Chapter 1069 - 453: Ninth Prince
Although An Zhichen did not know what kind of scheme the Ninth Prince was up to, he wasn’t as worried as Yueyao: "The Ninth Prince has a decent temperament, Tingzheng will be fine with him."
Yueyao often heard Mingzhu talk about matters in the imperial palace, but Mingzhu spoke mostly about the Fourth Prince, the Fifth Prince, and the Sixth Prince. As for the Ninth Prince, Mingzhu mentioned him very rarely, leaving Yueyao with little impression of him.
An Zhichen told Yueyao: "The Ninth Prince was born when the Empress was nearly forty, her ’old-age child.’ The Empress dotes on him dearly, but rather than becoming arrogant from being spoiled, the Ninth Prince is exceptionally gentle and has a very good relationship with the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince."
In her heart, Yueyao found it odd—being doted on by the Empress should lead to arrogance, yet he developed such a good character. It was peculiar.
Yueyao now felt some regret. She only knew that after the Crown Prince, several princes had fierce fights, but she wasn’t clear which princes were involved, nor who ended up as the ultimate winner.
Tingzheng, however, had no such troubles. The Emperor had decreed him to protect the Ninth Prince, and it was an imperial edict; thinking about it wouldn’t change a thing. Tingzheng looked at the items rewarded by the Emperor and had everything moved to where Yueyao lived. He said to Yueyao, "Sister, these are all Tribute satin, take them and make some clothes for yourself and Kexin!" Tingzheng noticed Yueyao’s wardrobe was quite simple, with only a few outfits. He recalled that every time he saw Qinghan, Qinghan’s attire was always different. Of course, he wouldn’t say this part aloud.
Yueyao smiled and said, "I’ll pick a few pieces." In fact, Yueyao did not lack clothes. She made several new outfits each season, but most of these were for visiting guests; at home, she wore casual attire, which wasn’t many. They were mainly simple and elegant, which appeared comfortable.
The next day, Yueyao went to the Niu Mansion to inquire with Mingzhu about the Ninth Prince. Mingzhu frequently moved around the imperial palace and certainly knew more than An Zhichen.
Mingzhu thought seriously for a moment: "The Ninth Prince was a premature baby, very weak at birth, and several times was close to not making it. Maybe due to his special early experiences, he takes his time in everything he does." After saying this, Mingzhu added, "That is exactly the kind of personality I absolutely loathe—so slow it drives you crazy."
A prince beloved by both the Emperor and the Empress, if not for special reasons, how could he develop such a good character? Yueyao thought for a moment, then asked, "Does the Ninth Prince have other virtues?"
Mingzhu shook her head and said, "No impression. Bai Yi, do you remember anything?"
Bai Yi did remember: "Speaking of the Ninth Prince, he truly is an odd person."
Yueyao asked, "What is so strange about him?"
Bai Yi said, "Rumor has it that the Ninth Prince is quite talented, but he is extremely lazy. In the study room, his grades were always last, and when the teacher scolded him, he just replied that he didn’t need to take the imperial exams, leaving the teacher speechless. In archery, horsemanship, and military strategies, he also ranked last. He said there was no need for him to learn these since he didn’t have to go to war. Besides that, his temperament is cold. Except for being close to the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince, he is quite aloof towards other princes."
Yueyao found this person very interesting.
Bai Yi thought for a moment and then added, "The Ninth Prince turned sixteen last year. Generally, princes at that age would be appointed to some post. Last year, the Emperor intended for him to train at the Ministry of War, but after three days, he refused to go, saying it was too tiring and not as comfortable as being at home." If this Ninth Prince weren’t a legitimate child, he might be an obscure prince forgotten by others.
Yueyao felt this person was exceptionally lazy: "The Ninth Prince is already seventeen this year. Why hasn’t he been betrothed?"
Bai Yi replied with a smile: "None of the distinguished ladies selected by the Empress appealed to him. He either said they were ugly or too short, finding faults everywhere. Being the youngest son, the Empress spoils him somewhat, letting him be."
Yueyao’s heart skipped a beat: "Does he have a fondness for beauty?" If he did, sending Tingzheng to the Ninth Prince might be akin to a sheep entering a tiger’s den.
Bai Yi shook his head: "No, the Ninth Prince doesn’t care for power, money, or beauty. As for what he likes, no one knows."
Initially, Yueyao found the Ninth Prince quite intriguing, but after hearing this, a sense of apprehension grew in her heart. She didn’t know why she felt a sense of dread towards him. Everyone has flaws, yet the Ninth Prince seemed to have none.