Chapter 114 – Speculations

Xie Yi snapped back to reality and immediately summoned Wu Yinghou and Fang Zixing into the palace. They discussed matters inside the hall for a long time before he let them return to their manors. Afterward, he called in the Ministers of Rites and War to give them instructions.

It wasn’t until the palace gates were locked that he returned to his sleeping quarters. There, he found Xu Chun sitting under a tree, wearing a loose bathrobe with his bare feet in ivory sandals. It was clear that he had just bathed, letting Liu Shun comb his hair while it was still damp.

In his hand, Xu Chun held a scroll, but he wasn’t reading it. Instead, he listened intently to Su Huan’s words, lifting his eyes when he saw Xie Yi enter. He smiled, his eyes curving. “Brother Nine.”

Xie Yi could see the well-concealed worry in his smiling eyes and asked, “What were you talking about? Did they arrange something for you to eat? Have you eaten yet?” As he said this, he moved closer to sit beside him.

The two squeezed onto the bamboo couch, their long legs pressed together, somewhat cramped. But Xu Chun immediately relaxed, not minding the heat, and snuggled close to Xie Yi. “I had a bowl of crab roe porridge and steamed millet cake. Eunuch Su was telling me about the affairs at the artillery camp. Brother Nine, have you made all the arrangements? I was worried about alerting them, so I came into the palace overnight.”

Xie Yi took the ivory comb from Liu Shun’s hand behind him and personally combed Xu Chun’s hair. The scent of water-laden freshness filled his nose, and he felt a sense of relief. He said slowly, “It’s alright. I’ve arranged people around the opera troupe, and there hasn’t been any trouble. They probably wouldn’t have thought that after all these years, someone would still keep a piece of iron ore.”

Xu Chun added, thinking of Yang Zhu’er’s affection for Master Zhao, “It was treated as a token of love. At that time, Yang Zhu’er was seriously ill and sent it out as a keepsake, and Master Zhao kept it, thinking there was no hope for them in this life. Who would have thought they’d become husband and wife later on. No wonder they cherished it for so many years. So what do we do now?”

Xie Yi replied, “Wu Yinghou and Fang Zixing have already taken the troops to rush to Ji Province overnight. Fortunately, the imperial banquet is scheduled for these few days, so the imperial clan will come into the palace. On this side, Su Huan will lead the troops to cordon off the area.”

Xu Chun whispered, “For this matter, Brother Nine couldn’t even enjoy the Mid-Autumn Festival properly.”

Xie Yi comforted him, “After so many years, the mystery is finally about to be solved. This is the best Mid-Autumn Festival gift.”

Xu Chun took the comb from Xie Yi’s hand and held it, seemingly just playing with it.

Xie Yi knew his own clumsiness; Xu Chun’s hair was thick and dense, and being half-dry, it might have hurt him. He secretly chuckled and then gently plunged his fingers into Xu Chun’s half-dry, thick hair, slowly smoothing out the silky strands. Xu Chun lay down on his lap, feeling the tingling sensation of his hair being touched, which was very comfortable. Unconsciously, he slowly closed his eyes.

Under the night wind in the garden, they smelled the distant osmanthus and lotus fragrances, feeling a great sense of peace.

Xie Yi said, “That day we met on the boat, it started because of Helan. We never would have imagined we’d be here today. Helan Jingjiang probably wouldn’t have thought that the young dandy who boarded his pleasure boat to redeem him would eventually become the key person to clear his family’s name.”

Xie Yi couldn’t help but laugh. “You really can’t get rid of your habit of rescuing courtesans.”

Xu Chun: “…” His face flushed slightly, and with his eyes closed, he pretended to sleep, but after some thought, he explained softly, “I was foolish back then. General Helan must have a bad impression of me. By the time he arrives in the capital, I’ll probably have already taken up my post. In the future, when there’s an opportunity… He probably doesn’t want to hear anything about congratulations for clearing his name.”

“And to him, I’m just a stranger, right?”

Xie Yi explained, “Not exactly a stranger. Helan Jingjiang was already of age at the time and was only in the pleasure industry to maintain appearances. That day, he agreed to meet you on the boat because your mother had asked him to persuade you. It happened that I was free that day and suddenly went to the boat in disguise, that’s how we collided.”

Xu Chun opened his eyes in confusion, looking at Xie Yi, his face full of questions. Patiently, Xie Yi explained, “Helan Jingjiang told me later that he thought you were just young and didn’t know any better, and you didn’t know my identity, so you acted rashly. He had once received a favor from your mother. Your mother was startled when she learned of your preference for men, not knowing how to handle it and not daring to ask anyone directly. Thinking of Young Master Helan whom she had seen before, although fallen into the pleasure industry, he was of noble character, so she asked Young Master Helan through intermediaries to persuade you.”

“But unfortunately, I went there that day and gave him an assignment, so he left the capital for the border. Even I didn’t expect that you’d go again to redeem Young Master Helan… And with a hundred thousand taels of silver, no less. Do you know that some poorer states and counties don’t collect a hundred thousand taels of tax in a year and instead have to rely on neighboring states and counties to make up the shortfall. Not to mention me, even Eunuch Su was frightened, and he specially took it as a joke to tell me.”

When Xu Chun’s old account was brought up again, he was truly embarrassed. Xie Yi sighed, “That’s why I say that every action has a predestined destiny. Could it be that there’s really fate at play?”

Xie Yi fell silent again. Xu Chun knew his mood wasn’t particularly good. Presumably, since Prince Yu had always had a good reputation and was an elder, he must have treated Xie Yi well. Leaning against him, he slowly looked up at the moon in the sky. Tomorrow was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the moon was already bright. From the coming-of-age ceremony to today, it had been only seven days, yet so many things had happened.

Thinking back to hunting in the imperial hunting grounds, it seemed much more relaxing. He sat up, wrapped his arms around Xie Yi’s arm, and leaned over Xie Yi’s shoulder. “If it’s fate, then isn’t it also predetermined by heaven?”

Xie Yi lifted his eyes to look at Xu Chun’s sparkling eyes, full of genuine concern. The dragon-scale armlet on his arm, covered by a thin layer of fabric, was clearly visible. He reached out and placed his hand over the dragon scales, thinking: Perhaps it really is a predestined relationship, and that dream omen wasn’t false.

He tightened his grip, holding the other’s arm. The taut muscles and pulsating veins of the young man throbbed beneath his palm. Xu Chun’s robe after bathing was very loose, and the fabric was extremely smooth. With this caress and pull, the collar of his robe opened, revealing a smooth shoulder. Xu Chun was also aroused at this point. His eyes were like ripples of water as he leaned over and whispered, “Brother Nine, it’s late. Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Let’s go back to the room and rest first.”

That night, Xu Chun and Xie Yi talked in bed for a long time.

The next day was the Mid-Autumn Festival. Early in the morning, Xu Chun slipped back to the manor. Lady Sheng, upon seeing him, nagged, “Even though there won’t be a grand banquet, there should still be a family gathering. You should accompany your cousins out to take a stroll and see the lanterns. You ran off without a trace early in the morning. Changzhou even covered for you, saying you went to find He Zhuangyuan, maybe for the Mid-Autumn printing of books. But you’re trying to fool me, aren’t you? Qingyun Workshop is handled by Qian, why would you need to be busy with anything?”

Seeing his mother, Xu Chun recalled what the Emperor said about his mother knowing about his preferences and not daring to dissuade him, and how she had asked Young Master Helan to try to persuade him. But in the end, due to a series of mishaps, he had ended up walking down this path straight to the end.

Feeling guilty, he went over, wrapped his arm around his mother’s arm, and laughed. “Since it’s the Mid-Autumn Festival, Mother, why don’t you wear the yellow jade hairpin and pearl crown that I brought back for you from overseas? Today is a full moon, and you’re wearing the golden osmanthus moonlight skirt, you should match it with that set.”

Lady Sheng was startled. Her son hadn’t clung to her like a child for a long time. Now he was of marriageable age and taller than her by a head. This closeness made her feel a sudden palpitation, followed by a wave of sourness.

Her eyes welled up with warmth as she looked at her son. “That set of jewelry is quite heavy. Since we’re in mourning at home and don’t receive guests, wearing such elaborate attire would only be hard on myself. Besides, in the capital, if you wear it to a party once, you’ll be ridiculed if you wear it again. I’ll just save it for a big occasion.”

Xu Chun said, “I’ll buy another set for Mother when the time comes. Who in the capital would dare mock Mother now?”

Lady Sheng replied, “Those people have dark hearts. They ridicule others whether they’re doing well or not. There’s no need to waste effort competing with them.” Her gaze suddenly focused on Xu Chun’s neck and collarbone.

It was hot in August. Today, Xu Chun wore a pale yellow gauze robe with the collar slightly open, revealing his fair skin. Looking from the mandarin collar, there was a clear tooth mark on his collarbone, as if someone had bitten and sucked on it for a long time, leaving it bruised from too much force.

Lady Sheng was startled inwardly. She composed herself and, turning her hand, gripped Xu Chun’s wrist. “I forgot to ask you, do you still have that summer weakness these days? Now that the weather is cooling down, you should wear more clothes in the evening. I’ll have Yin Zhu bring you some clothes. The little servants may not be careful enough. Now that you’re about to take up your post, I wonder if your clothes are ready.”

She pretended to fiddle with the thickness of the clothes. Xu Chun, however, hadn’t noticed anything on his body. His clothes were attended to by Liu Shun and the others. How could he have paid attention to what Brother Nine did in the heat of passion? He just smiled and said, “Mother, why bother with these details? Someone else will take care of them. Jin Gang is close by. If there’s a shortage, can’t it be made?”

Lady Sheng scrutinized her son’s clear, watery eyes, which were soft and full of affection when he smiled, indicating that he had fallen in love. She also detected a subtle fragrance on his body. She speculated: Changzhou said he went to find He Zhiqu early in the morning, but perhaps he had gone last night, and Changzhou was covering for him. Could it be He Zhuangyuan?

Speaking of character and quality, there was nothing to criticize. Being able to become the top scholar meant his literary talent was naturally superior to her son’s. The problem was, since they were both officials in the same court, how could they hide it from others? He Zhuangyuan came from humble origins and had worked hard to become known throughout the empire as the top scholar. Naturally, he was ambitious and concerned about his future. What if he finds Young Lin a hindrance to his career, how would that be good?

At that moment, Lady Sheng was full of doubts and worries. She instructed Xu Chun a few more times before sending him away.

As Xu Chun turned to leave, she noticed more carefully that although the crown and hairpin he wore on his head were still the usual ones, the netted hairband wasn’t the one used in the manor. The fine silk netted hairband was strung with tiny, pitch-black gemstone beads. Under the sunlight, only the glittering points of light could be seen amidst the thick, crow-feather-like black hair, shimmering brilliantly.

Such pure black wasn’t the common black agate beads, but likely obsidian. This type of gemstone was hard and brittle, not easy to pierce holes in, but someone had painstakingly drilled holes in it to make a hairnet? This style was akin to that of the imperial palace and wealthy aristocratic families. Could He Zhiqu afford such a labor-intensive item?

Lady Sheng was somewhat surprised, but then she thought that power often came with influence, and it was possible that someone else had given it to him.

At the imperial temple, Prince Yu had been waiting there early in the morning. Watching the sun rise high in the sky, he finally saw the eunuch leading the way running far off to report, “Your Highness, the imperial carriage has arrived at the foot of the mountain!”

Prince Yu hurriedly straightened his clothes and looked down, indeed seeing the imperial carriage ascending from the foot of the mountain, surrounded by countless attendants. Surprised, he still stood with his hands lowered, waiting for the emperor.

Normally, when the emperor came to the imperial temple, he traveled lightly, not liking to bring many people. Ever since the Empress Dowager retired to the imperial temple for cultivation, the emperor rarely visited. He only came during major festivals or the Empress Dowager’s birthday, sometimes even having Xie Fei deliver gifts on his behalf.

But ever since Prince Shun was quietly executed for his misdeeds, and Xie Fei shut himself away after inheriting the title, the imperial clan had been quiet and obedient, knowing that although the emperor was young, he was ruthless. After the abolition of the fiefs, each prince died and was never replaced. Now, there were only six princes with single-character titles remaining.

Prince Yu didn’t dare rely on his seniority and stood outside in the sun, waiting for the emperor. By mid-morning, he felt quite thirsty, but he still gritted his teeth and waited.

As the sedan chair approached the temple, Prince Yu quickly led his people to kneel and pay homage. Normally, when Xie Yi saw the elderly royal prince still working hard to wait for him personally, he would have gotten out of the sedan chair to support him up. However, this time, the sedan chair didn’t stop and continued straight to the entrance of the imperial temple. Then, the eunuch went forward to lift the curtain and welcomed the emperor out of the sedan.

Xie Yi got out of the sedan without glancing around and headed straight inside the side hall. Prince Yu and the others were still kneeling there, and for a moment, the situation was quite awkward.

No one called them to rise, so they dared not get up. They knelt under the sun for another cup of tea before Su Huan personally came over, smiling, to invite Prince Yu and the others to rise. “Why is Your Highness Prince Yu waiting here? It was only when the emperor wanted to summon you that we realized the old prince wasn’t here. Please, His Royal Highness Prince Yu, go in alone to meet the emperor. His Majesty has something important to entrust to you.”

Prince Yu got up, feeling dizzy for a moment. He pondered, what matter? The emperor always had a bad temper when he came to the imperial temple. Now that he specifically asked me to come in, does he want to deal with the Empress Dowager? Or is it like before, asking about the progress of selecting heirs in the imperial temple?