When the Crown Prince encountered trouble, the Three Tutors of the Eastern Palace were summoned to admonish him. These Three Tutors—the Grand Preceptor, the Grand Mentor, and the Grand Protector—were all first-rank officials. In the Tang Dynasty, reverence for teachers and hierarchy was paramount; upon their arrival, the Crown Prince was required to greet them at the palace gate with a bow. Only after the Tutors were seated could the Crown Prince take his place.
Thus, on the very first day of his confinement in the Eastern Palace, Li Zhang bathed, changed, and stood vigilantly by the palace gate at dawn, awaiting the arrival of the Three Tutors. By midday, both the Grand Preceptor and Grand Protector had appeared, yet the newly appointed Grand Mentor, Bai Fanxi, had still not arrived. In truth, since assuming office, Bai Fanxi had never once set foot in the Eastern Palace. This honorary title of "Grand Mentor" seemed a mere formality, long forgotten by him. Yet Li Zhang gave Bai Fanxi no chance to shirk responsibility; he sent messengers to summon him, affording the man all due respect until at last he arrived.
Compared to the imposing Grand Preceptor and the nervous Grand Protector, Bai Fanxi showed no intent to reprimand. "Your Highness," he said humbly, "I believe this is a misunderstanding. Once the facts are clarified, your innocence will be restored." The two knelt opposite each other, separated only by a low table. Upon it lay several books, neatly stacked but showing clear signs of frequent reading from their slightly curled edges.
"The Crown Prince still delights in his studies," Bai Fanxi remarked with a smile. "Before I was dispatched to Jiannan, I often heard from court officials that Your Highness was well-read and respectful of your teachers—a heartening sight indeed."
When Bai Fanxi departed for Jiannan, the Crown Prince was but a youth in his teens. At such an age, most children were lively, unruly, and prone to rebellious whims—even the strictly disciplined princes occasionally strayed. Yet Li Zhang had never passed through such a phase. His academic excellence, his reverence for elders and ministers, and his impeccable manners set him apart. He obediently followed imperial edicts, marrying the princess and fathering heirs. As the legitimate eldest son, he was flawless, bearing the great hopes of the Tang Empire.
"You flatter me, Grand Mentor," Li Zhang replied modestly. "Until the lost arms of the Northwest Circuit are recovered, I cannot leave the Eastern Palace. I entrust the affairs of court to you."
Bai Fanxi nodded and rose. "Rest assured, Your Highness. I have met with Prince Wei and am assisting him in restoring discipline to the Imperial Guards and reorganizing the defense of Daming Palace."
Li Zhang's eyes flickered briefly but he refrained from probing further into state affairs. Moving against the Emperor's personal troops so soon after entering the Council Hall was perhaps too hasty.
"Moreover," Bai Fanxi continued, "at this morning's court, we received memorials from Prince Chu, the Military Governor of Hedong, Zheng Feng'an, and the Prefect of Jinzhou. They report that the lost arm-crossbows have been found—three hundred and seventeen pieces, matching the exact number lost by the Northwest army." Bai Fanxi spoke as if discussing a matter unrelated to the Crown Prince, his demeanor light.
"Prince Chu's report explained that the arm-crossbows once held by the rebels in Jinzhou bore forged inscriptions that were destroyed and thus unidentifiable. However, those concealed in the caves were clearly marked as belonging to the Northwest army guarding the prefecture."
So these were indeed the missing weapons. A flicker of astonishment passed through Li Zhang's eyes. Instinctively, he steadied himself on the table and rose. "They've been found?"
His voice was earnest, a smile breaking through. "Finding the Empire's lost arms is good news! When Ye Lang announced their loss, I feared they might fall into foreign hands."
Good news? Bai Fanxi regarded Li Zhang thoughtfully, uncertain whether the Crown Prince's composure was genuine or merely a facade. Such moments called for vigilance over one's own survival above all else. Recovery of the weapons marked not an end, but a beginning—the start of uncovering truth and igniting court intrigues. With Li Chen controlling state affairs, the situation favored him, not Li Zhang. Yet the Crown Prince seemed to care only that the arms had not truly been lost. Bai Fanxi could only mirror his expression and praise, "His Highness's dedication to the realm is the court's great fortune."
"This truly is uplifting news!" Li Zhang exclaimed, stepping forward so briskly that he knocked over the stack of books. Several fell with a clatter. Bai Fanxi bent to retrieve them and suddenly noticed a flash of golden light—a delicate hairpin. Why was a golden hairpin tucked among the Crown Prince's books?
Caught off guard, Bai Fanxi's movements slowed. In that brief pause, Li Zhang gathered the books and the hairpin disappeared into some hidden place. So be it. No one is perfect; perhaps the Crown Prince harbored some private whimsy.
"Let us consider it good news, then," Bai Fanxi remarked casually. "Please remain in the Eastern Palace as we await the investigation's conclusion."
"As is fitting," Li Zhang replied, bowing slightly, his lips pressed tight with no hint of emotion. "I take my leave." Bai Fanxi stepped back and exited the Eastern Palace, where his son awaited outside in a carriage.
"Father," Bai Xianyu greeted anxiously, clearly worried for the Crown Prince. "Is all well? The palace is heavily sealed off. I cannot even inquire at my sister's place. I am truly concerned."
"What are you fretting over?" Bai Fanxi snapped, irritated. "The Crown Prince sleeps soundly while you, a mere lackey, fret for your master."
Lackey—Bai Fanxi's scolding was sharp, showing no fear of dragging himself into the rebuke. Bai Xianyu shrank back, helping his father into the carriage, straightening his posture and smoothing his robes to avoid fault, then urged the horses onward.
Inside, Bai Fanxi sipped the tea his son had prepared and suddenly asked, "You've followed the Crown Prince so long—does he have a sweetheart?"
"A sweetheart?" Bai Xianyu rolled his eyes and shook his head. "The Crown Princess?"
"Forget it," Bai Fanxi muttered. "What do you know? They've been married ten years. Would a golden hairpin belonging to the Crown Princess be hidden in his books, carried everywhere?"
Could it be... Bai Fanxi's mind raced—could it be another palace maid of the Emperor's? After the last incident, the Crown Prince should have learned his lesson.
Bai Xianyu smiled faintly despite feeling aggrieved. "I really don't know, Father. I myself have no sweetheart yet."
"Make haste," Bai Fanxi murmured gloomily. "While I yet live, I shall arrange your marriage."
Bai Xianyu glanced skyward and sighed. Women of the capital did not suit him. He preferred those from Jiangnan—delicate, soft-spoken, with moist lashes and a fragile charm that made one want to offer one's heart and soul, or at least a warm meal. Speaking of which, the meals at Duke Anguo's mansion were excellent. Bai Xianyu suspected that Li Ce's devotion to Ye Jiao stemmed largely from the quality of her family's cooking.
"Father," Bai Xianyu asked, "will you dine at the mansion tonight?" Since Bai Fanxi's return, the household finally had evening meals, though Bai Fanxi was often away on official duties, leaving Bai Xianyu to eat alone after the food had cooled.
"No time," Bai Fanxi replied. "Prince Wei has lit three fires; the first scorches the barracks of the Imperial Guards."
"His efforts are in vain," Bai Xianyu muttered as the carriage entered the bustling streets—a thriving scene of peace and prosperity.
"Where is my carriage?" Prince Zhao Li Jing shouted in the mansion early that morning.
"Your Highness," the steward dared not lie, "the carriage has been sold by the Princess."
"Sold?" Li Jing's eyes widened in disbelief. "Has the Zhao Prince's Mansion sunk so low as to sell its carriage?"
What nonsense was the Princess up to now?
"Never mind," Li Jing said, "bring a horse instead."
"Your Highness," the steward stepped back cautiously, "the horse has also been sold. Not only the horse and carriage, but the coachmen have been dismissed to haul manure. Don't you understand the Princess's meaning?"
The meaning was simple: not to let him leave the mansion.
Dressed in pristine court robes with a precious jade pendant at his waist, the upright Li Jing suppressed his fury and asked, "Where is the Princess?"
"She is practicing archery," the steward glanced toward the archery range.
Li Jing nearly leapt in shock. Practicing archery while pregnant?
He dashed toward the range, but the steward hurried to block him. "Your Highness, you're heading the wrong way. If you intend to escape, you must pass through the gate."
"Escape from what?" Li Jing shoved the steward aside.
That fool Cui Jin'er—pregnant and still daring to practice archery just to spite him!
Pushing open the range's door, Li Jing found Cui Jin'er standing at its center, arrow in hand. Seeing him, she tilted her head. "Why aren't you leaving, Prince? Weren't you going to storm the Council Hall and supervise the investigation to defend the Crown Prince?"
Li Jing's face darkened. He strode forward, urgency in his voice: "Are you finished? That is my brother!"
"Your brother," Cui Jin'er countered, "does it help if you go? I see your wounds have healed; the rescue by Prince Chu was wasted effort."
Mention
of his injuries stung Li Jing's pride. Yet he held his tongue.
Cui Jin'er turned, releasing arrow after arrow into the target. The sounds of thwack echoed as she proclaimed coldly, "Neither the Emperor nor the Imperial Guards will protect the Crown Prince. The best way to protect him is to hide him completely. Only then can the investigation be delayed until it's safe to return to the capital."
Li Jing hesitated, conflicted. Yet deep down, Cui Jin'er's reasoning was sound.
"Come," Cui Jin'er said. "The archery practice is done. The city is quiet; we must prepare for the coming storm."