, and disregard for human life, with witnesses to support the charges.

Who was Wu Jingyuan, the Prefect of Hongzhou? He was the “Flower Scholar” personally appointed by the Emperor in his first year on the throne. When Wu served in the Hanlin Academy, the Emperor favored him even more than the new top scholars.

By Wu Jingyuan’s qualifications, he should not have been made prefect of a province, but the Emperor insisted, claiming he was a talent equal to Xu Yan of Lanzhou.

But who was Xu Yan? The last top scholar of the late Emperor’s reign, the favorite son of Grand Tutor Xu.

Every year, before the imperial exam results were announced, the selection of the top scholar was always a point of contention between the chief examiner and the Emperor. Yet, in Xu Yan’s year, there was no dispute at all, proving his legendary reputation for literary brilliance in the Jiangzuo region was well deserved.

When the Emperor insisted on appointing Wu Jingyuan, he did so with a mind to challenge the late Emperor—new waves overtaking the old, and newcomers eclipsing the established; it was only natural.

But this was only Wu Jingyuan’s third year as Prefect of Hongzhou, and already such scandal had arisen.

Fu Lancheng sometimes had to admire his father. Whenever he lectured his son, he never failed to emphasize prudence and deliberation. Yet, in his own actions and appointments, the Emperor always courted risk and uncertainty.

Thus, the ministers dared criticize Fu Lancheng for deviation, picking the softest target; none would dare point fingers at the Emperor himself.

The memorial listing Wu Jingyuan’s crimes had reached the Censorate the day before, and the Cabinet had received a copy as well. His Majesty’s reputation was hanging by a thread.

While the Cabinet hesitated, the young and outspoken Censor-in-Chief, Nian Shaoqing—a paragon of candor and a disciple of the Xu family—submitted the matter as the first item today.

As expected, when the Emperor received the memorial, Fu Lancheng watched his father’s face turn from blue to pale.

The ministers below were unnaturally quiet. The deeper the silence, the more it underscored the Emperor’s error in judgment.

“Why is everyone so silent? Do you not usually have much to say?” The Emperor set the memorial aside and scolded sharply. Even Nian Shaoqing held his tongue; for all his boldness, he knew the sovereign held the power of life and death.

The Emperor’s anger was palpable, as he slammed the memorial on the imperial desk and barked, “The memorial reached the Censorate, yet Wu Jingyuan’s annual assessments were always excellent. How do you conduct your duties? Song Qi, answer me!”

Minister of Personnel Song Qi strode forward and knelt. “This servant has been remiss. I beg Your Majesty to punish me.” Instantly, all officials from Personnel knelt behind him.

With a wave, the Emperor sent the impeachment memorial sliding to Song Qi.

“See for yourself.”

Because of this, the Emperor’s temper flared for several days in succession at court. An investigation must be made, but the method of inquiry became the daily subject of debate. Some advocated an open investigation, faster and more effective, reassuring the people and warning local officials. Others preferred a covert inquiry, yielding more precise evidence without causing unrest.

The factions argued fiercely. The Emperor, thirsty and afflicted with headache, sipped his cold tea and, in his peripheral vision, saw the Crown Prince standing tall and composed at the head of the crowd.

Dissatisfied, the Emperor pressed his fingers heavily on the tea lid and asked, face grim, “What does the Crown Prince think?”

At the Emperor’s question, the ministers’ discussion dwindled, all eyes turning to the Crown Prince.

Fu Lancheng remained unflustered, gazing calmly at his third royal brother, Prince Qi, with a cold inward smile but serene expression. “Your son has little experience in government affairs. I would like to hear Prince Qi’s thoughts first.”

Prince Qi’s expression tightened, but before he could reply, the Emperor spoke from above: “Prince Qi advocates an open investigation, to display imperial authority and justice.”

Fu Lancheng’s tone was equally calm: “Then let’s proceed openly, as Third Brother suggests.”

“But the Ministry of Personnel recommends a covert inquiry,” the Emperor said, his tone weary. Back and forth, Fu Lancheng felt fatigued. He had always avoided politics and power struggles, indifferent to factional disputes.

After a moment’s thought, he offered a compromise, bowing to the Emperor: “Then let us investigate together. If the Ministry feels it unwise to focus solely on Hongzhou, we can examine all five counties of Jiangdong at once. The Ministry published ‘Clean Governance’ last year, investigating seven provinces near the capital. This year, a review of Jiangdong would not be out of place. What do Third Brother and Lord Song think?”

With one sentence, the heir determined the fate of all officials in Jiangdong’s five counties.

His words stirred the ministers into another heated debate. Voices clashed in Deqing Hall, one side pressing, the other countering, until after a quarter hour, most agreed to the Crown Prince’s proposal: to investigate all five counties together.

The Emperor, tiring after a morning’s deliberations, finally declared, “Since consensus has been reached, Crown Prince, you shall—”

Fu Lancheng reacted swiftly, bowing. “Father, the Prefect of Lanzhou, Xu Yan, is my father-in-law. It would not be proper for me to handle this matter.”

The Emperor weighed this silently and replied in a low tone, “The Crown Prince knows how to avoid conflicts of interest…” He paused, then turned to another side, giving instructions: “Let Song Qi oversee the case in the capital. Deputy Minister Quan Yi and… Prince Qi will go to Jiangdong to execute the investigation. Prince Qi handled the Xinzou case well before; I expect not to be disappointed this time.”

Though addressed to Prince Qi, the Emperor’s gaze never left the Crown Prince. His Majesty was deeply conflicted. He disliked Fu Lancheng’s ineptitude, even harbored resentment, yet hope still lingered in his heart, though the Crown Prince never reciprocated.

Since the Crown Prince wished to avoid suspicion, Prince Qi would take the task. Fortunately, that son had always excelled.

Fu Lancheng and Prince Qi left Deqing Hall one behind the other, each with their own thoughts, their faces calm and silent, exchanging not a word.

Among imperial brothers, Fu Lancheng had learned to be indifferent since youth. How could the wise son of a favored concubine and the inept Crown Prince born to the Empress ever coexist harmoniously?

Walking half a step behind the Crown Prince, Prince Qi was troubled. For years, he had vied for first place in all things, never lazy, respectful to his father, generous to subjects. He was praised throughout court and country.

But what of it?

The Empress’s family, the Songs, were a military clan. Fu Lancheng’s grandfather and uncle guarded the borders for years, their martial merit securing their place at court. The Song family served the realm, the Empress served the royal house.

Thus, no matter how Fu Lancheng failed, no matter how reckless, he was still appointed Crown Prince at fifteen.

No matter how the noble concubine reigned in the harem, how her family dominated court, how the third prince excelled in both civil and martial arts to please the Emperor, he remained merely a prince of the fief.

“I am about to depart for Jiangdong. Has Your Highness any instructions for me?” Prince Qi, Fu Jinning, known for his humility and courtesy, asked.

Fu Lancheng paused, turned back to regard Prince Qi’s gentle, jade-like face, his gaze cool. “Xu Yan just left Guangling, and Third Brother goes to Jiangdong to investigate—it may be a bit hasty.”

“But the Hongzhou case is urgent… Father has ordered me to proceed quickly,” Prince Qi replied, somewhat troubled.

“If so, why ask me?” Fu Lancheng’s tone was scornful.

Fu Jinning was at a loss. “I…”

“Rather than asking me, perhaps Third Brother should ask the Crown Princess if she has any words for Lord Xu?” Fu Lancheng said coldly, ignoring Prince Qi’s frozen expression.

Thumb tucked in his palm, Prince Qi hesitated, then bowed with a strained smile. “How could I trouble the Crown Princess with state affairs? Your Highness jests,” he replied, his voice uncharacteristically subdued.

“Farewell, Your Highness.” No sooner had Prince Qi spoken, the Crown Prince had already walked far ahead.