Chapter 236 – Coughing Fit

Suiyu Hall.

Xie Yi was surprised when he saw Xu Chun return so early, and the smell of alcohol wasn’t too strong. He laughed and said, “Why did you come back so early? You didn’t even get drunk? I thought you wouldn’t be returning to the palace tonight.”

Xu Chun smiled brightly. “Seeing others paired up, how could I bear leaving Jiu-ge alone?” He hurriedly changed his clothes, washed his hands, and rinsed his mouth, worried that the alcohol fumes would bother Xie Yi. Due to the heat from drinking, he quickly took off his outer robe and threw it haphazardly onto the clothes rack.

Xie Yi found it amusing how Xu Chun could spout sweet talk at the drop of a hat. He chuckled. “Are you envious of others?”

Xu Chun had taken off his outer robe, wearing only a silk undergarment over his body. He kneeled on the low couch, one hand on the armrest as he leaned over to kiss Xie Yi. Xie Yi reached out to support his waist, giving him a gentle caress. “The weather has turned cool, don’t just indulge in temporary pleasure by dressing so lightly.”

After saying this, he couldn’t help coughing a couple of times, turning his head and covering his mouth with his sleeve. Xu Chun hurriedly brought over a bowl of Fritillaria soup for him, saying, “I didn’t realize until I returned to the capital. Eunuch Su told me that every winter, Jiu-ge gets a long bout of coughing. When did this illness start? Could it be a lingering effect of that poisoning incident? And they blame me, but I think Jiu-ge is the one who doesn’t take care of himself.”

Xie Yi tried to speak but ended up coughing for a while before raising his head, his face flushed. “It’s rare for you to catch me in a weak spot. In these few days, morning and night, listening to your nagging and lecturing, I can almost recite it all by heart.”

Xu Chun draped the shawl hanging by the couch over him, stubbornly insisting, “Jiu-ge actually likes hearing me nag.” Feeling a bit guilty, he sat closer and changed the subject. “There were many guests today, and Xie Li came to me, saying that there’s now a rumor among the imperial clan that I’m the one urging His Majesty to collect taxes from the royal estates and the imperial clan. He advised me to be careful and vigilant.”

He recounted what Xie Li had said earlier, and Xie Yi recalled, “Xie Li, I remember that he was previously quite arrogant and frivolous, but after partnering with you, he’s handled things very competently, with clear accounts. Since then, most of those from the imperial clan who wanted to partner with us have been introduced through him, right?”

Amusement flickered in Xie Yi’s eyes. “Because he’s close to you, Xie Xiao’s sister couldn’t sit still anymore. She had no choice but to arrange a marriage to bolster her brother’s position.”

Xu Chun felt a bit embarrassed, but since the other party had married Prince Nong, the details of their previous affair were known only to him and Xie Yi. Neither of them would ever reveal it to outsiders, so he didn’t bring it up, simply saying, “Yes, I initially only thought that although Xie Li was arrogant, most sons of the imperial clan were like that. As long as he could raise funds, that was good enough. I didn’t expect much from him; I only wanted to use him to raise money.”

“But over the years, he’s kept clear accounts, mediating between the imperial clan and me, showing great tact. He hasn’t shown any greed, and his conduct has been steady, with excellent judgment. Today, his words surprised me; he actually saw that those people covet the power I hold.”

Xie Yi, however, said, “Prince Rixin has always been low-key, but his grandson Xie Li is quite flashy. However, in front of his elders, he appears to have good judgment, acting arrogantly and superficially only in front of you, wanting you to underestimate him. After realizing that you’re different from the rumors, he changed his strategy, displaying his abilities to ensure long-term cooperation with you. Now, he’s trying to curry favor with you, which is clearly also motivated by ulterior motives.”

Xu Chun laughed. “Jiu-ge, over the years, haven’t there been plenty who approached me for power and profit? Only Jiu-ge treats me like a treasure. Xie Li’s friendship with me is likely just another attempt to leverage my authority and wealth to enhance his reputation and fortune. If Jiu-ge hadn’t allowed Xie Qian into the palace, they would still be vying to curry favor with Jiu-ge. But now that Jiu-ge specifically chose Xie Qian to enter the palace, the imperial clan might feel dissatisfied.”

Xie Yi smiled. “My priority is to protect you, as for others, what do they matter?”

Xu Chun nodded and smiled. “But the imperial clan might have other thoughts. The Xie family’s empire allows outsiders to hold good positions, how could they not be jealous? Jiu-ge still needs to be cautious and vigilant.”

Xie Yi said, “As long as I’m here, I’ll protect you.” After saying this, he started coughing again. Xu Chun hurriedly reached out to rub his back, persuading him, “Nowadays, aren’t many of the memorials already being reviewed by the Military Affairs Office? Let’s leave them for tomorrow. Jiu-ge, why don’t you rest early?”

Xie Yi coughed until his vision blurred, blood and qi surging in his chest and abdomen. He couldn’t help feeling that his grand declaration sounded weak and powerless. With the establishment of the Military Affairs Office, he had become much more relaxed, so he put down the imperial writing brush. “Alright, let’s rest.”

Xu Chun felt his icy fingertips and pitied him, not pestering him further. The two washed up and went to bed, cuddling in the warm blankets and chatting idly. Xu Chun talked about the wedding that day. “Changtian-ge told me that he wants to take advantage of this quiet period. After the official military reforms, he’ll likely be busy again. So he asked me for a favor. Helan Miss’s fleet is setting sail again. This time, they’re going to a distant continent. It may take over half a year for a round trip. He wishes to lead three thousand troops to escort her fleet. I hope you’ll agree. I suspect he must be feeling anxious after seeing Nong Siji’s marriage.”

Xie Yi slowly stroked the armlet on his shoulder. “Things are stable at Jinhai Fort now. You have Huo Shiduo helping you there, and there are also many new-style school graduates serving as commanders. Let him go. Sheng Changyun works diligently in the Ministry of Revenue. I can first transfer him to the Jinhai Port Office to replace you, taking over the matters in Sheng Changtian’s hands. After all, the Sheng family has many officers; others might not be able to handle it.”

Xu Chun said, “I was just about to mention this to you. Turns out Jiu-ge and I had the same idea.”

Xie Yi, however, said slowly, “The strength of the Sheng family is your strength. The alliance between the Sheng and Helan families is something I naturally wish to see.”

Xu Chun was taken aback. He hadn’t considered this angle. After a moment of silence, he laughed. “I only felt sorry for Changtian-ge. If Jiu-ge says so, I fear that if the good match truly comes to fruition, the imperial clan might become even more wary of me.”

Xie Yi said, “They aren’t afraid of you precisely because the Sheng family behind you isn’t powerful enough yet. Otherwise, why wouldn’t they dare to hold grudges against the Fang family?”

“The Fang family has operated for generations, with matrimonial connections. Whether in Guangzhou or the capital, they appear low-profile, but in reality, there are many people who share their views and interests. Just consider Shen Mengzhen, a member of an aristocratic family, who had a good relationship with the Fang family before. Zi Xing stayed at his place when he came to the capital. Don’t look at their seemingly indifferent demeanor; in times of need, they will surely take care of each other’s descendants.”

Xu Chun recalled, “I remember, Teacher told me about this. Speaking of which, why is Teacher so quiet lately, so different from before? He didn’t attend the wedding banquet today, and when I asked, they only said he was at home with his wife. The memorials he writes are also fair and moderate, balanced and stable.”

Xie Yi laughed. “Perhaps getting married and having children changed his mindset. His wife is astonishingly skilled at chess. I heard that he often plays with her at home.”

Xu Chun felt it was odd. “Last time when I inspected Jinhai Fort, he would occasionally lecture me. But after returning to the capital, he basically stopped assigning homework or lecturing me. It’s quite strange.”

Xie Yi said, “You’re busy at the Military Affairs Office, and he has many trivial matters to deal with in the Ministry of Rites. How could he find the time to teach you? Besides, you’re now a Grand Secretary; how could he continue treating you like an ordinary student?”

“You’ve demonstrated remarkable ability and proficiency in government affairs. The memorials you draft are increasingly well-formed, looking almost identical to those I write. He could be your teacher in Confucian classics, but in terms of state affairs, he may not have much left to teach you.”

Xu Chun was flattered by his praise, snuggling closer. “In Jiu-ge’s eyes, everything about me is good.”

After saying this, he felt a bit melancholy. “Nong Dage’s honeymoon will last a month, and after the wedding, he’ll have to return to his post. Changtian-ge will escort Helan Miss out to sea, Changyun-ge will go to Jinhai Fort, Changzhou-ge is in Fujian… There are hardly any people in the capital to talk to. Truly, there’s no feast that doesn’t end.”

Xie Yi said, “True friends are near, though they may be far apart. You’re so young, yet you’re sighing about parting. Have you forgotten the Zuyi Garden? To be able to accompany each other is enough.”

Xu Chun suddenly remembered how Jiu-ge had once been isolated and forsaken by all. He probably suffered much more than Xu Chun had at that time. Hurriedly, he smiled again. “Jiu-ge is right; it was just a momentary confusion. Having Jiu-ge is enough for me.”

Xu Chun had drunk too much at the banquet. After exchanging a few fragmented words with Xie Yi, he could barely keep his eyes open and soon fell asleep.

Xie Yi watched as Xu Chun, who had been chattering incessantly, quickly fell into a deep sleep, his brows serene. He knew that Xu Chun valued peace of mind above all else, allowing him to sleep soundly every night. In fact, Xu Chun was the easiest to satisfy.

He covered him with the blanket, got up, and left. Su Hua brought over a bowl of medicine for him to drink, lamenting, “Your Majesty, if you’re worried that your nighttime coughing will disturb His Excellency, why not sleep in separate beds for a while? Why insist on taking such potent cough suppressants? The imperial physician said this is a chronic condition that should be treated gradually. Taking heavy medication won’t help cure the root cause.”

Xie Yi drained the cup in one go. “Don’t mention this. The imperial physicians naturally advocate a slow and steady approach to recovery. I won’t die, but I won’t get better either.”

Su Hua sighed. “Unfortunately, Doctor Zhou has gone to the Academy of Nations to lecture and run his clinic again. The medicine he prescribed last year worked well. Why not summon him back to take your pulse again?”

Xie Yi said, “Doctor Zhou is busy teaching his students. Let Donghai do the same. Let Donghai come back for a while to spend time with his old master. It’s not good for him to be so lonely just because a few of his older brothers left. He enjoys company.”

Su Hua said, “Doctor Donghai is indeed quite good, but Your Majesty should cherish your health. The Longevity Festival is approaching. For the sake of the nation and the people, and for Linhai Marquis, Your Majesty must be in good health.”

Xie Yi understood in his heart. Ever since he developed the coughing illness, Xu Chun dared not provoke him anymore. Although he still accompanied the emperor during his daily routine, he wasn’t as playful and intimate as before, not daring to serve the emperor or seek favors, his behavior becoming much more restrained.

He simply said, “I know my own body. No need to say more.”

Su Hua could only comply and withdraw.

A few days later, Donghai indeed returned to the capital. He entered the palace, took Xie Yi’s pulse, and prescribed a formula. He also performed acupuncture on him for several days. Indeed, Xie Yi’s coughing subsided, and his health improved significantly.

Xu Chun was reassured and focused once again on the matters of the commercial ports and military reforms. Several of the teams sent to measure various regions had returned, bringing back accurate data on military forces and equipment, as well as land acreage. This delighted the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War, as they had never received such detailed and accurate data before. Using this data, they estimated that after the implementation of the new tax law, the national treasury’s income would increase by as much as thirty percent.

The cabinet was also shocked and ordered a recount, which confirmed the estimate. The new tax law was ultimately implemented first in five regions.

Xie Yi, in a rare display of firmness, pushed the new tax law through. Xu Chun witnessed, for the first time, a true, relentless verbal battle in court.

Amidst the chaos, the Longevity Festival arrived again.