Gu Yun: “…”
Gu Yun was unwilling to give up. “I’ll study for another two days. If I still can’t manage it, I’ll do as you suggest.”
Yan Zhao looked at him helplessly.
Two days later, having reviewed his progress, Gu Yun sought out Yan Zhao again, brimming with confidence. Perhaps he had previously been protected by a beginner’s grace period, where, with sufficient effort, he could still be considered merely a slow learner. Now that grace period had passed. He could no longer even qualify as a slow learner. The harder he worked, the worse the outcome became. He was practically a walking disaster, as though he had come specifically to cause trouble.
Yan Zhao’s expression was exceptionally grim. Wearing a thoroughly chaotic mess of make-up, Gu Yun looked at him innocently. Yan Zhao drew a long breath, raised a hand to cover his face, and said in despair, “I won’t have much free time from now on.”
Gu Yun rubbed the tip of his nose and came away with a hand full of powder. “I’ll find someone else.”
Yan Zhao lowered his hand and smiled. “That would be for the best.” As he spoke, his eyes suddenly widened, becoming no different from those of an ordinary person.
Gu Yun glanced at him and noticed nothing unusual. It was only on the second look that he realised something was wrong. Instantly shocked, he pointed at Yan Zhao’s eyes. “You… you…”
Yan Zhao’s eyes narrowed once more. He yawned, cupped his fists in salute, and said, “Allow me to see you out.”
Gu Yun agreed. As they walked, he kept stealing glances at Yan Zhao’s eyes, wondering what exactly was wrong with them, expanding and contracting without warning. Before long they reached the Imperial City. Yan Zhao could accompany him no further and stopped there. Gu Yun returned to the Eastern Palace with his attendants, pondering whom he should learn from next.
Zhang Zhangshe?
She was a female official of the Eastern Palace. Though not as important as Zhao He, she belonged to the category of people who could not simply take leave without cause. Finding a suitable excuse for her absence would be difficult. Moreover, whenever he needed her in future, there was no guarantee she would be able to come and assist him.
He would have to find someone else.
As Gu Yun was occupied with these thoughts, Zhang Zhangshe entered. Her expression looked as though she had swallowed two Bull Demon Kings whole. It was remarkably foul.
He instinctively asked, “What’s wrong?”
Zhang Zhangshe replied, “Her Majesty the Empress has summoned you to Qianning Palace.”
Gu Yun had never met the Empress. When he had been invested as a secondary consort, protocol required him to pay his respects to both the Emperor and the Empress. However, both had claimed to be unwell, and so that particularly tedious and oppressive part of the ceremony had been omitted.
Hearing that the Empress had summoned him, Gu Yun’s first thought was that his wicked mother-in-law had finally made her appearance.
Blinking, he looked at Zhang Zhangshe.
Zhang Zhangshe said, “Yesterday was the fifteenth. Her Majesty received the noblewomen’s formal greetings at Kunning Palace. For her to summon you today can only mean trouble. Most likely it’s because His Highness is reviewing the Ministry of Justice’s old cases. She probably wants you to intercede on behalf of some official, perhaps a relative of hers or one of the former Crown Prince’s old associates, and persuade His Highness to show leniency.”
.
After the Emperor gave Chao Yan free rein to carry out his work, many people spent that night unable to eat or sleep in peace. Those old cases implicated an enormous number of people. More than half the officials in court were involved to one degree or another.
At the following morning’s court session, the Emperor appeared much as usual, sickly and languid. However, just before court was dismissed, he suddenly changed. Looking over the assembled officials, he asked whether they had eaten breakfast.
The officials with guilty consciences could not discern his intentions and dared not answer. Those who were entirely innocent feared that speaking up might somehow put them in the line of fire and likewise remained silent.
After a while, Chancellor Meng spoke up, saying that it was still early and he had no appetite, so he had not eaten breakfast. He concluded by thanking His Majesty for his concern. Only then did the others gradually follow suit and reply that they had not eaten either.
If even the Chancellor had not eaten breakfast, how could they possibly have done so?
At that moment, seated upon the Dragon Throne, the Emperor slowly smiled and ordered food to be served to them. The officials were bewildered and uncertain, but an imperial bestowal of breakfast could not be refused. After expressing their thanks, they sat at the tables brought in by eunuchs, washed their hands, and began to eat.
A bowl of plain congee, two small dishes of pickled vegetables, and a plate of very thinly sliced braised meat.
A simple breakfast.
Leaning back against the Dragon Throne, the Emperor waited until they were nearly finished before suddenly remarking, “I have heard that eating human flesh can drive a person mad. My ministers, have any of you heard such a saying?”
Present in court were not only Chao Yan, but also Prince Yan, the Eighth Prince, and others. The Eighth Prince looked particularly haggard. Upon hearing those words, he froze on the spot and asked in astonishment, “Father Emperor, have you fed us the assassin’s flesh?”
Under the Emperor’s deliberate guidance, most people were already aware that Chao Yan had brought the assassin’s head to the Emperor, and that the Emperor had ordered Grand Eunuch Huang to preserve it carefully.
The Emperor glanced at the Eighth Prince’s now-empty plate of braised meat and said with a smile, “Had I known you liked it so much, I’d have given you more.”
Instantly, the hall erupted with the sound of retching. No one dared vomit upon the Golden Hall’s floor, so they all hurriedly threw up into their sleeves.
The Emperor flew into a rage.
“There are men in the capital raising trained assassins, and none of you knew a thing about it! It was only after the Crown Prince was attacked that the matter came to light! What use are you to me? You may as well all go mad!”
The officials immediately dropped to their knees.
After venting his fury, the Emperor summoned the Crown Prince away and declared the court session concluded.
No one knew what the Emperor and the Crown Prince discussed afterwards. In any case, by the time the Crown Prince left the Emperor’s residence, it was already very late.
No one was in the mood to pay attention to that. They were so thoroughly disgusted that they vomited all the way home. Only after making enquiries and learning that the braised meat had not been human flesh after all, and that the assassin’s head was still sitting intact in the ice cellar, did they begin to recover.
After all that, it turned out the Emperor had merely wanted to teach them a lesson.
The innocent officials relaxed and returned to their duties. For those with clean hands, work remained simply work. For those implicated in the cases, matters became considerably more complicated. Not only did they have to continue with their ordinary responsibilities, but they also had to find ways to evade punishment.
Judging by the Emperor’s attitude, if the Crown Prince managed to catch hold of any evidence against them, they would undoubtedly suffer for it.
Their first instinct was to ingratiate themselves with the Crown Prince and persuade him to let them off. However, he proved completely impervious to every approach. Left with no alternative, they shifted their attention to Gu Yun.
Everyone knew that the Crown Prince doted on Gu Yun. Perhaps a word whispered beside his pillow would be enough to resolve their troubles.
To that end, their wives exhausted themselves trying to find an opportunity to meet Gu Yun. However, Gu Yun belonged to the Eastern Palace, and they had no familial connection to him. How could they simply see him whenever they pleased? Even if Gu Yun himself agreed, propriety would not permit it.
That said, meeting Gu Yun was not entirely impossible. Apart from engineering a chance encounter during palace banquets or other events, they could also approach him indirectly through the Empress.
…
Zhang Zhangshe gave a cold laugh. “Before, they never once wanted to see you. Now suddenly they do. No one visits the temple without a reason.” The moment the words left her mouth, she covered her lips.
Gu Yun laughed. “I won’t repeat it.”
Zhang Zhangshe smiled and thanked him.
Gu Yun asked, “Now?”
Since it was the Empress’s summons, refusal was naturally impossible. Perhaps if Chao Yan were present, he might be able to decline on Gu Yun’s behalf. In truth, however, Gu Yun was somewhat afraid that Chao Yan might refuse again. The last time he had declined Princess Hanzhu’s invitation, it had ultimately led to the issue of taking additional consorts. Who knew what trouble might arise this time?
Taking additional consorts…
At the thought, Gu Yun lowered his gaze.
Before long, the Eastern Palace would become lively indeed.
Come to think of it, he had not seen Chao Yan for several days. The man was simply too busy, so busy that he had not even returned to the Eastern Palace.
“Not now. This afternoon,” Zhang Zhangshe replied. “Her Majesty is unwell. The afternoon is the only time she can get up and attend to matters. Your Grace, don’t be afraid. I’ll accompany you.”
…
That afternoon, after tidying himself up, Gu Yun set off under Zhang Zhangshe’s escort to meet the Empress.
Zhang Zhangshe told him that the Emperor and Empress had been married since their youth. They had once enjoyed a good relationship, but were now little better than strangers. Besides the former Crown Prince, the Empress had also had a daughter. Perhaps she was simply unfortunate in matters concerning her children, for that daughter had died several years earlier, passing away during childbirth.
Zhang Zhangshe repeatedly warned Gu Yun never to mention children in front of the Empress.
She would lose her mind.
Gu Yun agreed.
Before long they arrived at Qianning Palace.
The Empress sat upon the throne in the main hall. Her features appeared somewhat younger than the Emperor’s, yet her hair contained far more white than his. It was all pinned up neatly, adorned with very few ornaments, and her clothing was plain and understated.
The moment Gu Yun entered, she looked over and scrutinised him with striking sharpness.
Gu Yun bowed in greeting.
The severity vanished at once. Supported by attendants, she rose from her throne and came before him.
“Rise,” she said. “Indeed, just as the rumours claim. Beautiful and captivating beyond compare.”
Something about those words struck Gu Yun as odd. She made him sound like a decorative vase.
Then again, perhaps that was exactly what most people thought he was.
Lifting his head, he nevertheless refrained from looking directly at her face out of propriety. His gaze rested only on the folds of skin encircling her neck before he lowered his eyes once more and said obediently, “May I ask why Your Majesty summoned me?”
The Empress replied, “I have long heard that the Crown Prince favours you greatly. I was curious what sort of person you might be.”
Gu Yun smiled slowly.
“The plum blossoms are in bloom in the Plum Garden,” the Empress said. “Will you accompany me for a walk?”
“Your health…” Gu Yun began.
“I can manage.”
Since she said so, Gu Yun did not refuse again.
Within the Plum Garden, most of the blossoms were already in full bloom. Red, pink, white, and yellow flowers filled the grounds in dazzling abundance.
Listening to the crunch of snow beneath their feet, Gu Yun suddenly felt, for the briefest moment, as though he had returned to the wetland park in his own city.
After they had walked for some time, the Empress proved exactly as Zhang Zhangshe had predicted.
She wanted Gu Yun to intercede with His Highness on behalf of an official.
That official was her uncle. He currently served as a Sima in one of the provinces and had previously worked in the Ministry of Rites.
She explained that, when he was young and foolish, her uncle had bribed officials within the Ministry of Personnel in hopes of securing promotion. Lacking sufficient funds, he had lent money out privately. During the collection of those debts, deaths had occurred.
The killings had been committed by his servant. Her uncle himself had never intended for anyone to die.
The servant had already paid with his life. The victims’ families had received generous compensation, relocated elsewhere, and settled down long ago.
She wanted the Crown Prince not to pursue her uncle’s liability.
The illegal lending case had taken place in the capital. Because it involved multiple deaths, the Ministry of Justice had been directly responsible for hearing the case.
The official originally assigned to investigate it had known exactly which powerful figures were implicated and had not dared proceed. Claiming the matter was too complicated, he shelved it for a time.
Later, another official inherited the case. After seeing who was involved, he likewise dared not touch it and shelved it again. And so it remained shelved for many years, right up until the present day.
Now that the Empress’s family no longer wielded the influence they once had, and with both her children gone, leaving her with no one to rely upon, she had no choice but to approach Gu Yun and ask him to intercede on her uncle’s behalf.
Gu Yun dared neither agree nor refuse.
If he agreed, there was no need to think further. The matter would never succeed. It amounted to opposing the Emperor and could very well cost him his head. Yet if he refused, the Empress, by virtue of her position, had more than enough means to hold a grudge and make life difficult for him.
Just as Gu Yun was caught in this dilemma, a sharp voice rang out.
“Who’s there ahead?”
Gu Yun looked over and spotted Grand Eunuch Huang. A short distance in front of him stood the Emperor.
The Emperor was undeniably unhinged, but at that moment, his appearance made him seem like an eight-hundred-year-old angel descended from the heavens.
Behind the Emperor stood another person.
It was Consort Shu. She had left Cining Temple and returned to the palace.
With his hands clasped behind his back, the Emperor strolled over and asked, “What are you discussing out here in such bitter weather? You all seem remarkably engrossed.”
Gu Yun immediately bowed in greeting.
The Empress’s expression darkened for the briefest moment before she respectfully returned the salute and replied with a smile, “I was discussing the plum blossoms with Gu Shi. The blossoms are especially beautiful this year, just like the years when our whole family was together.”
The Emperor paused.
“Return to the palace. You’ll freeze standing out here.”
The Empress assented.
Gu Yun accompanied them back. Along the way, Consort Shu glanced at him several times. It was not until after nightfall that he finally understood what those looks had meant.
At that moment, he returned to Kunning Palace with the others.
After speaking with the Empress for a while, the Emperor gestured for Gu Yun and Consort Shu to accompany him.
The three left Kunning Palace and made their way to the Emperor’s residence. By then, darkness had fallen.
The Emperor instructed Grand Eunuch Huang to bring over a stack of folded papers and asked Gu Yun whether he knew what they were. From the colour visible through the paper alone, Gu Yun already knew the answer.
“Portraits of the noble ladies Your Majesty selected for His Highness.”
The Emperor smiled. “I sent them over one day, and they were returned the next. Ziyu refused them.”
Refused them? Gu Yun was somewhat bewildered.
The Emperor continued, “I thought the candidates I selected were perfectly suitable. Tell me, why did he refuse them?”
Gu Yun discreetly glanced towards Consort Shu. Her expression remained calm.
Only then did he understand the meaning behind the looks she had given him earlier. She had guessed that the Emperor would raise this matter and had been silently telling him not to panic.
Steadying himself, Gu Yun knelt and answered truthfully. “I do not know. I ask that Your Majesty exercise discernment.”
The Emperor snorted. “He said that apart from you, he wants no one else. You’ve certainly got your methods. Have you forgotten what I told you before?”
Consort Shu laughed lightly. “Ziyu is out there working himself to the bone on Your Majesty’s behalf. How can you bring yourself to frighten the person he treasures?”
The Emperor’s mood immediately brightened.
Pointing at Gu Yun, he said, “Get up. Since Ziyu insists on having you, what can I do about it? It’s just that he still has no heir, which genuinely worries me. You must make an effort. By this time next year, I expect to hear good news.”
Gu Yun: “…”
You can keep waiting. You’ll be dead before that ever happens.
That evening, the Emperor hosted a banquet, and Gu Yun remained behind for dinner.
The food served by the Emperor was noticeably better than that of the Eastern Palace.
The only thing that displeased Gu Yun was the Emperor’s fondness for drinking. Drinking himself would have been one thing, but he insisted on others accompanying him. The wine he consumed was a medicinal brew specially prepared by the Imperial Physicians for health and longevity.
After several cups, Gu Yun became drunk and slumped across the table. The Emperor shot Grand Eunuch Huang a meaningful glance.
Grand Eunuch Huang immediately said, “Allow this servant to escort Secondary Consort Gu back to the Eastern Palace.”
With that, he helped Gu Yun to his feet and led him outside. Zhang Zhangshe was not permitted to enter and attend to him. Consort Shu watched worriedly.
After a brief moment, fearing the Emperor might notice her bias towards the Crown Prince’s faction, she withdrew her gaze and resumed drinking with a smile.
Grand Eunuch Huang supported Gu Yun out of the hall.
After walking a short distance, they stopped beneath the shade of a tree beside the covered corridor.
In a lowered voice, Huang asked, “Has His Highness the Crown Prince displayed any suspicious behaviour recently?”
Gu Yun: “Gurgle gurgle.”
Grand Eunuch Huang: “?”
“Secondary Consort Gu?” He gave Gu Yun a shake.
“Bleugh—” Gu Yun turned his head, preparing to vomit.
Grand Eunuch Huang immediately clamped his mouth shut.
Sweating profusely, he handed Gu Yun over to one of his apprentices and gestured for him to deliver Gu Yun to Zhang Zhangshe.
“Honestly, what dreadful alcohol tolerance.” Huang complained while flicking his horsetail whisk.
The apprentice acknowledged the order. He happened to be the same young eunuch who had previously delivered the portraits. Having privately socialised with Zhao He before, he was relatively courteous towards the people of the Eastern Palace.
He delivered Gu Yun safely into Zhang Zhangshe’s care and only departed after seeing him settled onto a sedan chair.
Once the sedan chair reached a secluded area, the man who had been too drunk to respond opened his eyes. His gaze was perfectly clear. There was scarcely any sign of drunkenness.
He kept his eyes open briefly before closing them again. The swaying of the sedan chair made his head spin.
After travelling some distance, watching the scenery sway around him, he suddenly realised that it was not the sedan chair causing the dizziness. He was genuinely drunk.
The after-effects of the imperial wine were simply too potent. Only now was the delayed intoxication arriving in wave after wave.
Someone who rarely drank had no hope of judging his limits properly.
That damned Emperor. Inwardly, he cursed the Emperor thoroughly.
The world around him seemed to blur. He felt as though he were floating among the clouds.
When he heard that they had arrived, someone extended a hand towards him. He instinctively took it and stepped down from the sedan chair.
After only a couple of drifting steps, someone grasped his waist, supported him beneath the thighs, and lifted him up.
Had Zhang Zhangshe become this strong? No. Wait. This position…?
Pressing at his temples, which throbbed as though needles were being driven into them, Gu Yun looked down. He saw a head of dark hair.
As he leaned backwards, a hand immediately came up to support his back. Someone cursed beside his ear.
“Drunkard.”
Looking more closely, Gu Yun caught sight of a straight, prominent nose. Combined with the familiar voice, he immediately recognised the man.
Chao Yan.
His clothing was faintly damp, as though he had only just returned from somewhere wet.
Since it was him, there was nothing to worry about. Dazedly, Gu Yun thought as much.
His long legs hung awkwardly, making him uncomfortable. Clinging to Chao Yan’s shoulders, he wriggled further into his embrace before lifting his legs and wrapping them around the man’s lean waist. The movement sent heat rushing through Chao Yan’s body.
Closing his eyes briefly, he tightened his hold on Gu Yun and said hoarsely, “Behave yourself.”
Gu Yun obediently looped his arms around his neck and rested his chin on his shoulder. Chao Yan quietly exhaled.
Carrying him, he headed towards the side hall of Chunhe Palace. Unfortunately, that breath of relief came far too early.
Halfway there, Gu Yun began causing trouble again.
Bracing himself against Chao Yan’s shoulder, he pushed himself back slightly and reached down to feel his own stomach.
“What are you doing?”
Chao Yan immediately pressed him back against his chest, attempting to stop whatever nonsense he was up to. Gu Yun’s hand remained trapped between their abdomens. Yet he continued patting and feeling around.
Chao Yan: “?”
“What exactly are you touching?”
Gu Yun finally withdrew his hand and collapsed back onto his shoulder. His warm breath brushed against Chao Yan’s ear. A moment later, he murmured softly, “Not sticking out. No baby. That’s frightening.”
Chao Yan frowned. “What?”
Gu Yun raised his voice. “I can’t give you a baby.”
Everyone nearby turned to look.
Chao Yan: “…………………………………………”
