Chapter 3
Looking rather guilty, he propped the ladder against the tree and even lifted both children onto it.
There were very few people in the world who could order the reigning emperor to look after children. Zhao Linlang was the only one. Yet Chai Zheng knew that many years later, even this familial affection would be worn away by suspicion. The Grand Princess would kneel before the imperial hall for three days and three nights, only to fail to earn so much as a glance from the emperor.
Zhao Qian clearly lacked some basic common sense. A two-year-old child’s legs were still soft and unsteady, making even standing without falling a challenge, much less climbing a ladder. Even with the intelligence of a twenty-year-old, Chai Zheng couldn’t compensate for her body’s limitations. Before she knew it, she was about to fall.
Of course, Zhao Qian wasn’t entirely to blame. Even Chai Zheng herself had forgotten about it.
The moment her foot slipped, Chai Zheng came crashing straight toward Zhao Qian’s face. Despite all his remarkable talents and grand ambitions, Zhao Qian was utterly incapable of dodging in time. She struck him squarely on the bridge of his nose, leaving blood and tears streaming down his face. Chai Zheng, on the other hand, had a human face to cushion her fall and was caught securely in Zhao Qian’s arms. She emerged completely unharmed.
“…”
Chai Zheng suspected that if she had been a little heavier, she might have broken Zhao Qian’s spine on the spot, avenged her entire family, and even brought about a change of dynasty in Great Jing.
By the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Zhao Qian was sitting in the study with Chai Zheng in his arms, where she was busy pulling his hair. Ruan Linshuang stood obediently beside him. As for Zhao Qian himself, he looked thoroughly miserable. His nose was bright red, and although it had been hastily treated, every word he spoke sent pain shooting through it, forcing him to gasp while tears spilled uncontrollably from his eyes.
Chai Yuandao and Ruan Yuzhang sat opposite him, both fathers looking as though they wanted to say something but thought better of it.
They had important matters to discuss, yet the atmosphere in the study had become rather ridiculous.
“Perhaps we should have Linlang take the children outside?” Chai Yuandao suggested. “They’re still so young. They wouldn’t understand what we’re saying anyway.”
Zhao Qian shook his head. “There’s no need. Precisely because they can’t understand, having them here won’t cause any trouble. Besides, the children are very well-behaved. They won’t interfere with our discussion.”
He spoke with a perfectly serious expression, but in truth, he was afraid Zhao Linlang would ask about the injury to his nose and the red marks on Chai Zheng’s arm… He had used too much force when catching her.
Since the emperor had spoken, they had no choice but to comply. Chai Yuandao could only do his best to ignore Chai Zheng, who was waving her little arms and legs about.
Ruan Linshuang’s original intention had been to eavesdrop and find out what the adults were discussing. Although the process had turned out completely differently from what she had imagined, the result was exactly the same. Feeling grateful, she even gave Chai Zheng a kiss on the forehead. Chai Zheng’s gaze followed her so intently that her eyes nearly rolled back in her head.
Everyone assumed that a four-year-old child could barely recognize enough written characters, had met relatively few people, and was still at an age when playing was all that mattered. They forgot that even among children, there were exceptional individuals with minds full of their own thoughts. Ruan Linshuang didn’t understand very much yet, but she had always known that some things would gradually become clear if she listened long enough.
What Zhao Qian wanted to discuss was indeed the Kingdom of Musang. Moreover, Chai Zheng heard certain details that had never appeared in the history books.
Zhao Qian said, “Half a month ago, the civil unrest in the Kingdom of Musang finally subsided, but during that time, their national treasure was stolen. Prince Keqin, who has newly ascended to power, insists that our envoys stole it. Three days ago, he detained our diplomatic delegation and demanded the return of their sacred artifact. I assume you’re both already aware of this matter.”
Chai Zheng looked up and observed everyone’s reactions. She discovered that, apart from herself, even Ruan Linshuang seemed to have heard about it before.
Ruan Linshuang, meanwhile, had thoughts of her own. Her mother had died in childbirth, leaving Ruan Yuzhang with only this precious daughter. His way of expressing his affection was somewhat unusual. Whenever he had time, he would tell her stories. Since childhood, Ruan Linshuang had grown up listening to tales such as “The Return of the Buddha’s Relics” and “The Ruins of the Vast Sea.”
As a result, she also knew something about the Kingdom of Musang’s sacred artifact, the “Linglong Peacock Feather.”
It was a palm-sized peacock feather crafted from gold. The patterns engraved on its surface depicted a three-day celebration from the most prosperous period in the Kingdom of Musang’s history. At its center was a hollowed-out red gemstone containing the seed of a divine tree.
The entire artifact resembled a human eye. According to legend, if one held it up toward the moon at night, tiny figures could be seen dancing inside. The stories surrounding it were almost supernatural.
Apart from its exquisite craftsmanship, luxurious appearance, and immeasurable value, the divine tree seed contained within the sacred artifact also held profound religious significance for the Kingdom of Musang.
Every household in Musang revered an ancient tree towering beside the sea. This ancient tree rarely flowered or produced seeds, and even when it did, most of its seeds fell into the seawater or were defective. In recent years, the tree had begun showing signs of withering, making this particular seed their only remaining hope.
In a country with such deeply rooted religious beliefs, possession of the sacred artifact, the Linglong Peacock Feather, carried almost the same significance as possessing the right to rule the entire kingdom. For nearly a hundred years, successive monarchs had even used it directly as their imperial seal.
The disappearance of such an object would undoubtedly shock the entire nation. No matter how much Prince Keqin disliked the Great Jing Dynasty, he would never joke about something equivalent to the imperial seal.
Zhao Qian continued, “I fear the disappearance of the Linglong Peacock Feather is not a fabrication. However, there are currently two theories. The first is that Prince Keqin’s claim to the throne is illegitimate, as he seized it from his nephew. During the chaos within the palace, someone loyal to the previous ruler may have smuggled the treasure out and hidden it. The second theory is that Great Jing took advantage of Musang’s internal turmoil to steal their sacred artifact.”
“The second theory clearly doesn’t hold up.”
Chai Yuandao narrowed his eyes slightly.
“What would we gain from stealing that thing? Giving the Kingdom of Musang an excuse to station troops at sea and invade our borders? Or perhaps we just find it pretty and want to crack it open so we can plant a tree? If we’re only after its monetary value… I imagine it would be rather difficult to find someone willing to buy it.”
Although the Kingdom of Musang was small, it was extraordinarily wealthy. Maritime trade had to pass through its checkpoints before ships were permitted to proceed, and its military was also well-organized. Otherwise, it would never have managed to remain a persistent threat, constantly looking for ways to defeat a larger power despite its inferior size.
Chai Zheng naturally knew just how troublesome this country could be. During the years following her father’s injury, his health had remained poor, eventually deteriorating until he had exhausted the last of his strength and passed away. She had never forgotten that grudge.
After Duke Chai’s death, the Kingdom of Musang had attempted to exploit the chaos by violating the treaty, seizing territory, and occupying cities. Chai Zheng, still dressed in mourning clothes, had chased their forces all the way back to the sea, leaving them crying for their fathers and mothers. Yet even that crushing defeat had failed to extinguish their ambitions.
If anyone truly dared steal this country’s sacred artifact, forget about selling it. As long as the slightest trace was left behind, Musang would seize upon it and refuse to let go.
“That’s why Yuzhang and I both believe Prince Keqin is merely using this as an excuse to test our attitude,” Zhao Qian said, his brows drawing together slightly.
He didn’t even notice that Chai Zheng had left a complete ring of teeth marks around his finger.
While thinking, “My daughter’s teeth are certainly strong,” Chai Yuandao said, “So you want to send me to inspect the coastal regions around Liangjiang?”
Zhao Qian smiled. “The great General Chai’s reputation is known far and wide. I owe my very position on the throne to you. Besides, we’ve spent years fighting side by side, sharing life-and-death struggles on the battlefield. If I can’t trouble you with this matter, who else could I possibly turn to?”
“Don’t.” Chai Yuandao hurriedly shook his head. “I’ve read plenty of history books and military treatises, so I understand perfectly well what happens when a subject’s achievements overshadow his ruler. If you keep piling such extravagant praise on me, I’ll have no choice but to kneel before you right now.”
“…”
Chai Zheng had never known that her father could behave so casually.
In her memories, Duke Chai had always been somewhat sickly. Although he was still fierce when fighting battles or beating his daughter, there was rarely any color in his face. Every time he returned home from attending court, he seemed to have lost another measure of his vitality.
Sometimes, even when he was seriously ill and confined to bed, the moment he heard Zhao Qian was coming, Duke Chai would drag himself into the courtyard and kneel to await the emperor’s arrival.
How could he possibly have behaved with such disregard for formalities, as he was doing now?
Something must have happened within the next year or two that caused a rift between ruler and subject. Eventually, it would lead to the confiscation of the Chai family’s property, the extermination of their clan, and the complete betrayal of all the kindness and loyalty they had once shared.
Chai Zheng sighed softly to herself and raised her head to look at her father, who was only in his early thirties.
In Chai Zheng’s mind, Chai Yuandao had always been something of a demon. Yet now that she was examining him properly, she realized that her father was not nearly as towering, broad, or powerfully built as she remembered, nor did he look capable of killing a bear with a single slap.
On the contrary, Chai Yuandao resembled a scholar with somewhat sharper features. His eyebrows, eyes, and facial contours were all exceptionally well-proportioned. When he narrowed his eyes, the murderous aura he had developed over years of warfare disappeared completely. Lounging lazily in his chair, he even bore a considerable resemblance to Zhao Linlang, as though the two truly looked like husband and wife.
And the Grand Princess of Great Jing was universally acknowledged to be beautiful.
Chai Zheng thought rather heartlessly, “So that’s what my dead old man actually looked like.”
The relationship between Chai Zheng and Duke Chai had always been more like that of two enemies than a father and daughter. Neither could stand the sight of the other. For years, Chai Zheng had barely bothered to look her father in the face. Moreover, she had only been in her teens when he died. As a result, the image in her mind had gradually transformed into that of a hulking brute with a crooked nose and lopsided eyes.
If Duke Chai were placed directly in front of her, Chai Zheng could immediately recognize him as her biological father. But the moment he walked away and someone asked her to draw him, she would probably produce a portrait resembling all four kinds of monstrous spirits and demons combined.
Compared with Chai Zheng, who was busy entertaining herself with such irrelevant thoughts, even four-year-old Ruan Linshuang appeared more mature.
An ordinary girl from an ordinary household would be incapable of understanding matters of state at this age. She probably wouldn’t even understand the arguments over the little patch of land belonging to her own family. Yet Ruan Linshuang’s intelligence seemed to be something she had been born with. Even in her childish confusion, she could vaguely grasp certain things.
However, these matters were still far too profound for her. A trace of worry appeared on Ruan Linshuang’s face, and she began to feel vaguely frightened.
“Don’t be afraid.”
Chai Zheng suddenly stretched out her hand toward her and quickly poked Ruan Linshuang’s cheek with one finger.
When Ruan Linshuang looked up, she happened to catch the silent words formed by Chai Zheng’s lips.
“…”
Among children her own age, Ruan Linshuang had always been one of the quieter ones. It wasn’t because she was unsociable. Rather, whenever she joined the other children in their games, she was simply too good at them, eventually making the games lose all their fun.
Children had their own pride, too.
Ruan Linshuang had no intention of pretending to be foolish, and the other children could sense the differences between them. Over time, they began excluding and avoiding her, so Ruan Linshuang grew increasingly fond of keeping company with books instead.
But just now, she had suddenly discovered that this little sister seemed capable of understanding her thoughts.
Chai Zheng’s fingers were slightly warm as they brushed past Ruan Linshuang’s eyes, wiping away the tears that had gathered on her eyelashes from fear.
“Sister, hug,” Chai Zheng said, shuffling closer to Ruan Linshuang. “Hungry. Want food.”
Zhao Qian and the others were also reaching the end of their discussion.
Chai Zheng personally witnessed Zhao Qian slip something into her father’s robes. Then he scooped her up with one arm and took Ruan Linshuang’s hand with the other.
“Come on, come on! Uncle will take you to the biggest restaurant in Chang’an for a meal!”
Ruan Yuzhang followed behind them, shaking his head with a helpless smile.
“Your Majesty, if you keep this up, you’ll spoil the children.”
“…Official Ruan, you’re worrying too much.”
Chai Zheng bared her two little front teeth and clamped them onto Zhao Qian’s ear.
She thought, “Little Ruan and I will both be hoping he dies young someday. There’s no way he could spoil us.”
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