Li Jiubao was not one to sit idly by and await her fate. When Prince Yu heard the good news that his beloved concubine was pregnant with their third child, he abandoned the beauties in his bedchamber and hurried over to see her.
Relying on the imperial heir in her womb, Li Jiubao boldly advised: "...This humble concubine comes from lowly origins and never received proper education. To this day, I only recognize a few characters. Now carrying our third child, I feel my energy waning more than before. Moreover, Third Lad is our eldest son - we cannot let him be raised solely by women. It is time for him to move to the outer residence and begin formal studies, surrounding himself with learned and virtuous scholars so he may achieve great things in the future."
In the inner residence, Princess Yu could summon the little imperial grandson for amusement at any time. But in the outer residence, with the little imperial grandson formally commencing his studies, he would be surrounded by at least a dozen lecturers taking turns to teach him, making it impossible for anyone to call him away.
Li Jiubao did not want to use her eldest son as a pawn in power struggles. She wished him to stay away from the scheming in the inner residence and focus on his studies. Only through learning could he understand principles. Let the contention between her and Princess Yu remain confined to the inner residence without involving the children.
Prince Yu hesitated upon hearing this. "Third Lad is only four years old. Isn't this too early?"
Li Jiubao threw herself into Prince Yu's embrace, her eyes reddening. "He's four years old already! He started his early education long ago, recognizes thousands of characters, and can read sage texts, yet he still hasn't been given a formal name or registered in the imperial genealogy. Born different from others amidst constant dangers, he must exert far greater effort than ordinary people. Your Highness need not worry - I will inquire about his daily life and care for his health. While I can only give him life, his education and knowledge must come from the palace's great scholars. I only hope he can achieve success early."
Prince Yu, who had been neglected by his father since childhood and only began formal studies at twelve, instantly recalled his own cold treatment in the Forbidden City when Li Jiubao mentioned this. Since he could provide his son with the best education now, why not? His son was no ordinary child - gifted, diligent, and studious, a prodigy whose current knowledge already matched that of ten-year-olds. Let him start his studies early.
Prince Yu comforted Li Jiubao. "Then let it be as you say. What I lacked before, my son shall have. I will give him all the best. Let Tutor Zhang oversee his studies. As head of the Imperial Academy with countless students under him, when Third Lad grows up, these scholars will all become talents serving him."
Unlike his father who insisted that "two dragons cannot meet," if possible, Prince Yu would have immediately petitioned to make Third Lad his heir apparent, securing the succession to inherit all his possessions.
But he couldn't. Any enfeoffment required bestowing a formal name first, and with the Jiajing Emperor delaying the naming, Third Lad couldn't become the heir.
Driven by compensatory feelings, Prince Yu resolved to give his son everything within his power.
Thus, the little imperial grandson was moved out of the inner residence. Though a prodigy, he was after all only four years old with natural dependence on his mother. He didn't want to move out or leave his mother. Though strict with him, she had her tender moments.
Tears welled in his eyes, his little mouth quivering repeatedly, yet he restrained himself from crying aloud. Since infancy, his mother and tutors had taught him to be strong, not to cry, and to be obedient.The little imperial grandson held back his tears, but Li Jiubao couldn't restrain herself. She pulled her son's small body into her embrace, "Though you'll be living in the outer courtyard now, you must come every morning to pay respects to His Highness and Her Highness. After that, come see your younger sister... and me. Teach your sister to speak, play with her for a while, then return to your studies. It's just like usual, only your residence is slightly farther away."
"I've already spoken with Master Zhang. You'll have one day off every ten days of study. I'll always keep your room ready. On your rest days, you can come back and stay overnight."
The little imperial grandson nodded understandingly, yet emotionally he still struggled. When leaving, he tightly clutched Li Jiubao's skirt.
Li Jiubao felt as if her heart were being sliced by knives. She didn't forcibly pull her son's small hand away, allowing him to keep holding on while she embraced him, patting his back just as she had when soothing him to sleep during infancy. After quite some time, the little imperial grandson finally released her skirt on his own.
Making a four-year-old child accept the reality of leaving his mother was truly cruel, but if he remained in the inner quarters, he would become a pawn in the power struggle between Li Jiubao and Princess Yu.
With no good choices available, one could only select the least unfavorable option.
Li Jiubao held her son's hand and personally escorted him out of the rear courtyard. Court Lecturer Zhang Juzheng had been waiting by the moon gate for some time. He was of medium height with dignified features and a handsome beard.
Li Jiubao entrusted her son to him, "I leave him in your care from now on."
Zhang Juzheng took the little imperial grandson's hand, "This subject will certainly fulfill the mission without dishonor."
Because Li Jiubao's third pregnancy had come too soon, Wei Caiwei worried about her physical condition and came to check her pulse every ten days. During this visit, upon learning that the little imperial grandson had already moved to the outer courtyard, she felt unsettled for a long time.
Returning home to Sweetwater Lane, Wei Caiwei told Wang Daxia about what she had witnessed at Prince Yu's residence that day. "...I once heard a story about two women fighting over a child in court, each claiming to be the birth mother. The magistrate ruled to divide the child in half, giving each woman a portion. One woman gave up, saying she didn't want the child anymore. The magistrate then awarded the child to her, explaining that only a true mother would choose to abandon her child for the sake of the child's life."
"I always thought this was a fabricated story, never expecting to witness it happening right before my eyes."
Wei Caiwei felt deeply melancholy, "The more one experiences the mundane world, the more one realizes how many helpless situations exist in this world. Cases where one can act according to one's wishes in matters of gratitude and revenge are extremely rare."
Wang Daxia remained stuck on the part about the four-year-old imperial grandson moving out to study, repeatedly clicking his tongue in amazement, "When I was five, I was still playing with mud. Of the three characters in my name 'Wang Daxia', I could only write the middle character 'Da'. I started schooling at seven, and every tutor would get so angry they'd quit within a month. I hope our future children don't take after me in this regard!"
After pausing briefly, Wang Daxia corrected himself, "They can inherit your academic abilities. Everything else can come from me. Our future children will definitely be smart, adorable, and beautiful - fair-skinned with attractive features and long legs. They'll be capable of writing prescriptions with literary skill and fighting with martial prowess, able to draw bows on horseback and wield broadswords on foot. If it's a boy, he'll be the dream of all young maidens in the capital. If it's a girl, she'll be the dream of all young men in the capital - pfft pfft pfft! Anyone who dares to dream about my daughter, I'll kill him!"
Wang Daxia, not even married with children yet, had already automatically assumed the emotional role of a father-in-law, ready to kill any young rascal who dared to entertain thoughts about his daughter.After successfully avenging his father, the gloom in Wang Daxia's eyes gradually faded. The familiar light slowly returned, occasionally fluctuating, but at least it had come back.
"Get a grip. The three-year mourning period isn't over yet, and you're already thinking so far ahead." Wei Caiwei tied a scented sachet filled with blended herbs around Wang Daxia's waist to ward off mosquitoes.
Though her words sounded dismissive, Wei Caiwei was actually quite happy to hear Wang Daxia's casual chatter. One couldn't always carry the burdens of past pains while moving forward—looking to the future was a good way to gradually shed those heavy burdens.
Besides, she and Wang Daxia weren't walking alone; they would spend the rest of their lives together.
Her soft fingers brushed against his waist, accidentally tickling a sensitive spot, and Wang Daxia's mind began to wander. "Only seven months and twelve days left," he murmured, counting down the days eagerly.
Once the mourning period ended, they could finally arrange their long-delayed wedding—three years overdue—and do what Wang Xiaoxia loved most.
Wang Daxia was truly filial. Known widely as a frivolous playboy, he had strictly observed celibacy throughout the three-year mourning period for his father, never crossing the line. Wei Caiwei secretly admired this, thinking that their future child's perseverance should ideally come from the father.
"All done." Wei Caiwei adjusted Wang Daxia's collar. "Hurry to the Imperial Guard Office for duty. Don't be late, or Lu Ying will dock your pay."
Mention of money snapped Wang Daxia out of his dawdling. He pulled Wei Caiwei into an embrace, burying his nose in the curve of her neck and taking a deep breath. "My fiancée smells so good!"
In seven months and seventeen days, he could "taste" that deliciousness again.
Time passed with Wang Daxia eagerly counting down the mourning period, Li Jiubao's gradually swelling belly in Prince Yu's residence, and the young imperial grandson diligently practicing calligraphy one copybook after another.
Winter arrived in the capital amid sweeping sandstorms. Pedestrians wore eye veils and masks against the gritty winds. Inside the Forbidden City, Shang Qinglan, confined to Yu De Palace, grew restless. Tossing and turning in bed, she couldn't sleep. Beside her, the Jiajing Emperor, elderly and needing even less sleep, asked, "What troubles my beloved consort? Are you unwell?"
Shang Qinglan replied, "No, I'm just bored."
The Jiajing Emperor sat up. "What would you find amusing? I'll accompany you."
The emperor, long afflicted by illness and frail, could only engage in light pastimes. Shang Qinglan, merely eighteen and in the bloom of youth, was indulged by the emperor, who wished to compensate his favored consort.
An idea struck Shang Qinglan. "With the sandstorm outside, let's set off fireworks inside the palace."
The emperor and his consort rose and lit box after box of fireworks. Seeing his consort's delighted smile, the Jiajing Emperor felt it was worth it.
A lit butterfly firework flew onto the bed, its sparks igniting the bed curtains...
Wei Caiwei was awakened in the middle of the night by commotion. Pushing open the window, she was nearly knocked back by the biting north wind carrying sand. In the direction of the Forbidden City, flames roared skyward; the air, thick with the dusty scent of sand, also carried the smell of smoke.
The familiar scene, the familiar scent. Wei Caiwei closed the window and glanced at the almanac on her desk. The events of her past life were repeating at the same moment. The emperor and Shang Qinglan had been playing with fireworks in Yu De Palace and set it ablaze.
In such dry, windy weather, the flames would spread uncontrollably. Even if the Dragon King himself summoned wind and rain over the Forbidden City, it would be impossible to extinguish the fire.In the dead of night, Yu De Palace was reduced to a pile of scorched earth, with black ash drifting across the entire capital. Shang Qinglan had pulled off something major this time, setting the entire Yu De Palace ablaze like fireworks.
Some court officials submitted memorials comparing Shang Qinglan to Su Daji, the femme fatale who brought ruin to the nation and suffering to the people, demanding severe punishment for Consort Shang.
The Jiajing Emperor ordered the officials who submitted the memorials to be caned and dismissed from their posts. "If Shang Qinglan were Su Daji, would that not make me a foolish ruler?"
Thus, not only did the Jiajing Emperor refrain from punishing Shang Qinglan, but he also promoted her rank, elevating her from Consort to Consort Shangshou. As the emperor had been frequently ill and in poor health lately, his greatest wish was for longevity. Therefore, he bestowed upon Shang Qinglan a title filled with hope and blessings—Shou (Longevity).
Shang Qinglan became Consort Shangshou, enjoying even greater favor and honor than before.
Author's note: When the elderly fall in love, it truly sets their old house ablaze—this is the emperor's final romance.
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