Chapter 7 – Deviation

Li Yunqiu looked at Li Chonghua with a gaze mixed with guilt and worry, and gently explained, “You and Zhan were twins by birth, only when you came into the world you were barely breathing and could not survive. Moreover, the political situation at the time put pressure on us — the Yi Family had to have an heir, so…”

And so the healthy Zhan Changfeng was kept, and Li Chonghua’s existence was concealed.

After all, twins were considered an ill omen. For the sake of the future Emperor’s record, there was no need for Li Chonghua to exist.

But she was also filled with a mixture of surprise and joy — no matter how sickly he had been in the years before, he was now standing hale and hearty right before her eyes, full of spirit.

Li Chonghua was not foolish. Realizing he had been abandoned, he felt a pang of resentment. “Then why only acknowledge me now?”

After saying those words, he felt even worse. If Li Mao had not revealed the truth, would she have ever acknowledged him at all?

That made sense too — the Crown Prince was so exceptional. Compared to her, what did he have that was worth anyone’s attention?

The thoughts of a child were written plainly on his face. Li Yunqiu sighed, her heart complicated. “It was not that I refused to acknowledge you — it simply was not yet the time to do so.”

“Do you know how many people want to kill the Crown Prince? You and the Crown Prince cannot both be in danger at the same time. Otherwise, the Yin Dynasty would be finished entirely.”

Li Chonghua half-understood.

Li Mao, however, grasped the meaning clearly. “Your Mother Consort was thinking of your safety — preserving a bloodline for the Yi Family.”

He then asked Li Yunqiu, “But do you not intend to tell His Majesty that he has another grandson? If something were to happen to both His Majesty and the Crown Prince at the same time, how would Chong’er’s identity ever be proven?”

Li Yunqiu trusted this elder brother of hers — that was precisely why she had entrusted Li Chonghua to him in the first place. But the fact that Zhan Changfeng was a girl was known only to herself and the head steward who had always attended to Zhan Changfeng’s daily needs.

People always say that the human heart is fickle.

In her eyes, Li Mao’s act of revealing Li Chonghua’s identity carried a whiff of deliberate intent.

Li Yunqiu knew clearly that he harbored ambitions for great undertakings. Unfortunately, the Duke of An’s estate had been gradually stripped of its military power by the Emperor since two generations ago, and now it bore nothing more than an empty title.

How could a distantly related nephew, the Crown Prince, compare in closeness to a “son” he had raised himself?

Li Yunqiu had more or less guessed his thoughts, but she did not expose them. “I will find an opportunity to speak with His Majesty.”

Yet the misgivings in Li Yunqiu’s heart were known to no one.

If it were merely a matter of one more imperial grandson appearing, that would not be such a great affair — after all, the current Crown Prince’s position was unshakeable.

But what if the old Emperor were to learn that the Crown Prince he had painstakingly cultivated was a girl, and that this newly emerged grandson was his only true imperial grandson?

And yet, Chonghua was ultimately the true Crown Prince — that fact could not be concealed.

Li Yunqiu planned to have him follow Zhan Changfeng, learning and observing everything before he came of age. Once he had achieved some measure of accomplishment, she would then reveal his identity to His Majesty.

As for her arrangement to have him serve as Zhan Changfeng’s Study Companion — firstly, she wished for the two of them to grow closer, so that when their identities were eventually corrected, they would not turn on each other as siblings. She hoped even more that Zhan Changfeng would, at that time, be willing to assist him.

Secondly, Zhan Changfeng, as the Crown Prince in name, could help shield him from assassination attempts, interrogations, and all manner of dangers.

Thirdly, with Zhan Changfeng shining so brilliantly before him, Li Chonghua — still just a child — would likely struggle to win the Emperor’s favor. It was best to wait until he had matured somewhat. This would also serve as a tempering experience for him.

Fourthly, as a Study Companion, he would also be able to experience the Emperor’s systematic cultivation of the Heir Apparent, which would be of great benefit to his future.

“You must remember — you are an imperial grandson. Half of the world belongs to you. But for now, you cannot let anyone know your identity, for you are the Yi Family’s trump card,” Li Yunqiu said to Li Chonghua.

Li Chonghua listened with a rush of excitement. So he was the same as those two — and moreover, someday in the future, he too could become someone like that!

Setting that matter aside, Li Yunqiu recalled the reason he had been crying. “Why did the Crown Prince refuse to let you serve as Study Companion?”

Li Chonghua hesitated, then remembered that he was the Crown Prince’s elder or younger twin brother, and suddenly felt there was nothing to be afraid of.

“I rose a little late this morning and was looked down upon for it. I was told I needn’t come in the morning.”

No need to come in the morning?

That simply would not do.

The Crown Prince’s military and political studies, as well as the lessons personally imparted by the Emperor, were all concentrated in the morning. The afternoon was merely for practicing riding and archery and visiting the Children’s Pavilion. If Li Chonghua did not attend in the morning, what would he learn?

“I will speak with the Crown Prince myself.”

Li Chonghua, now emboldened, muttered, “Not going in the morning is rather nice, actually — I can’t understand any of it anyway.”

Besides, getting up so early when it wasn’t even light out yet was miserable.

A teacup was set down firmly on the table. Li Yunqiu said sternly, “Understand it or not, you must. You have to do better than her.”

Li Chonghua was startled and did not dare say another word.

Scripture Repository

Zhan Changfeng casually pulled a few ancient texts from the shelves to read, but found herself restless — pacing back and forth — and in the end set the books down and climbed the ladder up into the Chamber.

Whatever the case, she wanted to know more.

The records contained in the Chamber were extraordinarily varied: some concerned the true history of events, some touched on the mystical and supernatural, and others were the personal writings and biographies of certain emperors.

Zhan Changfeng leafed through them one by one, and among them discovered what was actually the personal journal of the founding Emperor of the Yin Dynasty.

Within it was recorded the story of a man named Wu Xingshan.

Wu Xingshan was, in history, a renowned general of his age — he had assisted the founding Emperor in unifying the lands of Shenzhou.

In the founding Emperor’s journal, the meeting, understanding, and journeying together of ruler and minister were recorded in detail, as were the divergence of opinion between them regarding their attitude toward the common people, which led to Wu Xingshan hanging up his official cap at the founding banquet and departing, never to be seen again.

The founding Emperor did not believe he had erred — keeping the people ignorant was more conducive to governance. Yet between his lines ran a deep sorrow at Wu Xingshan’s departure.

Beyond this, Zhan Changfeng found that in the founding Emperor’s account, Wu Xingshan was described as extraordinarily mysterious and powerful — no ordinary man.

At the very end of the journal, the founding Emperor wrote: Wu was a man apart. He presented the Dragon Scale Divine Scripture, helping me to ascend like a dragon. Should those who come after wish to save the Yin Dynasty from ruin, my successors may seek him out to resist the nation’s peril.

Seek what? How to seek?

Zhan Changfeng flipped through the journal several more times, and suddenly her fingertip paused.

By the time she left the Scripture Repository, the sky had already grown dark. The head steward stepped forward and said, “Your Highness, the Lady invites you to join her for the evening meal.”

Zhan Changfeng was surprised. “Two invitations in ten days — that’s getting a bit frequent.”

The steward couldn’t tell whether she was pleasantly surprised or being sarcastic, and could only manage an awkward smile. “What is Your Highness saying? The Lady naturally misses you.”

He stole a quick glance at her, and with some trepidation tried to put in a good word for Li Chonghua. “Young Master Li also wishes to apologize to you. You don’t know, Your Highness — Young Master Li thought you looked down on him and was so frightened that he cried.”

Zhan Changfeng was baffled. “Cried over what?”

The steward did not elaborate further, not wanting to irritate her. As long as the message had been conveyed, that was enough.

When Zhan Changfeng arrived at Yongxiu Palace, she first glanced at Li Chonghua. His eyes carried a smile and his brows were full of pride — nothing at all like someone who had been crying.

Hmm — and now he even dared to meet her gaze.

This was a Hongmen Banquet, Zhan Changfeng thought idly as she settled into her seat.

Zhan Changfeng deflected the dishes that the palace attendants tried to place before her, her voice flat.

“As a Study Companion, he should have been waiting at my palace gates from the third watch of the morning, ready for orders. Not only was he late — he has now learned to go and tell tales, has he?”

Li Chonghua, upon learning of his identity and setting eyes on Zhan Changfeng for the first time, had examined this sibling of his carefully and thoroughly, and discovered with some disappointment that the two of them bore no resemblance to each other.

In terms of appearance alone, he himself was delicate and gentle-looking, while the Crown Prince was strikingly handsome — even without any expression on her face, there was a lofty, imperious air about her.

Now, as those long, narrow eyes tilted upward at their outer corners and a single weighted syllable was directed his way with that penetrating gaze, Li Chonghua’s hand, gripping his jade chopsticks, froze stiff. The confidence he had gained from learning of his own identity was shattered into pieces.

Li Yunqiu noticed the shift in his demeanor. Unwilling to let Zhan Changfeng have the upper hand, she cooled her tone by a degree. “As Crown Prince, one should be magnanimous and broad-minded. He has only made one mistake — must you be so unforgiving?”

“Mother Consort, what are you thinking?” Zhan Changfeng’s manner also turned distant. “My decision will not change.”

“The hour is late. Mother Consort should rest early.”

Having no desire to argue with her, Zhan Changfeng rose and left the table.

“You stop right there.”

(End of Chapter)