The palace where the banquet was held was Shuixi Palace. Shuixi Palace was brilliantly lit, with the sound of golden gongs and jade sounds. Walking away from there, it became darker and darker, especially along the lakeside.
When Xueya left Shuixi Palace, he didn’t see He Xulan, but he saw a figure moving at the corner. Seeing the person’s clothing and attire, it seemed to be Yi Yefeng. He immediately chased after him. There was another shadow at a corner ahead, and he continued walking along the Hongxi Corridor, which was lit only by moonlight.
The sound of the wind in his ears mixed with the sound of the rippling lake. For a moment, he could hear the sound of his own footsteps clearly. Xueya’s steps gradually slowed down.
He looked ahead and felt nervous. When he turned his toes backward, he almost collapsed in fear.
Standing not far away was a young man dressed in a blue robe, looking at him.
After being frightened, Xueya recognized that the person was He Xulan. Even though he recognized He Xulan, he was still very scared. He greeted him with a stiff face, “This slave greets the empress dowager.”
“You may rise. Why did you come here?” He Xulan’s tone was light, as if he were asking a very ordinary question.
Xueya tried to calm down and said, “The servant came out to change clothes, but it seems I took the wrong path and was just about to go back.”
He Xulan turned his face to the lake outside the corridor. There was a lake there. The ripples were blown by the cold wind, and the moonlight sprinkled thousands of pieces.
“Have you heard a rumor?”
He Xulan’s sudden question made Xueya blank. Following He Xulan’s gaze, he also looked at the lake. “This servant doesn’t know what rumor the empress dowager is referring to?”
“Shuixi Palace is not far from here, but this part is not lit. It is because according to rumors, this part…” He Xulan looked at Xueya, “is haunted.”
Xueya’s pupils involuntarily dilated. He stared at He Xulan’s face, wanting to know if he was lying, but He Xulan’s expression and tone were too serious to be lying. He was already scared when he saw He Xulan, but now he heard that there were ghosts. He stuttered, “The palace has His Majesty’s… True Dragon Body. How… how could there be ghosts?”
“It’s because His Majesty is a true dragon, so some ghosts and evil spirits hide in the palace. But they can’t harm His Majesty, so they target the palace people, especially those who have absorbed some dragon aura while serving His Majesty.” He Xulan glanced at Xueya, “But this is just a rumor after all. Maybe it’s false. However, every year there are palace people drowning in this lake. Initially, this area was lit, but too many palace people died, and the palace felt ominous, so they didn’t light it again. Since then, only one or two palace people have died in this lake every year.”
When Xueya heard “absorbed some dragon aura while serving His Majesty,” his face had turned pale. He looked around, initially thinking it was too dark here. Now it looked more and more sinister and terrifying. Not only the lake, but the bushes and flower beds on the other side of the corridor were like a group of monsters in the shadow.
“Um? Is there a white shadow there?”
Before He Xulan’s words fell, the boy nearby screamed and rushed towards him. He quickly hid behind him, and both hands tightly clung to his arms, his body also tightly attached.
Xueya was shaking badly. Although he closed his eyes, the white shadow appeared in his mind. The white shadow even had Xu Pingnan’s face. This frightened Xueya more. When he found that He Xulan wanted to break free from him, he immediately hugged him tighter and his voice was crying, “Brother Empress Dowager, don’t leave me behind, I’m scared.”
Afraid that He Xulan would leave him to face the terrifying ghosts and evil spirits, Xueya immediately changed his previous address of “empress dowager” to “brother empress dowager,” as if there had never been any animosity between them.
“Why are you scared? Why are you holding onto me?” He Xulan’s words left Xueya stunned, and he involuntarily loosened his grip.
“You should check if my feet are still there. They say ghosts and evil spirits don’t have feet.”
He Xulan’s words nearly scared Xueya senseless. His face drained of color, trembling, he looked down. Midway through, he closed his eyes, let go of He Xulan’s hand, and turned to run. But after a few steps, his collar was caught.
As a force pulled him back, Xueya’s body went limp.
He Xulan hoisted him up, somewhat resigned. “You should first check if I’ve grown feet.”
“I… I don’t… want to look!” Xueya tightly shut his eyes. “Let’s pretend we never met tonight. Spare me. I don’t have any dragon aura. I just arrived to serve His Majesty. I’m not even good enough to eat.”
He Xulan sighed. “So, you’ll be tasty after a while?”
“No, no, I’m never tasty.” Xueya panicked.
“If you’re so scared, why walk into the darkness?” He Xulan’s tone grew heavier. “Open your eyes and see if I’m human or ghost.”
Xueya froze. Slowly, he opened his eyes and glanced sideways at the youth holding him. Seeing that He Xulan hadn’t turned into a ghost, he lowered his head to look at He Xulan’s feet and surreptitiously felt the hand resting on his waist—it was warm.
Not a ghost, but a person.
Xueya suddenly relaxed the tension he had been holding. He took several deep breaths, regaining his composure. Immediately, he struggled out of He Xulan’s embrace, outwardly respectful but inwardly terrified. “This servant did not intend to offend the empress dowager. Please forgive me.”
He Xulan glanced back slightly, then turned to Xueya. “Next time, don’t come this way. Go back.”
Xueya quickly nodded, practically walking on air as he left. When he had gone a good distance, he dared to look back. He Xulan seemed to still be standing in place, but Xueya no longer dared to catch He Xulan and Yi Yefeng in their affair. Let Cui Lingjing wear that green hat.
Wait, He Xulan hadn’t been with Cui Lingjing yet, so he couldn’t be giving him a green hat. If anything, it was for the late emperor.
Turning back, Xueya continued forward. As he neared Shuixi Palace, the sky suddenly lit up with a loud bang. Fireworks burst in the night sky, forming a magnificent picture before scattering like shattered stars. Xueya rarely saw fireworks, let alone such beautiful ones. He stuck his head out from the corridor to look outside.
Fireworks continued to bloom, decorating this little New Year’s Eve extravagantly. Xueya suddenly closed his eyes, clasping his hands together, silently making a wish.
His mother had said that if you made a wish on your birthday facing a shooting star, it would come true. But he had never seen a shooting star in all his life. Today, seeing the fireworks fall like stars, he treated them as shooting stars.
He wished for a life of luxury and comfort for the rest of his days, freeing both himself and his mother from their lowly status.
In his heart, Xueya thought.
***
Returning to Shuixi Palace, the young eunuch whose arm Xueya had grabbed immediately tiptoed over. “Why were you gone for so long? His Majesty was asking where you went.”
“I’m not familiar with the layout of the palace. I accidentally took the wrong path.” Xueya repeated the lie he had told He Xulan. Meanwhile, he discreetly glanced at the second table on the right in the outer hall.
Yi Yefeng still hadn’t returned.
This made Xueya uneasy whenever he looked at Cui Lingjing afterward. He always felt there was a green hat on Cui Lingjing’s head.
Cui Lingjing noticed Xueya’s gaze always sweeping toward him and frowned deeper. He waved at Xueya. When Xueya approached, he grabbed his face directly. “You’re back after such a long time, and you still dare to look around with such eyes.”
With his cheek pinched, Xueya’s voice inevitably became muffled. Trying to dodge but unable to escape, he said, “I took the wrong path.”
“So foolish. What do you need a brain for?” Cui Lingjing’s expression didn’t soften at all.
Xueya had been quite happy after seeing the fireworks, but now he couldn’t muster any joy. On his birthday, Cui Lingjing still pinched his face, which was too much. “But not using one’s brain, it’s really scary!”
Cui Lingjing: “…”
He was amused by Xueya’s frustration. “Fool.”
Just then, the curtain was lifted. Thinking it was a palace attendant entering, Cui Lingjing didn’t let go. After the person took a few steps forward, he glimpsed at the hem of the garment and realized it was He Xulan.
Cui Lingjing quickly released Xueya’s face, and when he looked at He Xulan, there was a smile in his eyes. “Godfather, you’re back.”
He Xulan returned with a cold aura. Despite Cui Lingjing’s warmth, he only nodded and said lightly, “It’s getting late today. I’ll go rest first. His Majesty has an early court tomorrow, so you should rest early too. Don’t drink anymore tonight.” He looked at the chief eunuch.
The chief eunuch understood. “The sobering soup is already prepared.”
“Well, don’t let His Majesty overexert himself tonight.” After He Xulan finished speaking, he turned and left.
Cui Lingjing stared at He Xulan’s departing figure, his eyes showing even more delight. But he clearly restrained himself. He didn’t even look at Xueya again. This disappointed Xueya somewhat. Because it was his birthday today, he had dressed up and even bathed before coming here.
This disappointment made Xueya feel aggrieved, even sourly thinking, “What’s the use of Cui Lingjing being happy? He hasn’t even worn a green hat.”
A few more days passed, and it was New Year’s Eve.
Another grand palace feast was held on New Year’s Eve, even more lively than the previous night. Ministers were allowed to bring their families to the palace. On New Year’s Eve, a particularly important activity took place—
The Emperor needed to climb the nine-tiered Viewing Tower. At the moment of New Year’s arrival, he would light a sky lantern, sending it aloft with a message of hope, praying that the gods would see it.
After the Emperor released his lantern, the ministers could also release theirs. Since sky lanterns used open flames, the Hidden Fire Army had made preparations in advance, and some Imperial Guards had been reassigned from the Royal Guards, significantly reducing the number of patrolling soldiers around the Emperor.
Xueya wasn’t qualified to climb the Viewing Tower with Cui Lingjing, so he could only watch from below. Compared to the lively scene atop the tower, it was quiet and lonely below. Xueya stared at a plum branch not far away, walked over, picked one, and carefully examined it in his palm. It was a beautiful plum blossom, unnoticed by others, which gave him a sense of shared suffering. But his pity didn’t last long; suddenly, he heard a bell ringing in his ear.
The sound seemed to come from the Thousand Buddha Temple, its long and solemn toll echoing through the night sky, cleansing people’s souls. Xueya listened in a daze. When the third bell rang, he stuffed the plum blossom into his mouth and swallowed it in a few bites. He looked up at the night sky; the first sky lantern had already been released, a bright night bird slowly leaving the deep palace.
Xueya stood for a while longer before thinking of going into the hall for a cup of tea. He had drunk some alcohol earlier to warm himself, but it wasn’t enough. Now he felt his body was getting cold again.
This palace feast was also held at Shuixi Palace, so he headed in that direction. Although he remembered what He Xulan had said, there was a stretch of road he had to take near the lake. However, Xueya deliberately took a palace lantern with him.
He used the lantern to light his way forward. When he reached the lakeside, he couldn’t help but feel a bit scared. He dared not look around, fearing he might see something he shouldn’t. Xu Pingnan’s death always lingered in his mind. Although he believed he had nothing to do with Xu Pingnan’s death, he feared Xu Pingnan might not rest in peace and would try to drag him down.
Fortunately, there were no incidents along this route. Xueya wanted tea but found none, only alcohol. Now there were only a few palace servants cleaning up the remnants in Shuixi Palace. Xueya secretly glanced at them, found a clean cup, and poured himself a drink.
He had been serving by Cui Lingjing’s side before and had set his eyes on this jug of alcohol. It smelled particularly fragrant. Since no one drank directly from the jug, pouring into the cup made it clean. Xueya drank one cup and found it not enough, so he greedily drank another.
With two cups down, his stomach warmed up. After destroying the evidence, Xueya picked up the palace lantern and headed toward the Viewing Tower. The journey had been uneventful until now, so Xueya wasn’t as nervous. However, he quickened his pace when passing by the lake.
As he walked up the arched bridge, he heard a gust of wind in his ear. Before he could react, he felt a heavy blow to his lower back. Losing his balance, he fell directly into the lake.
The realization came too fast. Xueya hadn’t even had time to turn his head before he was surrounded by the icy lake water. The palace lantern fell into the water with him and quickly went out.
After the initial panic, Xueya began swimming towards the surface. But as soon as he reached it, his leg suddenly cramped. Although he wanted to swim to the shore, he couldn’t. His body gradually sank again.
***
The sound of rushing water awakened Xueya, who was submerged. He seemed to see someone swimming towards him.
Was it a person? It didn’t look like one; more like a water ghost, a beautiful water ghost.
That was Xueya’s last conscious thought.
When he woke up again, it was with a start. Xueya violently coughed up water. His body was too cold. He woke up and couldn’t help but grab onto the warmth beside him. Holding onto it, he finally looked up at the person above.
It was… that beautiful water ghost.
Xueya blinked, feeling a bit wronged. “Am I dead?”
Seeing Xueya could speak, He Xulan brushed his still dripping hair back. “Not yet.”
“If I’m not dead, how can I see you?” Xueya was on the verge of tears. “You’re lying.”
He Xulan paused, looking at Xueya. “Who am I?”
“A water ghost.” Xueya pronounced each word clearly, making it difficult for He Xulan to mishear.
He Xulan touched Xueya’s face, finding it burning hot but his body cold. He frowned. “How much alcohol did you drink?”
“Just a little.” Xueya, realizing he had called He Xulan a water ghost, let go and rolled over, floating forward with limbs in the air. “I don’t want to stay with water ghosts.”
He didn’t get far before he was pulled back.
Looking up at He Xulan again, Xueya seemed to recognize him this time, hesitantly calling out, “He… He Xulan?”
He Xulan, unchanged in expression despite Xueya directly using his name, remarked, “You’re quite bold.”
Drunk and confused, Xueya couldn’t quite understand He Xulan’s words. His mind was in disarray. For a moment, snippets of being pushed off the arch bridge and being drugged by He Xulan flooded his mind. His eyes widened suddenly, threatening He Xulan without confidence, “Don’t think about killing me again. His Majesty cares about me a lot. I… I’m very close to His Majesty.”
“How close?” He Xulan asked.
This time, Xueya didn’t dare complain about aching hands and waist. But to substantiate this false intimacy, he made up another lie.
“He kissed me.” Afraid the other wouldn’t believe him, he added, “He kissed me several times. His Majesty even said my tongue is very soft.”
That nonsense was what Xueya overheard in the tower.
This time, He Xulan couldn’t verify it anymore, right?
Author’s comments:
Cui Lingjing (angrily): There’s always greenery around me.
Former Emperor (coldly): Brat, you’re not worthy to say such words.
Cui Lingjing (weakly): …Yes, Father.
