When Cui Lingjing entered, Xueya stood at the door, draped in an outer robe, his body stiff as he bowed to him. Cui Lingjing had likely just bathed as well. Although he had drunk two cups of wine at the banquet, the scent of medicine on him was even stronger. He entered the hall without looking at Xueya and walked straight into the inner chamber.
Xueya gazed in the direction of the inner chamber, feeling an urge to flee. However, the chamber was guarded by several people, making escape impossible. As he hesitated, Cui Lingjing’s voice came from within.
“Are you dead? Why aren’t you coming in?”
The chief eunuch at the door immediately urged Xueya, “His Majesty is calling for you. Hurry inside.”
Xueya had no desire to go in, but the chief eunuch’s stern gaze made it clear that if he didn’t go in on his own, he would be forced in. With no other choice, Xueya steeled himself and went inside to see Cui Lingjing.
Cui Lingjing sat by the bed, his delicate face showing displeasure. “Did your legs break? Why are you walking so slowly? Get over here.”
Xueya kept his head down as he approached the bed, but just as he was about to reach it, he stopped. “Your Majesty, I… I don’t feel well.”
“Come here,” Cui Lingjing said, paying no attention to Xueya’s words.
Xueya glanced up at him briefly, only to see Cui Lingjing staring straight at him. Terrified, he quickly lowered his head again.
Cui Lingjing seemed to lose patience. His tone grew colder, even carrying a hint of menace. “I won’t say it a third time.”
After a moment of hesitation, Xueya slowly moved closer to the bed. As soon as he got near, he was pulled onto it. The closer he got to Cui Lingjing, the stronger the medicinal scent became. When the late emperor had purchased him from the Red Moon House, the emperor had also often smelled of medicine, but not as strongly as Cui Lingjing.
Back then, when Cui Lingjing had caught him with He Xulan, his body had still been in good health.
“Tonight, I’ve made you my noble consort. Are you happy?” Cui Lingjing’s mood seemed to improve.
Xueya dared not say anything other than what was expected, so he nodded slightly.
Cui Lingjing wrapped an arm around Xueya’s shoulder and laughed softly. “I remember when you first entered the palace, I punished you, but you still had the audacity to seduce me with your petty tricks.” He seemed to be lost in memory, his voice becoming lighter. “But then, you turned around and got involved with my godfather. He was even willing to risk everything for you. But it doesn’t matter now—you’re here with me.”
As he finished speaking, he suddenly leaned closer to Xueya’s face. Startled, Xueya tried to move away, but Cui Lingjing held him tightly. As they struggled, Xueya was pinned to the bed, and Cui Lingjing moved closer. Just as his lips were about to touch Xueya’s, Xueya turned his face away with all his strength. At that moment, Cui Lingjing suddenly clutched his chest, his face turning pale and his breathing becoming labored, before collapsing onto Xueya.
Stunned by the weight pressing down on him, Xueya froze for a moment before frantically calling out, “Someone! His Majesty is unwell!”
***
Cui Lingjing had fallen ill. Before long, the entire Imperial Medical Bureau arrived, along with Yin Qingxuan, who had been summoned from his residence. The inner chamber was quickly filled with palace attendants and physicians. Xueya, still wearing his outer robe, sat uneasily in a chair, watching the scene by the bed.
One of the imperial physicians approached Xueya to inquire about what had happened when Cui Lingjing fell ill. Embarrassed, Xueya couldn’t bring himself to say that Cui Lingjing had collapsed while trying to force himself on him, so he mumbled, “His Majesty was speaking, and then suddenly fell ill.”
The physician seemed puzzled and asked again, “He was just talking? His Majesty’s blood was overly agitated, causing his body to be overwhelmed and triggering the sudden illness.”
Hearing the words “overly agitated blood,” Xueya was so embarrassed he didn’t know where to look. “I… I don’t know.”
The awkwardness made his mouth dry, and he stood up to pour himself a cup of water, only to meet Yin Qingxuan’s gaze. Yin Qingxuan gave him a knowing look, his eyes scanning Xueya as if he had already guessed what had happened between him and Cui Lingjing.
Although nothing had actually occurred, Xueya still felt guilty. He averted his eyes and tightened the robe around him.
While the physicians attended to Cui Lingjing, Xueya, feeling exhausted, went to the side chamber to sleep. When he woke the next day, he found that Yin Qingxuan was still there.
Cui Lingjing was awake, though he looked worse than he had the day before. He was having breakfast, with Yin Qingxuan accompanying him. When Xueya approached, the chief eunuch ordered an extra set of dishes and utensils to be brought.
Xueya didn’t want to sit, but a glance from Cui Lingjing forced him to take a seat. Throughout the meal, he kept his head down, only occasionally overhearing the conversation between Yin Qingxuan and Cui Lingjing.
They seemed to be discussing the matter of adopting an heir, but suddenly, Cui Lingjing brought him up.
“Call everyone into the palace and let the noble consort have a look,” Cui Lingjing said.
Yin Qingxuan frowned. “The noble consort does not understand state affairs. How can he decide?”
Cui Lingjing grabbed Xueya’s hand, which had been resting on the table. “What does it matter if he doesn’t understand? The child is going to be adopted under his name anyway. It’s best if he likes them.”
Startled by the sudden hand-holding, Xueya dropped his spoon into his bowl. He glanced at Cui Lingjing and then at Yin Qingxuan. Though he didn’t fully understand what was being discussed, he could sense something was off. “Adopted under my name? But…”
“You can’t have children, so isn’t it perfect for the child to be adopted under your name?” Cui Lingjing’s tone wasn’t one of discussion. Having said his piece to Xueya, he turned to Yin Qingxuan, his tone light but his words sharp. “Minister Yin, surely you’re not going to oppose me like that old fool from yesterday, are you?”
Xueya was stunned by these words. He realized that not only was Cui Lingjing physically unwell, but his mind was also sick. He had gone mad, and it was this madness that had driven him to do these outrageous things.
Xueya couldn’t help but think about the dream he had of He Xulan’s failed rebellion. Given how deranged Cui Lingjing had become, how could He Xulan possibly fail? Could it be that the emperor was truly protected by divine favor?
Yin Qingxuan put down his chopsticks, wiped his lips with a silk handkerchief, and then looked up at Cui Lingjing. “Since Your Majesty has already made up your mind, what significance does my opposition hold?”
Hearing this, Cui Lingjing turned his head and smiled at Xueya. “See? He’s angry.”
Xueya had no desire to get involved in their matters and lowered his head to continue drinking his porridge. However, as he sipped, he tried to slowly pull his hand away, only to be immediately noticed by Cui Lingjing. Cui’s expression instantly turned terrifying as he fixed his gaze on Xueya, as if he might tear him apart at any moment.
Though Xueya kept his head down, he could feel the shift in the atmosphere. He immediately stopped his movements, allowing Cui Lingjing to hold his hand.
Yin Qingxuan silently took in the scene.
The next day, Xueya truly met the children who were to be adopted as imperial princes by Cui Lingjing. While calling them children wasn’t entirely accurate, the oldest among them was already fourteen, whereas Cui Lingjing had yet to turn twenty.
The fourteen-year-old boy, named Cui Dai, was the posthumous child of Cui Lingjing’s late uncle. By blood, he was the closest to Cui Lingjing and was regarded by the ministers as the most likely candidate for crown prince.
Though Cui Dai shared a close blood relationship with Cui Lingjing, they bore no physical resemblance. Cui Lingjing had a delicate and feminine face, while Cui Dai had thick eyebrows and large eyes, exuding an air of simplicity and honesty.
Although they were supposed to be choosing a future heir to the throne, Cui Lingjing appeared uninterested, slouching lazily. It wasn’t until the head eunuch nervously reminded him several times that he finally straightened up slightly. But in the next moment, he pulled Xueya into his embrace.
Among the children, some were as young as three. Xueya, flustered by Cui Lingjing’s actions, blushed and tried to pull away. “Your Majesty, this is about selecting the crown prince.”
“Since they’re meant to be your sons, you should choose,” Cui Lingjing said, ignoring Xueya’s struggle and burying his face in Xueya’s neck. The head eunuch’s face took on an indescribable expression at this display.
Cui Lingjing could behave so brazenly, but Xueya could not. At the same time, Xueya’s mind wandered to He Xulan. He reasoned that the younger the crown prince, the less of a threat he would pose to He Xulan in the future. After a moment’s hesitation, Xueya pointed to a three-year-old child.
“I think he’s a good choice.”
Cui Lingjing tilted his head slightly and followed Xueya’s finger, glancing at the child. The head eunuch immediately spoke up, “Your Majesty—”
“Is he the one you like?” Cui Lingjing ignored the eunuch and directed his question to Xueya.
Xueya stiffly nodded. Though he had made a selection, he didn’t hold much hope that Cui Lingjing would take his opinion seriously. It seemed more like the emperor was teasing him.
“Then it’s decided,” Cui Lingjing released Xueya and glanced at the head eunuch. “Issue a decree: I’ve chosen the future crown prince. He will be called Yuan Si and raised by the Noble Consort.”
***
Within half a day, Xueya had suddenly gained a “son,” a son who was only three years old.
Yuan Si was the child of a distant relative of Cui Lingjing and had essentially been brought in to make up the numbers. No one, not even Yuan Si himself, had expected him to be chosen. When he realized he wouldn’t be returning home, Yuan Si cried for an entire day. His loud sobs echoed through the Beauty Pavilion, from the east wing to the main hall, keeping Xueya awake all night.
The next day, Yuan Si continued to cry. During breakfast, Xueya couldn’t hold back any longer and said to Cui Lingjing, “Your Majesty, the crown prince is still young. Shouldn’t he move to the Eastern Palace? I’ve heard that the nannies there are very good at taking care of children.”
Cui Lingjing now came to the Beauty Pavilion every day for meals, though he ate little and drank a large bowl of medicine after every meal. In response to Xueya’s request, Cui Lingjing coldly said, “No.”
Three more days passed, and Yuan Si’s crying finally subsided. Just as Xueya was preparing to get a good night’s sleep, a servant came to wake him, saying that Cui Lingjing wanted him and the crown prince to accompany him to see the newly built temple.
This was the temple Cui Lingjing had declared he would build for Xueya during the little New Year’s Eve banquet. Since the emperor had ordered it to be completed within half a month, it was built by renovating an old, dilapidated temple. In just a few days, the temple had taken shape, looking grand and luxurious, though the gold statue of Xueya had yet to be completed.
Although the statue wasn’t finished, the main hall of the temple was adorned with a painting of Xueya dressed in his little New Year’s Eve attire. Before beginning work, every laborer had to bow reverently before the painting.
As Xueya looked at the painting, then at the opulent temple, an ominous feeling grew within him. This feeling was soon confirmed on the way back to the palace.
“With the people in dire straits and a wicked consort in power, our dynasty is doomed!”
These words came from an old scholar who suddenly broke away from the kneeling crowd. Although the imperial guards quickly restrained him, they couldn’t stop his outburst. His words reached the carriage, and Cui Lingjing, hearing them, smiled coldly. But what he said next sent chills down Xueya’s spine.
“Seize him and cut out his tongue. Hang it on the city gate as a warning to others who speak out of turn.”
The cruel words frightened Yuan Si into tears again. Xueya noticed Cui Lingjing’s gaze shift toward the child and immediately covered his mouth, stifling the sobs to mere whimpers.
Only then did Cui Lingjing close his eyes. After this outing, Cui Lingjing’s face turned even paler. Leaning against the carriage wall, motionless in the dim light, he looked as though he were already dead.
***
Xueya’s temple was completed within half a month, and though the New Year had come and gone, there was no festive atmosphere in the palace. On New Year’s Day, Cui Lingjing was bedridden all day, worsening the pervasive sense of unease in the palace. Xueya even overheard servants whispering that Cui Lingjing was on the verge of death.
Because of this belief, Yuan Si’s life in the palace was becoming more comfortable, along with that of his nominal mother—the Noble Consort, Xueya.
A few days after the temple’s completion, Kangwu County rebelled.
The news of the rebellion reached the capital in the dead of night, and Yin Qingxuan hurried to the palace. However, instead of being taken to the study where court matters were discussed, he was led to the bedchamber in the Beauty Pavilion.
Cui Lingjing laid on Xueya’s lap, his long hair loose, wearing only nightclothes. Xueya, similarly dressed, sat beside him. The two of them, both with their delicate features, looked like a pair of twin blossoms.
“So, Prime Minister Yin is here,” Cui Lingjing managed to say before coughing twice. His face was flushed with an unnatural redness, like someone in the throes of a fever. “You’ve heard about He Xulan and Yi Yefeng’s rebellion, haven’t you?”
Yin Qingxuan didn’t respond directly. Instead, he said, “I ask that the Noble Consort leave.”
Hearing the name Kangwu County, Xueya’s ears perked up, but he didn’t want to leave. His dislike for Yin Qingxuan grew. He stalled, but after the prime minister’s reminder, Cui Lingjing didn’t let him stay either, even mocking him.
“What’s the matter? Eager to hear news about godfather? If he dies, I’ll be sure to tell you first.”
Xueya had no choice but to leave. However, half an hour later, he was called back because Cui Lingjing had fallen ill again.
Whenever Cui Lingjing was sick, he refused to take his medicine. The physicians were too afraid to force it upon him, but after discovering that Xueya’s voice had a calming effect on him, they always summoned him when the emperor fell ill.
As Xueya prepared to enter the chamber, Yin Qingxuan grabbed his hand at the entrance.
“What exactly have you done to the emperor?” Yin Qingxuan’s expression was dark, suggesting he and Cui Lingjing had discussed something before.
Xueya realized that even in front of all the palace servants, Yin Qingxuan dared to grab his hand. With both old and new grievances in his mind, Xueya immediately assumed the airs of a Noble Consort. “How dare you! Can an outsider like you touch my hand? Let go at once!”
Yin Qingxuan frowned but didn’t release his grip.
Xueya glared at him with his fox-like eyes. “If you don’t let go, I’ll charge you with offending me!”
Yin Qingxuan finally released his grip. As soon as Xueya was free, he took out a handkerchief and wiped his hands vigorously several times before flinging it at Yin Qingxuan’s face without hesitation.
“This is a reward from this noble consort,” Xueya said arrogantly.
He really was foolish; it turned out that Yin Qingxuan had been relying on his status as a minister to bully him. Now that he was a favored consort, his position was even higher than that of a minister, and he had never retaliated before.
But the next scene made Xueya’s triumphant smile freeze instantly.
Yin Qingxuan caught the falling handkerchief and brought it to his nose, sniffing it. “The handkerchief of the esteemed consort indeed smells lovely. This humble servant thanks the esteemed consort for the personal gift.”
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