Crown Prince Duanhui was his first child, and also his most beloved one. Even to this day, on the anniversary of Crown Prince Duanhui's death, no one in the palace is allowed to show even the slightest smile.
If any palace maid or eunuch dared to smile on that day, the Emperor would have them beaten to death without hesitation.
That year, when the young Crown Prince was watching fish by the lake, he plunged headfirst into the fish pond. By the time the eunuchs rescued him, he had already stopped breathing.
Although they had rescued him quickly enough, the young Crown Prince had hit his head on a rock, and the true cause of death was excessive blood loss.
Back then, in the fish pond where the young Crown Prince died, they had found a similar small bottle.
However, before the investigation was completed, that small bottle mysteriously disappeared.
Why would a nearly identical one appear here now?
He grabbed Jiang Xinyue's wrist, wanting to get a closer look, but his grip was too tight and hurt her.
Her wrist felt like it was about to be crushed, forcing Jiang Xinyue to let go. The Emperor also released her and caught the small bottle just before it hit the ground.
The white bottle was adorned with pale yellow winter jasmine flowers, and at the bottom was a light blue stream. The winter jasmine appeared to be swaying with the flowing water.
Such exquisite craftsmanship was not something ordinary households could afford.
Jiang Xinyue rubbed her wrist, which now bore purple bruises. Unusually, she didn't cry out in pain this time, nor did she interrupt the Emperor's thoughts.
Only when his expression softened did she move closer and show him her wrist: "Your Majesty, what is this? Why are you..."
So agitated?
The Emperor quickly brushed off the dirt from the bottle, tucked it into his sleeve, and held Jiang Xinyue's wrist: "I'm sorry, Yue'er. I lost my composure. Does it hurt?"
Now he remembers to ask if it hurts?
Of course it hurts, you bastard.
"This humble consort is fine."
Jiang Xinyue shook her head, though she uncomfortably rotated her wrist a couple of times, making the Xuanwu Emperor feel even more guilty and concerned.
He gently massaged her wrist and blew on the bruise: "When we return, have Yan the Imperial Physician prepare some medicinal ointment for you."
Taking a deep breath, he explained: "This porcelain bottle is almost identical to the one found where the young Crown Prince drowned in the lake."
Was it poison?
Is that why Crown Prince Duanhui became dizzy and fell into the lake?
"Does Your Majesty mean..."
Jiang Xinyue feigned ignorance: "Someone poisoned Crown Prince Duanhui, causing him to become dizzy and fall into the lake?"
The most credible explanation in the palace was that Crown Prince Duanhui had slipped while watching the fish and drowned in the pond. As a consort who had only been in the palace for two years, she couldn't possibly know that the true cause of death was blood loss.
So she could only mention the drowning.
The Xuanwu Emperor seemed exhausted, his tall and imposing figure showing signs of defeat and decline.
He was filled with self-reproach and pain.
He possessed the entire world, the most beautiful women, everything that men in the world envied.
Yet, he couldn't even protect his most cherished son.
This would forever remain a wound in his heart!
For the first time, Jiang Xinyue felt that the Emperor was actually a pitiful person. Was everything he possessed truly what he wanted?
If given the choice, would he perhaps prefer the life of an ordinary person, with a loving marriage, numerous grandchildren, and none of the scheming and plotting?
She embraced the Xuanwu Emperor from behind, her arms tightly wrapped around his waist: "Your Majesty, I know the Crown Prince's death grieves you deeply. But Your Majesty, this isn't your fault. You shouldn't punish yourself for the crimes of evil people. What we need to do now is find those who harmed the Crown Prince and avenge him, so his spirit in heaven can rest in peace."
There's no time for melancholy!
Dealing with Consort De should be the priority.
Otherwise, forget about the former Crown Prince – the few fragile saplings remaining in the palace now might face even more persecution.
The Fourth Prince and Sixth Prince were safe in her Hexi Palace, but Jiang Xinyue was mainly worried about the Fifth Prince who had gone to keep vigil at East Mountain.
The Empress had entrusted the Fifth Prince to her care, and she wasn't one to abandon her responsibilities.
At least the people at the imperial tomb had received her instructions and wouldn't mistreat the Fifth Prince and Fen Yun. They would ensure he received the dignity and treatment befitting a prince.
After all, the Fifth Prince was still registered under the former Empress's name and was a legitimate son of the Great Yan Dynasty. Regardless of whether he was actually born to the former Empress or not, once recorded in the imperial jade genealogy, the Fifth Prince was legitimately recognized as a proper son of the Great Yan Dynasty.
There was no guarantee that Consort De wouldn't become desperate enough to attempt to kill the Fifth Prince.
"You're right, Yue'er."
A fierce glint appeared in the Emperor's eyes: "It's time for those who killed my young Crown Prince to pay the price."
Jiang Xinyue looked up as the Xuanwu Emperor held her hand, standing side by side. He looked down at her: "Yue'er, I will protect our little dumpling well. I won't let such a tragedy happen again."
When the Crown Prince died, the empire was facing both internal and external troubles, and he was so busy he barely had time to touch the ground, let alone manage affairs in the inner palace.
He had thought that with the Empress personally overseeing things, even if all the other princes and princesses in the palace died, their eldest son, born to the Emperor and Empress, would surely be safe.
How dare they?
Perhaps it was the moonlight retreating behind the clouds, or the fish-belly white of dawn breaking through the dark clouds with a brilliant orange-red streak, that made the Emperor suddenly become sentimental.
He revealed thoughts he had never shared with anyone else: "The Empress and I were young when we married, and I was once gratified that she was a sensible, virtuous, and gentle woman. I trusted her and handed over all authority in the inner palace to her without reservation. But she became intoxicated with the pleasures of power, neglecting our children, which led to the tragic deaths of both our Crown Prince and our second son. Since then, I grew cold towards her, yet she only ventured further down that path..."
It was his fault!
He hadn't held onto that rope in time after the Empress lost two children.
If he had comforted and guided the Empress, they might not have reached the point of mutual disgust.
The Xuanwu Emperor interpreted the Empress's dying blessing in reverse – she had cursed him to spend his latter years in lonely suffering, to face betrayal, and never to meet a woman who would truly love him in this lifetime.
The Empress had regrets; if possible, she wouldn't want to be the Empress again in her next life, nor would she want to meet the Emperor.
Jiang Xinyue didn't want to judge who was right or wrong; it was probably half and half.
The Emperor was busy with state affairs, and the Empress had to manage the inner palace. If someone with ill intentions waited patiently for an opportunity for ten years, even she herself couldn't guarantee with absolute certainty that the Sixth Prince would always be able to turn misfortune into blessing.
Ultimately, it was Consort De who was too vicious, not even sparing children.
Being an emperor isn't something just any prince can do well.
It depends on their ability, character, whether they have a benevolent heart, and if they can put the people's interests before their own.
Being an emperor is easy, but being a good emperor is difficult.
It wasn't that Jiang Xinyue looked down on the Third Prince, but at least so far, she hadn't seen the qualities of an heir apparent in him.
If Consort De had spent the time she used for plotting schemes on nurturing the Third Prince instead, he might have been more competitive.
