Chapter 45: C45. Age Is Irrelevant: Men Will Fall For You.

Chapter 45

Li Yong and Gu Shoufu had their ears to the palace walls, privy to secrets that few could claim. Emperor Yuan Qing had no immediate plans to strip the crown prince of his title in favor of the second prince—and perhaps, in his lifetime, he never would.

Cao Xun, oblivious to this covert knowledge, found a peculiar comfort in his bloodline ties. With both the second prince and the crown prince being his nephews, he chose to rest easy, brushing aside any deeper concern.

While whispers and schemes fluttered through the court, the other courtiers hesitated. Taking sides too soon was a gamble, and few dared to risk Emperor Yuan Qing’s ever-watchful gaze.

But the emperor, usually soft-spoken and composed, had managed to do the unthinkable—terrify his eleven-year-old heir.

Empress Cao’s feeble reassurances proved as useless as a paper umbrella in a storm. The crown prince, burdened by sleepless hours, awoke the morning after Li Xian's appointment as the second prince’s companion with a fever.

The news sent Emperor Yuan Qing and Empress Cao rushing to their son's bedside. There he lay—frail, trembling, his young face ashen. When his wide, haunted eyes locked onto the emperor’s, the terror in them was unmistakable.

The sight struck Emperor Yuan Qing like a blade. Distress mingled with fury. His heart ached for his son’s suffering but burned with frustration at his apparent weakness. Could this pale boy truly shoulder the empire’s future?

The court was no stranger to the crown prince’s fragile heart, and after the imperial physician departed, Emperor Yuan Qing dismissed Empress Cao. Alone with his son, he softened, brushing the damp hair from the boy’s fevered brow.

"Why do you tremble so?" he murmured, his voice low, yet firm. "I placed Li Xian with your second brother to spur your ambition, not to strip you of your birthright. You remain my crown prince."

Those words pierced through the boy’s fear, unleashing a torrent of tears. His small frame shook as he sobbed, "Father, you mean it? You won’t take it away?"

The emperor’s chest tightened. The day before, he had entertained the thought—only faintly, perhaps 30% of him leaning toward a change. But now? Seeing his heir so deeply shaken stirred something darker. That faint notion grew stronger, swelling to 50%.

Still, he knew the path to deposing the crown prince would be perilous. The courtiers, led by the formidable Chief Minister Gu, would resist fiercely. The emperor wasn't yet ready to face that storm. For now, he would give the boy a chance—a few years to prove himself. And meanwhile, he would watch the second prince closely, testing his mettle before making his ultimate decision.

"It’s nothing," Emperor Yuan Qing repeated, his tone calm but tinged with calculation. "Li Xian is simply a bright young man, and I thought he could inspire your second brother. Perhaps he might even inspire you—to strive harder, to embrace both your studies and martial training. The throne is still yours, my son, but how long that remains is up to you."

Emperor Yuan Qing leaned back in his throne, his piercing eyes softening as they settled on the crown prince. With a slow, deliberate nod, he beckoned his son to spill the turmoil swirling in his mind.

The crown prince, drawn in by the weight of his father’s unshakable presence, lowered his voice to a near whisper. “Father, I worry that the Ningguo mansion will covertly throw its lot in with my second brother.”

Yuan Qing’s lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. “The Li family’s loyalty is not something to question. They are bound to me—unwavering, immovable. And when the time comes for you to take my place, they’ll pledge themselves to you just as fiercely. I placed Li Xian by your brother’s side to temper his nature, not to shift the balance of power in his favor. In fact, it only strengthens your position. If he cultivates support, it will ultimately serve you. Favor begets favor, my son.”

But the crown prince couldn’t hide the bitterness etched in his voice. “I’ve tried to bridge the gap with Li Xian, father. He won’t have it—he spurns every approach.”

The emperor chuckled lightly, his tone sharp yet laced with patience. “What does it matter if he doesn’t welcome you? Li Yong governs the Ningguo mansion now, and after him, it will be Li Yao. Li Xian is irrelevant in the grand scheme. Even if he resists you, his father and brother won’t. Win over Li Yong and Li Yao, and they’ll bend Li Xian to your will. You don’t need to dirty your hands where others can do the work for you.”

The prince hesitated, pride bubbling to the surface as he bristled against his father’s advice. He wanted to argue—he and Li Yong were both sons of the empire, yet his father placed unshakable trust in Li Yong. Could such faith ever be misplaced?

But the memory of his father laughing and scheming with Li Yong flashed through his mind. No matter how he might question it, the emperor’s faith in Li Yong was absolute. Challenging it would be futile.

The crown prince forced himself to nod, acknowledging his father’s wisdom, though it chafed at his pride.

Yuan Qing exhaled slowly, a subtle wave of relief passing over him. He had said what needed to be said. If his son couldn’t grasp the deeper meaning, the blame would rest on his own shoulders. Even so, the emperor knew that, when necessary, his hands were capable of the harshest measures—even against his own blood.

*

When news of the crown prince's illness reached them, Cao Xun turned to Yunzhu, his voice calm yet firm. "We must visit him. On the way, we’ll stop to see our second brother."

Yunzhu hesitated, her voice low but steady. "I worry that my presence will only provoke the prince further."

Cao Xun’s lips curved into a faint smile, his tone unchanged but carrying an unmistakable undercurrent. "Nonsense. You're his aunt now. Surely, he can manage that much."

Despite her reservations, Yunzhu agreed to accompany him. Her compliance masked the tension simmering beneath, but she knew appearances were everything.

As Yunzhu slipped into a modestly hued dress, preparations were already underway. Cao Shao, summoned by Cao Xun’s trusted aide, had joined his elder brother in the main hall, their discussion muffled but intense.

Yunzhu's thoughts wandered as she dressed, her fingers trailing absentmindedly over the fabric. Her younger brother was aligned with the second prince, and if the crown prince ascended to the throne, the power balance in the capital would shift. The Li and Cao families would survive, but survival alone wasn’t enough.

It was the crown prince’s ruthless ambition that unsettled her. Once in power, he would undoubtedly target the Li family, eroding their influence piece by piece. In this unfolding game, Cao Shao—calculating and direct—might be a sharper weapon than the measured and composed Cao Xun.

Yunzhu knew she had to tread carefully. Maintaining a warm, even affectionate, relationship with Cao Xun was crucial. Alienating Cao Shao, however, would be a mistake. Every move had to be deliberate, every word carefully chosen. Pan’s side of the equation couldn’t be ignored either; affection was the only leverage that could be wielded. For Pan shi, though, there was only bitterness and enmity.

When Cao Shao finally arrived, Yunzhu’s face softened into a smile—a perfectly crafted expression of warmth. "Second brother, your promptness humbles me. Forgive me if I’ve kept you waiting."

She stepped closer to Cao Xun but let her gaze linger on Cao Shao, her demeanor poised, her tone one of familial affection. Her performance mirrored the graciousness she’d shown when Cao Xun had hosted him for dinner days earlier.

But Cao Shao wasn’t fooled. He noticed the subtle differences in her manner. Ever since the Xie family had rebuffed their mother’s marriage proposal that summer, Yunzhu’s attitude toward him had shifted. First disdain, then cold indifference. Only after his triumph at the hunting competition had her warmth returned. Now, that smile—calculated and coy—stirred something in him.

He liked it.

When the pleasantries concluded, Cao Xun rose, his voice cutting through the tension. "Shall we leave?"

The journey to the palace stretched ahead of them, a long and winding road. Cao Shao trailed behind, content to observe.

Yunzhu walked ahead, her steps measured, her figure framed by the simplicity of her attire. Her only adornments were a slender hosta pinned in her hair, two pale pink tourmaline beads, and delicate pearl pendants swaying from her ears.

As she turned to speak with Cao Xun, her profile caught the light—a vision of grace and refinement. Her creamy, unblemished skin, framed by thick, dark lashes, made her all the more arresting. Her calm, unhurried movements exuded elegance, her voice weaving a quiet spell.

Cao Shao’s eyes lingered, taking in her tranquil beauty with an admiration he didn’t bother to hide.

Cao Shao dared not let his eyes linger too long. As he lowered his gaze, a thought slithered into his mind: if Yunzhu held no grudges against him, and his elder brother harbored no suspicions, he would be perfectly content standing in the shadows, quietly watching their poised exchanges—like strangers bound by formality yet brimming with unspoken admiration.

They arrived at the crown prince’s villa.

Emperor Yuan Qing was absent, leaving Empress Cao to tend to their son.

Cao Xun led his wife and younger brother forward, bowing with solemn respect to the mother and her sickly heir.

The empress sat gracefully beside the bed, her smile laced with exhaustion. "No need for such formalities, brother, sister-in-law. Huaibei as well—let's keep things easy and comfortable."

Her gaze lingered briefly on Yunzhu.

In matters of concern, men often falter where women excel. While Cao Xun and Cao Shao hung back, Yunzhu stepped forward, her movements deliberate and drenched in soft intensity. She approached the bedside with a worried elegance, her dark eyes taking in every detail of the prince’s pale, fevered face. Her lips parted, voice velvet-smooth yet tinged with concern. "Your cheeks are burning—has the fever not broken? What about medicine? Have you taken it?"

The empress noted the courteous touch in Yunzhu’s tone, but the crown prince was entirely captivated. Tenderness from such a mesmerizing figure felt like a rare treasure.

For a fleeting moment, as Yunzhu’s brows knitted and her doe eyes glistened with genuine worry, the prince forgot his aching body. He couldn’t look away, utterly spellbound.

"I have taken the medicine, Aunt," he murmured, his voice thick with awe. "Please, don’t worry about me."

Yunzhu, sharp as ever, didn’t press him further about his illness. Instead, her gaze softened as she turned to Empress Cao, her tone sweetly inquisitive. "What has the doctor said?"

The empress answered in a gentle, motherly cadence.

Meanwhile, Cao Xun and Cao Shao stayed in the background, watching the scene unfold like spectators at a quiet, intimate play.

Cao Xun couldn’t help but marvel. His young wife managed dignified grace with a natural ease he could only envy.

Cao Shao, on the other hand, was caught in a tide of conflicting emotions. He saw now how Yunzhu cared—tender, warm, attentive—but only for others. In the past, whenever he had fallen ill, Yunzhu had only mocked his weakness. She would scold him for being reckless or berate him for his lack of self-control, acting as though his sickness was an inconvenience to her. Her sharp tongue left no room for sympathy.

But children, it seemed, had a way of softening her.

Cao Shao’s dark eyes flicked to the crown prince, tinged with faint disdain.

The boy, entirely smitten, basked shamelessly in the affection of his dazzling aunt, utterly indifferent to the watchful uncles standing mere steps away.

Seeing her son’s clear infatuation with Yunzhu, Empress Cao seized the perfect moment to draw Cao Xun behind the screen. Missing this chance wouldn’t just make meeting her brother harder—it would also block any opportunity for candid conversation.

“Brother,” she began, her tone firm yet inviting, “what do you think of the Emperor’s suggestion to make Brother Xian a tutor for His Highness the Second? I need your support. Mother is overwhelmed, and our younger brother is still just an inexperienced scholar.”

Cao Xun’s face grew serious, his eyes drifting to the window as he murmured, “Whatever the Emperor’s plans may be, the crown prince remains the rightful heir of the palace. He cannot be easily overshadowed. Sister, your priority should be nurturing the crown prince and avoiding reckless moves.”

His words, sharp and grounded, reassured Empress Cao. They weren’t empty pleasantries meant to placate her, and she felt a wave of gratitude. “The crown prince is young,” she replied, her voice soft but steady. “He relies more on his uncles for matters beyond his reach.”

Meanwhile, Yunzhu, seated by the bed, kept her focus entirely on the crown prince. Her voice, tender yet commanding, carried a warmth that wrapped around him like a blanket. “The days are growing colder, and the winds in Nanyuan are harsh. Your Highness, be sure to bundle up when you go out, and keep yourself covered at night. You don’t want to fall ill again.”

The young prince nodded, finding the situation oddly amusing. His aunt had no clue about the real reason for his recent illness.

Cao Shao, standing nearby, waited for Yunzhu to finish before adding a few words of his own. The crown prince looked between his young uncle and Yunzhu, a sly smile creeping onto his face. He couldn’t help but think how ignorant and petty his grandmother seemed. Even someone as stunning as Yunzhu had to endure her constant nitpicking.

In his eyes, it was simple: his younger uncle had drawn the short straw, while his elder uncle was far luckier. After their duties by the crown prince were done, the Cao Xun brothers moved on to visit Emperor Yuan Qing. Yunzhu, however, returned to her residence with her maid.

By now, her trips to her parents’ home were few and far between. Thankfully, Sun Yurong often visited to brighten her days.

Sun Yurong, uninterested in heavy political matters, was fixated on something far juicier—the upcoming marriage between Gu Min and Li Yao. Blushing yet curious, she leaned in and whispered, “Gu Min is younger and smaller than both of us. I’ve heard the wedding night can be… painful. Do you think she’ll manage with your brother?”

Yunzhu’s lips curled into a sly smile as she cast a teasing glance at her friend. “You seem to know quite a bit yourself.”

Sun Yurong’s cheeks flushed deeper, and she swatted Yunzhu’s arm playfully. “Don’t act all innocent with me! I refuse to believe you didn’t sneak a peek at those books before you got married.”

Yunzhu had indeed flipped through those risqué manuals, but admitting it outright? That was too bold, even for her. Instead, she sidestepped the question smoothly, unwilling to delve into her brother’s intimate life with Sun Yurong. With a coy smile, she redirected the conversation, her voice as smooth and sharp as silk.

*

Cao Xun strode in just as the evening deepened, the air of the room buzzing faintly with the chill from outside.

In the next room, Yunzhu was sprawled lazily on the chaise, her figure draped in an effortless elegance as she barely spared him a glance. Her eyes flitted back to the book she’d been casually flipping through, the same one he’d recently been engrossed in.

He shrugged off his outer robe, his frame tall and commanding as he approached the window. “The wind’s got some bite tonight,” he murmured, his voice low and smooth. “Let’s eat and call it a night after.”

Yunzhu let out a nonchalant hum, her focus still on her book. But the howl of the wind outside was hard to ignore, cutting through the air like an uninvited guest.

Cao Xun eased himself onto the edge of her chaise, his movement casual but deliberate, drawing her gaze without effort. He pressed the back of his hand to his forehead, the gesture light but enough to stir her attention.

Her brow arched, a mix of disbelief and curiosity dancing across her face. “Don’t tell me you’ve got a fever too?”

He met her look with a subtle smirk. “It’s nothing obvious.”

Her book forgotten, she set it aside and gestured. “Sit still and let me check.”

He shifted, positioning himself in front of her, his posture loose yet magnetic.

Her cool fingers brushed his forehead, the touch brief but enough to make her pause. “You don’t seem too bad. Are you feeling off anywhere?”

“Not yet,” he replied, the timbre of his voice tinged with amusement. “Maybe I didn’t keep warm enough last night. I wasn’t exactly bundled up under the quilt.”

Yunzhu’s lips parted slightly, caught off guard by the intimate undertone of his words.

The heat in his gaze didn’t go unnoticed, and when she moved to retreat, he was quicker. His arms wrapped around her waist from behind, his lips brushing the delicate curve of her ear. “So you can take care of others. How about starting with me?”

She tilted her head, half-exasperated, half-amused. “How old is the crown prince? And how old are you?”

“It’s not about age,” he countered, his breath warm against her skin. “It’s about the way men can’t help but be drawn to you.”

Yunzhu gave him a sidelong look, her voice laced with playful reproach. “Can’t you see I’m only doing this to protect your ego?”

“And some people,” he murmured, his tone dripping with mischief, “know full well it’s a show and still take full advantage.”

Her cheeks flushed as she remembered the way the crown prince had looked at her. Thank heavens the boy was young—any older, and things might’ve been... complicated.

Unaware of her train of thought, Cao Xun leaned against her more heavily, his closeness teasing at her restraint. She sighed and nudged him. “Fine, since you’re so insistent, lie down, and I’ll indulge your theatrics.”

He didn’t hesitate, his strong frame settling back as he watched her with an unabashed gleam in his eyes. The sheer physicality of him—his broad shoulders, his lean build—was enough to make her pause, though she wouldn’t admit it.

“Close your eyes,” she ordered, her voice firm, betraying nothing.

As he obeyed, she pulled the blanket from the corner and tossed it over him, letting it cover his face completely. Her voice was sweet but sharp as she teased, “You said you were cold, didn’t you? Now you’re covered!”

Beneath the quilt, he could hear her soft, silvery laughter—a sound that only stoked the fire simmering between them.

———TN:

I’m only available to retranslate up to five chapters today. Once I’ve handled those, we’ll pick things back up tomorrow.

Imagine this: your sister-in-law, the woman who married your older brother, refers to your husband as "uncle."

How does that make you feel?

And here’s a little twist to spice things up—Ah Min’s father is practically best friends with Cao Xun, and they’re only about two years apart in age.

Doesn’t that just add a delicious layer of irony to the whole dynamic?