Chapter 20: Request for an Audience

Xiao Jingkang stood before an opulent and majestic residence for a long time. When he looked up, he saw the three grand characters “Jing Wang Fu” (Prince Jing’s Mansion) written in a style like soaring clouds and startled dragons. The glazed eaves loomed faintly visible. Prince Jing, Yun Aoxuan, was the Emperor’s younger brother and the youngest son of the Empress Dowager Han, who had wielded power in the harem for decades. As a royal prince, his status was second only to the Emperor. Xiao Jingkang had never interacted with Prince Jing before, but today, for the sake of his daughter, he had to shamelessly seek help.

According to his information, the divine physician Lin You had been spotted in the capital a few days prior, with his last known whereabouts being none other than Jing Wang Fu.

After sending in his name card, the reply came that the prince was out visiting friends. Left with no choice, Xiao Jingkang waited outside the gates.

Roughly half an hour later, an ornate carriage arrived at Jing Wang Fu. When it came to a halt, two figures—a man and a boy—stepped down. The adult man wore purple princely attire, his tall and elegant figure around twenty-eight or twenty-nine years of age. His expression was calm, exuding a noble and scholarly air. The boy, about five or six years old, donned luxurious robes, with finely chiseled features, slightly pursed red lips, and aloof eyes. Despite his tender age, he radiated an unmistakable royal demeanor.

“Your servant Xiao Jingkang greets Prince Jing and the young heir.”

“Minister Xiao, please rise. May I know the reason for this visit?” Prince Jing was visibly surprised. They had never had any prior interaction, and this unexpected meeting naturally piqued his curiosity.

Xiao Jingkang glanced at their surroundings, hesitating. Some matters were unsuitable for discussion in public, but he couldn’t outright ask to enter the prince’s residence.

“Would Your Highness do me the honor of sharing a cup of tea?”

“If Minister Xiao doesn’t mind, how about coming to my residence?” Prince Jing had a good impression of the Xiao family. Their inner household was peaceful, the couples harmonious, and all three married pairs appeared genuinely affectionate—a stark contrast to the chaos in his own residence.

“Then I will take the liberty of accepting.”

“Please, this way.”

“Your Highness, after you. Young heir, please.”

At the intersection between the main hall and the Jinhua Courtyard, Prince Jing’s heir, Yun Yichen, stopped and addressed his father.

“Father, I’m going to visit Mother and my younger sister.”

“Go ahead. Let your sister know I’ll visit her shortly.”

“Yes, Father.” Yun Yichen bowed and left, nodding slightly to Xiao Jingkang in passing as a gesture of greeting.

Xiao Jingkang hastily returned the bow. This young boy was Prince Jing’s only legitimate son and the Empress Dowager’s most beloved grandson. He was someone not to be offended under any circumstances.

The room filled with the gentle fragrance of premium pre-rain Longjing tea. Once Prince Jing took his seat, Xiao Jingkang stood up, bowed, and stated his purpose.

“Your servant has heard that the divine physician Lin You was seen at Your Highness’s residence. Might I ask if Your Highness knows where he currently is?”

“You are searching for Lin You?” Prince Jing hadn’t expected that this was the reason for Xiao Jingkang’s visit.

“Indeed. To be frank, my daughter was accidentally injured, and her internal organs have been affected. It seems only Lin You can offer hope for a full recovery.”

“How old is your daughter?”

“She is a year and a half old.”

Prince Jing couldn’t help but think of his own daughter, who was of the same age and similarly frail. As two fathers sharing a similar plight, an unspoken camaraderie formed between them.

“Lin You has left the capital and gone traveling. Unfortunately, I don’t know his destination.”

“I see…” Xiao Jingkang couldn’t hide his disappointment and felt despondent.

Prince Jing understood his feelings but found himself powerless to help.

“If Minister Xiao wishes, I can summon Grand Physician Sun from the Imperial Medical Bureau to conduct a thorough examination of your daughter.”

While Xiao Jingkang could approach court physicians, he lacked the standing to invite the bureau head. Sun was renowned for treating internal injuries, and if his assistance could be secured, it might greatly improve his daughter’s condition. Still, given the lack of rapport between himself and Prince Jing, Xiao Jingkang hesitated to impose.

“Minister Xiao need not overthink. I also have a daughter about the same age. This is just a father’s empathy. All I ask is that you treat me to a drink someday.”

“In that case, I am deeply grateful to Your Highness. I’ll be sure to fulfill that promise.”

“Good. It’s a deal.” Prince Jing handed him a token and summoned his guard to accompany Xiao Jingkang to invite Grand Physician Sun.

Xiao Jingkang expressed his gratitude once more and departed with the guard. Prince Jing sat in the hall for a moment before heading toward Jinhua Courtyard.

As he stepped into the rear courtyard, he encountered Consort Han. It was hard for him to say whether he felt more irritation or fatigue towards his cousin-turned-consort. Though aware of her many schemes against his wife and children, he was often forced to let matters slide due to his mother’s influence. The thought of his daughter reignited his suppressed anger.

When his wife was pregnant and believed to be carrying a male heir, Consort Han had poisoned both mother and daughter. His daughter’s frailty, developmental delays, and incessant crying were all due to the poison. Lin You had explained that the poisoner had used an exceptionally rare chronic toxin, much of which had been absorbed by the child, sparing her from idiocy but leaving her weak and prone to fainting and headaches.

The sight of his daughter suffering while the perpetrator lived comfortably in his residence was unbearable.

“Mother, in your eyes, is your niece more important than your granddaughter? Or is it that you never considered her your granddaughter at all?”

“My lord, where are you headed? Ah-Qing and Ah-Xing have missed you. They’d like to invite you to Jinxi Courtyard for a visit,” Consort Han said sweetly, her meticulously maintained face feigning humility.

“Another time. Ruonan isn’t feeling well, and I must go check on her. You should head back.”

“My lord, Ruonan is your daughter, but so are Ah-Qing and Ah-Xing. How can you favor one over the others?”

“Is that so? I thought having a mother like you, capable of planning everything, would suffice for them. I can’t even protect my legitimate daughter, so I’d better not risk bringing harm to them.” His words carried a sharp undertone of irony.

“My lord, I’ve told you it wasn’t me. Why don’t you believe me? That maid, Hua, must have been acting under someone’s orders. Now that she’s dead, it’s all pinned on me.”

“Yes, conveniently dead without leaving any evidence,” Prince Jing murmured.

This crude and flawed scheme had been hastily concluded by presenting a scapegoat. The Empress Dowager and the Han family had drawn a line under the matter, demonstrating just how formidable their influence had become.

For the sake of the Yun dynasty and to maintain stability, Prince Jing had to tolerate the enemy remaining by his side. Even a prince could find himself in such a wretched position.

“I won’t go today,” he said bluntly, no longer bothering with excuses. They had made him miserable—why should he make life easy for them?

“My lord, are you truly so heartless?”

“It’s my lack of ruthlessness that’s the problem,” he retorted, fixing Consort Han with a piercing gaze.

“After all, I bore you two daughters! How can you…” She trailed off, flustered yet defiant. As long as the Empress Dowager supported her, she felt untouchable. Raising her head again, she resumed her proud demeanor.

This woman was beyond redemption. Without another glance, Prince Jing strode past her.

“My lord!” Consort Han called out indignantly.

“I only wish I were just your cousin,” he replied. Familial ties would have been infinitely easier to handle than their current entanglements.

Mother, is this the scenario you wished to see? If so, your wish has come true.