The illustrious Fifth Prince had made all sorts of preparations in advance.
But the moment he saw Li Chang’an, he was so frightened he cowered like a quail, not even daring to utter a single threat.
After witnessing this, the crowd of thugs who had come with the Fifth Prince all looked at each other in dismay, unsure of what to do.
’Weren’t they supposed to "take care of" this Prince on their way to the Royal Clan’s Grand Tournament?’
’So what was this supposed to be?’
But since the Fifth Prince gave no order, they didn’t dare to act. They could only follow behind, lost in their own thoughts, as they headed toward the Martial Arts Hall in the rear palace grounds.
Inside the Library Pavilion, the old man witnessed the entire exchange.
He grew increasingly pleased with Li Chang’an’s character.
He had deliberately fanned the flames, his goal being to test the limits of this young man, Li Chang’an.
It was now clear that Li Chang’an’s performance had exceeded his expectations.
...
The Martial Arts Hall was located in the rear of the Imperial Palace. It was a vast plaza, the center of which was already crowded with people.
From a distance, the fine silks and satins they wore created a picturesque scene, a clear testament to their status as wealthy and noble members of the Imperial Family.
When the Fifth Prince arrived at the plaza with Li Chang’an, the once-buzzing square quieted considerably. The eyes of every member of the Royal Family turned in their direction.
Their eyes were filled with taunting amusement.
A slightly portly prince in a Python Robe approached. He wasn’t there to greet Li Chang’an, of course. Instead, he pulled the Fifth Prince aside and whispered eagerly, "Fifth Brother, how did it go? Did you teach that insolent bastard a harsh lesson?"
’He’s the son of some lowly maidservant—the Emperor didn’t even grant him a name. And yet he has the gall to covet the supreme throne.’
Behavior like Li Chang’an’s had undoubtedly provoked the collective wrath of the court.
At the question, the Fifth Prince’s expression soured. He cautiously glanced over his shoulder at Li Chang’an. Seeing that he wasn’t paying attention, he let out a heavy sigh of relief and whispered back, "Fourth Brother, there’s something strange about that little bastard... I didn’t dare do anything to him."
Of course, he couldn’t admit that Li Chang’an had terrified him.
So he had to be evasive.
He tried to brush the matter aside with a vague answer.
Hearing this, a flicker of doubt crossed the portly Fourth Prince’s face. He glanced at Li Chang’an in the distance, then back at the Fifth Prince’s odd expression. His tone was laced with disappointment. "Tsk. And here I was hoping for good news from you. Turns out it was all thunder and no rain... Then again, I should have known. You’re completely useless!"
This jab was practically an insult hurled right in his face.
The Fifth Prince’s expression turned ugly. "Don’t blame me for not warning you," he said resentfully. "There’s something seriously unsettling about that guy. If you don’t believe me, go try him yourself!"
The Fourth Prince and Fifth Prince were close in age.
And while they often clashed, their relationship was, for the most part, decent.
Because of this, the Fifth Prince hadn’t initially intended for the Fourth Prince to get humiliated. After all, he had already experienced Li Chang’an’s strangeness firsthand; there was no need for his brother to go through it too.
But now, it seemed his well-intentioned warning was being thrown back in his face.
The Fourth Prince narrowed his eyes, his tone softening slightly. He spread his hands. "He’s already here, so it’s not my turn to test him. Haven’t you seen the Eldest Prince? His face is as black as thunder."
While the two princes were whispering, Li Chang’an had already made his way into the crowd. It was only then that he noticed Ye Xuan had also been summoned. She was currently by Emperor Yan’s side, saying something to him.
Seeing him approach, Emperor Yan, whose attitude toward Li Chang’an had always been ambiguous, surprisingly spoke up. "My dear son, come over here!"
Li Chang’an glanced at Ye Xuan, whose face was etched with a hint of fear, then at the middle-aged man in the yellow robe seated on the main throne. Ignoring the murderous glares from the surrounding princes, he walked forward.
Having not seen him for two years, Li Chang’an noted that Emperor Yan looked much older. Not only was there significantly more white in his hair, but his complexion was also far more sallow.
’It’s only natural to age quickly when you’re middle-aged and still sowing your wild oats without restraint.’
Seeing him approach, the Emperor offered a gentle smile. "I hear you’ve spent the last two years in the Library Pavilion, so much so that even your own mother has rarely seen you. What have you been so busy with?"
Li Chang’an bowed. "Reading," he replied, his tone perfectly level.
The Emperor, of course, already knew this. His pretense of asking was merely to make a statement to all the Clan Relatives present. He waved his hand dismissively. "Reading is good. Reading brings wisdom. It is rare to see such dedication, and rarer still to persist in it day after day!"
"I have been preoccupied with state affairs these past years, and have been without the company of you and your mother. I feel a deep sense of guilt whenever I think of it..."
As he spoke, he paused, his gaze sweeping over the other Princes and all the nobles of the Royal Family. Then, he continued slowly, "So, I have decided to bestow upon your mother the title of Pure Consort. I will also grant you a private residence and arrange for several tutors from the Imperial College to instruct you in the Six Arts of the Gentleman. What are your thoughts on this?"
Li Chang’an glanced at Ye Xuan and saw tears welling up in her eyes. He couldn’t help but sigh. "Your son thanks you for your generous rewards, Imperial Father!"
The Emperor’s act of rewarding Li Chang’an in front of so many nobles of the Royal Family served two purposes: it was to grant Li Chang’an the status he was due as a Prince, and it was also a warning to those with ulterior motives.
Now that Li Chang’an had the official status of a Prince, anyone who wished to move against him would have to abide by the rules of the Imperial Family.