Chapter 108 – Chance Encounter

The Emperor came and left quickly, as if he had indeed been seized by a sudden whim. Before departing, he inscribed a plaque with the words “Safeguarding the Ancestors and Honoring the Distant Past” for the Xu family ancestral temple, and another plaque with “Phoenix Pool Bright Scales” for Xu Chun, before he took his leave.

The entire Xu family was jubilant. Although the Wu Ying Marquis had once again instructed that they should not make a fuss when the Emperor departed, the fact that their ancestral temple had received an imperial inscription was undeniable. There was no shortage of internal celebrations within the clan, and a feast was held for the guests who had visited that day.

Xu Anlin’s face shone with glory. He drank several cups of wine with his maternal uncle from the Sheng family, the elders of the Xu clan, and others, both inside and out, until he was thoroughly intoxicated. Despite his inebriation, he remained spirited. Xu Chun accompanied the guests for a while, watching as night fell and the visitors began to depart one after another. Xu Chun, Xu Wei, and the Sheng cousins escorted the guests, smiling until their faces stiffened.

After finally seeing off the guests and sending the drunken Xu Anlin back, Xu Chun escorted the Sheng cousins back to the guest quarters. He found an opportunity to have Xia Chao stay in the courtyard. If Madam asked, he was to say that Xu Chun had taken the Emperor’s inscription to a bookshop to have it made into a plaque. If it was too late, he might spend the night outside.

Exiting through a side gate from the Jingguo Duke Manor, he headed straight for Bamboo Branch Workshop. Thinking about it, he found the smell of alcohol on him unpleasant, so he first bathed at Bamboo Branch Workshop and changed into a fresh outfit. Looking up, the moon was already high in the sky, and all was quiet. He quietly rode his horse and entered the palace from the rear mountain.

Dinghai followed him, and sure enough, the path was unobstructed. He silently returned to Suiyu Hall, and Su Huai emerged to greet him with a smile, whispering, “Young Master has arrived? This old servant also has a gift. Later, I’ll order someone to deliver it to the Duke Manor, congratulating Young Master on his coming-of-age ceremony.”

Xu Chun whispered back, “Thank you, Lord Su. Please don’t go to such expense for such a trivial matter. How about Nine Brother?”

Su Huai replied, “He just went to sleep. He assumed you would definitely be resting at the Jingguo Duke Manor tonight, so he didn’t wait for you. There were no issues during the day; all the documents have been reviewed. Therefore, he retired early. This old servant will inform His Majesty inside.”

Xu Chun hastily waved his hand. “Please don’t disturb him. I’ll just quietly slip in and accompany him.”

Su Huai did not truly enter to report. After all, the Emperor disliked having his peaceful slumber disturbed, especially when he chose his bed. Recently, however, he had been sleeping much better since sharing a bed with the young master. His facial features appeared more radiant, and the flesh on his cheeks had become fuller. Su Huai had previously worried that if the young master went to Jinhai Port, the Emperor might not be accustomed to his absence. The young master’s visit tonight could not have been better.

Xu Chun tiptoed in and saw that Xie Yi had already fallen asleep peacefully, his hands resting on his chest. He slept very quietly and neatly, never moving around aimlessly. His brows were tranquil, his thin lips closed, and he was in a deep sleep.

Xu Chun, who had already bathed, quietly removed his outer clothing and shoes, then deftly climbed onto the bed. Indeed, he snuggled up next to Xie Yi and fell asleep. In truth, he had been busy all day, and as soon as he closed his eyes, he was asleep.

In the middle of the night, Xie Yi sensed someone beside him. He had grown accustomed to sharing a bed with Xu Chun at the hunting palace. Half-asleep, he reached out to embrace him, only to suddenly remember how Xu Chun could have entered the palace. Opening his eyes, he realized it wasn’t a dream and chuckled, kissing his forehead.

Xu Chun opened his eyes groggily and looked at him. “Nine Brother.” Suddenly recalling why he had come to the palace, his eyes widened. “Nine Brother, thank you.”

Xie Yi smiled. “For what?”

Xu Chun said, “For giving me my coming-of-age ceremony.”

Xie Yi replied, “Isn’t that what should be done?”

Still insisting on thanking him, Xu Chun said, “Thank you for granting me a courtesy name, thank you for inscribing a plaque…I know that Nine Brother hopes I will be as pure as snow, but why did you say it was the Phoenix Pool?”

Xie Yi said earnestly, “The Phoenix Pool refers to the imperial court. During the Tang Dynasty, the pools in the imperial garden were called the Phoenix Ponds, which were located in the Zhongshu Province. The Zhongshu Province housed officials of prime ministerial caliber. That’s why it’s referred to as the Phoenix Pool’s outstanding talents. You possess the talent of a chancellor, and this is My hope that you will one day join the cabinet and serve as My prime minister.”

Deeply moved, Xu Chun clasped his hand and said, “I shall be Nine Brother’s thoroughbred steed.”

Xie Yi suppressed a laugh. “Indeed, why did you come over in the middle of the night? Aren’t you busy? Your maternal uncle and cousins are here, and the Wu Ying Marquis has also returned. You’ve just received your appointment from the Ministry of Personnel and will be taking office after the Mid-Autumn Festival. Surely, you must be entertaining many relatives and peers.”

Xu Chun rubbed his hand against Xie Yi’s. “Yes, tomorrow we have a banquet with He Zhiqiu and our classmates at the Millennium Garden to watch a play. It’s also a farewell gathering for me. Additionally, I’m introducing my cousins to them. There’s no rush. Nine Brother will be going to court soon. Rest a little longer, and I’ll just keep you company.”

Xie Yi asked, “How do you plan to keep me company?”

Xu Chun giggled quietly and spoke softly to Xie Yi. Xie Yi smelled a strong fragrance emanating from him—a blend of citrusy notes of oranges and grapefruits, mixed with the floral scents of jasmine and gardenias. He asked, “Where did you pick up this scent?”

Xu Chun replied, “Yesterday, I drank some wine. Afraid the smell would bother you, I bathed at Bamboo Branch Workshop and used perfume. These fragrances are new ones that my cousin brought to the capital for me this time. I find them quite refreshing and pleasant. If Nine Brother likes them, I’ll send some in for you to use.”

Xie Yi felt somewhat regretful that he had slept so deeply the previous night, missing out on the perfect opportunity. Now, he had to go to court, so he kissed his neck regretfully. Indeed, the fragrance became even clearer. Xu Chun, however, misunderstood the situation and boldly caressed Xie Yi, pressing himself close with passion.

Initially, Su Huai thought they were getting up, so he ordered preparations for their ablutions. However, it was still early, and the two started whispering to each other, occasionally punctuated by laughter. Later, they started rustling around noisily.

Finally, when it was time to head to court, Xie Yi ordered water to be brought in. He wiped himself clean, changed into his dragon robe and court attire, still with a hint of redness around his eyes, yet utterly satisfied. Just as he was about to leave, he turned back to exchange a few words with Xu Chun before heading to court himself.

Xu Chun lingered in bed for a while before getting up to dress. He casually had a light breakfast and then quietly left the palace early to return to the Jingguo Duke Manor, just in time to join his cousins on their way to the Millennium Garden to watch a play.

The weather was exceptionally clear. Xu Chun, accompanied by his three cousins—Sheng Changzhou, Changyun, and Changtian—headed to the Millennium Garden. He Zhiqiu was already waiting for them there. Also present were former classmates from when Xie Fei was around, including the heir of the Guide Marquisate, Su Linyu; the second son of the Xuande Marquisate, Yuan Guangqing; the heir of the Pingyuan Earl, Xiong Wenfu; and Prince Ying’s grandson, Xie Ji, among others, originally from the Imperial Academy.

They inevitably exchanged greetings, and Xu Chun introduced his three cousins to everyone. Observing that the three were handsome and possessed a natural air of heroism, especially since Sheng Changzhou was Zhang Wenzheng’s brother-in-law, they naturally showered them with compliments. After the introductions and pleasantries, the play began shortly, and dishes of fresh fruits and delicacies were served.

Seeing him, Xie Ji remarked, “Prince Shun’an is mourning, but he still sent gifts for you. Yesterday, I heard he was slightly indisposed, so I visited him. He mentioned wanting to bid you farewell today. He expressed regret that he couldn’t come to see you off personally, so he asked me to deliver this invitation card to you. Additionally, he included an extra hundred taels as a travel allowance.”

Xu Chun hurriedly said, “I’ll visit the Prince to express my gratitude another day.”

Xie Ji clicked his tongue. “Forget it, you shouldn’t go. He doesn’t see outsiders.”

He Zhiqiu, who worked in the Ministry of Justice, knew a bit more about the situation. He only smiled and said, “It’s unfortunate that Fan Mukun left. Zhang Wenzheng originally planned to officiate Xu Shizi’s coming-of-age ceremony, but then he said there were many matters to attend to in Minzhou and couldn’t make it. He only sent gifts. Now, in the blink of an eye, after the Mid-Autumn Festival, Xu Chun will be leaving. It will be difficult to gather everyone together in the future.”

Xu Chun said, “It’s alright. Jinhai is nearby. I can come back whenever I’m free.”

He Zhiqiu laughed. “When you go there, you’ll be the main official. How can you possibly have free time? We’ll probably have to visit you. If you want to enjoy a play, sing a tune, or drink a little wine with us as you do today, you may not have half a day of leisure. Why don’t you quickly watch this new play a few more times? The performance is really well-done.”

Everyone at the table burst into laughter. They couldn’t help but comment on the singing skills of the actress performing on stage.

However, Su Linyu said, “Speaking of the capital, the most popular figure in the flower and moon scene nowadays isn’t one of these ordinary beauties. Instead, it’s the fortunate immortal monk Xuanwei from the Suixi Building who is in high demand. Currently, invitations to the Suixi Building are in short supply. Many people only wish to catch a glimpse of Daoist Xuanwei’s elegant demeanor.”

Everyone couldn’t help but ask who this Xuanwei was. Only Xu Chun felt a slight unease in his heart, choosing to remain silent while sipping his tea.

Su Linyu explained, “If you don’t understand, I’m talking about Chu Ji, the woman responsible for Li Meiyao’s demotion to the city gate official. Lord He surely knows best.”

He Zhiqiu smiled. “I’ve heard a bit about it.”

Everyone was surprised. “Lord Li is usually upright and fair. We all speculated there must have been some hidden circumstances. Could this be the reason?”

Su Linyu continued, “Daoist Xuanwei’s surname is Chu. She was originally a concubine in the late Regent Wang’s household. After the Regent Wang passed away, she was sold and drifted back into the pleasure industry for many years. As you all know, Lord Li Meiya was a grand tutor in the Regent Wang’s household. On that day, when he went to visit Lady Chu, there must have been some inside story, but for some unknown reason, things escalated to that extent. Now, the parties involved refuse to speak about it.”

Xiong Wenfu added, “I’ve also heard rumors.”

Su Linyu elaborated, “But now, there’s a rumor circulating that Lady Chu originally had immense good fortune. The late Regent Wang only accepted her into his household upon the advice of a feng shui master. Indeed, after she entered the household, his power grew even stronger, becoming extremely influential. However, for some unknown reason, at that time, the Regent Wang opposed promoting her due to the young age of the Crown Prince. By bringing Hongluan into the household but failing to promote her, the good fortune turned against her, and her luck suddenly declined…”

Everyone burst into laughter. Xu Chun said, “This is baseless nonsense. How can success and failure be blamed solely on a woman?” In his heart, however, he vaguely suspected that the old Taoist was spreading lies again. Why did he want to ruin the reputation of his own disciple?

Su Linyu laughed. “I knew Xu Chun had a soft heart. Everyone else considers it a joke, but this rumor is so detailed that it seems believable. It says that the late Regent Wang entrusted Lady Chu to Lord Li Meiya before his death. Lord Li has remained unmarried for many years, actually waiting for this lady with immense good fortune. Who would have thought that Lady Chu’s good fortune is not something an ordinary person can handle? As soon as Lord Li began to pester her, he suffered the backlash of good fortune. It was his own fault, throwing away his long-standing prospects in the imperial court.”

He Zhiqiu commented, “Even the Regent Wang couldn’t withstand such good fortune… This is quite an exaggeration. They fabricate these stories probably to protect themselves. Speaking of us, who dares claim that they are more noble than the Regent Wang or have deeper good fortune? Even Lord Li’s integrity couldn’t suppress it… Ordinary people naturally wouldn’t dare to harass her. This is mostly a tactic used in the pleasure industry to deter customers.”

Xu Chun was well aware that He Zhiqiu was the chief judge in this case. Now, when discussing it, he seemed completely detached, showing no trace of involvement. Xu Chun couldn’t help but admire him greatly. He thought to himself that if he could learn a fraction of He Zhiqiu’s profound political skills, he might be able to get along better when he went to the Bureau of Maritime Trade in the future.

Everyone laughed in agreement, treating it as a joke. Sheng Changzhou then started talking about some amusing anecdotes from Minzhou, and the guests and hosts enjoyed themselves.

However, Xu Chun had been drinking for two consecutive days. Finding the noise of the gongs and drums on stage somewhat annoying, he got up to instruct Luo Yuzhou to arrange for a more elegant and soothing musical performance.

Just as he descended from the stage, he spotted a female Daoist priestess speaking to the innkeeper downstairs. Her graceful demeanor was reminiscent of a delicate orchid. She raised her eyes and met Xu Chun’s gaze. Her eyes sparkled, and she wore a gentle smile. She saluted him with a Buddhist greeting, none other than the Xuanwei Daoist Priestess, Lady Chu, whom they had just been discussing.