Chapter 24 – Gift of the Sword

Outside the Maogong Hall, the cabinet scholars and high ministers waited in silence, queuing up for their audience with the emperor.

Inside the hall, Xie Yi was speaking to Grand Secretary Ouyang Shen, “My decision is final, Master, there’s no need for further discussion. The current priority is the Spring Imperial Examination; selecting capable talents for the country is what matters.”

Ouyang Shen sighed, “Your Majesty, with scholars from across the land gathered in the capital, ordering the Empress Dowager and Lady Jingfei to move out of the palace and reside in the imperial temple might tarnish Your Majesty’s reputation.”

Xie Yi replied coolly, “Mother has been plagued by dreams of the late emperor these days, consumed by worry day and night. She is determined to retreat to the imperial temple to cultivate her mind and pray for the late emperor’s blessing. I am also distressed and have tried to dissuade her, but to no avail. Fearing that her worries might lead to illness, I wish to honor her wishes, yet I’m concerned about the solitude of the imperial temple and the lack of attendants to care for her. Fortunately, Lady Jingfei has offered to accompany Mother to the imperial temple to pray, alleviating my concerns and allowing me to acquiesce to Mother’s wishes.”

Ouyang Shen was speechless.

Who didn’t know that the relationship between the late emperor and the empress dowager was as cold as ice? The late emperor had repeatedly sought to depose her during his lifetime, only to abandon the idea after being beseeched by his ministers. There were even rumors that he issued an edict to depose her on his deathbed, which was suppressed by the regent. As for Lady Jingfei, when the emperor had made a great fuss about deposing her, the entire court knew how much the emperor despised her, explicitly stating that she would not be granted an audience in the edict of deposition—a level of decisiveness rarely seen in history.

Two generations of emperors and empresses had created such a situation that the direct line of succession was not prosperous. At least the late emperor had the current Emperor, who, despite his youth, succeeded to the throne safely and grew up, earning the title of sage monarch. Yet, the imperial lineage dwindled, and to this day, there was no prince or princess in the harem. Some began to doubt whether the emperor suffered from a disease, causing the ministers to live in trepidation, as they feared that this era of peace would not last for many more years.

Ouyang Shen bowed, not daring to speak.

Xie Yi glanced at Ouyang Shen, “If any minister is worried about the Empress Dowager, I can allow them to accompany her to the imperial temple, serving her and fulfilling filial duties on my behalf. With loyal ministers and virtuous ladies present, I will feel even more at ease.”

Ouyang Shen quickly changed the subject, “Your Majesty, the plowing ceremony and the silk ceremony are approaching. Since the position of empress has been vacant, the Empress Dowager has led the noblewomen in the silk ceremony. Should we wait until after the silk ceremony to go to the imperial temple?”

Xie Yi responded casually, “Prince Yu is the head of the imperial clan, let Princess Consort Yu preside over it.”

Ouyang Shen sighed, “Princess Consort Yu is already elderly, how many more years can she preside over it? I implore Your Majesty to consider the imperial lineage and choose an empress soon, expanding the harem and bestowing grace upon the consorts.”

Xie Yi tossed the memorial onto the desk, “Are there any other matters you wish to report, Minister?”

Ouyang Shen could only report several urgent matters before retreating. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Su Kuai brought tea, and Xie Yi asked, “Why did you change the tea?”

Su Kuai smiled, “I heard from Wu Fu that His Highness used Golden Lotus tea at Prince Xu’s residence. I consulted the imperial physicians, and they all said that it detoxifies and benefits health. It’s very effective, something that common people on the market can’t easily obtain.”

“It’s contributed from Fuzhou, and every year, there’s a limited supply, mostly reserved for the Empress Dowager. Now that Prince Xu has sent over a large package, Your Majesty should prioritize your own health and not be too frugal.”

Xie Yi said, “Mother is going to the imperial temple to cultivate her mind; she needs sincerity and tranquility. Instruct the Ministry of Rites that extravagant offerings like these can be reduced.”

Su Kuai’s lips nearly stretched to his ears, “Yes.”

Xie Yi asked, “Who is next for an audience?”

Su Kuai replied, “It’s Prince Shun’s heir waiting to report.”

Xie Yi recalled, “Xie Fei? Put him last, and have lunch with me. Don’t tell him; first, summon the other cabinet ministers.”

Su Kuai hurriedly went to relay the message.

Xie Fei entered the palace early in the morning for an audience with the emperor and hadn’t dared to eat much. Standing outside, he didn’t expect the eunuch to emerge and call the next person instead of him. Following behind was Lin Jing, a cabinet scholar, extremely nervous, repeatedly asking, “Did the eunuch make a mistake? Prince Shun’s heir should have been summoned first.”

The young eunuch had a wooden expression, “I received orders to invite Scholar Lin inside. Please come in quickly.”

Xie Fei nodded politely to Lin Jing, maintaining a humble demeanor, though his heart was filled with unease. Although they were cousins according to the genealogy, the emperor had ascended the throne since childhood and was known for his simplicity, solemnity, and seriousness. He was not prone to laughter, deep and possessing the heart of an emperor. He was extremely cold towards the regent and his birth mother, making the imperial clan both respectful and fearful of this ruthless emperor.

One by one, the grand secretaries entered, but Xie Fei was never summoned. Initially, he maintained a relaxed demeanor, but gradually became cautious, not daring to return to the deliberation hall. The cabinet ministers and the six secretaries passed by him, bowing, but their gazes gradually carried curiosity, speculation, and even avoidance.

He felt like he was being punished, standing under the public gaze in the corridor, thirsty and tired, but not daring to utter a sound. Today, he was dressed in winter robes for his audience with the emperor. Under the chilly spring wind in the corridor, his limbs were cold, but his heart burned with anxiety, making it a difficult ordeal.

As noon approached, Su Kuai emerged with a smile, bowing to Xie Fei, “Greetings, Prince Shun’s heir. By the emperor’s order, you are invited to have lunch with him.”

Xie Fei’s heart slowly settled, but his expression remained humble. He handed Su Kuai a silver coin with a smile, “Thank you for delivering the message, Eunuch Su. Is the emperor in good spirits today?”

Su Kuai smiled, “Peace reigns in the world, and the country is prosperous. Naturally, the emperor is in good spirits.”

Hearing this standard response, Xie Fei didn’t dare relax, but seeing Su Kuai accept the silver coin, he felt slightly reassured. He hurriedly entered the hall and paid his respects. He had never been so cautious and serious in his audience with the emperor, not even daring to raise his head.

Seeing this, Xie Yi laughed, “Rise. It’s rare for us brothers to have some free time today. Fortunately, the Ministry of Rites recently acquired a batch of fresh river knives, along with bamboo shoots, perfect for tasting the first delicacies of spring.” After finishing, he took Xie Fei’s hand and walked inside.

Lunch was arranged in the Qingfeng Pavilion. In the imperial garden, the green willows were budding, creating a different kind of spring atmosphere. Indeed, the imperial kitchen served a table full of dishes featuring river knives—dumplings, cakes, noodles, steamed fish, and more. They added diced bamboo shoots, spring chives, and meatballs with wild vegetables. The table was filled with spring delicacies, clearly prepared with care.

However, Xie Yi seemed somewhat dissatisfied, “Did you put effort into this today? If not, continue replacing the chefs.”

Su Kuai smiled, “We replaced the chef with someone skilled in southern cuisine. We’ve instructed them not to mix ingredients randomly but to select the freshest ones, carefully preparing them. The portions should be small, the flavors varied, focusing on the natural taste of the ingredients. Your Majesty, please taste it. If this doesn’t work, shall I find a chef skilled in Fujianese cuisine?”

Xie Yi frowned, “Too sweet, not good either.”

Neither this nor that was satisfactory. It seemed that the chef at Xu Xiaogong’s private residence was the best. Su Kuai remained silent, but his eyes and the corners of his mouth were filled with laughter. Xie Yi told Xie Fei to sit down, “Sit, let’s have lunch.”

Xie Fei cautiously sat down, puzzled. He had always heard that the emperor was frugal and adaptable, never finding fault with the servants in trivial matters like food and clothing. Seeing Su Kuai being quite bold and casual in front of the emperor, it was evident that the emperor was indeed easy-going. But why was he so picky about the food? It seemed that he had replaced several imperial chefs.

Thinking about this, Xie Fei maintained a respectful demeanor, picking at the corner dishes in front of him and sampling some soup. Xie Yi then said indifferently, “The bamboo shoot soup is acceptable, and the river knife dumplings are fine. Bring a portion for Prince Fei.”

Su Kuai hurriedly scooped some personally, and Xie Fei was flattered, carefully eating the dumplings bestowed by the emperor. After lunch, they drank post-meal tea. Then, Xie Yi rose and said, “Let’s take a walk in the Hongwen Academy and admire the new calligraphy and paintings.”

Xie Fei followed him step by step. Xie Yi led him to the pavilion in the Hongwen Academy to appreciate the new paintings by the court painters. Seeing no painter around, Xie Fei knew that the emperor wanted to speak to him, paying even more attention, not daring to miss a single word.

Xie Yi smiled, “Last year, I assigned you to oversee the restoration of the Hongwen Academy’s calligraphy and paintings, and you did well. Originally, I wanted to reward you at the end of the year, but then I fell ill and couldn’t manage it. Now, I finally have the time to see what reward you desire.”

Xie Fei held his breath, “Your Majesty’s health and safety are the greatest blessings for us subjects. Serving the emperor, I have exerted all my efforts, and I do not dare claim credit.”

Xie Yi laughed, “Between us brothers, there’s no need for formality. Speaking of which, our names both contain the character ‘yu’; my name is Li Yu, and yours is Fei Yu. It’s truly fateful. I heard your courtesy name is Feiyu?”

Xie Fei almost fainted on the spot. He lowered his eyelids, his clothes drenched in sweat, “I have committed a taboo, please grant me a new name, Your Majesty.”

Xie Yi said nonchalantly, “What’s the fuss? Last time I met you, you were quite humorous. Why are you so restrained today? This isn’t a violation of the taboo; it’s just a coincidence among brothers. I was just chatting idly; there’s no need to dwell on such things. Indeed, I have a matter to entrust to you. Only a member of the imperial clan can handle this, and someone unresourceful wouldn’t do. Looking around, only you can manage it.”

Xie Fei hastily pledged, “I am willing to serve Your Majesty.”

Xie Yi said, “The Empress Dowager misses the late emperor and worries day and night. Now, she is determined to go to the imperial temple to cultivate her mind and pray for the late emperor. I can only comply with her wishes. I am worried about the solitude of the imperial temple and the lack of attendants to care for her, as it would be disrespectful to the Empress Dowager. However, she is not concerned, only eager to depart. The Astronomical Bureau has already determined that the fifteenth of this month is an auspicious day. But I am busy with the plowing ceremony, the Spring Imperial Examination, and other state affairs, making it difficult to attend to both the imperial temple and the capital. Moreover, my travel arrangements are overly cumbersome and extravagant. As my cousin, you can go ahead and arrange everything at the imperial temple. The Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Rites are at your disposal; do not neglect the empress dowager. On the fifteenth, personally escort the empress dowager to the imperial temple for cultivation. Additionally, on the first and fifteenth of each month, you will visit Mother on my behalf. Can you handle this?”

Sweating profusely, Xie Fei dared not refuse. He knelt down, “I am willing to serve the empress dowager and the emperor, and I will do my utmost.”

Xie Yi smiled, ordering Su Kuai to help him up, “Still too restrained. Between us, I want to give you some leeway. After all, the empress dowager is getting older, and serving her can be tiring. Since you’re willing to share the burden, I don’t have to look for another member of the imperial clan. Over the past few years, I’ve observed the imperial clan, and only you seem capable of handling matters.”

Seeing the emperor’s gentle demeanor and holding his hand while appreciating the calligraphy and paintings, Xie Fei was surprised that he was chatting with him. Occasionally, he commented that the painter’s use of color wasn’t good enough, or that the calligraphy was too lazy. Then he asked Xie Fei, “I heard you often hold literary gatherings. With spring approaching, do you have plans for any banquets or outings? I’m confined in the palace and cannot enjoy freedom. Hearing about it from you is good enough.”

Xie Fei replied, “Yesterday, I hosted a tea-tasting banquet by the Chunming Lake, inviting guests to sample new teas and compose poems. A few of the poems were decent, and there were several tea masters who created excellent tea paintings, drawing much attention. Before that, I also held a painting appreciation banquet—the one where the emperor sent someone to fetch the painting.”

When Xie Yi’s eyes weren’t healed, he only knew that Xu Chun painted a Dream of the Butterfly painting, so he had Su Kuai retrieve it and bring it back to the palace. After returning to the palace, he was preoccupied with various matters and didn’t have time to look at the painting, so he said, “Right, speaking of this matter, I wasn’t feeling well that day and didn’t get to see the painting you drew. Now, it’s a good opportunity to appreciate it together.”

Su Kuai hurriedly said, “It’s my fault. The painting has been sent to the painting academy for mounting. I’ll fetch it now.”

Xie Fei smiled, “I thought the emperor was unwell, and Eunuch Su didn’t explain. I only painted a butterfly, while the rest was done by Prince Xu Chun of the Prince Jing’s House. The concept was quite good.”

Xie Yi vaguely said, “Yes, I heard it used the classic of Zhuang Zhou’s dream of a butterfly. Therefore, I was momentarily interested due to idle talk. By the time Su Kuai brought it back, I forgot about it. Duke Jing’s Xu Anlin seems mediocre. What about his son?”

Xie Fei replied, “He’s quite extraordinary. Though young, he speaks eloquently and is clever. Yesterday, he just sent an invitation, asking me to appreciate the Hundred Cranes painting. According to the messenger, Prince Xu has loved painting birds since childhood, so he has collected many paintings of rare birds. Now that he has amassed a hundred crane paintings, he invited me to appreciate them, displaying great elegance.”

Xie Yi’s smile faded slightly, “Is that so?”

Xie Fei said, “Your Majesty will see for yourself. This young man is indeed burdened by his father’s reputation, but in reality, he is handsome and talks confidently, with a likable personality and a sharp mind.”

Xie Yi said indifferently, “You praise him so highly; I’m curious. I’ll find a chance to meet him when I have time.”

Seeing Su Kuai bring the painting, he ordered someone to hang it up. The paper was filled with a splendid, cloud-like mist of orange. The butterfly wings shimmered ethereally, like a fairy’s soul. Below, snow covered the mountains, and a man lay beside a rock and orchid, his brows slightly furrowed, his sleeves falling gracefully with the wind, solitary and refined.

Xie Fei praised, “After several days, looking at it today, the painting still has remarkable brushwork and profound meaning. Without the soulful dreamlike clouds and the subtle essence of the butterfly, the extreme coldness and clarity of the scholar below wouldn’t stand out. Mountains, forests, ravines, and hidden rocks have been painted by many artists throughout history, and many have painted the Dream of the Butterfly. But how many have captured this contrast between cold and warm, static and dynamic? Who would have thought that Prince Xu is only eighteen years old?”

Xie Yi gazed at the face of the reclining scholar on the stone, suddenly revealing a smile at the corner of his lips, “Indeed a fine painting.” He looked at Su Kuai, who stood by his side with his head lowered, but his eyes were filled with laughter. Xie Yi knew that Su Kuai deliberately didn’t say anything. That day, he only mentioned that the little marquis painted a Dream of the Butterfly, intentionally waiting for him to figure it out and please the emperor.

Xie Fei said, “Your Majesty also thinks it’s a good painting? Although lacking some skill, the concept is rare… After all, he painted it spontaneously that day. How could a young man see a butterfly and think of Zhuang Zhou? Perhaps, although he has a reputation as a wastrel, he harbors the transcendental spirit of Lao and Zhuang in his heart, which is truly remarkable.”

Xie Yi glanced at him, seeing his sincere expression, realizing that the praise wasn’t empty. It seemed he genuinely changed his view of Xu Chun that day, but he obviously didn’t dare associate the person in the painting with the emperor himself. After all, few could witness the emperor sleeping.

A hint of a smile appeared on the corner of his lips, “Indeed not an ordinary talent. It seems he has put in some effort in learning painting.” No wonder he knew the classic of the Dream of the Butterfly but not the classic of Observing Fish. Many artists have painted Zhuang Zhou’s Dream of the Butterfly through the ages, so naturally, he had seen it since he studied painting. However, this painting was indeed excellent—it must have been drawn with deep affection to capture the likeness so vividly.

Feeling content, Xie Yi encouraged Xie Fei, “After settling the empress dowager’s matter, I have another task to entrust to you. Handle it properly.”

Seeing the emperor’s expression soften and become more intimate, the oppressive aura that had made Xie Fei feel as if he were on the brink of a precipice since the start of his audience seemed to dissipate. The emperor seemed to be the usual solemn and reserved sage monarch again. Hastily, he knelt down to express his gratitude once more.

Xie Yi spoke kindly and encouraged him a few more times before dismissing him.

After he left, Xie Yi asked Su Kuai, “I remember there’s a Dragon Scale Sword in the inner treasury.”

Su Kuai replied, “Yes, it’s said to be crafted by the master Ou Zhi. The sword body has dragon scale patterns.”

Xie Yi instructed, “Fetch it and have Fang Zixing deliver it to Xu Chun. Say that I just obtained this sword and think it suits him, giving it to him for protection.”

Seeing the emperor’s smiling face, Su Kuai hurriedly replied, “Yes, I’ll take care of it immediately.”

He carefully examined the painting for a while, ordering Su Kuai, “Move this painting to the Suiyu Palace.”

Suiyu Palace was Xie Yi’s inner palace where he usually lived and read, named after the phrase ‘hui hui qi yu’, meaning that outward beauty depends on inner quality, a place where no one could enter without an imperial decree. Su Kuai knew that the emperor was extremely pleased, laughing, “Yes. The little prince’s painting is really lifelike! When I saw it that day, I also felt it resembled Your Majesty. I heard that Little Marquis Xu hasn’t been studying painting for long and painted it spontaneously on the spot, hastily. Yet, he could portray Your Majesty’s majestic and noble qualities, showing that he truly put in effort.”

Xie Yi smiled, “Painting so well deserves a reward.”