Peach Blossom Decree Chapter 65

Chapter 65: Jinling City (34)

Even though Xiao Zhaoling appeared the same as always—showing not a hint of high status in front of him—the threat he used to force a compromise was wagering the peace and stability of the entire country!

Lin Zikui was both furious and anxious. He hastily helped him dress. “Go back to the palace first—hurry!”

“Then you have to promise me something.” Xiao Fu spread his arms, letting Lin Zikui fasten his collar. When he saw that it was crooked, he re-tied it himself. Tilting his head, he looked at Lin Zikui, trying to find his eyes. What he saw there was a storm of emotions.

He didn’t understand why Lin Zikui was always thinking so much. “Not speaking again?” 

“I—alright, I—I promise you, I promise you.” Lin Zikui stumbled over his words, flustered.

Xiao Fu lowered his gaze, watching him intently, his tone turning more serious. “You promise me, don’t return to your hometown, don’t run from me. You can be angry, but you’re not allowed to ignore me. If you’re afraid of me, just say so—I’ll change. If you hear something bad about me, I’m standing right here, in front of you. I married you at the Lin family altar. Isn’t that more real than any gossip from outside?”

Indeed, the cruel, ruthless Prince Regent Xiao Fu only existed in the rumors Lin Zikui had heard.

As for what kind of person Xiao Zhaoling truly was, Lin Zikui had come to know deeply over the past year. But he had lied so many times—countless times. Did Lin Zikui not trust him? No, he always had trusted Xiao Zhaoling’s words—each time, he believed him completely. He never questioned what was true or false—until the truth ripped through the illusion.

If one day, the Prince Regent told him that even their marriage was fake, that he was just a passing amusement, a dalliance in a same-sex affair—Lin Zikui… he wouldn’t know what to do. If that day ever came, he probably would never be able to trust anyone again for the rest of his life.

Silently, Lin Zikui finished helping him into his robes and pants. Xiao Fu held his hand tightly and asked, “Do you promise me?”

“Mm. I promise. Go back to the palace first. Explain everything clearly to the Empress Dowager before morning court.”

Only then did a smile finally tug at Xiao Fu’s lips. He rolled out of bed and called, “Yuanqing, make a trip to the palace. Retrieve the letter I asked Liang Hong to take to Cining Palace this afternoon. If the Empress Dowager asks, tell her I’ve changed my mind and will attend court as usual tomorrow!”

Lin Zikui refused to go to sleep. He insisted on staying up to see the letter returned with his own eyes before he would close them. Xiao Fu lay beside him, chatting idly, asking him if he remembered this or that.

“Do you remember last year, at Xingzhi Temple, you wrote my name on a prayer tablet? You said the two of us were deeply in love, hearts as one, that we would become happily married, like phoenixes in harmony.”

“…I remember.” Lin Zikui wasn’t old enough to be forgetful. He remembered it clearly—what he had written was a wish to marry “Miss Xiao Zhaoling.”

Now, Xiao wasn’t even really Xiao, and the “gentlewoman” wasn’t a woman at all. Even “Zhao Ling” wasn’t a real name.

Facing away from him, Lin Zikui asked, “Your name is Xiao Fu, courtesy name Zhao Ling?”

Xiao Fu could only see the back of his head, not his expression. “Yes, Zhao Ling. Only a few people call me that. But I never lied to you about my name.”

That couldn’t really be called a lie—more like he had concealed part of the truth. Lin Zikui let out a heavy breath. His lashes drooped as his gaze fell on the clear moonlight on the floor. “Then, Xiao Fu…” The name felt unfamiliar on his lips. “Is there anything else you’ve hidden from me?”

Xiao Fu was a bit put out. “Why the full name? I haven’t hidden anything else from you. I told you before—I have an elder brother, an elder sister, and a younger sister. My mother’s brave and fierce. My father’s much gentler. He’s a scholar—a bit stubborn and rigid. But when it comes to my affairs, he can’t really control me.”

Lin Zikui remembered seeing Duke Chang twice—at Prince Shuo Residence.

He’d also seen Zhao Ling’s mother, Princess Minghua. But on those occasions, Lin Zikui hadn’t exchanged a single word with them. They hadn’t shown the slightest intention of making acquaintances with him either—he, a “huiyuan” born of humble origins.

Lin Zikui had never been fond of clinging to the powerful and wealthy.

Back then, Prince Shuo had given him a reminder: “Duke Chang is the father of Prince Regent Xiao Fu and the Empress Dowager. Make yourself known to him, get in his good graces—it’ll do you a world of good later.”

Lin Zikui knew it would benefit him. But his personality was what it was. He’d looked at Duke Chang and his family maybe three times, and in the end, he simply couldn’t bring himself to approach.

Forget it. That shortcut just wasn’t for him.

Xiao Fu explained, “Someone like my father—if I had brought you home earlier, and he found out you were just a provincial candidate who came to take the exams in the capital, he would’ve doubted your scholarship and made things awkward for you. Now that you’ve placed first and hold official rank, I can just say I fell for you at the palace exam, smitten by your looks and your learning. What could he say then? He could only blame me for being a lustful rogue, tempted by a beautiful young gentleman, ruining a pillar of the nation.”

Lin Zikui listened quietly, turning over every word in his mind.

Xiao Fu was merely explaining himself—he didn’t apologize. Maybe he did feel guilty inside but couldn’t bring himself to say the words.

Lin Zikui sighed, letting it go for him. He felt the warmth of Xiao Fu’s body embrace him from behind, slowly spreading through his limbs, even the cold in his hands and feet seeming to ease.

Xiao Fu pressed closer and asked, “Lin Lang, do you remember when my birthday is?”

“I do. You said it’s on the Mid-Autumn Festival, August 15th. You always hated that growing up—wondering why your birthday had to mean eating mooncakes.”

“Yes, yes, it was on the fifteenth of the eighth month. Back then, I didn’t like eating mooncakes. Later on, I never even remembered what mooncakes tasted like anymore. My mother used to say, since I was born on Mid-Autumn, I must be Hou Yi reborn, destined to marry a woman as beautiful as Chang’e. But I refused. To speak from the heart, my little husband was like the moon in the heavens that I plucked down for myself, even lovelier than Chang’e.”

Zhao Ling had not studied books, but he spoke better than any scholar. Lin Zikui had fallen for his face and those sweet, deceptive words in the first place. Even now, hearing them again was not without effect—only, too many other things now came along with them.

When Yuanqing returned, Lin Zikui read the letter. It said:

“Elder Sister, starting tomorrow, I will no longer serve as the Regent. I must trouble you to take up the burden of governing behind the curtain.”

The handwriting was unmistakably Zhao Ling’s childish scrawl. It was not a forgery by Yuanqing—he had truly written it. He gave no reason, just that single sentence.

Lin Zikui immediately tore the letter to pieces and set it aflame. Turning back, he sternly warned, “Letters like this must never be written again. Only when His Majesty has grown, the realm is stable, and the seas are at peace, can you lay down this responsibility.”

“Alright, understood. Can I go to sleep now?” Glancing once at the moonlight, Xiao Fu said, “It’s already the hour of hai (9-11pm). At dawn, I must be up for court.”

Lin Zikui lay down, his shoulders still a little stiff.

Xiao Fu shifted his body, pulling him closer. “Still don’t want to look at me?”

Lin Zikui opened his eyes. Without Ai Dai, Zhao Ling’s figure in his vision was blurred, wrapped in a haze of frosted moonlight.

“You didn’t… appoint me as the zhuangyuan, did you?” 

“The little emperor appointed you. I had no part in it.”

Somehow, Lin Zikui let out half a breath of relief. Since it was not Zhao Ling who had hand-picked him, that was good.

Yet his mood would not calm for a long time. Xiao Fu suddenly pulled him into his arms, murmuring softly, “Sleep?”

“Mm.” Lin Zikui answered. Xiao Fu pressed one hand against his head, the other around his waist. Against the sound of an unsteady heartbeat, Lin Zikui closed his eyes and slowly drifted into sleep.

At dawn, the cock crowed.

Xiao Fu rose and dressed. The dream had ended. Lin Zikui now truly understood—it had not been a dream at all. And he finally knew what Zhao Ling woke so early every day to do.

Lin Zikui tried to rise too, but Xiao Fu pressed him back down. “No need. Sleep a little longer. It’s cold outside, don’t get up.” Xiao Fu slipped on his outer robe and stood by the bed. “Court is so demanding. Sometimes I almost don’t want you to be an official at all. Only one rest day every ten days—it will be hard on you.”

Lin Zikui shook his head silently. After a while, he asked, “And Yun’er?”

Xiao Fu glanced at the side chamber door. “Let him sleep. Call him later for breakfast.” Finishing his collar ties, he bent down and kissed Lin Zikui’s cheek, sweetly as if there had never been any quarrel. “I’m going. I’ll be back at noon—save me a meal.”

Then he lowered the bed curtain. Darkness closed in again. Lin Zikui heard the creak of the door as Xiao Fu left.

Lying flat, he raised his hand to touch his cheek.

By the chen hour, Lin Zikui rose for breakfast. Yun’er ate three big buns. Mo Liu hurried out in a fluster. “Young Master, how long does it usually take for the palace exam results to come out? Could it be today? I’ll go check at the Examination Courtyard!”

Chen Yuanqing knew the answer and said, “I heard that in past years it usually took several days. But this year, to prevent corruption, the palace exam didn’t use questions submitted by the cabinet. Instead, His Majesty himself conducted the policy questions in open court. So posting the Yellow List today isn’t impossible.”

Lin Zikui set down his chopsticks. “I’ll go as well.”

Yuwen Yun raised his chopsticks. “Yun’er will go too!”

He didn’t know what was so fun about it, but since everyone was going, he wanted to follow.

Lin Zikui hesitated, worried about his safety if he took him along.

Yuanqing reassured him, “No harm. I’ll carry the little prince.”

Mo Liu: “?”

What little prince?

Yuwen Yun protested, “I want Master! I want Master to carry me.”

Lin Zikui bent down and picked him up. “Alright. Let’s go. You’ll come with Master to the Examination Courtyard.”

Jinzun stayed close as Lin Zikui’s bodyguard. Because Yuwen Yun was coming along, Xiao Fu had ordered Chen Yuanqing to remain as well—one more person to watch over them.

By the time they reached the Examination Courtyard gates, the place was already boiling with noise.

“The Yellow List is out! It’s out!”

Mo Liu stamped his foot. “Why are there so many people? There are only a little over three hundred successful candidates, yet the crowd fills the entire street. How can we even see the rankings?”

“I’ll go look!” Jinzun leapt into the air, his toes tapping on Mo Liu’s shoulder, then borrowing on bystanders’ heads, until in a few steps he landed before the board.

Just then, the Ministry of Rites officials had pasted up the Yellow List.

Jinzun glanced once. The very first name under the list of successful scholars—

“Zhongyuan, Lin Zikui! Lin Zikui? Isn’t that the very same who was the metropolitan exam champion?” Someone exclaimed, “I heard he was also the provincial champion of Huainan Prefecture. A marvel! He won all three titles in succession!”

“This kind of prodigy, I haven’t really heard much about him before!”

“The zhuangyuan is from Huainan! I’m his fellow townsman, hehe, I share hometown with the top scholar! Next year’s imperial exam will bring us glory—I’ll be a jinshi too!”

“I’m the same hometown and passed the jinshi exam alongside the zhuangyuan. His answers at yesterday’s palace exam were earth-shattering, making gods and ghosts weep! Truly a genius! The zhuangyuan deserves every bit of honor!”

Alongside these praises, the official notice also announced a special imperial exam to be held again in February next year to open the spring examination season.

From a distance, Lin Zikui faintly heard the buzzing discussions.

Mo Liu said, “They’re shouting for the zhuangyuan, Lin… Lin Zikui? Is that you, Young Master?” He was overjoyed. “Are they really calling your name?”

Jinzun tore down the Golden List in one swift motion.

A Ministry of Rites official, “?”

“Hey, what are you doing?”

Jinzun ignored him, planted one foot on a bystander’s shoulder, and in a blink returned the list to Lin Zikui, saying, “Here you go.”

Lin Zikui parted his lips slightly. “Why did you take down the list? Removing the list means dissatisfaction with the rankings, a call to beat drums in protest.”

Yuanqing shook his head. “You, huh.”

Jinzun said, “Look at this!”

Mo Liu unfolded the Golden List, pointing to the first vertical column of names of successful jinshi candidates. “Zhuangyuan, Lin Zikui! Lin Zikui! Zhuangyuan! Young Master! You really made it! You triumphed in all three exams!”

“Truly the zhuangyuan.” Yuanqing smiled, returning the list to Jinzun. “Hurry and put it back up properly. Don’t cause trouble for the Ministry of Rites.”

Lin Zikui still felt a bit unsteady on his feet.

He had passed…

But inside, there wasn’t wild joy.

Instead, his thoughts were a tangled web, hard to express.

Seeing this, Yuanqing said, “Young Master Lin, your title as zhuangyuan is genuine. Master didn’t tamper with anything. You needn’t doubt yourself or belittle your achievement.”

Mo Liu was the most excited, overwhelmed to the point of tears. He hugged Lin Zikui and wept.

“Master, Madam, Young Master passed! Your spirits in heaven can rest easy now!”

Lin Zikui gave a bitter smile. He wanted to believe Yuanqing’s words, but the doubts and grudges inside him were not so easily erased.

He patted Mo Liu’s back. “Alright, no more crying. Let’s go home.”

Mo Liu wiped his tears. “When will the imperial decree arrive? Isn’t the zhuangyuan supposed to ride through the streets on horseback? Then, does the Bureau of Palace Attire make clothes for the Young Master? Also, the rewards—an official residence, gold…”

Just as Lin Zikui returned home, the imperial decree arrived.

Chief Steward Wei of the Bureau of General Affairs, announced, “The imperial decree has arrived. Lin Zikui, come receive it!”

Lin Zikui lifted the hem of his robe and knelt.

“You are Lin Zikui?”

“Yes.”

Wei Gonggong nodded. “Truly a young man of great talent.”

Everyone else knelt as well. Wei Gonggong opened the decree to read aloud but suddenly noticed the Commander of the Imperial Guards also kneeling nearby.

He looked puzzled but read on: “Lin Zikui, gifted beyond measure, fearless in speaking truth to power, has won my heart. He is hereby summoned to court tomorrow at the Chen hour to pay respects—By imperial decree. Zhuangyuan, congratulations. Will you not offer thanks?”

“Student humbly thanks His Majesty for his great kindness,” Lin Zikui replied, bowing deeply and trembling slightly as he received the decree with both hands.

Wei Gonggong smiled warmly. “Then from now on, we shall address you as Lord Lin. Lord Lin, as a zhuangyuan, when you attend court tomorrow, His Majesty will personally confer upon you your official rank. These are your official robes and floral hairpin for your coronation as a zhuangyuan. Wear these when you enter the palace tomorrow!”

“Thank you very much, Gonggong.”

Mo Liu tactfully pulled out a silver ingot to offer as a tip. Seeing Commander Chen nearby—a close confidant of the Regent—Wei Gonggong hesitated to accept it. But when he saw Commander Chen simply turn his face away as if he hadn’t noticed, Wei Gonggong smiled and slipped the silver into his sleeve. He glanced over the residence of the zhuangyuan and thought, Not bad at all. Seems like this zhuangyuan truly comes from an extraordinary background.

Wei Gonggong said, “Commander Chen is here too? What a coincidence!”

Commander Chen nodded coldly, “Yes, Wei Gonggong.”

Mo Liu “…Huh?”

Wei Gonggong smiled and said, “The zhuangyuan is under the command of…”

Commander Chen shot a glance at him, causing Wei Gonggong to chuckle softly behind his hand. “I’ve said too much. Commander Chen, please continue your work. I’ll take my leave now…”

The palace attendant set down the coronation garments and then left.

Mo Liu stared at Chen Yuanqing in disbelief. “You…”

“Young Master, what exactly is he? A commander? Why aren’t you surprised at all?”

Lin Zikui carefully placed the imperial decree back into its box. “I only just found out myself.”

“What? How is this possible?” Mo Liu was like a boiling kettle, shouting, “You are… why… why are you a commander?”

Yuanqing glanced at him, “Attendant, you’re too noisy.” Given Lin Zikui’s patient temperament, anyone else with such a loud attendant would probably have lost their patience by now.

Fortunately, Mo Liu was loyal and genuinely cared for Lin Zikui. When Lin Zikui became zhuangyuan, Mo Liu wept tears of joy, saying the hard times were over and he could finally live well with his master.

But actually, life had already been pretty good.

Lin Zikui felt content. He had such a fine courtyard and savings in hand—how could he complain? He calmed Mo Liu down, put away the decree and zhuangyuan’s robes, then took Yuwen Yun to the kitchen and asked what he wanted to eat.

Yuwen Yun asked, “Does Master cook?”

“Yes, Master cooks,” Lin Zikui rolled up his sleeves.

“What do you like to eat? I’ll like the same as you.”

Lin Zikui smiled and patted his head. The cook was chopping wood nearby, and Yuwen Yun sat beside the fire, curious: “Master, how exactly did you manage it?”

“Manage what?”

“To make my Royal Father listen to you. Master, you know, Royal Father is very fierce; everyone fears him.”

Lin Zikui paused mid-stirring. “Yun’er, why don’t you fear your Royal Father?”

“Yun’er is afraid, but Mother said that if Yun’er fears him too much, Royal Father will dislike it even more. Yun’er can’t let Mother be bullied again, so he bravely tries not to be afraid of Royal Father.”

Lin Zikui said thoughtfully, “Master didn’t know who your Royal Father was before, so I didn’t fear him.”

Yuwen Yun cupped his face, watching sparks pop from the firewood. “Now that Master knows, are you afraid?”

Lin Zikui was silent for a moment, then said, “If in the court, I think no one would not be afraid. But without the dragon robe, I’ll try not to be afraid, for now.” Lin Zikui knew he could only slowly accept this reality. Whatever the outcome, he had to endure it alone—there was no other way.

Lin Zikui cooked a pot of porridge and roasted several sweet potatoes in the stove. Before noon, the Regent’s carriage slowly emerged from the palace and came to a stop at the gate of the residence.

If you’re loving the tangled fates and slow-burning tension in Peach Blossom Decree, help Ciacia keep the petals falling by buying her a Kofi.

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