It's Time to Give It Back

Night fell.

Leaving Marquis Xian'an's Manor, Ling Qiyan was rather drunk. He was helped into his carriage by a servant and vomited everything into a spittoon.

Jiang Lin patted his back and advised in a low voice, "Your Highness, you should drink less in the future..."

Ling Qiyan thought in a daze. It seemed there was once an audacious poor scholar who dared to scold him with cold words after he got drunk, showing him no face at all, always making him unhappy. But that poor scholar would rub his belly to make him comfortable, and occasionally coax him, which was far more interesting than all the others who only knew how to flatter him.

Tsk, why am I thinking about him again.

After drinking the hangover-curing honey water Jiang Lin handed him, Ling Qiyan recovered some of his strength. He leaned against the soft pillow behind him and closed his eyes to rest.

He felt it was all so boring.

The profligate sons who used to idle around and seek pleasure with him had, as they grew older, all been reined in by their families to start doing proper business. They were not so easily summoned anymore. Even Zhang Yuan had been sent by his family to take up a military post, shedding his frivolous nature to become prim and proper. And now, he was even married.

After today's wedding banquet, that fellow would take his new wife south to assume his post, vowing to restore the glory of the Marquis Xian'an's Manor.

Only Ling Qiyan remained that same idle prince who had accomplished nothing. The gates of Prince Yu's Manor were now more deserted than ever.

He pondered that staying in Shangjing City was indeed rather meaningless. It might be better to go to his fiefdom early. He could ask his grandmother to request a place with good scenery and good feng shui from his Imperial Father. In spring, he could seek out flowers and walk on the green grass; in summer, he could boat on the lake; in golden autumn, he could climb mountains and hunt; in the harsh winter, he could search for plum blossoms and admire the snow. With no one to restrain him and no one to look at him with displeasure, wouldn't that be wonderful?

In any case, he had never had any great ambitions. To live such a carefree life, even if he truly was a lone star of calamity, seemed like no big deal.

And so, a couple of days later, when he went to the palace to pay his respects, Ling Qiyan casually brought the matter up with the Empress Dowager. He had even chosen a place himself, saying he wanted to go south, preferably to Jiangnan.

The Empress Dowager was stunned for a long moment, her eyes gradually turning red. She truly couldn't bear to part with her grandson.

The plan had been for Ling Qiyan to leave three years ago. Back then, the thought was that once he was married and had a family, with a companion by his side, life wouldn't be too hard even if he went away. But seeing Ling Qiyan as he was now, how could she feel at ease letting him leave like this?

"...Are you really sure?"

Ling Qiyan nodded. "I have to go sooner or later anyway. It's better to go early and adapt early."

"The south is so far away. If you really go to the south, it will be difficult to come back..."

Seeing the Empress Dowager about to wipe her tears, Ling Qiyan was startled and quickly comforted her. "Grandmother, please don't be sad. I was just saying it casually. If Grandmother can't bear for me to leave, then I'll just go a few years later."

The Empress Dowager's health had not been good these past two years. Her spirits had weakened considerably, and she would fall ill from time to time. No matter how thoughtless Ling Qiyan was, he didn't dare to cause his elderly grandmother excessive grief.

The Empress Dowager pressed a handkerchief to the corner of her eye, her heart calming a little. "It was I who was overthinking. If you truly wish to go, that would be good too. Grandmother is old; I'm afraid I can only protect you for a few more years. If Grandmother is gone, what will my Yan'er do..."

Hearing this, Ling Qiyan felt a bitter taste in his heart and lowered his voice. "Grandmother will definitely live a long and healthy life. Grandmother must always protect Yan'er."

The Empress Dowager caressed his face and sighed, "As long as Grandmother is alive for a single day, I will protect you. You are Grandmother's darling. If Grandmother doesn't protect you, who else would I protect?"

"Mm, I believe Grandmother. In the future, if Grandmother finds living in this palace boring, you can come with me to my fiefdom. I will care for Grandmother in your old age," Ling Qiyan said happily, not caring one bit if his Imperial Father would be angry upon hearing it.

"Good, good, I will go with Yan'er." A smile finally appeared on the Empress Dowager's face as she pulled her precious grandson into her arms.

Even if what Ling Qiyan said was foolish, she felt immensely comforted just by his sentiment.

After leaving the palace, Ling Qiyan was utterly bored. In no hurry to return to his manor, he had the carriage driven aimlessly through the streets.

Without realizing it, they had wandered near the Imperial Academy. Seeing students in the Imperial Academy's uniform buying things on the street, Ling Qiyan's expression faltered slightly, and he had the carriage stopped.

Those few students were selecting paper and brushes in a shop. Ling Qiyan couldn't help but recall the time back then when that poor scholar was about to take his exams, and he had accompanied him here to buy things.

'I've never seen someone as unappreciative of favors as that boy,' Ling Qiyan thought. 'There was no shortage of fine things in my Prince Yu's Manor, yet that boy stubbornly refused to use them, insisting on buying these mediocre ones.'

Stubborn as a mule.

If only his temperament hadn't been so obstinate, if he had learned to be more tactful and read people's expressions, he wouldn't have ended up being stripped of his scholarly honors.

...But that boy's life was truly a tough one. After three years in the northern frontier, he actually managed to become a fifth-rank military officer. I wonder what he's like now.

Ling Qiyan was lost in thought for a moment. The more he thought, the more restless he felt. Smelling a faint sweet fragrance in the air, he glanced outside again. Across the street was a preserved fruit shop, and its business seemed quite good.

Noticing his gaze, Jiang Lin asked with a smile, "Does Your Highness want some preserved fruits? Shall this servant go buy some for you?"

The word "no" reached his lips, spun around, and was swallowed as if by some strange impulse. Ling Qiyan lifted his chin slightly. Jiang Lin understood and, without delegating the task, went to buy them himself.

The preserved fruits, wrapped in oiled paper, were presented to Ling Qiyan. He picked up a piece and tossed it into his mouth. Chewing twice, it was pleasantly sweet and sour. He hadn't eaten it in so long, and it was quite delicious.

That poor scholar had bought this for him several times before. Ling Qiyan thought that perhaps the boy wasn't entirely clueless about how to please him. He was just too dull, and his temper was awful. His flattery always backfired, making him unhappy.

As he thought this, he suddenly found it all bland and tasteless. It was all so long ago, what was the point in remembering?

He really had been influenced by that wretched girl Xihua, always thinking about that poor scholar. How boring.

Thus, he lost all interest in eating any more of the preserved fruit. After taking a sip of water to moisten his throat, Ling Qiyan closed his eyes, casually lifted a finger, and commanded, "Back to the manor."

Elder Princess Huaying's Manor.

The Eldest Princess's face was ashen as she listened to her trusted subordinate report on the findings from Jizhou. In her fury, she smashed the teacup in her hand. "Did she really say that? Where is that woman now?"

"She has been brought back and is temporarily being held at the estate. She has indeed confessed everything. She seems to have gone mad, crying one moment and laughing the next. She even asked where her son is, saying she wants to see him."

The Eldest Princess gritted her teeth. "See her son?! She dares to think it! Keep a close watch on her, and don't let her escape again. When Prince Jing returns, bring her before His Majesty for a face-to-face confrontation!"

Such an absurd matter, truly unheard of!

Half a month ago, the Eldest Princess received a private letter from her full brother, Prince Jing. In the letter, Prince Jing told her something that left her utterly astounded.

Her imperial brother's eldest son, her nephew, Prince Yu Ling Qiyan, was very likely a fake prince—a case of swapping a leopard cat for the crown prince!

In the letter, Prince Jing was deeply worried and repeatedly urged her to send a trustworthy person to investigate the matter thoroughly first. The matter was of grave importance, so how could she dare to delay? She immediately dispatched her trusted subordinate to Guang County in Jizhou.

The Eldest Princess had spent half a month on tenterhooks. Today, the person she sent out had finally returned to report to her that Ling Qiyan was, indeed, a fake prince. He was the son of the hunter's family that had taken in the Empress back then. The one who switched the babies was the hunter's wife. But that woman was no ordinary village woman from the mountains; she was the long-missing daughter of the Marquis Zhenbei's Manor, her imperial brother's former fiancée, Lady Yun.

After the fall of the Marquis Zhenbei's Manor, all the female members were made into official slaves. Unwilling to be reduced to such a fate, Lady Yun bribed a government clerk to obtain travel papers and secretly fled. She had wanted to seek refuge with the Emperor, who was still leading troops on the border at the time. But how far could a weak woman, with no strength to even truss a chicken, possibly get? As soon as she reached Jizhou, she was robbed of both her money and her virtue. The gold and silver jewelry she had secretly hidden on her person when her home was confiscated were all gone, and she had lost her chastity.

Nearly driven mad, Lady Yun wandered to Xiayao Village, where she was rescued by a hunter surnamed Wen.

Later, she married that hunter and soon became pregnant. She had intended to live out the rest of her life in that small mountain village, until the appearance of Lady Shen, who had been escorted by a maidservant while fleeing for her life.

Back when Lady Yun and Lady Shen were still unmarried young ladies, they had not gotten along well. Lady Yun was stunningly beautiful, and while Lady Shen was slightly less so, she was exceptionally talented. Both were prominent among the noble ladies of Shangjing, so naturally, they competed in everything. In the matter of the imperial prince's selection of a consort, Lady Yun had won against Lady Shen, which further soured their relationship. But Lady Yun's fate was ultimately poor. Two months before her wedding, disaster struck her family, and her circumstances were turned upside down. Her status as the prince's consort was taken by Lady Shen, while she was reduced to a village woman. Seeing Lady Shen, who, though disheveled, was still noble and precious, and pregnant with the child of the man who had once pledged his heart to her, how could she not feel resentment and hatred?

Simply because she was unreconciled and jealous of Lady Shen, Lady Yun conceived a wicked idea and secretly switched the two newborn babies.

The hunter's son soared to become the legitimate eldest son of the Emperor, while the Emperor's own son was cast into the mire, growing up in poverty and hardship. He was framed, his official career was cut short, and he was forced onto the battlefield, starting as the lowest-ranking foot soldier. If not for the protection of his true dragon bloodline, his bones would have long since turned to dust!

The Eldest Princess had never imagined that the Lady Yun who had seemed so gentle and weak back then could be so audacious as to confound the imperial bloodline, fooling them into raising another's child for twenty years while her imperial brother's own flesh and blood suffered and wandered outside. If Prince Jing hadn't accidentally discovered the truth this time, they might have been deceived for a lifetime!

A dull thud came from outside the door. The Eldest Princess shouted sharply, "Who's there!"

A matron by her side opened the door. Standing outside was Xihua, her hand clamped tightly over her mouth, her wide eyes filled with incredulous shock.

The Eldest Princess had her pulled inside. The person who came to report bowed and retreated. After the door was closed, it was a long while before Xihua asked in a trembling voice, "Is it true? Is Big Cousin really not His Majesty's son?"

"Yes," the Eldest Princess nodded, her expression grim.

"...Then what will happen to Big Cousin? If His Majesty and Her Majesty, the Empress find out, will he surely die?"

The Eldest Princess was at a loss for words. This was a question she couldn't answer either. After all, he was a child she had watched grow up; she cared for Ling Qiyan too. But how he would ultimately be dealt with was not for her to decide.

However, from what she knew of the Emperor, he was a man who prized his reputation above all else. For such a monumental humiliation to befall the imperial family, one that also involved a woman he once loved, the Emperor would likely find it hard to let go. That child, Ling Qiyan, would probably not be able to live. Not to mention, there was also the Empress, who already disliked the child immensely. If Lady Shen learned the truth, she would probably hate Ling Qiyan enough to tear him to shreds.

Xihua shot to her feet. "No, I have to go tell Grandmother. Only Grandmother can save Big Cousin. She will never watch Big Cousin die."

The Eldest Princess frowned and had someone push her back down. "You will sit down! You are not to interfere in this matter, and you are certainly not to speak of it to the Empress Dowager!"

"Why?" Xihua's voice was already tinged with tears. "Why can't I tell Grandmother?"

"Your grandmother's health has been poor these past two years; she has been ill on and off. If she finds out the truth, how heartbroken will she be? I'm afraid the shock would make her fall ill and never recover!"

"But can this matter be hidden just by not speaking of it? Grandmother will find out sooner or later..."

Before Xihua could finish, she was cut off by the Eldest Princess. "Even if she is to be told, His Majesty will personally tell her. It is not your place to meddle! You are not to get involved!"

"Mother, how can you be like this?! Don't you care for Big Cousin too? Just because he isn't His Majesty's biological son? Twenty years of affection between aunt and nephew, is it all gone just like that?"

The Eldest Princess hardened her heart and said coldly, "Think of your real big cousin. You know him too, that Wen Ying you once met. He is your cousin. Such a fine child, skilled in both literary and martial arts, who was supposed to have the fate of an imperial scion. How has he lived all these years? He humbled himself to become a retainer in Prince Yu's Manor, only to be driven out and even lose his scholarly honors. He had no choice but to go to the battlefield and fight for his future with blood and his life. But that Prince Yu's Manor should have been his! What Ling Qiyan stole, it's time to give it back!"

Before Xihua could say more, the Eldest Princess waved her hand wearily. "Go back to the Duke's Manor. Don't go running around outside for a while. Just pretend you don't know anything. Don't speak of it to anyone, and don't ask any more questions."

Northwest, border city, Prince Jing's Manor.

Since the assassination attempt in Prince Jing's Manor that day, Wen Ying had remained here. Prince Jing only said he was terribly sorry and insisted that he stay to recover from his injuries. But Wen Ying vaguely felt that Prince Jing's attitude towards him was somewhat strange.

Not only had he assigned numerous eunuchs, page boys, and maids to attend to his daily needs, but everything from his food and clothing to his daily necessities was of the highest quality, truly exceeding his status. No matter how much he refused, Prince Jing simply told him to accept it and not be polite.

This prince also pulled him aside daily to ask about trivial matters from his childhood home, about his years of study, and his experiences after joining the army. He inquired about everything, down to the smallest detail, and often sighed, his eyes filled with pity and remorse when he looked at him.

Wen Ying had a faint guess, but there were still many things he couldn't understand.

In the study, Prince Jing put down the letter sent by the Eldest Princess and sat in his chair, silent for a long time.

Even though he had been almost certain before, actually receiving the definitive answer still left his mind in turmoil for a long while.

Wen Ying was led in and was about to salute when Prince Jing stopped him.

"Does Your Highness have something to say to this subordinate general?"

Seeing Prince Jing hesitate, his expression troubled, Wen Ying took the initiative to ask.

Prince Jing stood up and, for the countless time in so many days, carefully sized up this child.

He was already twenty years old, taller and bigger than him, his uncle. His personality was steady, yet he did not lack drive and fierceness. And he was a true talent, skilled in both literary and martial arts. His imperial brother would surely be very pleased with such a child, wouldn't he?

If he could have grown up properly by their side, he would have been made the Crown Prince long ago, and perhaps the conflicts among his other nephews would have been much fewer.

Everything was a twist of fate.

Fortunately, heaven took pity, and this child has finally returned.

Fortunately, although he had lived a hard life, he had also met many benefactors: the old scholar who sponsored his studies, the retired old general who taught him martial arts, the director at the Imperial Academy who had given him much care, his sworn brother who had always helped him after he enlisted, and the Heir of Duke Jing who had promoted and appreciated him. It was because of these people that he was who he was today.

"You mentioned before that old Mr. Zhao who sponsored you has no children or grandchildren left. In the future, don't forget to repay him. You must settle him well so that he can enjoy his old age in peace."

"Your martial arts master, old General Zhou, was once my comrade-in-arms. I have already written to him, and he praised you greatly to me. If you have the chance to see him again, remember to thank him in person."

"The director and other scholars at the Imperial Academy gave you much care in the past. You must learn to repay kindness with kindness. The silver that Director Lin lent you that day, remember to repay it twofold when you go back. But you must keep this favor firmly in your heart."

"Although that Zheng Mu is a rough man, I hear he is quite capable. You can keep him by your side as a trusted subordinate. That would also honor your sworn brotherhood with him."

"General Lin is the Heir of Duke Jing. The Duke Jing's Manor is deeply rooted and powerful in the court. If you can befriend him, it will certainly be beneficial in the future. He appreciates you very much. When you return to the capital, don't grow distant from him. But you also must not interact too much, lest you arouse the suspicion of His Majesty and the Crown Prince. You must grasp the measure of this yourself."

Prince Jing's tone was entirely that of an elder guiding a junior, teaching him earnestly. Wen Ying listened seriously, finding it truly strange, but he suppressed his doubts and respectfully complied, "This subordinate general will take all of Your Highness's words to heart."

Prince Jing let out a long sigh. "Child, don't call yourself 'this subordinate general' anymore. And don't call me 'Your Highness' either. Call me Fifth Uncle."