Chao Yan said, “In the common world, I have already taken him as my spouse.”
The Emperor replied, “You also know that was done in the common world.”
“Father, he also saved my life. Now that he cannot be made Crown Princess, at the very least he should be granted the title of Secondary Consort.”
The Emperor did not respond.
“Please grant my request.” Chao Yan knelt down.
The Emperor said, “Does Consort Shu know?”
Chao Yan said, “I have already sent a letter to Mother. She should be aware by now. Tomorrow I will bring him to see her.”
The Emperor waved his hand. “Withdraw first. I will think about it.”
Chao Yan respectfully acknowledged and withdrew.
The Emperor said to Grand Eunuch Huang, “Investigate this young lady.”
Shortly afterwards, Grand Eunuch Huang returned.
He presented a rather thick letter to the Emperor. “Grand Secretary Meng of the Court of Justice has already investigated Miss Gu. This is what he has found.”
The Emperor praised, “Chancellor Meng is meticulous and considerate, and so is Vice Minister Meng. Truly, a worthy son of a worthy father.”
The Emperor opened the envelope and took out several neatly folded sheets of paper. The handwriting recorded Miss Gu’s identity, background, and character.
It stated that her origins were untraceable, and that she was only known, from the Crown Prince’s account, to be the daughter of a merchant family whose household had fallen into misfortune, leaving her adrift. Further down, it noted with surprise that she had saved both the county magistrate’s wife and child, as well as Vice Minister Meng himself.
Remarkable indeed. A heroine who did not yield to men.
The Emperor skimmed further and reached the section on character. Vice Minister Meng described her as “gentle and refined in nature, clear-minded and broad-hearted. Occasionally coquettish in speech, yet naturally intelligent and pleasing.”
The Emperor said to Grand Eunuch Huang, “Huang De, take a look.”
Grand Eunuch Huang leaned in and read it. He smiled. “Vice Minister Meng’s evaluation of Miss Gu is quite high.”
The Emperor said, “Isn’t there also that Xianghou?”
Grand Eunuch Huang replied, “Ning Xianghou. He is a martial man and not as thorough as Vice Minister Meng. He only said he had met Miss Gu, that she was good-looking and kind, and knew nothing else.”
The Emperor said, “I would like to see just how charming she is.”
Grand Eunuch Huang said, “What if Vice Minister Meng and Ning Xianghou are merely speaking favourably because of His Highness the Crown Prince… will Your Majesty still agree to the Crown Prince’s request for the title?”
The Emperor pressed the letter down and said coldly, “So must all Secondary Consorts of the Crown Prince come from noble families? How is that different from forming factions?”
—
“Your Highness, we have arrived.”
The Eastern Palace carriage stopped. Zhao He said softly to the Crown Prince, who had been resting with his eyes closed.
Chao Yan opened his eyes, stepped down from the carriage, and walked towards Chunhe Hall. Zhao He followed one step behind, with personal guards trailing further back.
Zhao He hesitated for a moment and said, “Your Highness, regarding conferring Miss Gu as Secondary Consort…”
Chao Yan glanced at him. “He is worthy of that title. If you spend more time with him, you will understand.”
Zhao He looked momentarily stunned, then quickly composed himself and smiled. “I believe Your Highness’s judgement.”
He continued, “His Majesty will likely investigate Miss Gu privately since he has not agreed immediately. Vice Minister Meng and Ning Xianghou travelled with Your Highness; those sent by His Majesty will likely question them. I only hope both will speak honestly.”
Chao Yan said, “San-lang is a fair man. Ning Xianghou’s parents were originally servants in Chancellor Meng’s household and were later freed. Since they were acknowledged by the Meng residence, they are naturally decent people. As their son, even if he does not inherit all their virtues, he should still be at least half reliable.”
Zhao He said, “Hearing Your Highness say so, my concerns are entirely relieved. His Majesty will likely agree to Your Highness’s request. I will have the Eastern Palace properly cleaned and prepare some supplies…”
Chao Yan said, “No need. We will discuss it later.”
Zhao He replied, “Yes.”
Chao Yan then instructed him, “Tomorrow morning I will take A-Yan to Cining Temple to see Mother. Go to the storeroom and take out two boxes of bird’s nest and donkey-hide gelatin. There should still be some rose essence left as well; bring that too.”
Zhao He said, “I will remember it.”
They soon arrived at Chunhe Hall. Chao Yan gestured for them not to follow and walked into the side hall.
A palace maid opened the door. Zhang Zhangshe and another maid stood guard outside the bedroom. Chao Yan waved them away from formalities and entered.
The room was elegant. A lantern cast a soft glow, not harsh, fading into deeper shadows near the bed. Chao Yan approached the couch and lifted the curtain.
A large mound was visible on the bed. Gu Yun had wrapped himself completely under the blanket.
Chao Yan bent down and pulled at the bedding. As it lifted, a faint rose fragrance drifted out. He adjusted it slightly, revealing a face flushed red from being smothered.
He stroked Gu Yun’s cheek; it was warm and soft. His fingers moved upward, brushing away hair that had fallen across his forehead, revealing his eyes and brows.
“A-Yun,” Chao Yan called softly.
No response.
A smile appeared in Chao Yan’s eyes. He straightened him slightly and kissed him on the lips. The scent of roses lingered there too.
“So fragrant,” he murmured, becoming intoxicated, slowly grinding against the lips before growing more insistent, thirstier.
He pressed down, forcing his tongue between the other’s lips.
Gu Yun was deeply asleep, exhausted from the past few days. In his haze, he felt weight on him and something intrusive in his mouth. After struggling twice without success, he grew irritated and bit down hard.
Chao Yan winced and pulled back, ending the kiss.
Freed, Gu Yun immediately resumed peaceful sleep.
Chao Yan sucked at his own lip; it had begun to bleed slightly.
He was both amused and annoyed, and was about to pinch the man’s cheek when he suddenly noticed something unusual beneath his hand. Looking down, he realised that in the midst of passion, he had reached into the bedding and grasped part of the other’s clothing at the waist.
On closer feel, there were multiple layers, and it was quite thick.
Why was he sleeping in so many layers? That thought only just formed when he realised something else: the waistline felt thinner.
He pulled back the blanket, lifted the hem of the clothing, and in the dim light caught sight of a faint pale pink fabric. At that moment, he understood.
The other seemed slightly cold and burrowed further into the blanket.
Chao Yan’s fingertips brushed over the smooth fabric and slid away. He stared at the curled figure, heat and tension rising below his abdomen.
As a neglected member of the imperial family, no one had formally taught him such matters. But after becoming Crown Prince, certain women hoping to gain favour had secretly sent him illustrated books. He could not claim he had never looked at them; at his age, curiosity about intimacy was inevitable.
He leaned down, pulled the person out from under the blanket, and held him half in his arms, beginning to undo his clothing ties. Beneath the white inner robe, the pale pink fabric contrasted sharply with fair skin.
Just as he was about to remove the upper garment, clarity returned to him. He let out a soft sigh.
He retied the clothing, placed him back properly, smoothed the blanket, and left.
After some time, he returned wearing only his inner robe, damp with water vapour. He loosened his hair ribbon, let his hair fall, climbed into bed, gathered him into his arms, rested his chin on his head, and closed his eyes.
—
The next morning, Gu Yun woke early. Before he was fully conscious, he already realised he was being held.
He paused, quickly recognised who it was, and carefully tried to pull away. Before he could free even a few fingers, his hands were caught.
Startled, he tried to turn, but the position prevented it. He gave up and called softly, “Your Highness.”
Just as he spoke, his hand was lightly stroked. A low, slightly hoarse voice said, “You woke me.”
Gu Yun gave an awkward laugh. “I didn’t mean to.”
“And then?”
“Your Highness, I was wrong. Please be magnanimous and spare me.”
Chao Yan released him and sat up.
Gu Yun immediately followed, reaching for his outer robe placed on the bed board.
The bed was a carved rosewood four-poster with yellow poplar inlay, enclosed on three sides. A low shelf ran along the inner side, with drawers beneath and ornaments placed above.
The outer robe had been placed there deliberately so it could be put on immediately upon waking. Before he could reach it, a hand took it first and tossed it to the end of the bed.
“Your Highness?” Gu Yun looked at him in confusion.
Chao Yan pulled him onto his lap. Gu Yun froze. A familiar pressure pressed against him, and he stiffened instantly.
Chao Yan said casually, “I will choose you a new outfit. This one is too dark.”
Gu Yun nodded.
Chao Yan added, “You will come with me tomorrow to meet Mother.”
Gu Yun paused. “Mother?”
Chao Yan replied, “My mother. Your mother too.”
Gu Yun suddenly thought of his own mother, then his father, grandfather, grandmother, friends, and teachers. A wave of homesickness followed.
“You don’t answer. Do you not want to go?” Chao Yan asked.
Gu Yun came back to himself. “No.”
Chao Yan lowered his head with a smile, brushing his nose against Gu Yun’s cheek.
Gu Yun tilted his head. “What are you doing?” He was kissed on the cheek, then the chin, then the neck.
“What are you doing?” he asked again, startled.
Chao Yan said softly, “Don’t move.”
Gu Yun stiffened. “Your Highness, I am not in good health.”
A kiss landed at the corner of his mouth. He thought it was going to continue, and internally considered biting him. But it stopped.
Chao Yan said, “From now on, only use things with rose fragrance, alright?”
Only then did Gu Yun understand why he had been kissed so thoroughly first thing in the morning.
Expressionless, he thought: never using it again.
