Chapter 238 – Without Flaw

After the morning court session came the banquet, during which Xu Chun took the opportunity to retrieve his jade pendant, stashing it in his sleeve. However, during the banquet, he immediately spotted Xie Yi wearing the “Fengchi Jiaolin” jade pendant around his waist, striding about with ease. Xu Chun wished he could signal to Xie Yi but was worried that Xie Yi might misunderstand and leave prematurely, which would be even worse.

This continued until the feast ended and they watched the opera. Xu Chun returned to the inner palace in a daze, noticing that Xie Yi had already changed out of his formal attire and was drinking tea there. He stepped forward to complain, “Brother Nine, didn’t you notice we took each other’s jade pendants? How could you wear it so openly?”

Xie Yi glanced down and chuckled. “What’s wrong with that? The engraving is so small, no one can see it.”

Xu Chun retorted, “Who says no one can see it? General Helan spotted it right away and told me that the dragon follows the wind and the cloud follows the tiger, implying good fortune. That’s when I realized I’d worn the wrong one.”

Looking at Xie Yi with a hint of grievance in his eyes, Xie Yi explained, “Helan Jingjiang is a master archer, capable of shooting a willow leaf from a hundred paces since childhood. Most people don’t have such sharp vision. Rest assured. On a day like today, who would dare to stare at my waist pendant?”

Xu Chun grumbled, “Today, you were supposed to visit the imperial temple and pay respects to the Empress Dowager. Yet, you still came to bother me. If I hadn’t been worried about you being late, how could I have taken the wrong pendant?”

Xie Yi responded with a good-natured tone, “It’s my fault, it won’t happen again. What compensation do you want, my dear?”

Seeing Xie Yi’s gentle and calm demeanor, Xu Chun remembered it was actually Xie Yi’s birthday. Feeling embarrassed for nitpicking over such a trivial matter, he shifted the topic, “How did Brother Nine’s visit to the ancestral temple and meeting with the Empress Dowager go?”

He knew their mother-son relationship was merely nominal, and couldn’t help feeling heartache for Brother Nine, fearing he might have been wronged. But on the Emperor’s birthday, visiting the imperial temple and his birth mother was an obligation, a matter of propriety that couldn’t be avoided.

Xie Yi recounted, “She was much gentler than before, even holding my hand and crying, saying she was sorry for her past actions. She mentioned that if we weren’t royalty, just ordinary mother and son, we wouldn’t have ended up in our current situation. She talked about being despised and neglected by Father Emperor in the past, nearly being deposed several times, and how Regent Wang intervened to mediate. She expressed a wish that, in the next life, she could be an ordinary mother to me so she could make amends. In this life, she feels deeply guilty and can only repent by spending her days in solitude. She doesn’t expect forgiveness from me anymore.”

Xu Chun comforted him, “I’m glad you weren’t wronged.”

Xie Yi added, “She must have finally given in after being locked up for so long, trying to coax me into releasing her. Unfortunately, my heart is made of stone…” He couldn’t help coughing a few times after saying that.

Xu Chun quickly changed the subject, “Today is Brother Nine’s birthday. I should be the one celebrating it for you. What do you want?”

Xie Yi smiled, “You’re congratulating me on my birthday. Where’s the gift?”

Xu Chun stood up and said, “Wait a moment, Brother Nine.” He went out to instruct Wu Fu and others. After a while, he carried in a large easel covered with velvet. He extended his hand, gesturing for Xie Yi to uncover it.

Smiling, Xie Yi approached and lifted the curtain. He saw a painting of a late spring garden where Xie Yi and Xu Chun sat side by side on a bench. Both wore casual robes, their expressions relaxed and elegant, with smiles playing on their lips, basking in the spring sunshine. Peach blossoms bloomed overhead, while peonies and Chinese herbaceous peonies flourished by their sides, with bees and butterflies fluttering around.

Although they didn’t look at each other, their demeanor was intimate and affectionate. Upon closer inspection, their hands were clasped under their wide sleeves, conveying a sense of hidden passion and connection.

Outside, snow fell and the sky was overcast, yet unfolding this painting brought spring to life on paper. It was as if bathed in spring sunshine, with the fragrance of flowers permeating the air, making the room suddenly warmer.

Xie Yi remarked, “This seems to borrow some Western painting techniques. The portrait is finely detailed and very lifelike. You’ve even captured the luster of the jade pendant and the small pearls on the shoes. It must have taken you a lot of time, right?”

Xu Chun replied, “I worked on it intermittently for half a year. Does Brother Nine think it looks realistic?”

Xie Yi praised, “It’s spot-on. The shading and tones of the figures are well-rendered, making them look almost real. The flowers, bees, and butterflies are painted using the boneless technique, showing a wide range of influences. Hang it up, please.”

Xu Chun chuckled, “I thought Brother Nine might criticize me for not leaving any blank space, filling it completely.”

Xie Yi countered, “My dear likes completeness, which signifies good fortune and wisdom. This imperial couple portrait is perfect for posterity.”

Xu Chun, initially pleased with the praise, didn’t expect Xie Yi to suddenly mention the imperial couple. His face flushed. “Brother Nine is teasing me?” He felt self-conscious, knowing he intentionally painted a picture of them sitting together like a married couple, harboring a sense of pride and joy. Brother Nine likely guessed his intentions, causing him further embarrassment. He said, “I need to mount this painting. Brother Nine, just take a look for now.”

He didn’t want others to see his true feelings, nor did he wish to hang such a painting to see every day. Xie Yi looked at him with warm, smiling eyes. “I like your painting, my dear. It depicts perfect harmony, a harmonious pair, a perfect match, and a century of happiness.”

Xu Chun’s face grew even hotter as he hastily covered the painting, stepping forward and saying, “Brother Nine, think about how we’ll spend the next three days. It’s too cold at the villa, should we just stay in the palace for winter?”

Xie Yi responded, “I actually have an idea…”

Before he could finish, Su Huaibai appeared outside the door, reporting, “Your Majesty, Commander Fang is here to see you.”

Xie Yi was surprised, knowing Fang Zixing must have something urgent to discuss at this hour. He ordered, “Let him in.”

Fang Zixing strode in, intending to perform a formal bow. Xie Yi said, “Waive the formalities. What’s the matter?”

With slightly red eyes, Fang Zixing reported, “A family elder has come from Guangzhou Province, saying that Father is gravely ill and unlikely to recover. He hopes that Eldest Brother and I can return to Guangzhou Province to see him one last time. Eldest Brother had already taken leave to return home for the New Year, but I have important duties…”

Xie Yi promptly granted permission. “Approved. Go back with your wife to attend to your father. Everything will be fine here.”

Fang Zixing asked, “Should I transfer control of the palace guards to the commander of the capital troops? Is that appropriate?”

However, Xie Yi suggested, “Transfer it to Linhai Marquis. Just give him the tokens of command for the twelve Imperial Guards. The palace guards were originally the Longxiang, Fengxiang, and Hugun Guards. These three units are familiar with Linhai Marquis, and Fengxiang and Hugun Guards already follow his orders. Hand them over to him. Su Huaibai oversees the four gate guards, so it’s easy.”

Fang Zixing responded crisply, “As Your Majesty commands.”

He swiftly pulled out the tokens from his chest and presented them with both hands. Xie Yi reached out to accept them, handing them over to Xu Chun. He instructed Su Huaibai, “Go to the treasury and find some medicinal herbs, Ruyi, Purple Gold Pills, and frankincense to give to Zixing as a reward. Also, send two medical officers from the Imperial Medical Academy to Guangzhou Province to provide careful treatment to Pingnan Duke.”

Su Huaibai hurriedly acknowledged.

Xie Yi reassured Fang Zixing, “Don’t worry about the capital. Stay in Guangzhou Province to attend to your father. Return to the capital once Pingnan Duke recovers.”

With reddened eyes, Fang Zixing knelt and bowed. “Since childhood, I’ve been away from home, unable to serve my father by his side. It’s a regret that I couldn’t attend to him. Now that my father is critically ill, I feel ashamed and anxious, not knowing what to do. Today is Your Majesty’s birthday, and I shouldn’t disturb Your Majesty’s joy with my trivial matters. Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty. I’ll repay Your Majesty’s great kindness with my life. I’ll go home now to serve my father, and once things are settled in Guangzhou Province, I’ll return to the capital immediately.”

Xie Yi consoled him, “Pingnan Duke is old and virtuous; he will surely overcome misfortune and turn bad luck into good. There’s no need to rush. Don’t worry about returning to the capital. Everything is fine here. Hurry and set off.”

Fang Zixing bowed again and withdrew. Su Huaibai led him out, ordering someone to open the treasury to select high-quality medicinal herbs and sending someone to the Imperial Medical Academy to relay the verbal order to choose medical officers. This is not mentioned further.

Xu Chun sighed, “During the New Year, this morning, Wuying Duke mentioned wanting to return home with the princess to accompany Pingnan Duke for the holiday. Now, this unexpected event occurs. Life is truly unpredictable.”

Xie Yi agreed, “Indeed. Buddhism teaches that life is filled with eight sufferings: the suffering of birth, aging, illness, death, separation from loved ones, meeting with those one dislikes, unfulfilled wishes, and the suffering of the five aggregates burning brightly. Zixing came to the capital as a hostage when he was young; it was my fault. I should have allowed him to visit his family in Guangzhou more often. But considering Pingnan Duke was usually healthy and visited the capital occasionally, I never expected his health to deteriorate so suddenly.” His expression held a trace of melancholy.

Worried about stirring up sad memories for Xie Yi, Xu Chun quickly changed the subject. “I believe Pingnan Duke, who was usually robust, will indeed, as Brother Nine’s golden words suggest, be able to turn danger into safety. I’ve heard of many elderly people surviving critical moments and living to be a hundred years old. Who knows, maybe seeing Wuying Duke and Brother Zixing returning with their wives might cheer him up and heal his illness.”

Xie Yi responded, “Yes, may it be so.”

Xu Chun inquired, “Earlier, Brother Nine mentioned how you wanted to celebrate your birthday?”

Xie Yi shared, “I’ve just recovered from illness, but I’m still tired and lazy to move. It’s better to remain still than to stir. Why don’t we quietly spend the next few days at your Bamboo Branch House, eating commoner dishes, and experiencing everyday market life? We can read books, paint, or simply stroll through the market streets. That would be wonderful.”

Xu Chun, who always indulged Xie Yi, happily agreed, “That sounds great! I’ll have someone tidy up first. We’ll have dinner there tonight, and Lu Po will prepare a few dishes.”

Thinking about the place where he and Brother Nine first fell in love, he was filled with joy. “There are many fun things at my place. When Brother Nine stayed there before, his eyesight was impaired. Now, revisiting the place, I’ll accompany Brother Nine to see a play when we have free time. There are a few new plays at the Qianqiu Garden that should be quite good. Let’s pick one and watch it there.”

Xie Yi laughed, “We should also invite He Zhiquiu and ask him to write us another novel.”

Xu Chun burst out laughing. “Brother Nine, you’re going to scare Master He to death?”

Xie Yi replied, “Having me ask him to write is a great honor.”

Xu Chun clicked his tongue. “I haven’t even read the novels written by Scholar He…after Brother Nine confiscated them, I don’t know where they were stored.” He sighed, seemingly very regretful.

Xie Yi commented, “Well, I finished reading them and remember some of the stories. I’ll tell you tonight.”

Xu Chun nearly laughed until his stomach hurt, thinking that if Brother He knew Brother Nine had read his entire book of southern winds, he would either be trembling with fear or shedding tears of gratitude…