Before the Emperor left Orchid Garden Palace, he paused at the threshold, his voice calm but heavy with meaning. "You should look after your own health. Even if Hua Jin is gone, there are still other women."
This line had once been uttered in the original storyline too. Back then, Prince Jiahui had foolishly replied with, "There is only one Hua Jin in the world," which had greatly angered Li Wen.
Of course, Xu Ning wasn't so reckless. If he provoked Li Wen and got himself hastily married off just to be out of the Emperor's sight, who would be left to cry for him?
He let a hint of irrepressible sorrow rise in his expression and bowed his head respectfully. "Imperial Older Brother, right now Jiahui's head feels very chaotic. Jiahui doesn't wish to think about anything at the moment."
Li Wen narrowed his eyes slightly, and Xu Ning's heart immediately thudded in alarm. For some reason, whenever this monarch narrowed his eyes, he exuded the quiet menace of a predator sizing up its prey. Xu Ning forced himself to maintain the original host's posture and expression, but an unease gnawed at him. Was his acting really that unconvincing?
Li Wen nodded slowly. "If you need anything, I'll have your Imperial Sister-in-law send it over." Then he turned to the two palace maids. "Serve the prince well."
"Understood," Miao Qing and Yuan Dong answered in unison.
But Xu Ning noted how Yuan Dong's eyes trailed after Li Wen until he fully disappeared beyond the palace gates. Watching from the side, Xu Ning quietly shook his head.
The original host had seriously never noticed how his personal maid harbored feelings for his own brother. What a sad joke.
The following days passed quietly, with Xu Ning focusing solely on recovery. It was only during this time that he truly understood how pampered the original host's life had been.
Waves of ministers, noble courtiers, and officials came to the Orchid Garden Palace, bearing gifts and greetings. Some even brought subtle "presents"—their daughters—hoping the prince would take a liking to them based on age and looks alone.
Naturally, Xu Ning refused to meet anyone. His body hadn't fully recovered, and more importantly, he had no interest in navigating this political circus. There were far too many minor officials and nobles, many of whom he didn't even recognize. Instead, he observed how the two maids at his side handled the visitors. Surprisingly, they weren't at all fazed by this deluge of political flattery. In fact, they viewed the ministers with something close to contempt.
Xu Ning could infer from their attitudes just how the original host must have behaved—looking down on these ministers to the point that even his servants dared to do the same. That explained the arrogance that surrounded this prince like a second skin.
"Prince, why not allow this servant to bring these things to the storehouse?" Miao Qing asked as she eyed the growing pile of tributes. After a moment's hesitation, she added softly, "These people just want to use Prince's closeness with His Majesty to curry favor. They know His Majesty cherishes you. If they can get in your good graces, they'll gain influence at court."
Xu Ning didn't respond right away. The original host had long known the truth behind these sycophants. Did he need a maid to remind him of it every day?
Yet the strange part was, even as Miao Qing spoke, Xu Ning could feel a warmth in his chest. Not his own—no, it was the echo of the original host's emotions. In his heart, the original host had thought Miao Qing was a kind person, someone loyal and honest.
Xu Ning saw the deeper truth. Miao Qing wasn't wrong, but she was also driven by her own frustrations. She wasn't trying to protect the prince out of loyalty, but out of irritation toward these conniving officials. Her words came from disdain for the corruption they represented.
Instead of responding in the original host's usual indignant fury, Xu Ning simply gave her a calm, indifferent glance.
Miao Qing froze slightly at the lack of reaction. In the past, this would have set the prince off in a righteous fit about the "bastards" trying to use him. But now, he remained aloof.
A flicker of confusion and worry passed through her eyes before she quietly bowed and began gathering the tributes to place them into the storehouse.
Xu Ning leaned back against the cushions, eyes half-lidded, his thoughts drifting.
The original host had lived in a gilded cage, blind to the intentions around him, both malicious and well-meaning. If he had seen even a fraction of what Xu Ning now understood, perhaps things would have ended differently.
But that was no longer his concern.
Now, it was Xu Ning's task to live as Prince Jiahui—to correct, endure, and perhaps, rewrite a fate once soaked in tragedy.