“Does a twitching right eye bring misfortune or fortune?”

Chen Ji sat in the main hall of Fengtai Post Station, unconsciously rubbing his right eyelid. Ever since he woke up that morning, his right eyelid had been twitching incessantly, unsettling him.

Across the Eight Immortals table, Zhang Xia, dressed in fiery red, explained with a smile, “There are many different interpretations. Regionally, people north of the Yangtze River usually say a right eye twitch brings misfortune, while those south of the Yangtze say it brings fortune. According to Daoist Yin-Yang theory, the left eye represents Yang and signifies great auspiciousness, while the right eye represents Yin and signifies great misfortune.”

Chen Ji rubbed his right eyelid again and murmured, “Then it must be misfortune… Is someone secretly trying to harm me?”

Xiao Man, who was on his right, heard this and secretly glanced at Madam Liang, who was not far away. She whispered, “Young Master, it must be her!”

Zhang Xia asked curiously, “Could it be due to a lack of sleep? Later, I’ll have Xiao Man prepare a hot, damp cloth for you to soothe your eyes.”

Chen Ji lowered his hand from his eye and said, “No need, it’ll stop soon.”

Zhang Zheng lay slumped on the table, saying feebly, “How much longer do we have to stay in Fengtai? The capital is almost in sight, why did we suddenly stop?”

For seventeen days, they had traveled non-stop since leaving Guyuan, concealing their identities the whole way. Only after they left Shanzhou territory did everyone finally relax.

Just when everyone thought it would be smooth sailing from then on, the Crown Prince stopped in Fengtai and remained there for three days straight.

No one knew why the Crown Prince, having reached the doorstep of the capital, chose not to return.

Zhang Xia suddenly whispered, “I guess the Crown Prince doesn’t want to return to the capital looking dishevelled and defeated.”

Chen Ji looked over, and Zhang Xia continued, “My father once said that the most difficult ‘official position’ in this world is that of the Crown Prince. Everyone thinks his status is high, yet he holds no real power. The Emperor both hopes for his success and guards against his change; father guards against son, son against father, elder brother against younger brother, and younger brother against elder brother.”

Zhang Zheng’s eyes widened, and the hairs on his arms stood on end. “Don’t ever learn to speak like Father, so unrestrained!”

“What’s wrong with Chen Ji hearing it?” Zhang Xia glared at him, then looked at Chen Ji. “The most crucial aspects of the succession struggle are, first, imperial favor, and second, partisan factions. Too many factions invite the Emperor’s suspicion, but too few make it impossible to get things done. The Crown Prince’s trip to Guyuan was originally intended to control the Hu family behind the Prince of Fu. But now that the Hu family remains unconquered, if he returns to the capital looking dejected, it’s highly likely that some aristocratic families will switch their allegiance to the Prince of Fu.”

Chen Ji sighed, “The path to succession is like walking a tightrope to heaven; one misstep can lead to eternal damnation.”

Zhang Zheng said curiously, “But the Crown Prince doesn’t seem worried at all. He even had the mind to go to Qingfeng Temple to burn incense and worship the God of Literature!”

Just then, the sound of carriages and horses was heard outside Fengtai Post Station, and a carriage stopped in front of its entrance.

A young man in a green, round-collared official’s robe diligently attended to the carriage, placing the mounting block and lifting the curtain.

From inside the carriage stepped a middle-aged man wearing a black gauze cap, a red robe, and a jade belt. He politely cupped his hands toward the post station’s interior and asked, “May I ask if these gentlemen are from the Imperial Guards?”

Qi Zhenzhuo stood up and replied, “That’s right.”

Zhang Xia quickly whispered, “Someone from the Imperial Palace bureaucracy. He’s wearing a Three-Mountain Cap but not a python robe, so he should be a Rank Four official. He has a Rank Six eunuch in a green robe and a flat-topped cap attending him, so he’s likely a supervising eunuch from one of the Directorates. But if he were from the Directorate of Imperial Stables, he’d have guards, not a junior eunuch. As for the Directorates of Imperial Food, Imperial Treasures, Imperial Seals, Royal Chambers, Sacred Palace, Imperial Supplies, and All Affairs, they don’t usually travel. And we’ve seen all the eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial… Hmm, it’s Wang Chao from the Directorate of Equipage. He’s in charge of imperial processions. This man has always been peaceable, and he’s the Empress Dowager’s man.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the middle-aged man outside the door said in a soft, gentle voice, “Your humble servant, Wang Chao, Supervising Eunuch of the Directorate of Equipage, requests an audience with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

Xiao Man’s eyes sparkled. “Sister A-Xia, you’re amazing!”

“Please wait a moment, Supervisor,” Qi Zhenzhuo quickly ran upstairs. About half an incense stick later, the Crown Prince gracefully came downstairs, holding up his robe.

Wang Chao hurried forward a few steps. “Your Royal Highness, I haven’t seen you in months, you’ve become so thin!”

The Crown Prince asked with a smile, “May I ask what official business brings Supervisor Wang to Fengtai?”

Wang Chao smiled. “Your Royal Highness, you may not know this, but your stories are now being told in every teahouse in the capital!”

The Crown Prince asked, puzzled, “Oh? What stories are they spreading about me?”

Wang Chao explained, “Seven days ago, the border army sent an urgent dispatch from six hundred li away to the capital, and everyone learned of the great victory at Guyuan. Someone bought the story of Guyuan from the border army. Now, the tale of Your Royal Highness leading the Imperial Guards to slay over six hundred enemies and Commander Li beheading an enemy general on the battlefield has become the most popular story in the capital’s teahouses. If a storyteller can’t recount this tale, their teahouse will have no customers; but if one does, it’s sure to be packed with people.”

The Crown Prince was surprised. “Such a thing happened?”

Chen Ji suddenly felt that this plot twist was remarkably familiar.

Back when he won the Buddhist debate at Luhun Villa against the Buddhist Son, Zhang Li had written a storybook overnight and spread it throughout the land. Storytellers were paid a hundred copper coins for each performance, using it to suppress the influence of Buddhism and win over believers.

No wonder the Crown Prince wasn’t rushing back to the capital; instead, he went to Qingfeng Temple to burn incense and worship the God of Literature. It turned out he was having the Daoist court build momentum for him.

At this point, Wang Chao smiled slightly. “Your Royal Highness, the common people are now inquiring about your whereabouts and eagerly awaiting your return to the capital. When you return, the people will welcome you on both sides of the road, and flowers will pave your way; it will be quite a spectacle.”

The Crown Prince shook his head. “That’s not good; it might disturb the common people.”

Wang Chao laughed. “How could it disturb them? The people will be too delighted. His Majesty has also heard of this matter and has summoned you to return to the capital tomorrow, to have an audience at You-shi (5-7 PM), and to share supper with him. I am here to escort Your Royal Highness back to the capital… Oh, and also Lord Li Xuan and Chen Ji of the Chen family.”

Chen Ji’s heart stirred.

The Crown Prince asked, “When shall we depart? Shall we leave now?”

Wang Chao replied with a smile, “No rush. An audience with His Majesty is of utmost importance, and your humble servant still has many preparations to make. First, Your Royal Highness’s ceremonial attire and crown are on their way, so tomorrow you can appear in full splendor and let the people witness the imperial grandeur. Also, young Master Chen is having his first audience, and there are many rules he needs to be taught.”

The Crown Prince nodded. “Very well, I’ll leave everything to Supervisor Wang’s arrangements.”

Wang Chao gestured to the person behind him. “Wang He, I have a few more words with His Royal Highness. After you’ve parked the carriage, come and instruct young Master Chen. Under no circumstances should he make a blunder before His Majesty and jeopardize the future of a young hero.”

The young eunuch in the green, round-collared robe behind him quickly cupped his hands and said, “Yes, sir.”

The Crown Prince led Wang Chao upstairs. Chen Ji looked around the main hall, then said to Wang He, “Let’s go upstairs to talk; it’s quieter in the guest rooms.”

Wang He smiled. “Young Master Chen, please return to your room and wait for a moment. Your humble servant will come after parking the carriage.”

Chen Ji agreed, “All right.”

With that, he led Xiao Man, Zhang Zheng, and Zhang Xia upstairs.

After Wang He led the carriage to the back courtyard, Madam Liang also stood up and went to the back courtyard. “Eunuch Wang He.”

Wang He was momentarily startled. “And you are, Madam?”

Madam Liang took a tael of silver fragments from her sleeve and handed them to Wang He, saying with a smile, “I am Chen Ji’s mother. Now that he finally has the chance to meet His Majesty, I hope you will kindly teach him the palace rules thoroughly, so he absolutely does not commit any impropriety before the Emperor.”

Wang He weighed the silver fragments in his hand and chuckled. “Don’t worry, Madam.”

After Madam Liang left, he sneered softly and casually tucked the silver into his sleeve.

After parking the carriage, Wang He went to Chen Ji’s guest room. Upon entering, he dropped all pleasantries and immediately spoke at a rapid pace: “Tomorrow, when you have your audience, you must wear dark-colored clothing; no yellow, white, green, or red. You must not carry any personal items. You will enter through Xuanwu Gate and wait at Dongye Gate, where the Jie Fan Guards will search you. You cannot bring swords, seals, or even a piece of paper…”

Wang He recited the rules by heart, but his pace was so fast that it was almost impossible to hear or remember them.

Xiao Man complained, “Why are you speaking so fast?”

Wang He chuckled. These were the rules one could expect for a mere tael of silver fragments; he only needed to state them fully, whether they were remembered was up to the other party.

He continued, “Young Master Chen, your humble servant has said everything that needs to be said. Please commit it to memory today, and by no means delay important matters tomorrow.”

With that, he turned and left. Xiao Man tried to stop him, but Zhang Xia held her back.

After Wang He left, Xiao Man complained, “Why are there so many rules for an imperial audience? And what’s with that little eunuch? It’s as if he’s deliberately targeting our young master!”

Zhang Xia calmly said, “If no one teaches these rules, even if you enter the palace and meet His Majesty, it’s very easy to be punished. When the late Emperor was alive, there was a brilliant scholar from a humble family whose essay was appreciated by the late Emperor even before the palace examination, showing great promise to become the top scholar. But when he entered the palace for the examination, no one reminded him of the proper protocol. A piece of paper was found in his sleeve by the Jie Fan Guards at Dongye Gate, and he was flogged and expelled from the palace. There was also another scholar from a humble family who was reprimanded by court officials in court for an improper kneeling posture. Xiao Man, those people set these rules to ‘devour’ others.”

Xiao Man grew anxious. “What should we do then? What if it ruins Young Master’s future…”

Zhang Xia smiled, pointing to her head. “Why worry? All these rules are in my head.”