The Overachieving Little Husband of the Top Scholar’s Household - Chapter 36: The Crown Prince

Passing through the Meridian Gate and then the Gate of Supreme Harmony, the long central avenue stretched forward. Flanked by the imposing literary and military halls on either side, the grand hall before them was the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where the Son of Heaven received his ministers. Beyond it, passing through the connecting Hall of the Imperial Canopy that bridged the front and rear, lay the Hall of Prudent Governance, where the Emperor handled daily state affairs.

These two interconnected halls stood at the very center of the palace city, elevated on a nine-foot-high platform. Their double-eaved roofs, crimson lacquer, and golden tiles all proclaimed the majesty and authority of the Emperor.

To the east of the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the Hall of Prudent Governance, several hundred meters away, stood another grand hall, slightly lower in status yet equally adorned with crimson lacquer and gilded ornaments, its eaves soaring high. This was the residence of the second most esteemed person in the empire of Dayu—the Eastern Palace of the Crown Prince, Chunhe Hall.

Yet, despite its noble status and symbolic significance, Chunhe Hall now appeared desolate and eerily quiet.

Outside the hall, solemn imperial guards stood watch every seven steps, rotating in three shifts, maintaining vigilance day and night. They kept external disturbances at bay, yet at the same time, ensured that the Crown Prince, who had been placed under house arrest by his father, could not extend his reach beyond the heavily guarded palace walls.

In the side hall of Chunhe Hall, all furnishings had long been removed, leaving behind only a single offering table and a meditation cushion.

A young man dressed in plain garments knelt on the cushion, his complexion pale, his expression detached. His eyes were half-closed as his slender fingers passed over a long string of jade bodhi prayer beads—eighty-one in total—repeating the motion over and over again.

The face that was once gentle and ever-smiling was now eerily still, radiating an aura of quiet severity.

On the offering table, wisps of incense smoke curled upward. Fresh flowers and fruits remained vibrant, and the memorial tablet of the late Empress Dowager stood solemnly, silent and dignified.

A single ray of dazzling sunlight pierced through the narrow slit of the hall’s slightly ajar door, striking his thin back like a sharp blade, carving a stark contrast between light and shadow.

At some unknown moment, the candle flame on the offering table flickered slightly. Its wavering light danced upon the young man’s closed eyelids, yet he remained unmoving. Only when the flame steadied again did he open his eyes. Two sheets of yellow imperial decree paper lay quietly at the foot of the offering table.

Without changing expression, the young man picked up the papers, clutching his chest as a violent cough wracked his body for more than a dozen breaths. Once he had read through the contents in full, he brought them to the candle flame and burned them. The light in the room flickered slightly brighter, and moments later, not a single trace remained.

From the adjoining side chamber of Chunhe Hall came a hoarse, cold voice.

“Shiliu, come in.”

The narrow crack of the side hall’s door was gently pushed open a little further. A shadow, swift and silent as a ghost, stepped into the hall without a sound and knelt on one knee behind the young man.

“What news from outside?”

The youthful figure spoke in an even, emotionless tone.

“Consort Kang has been promoted to Noble Consort and moved into Kunning Palace, gaining authority over the Six Palaces. Her recently recovered younger brother has been ennobled as a marquis and granted the name Kang Zhong. The Third Prince has been conferred the title of Prince of Jin.”

“This was decreed under the name of the Son of Heaven?”

The figure answered with unwavering precision.

“The decree was issued from the Hall of Prudent Governance two quarters of an hour ago.”

The young man lifted his gaze toward the memorial tablet behind the rising incense smoke, remaining silent for a long time. Only when his illness once again overwhelmed him did he start coughing violently, as though his lungs were being torn apart.

“Your Highness…” The figure, whose voice was usually ever-calm, showed a rare hint of wavering and leaned in slightly.

The dim candlelight illuminated the red mark at the center of his brow. The most trusted attendant of the Crown Prince in Chunhe Hall was, surprisingly, a ge’er—a young man of delicate features in his early twenties.

Emperor Yuanhua did not favor ge’ers in his service. In the current imperial court, it was rare to find ge’ers holding high-ranking servant positions. The Crown Prince’s attendant, Shiliu, was a little-known exception.

Jia Hongyuan clenched his fists. A moment later, he forcibly suppressed his discomfort and spoke lightly, “It’s nothing. My health has been frail since birth—this is no different from the past few months.”

He gave an order.

“Shiliu, leave the palace for me. Go to Liaozhou.”

Shiliu bowed his head in acknowledgment but did not move.

Jia Hongyuan raised an eyebrow at this. “You’re growing more and more stubborn. Do you need me to explain?”

“I would not dare.” Shiliu bit his lip, then rose to leave. Jia Hongyuan, however, called him back.

“I haven’t finished giving my instructions. Why are you in such a hurry?”

“….”

Jia Hongyuan chuckled. His features, elegant as a painting, softened under the candlelight, his unmatched handsomeness reflecting in Shiliu’s cold, unreadable eyes.

After a few light coughs, he continued, “Wu Shen has earned merit in the Jing Mountain Guard. Not only can I not protect him as his cousin, but I’ve also hindered his promotion. Go check on him for me—it will ease my mind.”

Shiliu nodded in silence. Whatever Jia Hongyuan said, he listened and obeyed, as an imperial shadow guard was meant to.

“There’s nothing of value left in the Eastern Palace. Large items would draw too much attention. Go to the pharmacy and take some rare medicinal herbs. As long as I remain Crown Prince, they wouldn’t dare to cut off my medicine supply.”

“…So many people say… I won’t outlive my father…”

Shiliu remained silent, simply listening. Ever since the Empress Dowager’s passing, only when alone with Shiliu did Jia Hongyuan occasionally speak a few words of his true thoughts.

And even then, it was only ever a few words.

“When you take the medicine, bring an extra portion. On your way back from Jing Mountain Guard, stop by Zhang County’s Du Family Village and see Du Yunse. Do you remember him?”

“The esteemed student of Master Wen, a former classmate of Your Highness.”

Jia Hongyuan nodded. “Du Yunse…”

Seeing Shiliu’s stiff expression, he suddenly chuckled.

“I never expected he’d be so devoted to his childhood husband. Back then, he rejected every marriage proposal—I thought he simply had no interest in such things.”

“His husband is also in poor health. Delivering medicine to them will be timely relief. Say nothing beyond that. Just leave the medicine and return.”

Shiliu acknowledged the command and prepared to leave. Before departing, he said in a steady voice, “Miss Caiwei instructed me to remind Your Highness to eat and take your medicine.”

Jia Hongyuan hummed in acknowledgment. “Do you not realize? They push you forward every time because they fear me.”

Shiliu said nothing. Jia Hongyuan waved his hand, signaling for Shiliu to withdraw.

Before his house arrest, rumors outside claimed that while His Highness the Crown Prince was physically frail, he was nonetheless a man as noble and virtuous as the bright moon in a clear sky, treating people and matters with utmost kindness. Unlike His Majesty, he was said to resemble the late Empress more.

Only the trusted subordinates who had served in Chunhe Hall for years knew that their master’s temperament was never as gentle and approachable as the rumors suggested…

It took less than half a day for the three imperial decrees issued by Emperor Yuanhua to spread throughout the capital.

In the highest-ranking prince’s residence, the Pingxian Prince’s Manor, within a hidden chamber in the rear garden, the Second Prince, Jia Hongyi, heavily set down the exquisite floating-flower jade-glass cup in his hand. The entire tea table, carved from a solid block of purple sandalwood, let out a dull thud.

Such fine treasures were rare even within the imperial palace, but those accustomed to the furnishings of the Pingxian Prince’s Manor were no longer surprised.

The late emperor had many offspring, fathering a total of seven sons. In his later years, his energy waned, and the Yu Dynasty faced both internal and external troubles, leading to a loss of centralized power. Many princes began harboring ambitions for the throne.

During the brutal struggle for succession, Emperor Yuanhua was neither the eldest nor the legitimate heir, nor was he the late emperor’s most favored son. He rose to power from the military, personally shooting down two of his brothers, forcing one to his death, imprisoning two, and ultimately ascending the throne by stepping over the blood and wails of his kin.

And in all of this, he could not have succeeded without the unwavering support of his elder brother, the First Prince, Jia Heye, who was disliked by the late emperor due to his maternal lineage.

After Emperor Yuanhua took the throne, he bestowed upon his brother the hereditary title of a first-rank prince, using the characters “Ping” and “Xian” as his title.

“To weigh matters with impartiality, free from bias, is to be ‘Ping’ (Balanced); to excel in virtue and talent, upholding integrity and righteousness, is to be ‘Xian’ (Worthy).” (Note 1)

By innovatively combining these two characters for a prince’s title, Emperor Yuanhua made clear the weight that Prince Pinxiang held in his heart.

Over the years, Prince Pinxiang had repeatedly committed minor offenses, frequently facing impeachment from the Grand Chancellor, yet he had never lost imperial favor. Even Consort Kang, the singularly favored concubine in the palace, had been presented to the emperor by him over a decade ago.

When he selected a commoner woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to the late Empress and sent her into the palace, many were so terrified by this audacity that they dared not speak, fearing that the mercurial Emperor Yuanhua would fly into a rage.

Yet Prince Pinxiang remained unscathed, and Consort Kang had dominated the harem for years, leading many to sigh at the unfathomable nature of the imperial heart.

Thinking of how his father had successively elevated Consort Kang and the Third Prince, even ennobling the consort’s newly rediscovered, low-born brother to a marquisate, while he himself had gained nothing, Jia Hongyi grew even more stifled with frustration.

Burning with anger, he found it impossible to sit still. After waiting for a quarter of an hour, he finally saw Prince Pinxiang arrive.

The esteemed prince, now in his fifties, stepped into the hidden chamber, waving his hand to dismiss the servants. With a composed smile, he said, “Hongyi, you rushed over in such a hurry—you must learn to be more patient.”

Jia Hongyi frowned deeply. “I came through the secret passage. No one knows. What exactly is the meaning of today’s imperial decree? Never mind that sickly Jia Hongyuan, but why should even Jia Honghan be placed above me?”

Prince Pinxiang took a sip of tea, still unhurried. “What makes Your Highness say that?”

Seeing Jia Hongyi choke on his own frustration, unable to speak, Prince Pinxiang finally set down his cup and said, “It’s merely a Jin Wang title conferred a little earlier—Your Highness should set your sights on grander things.”

Jia Hongyi sneered. “Grander things? And watch as Consort Kang bears a son who will inherit the throne in the future?”

“The late Empress, though long deceased, has already been enough to secure that sickly Jia Hongyuan’s claim to the position of Crown Prince. Even with the massive corruption case in Jiangnan, all he suffered was house arrest, and he still has not been deposed.”

“If an alive Consort Kang gives birth to a son, won’t we all be trampled underfoot?”

“For over a decade, Father refused to establish an empress, yet now he allows Consort Kang to move into the Empress’s quarters in Kunning Palace, grants her brother a marquisate following the protocols for an empress’s family, and lets her oversee the six palaces and accompany him in sacrificial ceremonies.

“One step further, and she will be named Empress outright!”

Though the premature ennoblement of the Third Prince as Jin Wang frustrated Jia Hongyi, it was Consort Kang’s ever-growing favor that truly alarmed him.

Prince Pinxiang shook his head. “Your Highness, have you forgotten who sent Consort Kang into the palace in the first place?”

Jia Hongyi remained uneasy. “You may have control over a few of her relatives, but in the face of the supreme throne, what do a few people matter?”

“My father back then also—”

Jia Hongyi cut himself off abruptly, then continued after a pause, “And Father did not restore Consort Kang’s brother to his original surname. Instead, he granted him the surname ‘Kang.’ This newly titled marquis may not necessarily heed our commands.”

Prince Pinxiang chuckled and shook his head. “Your Highness, you are too unsettled right now. Think carefully about your true advantage. Think about why I chose to support you. Then we can discuss these matters.”

His true advantage… He was the son most like his father—skilled in martial arts, proficient in commanding troops, and deeply supported by the military generals and nobility of the court. If not for the deceased late Empress standing behind the Crown Prince, whom their father had cherished for years, that position should have been his long ago.

Seeing that Jia Hongyi had calmed slightly, Prince Pinxiang nodded in satisfaction and said lightly, “I will handle the newly ennobled Taiping Hou. As for Consort Kang, she cannot bear children. You need not worry.”

Jia Hongyi’s eyes widened in shock.

Prince Pinxiang smiled. “Your Highness, from the very beginning, I never left any loose ends.”

Though summer had already begun, as Jia Hongyi sat in the hidden chamber by the small lake in the rear garden of the Pingxian Prince’s Manor, a sudden chill seeped deep into his bones.

…

The Zhufu carriage was nearly twice as spacious as those from the bureau, and the horses were faster and stronger. Though they stopped frequently along the way to allow Qiu Huanians body to recover, the return journey still took only four to five days before they arrived back in Zhang County.

With the time spent traveling back and forth, nearly a month had passed. This year, the rainfall was abundant, and the temperature was just right. The lush green crops along the roadside were growing splendidly—corn had already reached the height of a person’s lower leg, while wheat and rice had begun to sprout their stalks.

Having had ample rest, Qiu Huanian looked out the carriage window at the fields outside, his spirits high as he estimated the growth of his family’s cotton.

A month had passed, and the cotton’s seedling recovery period had long since ended. It was now the middle to late fifth month of the lunar calendar, and the cotton plants were about to enter their flowering stage, during which buds would appear on the plants. As the weather grew hotter, the cotton’s natural enemy, the cotton bollworm, would soon emerge. If not handled properly, the cotton yield could be reduced by half or even more. In an era without chemical pesticides, pest control had always been a major challenge in cotton farming.

Fortunately, during his time in the modern era, Qiu Huanian had visited many experienced cotton farmers in his hometown while filming videos. From them, he had learned reliable pest control methods that could be applied in ancient times.

The term “bioenzyme” might sound like a modern invention, but its ingredients and preparation process were entirely natural, making it perfectly replicable in an ancient setting. (Note 2)

Before heading to the prefectural city, Qiu Huanian had already mixed all the ingredients for the bioenzyme and sealed them in jars, instructing Jiujiu to stir them once a day. By now, they should be fully fermented.

Thinking of Jiujiu, Qiu Huanian was reminded of the embroidered flowers he had specially bought for her and the slingshot he had picked out for Chunsheng. Jiujiu loved pretty things, while Chunsheng was energetic and active—receiving these gifts, which were rarely seen in Zhang County, would surely make them overjoyed.

“What are you thinking about?”

A clear and pleasant voice rang out from behind him.

Qiu Huanian turned around to see Du Yunse sitting by the opposite window of the carriage, having unknowingly set down the book in his hands. Naturally, he reached out an arm and pulled Qiu Huanian into his embrace. Leaning against Du Yunse’s firm shoulder, Qiu Huanian’s lips slowly curled into a smile.

Their nearly month-long trip to the prefectural city had led them to finally express their feelings for each other, bringing real progress to their relationship. It was like having a honeymoon for just the two of them.

Now that they were returning to their daily lives, the days ahead would surely be even more fulfilling and blissful.

“It’s been nearly a month. I wonder if anything major has happened in the village.”

“You made proper arrangements before leaving. The village chief has been keeping watch, and with Du Yunjing’s family gone, nothing should have gone wrong.”

Qiu Huanian hummed in acknowledgment. Though that was true, he wouldn’t be completely at ease until he saw it with his own eyes.

As the carriage entered the outskirts of Du Family Village, Qiu Huanian began spotting many familiar faces working in the fields. The villagers, noticing the elegant and luxurious carriage approaching the village along the narrow dirt road, set down their tools and watched it pass by.

“Mother, look at that carriage! The curtains are made of silk—it even glows under the sun!”

“And that horse! How is it so tall and strong?”

“Who in Zhang County could afford such a carriage? And why are they coming to our village?”

“I heard from the village chief’s family that Yunse and Yunjing both passed the county examination as xiucai. Could it be them?”

“Even if they passed the exam, they wouldn’t have suddenly become this rich. They’re not even juren yet! I heard that juren get fifteen mu of fertile land and an exemption on taxes for fifty mu of land!”

“How many juren has our county ever produced? The Du family has never had one since our ancestors’ time—it’s not that easy!”

…

The carriage carried Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse all the way to their doorstep. The sound of the arrival drew out the neighbors, who gathered around to watch. It was the height of the farming season, so there weren’t many people in the village during the day. Qiu Huanian’s eyes immediately landed on Jiujiu and Chunsheng, whose little faces were flushed with excitement.

Children grew fast—though it had only been a month, Qiu Huanian felt that both had grown taller and more mature.

Jiujiu had a fair face with a delicate, pointed chin. Her large, round, flower-petal-like eyes hinted at a beauty in the making. Chunsheng, on the other hand, had become visibly sturdier. He bounced around like a little calf, full of energy. Thanks to the ample food budget Qiu Huanian had left behind, Hu Qiuyan had not let them go hungry.

“Brother! Brother Hua! You’re back!”

“Brother Hua, come home! My sister and I have so much to tell you!”

…

Jiujiu and Chunsheng circled around Qiu Huanian, initially restraining themselves. But when they saw their stern eldest brother staying silent instead of scolding them, they quickly let loose.

As Qiu Huanian greeted the neighbors with a smile, he also affectionately interacted with the two children, directing people to carry their many belongings inside.

This time, they had brought back a great deal. Aside from their own luggage and the items Qiu Huanian had purchased, there were also many parting gifts from friends in the prefectural city. These packages ended up filling more than half of the main room’s kang bed.

After growing accustomed to living in the prefectural city, Qiu Huanian now found their courtyard and house to be cramped and narrow. Fortunately, he had already prepared the money to build a new home. Before long, they would be living in a spacious new courtyard.

The sooner, the better. Even though they planned to move to the prefectural city next year, they would still need to stay in their old home for at least half a year, including a whole winter. Qiu Huanian saw no reason to delay building the new house just because of future plans.

Besides, in ancient times, ancestral land was deeply valued. No matter how high Du Yunse’s future achievements might be—whether he became a top scholar or an official in the capital—their family would always be recorded as people of Du Family Village in Zhang County, Xiangping Prefecture, Liaozhou. Some matters simply had to be conducted in their ancestral land. By building a proper family home now, they would have a place ready to return to in the future—saving them trouble in the long run.

Shortly after their return, the village chief arrived with his eldest son, Baoren, and Baoren’s wife, Meng Fuyue. The village chief, despite leaning on a cane, walked briskly, with Baoren and Meng Fuyue cautiously supporting him.

The results of the Xiangping Prefecture county examination had been delivered to Zhang County two or three days ago. Since a rare “Xiao Sanyuan” achiever had emerged, County Magistrate Wang Chuci had specially dispatched a yamen runner on horseback to deliver the good news to Du Family Village.

Seeing Du Yunse, the village chief let out a long breath of relief, leaned on his staff, and laughed heartily. “Good, good! Our Du Family Village has actually produced a xiucai who won the top three rankings in the county-level exam. Wonderful!”

Du Yunse and Qiu Huanian invited the village chief into the house to sit. The village chief hadn’t known they were coming back today, but as soon as he heard the news, he came over immediately. Only after sitting down did he remember other matters. “Quick, eldest daughter-in-law, go home and kill a chicken, buy a fish, and go to town to get two jin of meat. Yunse and the others just returned—tonight, they’ll have dinner at our house!”

Meng Fuyue responded cheerfully and went on her way. Their family was well-off enough not to begrudge an occasional good meal.

Besides, she had always been on good terms with Hua ge’er, and now, who didn’t know that Yunse had a bright future ahead? Her son, Yun Cheng, might even need to rely on this senior clan brother when he pursued the imperial examination path in the future.

The village chief asked Du Yunse about many aspects of the provincial capital’s examination process. Since he knew that their family had longstanding conflicts with Du Yunjing’s household, although he was somewhat curious as to why Du Yunjing’s family had not yet returned, he did not ask about it directly.

Du Yunse answered in detail, only covering topics he could discuss. When the village chief had finished his questions, Qiu Huanian seized the opportunity to speak. “village chief, we have another matter we’d like to ask you about.”

“Hua ge’er, go ahead.”

“I’ve saved up some money recently and want to build a house while the weather is still mild. What’s the process for constructing a house in our village?”

“Building a house?” the village chief asked in surprise.

The Yunse family’s courtyard was indeed in poor condition—if they had the means, it should be repaired. But Qiu Huanian hadn’t said “repair,” he had said “build.” Even if they were just constructing a new straw house, it would cost at least five taels of silver.

“Although Yunse has already passed the xiucai exam, he will need even more money for his studies and future imperial exams. Don’t take too big a step all at once,” the village chief advised.

Qiu Huanian smiled and said, “I’ve planned everything regarding the money, so don’t worry. Silver spent can always be earned back—it’s not an issue.”

The village chief thought about Qiu Huanian’s highland barley candies, the cotton he had been planting, and the rumors about his birth mother’s unusual background. His initial disapproval gradually faded.

Yunse was like a qilin child, a literary star descended to earth, and Hua ge’er was no ordinary person either. The fact that these two had been brought together could almost be considered fate.

Given Hua ge’er’s abilities, building a house in Du Family Village wasn’t a big deal—he would surely earn the money back sooner or later.

“Building a house is nothing more than buying materials, hiring craftsmen, and getting people to help with the labor. Straw houses go up quickly—if the materials are ready, you can build a courtyard in five or six days. It all depends on when you want to start,” the village chief said.

“What if I want to build a brick house?”

Under the village chief’s and Baoren’s strange gazes, Qiu Huanian continued, “I plan to buy the half-yard of land next door from Aunt Zhuang, fill it in, and build a house on it. The remaining land in our current courtyard will be used for a mule pen and a vegetable garden. What’s the process for building a house like that?”

Baoren’s lips moved, and after a long pause, he finally advised, “Hua ge’er, wealth should not be flaunted.”

Qiu Huanian smiled. “In the past, we couldn’t afford to show off. But now that Yunse has won the top three rankings in the county-level exam, if we don’t build now, when will we?”

County Magistrate Wang had already shown much favor toward Du Yunse, and the juren from the neighboring town, Scholar Song, had also expressed his high regard for him. With the prestigious “Little Top Three” title that Du Yunse had earned fair and square, even if someone had previously harbored ill intentions, they certainly wouldn’t dare to act on them now.

Take Wei Dexing, the boss of the Wei Family Spice Shop, for example. He had always flattered the powerful and looked down on the weak. If he had known that Du Yunse had such talent, would he have treated them so disdainfully before? He had ruined a perfectly good opportunity for a valuable connection and turned it into enmity instead. Right now, Wei Dexing was probably filled with regret and frustration.

In the future, their family’s days would only get better and better. Holding onto money and continuing to live a hard life just for the sake of “not flaunting wealth” would be no different from avoiding food for fear of choking.

The village chief thought for a moment before saying, “Hua ge’er, you make a good point. If you have the money, it’s only right to build a proper house. That way, even if Baoyan and the others are watching over you from above, they can be comforted.”

In their own village, what was there to be afraid of? If anyone dared to stir up trouble, he, as the village chief, wasn’t too old to handle it yet!

Seeing that his father agreed, Baoren, who was familiar with house construction, explained, “Not many families build brick houses in Zhang County’s rural areas. You’ll need to hire bricklayers from the county, and you’ll also need to buy good timber for the beams and roof tiles—these are all major expenses.”

“Moreover, brick houses aren’t as easy to build as straw houses. You can’t finish one in a few days. Ordinary helpers can’t lay bricks, so only bricklayers can do the work. Even with a full team, it would take at least a month to build a courtyard.”

“If you want to build, you’d better start now. Otherwise, in two or three months, when it’s the busiest time in the fields, you won’t be able to find anyone to help.”

Qiu Huanian nodded thoughtfully. The estimated construction timeline was about what he had expected. In ancient times, without concerns about formaldehyde, a brick house could be lived in as soon as it was built. A one-month construction period was entirely acceptable.

“I’ll have Baoren-uncle carefully calculate the costs. Once everything is settled, we’ll start construction. I’ll have to trouble you to keep an eye on things.”

“No problem at all,” Baoren readily agreed. His father had already explained the stakes—he had to put in his best effort for the sake of his son, Yun Cheng!

Author’s Note:

Note 1: Some sentences have been adapted from Huainanzi.

Note 2: The biological enzyme method for preventing cotton bollworms comes from an interview video with an experienced cotton farmer found online.