Urgency

Compared to the Imperial, Inner, and Outer cities, the streets within the Palace City seemed rather deserted. There were no bustling markets, no peddlers hawking their wares; there were only grand gates, sprawling courtyards, carriages scattered in twos and threes, and handmaidens out on shopping errands. The Palace City was vast, yet its residents were few. Aside from royal kinsmen and their retainers, the only others living here were individuals of extraordinary status. It was the enclave of Great Yan's most untouchable elite. The black dragon carriage rolled along the street. With Xu Yinhe remaining silent, Xu Yuan looked through the carriage window with mild boredom, watching the scenery pass on either side. They traveled along Tian'an Avenue, the central axis dividing the entire Imperial Capital. Following it straight ahead led directly to the Southern Audience Gate of the imperial palace. As they proceeded, Xu Yuan's expression turned somewhat peculiar, his gaze finally fixing upon a phoenix-topped building a dozen stories high in the distance. Well now, the Music Bureau was actually right beside this central axis too. The imperial relatives and nobility residing within the Palace City rarely ventured outside it. First, to avoid suspicion; second, because Great Yan's Taizu had decreed that royal scions must lead by example and never harass the common folk. Consequently, to satisfy the demands of these second-generation scions, the various entertainment establishments in the Palace City formed a self-contained system. In his memories, Xu Yuan had actually visited here once. All because of a street rumor claiming that every courtesan in the Palace City's Music Bureau was an unmatched beauty of the mortal realm. The result: drawn by reputation, he had departed in disappointment. The pleasure houses specially catering to royal scions inside the Palace City were actually inferior to the privately run ones outside. A monopolized operation meant that the Music Bureau and its assorted pleasure houses had never been subjected to the brutal discipline of the free market. Lacking any drive for improvement, their ambiance was elegant enough, yet at their core, they remained mired in the same hundred-year-old red tape and archaic formalities. Lost in thought, Xu Yuan watched as the black dragon carriage swept past that street lined with mist and willows. Casting one last glance, Xu Yuan let out an involuntary soft chuckle. "Heh... No competition, no enterprise, unchanging for a century. Impressive that these people can stand it." Xu Yinhe raised his gaze to look at his third son, a hint of contemplation in his eyes. "Why bring this up all of a sudden?" Snapping back to reality, Xu Yuan gave an awkward cough. "Father, didn't I visit this Music Bureau once in the past? Passing by again, it occurred to me that if outside capital and silver were allowed inside the Palace City to open branch establishments, eight or nine out of ten shops on this street would probably go under." Hearing this, Xu Yinhe's eyes took on a flicker of approval. "Very good. The way you look at things truly has changed." Pausing, he glanced out the carriage window and offered a faint smile. "For more than forty years, that street has indeed not changed a bit. But what exists does so for a reason, and for within the Palace City, it is adequate enough." "..." Xu Yuan shot his old man an odd look, then silently turned his gaze back to the window. About a quarter of an hour after passing the Music Bureau, Tian'an Avenue narrowed, and the carriage's speed gradually decreased. Further ahead lay the central offices of the imperial court: the Hanlin Academy, the Censorate, the Six Ministries, and similar institutions. Originally, these administrative compounds had been situated inside the imperial palace, but after renovations, they were relocated into the Palace City. It was midday, and many people clad in official robes of various colors took the opportunity to stroll outside. Some chatted and laughed, while others discussed state affairs. Yet the moment they caught sight of a black dragon carriage rolling down the street in the distance, every one of them fell silent. Silence spread along the street with uncanny speed. Wherever the carriage passed, court officials on both sides bowed deeply. For a moment, as sunlight poured down like a waterfall, nothing remained along the entire street except a deathly quiet crowd and the clatter of hooves as the black dragon carriage struck the ground. *Entering court without hurried steps, unaddressed by name in audience, bearing sword and shoes into the palace halls, vested with the battle-ax of supreme command, riding in the carriage of the Son of Heaven.* "Tsk, tsk... Look at this grandeur." In the shadows away from the sun, a carriage patterned with nine black pythons was parked quietly. The Third Prince sat with one leg crossed over the other on a soft couch, nibbling fruit from a platter as he remarked casually, "Except for people not kneeling, Duke Xu basically gets the same treatment as Royal Father." Kneeling on a nearby prayer mat, Eunuch Hou suddenly asked, "Your Highness, Duke Xu has already entered the palace. Do you still intend to enter and seek audience with His Majesty?" Hearing this, the Third Prince pondered briefly before letting out a long sigh. "Forget it. Return to the manor. Better not get involved in this matter." Eunuch Hou probed in a quiet voice, "But... what if that Zhou Chen truly is Xu Changtian?" The Third Prince waved his hand dismissively. "It was only ever a conjecture. Beyond cultivation realm and the timing of his return to the capital, there is no real evidence. I'll wait until I find time to meet this Third Young Master Xu before saying anything more." Eunuch Hou said cautiously, "At the very least, you should remind His Majesty so he is prepared, or at minimum let the Crown Prince know." "Hou Cheng, why do I feel like you love contradicting me so much?" The Third Prince raised an eyebrow. "Every time I make a decision, you just have to pull this. Is it that fun for you?" Hearing that, Eunuch Hou immediately knocked his head against the carriage floor. "This servant would not dare." The Third Prince glanced at Eunuch Hou, his tone turning stern. "Hou Cheng, I'm only going to tell you this once. Do not mention a word about that Zhou Chen to anyone." "...Understood." Eunuch Hou cautiously stole a glance at the Third Prince's expression. Seeing that he was not truly angry, he softly asked, "Yet why does Your Highness act so?" The Third Prince sighed and tapped his folding fan against Eunuch Hou's official cap. "If this matter is leaked and turns out false, fine. But if it turns out true, whether Xu Changtian dies or not, I can't say, but in all likelihood, I will die." Eunuch Hou frowned. "Your Highness, you are..." "Royal Father has thirteen sons and nine daughters, while Duke Xu only has two left." "..." Eunuch Hou was at a loss for words. The Third Prince scoffed softly, a look of profound helplessness in his eyes. "Right now, because of the war on the northern border, relations with the Chancellor's Manor have finally eased. To suddenly request an audience over this, isn't that just stirring up trouble? "Hou Cheng, mark my words: "We and the Chancellor's Manor are not enemies—at least, not right now." "This servant... shall keep it in mind." After rolling past the dynasty's center of power, the carriage drove directly into the imperial palace. A heavy silence filled the interior. This was the first time Xu Yuan had witnessed the sheer scale of his father's authority over the imperial court. Judging by the scene just now, even if his father had no intention of rebelling, someone might just drape the yellow robe over his shoulders one day. Thinking of this, he glanced at his old man, only to find that Xu Yinhe happened to be looking back at him. Meeting his gaze for a breath, Xu Yinhe smiled and asked, "Changtian, what are your thoughts?" Xu Yuan smacked his lips, playing dumb. "Power is a fine thing." Xu Yinhe remained noncommittal. "Power is indeed a fine thing. Aside from that?" Seeing that he could not brush it off, Xu Yuan glanced toward the depths of the imperial palace and lowered his voice. "If I were the Emperor, I wouldn't tolerate it." "Wouldn't tolerate it?" Hearing this phrase, Xu Yinhe could not help a slight chuckle, but soon let out a low sigh. "Heh... Indeed, no one could tolerate it. Yet Li Yaoxuan can endure what others cannot. In that regard, I admire him as well." Xu Yuan fell quiet for a moment. "Father, do you mean to say that except for the Emperor, no one else can tolerate it?" Xu Yinhe narrowed his eyes and answered, "That is something I am still confirming. However, Li Yaoxuan once said the Second Prince bears a strong resemblance to how he was in his youth. What do you think?" "..." Xu Yuan's pupils constricted slightly. Those words were blunt. Princes contending for the succession was a matter of state, a topic that many scholars in pleasure houses would discuss over wine. Such things had always been popular gossip among the common folk. Yet coming from the mouth of his graying father before him, it would almost certainly be put into action. But what was going on? Hadn't the Chancellor's Manor and the imperial clan just entered a honeymoon phase? Why did it seem as if they were about to tear off the mask again? Collecting his thoughts, Xu Yuan hesitated slightly. "Father, isn't it a bit too early to consider this matter now? Is it because of that prophecy from the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion?" Tianyan had said that the Emperor would die this year. However, the future deduced by the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion had already become completely unrecognizable because of him. Xu Yinhe said in a distant tone, "I have never believed in such prophecies. Setting aside other supporting evidence, from the northern border alone, I can sense that Li Yaoxuan is in a terrible rush." Xu Yuan's expression grew increasingly solemn. Xu Yinhe offered gentle reassurance. "I speak to you of this not to have you find a solution, but to prepare you mentally so that you have some baseline when meeting Li Yaoxuan shortly." With those words, silence descended, and the carriage pressed deeper into the palace grounds. A quarter of an hour later, the black dragon carriage pulled up beside the Hall of Great Celebration. Immediately after, a shrill, piercing eunuch's call echoed through the palace: "Duke Xu has arrived—"