27. The King's Ascent: A Song Upon the Tower

At this moment, all the inner gates of the Xiao Residence stood wide open. Everyone was gathered at either side of the main entrance, awaiting the arrival of the imperial entourage.

Before long, several hundred Crane Guards marched in perfect formation at the forefront, their presence overwhelming. Behind them followed eunuchs and palace maids from the imperial palace, over a hundred of them split into two lines. Next came the Emperor and Empress in their magnificent dragon and phoenix carriages. Looking further back, there were several smaller palanquins, indicating that many noble guests from the palace had arrived today.

It was only fitting—Dayi was a nation that prized filial piety above all. With Princess Grandmother Qingyan’s seniority, she held a most venerable place among the Fu clan’s royal kin.

Xu Guiyi and the Princess Consort of Duke De accompanied Princess Grandmother Qingyan to stand at her left and right, occupying the place of honor at the front.

Gazing around, Xu Guiyi estimated that three to four hundred people had come, all accompanying the imperial procession. This was, indeed, the grandest spectacle under heaven.

The Emperor and Empress descended from their carriages and came forward to pay their respects to Princess Grandmother Qingyan.

At last, the princess released her tight grip on Xu Guiyi’s hands and reached out to take the hands of the Emperor and Empress, her eyes misted with tears, her voice thick with fondness. “Your Majesty, Your Highness, I trust you have both been well? Are the affairs of state burdensome lately? Is all peaceful within the palace?”

Whenever Xu Guiyi saw the Emperor, she always felt his piercing presence—so formidable it inspired awe. Yet today, the Emperor revealed a seldom-seen gentleness. “Rest assured, Aunt. The Empress and I are well, and the court is stable.” As he spoke, he patted the back of the princess’s hand, comforting her.

The Empress, too, smiled warmly. “Gugu, your health is better than all else. I and the ladies of the inner palace are well, thanks to your concern.”

The princess’s happiness grew, and as she turned to seek the Crown Prince, Noble Consort Nangong and Virtuous Consort Cao approached together to pay their respects.

The princess responded cheerily, “You are thoughtful, Noble Consort, Virtuous Consort.”

Finally, her gaze lingered on Fu Lanchen, her tone full of affection. “Now that Your Highness is married, you seem so much more composed. Your great-aunt is delighted.”

In truth, nothing about him had changed. Perhaps it was simply the princess’s customary civility. Xu Guiyi, watching Fu Lanchen’s strikingly handsome face, secretly rolled her eyes.

Fu Lanchen stepped forward, bowing with rare gentleness. “Lanchen greets Great-Aunt and wishes you longevity and health for many years to come.”

The princess beamed. “Good child.”

The Emperor, standing beside them, let out a cold laugh. “So the Crown Prince knows his filial duty—he was first to offer birthday wishes to Great-Aunt, even voicing my congratulations for me.”

Xu Guiyi, following close behind the princess, was momentarily stunned. Fu Lanchen’s salute and birthday wish seemed entirely proper—what fault could there be?

Of course, the princess shielded the Crown Prince. “Your Majesty always loves to jest. The Crown Prince offers me his wishes and you tease him—aren’t you afraid of frightening our Crown Princess?”

The princess was indeed a formidable figure. Xu Guiyi couldn’t help but admire her as she curtsied. “Your daughter-in-law greets Father Emperor and Mother Empress, wishing you peace and prosperity.”

The Emperor, whose face had been stern a moment ago, suddenly broke into a smile. “I often hear the Empress praise you—she says the Crown Princess is diligent and virtuous, keeping the Eastern Palace in perfect order. This is good. Yet as Crown Princess, I hope you will also fulfill your duty to counsel the Crown Prince and be a worthy helpmate.” His tone shifted with lightning speed, gentle one moment, severe the next.

Xu Guiyi, a little tense, bowed again. “I will heed Father Emperor’s teachings.” Such an open charge set expectations—if she failed, it would prove her mere outward propriety and inward incompetence.

“Your Majesty, the wind is strong at the door. Shall we not enter the residence and continue our conversation inside, rather than keep everyone standing?” The Empress smoothed the tension.

The Emperor surveyed the gathering, exuding the full majesty of a sovereign, and declared in a resounding voice, “Today is the Princess Grandmother’s birthday. There is no need for formality.”

Princess Grandmother Qingyan took Fu Lanchen’s and Xu Guiyi’s hands, her face radiant. “Very well, let us go in and sit for a while, and wait for the banquet to begin. It is rare for the whole family to be gathered like this.”

“As you wish, Aunt.” The Emperor turned slightly, smiling at the princess.

In the grand banquet hall, the Emperor and Empress sat at the principal seats, with Princess Grandmother at the place of honor to the right. Fu Lanchen and Xu Guiyi were seated to the left of the imperial couple, with other royal kin and ministers arranged by rank.

While the Emperor and Princess Grandmother conversed merrily, Xu Guiyi surveyed the hall. The six inner doors stood open, connecting the main hall with the courtyard. The space within was vast, elegantly appointed and richly decorated. The maids, all wearing pleasant smiles, filed in from the side doors, bearing platters of delicacies and fine wine to each guest.

The hall was filled with the empire’s nobility and the most illustrious families. Every woman’s hair was adorned with flowers, their beauty and fragrance dazzling, their gold and jade ornaments sparkling with light.

Yet such a lively, extravagant birthday feast did not allow one to truly savor the food or enjoy the performances. The Emperor’s words had to be chosen with utmost care; so did the Empress’s. And of course, Noble Consort Nangong’s as well...

Virtuous Consort Cao and her son, Prince Chu, were much quieter. They sat together, listening when others spoke, eating quietly when ignored, smiling and raising their cups at appropriate moments, fading into the background as needed.

Xu Guiyi watched Virtuous Consort for a long while, then observed Prince Chu. She felt that his demeanor was strikingly similar to the manners of the Cao family.

If Prince Chu continued to grow in this way, it would be a good thing indeed. The Cao family was a great clan, a model for all scholars, unshaken through a hundred years. Unlike the Pei family, who served as the Emperor’s blade, only to be destroyed once their usefulness ended, their corpses left without trace...

Such thoughts brought Xu Guiyi a measure of comfort, mixed with melancholy.

As the banquet wore on, most had eaten and drunk their fill. Conversation waned as everyone turned their attention to the stage.

People of Princess Grandmother’s age loved opera above all. Today, her birthday was arranged to suit her every preference.

Now and then, Xu Guiyi overheard the Princess Consort of Duke Zhao and Princess Consort of Duke Qi chatting nearby, saying that today, to please his mother, Prince Jun of Beinan had invited the most popular opera troupes in Guangling City.

Seeing the Princess Consort of Duke Qi laugh so joyfully, Xu Guiyi wondered how the Duke of Qi’s inspection of the officials in Jiangdong was proceeding. She wondered if things were going smoothly in Lanzhou, and if her father had spent several more nights awake.

“Wonderful, wonderful! This performance of ‘The Ascending Tower’ is outstanding!” Following the sound, Xu Guiyi saw the Princess Consort of Duke De applauding with delight.

At last, the final act of the day was performed by the Xichun Troupe—the play ‘The Ascending Tower.’

Halfway through, while everyone was listening attentively, the Emperor suddenly asked, “This troupe is excellent. I don’t recall hearing of them before.”

Xiao Qi promptly replied, “Your Majesty, this troupe is called the Xichun Troupe. They entered the capital only half a year ago, and their performers are all well-known stars. Their scripts are written by learned scholars, so they are very popular among the common people.”

The Emperor sipped his tea, speaking unhurriedly. “I’ve heard that the Crown Prince helped to introduce this troupe.”

Fu Lanchen was still absorbed in the opera, paying no heed to the conversation. Xu Guiyi, seeing his lack of response, stepped up as the worthy consort. “On Great-Aunt’s birthday, it is only proper that His Highness the Crown Prince, as a junior, should offer some effort.”

Though her words were addressed to the Emperor and the princess, her tone was clearly louder, deliberately reminding Fu Lanchen.

If he could ignore the Emperor and Xiao Qi, he could not pretend not to hear Xu Guiyi.

Seeing nothing amiss, Fu Lanchen replied calmly, “I attended two performances by the Xichun Troupe and was very impressed. When I learned that Great-Aunt was holding a birthday banquet, I recommended them to Cousin Qi.”

At this, Xiao Qi was secretly shocked, not expecting Fu Lanchen to speak so directly.

The princess loved opera, and the servants of the Xiao family had tried twice to invite the Xichun Troupe, but due to scheduling conflicts and some actors being out of town, they failed. The Xiao family was unwilling to force the matter. Just as they were about to give up, an adviser suggested that since the Crown Prince frequented the troupe, perhaps his influence could help. So Xiao Qi brought it up with Fu Lanchen.

The Emperor’s face darkened. “I should not have to lecture you on your Great-Aunt’s birthday, but you, as heir to the throne, ought not spend your days idly in amusement without striving for progress. Is this how a future sovereign should behave?”

Fu Lanchen closed his fan, his words tightening. “Father is a wise ruler, his virtue instructing all subjects. I am but your son. If befriending an opera troupe is a breach of decorum, perhaps there should be no opera in the empire at all.” When it came to arguments, Fu Lanchen had never yielded to the Emperor, no matter the occasion.

Xu Guiyi had heard stories of this before, but seeing it in person was another matter.

The Emperor was not angered, but laughed instead. “So this is what all your years of studying the classics have taught you—to defy your father?”

Fu Lanchen did not back down, yet remained composed. “It is not the classics you blame, Father, but me you reproach.”

“Stubborn!” the Emperor snapped, but before his anger could boil over, the Empress grasped his arm. After all, the birthday princess sat right beside them.

Xu Guiyi’s heart rose and fell. The Crown Prince had been chastised, and as his consort, she too lost face. The saying went, “When the husband is honored, the wife is esteemed.” She did not expect affection from Fu Lanchen, but she did wish for his safety and peace. After a moment, she nudged him, signaling him to soften his expression.

At first, Fu Lanchen gave no reaction, and Xu Guiyi thought he would ignore her as always. But after a quiet pause, he suddenly addressed the Emperor, “It was unfilial of me to contradict Father today. I will strive to be more diligent in state affairs and relieve Your Majesty of burdens.”

This response stunned Xu Guiyi on the spot. In fact, everyone who witnessed it—royal kin, the Emperor, and the Empress—was equally astonished.

For twenty years, whenever the Crown Prince and the Emperor quarreled, neither had ever given way, let alone apologized. An apology from the Emperor was unthinkable; the stubborn Crown Prince had never apologized either.

But today truly broke all precedent.

Since the Crown Prince had yielded, the Emperor could not reasonably pursue the matter further. Before long, he was once again smiling and chatting amiably with those around him.

Xu Guiyi sighed inwardly. The ancients were right—serving a ruler is like living with a tiger.