The Seventh Prince, now enfeoffed as the Prince of Yue, had a birth mother, Consort Chen, who was not only pregnant but also jointly managed the six palaces with Consort Wei.
He was now, under the guise of training, inserted into the Imperial Guards.
Although it was merely training and held no connection to military power, the opportunity to interact with the leader of the Imperial Guards and forge camaraderie was something even the Crown Prince could not obtain.
The Imperial Guards were solely responsible for protecting the Emperor. Their leader, Shan Hanfeng, answered directly to the Emperor. He was known for his cold demeanor, taciturn nature, and unapproachable disposition.
Wei Chong, the second son of Grand Tutor Wei, was the Commander of the Feathered Forest Guard.
The Feathered Forest Guard was responsible for guarding the imperial palace, each serving a distinct function from the Imperial Guards.
The Wei family had repeatedly attempted to win over Shan Hanfeng, using Wei Chong as their envoy, but had failed each time.
Shan Hanfeng had stated more than once that he only served the current Emperor and would be loyal to whoever held the throne.
This rigid adherence to duty infuriated Grand Tutor Wei to no end.
Now, the Seventh Prince could easily approach Shan Hanfeng. Who knew what might transpire over time?
The Emperor's actions also caused the court officials to murmur amongst themselves. What was the Emperor's intention?
What if the Seventh Prince and Shan Hanfeng formed a faction?
Did the Emperor intend to depose the Crown Prince or elevate the Seventh Prince?
However, the Crown Prince had committed no major offenses.
A flurry of speculation arose among the officials, none able to fathom the Emperor's mind.
Consort Wei felt uneasy for a while and subtly probed the Emperor.
The Emperor, however, appeared quite nonchalant. "Little Seven, I know he has always admired Commander Shan. Consort Chen also wishes to curb his childishness, so I've allowed him to join the Imperial Guards. I've also specifically instructed Commander Shan to guide Little Seven well. I believe he will learn a great deal."
Consort Wei's expression became unnatural. "Your Majesty truly goes to great lengths!"
The Emperor chuckled twice and did not respond to her words.
Consort Wei's heart sank. Things were different, irrevocably different. The Emperor's attitude towards her had changed.
Others might not have noticed, but having been in an affectionate relationship with the Emperor for over twenty years, she could detect even the slightest shift.
In the past, she and the Emperor were like any loving couple in the common folk. Other consorts respected him as their sovereign and dared not be overly intimate with him.
But she considered herself the Emperor's true love. She would rest her head on his arm while sleeping, link arms with him when affection was high, and even call him by his childhood nickname in private.
The Emperor had always tacitly allowed these actions.
These unique privileges made Consort Wei believe their love was genuine and also showed others how much the Emperor doted on her.
But twenty years had passed in the blink of an eye, and the Emperor no longer reciprocated these small gestures that Consort Wei had grown accustomed to.
He had even told her to be more dignified, that at her age, she shouldn't act like a young girl, feigning innocence and silliness.
Consort Wei could not bear this disparity.
In the past, she had never taken Consort Chen seriously. Consort Chen had three sons, a noble background, and an unshakeable position.
But why had the Emperor suddenly become interested in Consort Chen?
Consort Chen hailed from a humble background, had no maternal family, and was no longer young.
The Emperor ignored the abundance of tender, flower-like beauties in the palace and instead favored a woman past her prime.
It was truly ironic.
The Seventh Prince, a prince without any maternal relatives, how could he contend with the Crown Prince? What right did he have to compete with the Crown Prince?
Yet, it was precisely this prince who made Consort Wei feel a genuine sense of fear.
Moreover, there was the First Prince, who appeared like a dragon but was never seen, his whereabouts unknown.
As long as Wang Qingyao was dead, everything would be fine.
As long as Wang Qingyao was dead, everything would be fine.
Consort Wei repeated the words in her heart.
She trusted Grand Tutor Wei; the Wei family was her powerful backing.
She believed that once Wang Qingyao was eliminated, all difficulties would be resolved with ease.
Upon receiving the Emperor's decree, the Seventh Prince was so elated that he couldn't sleep all night.
The next day, he left the palace to inform Xiao Yun.
"I will become a man as formidable as Commander Shan."
Xiao Yun giggled, "I believe you."
"Be serious," the Seventh Prince said. "I'm being sincere."
Xiao Yun couldn't help but chuckle.
Wang Qingyao said gently, "Perhaps Little Seven could apprentice himself to Commander Shan."
The Seventh Prince paused, a hint of apprehension appearing on his face. "Will that work? Will Commander Shan look down on me for being pampered and unable to lift a chicken?"
"Yes," Wang Qingyao replied without a moment's hesitation.
The Seventh Prince's face immediately fell.
Wang Qingyao patted his shoulder encouragingly. "So you must work hard and show Commander Shan your progress."
The Seventh Prince stared blankly at Wang Qingyao. "Sister, can't you see? How can you so accurately pat my shoulder?"
Oops, careless.
The little brat was quite perceptive.
Wang Qingyao chuckled twice. "Don't you know? People like us who cannot see have senses of smell, hearing, taste, and touch that are more acute than ordinary people. Although I cannot see, I can determine the location of your shoulder by the pitch and steadiness of your voice when you speak to me, as well as the speed of the air current."
The Seventh Prince: "..."
It sounded plausible, but he didn't understand.
However, he couldn't reveal his lack of intelligence.
So the Seventh Prince cleared his throat and feigned a look of sudden realization. "Ah, so that's how it is."
Xiao Yun's shoulders shook with laughter.