Jing Wen had no idea how to answer the Emperor’s comment, and thus kept silent.

Suddenly, the Emperor looked at Jing Wen and said, “It’s said that each flower matches a different eye (各花入各眼), but why can one not have a bouquet?”

“I cannot be extravagant like Your Majesty,” Jing Wen answered.

The Emperor came by a bench. Touching the cold stone rail with his fine hands and looking at the garden in the night scene, he softly lamented, “Zhen had once held similar thoughts due to influence from your mother. These thoughts are not something that one can break free of so easily - it took zhen ten years before finally taking in a consort. Only time can erode such redundant ideology away.”

Jing Wen had been in his early childhood when the Emperor took in his second women, Consort Ru. Hence, it was the first time Jing Wen had heard His Majesty speaks of this matter with such sentimentality. Jing Wen felt a bit bitter in his mouth; it was likely due to the Emperor taking up the role of mentor of guardian after the death of his father. This was a treatment none of the princes even managed to enjoy.

As if aware of Jing Wen’s thoughts, the Emperor turned his head and looked at Jing Wen with a faint laugh. “Zhen had once held you when you were no bigger than a basin. All of the other princes were raised solely by the Empress. This was partially due to the high morality of zhen’s children, but also due to zhen’s imperial identity that forbade closeness to the princes, constantly honing them so that they can one day ascend to the throne as a wise ruler. When analysed serious, it shows one thing.”

Jing Wen knew that he could not be silent this time. He quickly asked, “Your Majesty, what thing?”

The Emperor raised his head and said, “The biggest difference between men and women is that women are pregnant for ten months and exerted quite a bit of effort to give birth. By then, she has cultivated ten months of motherly love once the child is born. However, a men’s affection need to see, hold and experience the child to deepen; this is particularly so in a monarch’s case.

“Since I have held you and not my own children, it shows that my sons are mere flesh that has my blood running within them, while you are my nephew.”

“A person is not a knife, if they are honed too much, they will break.” Jing Wen silently thought in his heart. However, he dared not voice that thought, saying instead, “Your Majesty, I dare not accept such a privilege that elevates me above the princes.”

If not for the Emperor’s earlier comment that implicated his postponement of finding Jing Wen a partner, Jing Wen would have excepted the Emperor to be further pushing his marriage. No matter how close Jing Wen’s relationship with the Emperor is, the two are ultimately sovereign and subject. His Majesty had talked with him heart to heart on the matters of family, even neglecting his work and Consort Li to do so.

Jing Wen lifted his head resolutely and said, “However, Your Majesty, I am eternally grateful for your benevolence.”

The Emperor was full of content. Placing his hands behind his back, he watched Jing Wen before him to nod slightly. He secretly thought that a tiger indeed would not have canine sons (虎父無犬子 - Basically an apple does not fall far from the tree) - at least the lad knows how to take a favour.

Sensing the quietness of the Imperial Palace, Jing Wen remembered something he had thought of before entering the palace. He respectfully said, “Your Majesty, there is little more than a week before Hua Quanfu arrives in Lin’an with the elixir of immortality. Should any preparations be made?”

The Emperor showed no surprise that Jing Wen made such a comment. Shaking his head, he said, “I had learned of this ‘elixir of immortality’ long before that little Daoist had. The Great Shaman can’t produce such a wondrous, even if he expends his own life. Such a thing cannot exist.”

“But the effect it has on the heart of the people is still the same.”

Jing Wen seemed to state this matter casually. But in fact, Jing Wen had been extremely serious in this statement; the Emperor was far from a fool, so why has he been so idyll during such a crisis?

The Emperor looked at him and calmly proclaimed, “Zhen believes that zhen’s subjects are at least rational people. Even if the rumour is real, out of the countless that would contend for the elixir, only one will gain its’ benefits. I doubt they would throw their lives away so easily.”

Jing Wen frowned, but could not refute the words of the Emperor. In the end, this is a difference in belief, especially when considering the importance of trust between the sovereign and subject. After all, no one wants an emperor plagued by paranoia.

After a pause, the Emperor said with a solemn expression, “The future of the Great Zhu depends on young people like you. Of those few that are tempted by the elixir of immortality, most would be those of the traditional cliques that the change from the old dynasty to the Great Zhu did not manage to remove. If they kill themselves over a worthless rumour, then so be it.”

Jing Wen had heard the true thoughts of the Emperor towards this matter. Feeling somewhat stern, he replied, “Your Majesty is wise.”

The Emperor looked at Lin’an and the sparse buildings whose windows were still flickering with light like fireflies. He said indifferently, “Zhen has spent seventeen years protecting the integrity of the Great Zhu and deepening its foundations. How can zhen be bothered by a mere rumour?”

Jing Wen did not fully understand the logic in the Emperor’s words.

“A person must have some trust in themself - of course, they mustn’t be arrogant. But on the matters of governing a nation, one cannot be indecisive. I am confident in my capabilities, and that the Great Zhu cannot be shaken by a so-called elixir of immortality.”

The Emperor turned to look at Jing Wen and said, “Even if one manages to reach the mythical ‘shen’ state or drink an authentic elixir of immortality, they cannot live forever. Of course, it’s not as though zhen does not have a desire to live longer, but still, the best one can do is hope that future historians will leave a good note next to their name.”

Jing Wen bowed and said sincerely, “Your Majesty is eternally wise.”

The Emperor smiled and said, “This is eternal flattery.”

Jing Wen coughed, feeling slightly embarrassed by the Emperor’s joke.

---

After strolling around the garden in a circle, the Emperor had finished departing his thoughts and wisdom once they returned to Changchun Manor. When Jing Wen departed, Zhou Aimin had also just left Consort Li’s chambers. Having finished his discussion with Consort Li, his face bear a gratified look.

There were two long shadows on the stone shore by the palace mountains. Jing Wen, walking behind, noticed that Zhou Aimin’s back was slightly trembling, as if to suppress laughter. He asked, “Fellow Zhou, what did you speak about with Consort Li?”

The two walked to the outskirts of the Inner Court and stood atop a set of stone staircase.

Zhou Aimin stopped his steps and looked back, seeing Jing Wen and the shadows on the ground. His face was lit by the palace lanterns as he chuckled and said, “Consort Li had made quite a lot of jokes. I’m just remembering them.”

“What sort of joke could Consort Li make?”

“I cannot say.” Zhou Aimin glanced at Jing Wen with a smile and said, “Someone like you can’t understand it too well.”

Jing Wen pondered for a long moment, thinking, “What does Zhou Aimin have in common with Consort Li?”

However, Jing Wen’s mind was still largely occupied by his previous conversation with the Emperor, and could not commit to understanding jokes told by a woman such as Consort Li. In the end, he shook his head and said nothing.

Zhou Aimin walked down the stone staircase and approached Jing Wen. He smiled and said, “Of course, I cannot be joyful simply because of a few jokes. After talking for some time, I managed to persuade Consort Li to remain out of the struggle for the elixir of immortality.”

Jing Wen realised that Consort Li and the Emperor’s attitude towards the elixir of immortality were rather similar. Of course, he firmly believed that the reason behind their logic was vastly different. Regardless, hearing that Consort Li will remain uninvolved with the elixir of immortality was certainly pleasant to the ear. Jing Wen said with a faint smile, “There are only so many peak experts present in Lin’an. Now that Consort Li is excluded, our intentions should be more achievable.”

Zhou Aimin smiled in return. Snacking on some snacks he had collected earlier in the manor, he passed one to Jing Wen before saying, “When Hua Quanfu arrives, I will be relying on you Fellow Jing. Naturally, I cannot be of much use then, so I have to exert effort now.”

“I will still rely on you then,” Jing Wen calmly stated.”

“Eh - I will try not to embarrass myself then,” Zhou Aimin thoughtfully said with his eyes shining akin bronzes mirrors next to a lantern.

---

“Father emperor, I have embarrassed myself.”

“Sit down first.”

The Emperor waved his hands casually, indicating to the Thirteenth Prince to a mahogany chair. Placing down the documents in his hand, he patiently waited for the Thirteenth Prince to speak up.

Zhang Weiyuan bit his lips and honestly said, “I was incapable of stopping the fight between Tang Hong and Xiahou Jie. In the end, father emperor had to step in.”

The Emperor frowned and said calmly, “I did not issue the edict. It was a fabrication by General Zhou’s child.”

Hearing this, Zhang Weiyuan’s face immediately turned pale. “Father emperor, this fault is due to my own weakness; please don’t punish Venerable Zhou.”

The Emperor said casually, “Why would zhen punish him? Forging an imperial edict is a crime, but there is no law on holding a blank piece of paper. Zhou Aimin cleaned up your mess anyway, why would I treat benevolence with malice?”

The Thirteenth Prince felt a little surprised listening to these words. After a long moment, he became more serious and said, “Father emperor, Lin’an will not be stable in the coming weeks. Should the royal family leave?”

The Emperor looked at the Thirteenth Prince coldly and said, “If you wish to leave Lin’an, then leave. Zhen does not raise any useless sons.”