Chapter 229 – Revisiting

When the imperial carriage arrived at White Brook Estate, the sun had already shifted westward. Xu Chun had ordered the preparation of lunch and was waiting at the gate with delight for Xie Yi.

When Xie Yi disembarked from the sedan chair, he felt somewhat apologetic. “It’s my fault. I wanted to come out earlier, but Ouyang Shen kept droning on about numerous matters to report. I’ve delayed you, are you hungry?”

Xu Chun replied, “How could I be?” Xie Yi noticed Fang Zixing and smiled, nodding. “Didn’t I give you leave?”

Fang Zixing said, “The emperor leaving the palace is a major event; I couldn’t feel at ease. However, if Your Majesty finds me an eyesore, I’ll leave.”

Xie Yi chuckled. “You did well with your mission this time. I’ve also bestowed rewards upon you, and I specifically gave you leave to stay home and accompany your wife. Isn’t that good enough? After lunch, go back.”

Fang Zixing laughed with a “heh-heh,” indeed guiding Xie Yi inside to the Jiang Watchtower. After ensuring the imperial entourage was settled, he excused himself and left.

Xie Yi turned to look out the glass window of the Jiang Watchtower, the sky still clear and blue. The breeze rustled through the trees like green waves, the weather refreshing and broadening the chest. On the wall hung several calligraphy pieces by famous artists, all unseen before.

After a moment’s thought, he knew they must have been brought by Fang Zixing. He smiled warmly. “The paintings and calligraphy confiscated from the Zhuang family, I had them sent to the archives of Jiuchou Academy. But looking at the list, there are quite a few fine works, many of which were forcefully bought. Taking them isn’t unjust. Knowing you enjoy art, I had them bring some for you to select. Is there any piece you particularly like?”

Xu Chun was personally retrieving a coconut from a steamer basket, smiling as he spoke. “Brother Zixing traveled far to return, and it was Ninth Brother’s kindness. In his presence, I didn’t say much. I heard that the commander’s wife has some expertise in this area, so I promised Brother Zixing that if she likes any, we’ll set them aside as a gift for their newlywed life.”

“Now, in front of Ninth Brother, I’ll speak frankly. Let’s send all these paintings to Jiuchou Academy together. Ninth Brother and I can appreciate them over the next few days. If there’s anything I truly like, I can visit later.”

Xie Yi smiled. “Really willing to let them go without keeping any?”

Xu Chun replied, “The Zhuang family was seized due to me. If I were to profit from this situation, I’d feel uncomfortable. Moreover…” He looked at Xie Yi with a smile. “Ninth Brother has given me so much already. I cannot be too greedy, wanting everything. Having Ninth Brother is enough. These external possessions must not be coveted, lest heaven thinks I don’t cherish my blessings.”

Xie Yi didn’t expect to hear such heartfelt words suddenly, staring at him without speaking. Xu Chun, however, took a bright dagger and pried open the previously cracked coconut shell, placing the entire coconut shell in front of Xie Yi. “This is chicken stewed in coconut milk, very fresh and tender. Ninth Brother, try it. They wanted to add angelica, but I didn’t let them, fearing it would spoil the taste.”

Xie Yi laughed. “Another dish from the Southern Ocean? Brought by sea ships?”

Xu Chun answered, “Yes, I tasted it in the Southern Ocean. Now that fresh coconuts are rare, I wanted Ninth Brother to try it. Ninth Brother always prefers light flavors, and I’m sure you’ll like this.”

Xie Yi scooped a spoonful of soup and tasted it, indeed finding it delightful. He nodded. “Indeed good.”

Seeing that Xie Yi genuinely liked it, Xu Chun smiled and brought up another dish, a plate of ox bone marrow bamboo shoots. “Try this. I tasted it yesterday at the Zi Garden of the Fan family. I had them make it just now, and it’s indeed delicious.”

Xie Yi sampled a chopstick of bamboo shoot threads. “Not bad, but a bit too much vinegar.”

Xu Chun, surprised, didn’t notice. “It tasted alright just now.” After saying that, he tried a chopstick for himself. “Is it alright?” He looked at Xie Yi in confusion, seeing him trying to hold back laughter. Suddenly, he realized. “Ninth Brother!”

Xie Yi finally burst out laughing. “Leaving me alone, you got drunk with others and returned. Yet, you remembered every detail of their dishes. I haven’t even gotten jealous, but you’re starting to feel jealous first.”

Xu Chun scooped a spoonful of crab roe tofu to block Xie Yi’s mouth, flustered and angry. “Ninth Brother!”

Seeing his embarrassed anger and fiery gaze, Xie Yi refrained from teasing him further. He took the spoon and slowly savored the exquisite tofu before smiling warmly. “So, that statement about having Ninth Brother being enough, did it come from the Zi Garden?”

Xu Chun’s embarrassment gradually faded, drinking two sips himself. “I had some reflections. I’ve always reminded myself not to be insatiable, focusing solely on serving the country, which is for Ninth Brother. Yesterday, at the garden, I thought about how the person who created the garden has passed away. Trees and stones have no feelings, yet flowers bloom and leaves sprout, growing naturally and enjoying their own bliss.”

“Ninth Brother clearly held the Fan official in high regard, but he betrayed Ninth Brother’s intentions, casually discarding his own life. Thinking about it, our time together is precious, and I cannot desire too much. I only hope not to betray Ninth Brother’s feelings for me, nor to betray these landscapes. As for a thousand-year legacy or ten-thousand-year wealth, compared to this, they mean nothing.”

Xie Yi gazed deeply at Xu Chun, never imagining that the person before him, though seemingly shallow and transparent, could actually understand things so thoroughly. He remained silent for a long time.

Seeing him like this, Xu Chun suddenly became shy again. He personally peeled a pomegranate, breaking the seeds and dropping them into honey wine. Then, he offered the crystal-clear glass goblet to Xie Yi with both hands. “Please enjoy the endless joy before the cup.” His eyes were fixed on Xie Yi, filled with charm.

Xie Yi took the goblet of pomegranate honey wine. Inside, the finely crushed ice mixed with the ruby-like pomegranate seeds, shimmering with dazzling light, a sight of breathtaking beauty.

I possess the wealth of the world, sharing it with you. Why not? But at this moment, he understood that the child before him was subtly revealing his feelings.

He knew about the years of careful cultivation he had invested and roughly guessed what he wanted to do. He was merely expressing his intentions tactfully. Day and night, he had worked tirelessly for his imperial cause, perhaps building a thousand-year legacy, but truly, it was all for him, the Son of Heaven.

If he weren’t the Son of Heaven, his Yuanlin would be a leisurely fish in the rivers and lakes, free and easy, life like a dream.

But because he was the Son of Heaven, his Yuanlin braved slander across the land, step by step ascending to the imperial court, determined to become an unbreakable sword.

He drained the cup of honey wine, feeling that just one cup had already made him drunk. In the tipsy daze, he firmly and indisputably kissed the lips of the person before him, which had turned red from the pomegranate juice, then told him, “The Son of Heaven bestows, you cannot refuse.”

Xu Chun was left breathless from his kiss. “Your subject requests the emperor’s grace.”

Xie Yi lifted his chin, narrowing his eyes. “Approved.”

After eating a little more carelessly, they held hands and went to the water pavilion bath. There was no heavy rain that night, only the starlit sky and the chorus of frogs and insects across the mountains.

In the intense splashing of water, Xu Chun often recalled that night. The weather was sweltering, and they washed for a long time in the waterside pavilion. After wiping themselves dry, they crossed the wet steps, draped in thin nightgowns, and lay embraced on the couch, watching the starlight outside, all sounds silenced.

Xu Chun cherished the sense of security from skin-to-skin contact, leaning against Xie Yi and chatting idly.

Xie Yi seemed absent-mindedly playing with the dragon amulet they had just removed from their waistbands, twirling it around. He asked, “Young Lin, do you know what the nine gifts bestowed by the Son of Heaven are?”

Xu Chun was suddenly startled, glancing at Xie Yi. “I don’t know… It’s so late, Ninth Brother, why are you thinking about state affairs? Let’s sleep early.”

Xie Yi smiled slightly, returning the pair of jade to the bedside table.

Three days passed in a flash. Xu Chun was able to spend real time with Xie Yi, thoroughly revisiting White Brook Estate. During these three days of intimate moments, they didn’t know how many vows and sweet nothings they exchanged, each gaining much affection from the other. Satisfied, they returned to the capital.

On the second day, Xu Chun was somewhat unaccustomed during the morning court session. Even after the session ended and he returned to the Zhi Gong Hall of the Military Affairs Office, he was still distracted, as if his heart was still lingering among the mountains and waters, intoxicated and carefree, with no inclination to attend to government affairs.

Fortunately, there were no significant state affairs to discuss that day. Prince Jianke wasn’t present either, and the secretaries were busy with their own departments. Only Fang Zijing sat quietly, flipping through books, and hadn’t assigned him any tasks.

He picked up a book at random, reclining on the Luohan soft couch, thinking about Ninth Brother’s every word and smile, habitually playing with the jade pendant on his waist. Fang Zijing watched him from where he sat, a faint smile on his lips and a distant gaze, and snorted. “What is Lord Linhai thinking about?”

Xu Chun blurted out what was on his mind without restraint. “Thinking about what the nine gifts bestowed by the Son of Heaven are.”

Fang Zijing sneered. “Where did your knowledge of the Book of Rites go? The nine gifts are: chariots and horses, clothing, music, vermilion doors, steps, tigers, axes, bows and arrows, and black millet wine.” He looked at the jade in Xu Chun’s hand, his words carrying a profound meaning. “During the Spring and Autumn period, Duke Huan of Qi dared not accept the nine gifts bestowed by the Son of Zhou, returning the bows and arrows and chariots, accepting only seven gifts. Duke Wen of Jin also dared not accept the nine gifts, returning the bows and arrows, chariots, axes, and black millet wine, accepting only five gifts.”

He glanced at the green jade dragon amulet in Xu Chun’s hand, his tone sarcastic. “During the times of Wang Mang and Cao Cao, black millet wine was replaced by the ritual vessel gui-zan as one of the nine gifts.”

Xu Chun’s hand went limp, lowering the jade in his hand, straightening his clothes, and clearing his throat lightly, attempting to cover up his unease. “Thank you, Brother Zijing, for enlightening me. I just asked out of curiosity.”

However, Fang Zijing recalled the day of Xu Chun’s coming-of-age ceremony and the Heavenly Crown that had puzzled him at the time. He sneered, looking at the person before him. Perhaps from the inside out, everything was bestowed by the Son of Heaven. Not to mention the personal guards that had been around Xu Chun for a long time… and that Dragon Scale sword, he had long heard of this treasured sword in the imperial palace. Later, seeing Xu Chun wearing it, he hadn’t thought much about it…

Xu Chun’s ears burned hot, not daring to look at Fang Zijing at all, pretending to say, “There seems to be something going on at my residence. Brother Zijing, is there anything else you need me to do? If not, I’ll go back to the estate to take a look.”

Fang Zijing was too lazy to argue with him, waving him away.

In July, the imperial entourage proceeded to the hunting palace for autumn hunting. Accompanied by military officials such as Wu Yinggong and Linhai Hou, Linhai Hou was notably invited to ride in the same carriage as the emperor, drawing much attention. The autumn hunt was lively, and Linhai Hou personally shot a white wolf with a musket and presented it to the emperor. Xie Yi was delighted and bestowed upon Linhai Hou a set of bow and arrows he had used in front of all the ministers.

In August, on the Mid-Autumn Festival, the imperial entourage personally arrived at the Imperial City Tower to admire lanterns and enjoy the festivities with the common people. Linhai Hou and the ministers also accompanied the emperor. The emperor ordered the ministers to guess riddles for entertainment, and Linhai Hou solved a riddle personally crafted by the emperor. Pleased, the emperor bestowed an ancient zither upon Linhai Hou.

Throughout the court, everyone knew that Linhai Hou was favored by the emperor, receiving extraordinary favor and affection.