377: Passing Humor

Passing Humor

"Shan, psst! Hey, Shan... Shan, wake up, it's me!"1

Prince Yi knit his brows and looked over to the bars. He had thought he was hearing things when he heard his name. Only two people used his name, so when he glanced through the bars and saw an Imperial guard, he had thought he was hearing things. 

But no, Zhao Chang was indeed on the other side of the bars, although strangely dressed as an Imperial guard, "What are you wearing?" Prince Yi asked with a frown.

"My uniform." Zhao Chang proudly proclaimed, dusting off imaginary dust from his armor. 

"Your father let you be an Imperial guard?" Prince Yi asked, knitting his eyebrows in disbelief. 

"Of course not." Zhao Chang responded with a scoff, "I applied and got through on my own. But you know, being an Imperial guard is a lot more work than I thought it would be."

"It's not supposed to be easy." Prince Yi said as he sat up and massaged his forehead, "Why an Imperial guard, though? You're not exactly one for instructions an -"

"Hey, don't insult. I can follow instructions too... when I feel so inclined." Bao Zhun defended, narrowing his eyes at Prince Yi, "Anyway, this is all your fault." He said as he positioned the chair he brought with him in front of the bars. He then sat down, crossed his legs, and folded his arms.

"How so?" Prince Yi asked with a raised eyebrow, amused. It was good to see a friendly face that did not cause him stress. The only other person who visited was Princess Nalan, and she was well... not precisely a presence that put his mind at ease. Still, he had to acknowledge that she tried. 

Zhao Chang let out a heavy sigh and then narrated how he came to be an Imperial guard. He had asked to see the Emperor several times to discuss Prince Yi's matter, but people either ignored or dismissed him, even his own father saw him as inconsequential!

He realized he was not going to be able to meet the Emperor by asking "nicely". But it was not like he could not break into the Palace to see the Emperor, even if he was not that stupid. He would be run through before he even set eyes on the Emperor or would have just ended up in a cell next to Prince Yi. Then who would plead who?

Instead, he then came up with the bright idea of joining the Imperial guards. He thought this way he would have an all-access pass to the Emperor. His background aside, he was actually quite skilled at martial arts, not the best but skilled enough. When he was younger, he had once considered joining the army but his father vehemently refused.

Unlike Defense minister Lei, he did not fancy the idea of his only son dying in battle. His father wanted him to go the "safe" civil officer route and pass the national exam. After failing six years in a go, he did manage to barely pass. But by that point, he had become disillusioned with his father did not feel like being the dutiful son anymore. He traveled, had fun, and lived life. He and Prince Yi actually used to travel together when they were younger, this was before Prince Yi got roped into politics and court business...and look where that got him. 

Anyway, he managed to get in - it helped that he had a few friends in decent government positions. Getting in was actually the easy part, meeting the Emperor was unexpectedly the hard part. He knew the Palace was big, but he really had no idea beforehand how huge it was. Other than that, his major problem was the inner Palace. The Emperor rarely left the inner Palace, and even when he did, it was even harder to catch. Contrary to what he expected, he did not actually have a license to free roam the Imperial palace. 

Zhao Chang naturally tried to get assigned to the inner Palace. But apparently, there was a whole other vetting process that he had to pass. The inner palace guards were hand-chosen by the Commander of the Imperial guards, Commander An. Even meeting the captain of the guards was also proving difficult as the captain of guards worked in the inner palace. In his two months here, he had not been able to accomplish even that. 

It was all very depressing. At least, he finally managed to "talk" his way into getting assigned to the prison, after two months! 

Zhao Chang sighed, "You've lost weight..." He said as he looked Prince Yi over with knit eyebrows. 

{...Even in prison he still somehow manages to look handsome...not fair...}

Prince Yi frowned, "I told you to leave the matter alone and then you do this? If talking helped, do you think I would be here?" Prince Yi asked with a frown, why doesn't anyone ever listen to him?

  "I was going to leave it alone but it's getting too much. Do you have any idea what they've been saying about you out there? And your so-called brother is not doing anything about it. Tch, I'm sure he's the one that started it. From what I've heard, no one even brings you up in court anymore. At this rate, you may end up being forgotten here -"

To Zhao Chang's astonishment, Prince Yi snorted. "It's not funny." Zhao Chang said, narrowing his eyes at him.

"No, it definitely isn't." Prince Yi said, breaking into a proper laugh. Zhao Chang knit his brows and just watched as Prince Yi's mocking laughter grew louder and louder. It was clear that prison had clearly taken a toll on his friend.

Finally, Prince Yi's laughter died down but then he went on to say some even more shocking words, "It's true you know...those rumors." He clarified, looking at Zhao Chang with a vague expression.

Zhao Chang raised his eyebrows and blinked in surprise, he opened his mouth but no words came out.

Prince Yi looked up at the stony ceiling and lightly sighed, "Of course, they were my older brother's ideas to start with, I didn't oppose though, not really anyway... I also didn't change anything when I took over so..." Prince Yi shrugged.

"So yes, we did blackmail slaves into fighting for us. We needed people for our army and who better than the disgruntled people of fallen nations to pick from The promise of freedom and reuniting them with their families was an attractive idea. Ah, I did stop killing their family members once I took over though, that was just unnecessary. But we did try to lead a coup, which failed, my older brother's idea and it said that I may or may not have been planning the second coming." Prince Yi finished with another shrug. 

Zhao Chang was silent for a few seconds and then blurted, "Are you drunk already?"

Prince Yi narrowed his eyes at him and Zhao Chang scratched his head, "I guess not... Well, I must say I am surprised but... I can't blame you. You were simply making the most out of the situation. Given your family's track record, it was either you or him. As for the slaves, well... I mean, no one hates the royal family more than them, capitalizing on that is actually pretty smart." He rationalized and then gave a resolute nod, "I understand, you have my support."

Prince Yi blankly stared at him for a bit and then shook his head with a light chuckle, "You're an idiot." 

"Says the person who just admitted to treason. Even if you're tortured to death you're not supposed to admit it." Zhao Chang said, shaking his head in disappointment, "At this rate, how are we supposed to successfully lead a coup?" 

This made Prince Yi laugh, this time in good humor. He did not know why he said all that. But perhaps he wanted to test the extent of this friendship, or perhaps he was really going crazy stuck in this box. Regardless, there was no point hiding anything anymore. This was what the Emperor wanted, was it not? The whole world knew, even if he denied it, who would believe him.

Prince Yi inwardly sighed, he had to admit he still had a much better life compared to other prisoners. He got fresh clothes and sheets once a week, a bowl of hot water to clean himself every day, hot tea served three times a day. But the odd thing was every single meal of his was a nutritional soup, each more nutritional than the last. He would get ginseng chicken soup with no chicken, rice, or even vegetables, and that was on a good day. Sometimes, it was as if they just fed him medication.

The only time he had real tangible food was when Princess Nalan came by once a week. He had no idea what sort of sick game the Emperor was playing with him, but he was certain that this was all to humiliate him. Still, he could not die here so he would keep swallowing his pride and taking it all in. 

"Forget all that. I brought something good for you~" Zhao Chang declared as he reached into his collar and pulled out a deerskin pouch, "Wine! You've missed it, right? Bring the cups and your chair over Let's hurry, I can't stay much longer. These Imperial guards are really too stuffy you know, I paid a fortune just to get these few minutes here? I mean it's not like I asked for the keys - I tried but they didn't respond. But talking is already so expensive, can you imagine what it would cost to get the keys?"

Prince Yi shook his head again with a slight smile as he complied with his friend's request and went over with a stool and the cups as instructed. Zhao Chang reached in and took the cups from him while Prince Yi sat down and watched as Zhao Chang haphazardly filled the cups while trying to balance them on his lap. 

Prince Yi took the cup that was handed to him, Zhao Chang clinked his cup and downed the contents in one swift move. While Prince Yi just held the cup and watched his friend, "The palace is not a place to mess around, you should leave."

Zhao Chang rolled his eyes and squinted at him, "I'm not messing around. It would surprise you to know that I quite like having a job. The early mornings are a bit much - but the training sessions and such are interesting enough. Oh, that reminds me, I saw her!" 

Prince Yi's heart skipped as a face jumped to the forefront of his mind. He frowned, annoyed with himself. He was already in this kind of situation, yet he still had those irritating thoughts. 

"Something wrong?" Zhao Chang asked with a pause, scanning Prince Yi's face.

"No, nothing. Who did you see?" Prince Yi asked, schooling his face back to passive interest. 

"Oh, your Princess Nalan." Zhao Chang said as he refilled his cup, "Seemed like she was escorting her visitor out - Ah, it was that man that came with her, followed her brother around, Mobin I think. Anyway, nothing for you to worry about I'm sure~" He said, trying to soothe Prince Yi's ruffled feathers, "She looked good. I thought you should know." He finished with a smile.

Prince Yi sighed and sipped the wine. Of course, it was not the person who appeared in his mind. Zhao Chang just admitted he was unable to glimpse the Emperor's shadow, it would be much more impossible for him to have actually seen her.

"And your father? I can't imagine he is satisfied with a mere guard position..." Prince Yi lazily asked, steering the conversation back to Zhao Chang's new job.

Zhao Chang scoffed, "We are no longer each other's problem. Last I heard he was planning on taking in more concubines to have new children since his current ones are such failures. I have moved out of his house~" He proclaimed with a proud smile, sipping the wine.

"Moved out? With what money?" Prince Yi asked in surprise. Zhao Chang was a spendthrift, who often wasted his money on courtesans. Not to mention he liked the finer things in life, there was no way he could afford a manor of his taste. 

Zhao Chang cleared his throat and then awkwardly admitted, "Actually, uh... I moved in with my sister. I mean it was a joint effort.."

"Your sister?" Prince Yi went with a raised eyebrow.

Zhao Chang sighed, "Ohh... Apparently, a residence came with her Princess promotion. She had declined it at first and returned home, but at some point, I'm not sure what really happened between them, I was here...at work~. Lan er' and my father had a huge falling out, not even the servants know and I tried asking but she won't talk. Anyway, that is irrelevant. She went back and pleaded with the Empress for a residence and that was it! She moved out and I, showing support as her older brother, went along to protect her~" 

"I see..." Prince Yi said as he sipped on his wine. 

"It was a great episode. Can you believe he threatened to disown us if we actually moved out? Me I can understand, but Lan er' has been his golden child all these years. For him to just..." Zhao Chang sighed and refilled their cups, "I guess, not getting your brother really ruined their relationship. Ah, I've got some good news on that front." He lit up with a smile, "I've been talking to my sister about you recently. Now that my father's out of the way, she doesn't seem too opposed to the idea anymore. So don't worry too much, if that Zou princess changes her mind, we'll definitely take you in~"

Prince Yi blinked at him and then burst into laugher as he shook his head. It was insane that someone would say such words to him at this point. Who would want a fallen prince in their household? He was probably worse than the plague to anyone sensible person right now. 

"I mean it. This -" Zhao Chang paused, dismissively waved at Prince Yi's cell, and continued, "This is only temporary, minor detail to overcome. Anyway, that's a topic for later. For now, let's relax and drink, quick. I can't stay much longer." He said, topping up Prince Yi's cup and urging him to drink more.

Prince Yi smiled and drank with his friend while listening to him complain about the lack of respect he had to experience in the Palace and how he suspected that his father had something to do with it. He believed that Prime minister Zhao was trying to make his life miserable so he would come back home. 

Prince Yi honestly did not buy into the idea of Prime minister Zhao meddling in Zhao Chang's life in the palace. His father did not need to, Zhao Chang was more than capable of messing things up himself, structure was not how he lived life. Zhao Chang was like a lost child in the palace, but Prince Yi kept his thoughts to himself.

Zhao Chang stayed for a few more minutes, then left with his chair and all was quiet in his life again. Prince Yi sighed as he stared about his empty cell. Although he still doubted the true reason behind Zhao Chang's presence here, he was glad for the company. But he was certain that Zhao Chang could not be here without the Emperor's knowledge and approval. 

Zhao Chang may not know this, but Prince Yi knew that the men who watched him were the Emperor's personal guards. He did not have any proof for that conclusion, but he understood how his brother operated well enough. They were not a group Zhao Chang could bribe his way into.

Prince Yi knew the Emperor was toying with him, although try as he might he could not figure out exactly what the Emperor wanted with Zhao Chang here. Why allow him to become an Imperial guard? Why allow him into the prison to see him? What was the point of that?

Prince Yi sat in place for a long time contemplating but he could not figure this out. In the end, he sighed and gave up trying to understand. It did not matter. Whatever angle the Emperor was working, he will have to submit for now. Go along with everything and let the Emperor have his way.

This way, he could have his own way tomorrow. 

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