Too high to reach

Chapter 12 Dark Clouds Flow
In the inner palace, the young crown prince entered the Longevity Palace with a warm smile on his face.

When the palace maids and eunuchs saw him arrive, they all bowed respectfully.

He waved his hand gently, without any airs.

In the small outer hall, a young boy and girl were playing chess when they saw the prince and his companion stand up.

"Crown Prince!" The boy looked to be eight or nine years old, with fair skin and a beautiful face, even prettier than a girl.

The little girl next to him was a bit younger than the boy, wearing a soft pink silk dress, with delicate features. She bowed respectfully and said, "Your Highness!" in a soft, childlike voice.

The two of them standing together looked like a perfect couple.

The Crown Prince looked at them with a deep smile for a while. Then, he coughed lightly: "Fifteenth Brother, didn't you go to class?" His face darkened, but his eyes still held a smile.

The boy's name was Li Chen, his fifteenth brother, the emperor's youngest son, born to Consort Dong.

Li Chen said with a smile, "Today, Grandmother is making fish skin and shrimp shumai, filled with whole shrimp! Chef Liu's eyes lit up when he heard that. My brother is here to keep Grandmother company. I'll bring another basket back for Chef Liu in a little while."

"Oh? How did Chef Liu know what food was prepared in the Empress Dowager's palace?"

Li Chen's dark eyes darted around, unsure how to answer. The little girl beside him covered her mouth and laughed.

The crown prince smiled, glanced at them again, and turned to enter the inner hall.

The palace maids serving nearby all felt their hearts flutter when they saw this elegant, handsome, and gentle crown prince.

The inner hall was warm and cozy, with large potted clivia plants blooming with red and yellow flowers. Incense smoke rose from the bronze incense burner adorned with cranes... Luxurious decorations were everywhere. In front of a giant screen, a wide chaise lounge was placed, where a richly dressed noblewoman sat, leaning against the armrest, seemingly dozing.

"Royal grandmother?" the prince called softly.

The woman opened her eyes; she seemed genuinely asleep, her gaze momentarily hazy before clearing. Upon seeing the person before her, she paused for a moment before exclaiming, "Crown Prince?"

"Greetings to the Empress Dowager! It's my fault for waking you up!" The Crown Prince smiled warmly.

The Empress Dowager quickly sat up straight: "Why have you come at this time? Please sit down!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The Crown Prince sat in the chair next to the Empress Dowager, looking both respectful and affectionate.

"Your Highness, you've come at the perfect time! I made..." She paused, seemingly having forgotten. Someone quickly reminded her, "Your Majesty, today's dish is fish skin and shrimp shumai!"

The Empress Dowager smiled somewhat embarrassedly: "Quickly steam a basket of these! Pour tea for the Crown Prince!"

"There's always something delicious to eat when I come to Grandmother's! I've been so busy today that I haven't even had breakfast yet!"

The Empress Dowager scolded, "Is it really necessary to be this busy? Your father is so ruthless when he orders people around! He may not care, but your grandmother does. I'll have to talk to the Emperor about it later! Also, if there's food and drink available, don't be shy. Or carry some snacks with you and eat them secretly when you have a spare moment. If you eat irregularly, your appetite will be ruined."

"Alright! Grandson will listen to his grandmother!"

"Have you gone to see your mother?"

"Now that we've arrived at the harem, of course we'll visit you first!"

"That's a good girl. When you get home today, tell your wife to bring Li'er over. I miss them!"

"Yes! Li'er said yesterday that your spring rolls are the best!"

"She's here! I'll have someone prepare the meal! Oh, have you seen Little Fifteen?"

"He's playing chess with his sister Qing'er in the outer hall!"

The Empress Dowager sighed, "Xiang Qing had no children her age to play with at home, and by the time she entered the palace, all the princesses had already married. That's why she asks me, Li'er, for everything every day!"

"If you're willing, let Li'er stay there for a few days!"

After exchanging a few pleasantries and drinking tea, the Crown Prince said, "I have some good news to tell Grandmother. Your seventh grandson is coming back!" "Ah?" The Empress Dowager blinked in confusion.

A few years ago, she suffered a serious illness and her memory became very poor. But she was afraid others would find out, so sometimes she would pretend, saying things like, "Oh, it's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!"

The Crown Prince, sensing that she hadn't remembered at all, laughed even harder, "It's my seventh brother, Prince Qi, Li Jing!"

Whether the Empress Dowager remembered or not, she continued, "Come back for the New Year! The whole family can be reunited, that's good!"

"You probably don't know, but he's incredibly capable. He won a great victory over there and made a huge contribution. When Father Emperor received the news, he was overjoyed!"

The Empress Dowager comforted him, saying, "Such a capable prince is a blessing to the Emperor and also to you."

"It is a blessing for the court, the world, and even for Your Majesty! Your Majesty, I am here to remind you that my seventh brother has been married for several years now, but he still doesn't have a wife!"

"His queen...is gone?"

A glint flashed in the Crown Prince's eyes, and he laughed, "Do you still remember me? Zhou Li, the Fairy Li who was once renowned throughout the capital!"

The Empress Dowager's eyes lit up: "Her? Oh my, I remember her well. She's such a beautiful woman, only one like her appears once every few years!" she exclaimed.

"really!"

The Crown Prince's thoughts drifted for a moment before he focused again and said, "The position of Princess Consort for my seventh brother has been vacant for several years. When he returns, Father will surely arrange this matter. But in this world, who has better judgment than you, Your Majesty? Perhaps you will have to oversee the selection!"

"I certainly deserve those words. I love girls who are both beautiful and generous. I've remembered those few good ones! This matter is now entrusted to me and your mother!"

When the shumai was served, the prince ate a whole basket without any hesitation.

Then he walked away leisurely.

As she watched his figure disappear through the door, the Empress Dowager's warm smile faded, and she looked down at the emerald bracelet on her wrist.

...Are they coming back?

……

Empress Jiang had just dismissed the maids from Consort Dong's quarters in Zixiao Palace and was frowning.

"Mother, what's wrong?" The Crown Prince entered silently and asked with concern.

The Empress was surprised: "Why have you come at this time?"

"I just finished talking to them upstairs. My son hasn't seen you for a while and misses you! What are you doing?"

The Empress snorted, "Dong Zhaolin is getting more and more troublesome; he never has a moment's peace!"

"My son just saw the Fifteenth Prince playing chess with the Empress Dowager's grandniece at the Longevity Palace."

The Empress knew that Xiao Shiwu frequently visited the Empress Dowager's palace.

The cooks in the Empress Dowager's small kitchen were quite skilled, and Xiao Shiwu was the best cook, so she hadn't paid much attention to it. But now, she suddenly realized, "Does she have that intention?"

“The Qian family has been out of power for many years, so it’s not unreasonable for her to want to help them out. That couple, they’re like a perfect match…” The Crown Prince’s eyes gleamed, and he chuckled.

"Isn't this a bad idea?" Jiang Yi is the Empress, and her son is the Crown Prince. She seems to be fearless, but she doesn't dare to relax.

The Crown Prince scoffed, "The Qian family is no use trying to help them. Little Fifteen is just a child; Master Liu says he's not very bright and has no interest in his studies. What good is Father's favor? How can he compare to my son? Let him be!"

Seeing that the Empress was still hesitating, he continued, "Mother, too much of a good thing can be bad! This is not what you should be focusing on. Li Jing is coming back, and I have already read the report... His credit is secure. Moreover, I have learned that his methods are as ruthless as ever. When he slaughtered that Supreme God King, he didn't even leave a dog behind. This time when he comes back..." The Crown Prince's eyes were deep.

"He's incredibly lucky to be alive!" Empress Jiang said bitterly.

(End of this chapter)