Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting with a Chronicle of Tragic Love

The emperor was about forty years old, with a slender face and deep eyes, but at this moment his brows showed a hint of weariness and contemplation.

Prince Zhongshun lagged half a step behind, his expression respectful yet sly.

The two arrived at the imperial desk. The emperor's gaze swept across the outer room, as if he could see through the beaded curtain to the spot where Jiao Si had just sat.

"Uncle, you have seen and heard the reports from Cao Shaoqin and Wei Xian. The 'Yellow Dragon Mandate Talisman' has been verified against the secret archives of the Imperial Household Department and the recollections of several senior palace ladies. It is indeed an old artifact from that time. Its shape, material, and even that...mysterious aura, all match the records."

The emperor spoke slowly, his voice sounding somewhat weary.

"The one who holds the talisman is Jiao Si. He has merits in protecting the emperor and resisting Japanese pirates on Plum Blossom Mountain. Although he acted drastically in the Cloud Tower on the Huai River and killed Qian Qianyi, the fact that Qian Qianyi colluded with Japanese pirates and betrayed his friends has been corroborated by the secret investigation of the Eastern Depot."

"This young man may seem reckless and impulsive, but he is actually quite courageous and loyal. No wonder even someone as discerning as Xin Like was willing to take him as a disciple and teach him martial arts."

Prince Chungshun bowed slightly, his tone sincere.

"Your Majesty's wisdom is truly insightful, and what you say is absolutely right. This child is indeed extraordinary; it is already remarkable that he has gained the favor of Xin Like."

"Moreover, that 'Yellow Dragon Mandate Talisman' is undoubtedly an old artifact from back then. However..."

He changed the subject, seemingly with some doubt.

"Your Majesty, it is precisely because this token is of great importance and involves that elusive prophecy that I must be even more cautious."

The emperor looked at him and said, "Uncle, if you have any concerns, please speak freely."

"Your Majesty," Prince Chungshun stepped forward half a step and lowered his voice.

"The prophecy said, 'If someone appears with this talisman in the future, it means that person has given the signal.' The actions of the talisman holder 'all have profound meaning, are born in response to calamity, and are acts in accordance with Heaven's will.'"

"My concern is twofold. First, what exactly is the 'signal' mentioned in the prophecy? Is it a sign of impending 'calamity,' or something else?"

"Secondly, and crucially, the prophecy left by that person was written in the context of 'The world will be in chaos, and extraordinary beings will appear to aid the true dragon.' But Your Majesty, look at the present..."

He slightly raised his arm, pointing out the window to the imposing palaces that symbolized imperial power.

"Under Your Majesty's rule, although there are occasional border troubles in our Great Yi Dynasty, such as the barbarians in the north and the Japanese pirates in the east, the central government is stable, the Jiangnan region is prosperous, and the world is generally at peace. We are far from the time of 'great chaos in the world'."

"At this moment, this 'destiny talisman' and its holder appear; what kind of 'destiny' are they 'fulfilling'?"

"If we rashly place our trust in them and entrust them with important responsibilities, what if their 'deep intentions' are not to assist the wise ruler, but rather have other motives?"

Seeing the emperor remain silent in thought, Prince Zhongshun's eyes flickered slightly before he continued.

"Furthermore, is it not a bit hasty to judge a person as trustworthy and capable of great use based solely on an ancient jade pendant?"

"This man's background and character still need to be observed over a long period of time. Qian Qianyi deserves to die, but the reactions of his uncle Qian Chou and even some within the Eastern Depot also indicate that this man acts too rashly and without regard for the consequences. If he is promoted suddenly, it may not be a blessing for the court."

"It would be better to set it aside for now and observe the consequences. If he is truly a person born for this opportunity, he will eventually demonstrate greater ability and loyalty; if not, this approach will not cause any major problems."

The emperor's fingers tapped lightly on the imperial desk unconsciously.

Prince Chungshun's words were all very practical, especially his questions about "the world is not in chaos" and "the timing of the signal," which touched a deep-seated worry in his heart.

He believed that since ascending the throne, he had been diligent and hardworking, and although he dared not call it a golden age, the overall situation was stable.

Although the daily memorials mentioned disasters and border alarms in various places, they seemed to be described as "minor ailments" in the reports from various levels of officials, which were controllable and curable.

Having lived in the deep palace for so long, all he could rely on were the reports from his civil and military officials and the advice from his close advisors.

As an elder member of the imperial clan, Prince Zhongshun held control of part of the imperial guards and secret police. His information channels differed from his own, but his words were so certain that they made him waver.

"What the Imperial Uncle said...is not without reason."

The emperor finally let out a soft sigh.

"This matter is of great importance and requires utmost caution. As the Imperial Uncle suggested, let's set Jiao Si aside for now and send him back to the academy to study and practice martial arts, while we observe the situation. As for the Eastern Depot, punish Qian Chou and the others according to the law. Let's put this matter aside for now."

"Your Majesty has made a clear decision."

Prince Chungshun bowed deeply, a hint of relaxation flashing in his eyes.

After the important matters were settled, the emperor felt somewhat tired. His gaze casually swept across the outer room, and suddenly he remembered something. He spoke to an old eunuch standing beside him.

"Did you notice anything unusual while I was waiting outside?"

The old eunuch quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Jiao Yishi remained seated, but seemed to glance at the paper and pen on the table a few times. I was outside and did not dare to observe closely."

The emperor nodded, strolled out of the inner room, and came to the small table where Jiao Si had just sat.

He immediately noticed the fragrant note that was pressed against the corner of the inkstone. He picked it up and saw that it had been newly added ink.

"The deep palace is silent, its heavy gates locked... A lone wild goose disappears into the cold clouds. The spring breeze does not know the way to Penglai Mountain, leaving only fallen flowers to cover my embroidered robe. The moon, though affectionate, still shines on me, but the sun, though indifferent, does not linger."

The emperor murmured the words over and over, a hint of surprise and appreciation in his eyes.

"It has a certain charm, taking the loneliness and desolation of the original sentence to a new level, and the language is elegant. Jiao Si really does have some talent."

Prince Chungshun also came over to take a look and echoed his sentiments.

"It is indeed quite good, much better than the pedantic articles of many Hanlin Academy scholars. Single-page essays only have a few points of literary talent."

The emperor toyed with the slip of paper, pondered for a moment, and then spoke to the old eunuch.

"Take this poem and give it to Consort Yuan in Changchun Palace. Tell her that I came up with it in my spare time and thought it was quite good, so I am giving it to her to enjoy."

He wanted to say "It was made by me," but when the words reached his lips, he felt it was inappropriate and so he glossed over it.

"This servant obeys the decree." The old eunuch took the note with both hands and carefully withdrew.

The Emperor then said to Prince Zhongshun, "Let's leave it at that for today. Uncle, you've worked hard; go back to your residence and rest early."

"Your subject takes his leave." Prince Chungshun bowed and slowly withdrew from the Imperial Study.

The emperor stood alone before his desk, gazing at the flickering candlelight. Unconsciously, he stroked the rubbing of the "Yellow Dragon Mandate Talisman" that had been stored away, his brow furrowed as he pondered something.

In the end, it all turned into a barely audible sigh.

Changchun Palace.

Consort Jia Yuanchun, the Virtuous Consort, received the note handed to her by her personal maid. Upon hearing that it was a poem "written in her leisure time" bestowed by His Majesty, she felt a warmth in her heart and began to read it carefully.

However, after reading it only once, her slender hand holding the note paused slightly.

This handwriting... The first half was indeed written by me a few nights ago when I was feeling down and had only written half of it before I felt bored and abandoned it. I don't know how it ended up in Your Majesty's possession.

The handwriting in the latter half is so childlike that it is no exaggeration to say it is not His Majesty's own handwriting!

Why would Your Majesty bestow upon yourself a sequel by another person, passing it off as your own?

Did he feel that his original poem was too sorrowful, and asked someone to continue writing it as a form of comfort?

Or did they not even look at it carefully, and just picked a poem they thought was okay to get by?

Regardless of the possibility, Jia Yuanchun felt a chill run down her spine.

Let's look at the last two sentences.

"The moon, though full of affection, still shines upon me; the sun, though indifferent, does not linger."

The person who continued the poem seemed to have already sensed the sorrow in her heart.

Unfortunately, this person was not the emperor.

Having spent years in the inner palace, she had long since learned to read people's expressions and understand the emperor's heart.

This seemingly "favorable" act, however, reveals a distance and perfunctory attitude that cannot be hidden from her.

She gently placed the note on the table without speaking, her eyes gradually dimming and becoming shrouded in an indelible grayness.