Prologue

Preface

　　“Jason ge, what are you doing?” A little girl of about eight or nine tilted her head, looking at the twelve- or thirteen-year-old boy beside her. “Auntie said you’re not allowed to be naughty!”

　　“What do you know! You’re just a little girl!” The boy turned his head in defiance, his tanned face beaded with sweat—a typical farm boy. “It’s been ages since our family had any meat. If I can get this bird’s nest, maybe I can catch a few chicks for Dad to help him recover. At the very least, I’ll get a few eggs!”

　　A trace of pity appeared on the girl’s face as she mumbled, “But the little birds are pitiful too. They’re still so small. If you do this, their parents will be sad.”

　　“Then who pities us!” The boy angrily shook his fist. “Dad’s been sick for nearly ten days. We have no money, can’t afford a doctor, and he hasn’t even had a proper meal. What do you expect me to do?”

　　“Then… don’t take them all. Leave one, okay?” The little girl looked as if she was about to cry.

　　“Fine, you win. I’ll listen to you.” With that, the boy named Jason spat into his palms and quickly climbed up the tree.

　　In the nest, there weren’t the plump chicks he’d imagined—only a dying old crow. Jason Clark paused, gritted his teeth, but still grabbed it and climbed down in a few swift moves. “Just my luck, only this old thing!” His face was full of disappointment and disgust. If he’d known, he wouldn’t have bothered.

　　“Jason ge, look at the sky—what’s that? Is it the parent of the crow you caught?” The little girl felt no aversion to the black bird, only sympathy. A crow circled overhead, crying mournfully.

　　“Don’t be silly. This old crow’s parents died long ago!” Jason scoffed at the idea, but the crow’s piercing cries still made him shiver. “Maybe it’s its child,” he muttered under his breath.

　　“Put it back!” The little girl’s face was full of pity. “Jason ge, you can catch another one next time, can’t you?”

　　After a long silence, Jason could only climb the tree again and return the old crow to its nest.

　　He silently watched the two crows in the tree for a while, then walked away without a word.

　　“Jason ge, what’s wrong?” the little girl asked, puzzled.

　　“Without it, what will Dad eat today?” The boy ignored her, muttering to himself.

　　In a lavishly decorated room, a boy lounged lazily on a rattan chair. Though only twelve or thirteen, a few strands of white hair already stood out on his head, making him quite conspicuous. His skin was pale from lack of sunlight—not exactly handsome, but certainly not a typical spoiled noble.

　　“Your Highness, it’s time for your medicine.” A beautiful maid in red carefully carried a bowl of dark herbal decoction into the room, filling it with the scent of medicine.

　　“It seems ever since I can remember, I’ve never stopped taking medicine.” The boy’s lips curled into a helpless, bitter smile. “The imperial physicians have changed again and again, but nothing works. The medicine just gets more and more bitter.”

　　“Your Highness, don’t worry. They say illness comes like a mountain but goes like pulling silk. Someone as noble as you will surely recover soon.” The red-clad maid smiled, her charm hard to describe.

　　The boy was dazed for a moment, then picked up the bowl and drank it all in one go without so much as a frown. The maid quickly fed him a piece of candy, chattering, “Your Highness, you’re amazing. Even I, who only prepare the medicine, find it unbearably bitter, but you drink it all at once.”

　　“If you get used to it, it’s not so bad.” The boy’s face was calm. “Emily Clark, is there any news from Father?”

　　Emily Clark shuddered, looking at her master in alarm. She knew that a single wrong word could trouble his heart. Choosing her words carefully, she replied, “His Majesty has been busy with state affairs these days and probably hasn’t had time to visit you. I heard he’s been in the Hall of Diligent Governance and rarely even visits the consorts.” Even she felt guilty about the last part, but the boy, knowing it was a lie, had no heart to argue and waved her away.