A Precious Pearl in the Imperial City-Chapter 60

"Vice Minister He?" The officials of the Ministry of Revenue were gathered, discussing how to persuade His Majesty to restore the princely title of the Prince of Qi County. When Vice Minister He Tingyu entered, they motioned for him to join them.

"Why are you so late? In just two hours, we must attend the palace banquet. Have you thought of any good ideas?"

He Tingyu glanced at the speaker—another vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue—and shook his head without a word.

Seeing his silence, the higher-ranking officials paid no mind and continued deliberating how to seize the opportunity of tonight's banquet to plead for the Prince of Qi County.

"His Highness has been diligent and studious since childhood, benevolent and filial. Whether facing a ninety-year-old elder or a three-year-old child, he treats all with courtesy. Why can’t His Majesty see these virtues, instead favoring a tyrant like Prince Chen?"

"Prince Chen is domineering and cruel, even bullying young children. If such a man remains in power, our Great Cheng is doomed."

Hearing this, He Tingyu couldn’t help but interject, "That’s not entirely fair. I don’t think Prince Chen is as terrible as you claim."

"Vice Minister He?" The officials stared at him in shock, as if he were a rotten radish. "Are you backing out now?"

He Tingyu: "..."

"I know pleading for the Prince of Qi County at the banquet may anger His Majesty. But as court officials, we should prioritize the people’s welfare over personal gain." The vice minister took a deep breath. "Back then, the three Ming brothers chose exile over compromise. Why can’t we speak up for the Prince of Qi County today?"

He Tingyu thought of the young girl who had comforted a woman on the street and spoke again, "Well, if you admire the Ming brothers so much, why forget that Ming Jingzhou’s daughter is the future Princess Consort of Chen?"

"A girl raised elsewhere could never inherit the Ming Family’s integrity." The vice minister sighed. "The three Ming brothers were virtuous and talented, raising sons of exceptional learning. What a pity their daughter turned out to be a shallow woman who bows to a wicked consort for wealth."

Glancing at his colleague’s protruding belly, He Tingyu thought irritably, You’re certainly not lacking in ‘depth.’

He stood and said, "The matter of the Prince of Qi County can be raised anytime. Why spoil tonight’s occasion? You’ve all served in court for years—seasoned men of the world. Why act so rashly today?"

"To pave the way for Prince Chen, His Majesty first suppressed the Prince of Qi County’s maternal family, then stripped him of his title. Days ago, even the prince’s birth mother was confined to the cold palace. How can such a noble man endure this humiliation?" The vice minister grew impassioned. "Should we stand by and watch a virtuous prince be ground down by injustice?"

"Vice Minister Yang." He Tingyu’s expression darkened. "You’ve lost your mind, uttering such treasonous words in the Ministry of Revenue."

"Why shouldn’t I?!" Vice Minister Yang stiffened his neck. "If you’re a coward, Vice Minister He, leave now."

"And you’re not a coward?" Provoked, He Tingyu’s temper flared. "If you’re so fearless, why didn’t you speak up during the princes’ power struggle?"

"You dare say these things only because His Majesty is lenient and tolerates you." He sneered. "Under the late emperor, who among you would’ve dared?"

"Vice Minister Yang, how shameless to invoke the Ming brothers." He Tingyu lowered his voice. "I admit I was cowardly back then, unworthy of comparison to them. I understand your concern for the prince, but forgive me for being cowardly once more—I won’t join tonight’s scheme. Farewell!"

As He Tingyu stormed off, the Minister of Revenue sighed and rubbed his temples. "Let’s discuss this later. Vice Minister He has a point—the New Year’s banquet is no place for discord."

The other officials, reluctant to escalate matters tonight, quickly agreed.

Only Vice Minister Yang, who had quarreled with He Tingyu, remained seething with resentment.

"Wow, the palace is decked with new red lanterns!" Jiuzhu walked along the palace path, admiring the vibrant decorations. "So beautiful."

"Palace maids and eunuchs can’t return home for the New Year. These lanterns bring some festivity." Prince Chen glanced at the swaying lanterns above. "Cold?"

"Not at all." Jiuzhu shook her head.

"I don’t believe you. The wind is strong—you must be cold." Prince Chen coughed and, with lightning speed, seized her hand. "My hands are warm. You can borrow them."

The attendants behind them lowered their heads further, not daring to look up.

Jiuzhu wriggled her fingers slightly. His palm was so large it enveloped hers entirely.

"Don’t move." Prince Chen’s ears flushed pink. Adjusting his grip, he gently interlaced his fingers with her delicate ones.

Their hands slowly entwined.

Prince Chen stared at the lanterns, his ears now fully red, as if brushed with rouge. "The palace will be crowded tonight—royal relatives, nobles, and high-ranking officials’ families will all attend. Stay close to me, so no fool dares upset you."

"Oh." Jiuzhu peeked at their joined hands, her index finger curling shyly before trembling back.

"Oh what? You’re my betrothed. Holding your hand is natural—no one can object." As he spoke, Prince Chen’s cheeks also tinted pink.

Jiuzhu felt her face warm. Her stiff fingers finally settled between his, resting against his knuckles.

His hand was truly warm.

So warm her face burned.

"Xiangjuan." Consort Su, already adorned in full regalia, watched the young pair lingering outside the courtyard—one blushing, the other red-eared, dawdling instead of entering. "What are they doing?"

"Your Highness," Xiangjuan whispered. "His Highness is shy. Look at their hands."

Consort Su smirked. "All bravado and bluster usually, yet now he turns scarlet just holding his betrothed’s hand. What a lack of nerve."

"Young love is poetry," Xiangjuan chuckled. "His Highness must care deeply for Miss Ming."

Before the one they adore, even the boldest souls falter, yearning to appear perfect.

When the two finally stepped inside, their previously clasped hands had already parted. Consort Su pretended not to notice her son deliberately lingering outside earlier and beckoned Jiuzhu to sit before the dressing table. "Jiuzhu, your dress today is truly beautiful. Let me have someone style your hair into a lovely feitian bun."

Noticing her son trying to inch closer, Consort Su pushed him away with a look of disdain. "When women are dressing up, men should simply wait quietly and not speak."

Prince Chen: "…"

With no other choice, he sat down in a chair, watching as the palace maid styled Jiuzhu’s thick, silky hair into a feitian bun, then carefully applied makeup and drew her eyebrows. Unable to hold back, he spoke up, "Mother—"

"Quiet." Consort Su cut him off mercilessly. "This is no place for a man’s opinions. Say another word, and you’ll be asked to leave."

Prince Chen obediently sealed his lips.

"Lady Jiuzhu, what kind of huadian would you like?"

Jiuzhu touched her forehead and instinctively turned to look at Prince Chen.

"Jiuzhu’s skirt today is embroidered with intertwining branches, so let’s paint a lotus huadian," Consort Su said, glancing at the subtle patterns on her son’s robes, barely suppressing a laugh. "Intertwined branches and twin lotus flowers—both carry excellent symbolism."

"Du Qing, you’ve always had a talent for painting since childhood," Consort Su said, stepping beside Jiuzhu. "You should help draw the huadian on Jiuzhu’s forehead."

No sooner had she spoken than Prince Chen was already standing behind her. "What should I use? Vermilion or red pigment?"

"Of course, the reddest rouge, with gold powder for the final outlining," Consort Su replied irritably, giving his back a firm pat that echoed through the room. "Vermilion? That’s poisonous—do you want to put it on her face?"

"Your Highness," Jiuzhu tugged lightly at Consort Su’s sleeve, shaking it gently. "His Highness just doesn’t understand these things. Please… don’t hit him."

Consort Su looked at her son, who had already reached for the fine brush, then lightly tapped Jiuzhu’s forehead with a finger. "Silly girl, remember this: men must never be spoiled."

Jiuzhu smiled with her eyes half-closed, but her grip on Consort Su’s sleeve didn’t loosen.

"I’ll sit and wait over there," Consort Su said with an amused shake of her head. "Let him do a proper job for you."

Only then did Jiuzhu release her sleeve, tilting her head back and closing her eyes to make it easier for His Highness to paint.

The brush’s tip brushed lightly against her forehead, tickling slightly. Jiuzhu opened her eyes and blinked at Prince Chen, whose face was now mere inches from hers.

Prince Chen painted with utmost care, as if he were not merely adorning a woman’s forehead with a huadian, but creating the most exquisite artwork in the world.

"Twin hearts as one"—such was the most beautiful wish people held for love’s outcome.

Pausing his brush, he met the young maiden’s gaze, his eyes warm as spring sunlight, bright as the moon.

In that moment, he longed to lean down, kiss her forehead, and pull her into his embrace.

But he knew he couldn’t—not now, and certainly not here.

Instead, he simply gazed at her for a heartbeat longer, then dipped the brush into gold powder, lightly dusting the huadian with a shimmering glow, making the delicate flower even more radiant.

"Beautiful?" He set the brush aside and held up a bronze mirror for Jiuzhu to see her reflection clearly.

"Beautiful." Jiuzhu nodded, her smile widening as she admired the huadian in the mirror. "Your Highness painted it so exquisitely."

"In the future, when we…" Prince Chen chuckled softly. "I’ll paint for you again."

Birds, flowers, insects, fish—every manner of beauty could one day grace her forehead under his skilled hand.

"Your Highness is so talented at painting—you must love it as much as I do," Jiuzhu said, setting the mirror down, delighted to have discovered yet another shared interest. "Why didn’t you say so earlier? We could have painted together long ago."

Prince Chen: "…"

I didn’t want to shatter your confidence.

"Your Highness?" Jiuzhu puffed out her cheeks. "You don’t want to?"

"Who said I don’t?" Prince Chen reached out and poked her rounded cheek. "When spring arrives and flowers bloom, I’ll take you to paint a hundred-flower scroll together."

If she wanted to paint with him, why bother pouting?

It ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‍wasn’t as if he’d refused.

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