Volume One: Fierce Winds and Hidden Rain

Prologue

　　“Henry Linton ge, what are you doing?” A little girl of about eight or nine tilted her head, looking at the boy beside her, who was twelve or thirteen. “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 dark face covered in sweat. “It’s been a long time since our family had any meat. If I can get this bird’s nest, maybe I can catch a few chicks for Dad to nourish himself. At the very least, I can 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 waved his fist. “Dad’s been sick for almost ten days. Our family has no money—not only can we not afford a doctor, we haven’t even given him a proper meal. What do you expect me to do?”

　　“Then, just don’t take them all, okay? Leave one behind?” The little girl’s face was on the verge of tears.

　　“Fine, you win. I’ll listen to you.” As he spoke, the boy named Henry Linton spat a few times 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. Henry Linton 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 frustration and disgust. If he’d known, he wouldn’t have bothered.

　　“Henry Linton ge, look at that one in the sky—is that the parent of the crow you caught?” The little girl didn’t feel any aversion to the black bird, but rather a wave of sympathy. A crow circled above them, crying mournfully.

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

　　“Let’s put it back!” The little girl’s face was full of pity. “Henry Linton ge, you can catch another one tomorrow, can’t you?”

　　After a long silence, Henry Linton could only climb the tree again and put the old crow back in the nest.

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

　　“Henry Linton ge, what’s wrong?” the little girl asked in confusion.

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

　　In a lavishly decorated room, a young boy was lazily lying on a rattan chair. Though only twelve or thirteen, a few strands of white hair already stood out on his head, making him quite noticeable. His skin was pale, as if he rarely saw the sun. He wasn’t exactly handsome, but he couldn’t be called a spoiled rich kid either.

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

　　“It seems that 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 keeps getting more and more bitter.”

　　“Your Highness, don’t worry. People say illness comes like a mountain, but goes like pulling silk. Someone as noble as you will surely recover soon.” The maid in red smiled, a charm in her expression.

　　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, nagging, “Your Highness, you’re amazing. I just make the medicine, and even I can’t stand the taste, but you drink it all in one gulp.”

　　“If you get used to it, it doesn’t taste bitter anymore.” The boy’s face was calm. “Grace Linton, is there any news from Father?”

　　Grace Linton shuddered, looking at her master in alarm. She knew that a single wrong word could trouble his heart. Carefully choosing her words, 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 energy to argue and waved her away.