"Your highness."
Rongxie grabbed the reigns to his horse and turned to face his attendant. The young man caught up with his master and stopped before him.
"There is an event taking place in the capital next week." He began. "Under the usual circumstances I wouldn't mention it, except for the fact that its a somewhat abnormal case."
The prince's listened intently, wondering what Da Ming had learned.
"Official Yan's mansion will be hosting a gathering. On the surface it's to find husbands among the wealthy young men of the capital for their daughters, however I suspect that there may be something more sinister taking place. Yan Yifeng's loyalties are still unclear at the moment, so I believe it to be most wise to take precautions."
"The Yan mansion." Rongxie mused to himself. Was it a coincidence that his fourth brother had dealings with one of the family members? He didn't think so.
"What are your orders?" Da Ming asked with a serious gaze.
"Who recieved invitations?" The second prince wanted to know more about the situation before making a judgement.
"All officials from fifth rank and higher, and a few military families as well. By the looks of things, this will be quite the gathering. Many powerful names and infuential people are most likely going to attend." He leaned closer. "However, I learned that Shang Buluo's son was specifically mentioned in the invitation. Could it be that the Yan's are preparing to ally with the Shangs?"
He had already guessed months ago that Yan Yifeng would side with the first prince and his supporters. Things were already looking to be in Nanying's favor, so it would be unwise to follow another prince at this time.
"Did any of the princes or princesses receive an invitation?"
"No your highness." Da Ming started guessing what his master was thinking. "But I can find a way to get one of the princesses to the gathering."
Perfect. "Tan'er would be the best choice."
Wei Tan'er was the fifth princess and the second daughter of the emperor. She was Heping's full sister sharing the same mother, and the most intelligent princess. Rongxie chose her for one reason, and that being that Tan'er fancied herself in love with Shang Qinglou. Bringing her would stir the pot and cause a ruckus during the gathering.
Da Ming saluted. "Yes, your highness."
The attendant retreated back into the woods, in a hurry to make preperations. The prince stood for a moment longer before mounting his horse and kicking its sides, making it gallop off through the trees.
...
Later that afternoon, Wei Rongxie arrived at his prince's mansion. He had been granted a residence outside the imperial palace after being given an official rank and was allowed to participate in court matters. His mansion was large and had over sixty servants, ten courtyards, a training field, stables, and several large pavilions dotting the whole property. His gardens were the finest in the city and he'd gained a reputation for the rare and exotic plants he kept, even hiring a master caretaker for them.
His own personal quarters were in the backside of the mansion, in a massive structure. It was an off limits area except to those who'd been with him for years, including Da Ming, his attendant Nanny Momo who had been his nurse, and his two guards. Maids were only let in to clean under strict watch.
He made his way through the gardens and nodded to servants as he passed. When he finally arrived in his rooms, he slid the doors shut behind him and walked across the large empty space to his kang and took a seat. He poured himself a cup of tea and glanced at the new stack of memorials. Some where from the supporters he'd gained advising him on political strategies and networking, while others were invitations to private events. These were usually from lower ranked officials hoping to gain his favor, or distant royal relatives hoping to further their connections with the future emperor.
"Child?" Nanny Momo called through the closed doors. "I've brought you cakes."
The prince's heart lightened at the voice of his beloved nanny, and he immediately went to escort the woman in. Sliding the doors open, he took in the older face Nanny Momo, her wrinkles beginning to set in. In her hand was a box made from bamboo, and she carried it with her to the table as he held her arm.
It was unusual for royal members to ever show such respect and care for an elderly nanny, but Wei Rongxie broke through those norms and treated her as if she were his true mother. Nanny Momo had served by the empress' side since she had been a child, and then when empress Shi gave birth, followed her son and cared for him.
"Nanny Momo," He smiled kindly. "You don't need to send me the cakes personally, you can leave such tedious tasks to my guards."
The woman chuckled as she pulled the plate of green Qingming cakes and set in on the short table on the kang, next to the abandoned memorials.
"Of course I have to bring the cakes I personally made to my boy." She spoke fondly. "Back from archery practice so soon?"
On normal days, the prince would stay out until sunset, only riding back into the capital as the gates were shutting. However, due to the recent information his attendant had given him, he felt the need to return home and start planning his response.
"I could smell these Qingming cakes by the river, and knew you'd be making them for me." He stole a large bite from the green pastry, the sweet taste filling his mouth.
"Serious matters now," Nanny Momo batted his arm playfully before becoming more serious. "Your royal mother, Empress Shi has sent me a message to make sure you visit her in the palace by the end of this week."
Rongxie's heart sank a bit and he sighed. Her majesty was a wonderful mother to him, but her will for him to be the next ruler occasionally outweighed what he wished for himself. Now, her newest play was in finding a consort for him.
"She's sent their names, descriptions and portraits in this small booklet." Nanny Momo pulled the book from within her robes and handed it to him. "Most of these girls are good matches for you Rong'er. Listen to your mother this time. She's doing everything for your good." Though she said these words, her eyes betrayed her. Her deepest wish was to see the boy she raised marry for love, and not for a political alliance. But that was often hard to do in the royal family.
Rongxie sighed and opened the book, letting the long paper spring out and fall onto his lap. At a glace, all were fine, noble young ladies, with strong backing and beautiful appearances. He's long come to accept the fact that one day, he would marry a stranger. And if he didn't become emperor, he would certaintly end up banished to his fife far away, so the new emperor would not feel threatened. That meant that his wife would most likely shun him for failing to rise to power, and he's spend his life lonely. But it was sacrifice and a gamble he was willing to take. Besides that, his chance of becoming the next emperor where much higher than most people thought.
"Thank you nanny, I'll visit mother soon. Thank you for these cakes, you always make them so delicious." His words were kind, but his voice was somewhat resigned.
Nanny Momo nodded her head and place her withered hand on his, before grabbing the empty box. Wei Rongxie rose and saw her to the door, all the while supporting her elbow. After she left and the doors shut, he returned to his seat and reread the contents of the book of Imperial Marriage Selections.
Right at the top, was none other than the third ranked official of Revenue's daughter, Zhany Wuhai. He'd already met her several times, and couldn't dislike another human more. The young lady was vicious minded and enjoyed her wicked scheming. Zhang Wuhai was indeed beautiful though, her father was high ranking and rich, but she would be the last person he chose as his future consort.
Further down the list, there were generals' daughters, officials' daughters, and daughters from foreign royalty. But at the very end of the list, were the lower ranking girls from prestigious families. There was the Gu family and their two daughters, the Fang family's daughter, and then the Yan family. They had three daughters though, all eligable for marriage. But something in the back of his mind clicked, and he remebered the girl in the dungeons. He forgot her name, and he hadn't even seen her whole face. But he remebered her pitiful voice and the drop of blood that had fallen from her chin onto her light purple dress.
When he had saw her, his heart went out to the poor child. Further yet, anger stirred in him when he knew that harming her was no problem to his fourth brother, when at one time, Heping wouldn't dare harm a butterfly. Rongxie wondered if her cut had healed yet, and if she'd told Yan Yifeng what had happened to her and her brother.
He smiled. Had she done so, her uncle would have made noise over the issue, and since he hadn't, then the girl had kept silent. Which might have been in her favor, for if she were to cause the fourth prince the slightest trouble, he would certaintly return her the pain.
"Oh, mother." Rongxie shut the book and tossed it to the side and leaned against the table. His mother really did pick the most interesting girls in the capital for him to choose from,