Attend the morning court.

At the imperial palace, Crown Prince Chen Jinyu received news in advance that Prime Minister Xiao Qinhe was planning a rebellion. Emperor Chen Liuren had dispatched troops to the Prime Minister’s residence, where Xiao Qinhe fought to his death before being executed on the spot by the Imperial Tutor, Wang Qianzhong. Before the court or the city of Jinyu could stir, Chen Jinyu remained calm. He removed his brocade robe and knelt outside the Imperial Study. The passing maids and eunuchs were bewildered—the Emperor was not in his study, so why did the Crown Prince kneel? Regardless, it was not their place to question. A eunuch from the Eastern Palace hurried over, worried that his master might catch a cold, and brought an outer garment. But as soon as the eunuch draped it over his shoulders, Chen Jinyu shook it off.

The eunuch fretted, "Your Highness, why do this? Even if you must kneel, you should take care of your health. The Emperor has not yet returned; perhaps you should rise, and I will keep watch for you."

Chen Jinyu replied calmly, "Go back. This is not a matter for you to worry about."

Though worried for his master, the eunuch dared not defy the order and retreated, picking up the fallen garment as he left. Chen Jinyu was not trained in martial arts, and with the season shifting between autumn and winter, he shivered incessantly in his thin white robe, calculating when his father would return and when he would enter the study.

When Chen Liuren returned to the palace, he first removed his golden armor. Whether he had anticipated the Crown Prince’s actions or not, he spent two quarters of an hour longer than usual bathing before slowly making his way to the Imperial Study.

Noticing the movement behind him, Chen Jinyu turned and kowtowed. "Your son pays his respects to his father."

Chen Liuren ignored him and walked straight into the study. Inside, the Emperor sat in his cotton robe, cradling a hand warmer and reading leisurely, while outside, the Crown Prince remained kneeling, not making a sound.

Two more hours passed. The sky darkened and the temperature dropped. Even the servants passing by felt a pang of pity, but with the Emperor inside, no one dared to intervene.

Late at night, the door finally opened. Seeing Chen Jinyu, Chen Liuren said coldly, "Rise."

Chen Jinyu, shivering violently, remained kneeling. He straightened his back and said in a strained, rounded voice, "Father, please grant me a hearing, or I shall remain kneeling here forever."

Chen Liuren’s heart softened. "Come inside and speak."

Hearing that he had been granted an audience, Chen Jinyu gave thanks and followed his father into the study. Chen Liuren took a shawl from the sandalwood bed and draped it over him, then handed him the hand warmer from the desk. "Sit and speak," he said gently.

Chen Jinyu felt a sense of relief, though he did not smile. After sitting, he said, "Father, the Prime Minister was innocent."

Chen Liuren flared with anger. "Do you believe his rebellion was justified? Or have you been impatient to sit on this throne yourself?"

Chen Jinyu scrambled to his feet and knelt again. "Your son has no intention of rebellion, and neither did the Prime Minister. I believe that if the Prime Minister resorted to such a desperate measure, it was because you had ignored his memorials in court. He was forced into this, but in the end, his actions were for the sake of the State of Chen."

Chen Liuren replied calmly, "You have surely heard what happened at the Prime Minister’s residence today. He is dead. Why have you come?"

"I have come to clear his name," Chen Jinyu said. "He spent his life working diligently for the people. He should not bear such a stain."

Chen Liuren helped him up. "Before Xiao Qinhe died, he said this matter had nothing to do with you."

Chen Jinyu kept his head bowed. "I do not act for myself, only to vindicate him."

Chen Liuren sighed. "I could have spared him, but he also said this: Xiao Qinhe deserved to die. Not for any other reason, but because he, too, did not want this affair to cause turmoil throughout the court. Do you understand?"

Chen Jinyu was shaken, unable to find the words.

Chen Liuren patted his shoulder and walked to the side. "Your heart shows that you will be a benevolent ruler. But the State of Chen does not need a benevolent ruler right now; it needs a capable one who can hold the land and protect its people. You are still inexperienced, your wings not yet fully grown. When you can govern the court yourself and have the ministers’ full support, then you may clear the Prime Minister’s name."

Chen Jinyu’s eyes welled with tears, which he struggled to hold back. He gritted his teeth and said, "I understand, Father."

Chen Liuren walked over, tightened the shawl around him, and smiled. "Look at you—your constitution is weaker than mine. Had I known, I would have had you train in martial arts like your eldest brother."

Chen Jinyu smiled, his eyes squinting as tears rolled down his cheeks. "If I had practiced martial arts, I wouldn’t know how long I would have had to kneel outside the study before you would have seen me."

In that moment, these two, father and son in the house of the Emperor, were as natural and intimate as any common family, laughing and talking.

...

The next day, in a courtyard in Jinyu City—a residence granted to Ren Pingsheng for his service—Zhang Ling stayed the night. He had not returned to the academy because of the Prime Minister’s affair and was now forced to attend court.

Early that morning, having ruined his own clothes in a scuffle with Chu Xingran, Zhang Ling donned one of Ren Pingsheng’s robes. They were of similar build, and Zhang Ling found the fit satisfactory.

Seeing him wearing his clothes, Ren Pingsheng lunged to strip them off, but Zhang Ling pushed him away. "What are you doing? Stripping a man in broad daylight? That’s indecent. Besides, I have no taste for such things."

Ren Pingsheng complained, "Do you have any idea how expensive this is? I haven’t even had the heart to wear it once, and you’ve already claimed it."

Zhang Ling laughed mockingly. "Is it really that serious? It’s just a set of clothes. We’re brothers; why be so petty? Besides, the gifts and silver I’ve given you are worth more than this."

Ren Pingsheng waved his hand dismissively. "Fine, just go. Don’t be late for your first court session; you’ll be fined or punished."

Zhang Ling chuckled. "I’m not a court official; the Emperor can’t touch me."

Ren Pingsheng smirked. "After today, you will be."

They traveled by carriage through the bustling streets. As they neared the palace, the crowds thinned until Ren Pingsheng’s carriage was lost in the sea of others. At the palace gates, officials stepped out to walk inside, each taking their designated place in their official robes. Zhang Ling, in his simple green attire, stood out. Before long, he was led by an attendant to a detached courtyard to await the imperial edict.

The courtyard was small, and since weapons were forbidden in the palace, Zhang Ling tried to sit and practice his meditation. But for some reason, he could not calm his mind today. Given his cold and detached nature, he should not have been distracted by external affairs, yet he could not enter deep meditation. Bored, he decided to find something to do.

Though the attendant had warned him not to wander, Zhang Ling’s legs were his own. According to the attendant, those awaiting the court session would have to wait another two or three hours.

"This is a nuisance," Zhang Ling sighed to himself. "No entertainment, no food or drink. I suppose I’ll just have to go for a stroll."