The main hall of the Zhang Family was quiet, with only the occasional crackling sound from the silver silk charcoal in the brazier.

Prince Fu sat across from Chen Ji, slowly rubbing the rim of his cup with his thumb. Neither of them hurried to speak.

What does the Crown Prince care about most?

Power.

It's obvious what Prince Fu wants to seize, but this is not something a Vassal Prince should say.

Zhou Kuang stood under the eaves outside the threshold and looked back at Prince Fu: "Your lordship, we've returned to the Imperial Capital, be cautious in your words."

Prince Fu smiled: "What is there to fear, the most unruly person in the entire Imperial Capital is sitting right opposite me. Dragging the Imperial Censor to death on the street, trampling on Duke Cheng Mansion with a horse, and still coming out unscathed, one's fate must be as steadfast as Taishan. Walking night roads with such a hard-fated person, there's nothing to fear from evil spirits."

Chen Ji tactfully changed the topic: "Your Highness, did you return by Imperial Decree this time to celebrate New Year's Day?"

Prince Fu leaned back in his chair slowly: "No. Fifteen days ago, an Imperial Decree arrived in Jinling, ordering me to return to the capital to marry Qi Zhaoyun, the Second Miss Qi."

He lowered his head and let out a mocking laugh: "It's been less than a year since my mother passed away, and now I am to marry. I understand His Majesty's intentions. The Qi family was brought down by you, and I must quickly ally with the Qi family to be their support, and thus take over their legacy... But ordinary people's sons mourn for their mothers for three years, yet I can only mourn for a hundred days. As soon as the hundred days are up, I must become a marriage pawn to help His Majesty balance the court."

Chen Ji spoke softly: "My condolences."

Prince Fu looked at the snow on the tiles outside the door: "The funeral, the utmost grief, mourning, adapting to change. Everyone says condolences when they see me, my ears have grown calluses from hearing it, yet the sorrow mourns itself uncontrollably. Unfortunately, I lack the ambition, had I been more ambitious, she wouldn't have fallen victim to treachery."

Chen Ji remained silent.

Prince Fu smoothed the folds on his official robe and smiled openly: "Let's not talk about these matters. I came to see you today just to offer congratulations, reminisce briefly, and share some of my observations from the South. Don't worry, I'm not asking you to rebel with me."

Chen Ji: "I'd love to hear more."

Prince Fu tilted his head back, reminiscing slowly: "In Zhenjiang, I once saw a lamp. That night, I stayed at Gold Mountain Monastery, restless, I opened the window to get some fresh air. The river was pitch black, invisible, only the sound of wind and water. But amidst that darkness, suddenly, a fishing light approached. I saw an old man crouched on the bow of the boat, gathering nets. The net held only a few palm-sized fish, and he carefully picked them, one by one, into his basket as if he were collecting treasures."

Chen Ji initially thought Prince Fu would talk about the pleasure boats on the Qinhuai River, but that wasn't the case.

Prince Fu continued: "This was the first time I saw golden wheat fields stretching to the horizon outside Yangzhou City. When I passed by, it was at dusk, a breeze stirred the golden waves, rustling. On the field ridge sat an old farmer, cradling a coarse porcelain bowl, having dinner. I asked Zhou Kuang to inquire about his meal. Zhou Kuang returned and informed me: a bowl of coarse rice, a side dish of pickles, and two finger-sized small fish. The old farmer ate with relish."

Prince Fu looked down at Chen Ji: "Outside the Imperial Capital, I saw living beings. No wonder when Uncle Wang returned from suppressing the rebellion, he advised me to be a good Emperor in the future. Ha, back then, the Crown Prince wasn't established yet; he thought I'd be the Crown Prince."

Prince Fu's Uncle Wang?

Chen Ji then realized he was referring to Prince Jing.

At this time, a silver silk charcoal piece in the brazier collapsed, sending out sparks that briefly illuminated Prince Fu's pupils, then dimmed.

Prince Fu walked to the brazier, bent down, and used tongs to place a new piece of charcoal into the basin: "In the past, I wouldn't do such things; it was always the servants. Now, after traveling, I've learned. Previously, I scoffed at stories of lovesick men and resentful women. If one writes, it should be about abandoning the pen for military pursuits, leading forces northward; I eventually discovered I wasn't much better than others, no eyes for living people." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Chen Ji looked at Prince Fu and suddenly recalled the way he looked when he left the capital at Xiangshan Villa.

Back then, Prince Fu was like a sharp-edged knife, sharp indeed, but directionless.

Now, Prince Fu's blade was stained with frost and soil, touched by fishing lights and wheat waves.

Prince Fu set down the tongs and looked at Chen Ji: "I also watched dragon boat races in Jinling. Twelve men paddled a boat on the Qinhuai River, with dragon heads and tails carved at the bow and stern, very majestic. But two boats collided in the heart of the river and sank; first the dragon head, then the body, and finally the tail."

Prince Fu smiled: "At that time, I thought, so dragons can sink too... those words, even Zhou Kuang wouldn't dare hear. Talking to His Majesty, he would dare listen, but I wouldn't dare speak. So, in the end, I could only speak to you, the Imperial Capital's renowned rogue."

Chen Ji shook his head: "I dare not listen either."

Prince Fu laughed heartily, stood and walked away: "If you don't dare listen, then I won't tell you."

He stopped at the threshold, turning his face, half of it illuminated by the snow's light: "Chen Ji, do you remember you promised me something?"

Chen Ji thought for a while: "I remember, to lead the horse once for Your Highness."

Prince Fu laughed again, this time with a hint of his youthful visage: "As long as you remember."

…

…

Prince Fu left the Zhang Mansion, mounted his horse.

The snow accumulated on Xuanwu Gate Street had been trampled into gray-black sludge by carriages and horses. Riding close, Zhou Kuang whispered, "Your Highness, it's time to enter the palace. By now, His Majesty must know you have arrived in the Imperial Capital."

Prince Fu held the reins without moving. He looked towards the direction of the Imperial Palace Gate and unexpectedly turned his horse northwards: "No rush."

Zhou Kuang was momentarily stunned and quickly followed, "Your Highness, where are we going?"

Prince Fu did not reply.

He rode his horse into Fuyou Street, where the mansions on both sides grew increasingly grand.

Red lacquer doors, stone lions, and numerous flagpoles representing honor and rank.

Prince Fu halted his horse in front of the Qi family's gate, where the gateman was dozing off in the doorway.

Hearing the sound of hooves, the gateman hurriedly came out to welcome him, bowing deeply at the steps: "I did not know Your Highness Prince Fu was visiting, my apologies for not welcoming you from afar."

Prince Fu did not dismount. He looked down at the gateman and said warmly, "Please ask Second Miss Qi to come out. I will leave after saying a few words."

The gateman was taken aback, then turned and ran inside.

Zhou Kuang approached on his horse, lowering his voice: "Your Highness, this is not according to protocol."

Prince Fu looked at the slightly ajar red lacquer door of the Qi family: "I know."

Zhou Kuang took a deep breath: "Your Highness, please don't act rashly. Don't disrupt the Official's grand plan."

Prince Fu remained unmoved: "It won't be a problem."

After waiting for approximately thirty minutes, footsteps were heard from behind the Qi family's door.

Qi Zhaoyun, draped in a white mink coat, stood inside the crack of the door, her hands clasped inside her sleeves for a long while before finally deciding to open the door.

As the red lacquer door opened, Prince Fu surveyed Qi Zhaoyun, noting that she seemed as thin as a sheet of paper that would fly away with a gust of wind.

Qi Zhaoyun stood within the threshold, curtseying and softly saying, "May Your Highness be safe."

Seeing Qi Zhaoyun's frail appearance, Prince Fu sighed: "No need for formalities. I have returned to the capital under the Imperial Decree to marry you, and the palace has chosen an auspicious date—precisely the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth of the month. After the wedding, I must return to Jinling to oversee the salt tax."

Qi Zhaoyun softly asked, "Why is Your Highness telling me this?"

Calmly, Prince Fu said, "I came today to ask if you are willing to marry me."

Qi Zhaoyun was momentarily stunned.

Prince Fu looked at the red palace wall of the Forbidden City: "Others see the Forbidden City and perceive its dazzling splendor and majestic aura. But what I see is the sky at the four corners, the palace paths that lead to nowhere, and doors that can never be exited. Once you enter that Forbidden City, you cannot leave again. During New Year's Day, Lantern Festival, Duanwu, Mid-Autumn Festival, and the turn of the year, while people outside gather with their families, you'll only be able to stand at the base of the palace walls, staring at that small piece of sky above the wall. You won't have family; there are many people in the Forbidden City, but none will be your family."

Qi Zhaoyun tightened her grip on her sleeves.

Prince Fu's voice was gentle: "When I was young, I visited my mother every day to pay my respects. She always sat by the window, holding a needle and thread to embroider a butterfly. That butterfly was embroidered and taken apart for many years, never finished. I once asked her, 'Mother, why don't you finish it?' She said, 'There will be nothing to do once it is completed.'"

With a sigh, Prince Fu said, "Later, I understood she could finish it but chose not to because completing that butterfly meant having nothing left at all. I have witnessed the suffering within the palace and do not wish for others to endure the same, hence my reluctance to marry. Today I came to the Qi family merely to tell you about the hardships of that Forbidden City, allowing you to hear them and decide for yourself."

Qi Zhaoyun lowered her head, silent.

Prince Fu tightened the reins, the black steed snorting and releasing a puff of white mist: "If you are willing to marry me, I promise you this: within the Forbidden City, you won't need to compete or fight with anyone. If you want to embroider butterflies, you can take your time. Once you're done, I'll find you new patterns. If you feel confined, I'll build you a ladder at the base of the palace wall. You can't leave, but you can climb up and see the sky outside, it's bigger than the one inside. This is all I can promise."

Taking a deep breath, Prince Fu said, "If you're unwilling to enter the deep confines of the palace, just tell me, and I will go to Renshou Palace to ask His Majesty to cancel this marriage. Whether I succeed is another matter, and that will depend on my ability."

Qi Zhaoyun was taken aback: "Your Highness, how could I have a say in this matter?"

Prince Fu looked at her and sighed: "It seems that neither of us has control over our fates. Thus, I will assume you consent to marry. We have seen each other at palace banquets but have never spoken. I do not know what kind of person you are, nor do you know what kind of person I am. But it doesn't matter. Before entering that Forbidden City, I will first take you to the South to see the wheat fields and the fishing lights."

Before Qi Zhaoyun could speak further, Prince Fu turned his horse and rode away.

Quickly, Zhou Kuang and the others spurred their horses to follow. He whispered by Prince Fu's side: "Your Highness, how could you make such a big decision without consulting us?"

Prince Fu glanced at him sideways: "What should I discuss with you? I am not marrying any of you."

Zhou Kuang was left speechless.

Prince Fu chuckled: "To the palace."