Jade Magnolia Pilot

So this is a side project that I've been working. It's a story about the Imperial Court and the troubles of the country while also dealing with the Imperial Court's relationship with Jianghu through the eyes of our MC, an imperial prince.

If you can leave your thoughts, that would be great.

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In the dark of night, inside the estate of Rui Qinwang, all the light had been extinguished except for the light inside the study. Inside the study room, numerous candle lights flickered, making the room nearly as bright as day with nary a shadow present. 

The wide desk had numerous reports and memorials scattered throughout, and the four treasures of the study lay about in a slightly disorderly manner. On the left, there was a minty and refreshing fragrance emitting from an incense burner. 

To the side of the desk lay a wooden couch layered with a thin cloth and several cushions. A red silk blanket was folded neatly atop. The wall behind the desk was several bookshelves filled to the brim with books. Of note were the Four Books and Five Classics of Confucianism and several manuals concerning the fundamentals of martial arts.

Towards the right, it was empty, but the wall wasn’t. Numerous weapons were mounted on the wall in the display. There were shimmering swords that seemed to be able to slice through anything, a delicate saber that appeared light, a spear with a dull sheen but emitted massive bloodlust, and even a metal staff that gave off the illusion of weighing over ten elephants. Any of these treasured weapons, should they be released outside, would cause a great commotion in Jianghu.

The center of the room was none of these, but the man sitting at the study table with an arm on the table holding his forehead with his fingers, his eyes were closed as if he was napping. The purple brocade robe he wore was laced with silver embroidered vines, but the cuffs and collar were edged in brilliant gold. Noble and majestic, those clothes perfectly complemented the features of the man, Li Jiufeng, Rui Qinwang, the ninth prince.

His skin was pearly white as if it had been constantly soaked in milk all the time and his features were fine, fine to the point that his appearance alone would defeat even many women. Although his eyes were closed, the long eyelashes and the slight slant of his eyes gave one the impression of seductiveness.

But the most eye-catching feature on the man’s face was on his forehead, where a long vertical slit lay. The slit had the color of an open wound and was amplified even more by the contrast against the milky white skin.

This picturesque scene was broken when several knocks sounded.

For several moments nothing happened but then the man opened his eyes, his pupils and iris could not be separated and it resembled a pooling abyss that would cause anyone who looked to shiver, but soon he blinked and his pupils and irises separated.

“Enter.”

A masked man covered in black soundlessly entered before kneeling and raising the letter in his hand up. “Your highness, the letter has arrived.” 

Li Jiufeng motioned for the letter to be brought up. Once he opened the envelope and read the contents of the letter a cold laugh was soon heard. The black-clothed man who was still kneeling below couldn’t help but release a cold sweat as he heard the laughter. 

“What a good deal, what a good calculation!” Each word expressed his ridicule. “Wudang Sect Sect Master, you want to exchange the Imperial Family’s Five Clawed Golden Dragon Art for a mere fragment of the Nine Yang Divine Art? Good, good.”

The black-clothed man below buried his head deep into his neck, hating that he could just disappear into the ground. His master, the ninth prince, was an especially petty person who remembered every slight against him. It seems that Wudang Sect’s peaceful days would not last.

“An Yi, leave now.” An Yi saluted once more to his master and then left the room as silently as he came as if he was never there.

Now alone, Li Jiufeng leaned back against his chair and his gaze unfocused as if contemplating many things. His eyes sharpened once more and he picked up a brush and began to write on a blank piece of paper.

On the dawn of the next day, before the sun even fully rose, numerous officials lined up in two rows beneath the dragon throne.

Upon the dragon throne sat the current emperor, he was a man in his mid-fifties but his appearance was that of a man in his eighties. His skin was sickly white, aged marks speckled throughout and he exuded an aura of death. But even so, the aura of his majesty still reigned and no one below him dared to look directly.

At the very front, just below the dragon thrones and in front of the first ranked officials stood the four Qinwangs and two princes. Each one of them wears the customary black court robes.

Jing Wang, Li Wuhui, the fifth prince and son of Consort Rou.

Chen Wang, Li Qixia, the seventh prince and son of the deceased Imperial Noble Concubine formerly titled Zhao.

Gong Wang, Li Baming, eighth prince, and the second son of Empress Murong.

And finally Rui Wang, Li Jiufeng, ninth prince and the son of the deceased Imperial Noble Consort Yao.

The eleventh prince, Li Yihong, and son of Meiren Fan.

The twelfth prince, Li Erqian, and son of Imperial Concubine Yan.

Fan Zhou Emperor had a rare gentle smile on his face upon his face as he listened to the matters of state. Even if an official had been convicted of corruption, the sentence was lighter than normal. But if the corruption was deserving of death, then the death sentence would still be served. 

The emperor dismissed the morning court with no major matters being brought up, and it seemed like a perfectly normal day. Li Jiufeng was about to turn to leave, but he stopped when he saw his brothers walking towards him.

“Old nine, where are you going so soon. Is it to meet a certain lady?” The speaker was Jing Wang, Li Wuhui. His appearance wasn’t as outstanding as Li Jiufeng, but he had righteous features with sword-like brows. 

“Fifth brother, do you honestly expect little nine to have an interest in girls? Aside from those tongfangs he kept for who knows how long, there has never been a rumor of him even getting close to another woman.” The tone was lighthearted, but there contained a trace of ridicule within. The speaker was Chen Wang, Li Qixia and his look was that of a gentleman with a scholarly air.

“Isn’t it so? Ninth brother isn’t even interested in the number one beauty of One Flower Pavillion.” The speaker was Gong Wang, Li Baming and his looks were the best, only second to Li Jiufeng. But there was a deep arrogance embedded between his brows.  “I even heard rumors that ninth brother is secretly a monk. Haha.”

“Old eight!” Li Wuhui’s face turned dark. To compare someone from the Xuan Dynasty to a monk, especially since the Shaolin Temple lay outside of the Imperial Court’s reach, was especially mocking. 

“It's fine fifth brother.” Li Jiufeng’s voice was tranquil, without the slightest ripple. “Eighth brother perhaps is the one who is most interested in becoming a monk, considering how often he brings it up.”

Li Baming’s expression immediately darkened and rage appeared on his face as he glared at Li Jiufeng. 

“Haha, ninth brother sure knows how to joke.” Li Wuhui interjected at this moment before the situation became too tense. “Who doesn’t know that old nine’s fiance is the capital’s number one beauty, Murong Qingyue? Isn’t that right, old eleventh, old twelfth?”

Li Wuhui turned to look at the eleventh and twelfth prince, who was standing a little away. Although both of them were of age and had left the palace to open their estates a year or two ago, they still had not been bestowed the rank of Qinwang, making their current status awkward.

“The way I see it, ninth brother is simply someone dedicated to their work. Even when Emperor-father wanted to move ninth brother to the Ministry of Appointments, he refused.” Li Yihong said, a pleasant smile on his lips. “Ninth brother is quite amazing, just by himself he raised the importance of the Ministry of Works.”

“Fifth brother has improved the method to produce glass and even discovered a new mixture called cement. Cheap and easy to use, I heard that Emperor-father is already planning on making roads to connect the entire country. With this traveling and transportation will be faster than before.” Li Erqian added, his voice calm as if reciting simple facts.

“Indeed, ninth brother is the most talented at these matters. Emperor-father constantly praises him, telling us brothers to be more like him.” Li Wuhui said, his tone full of admiration. But only he knew how much of the admiration is genuine. 

Li Jiufeng didn’t bother even glancing at Li Baming, who had clenched his fists under his sleeves. His face had stiffened, unlike the other imperial princes who still had smiles on their faces, whether false or not.

“Your highness, Rui Wang.” A high-pitched voice caused the imperial princes to look at the newcomer. He appeared to be in his early fifties but his face was free of any facial hair and he wore the dark blue eunuch and in his hand a horsetail whisk. He was Gao Dezhong, the emperor’s most trusted eunuch.

“Is there something his majesty needs of me, Eunuch Gao?” Li Jiufeng said, his voice calm, but there was an unknown coldness within.

“His majesty indeed has a major matter, he has summoned your highness to the Jade Study. Please follow this slave.” Gao Dezhong said as he bowed to Li Jiufeng.

“His majesty has summoned me, please forgive me for not being able to accompany you any longer.” Li Jiufeng said as he bid farewell to his brothers.

“Since it’s a matter that Emperor-father summoned you for, quickly go. Do not let Emperor-father wait.” Li Wuhui said as he also bid goodbye.

“Since little nine has left, then I won’t be staying any longer.” Li Qixia said and left the Grand Hall of the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

“I haven’t seen Mother-empress in a while, so I will be leaving too.” Li Baming said as he too moved to leave.

“Old eight, you are going to Mother-empress’s palace because Miss Murong is there, aren't you?” There was a hint of warning and a hint of mockery within Li Wuhui’s voice.

Li Baming stilled before giving a frosty look at Li Wuhui and then resumed his footsteps.

Li Wuhui shook his head at the foolishness of Li Baming. “It’s just a woman in the end.” 

Li Yihong and Li Erqian looked at each other after Li Wuhui left, having been forgotten by the three titled princes after Li Jiufeng left. They could only bitterly smile at the other before leaving the Grand Hall as well.

This scene was naturally seen by the various officials, but as for what those officials thought. Only they, themselves, knew.

The emperor was reading through the memorandums with extreme seriousness when Li Jiufeng entered the Jade Study Room. Even after court ended the work of the Emperor was never-ending. The matters of state were no trifle, and emperors were often short-lived from all the stress accumulated with the position.

The emperor upon seeing Li Jiufeng placed the memorandum in his hand down and smiled gently at his ninth son. “Feng’er, you’ve come.”

Li Jiufeng’s expression was neutral, showing neither joy nor sadness at the emperor. It was as if he was not an imperial prince and the person behind the desk was not his blood-related father. “Of course, your majesty summoned me after all.”

The emperor showed no change in expression at Li Jiufeng’s indifferent response. “How have you been? We haven’t been able to talk to you for weeks. Your accomplishments have been keeping your old man busy.” The emperor chuckled.

Li Jiufeng stayed silent, only occasionally giving a yes or no answer. Although the emperor wanted to decrease the distance between them, Li Jiufeng was unwilling. 

Finally, the emperor sighed. “Your Mother-empress also misses you. Go visit her before you leave.” 

“Then excuse me, your majesty.” Li Jiufeng saluted the emperor before leaving the Jade Study to go towards the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. 

After Li Jiufeng left the Jade Study, the emperor didn’t pick up the memorandums and instead stared into space in a daze. Gao Dezhong who had returned to the emperor’s side dared not breathe too loudly and instead minimized his presence as much as possible.

Then under his breath in a voice so low that Gao Dezhong thought he had hallucinated, the emperor said. “I’m sorry, Lin’er.”