Longjing Palace Master Zhang Zhiyuan and his wife, Lady Song, were speechless.
It was not as if Initiation Days usually went smoothly without an incident. It was an omega's big day, and someone as beautiful as Liu Wenyuan was bound to have suitors fighting for his hand.
But then, usually, the fighting suitors did not land on the ground in a tight embrace, making it look like they were involved in some macabre affair. To make matters even worse, Zhang Fengxi just had to roll around with the Crown Prince himself!
"Heavens, spare me," Zhang Zhiyuan slapped his own forehead in regret. "My Lady, do you still believe that Fengxi likes omegas? I have strong reasons to suspect that he has a thing for alphas. Granted, the Crown Prince is quite an existence to behold..."
Lady Song pursed her lips in displeasure. She smacked her fan against the table next to her in fury.
"My Lord, what are you saying??? Fengxi is a normal alpha with a normal inclination toward omegas! It was just a fight between two alphas that somehow ended in an eerie way. We must never doubt our son!!!"
While his parents were busy determining his sexual orientation, Zhang Fengxi locked himself in his bedroom and howled into his pillow out of frustration.
That prude Crown Prince, Xie Jianyu!!!
It was an accident. Accident!
Must he react as if Zhang Fengxi intended to dishonor him???
To make matters even worse, a summon arrived from the Golden Dragon Palace three days later. The prominent heirs of all palaces were invited to the main palace to learn from the Grand Tutor for the next six months. It was meant not only to educate but also to foster bonds among the princes and princesses. In the future, they would rise to be palace masters, court officials, and fill other important positions.
Three days later, Zhang Fengxi dragged his sullen self to the Golden Dragon Palace. Standing tall at the center of the Heavenly Empire, the palace almost looked like a gigantic and yet magnificent beast.
Zhang Fengxi's arrival had been expected. A smiling eunuch went out to greet him the moment he climbed off his spiritual mount.
"Welcome, Prince Zhang Fengxi. Allow me to take you to the Crystal Jade Pavilion."
The name "Crystal Jade Pavilion" struck a chord in Zhang Fengxi's heart. In his previous life, Liu Wenyuan lost his life at Crystal Jade Pond. The pavilion was built right next to it.
While Zhang Fengxi followed the eunuch, his eyes wandered left and right.
The palace was as busy as he remembered, back when the Emperor was still alive.
Important court officials went in and out of the gates. Young eunuchs and maids rushed from one building to attend to the royal family. Guards stood at their assigned spots with ramrod straight back and stern facial expressions.
In his previous life, Zhang Fengxi was used to hold the highest military power in the empire. It felt strange to walk into the palace again as his younger self, back when he was just one of the princes to inherit the palace master position. Back when he was no threat to anyone.
"We are here, Prince," the eunuch spoke again, pulling Zhang Fengxi out of his daydreams.
"Oh. Alright."
Zhang Fengxi did not immediately enter. Instead, he looked up at the familiar pavilion. When he was younger, his father told him that this pavilion used to have eighteen windows. All eighteen windows were taken off when the Empress complained about not being able to enjoy the pond's beauty without hindrances.
Never mind that the windows prevented rain and snow from soiling its interior. The architects must come up with a better design! And so they worked on the eaves, calculating and shaping every angle so that the pavilion did not have to rely on the windows.
Bamboo curtains were put in place on top of the windows, just in case a storm was too severe and threatened to lay waste to the pavilion.
The Empress was satisfied with the arrangement.
Afterward, on one occasion, it was decided that the Crystal Jade Pond and the pavilion served as a very good studying environment, particularly for young princes and princesses. It could accommodate up to thirty students.
Polished rosewood desks and seating pillows were thus delivered from the main palace and placed at the pavilion. The Grand Tutor held his lessons there almost every week.
When Zhang Fengxi entered, the pavilion was empty save for two figures who were huddled close to each other.
They raised their eyes at the same time to see who the newcomer was. The corners of Zhang Fengxi's lips tightened when he saw who the other two people were. Xie Jianyu and Jiang Muchen.