The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

"The late emperor had three sons. In fact, his favorite heir was his eldest son. But that child..."

He paused, a hint of melancholy in his voice: "He died in the chaos of war, protecting the late emperor. That was the first and only time I saw the late emperor with such a vulnerable and helpless expression. He was a good child..."

"My granddaughter knows, it's Crown Prince Mingxuan," Shen Tinghe interjected.

Upon ascending the throne, the late emperor posthumously honored his eldest son, who had died young, as crown prince, treating him with even greater respect than later emperors.

"The eldest son is gone, and the second son, the Prince of Qi, was accidentally separated from his family during the chaos of war and has not been heard from since. At that time, only the third son, who is now Your Majesty, was raised by the late Emperor with great care."

"Later, the King of Qi was found, but his temperament had been spoiled, becoming violent, eccentric, and difficult to tame. The late emperor looked at him with great sorrow and grief, but he also understood that with this temperament, he was truly incapable of shouldering the heavy responsibility of the country."

"After careful consideration, the throne was passed to Your Majesty. Even when necessary, Prince Qi was used as a whetstone to temper Your Majesty's gentle nature."

He paused, then added, "When the late emperor was about to pass away, he felt that he owed too much to this second son, so he left Your Majesty the dying wish to treat Prince Qi well."

"His Majesty probably feels guilty towards his elder brother for indulging him all these years. As long as it's not a serious crime, His Majesty always turns a blind eye to whatever Prince Qi does."

This was the first time Shen Tinghe had heard of these things.

So that's how it is... she murmured to herself.

If the King of Qi hadn't gone missing back then, and he had both been the eldest son and the legitimate heir, the throne might truly be in someone else's hands now.

Shen Jun sighed softly, "Children are all debts."

Upon hearing this, Shen Tinghe recalled past events in her family and remained silent for a moment.

On the day of the Thousand Flower Banquet

Those qualified to host this banquet are all distinguished families with outstanding achievements and enjoying the emperor's favor.

Last year, the Dingshan Prince's Mansion organized the event, and this year it's the Changguo Duke's Mansion's turn.

Today, the Thousand Flowers Banquet is no longer just an elegant gathering for composing poems, archery, and martial arts competitions.

It gradually became the most important social occasion for noble ladies and gentlemen in the capital, and even an "invisible arena" for wives of various families to find suitable matches for their children.

Unmarried men and women showcased their talents and charm here, while married couples strengthened their networks and gathered information, creating a lively and bustling scene.

Outside the Duke of Changguo's mansion, a bustling scene of carriages and sedan chairs stretched as far as the eye could see, filled with the fragrance of fine clothes and the lively chatter of people.

As the blue-curtained carriage of the Prince of Dingshan's mansion slowly arrived and stopped in front of the gate, the crowd that had been bustling about to enter spontaneously parted to make way for them.

The carriage door opened, and the first person to step out was Madam Shen from the Prince of Dingshan's Mansion.

She wore a moon-white jacket and a hairpin inlaid with kingfisher feathers and pearls. Although she wore no heavy makeup, she could not hide the graceful demeanor that came with her status as a princess since childhood.

She calmly took the hand of her maid, stepped down from the carriage, and her gaze swept calmly over the crowd.

Her two children followed closely behind.

Her daughter, Shen Tinghe, wore a light purple ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) embroidered with magnolia branches, the hem of which trailed on the ground, making her look like a peony bud about to bloom in spring, delicate and charming.

His son, Shen Chengzhou, was dressed in a royal blue, arrow-sleeved casual suit, with a tall and handsome figure.

A perfectly timed smile played at the corners of his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes, making it seem somewhat perfunctory.

"The Crown Princess's dress today is so beautiful that it's hard to look away. We all feel ashamed of ourselves standing next to her."

The speaker was Mrs. Zhang, her face beaming with smiles, her ingratiating tone almost overflowing.

"And Miss Shen, look at her, she's like a fairy made of water. My girl is probably too embarrassed to show her face in public."

Madam Li quickly stepped forward, looking at Shen Tinghe with the same affection as if she were her own niece.

Madam Shen was already used to this. She nodded slightly, her smile polite yet distant, and responded to each question.

After finally managing to deal with the "welcome" at the entrance, the three entered the mansion and then dispersed, each going their own way into their own circle.

The backyard of the Duke's mansion was paved with bluestone slabs, with winding corridors on both sides.

The maidservant led the way, her hands clasped in front, guiding Shen Tinghe through a path shaded by bamboo groves. In the distance, they could see many figures gathered around the Chengxin Pavilion.

They were all eligible young ladies from the capital, sitting in groups of three or five, their jeweled ornaments swaying gently in the breeze, their laughter drifting intermittently on the warm wind.

As Shen Tinghe stepped onto the white jade platform in front of the pavilion, a figure in pale yellow shoes rushed over: "Ahe!"

"A-Xi." Shen Tinghe's eyes lit up with a smile as she stepped forward to greet her.

The visitor was Zhou Chenxi, the eldest granddaughter of the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, whose grandfather was also a veteran official in the court.

She had been close friends with Shen Tinghe since childhood, and was known for her cheerful and outgoing personality.

Zhou Chenxi affectionately took her wrist: "Come with me quickly, Awan and the others have been waiting for you in the pavilion for a long time."

The two walked side by side through the flower bushes. Many noble ladies along the way caught sight of Shen Tinghe, and they all stopped laughing and talking, curtsied slightly, and called her Miss Shen in a low voice.

Shen Tinghe nodded in return with composure, her brows exuding a calm and serene air.

"It won't be easy for us to meet again in two months, Your Highness."

Zhou Chenxi leaned close to her ear, whispering the last three words in a very low voice, with a mischievous chuckle at the end.

Shen Tinghe raised her hand and gently patted her arm, a hint of embarrassment in her eyes: "You're teasing me too."

Stepping into Chengxin Pavilion, one finds candied fruit, fresh fruit, and celadon teacups laid out on a stone table. Gu Linwan is sitting on a stone bench, and upon seeing her, she smiles and rises.

"Ahe, you've finally arrived! We've been waiting for you for so long."

"I said a few extra words at the door, that's why I'm late."

Shen Tinghe sat down, picked up her teacup, and took a sip: "What were you talking about that was so lively just now?"

Zhou Chenxi popped a lychee into his mouth and mumbled, "Tell me about what happened to Lord Lin Qizhang a few days ago."

"You've heard about it too?" Shen Tinghe looked up.

Gu Linwan smiled and said, "Thanks to Axi, who is a know-it-all and has better information than anyone else, we just heard about it from her."

"But how did you know?" Zhou Chenxi raised an eyebrow and asked.

Shen Tinghe put down her teacup and said softly, "When Lord Wang entered the palace to report to His Highness the Crown Prince, I happened to be in the East Palace and overheard a few words."

"Oh~" Gu Linwan and Zhou Chenxi exchanged a glance, drawing out her words with a hint of mockery in her eyes.

"What's with those expressions?" Shen Tinghe shook her head helplessly.

"Of course, Your Highness is wise and sagacious."

Zhou Chenxi's joking expression vanished, replaced by indignation: "That scoundrel Xie Liao, relying on his status as a member of the royal family, actually did such a thing. I heard that Miss Lin was supposed to marry her childhood sweetheart in half a month, and he ruined such a perfect match. Thankfully, His Highness ordered him imprisoned!"

Just as Gu Linwan was about to reply, a haughty female voice interrupted.

"Your Highness is benevolent and magnanimous, and naturally will not let evildoers go unpunished, even if they are members of the royal family. When my grandfather taught Your Highness, the first lesson he taught was the benevolence of a ruler."