Although the Crown Prince was known for being a wild and unruly brat, Su Yan had a pretty good grasp of his temperament, understanding him about seventy to eighty percent of the time. He could always manage to calm him down successfully, so he didn’t mind the trouble of serving him. In fact, he found the sight of the Crown Prince puffing up in anger, like a dog bristling its fur, rather cute.
Zhu Helin almost rushed to Su Yan’s side, grabbed his hand, and after taking a few deep breaths, the furious expression on his face softened considerably. He asked, “Royal Father didn’t give you a hard time, did he?”
Su Yan didn’t expect his first concern to be about him, rather than the newborn prince. He felt a little surprised but also touched. He replied, “The emperor is kind and tolerant. Your Highness, please watch your words.”
Zhu Helin glanced around and then pulled him into a quiet side hall. His attendants and guards quickly secured the door.
“The Wei woman gave birth to a son. You know about this, right?” the Crown Prince said sullenly.
Feeling relaxed around him, Su Yan didn’t bother with formalities and got straight to the point. “I know. Your Highness, are you upset?”
Zhu Helin shook his head half-heartedly, scoffed, then frankly nodded, “I won’t pretend in front of you. Yes, I’m very upset.”
Su Yan knew that being an only child for a long time would naturally cause someone to feel resistance toward a second sibling. The greater the age gap, the stronger the resentment. Even in modern times, people would go as far as to demand their mother get an abortion, or threaten to jump off a building. Moreover, Zhu Helin’s position was extraordinary, and the stakes involved were far more complicated.
The most dangerous and treacherous part of it all was the battle for the throne.
Unfortunately, Su Yan hadn’t studied Ming history deeply. He only remembered that Zhu Helin eventually became emperor. As for how he won the succession battle, he wasn’t sure about the details. It seemed to involve a dispute over the heir to the throne, and there was something about him being exiled… He couldn’t quite recall.
Besides, who knew if this was the original historical dynasty? What if this was a parallel universe? What if history had already deviated due to his own presence, like a butterfly effect?
He had to rely on history as a reference, but not take it as absolute. It was more like using an exam guide rumored to be accurate, but knowing that this year they hired a clueless editor.
The best approach was to trust his own judgment.
At present, a newborn baby held no comparison to Zhu Helin, with whom he spent every day. Moreover, Imperial Concubine Wei wasn’t an easy person, and the Wei family was arrogant and domineering. Fengan Marquis always seemed eager to crush him. Both politically and personally, Su Yan wouldn’t just stand by and watch the Crown Prince fall into trouble.
If Imperial Concubine Wei suspected him of siding with the Crown Prince, well, she’d be right! Su Yan thought to himself.
He sat Zhu Helin down on a Maitreya-style couch made of wing-shaped wood, with intricate carvings on three sides. Sitting cross-legged, they began a heartfelt conversation.
“Don’t worry. In terms of age, legitimacy, and the emperor’s favor, you have the absolute advantage. His Majesty’s love for you has never wavered, and your position as the Crown Prince is secure.”
“I understand that, but as they say, parents always favor the youngest. Besides, my mother passed away early. No matter how deep the bond with Royal Father was, with her gone, it fades over time. As for that Wei woman, whispering in his ear every night, I’m not worried about now, but I am worried about the future.”
Su Yan was genuinely impressed by Zhu Helin. He had initially thought the Crown Prince was just a playful young boy, concerned only with food and fun. He didn’t expect this foresight. This was a natural intelligence—some people grasp things intuitively, while others never get it, no matter how many times they’re told.
“Do you know what the biggest fear for a Crown Prince is?” Su Yan asked.
“Being rejected by the emperor?”
Su Yan shook his head. “That’s the outcome, not the cause.”
“Being incompetent?”
“Breaking the law?”
Seeing Su Yan shake his head repeatedly, Zhu Helin suddenly blushed, mumbling, “Could it be not liking to study…?”
Su Yan laughed. “It’s being paranoid.”
“If the Crown Prince remains steady, then the position remains secure. If you become anxious after a few scoldings, always worrying and overthinking, or if you panic at every little rumor and attempt to strike preemptively, any ruler with some sense will see that as self-destructive behavior!”
Zhu Helin hadn’t expected Su Yan to speak so bluntly, which bordered on treasonous. His face changed, and he instinctively leaned forward, covering Su Yan’s mouth with his palm. “Qinghe! You can’t say things like that!”
Su Yan pushed his hand away and continued, “Look at the Crown Prince Li Chengqian of the Tang dynasty. He was the legitimate eldest son, his name, ‘Chengqian,’ meant to inherit the empire and rule the world. He was crowned at the age of eight, and his position as heir was unshakeable. No matter how he behaved in the palace, even feigning illness to avoid court, Emperor Taizong only had Wei Zheng teach him properly. He never once considered replacing him as heir. But Chengqian doubted himself, grew jealous of his brother Li Tai, and feared for his own position. He even preemptively staged a coup. When it failed, he was demoted to a commoner and exiled. A prince full of promise ended up like that because of his own paranoia, losing his composure!”
Zhu Helin covered his ears, childishly muttering, “I didn’t hear anything! Take it back, take it back.”
“These words, only I dare to say to you, and only to you alone,” Su Yan said, gently pulling the Crown Prince’s hands away from his ears. “Others—some don’t see it, and some who do won’t tell you. Either they lack the courage or the sincerity. Be it court officials, imperial kin, or even a mere eunuch, everyone has their own agenda. Some pursue profit and reputation, others strive for ideals and beliefs.
But what am I after? I am but a wandering weed in the vast universe. Since coming here and entering court service, I’ve encountered those who smile warmly to my face and those who stab me in the back. I’ve been saved by others, and I’ve helped others in return. I’ve spoken both truths and lies, but all of it was simply my means of survival. What I seek is nothing more than to live freely and contentedly, without being bullied—and I’ve never sought to bully anyone else. Whoever is good to me, I will be good to them. ‘If one throws me a quince, I will return them a jade.’ That’s the simple truth I live by.”
Zhu Helin grasped Su Yan’s hand tightly, his face flushed with emotion, his expression fervent. “Qinghe, you know I’ve been good to you, so you want to return the favor to me as well, don’t you?”
Su Yan nodded. “That’s right. I sincerely want the best for you. I want to see you grow up, mature, perfect yourself, ascend the throne in the future, protect the land and its people, and usher in a golden era where all nations pay tribute.
“Since I’ve chosen to board the ship that is His Highness, the Crown Prince, I must use my limited strength to help you navigate through the waves. Of course, I also rely on the shelter of this ship, so I won’t suffer from the storms of life.”
Zhu Helin’s eyes reddened, and through clenched teeth, he solemnly said, “Qinghe, let’s make a pact here and now: we will never betray one another!”
Su Yan laughed again. “A ‘pact’ is really nothing more than an illusion. Right now, our feelings are sincere, like burning fire and iron-hard commitment, but when changes come in the future and circumstances shift, all that might be left is sighs. ‘It’s easy to lose old friends because old hearts change too easily.’
“Let me tell you a joke. Yu Wang made the same kind of promise to every one of his little lovers, ‘Our love will last till the end of time.’”
Zhu Helin, swayed by Su Yan’s words, became anxious and flustered. “I’m nothing like my Fourth Uncle! I will never change! You have to believe me! I also believe in you!”
Su Yan tightened his grip on Zhu Helin’s hand. “Of course I believe you, and I believe you trust me. I also hope that there really is such a thing as unchanging loyalty through life and death.”
Suddenly, a soft knock came at the door. Cheng Sheng’s voice sounded from outside. “Your servant has important news to report, as instructed by the young master.”
Zhu Helin turned his head. “Come in.”
Cheng Sheng entered with a deep bow. When he caught a glimpse of the Crown Prince and Su Yan sitting closely together on the same couch, their hands still clasped, he shuddered internally and bent his waist even lower.
“Speak.”
“The Emperor just bestowed a name upon the new prince. His name is… your servant dares not utter the royal name aloud.”
“You will not be punished. Speak.”
“Zhu Hezhao.”
Zhu Helin froze. He muttered the name to himself, “Zhao… Zhao.”
His face went pale, but his eyes reddened, as if they were about to bleed. His throat made hoarse noises. “Tianri Zhao… Zhao…”
Seeing Zhu Helin’s unsettling reaction, Su Yan quickly signaled for Cheng Sheng to leave and close the door tightly behind him.
Bloodshot veins appeared in Zhu Helin’s eyes, and the veins on his temples bulged. His handsome and heroic features twisted in anguish, as if despair chilled his very core.
He suddenly jumped from the couch and croaked, “Do you know the order of the ancestral temple? The founder of the dynasty is enshrined in the center, and the second, fourth, and sixth generations are placed to the left of the founder—these are called ‘Zhao’; while the third, fifth, and seventh generations are placed on the right—these are called ‘Mu.’
“‘The second generation is called Zhao, Qinghe! What do you think my Royal Father means by giving him that name?!”
“I don’t know. All I know is the old saying, ‘The intentions of Sima Zhao are known to all.’” Su Yan’s tone was calm, even chilling. “Besides, is your Royal Father the founder of the dynasty? He’s not. If you keep trying to make connections like this, aren’t you afraid the first emperor will rise from his tomb to beat you for being an unfilial descendant?”
Zhu Helin, cooled by Su Yan’s eerie words, calmed down as if cold water had been poured on his boiling rage.
Su Yan also stood up, stepping close to the Crown Prince, staring at him sternly. “Did you already forget what I said? Don’t belittle yourself, don’t become paranoid, and don’t lose your composure!”
Zhu Helin sheepishly lowered his eyes. “I haven’t forgotten…”
“Good. Then straighten up. You are the Crown Prince of Great Ming, the foundation of the country!” Su Yan stood with his hands behind his back, his posture straight and tall, like a pine tree standing on a thousand-foot cliff.
Though only a boy of sixteen or seventeen, he possessed a resilience beneath his casual demeanor, a spirit that seemed timeless, weathered yet firm, as if his soul spanned five hundred years. His phoenix-shaped eyes had long outgrown the naïveté of youth—they only saw the turbulence of power.
Zhu Helin was captivated, staring at him in a daze. A thought gradually formed in his mind, growing clearer, expanding, and taking root deep within his being.
He wanted to stand beside Su Yan, shoulder to shoulder at the peak, looking down on the world. He wanted to point to the vast, boundless seas of clouds and say to him, “Look, this is the prosperous world you promised to help me build.”
Zhu Helin suddenly wiped his face, clearing away all hesitation, worry, doubt, and impulsiveness. He cleared his throat and responded firmly, “I understand.”
Su Yan smiled in satisfaction.
“Now, how should I face my Royal Father, the Wei family, and that new little brother?”
“With diligence and loyalty. Neither humble nor arrogant. And like a gentle spring breeze.” Su Yan gave him three answers.
“The ‘spring breeze’ means I should be gentle to that little thing and not harbor jealousy?”
“No, you can be jealous, and you can dislike him—that’s your right and your freedom. But you must not be foolish. You can’t let others see your jealousy or dislike, or they’ll use it against you.”
“Acting all the time will be exhausting.” Zhu Helin grumbled, though inwardly, he had resolved to follow Su Yan’s advice.
Su Yan patted his arm and smiled. “At least in front of me, you don’t need to pretend. We can be honest with each other, remember?”
“I will never forget. And Qinghe, don’t forget what you said—honesty between us.” Zhu Helin looked at him with determination, his words resolute.
Su Yan nodded and then reminded him, “The Empress’ seat is still vacant. That’s the Emperor’s tribute to the late Empress. You must be careful not to let anyone take that place. I suspect that Imperial Concubine Wei plans to use her son to elevate her status. You cannot allow that. If she succeeds, the son of a second Empress would also be considered legitimate, and you must not give your opponent any chance. If she tries to use her son to win favor, we must make sure the Wei family makes mistakes—big mistakes—to counter any merit she gains.”
Zhu Helin nodded. “I’ll remember.”
Su Yan sighed. “It seems I’m now a die-hard supporter of the Crown Prince. I might end up worrying about you for my entire life. You’d better ensure I live a life of wealth and honor, or else I’ll lose everything, even my last bit of savings.”
“You’re treating me like a business deal!” Zhu Helin laughed, playfully pushing Su Yan before suddenly wrapping him in a tight embrace.
“Qinghe, I know you don’t care about fame or fortune. I promise, as long as I’m here, you’ll live a life of peace and happiness, just the way you want.”
Who said I don’t care about fame or fortune? Give me money—there’s never too much. Give me power—I’ll never find it too heavy. How much of my words are genuine, and how much are opportunistic? Even I can’t tell. You silly boy, don’t let me fool you!
Su Yan reached out and embraced the crown prince’s tall, lean frame, feeling the firmness of his youthful muscles. In the end, he only uttered a wistful blessing: “… You must live a long and healthy life.”
Suppressing the unease quietly spreading in his heart, he resolved to be like a butterfly flapping its wings in an effort to change the future fate of this young emperor, a fate he had glimpsed in another time and space.
