His mother had cautioned Xie Jing that newborn babies should not be held for too long by urging him to restrain himself somewhat no matter how much he loved holding the baby. So, Xie Jing dared not hold him for too long. He reluctantly held him close for a while, kissed his delicate features all over, and then gently and carefully placed him back in the cradle:
“What if he wakes up and cries at night because he’s hungry?”
“My mother carefully selected several reliable wet nurses. They take turns for the night shift and come in to feed him right on time. Don’t worry.”
Seeing the empty bowl on the table, Lu Lingcong asked, “How was the porridge?”
Xie Jing remembered that “There’s still some left in the food box. It tastes good, but I don’t have much appetite; otherwise, I could eat another bowl. You should eat some while it’s hot. You haven’t slept for two days and one night, plus kneeling all afternoon; you’ve exerted too much energy.”
“The hawthorn cake made in Mingluan Hall is refreshing. I’ll bring you two plates tomorrow to whet your appetite.” Lu Lingcong directly took the bowl, and spoon Xie Jing had used, scooped up the porridge and ate it, then gargled with tea, and finally said, “Did my mother tell you about the kneeling punishment?”
Xie Jing nodded and lay back down on the inner side of the bed. Lu Lingcong sighed, “Tell me, isn’t it ridiculous? Last night you and Zhenzhen were kneeling, and today I’m kneeling again. People say there is gold beneath one’s knees, but beneath ours, I’m afraid there’s nothing but mud and weeds.”
Xie Jing chuckled, “Actually, what does it matter whether you or I kneel? I only hope that my son will have pearls and flawless jade under his knees and will never have to kneel to anyone other than Heaven, Earth, sovereign, parents, and teachers.”
Lu Lingcong responded and, after a moment of silence, added, “If you hadn’t blocked that bamboo board, who knows how much trouble would be waiting now. I truly don’t know how to thank you.”
Xie Jing thought for a moment and said softly, “Last time you were dragged into the dispute over the West Camp’s commanding post and had to defend yourself against baseless accusations for no reason, it left a bad taste in my heart. Since I said I would stay with you then, how could I possibly go back on my word?”
Lu Lingcong loosened his outer robe and sat on the edge of the bed, “May I see your back?”
Xie Jing then turned over, facing away from him, and pulled down the collar of his inner garment to expose the bruising that was particularly conspicuous against his snowy white shoulder. Yin Chou had applied medicine again earlier when he was still asleep, and there was still a strong scent of aconite. Lu Lingcong leaned closer to examine it carefully. He gently embraced Xie Jing and blew lightly on the injury. Afraid of touching the wound, he instead leaned in and kissed the back of his neck, his voice low as he said, “I wish I could have taken that blow for you.”
Xie Jing was covered in goosebumps from his rare tenderness and felt a tickling sensation on his neck. He quickly pulled up the quilt to cover his flushed earlobes and scolded playfully, “If you gross me out again, you won’t be allowed to sleep on this bed.”
Lu Lingcong chuckled at him twice before tucking the corner of the baby’s blanket, blew out the lamp, and lay down. He then heard Xie Jing ask, “How did you come back yesterday? Did Zhenzhen send you a message?”
Lu Lingcong said, “It was my mother. She was unsure what to do, so when she sent someone to Prince Zhao’s Mansion to look for Zhenzhen, she also sent a message to me.”
Xie Jing paused, then silently nestled closer, half-leaning and half-resting against Lu Lingcong’s shoulder while draping one arm over his waist. He inwardly thought his posture truly resembled a consort preparing to influence her husband in bed, but any sense of propriety could be sacrificed for the sake of achieving a goal, let alone simply being affectionate with his beloved.
“From what Consort Mother said, my son’s position as the heir apparent of Prince Zhao is secured?”
Lu Lingcong glanced at him and chuckled, “You’ve mentioned it repeatedly, and I’ve also guaranteed it to you repeatedly. If I still couldn’t manage it, what kind of person would I be?”
Xie Jing was very satisfied, “The Empress’s reaction was within expectation, and who cares about her? But it’s His Majesty I found strange, he agreed so readily. However, our child is naturally a little lucky star, so everything going smoothly is normal.”
Lu Lingcong’s gaze darkened slightly at those words, but Xie Jing, unable to see in the dim light, remained oblivious and simply shifted topics without pause, “Have you chosen a name? Didn’t you settle on the character ‘Ning’ for him before?”
“I also wanted to,” Lu Lingcong sighed in relief, “but Emperor Father seemed particularly pleased today. Before I could even request it, he took the initiative to grant this favor to Lord Xie. I figured you would be willing, so I didn’t say more.”
Xie Jing was indeed pleased: “That truly means His Majesty was very delighted. What name did my father choose?”
Lu Lingcong said, “Shuqing.”
“…For those who suffer injustice, write to the clear sky,” Xie Jing pondered for a moment, then laughed. “What is my father trying to do? He spent most of his life as a censor, and now he even wants his grandson to inherit his profession and do the thankless job of remonstrating and challenging policies just like him?”
“You should be content. Think about me. Any name like ‘Ah Mao’ or ‘Ah Gou’ would be a good name.” Lu Lingcong playfully slapped him.
Xie Jing suddenly said, “Why do I feel like he looks neither like you nor like me? I hoped in vain. Could he not be our biological child?”
“What can you tell from a tiny baby? Even if he doesn’t look like us, he’s still delicate and lovely,” Lu Lingcong teased him while playing along. “It’s obvious he is biologically yours. As for whether he is mine… well, I’d have to ask you.”
Xie Jing kicked him under the quilt and laughed reproachfully, “Why are you so annoying?”
After they shared a laugh, Lu Lingcong recounted the parts Xie Jing missed, “Last night, Yin Chou was holding him; so small, all wet and stained with blood, like a tiny bundle. She told me to cut the umbilical cord. I didn’t even dare lower my hands at first. After she scolded me a couple of times, I finally steeled myself and cut it.”
Xie Jing smiled again, thinking of Yin Chou’s sharp tongue when scolding people, and then muttered like making a wish, “Grow up quickly. I want to hear him call ‘Father’ and ‘Mother,’ and I want to see him wear the longevity lock you gave him.”
Lu Lingcong covered Xie Jing’s forearm, which was draped across his waist, and said softly with a hint of drowsiness, “He’ll grow quickly, changing every day. You may not even have fully grown up yet before he does.”
The next morning, Xie Jing woke up earlier than Lu Lingcong, which was rare. Lu Lingcong had been running on fumes for the past two days, and once he fell asleep, he slept soundly, so much so that he didn’t notice Xie Jing getting out of bed.
“Don’t wake him.” Xie Jing carefully closed the bed curtains and quietly instructed the palace attendant who brought the washing water, “He’ll probably sleep until noon.”
After washing up, Xie Jing put on a casual outer robe. When the wet nurse came to feed Lu Shuqing, he took the opportunity to cautiously hold him for a while. Following Lu Lingcong’s instruction, he held the baby upright against his shoulder, leaned his waist slightly forward to borrow strength, gently patted his back, and slowly paced around the room, making meaningless “mm-mm” sounds to soothe him.
After circling a few times, he heard a light knock on the door. Xie Jing looked up and saw Yin Chou speaking in a hushed voice, “Breakfast is ready, Princess Consort, please come eat.”
Lu Shuqing was already drowsy from being soothed, his small face slightly pouting as he struggled to keep his eyes open. Xie Jing then carried him back to bed, helped him settle in, closed the door, and stepped out into the outer chamber.
“Come here,” he pulled Yin Chou over, making her sit, and ordered a pair of chopsticks and a bowl to be set for her. “I haven’t properly thanked you yet.”
Yin Chou didn’t stand on ceremony either. She served soup for both Xie Jing and herself, saying, “At most, Imperial Physician Qin and I only helped a bit. It was the Princess Consort who truly endured the hard work.”
Xie Jing thought for a moment and asked, “Before, you said you planned to stay at Prince Zhao’s Mansion until the heir was born. What are your plans now?”
Yin Chou was surprised by the question. She put down her spoon and thought for a moment, saying somewhat sheepishly, “I’ve calculated it. Jinling City, being near the emperor, means the cost of land, labor, and medicinal raw materials are not typical prices. If I want to reopen my family’s medical hall, I don’t quite have enough funds on hand yet. Also… having looked after His Highness Shizi until his birth, I’m a little reluctant to just leave suddenly.”
Xie Jing smiled upon hearing this, “Although we have wet nurses and this group of palace attendants to help, there are some things I must personally take charge of, and I was just worried about not having someone to consult with. If you don’t intend to leave for now, why don’t you continue to stay at the Prince’s Mansion? You don’t need to worry about other matters, just help me raise Shizi. It won’t be too late to leave once you’ve saved up enough capital or when the time is right.”
Yin Chou naturally nodded in agreement, “I am honored by Princess Consort’s trust, and I will do my utmost.”
Xie Jing leisurely moved his chopsticks and continued, “You have the heart of a healer. Over the past half year, you’ve expended no less effort for him than I have; if anything, you’ve had it no easier. If not by birth, then by upbringing, you are certainly entitled to that bond. Since I have no sisters of my own, when he learns to speak in the future, I will have him address you as Auntie and treat you with proper filial respect.”
Before Yin Chou could reply, a palace attendant from Jiuhua Hall who was serving food enthusiastically chimed in, “Oh, that is truly immense good fortune! His Highness Shizi has a supremely auspicious and noble fate. His Majesty himself had declared it an ‘auspicious omen.’ To be addressed as ‘Auntie’ by the Shizi, Miss Yin Chou’s future prospects were such that others could only look on in envy, never hope to attain.”
Xie Jing, hearing this, was stunned, “What Auspicious Omen?”
Yin Chou knew this was bad and quickly gave a warning look. However, the palace attendant was not part of the Prince’s Mansion’s inner circle and didn’t immediately catch on, “Does the Princess Consort not know? At the hour the His Highness Shizi was born yesterday morning, fire-like auspicious clouds drifted above the palace city. We’ve lived for decades and seen countless sunrises and sunsets, but that was the first time we saw such a celestial phenomenon. I heard His Majesty even ordered the Master of the Northern Suburb Altar to divine His Highness Shizi’s fate, and it was calculated that…”
As she spoke, she looked up, only to see that Xie Jing’s expression had already changed dramatically. She immediately choked up, looked around blankly, unsure what taboo she had violated, and fell silent hesitantly.
Xie Jing slowly put down his bowl with stiff arms, looked up, and glanced at the trembling palace attendant, “Calculated what?”
The silence in the hall was so complete that a pin’s dropping could be heard. Everyone present was uneasy, wondering why the usually amiable Princess Consort Zhao had suddenly turned cold.
“Speak ah!” Xie Jing suddenly slammed the table, causing the bowls and dishes to rattle and buzz.
No one dared to answer at that moment. Finally, Yin Chou had to brace herself and whispered, “It was calculated as eight characters: ‘Vibrant steps of the Kylin, ringing cries of the Phoenix’. His Majesty said it was… an Auspicious Omen.”
Xie Jing repeated those eight characters in his mouth, chewing them over, and then involuntarily let out a cold laugh in a daze: “Good, what a splendid Auspicious Omen!”
He recalled the emperor’s affection for Lu Shuqing, which far exceeded what a “legitimate son” and “imperial grandson” deserved. He recalled the emperor’s unexpectedly ready acquiescence to the establishment of the heir apparent. He recalled the emperor’s exceptional tolerance towards Lu Lingcong, Prince Zhao’s Mansion, and even the Xie family… He recalled the old palace story Lady Wu had told him—Jiuhua Hall had been the birthplace of two true Sons of Heaven: one was Emperor Gaozong, who reigned with the wisdom of the ancient sage kings, and the other was the present emperor.
The ancient saying goes, “The Qilin and the Phoenix are among the Five Spiritual Creatures; they are auspicious omens of a true sovereign.” Xie Jing did not know if the master of the Northern Suburb Altar had concocted the highly suggestive prophecy, “Vibrant steps of the Kylin, ringing cries of the Phoenix,” merely to curry favor with the emperor. But what mattered was that the Son of Heaven, whose word was law, had bestowed the two characters ‘Auspicious Omen’ regardless of the consequences, permanently branding them onto Lu Shuqing’s forehead like a tattoo, visible to all, enduring forever.
Or perhaps the emperor was not acting without regard for consequences but acted deliberately because he knew the consequences too well—’Auspicious Omen’ was an auspicious and beautiful phrase, but who did not understand the weight and hidden meaning of the word ‘King’ behind it? By throwing out such an ambiguous attitude, officials would rush to speculate on the Imperial intention, leading to endless overt and covert struggles full of unpredictable changes. Was this not precisely what the emperor desired?
He had suspected from the beginning that the emperor’s treatment of this child couldn’t be purely grandfatherly affection, but he truly had not anticipated that Lu Shuqing, to the emperor, was merely a tool that could be used to stir up political turmoil and test the depths of people’s hearts and a mere symbol representing good fortune.
Xie Jing suddenly stood up and immediately headed for the door. Yin Chou quickly blocked him, “Princess Consort, where are you going?”
Xie Jing did not stop, “Shenlong Hall.”
When the palace attendants heard this, they all panicked, crying out, “Princess Consort, please calm your anger,” and “Princess Consort, please reconsider.” Yin Chou also rushed up to advise, “Even if the Princess Consort is upset, you must prioritize your health. During your confinement month, you must absolutely avoid catching a chill or getting emotionally agitated!”
Xie Jing took several deep breaths, standing still to compose himself, when suddenly a report came from outside the hall that the empress had arrived.
Since the emperor valued Lu Shuqing, no matter how many thousands of objections she had in her heart, she had to appear concerned and solicitous on the surface and often came to Jiuhua Hall.
Seeing Xie Jing standing in the hall with a face like frost and a crowd of servants kneeling, she said, “Our little Princess Consort is now the birth mother of the Imperial Grandson, so his status and bearing are naturally different from before. What is the meaning of this display of anger?”
Xie Jing was in no mood to deal with the empress. He said coldly, “This minister merely wished to go to Shenlong Hall to personally ask His Majesty what further rewards or punishments he intends to impose upon my son.”
“He is your son?” The empress sneered. “He is the heir apparent of Prince Zhao; he is the Imperial Grandson; he is a descendant of the Imperial Family! Since when, within these palace walls, has a son ever belonged to just one person?”
She clearly had anticipated what Xie Jing was angry about. Without giving him a chance to refute, she said airily:
“Didn’t you set your sights on that heir apparent position long ago? Now that His Majesty has personally bestowed the Auspicious Omen, complete with the prophecy of the Qilin and Phoenix, isn’t that exactly what you wanted? You should be grateful, weeping and kneeling to thank the heavenly grace. Why have you instead harbored resentment?”
These words completely ignited the rationality Xie Jing had been struggling to maintain. He was not an impulsive person, but the specific timing of having just given birth and the specific person involved made it almost physically impossible for him to suppress his overwhelming rage. He roared sharply:
“He is a living person! He is my child! He is not a prophecy, and he is certainly not some ‘Auspicious Omen’! He is merely an infant; what do you all expect him to bring to the Great Qi, favorable weather and peace for a hundred generations? You are making such grand calculations and dreaming such monumental, futile dreams!
“Now that the country is peaceful and prosperous, you all hold him up and say he is a figure of good fortune, using his name to grant amnesty to the realm and feast the populace. But in the future, if we encounter natural disasters or war, what will you all say then? Will you all say that his ‘Auspicious Omen’ is no longer effective, that he leaked heavenly secrets and invited disaster, and will you push him out and sacrifice his life to apologize to Heaven?!”
The moment his voice fell silent, Xie Jing heard Lu Lingcong calling from behind him, “Zhiwu!”
Upon hearing the commotion, he woke up and rushed out to check, only to be met with this tense, confrontational scene. The empress had long been startled and angered by Xie Jing’s torrent of questions. Seeing Lu Lingcong, she said icily, “Zifeng, listen to the outrageous, treasonous nonsense he is speaking! Discipline your Princess Consort properly. He is truly out of his mind and wants to overturn the heavens!”
Lu Lingcong ignored the empress as she left in a huff. He simply frowned and asked the palace attendants around him, “Didn’t I say not a single word was to be disclosed to the Princess Consort?”
Xie Jing turned around in astonishment, his gaze fixed on him, “Lu Zifeng, you hid this from me?”
“I knew perfectly well that if you found out, you would certainly make a scene. Am I supposed to disregard your health and let you fret and become agitated?”
Lu Lingcong stepped forward, intending to embrace him, but Xie Jing fiercely pushed his hand away, crying out with red-rimmed eyes, “This is your son! Our son! How dare you accept this accursed ‘Auspicious Omen’ without telling me?”
The implication of his displaced anger was too obvious. Lu Lingcong’s mind was a mess, his blood surging, and the anxieties of the past few days welled up. He couldn’t help but raise his voice sharply and harshly:
“What else could I do but accept it? What other choice is there? If I could choose, I would have chosen long ago! I would have chosen long ago for him not to be born into the imperial family, not to be the son of you and me! I would have chosen that I myself had never been born into this world at all!”
Xie Jing’s mind exploded with a crash, echoing only the phrase “not to be the son of you and me.” He stood frozen, staring blankly at Lu Lingcong for a long moment. All his strength and anger seemed to drain out of him at once, and he let out a muffled, almost soundless laugh:
“Have you finally finished fooling me?”
