“Su Yan!”
The booming voice was like thunder overhead, jolting Su Yan awake as he blurted out, “—Present!” Seeing the emperor’s stern face, he broke into a cold sweat and quickly knelt, saying, “This minister deserves death.”
Emperor Jinglong glanced down at Su Yan’s pale blue court robes. His frail frame seemed pitiable, and the emperor sighed slightly: “If you are tired, you may go and rest.”
Last night, Su Yan had brought the drenched man in black back to his home, summoned a doctor to tend to him, boiled water, changed his clothes, applied medicine, and bandaged his wounds. He stoked the firebed to drive the cold from the man’s body. Even with the help of servants, it took half the night to stabilize his condition and ensure his life was no longer in danger.
Having stayed up all night, with alcohol still lingering in his system and after being soaked in cold water, Su Yan felt weak and unsteady the next day. By midday, he was dizzy and fatigued, and while attending to his duties in the Imperial Study, he inadvertently dozed off.
Although the emperor did not take offense, Su Yan dared not be negligent and immediately bowed his head. “Your Majesty, I was momentarily distracted and behaved improperly in your presence. I will not repeat this mistake and beg for your forgiveness.”
Emperor Jinglong glanced at him. “Enough. Go over there and sort through the drafts from the Cabinet, and make a fair copy.”
Receiving the order, Su Yan seated himself at a small desk nearby.
After a short while, Emperor Jinglong suddenly noticed that there was no sound from Su Yan’s direction. Turning his head, he saw Su Yan slumped over the desk, fast asleep. His right hand still held a purple-haired brush, its water bamboo handle casting a jade-like sheen on his fingertips.
The attending eunuch Lan Xi quickly stepped forward. “Your Majesty, shall I wake him?”
Emperor Jinglong raised a hand to stop him and shushed, “Don’t make a sound. Let him sleep.”
When Su Yan eventually stirred, he found himself staring blankly at the bright yellow canopy above. A sudden realization struck him, and he cried out in alarm, rolling off the dragon bed in panic.
A young eunuch, about thirteen or fourteen years old, heard the commotion and came inside. Su Yan anxiously asked, “Little Gonggong, where am I? Why am I here?”
The eunuch replied, “This is the side hall behind the Imperial Study. His Majesty occasionally rests here after reviewing memorials. Earlier, Lan Gonggong instructed us to bring you here. I don’t know the rest.”
Su Yan was stunned for a moment before asking, “Is His Majesty still in the Imperial Study?”
“I don’t know.”
Hastily getting dressed, Su Yan rushed to the Imperial Study, only to find the emperor absent. Only two or three eunuchs were dusting books. When he inquired, he learned that the emperor had left for the Eastern Palace an hour ago, with Lan Xi accompanying him.
Su Yan hesitated. Should he rush to the Eastern Palace to apologize, or remain in the study to wait for the emperor’s return? As he mulled over his options, heavy footsteps approached from outside.
Emperor Jinglong entered, pushing aside the curtain, his face clouded with anger and veins faintly visible on his temples. When he saw Su Yan standing at the desk, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. He ordered the attendants, “Everyone, leave.”
The eunuchs quickly withdrew, leaving the room empty. As the emperor, with his somber expression, approached, Su Yan had a sinking feeling that trouble was imminent. Nervously, he bowed and said, “Your subject pays his respects to Your Majesty.”
The emperor didn’t let him rise and asked, “Su Shidu, how has the Crown Prince’s studies been lately?”
Su Yan cautiously replied, “His Highness is diligent and often asks me for books from the Four Treasuries. As for his progress, I dare not comment; it should be up to the scholars.”
Emperor Jinglong responded coldly, “Really? And what kind of books does the crown prince usually ask for?”
Su Yan replied, “Mostly annotations and commentaries on texts like The Classic of Filial Piety and The Record of Ancient Practices.”
Emperor Jinglong sneered, “Just these? No Hanlin Tales of Romance?”
Su Yan was stunned as the emperor pulled a book from his sleeve and threw it at him.
Opening it, Su Yan found it to be an erotic book depicting male couples in obscene scenes. The first illustration was of two men in a garden, intimately entangled. A lewd poem beside it read: “Incense fills the room, the boy pure as jade. To pluck the rose in secret, he tempts with beauty displayed. Half shy, half teasing, unlike ordinary nights of pleasure. He whispers softly, ‘Be quick, and tell no other.’”
Su Yan was drenched in cold sweat as he exclaimed, “Your Majesty, I don’t understand.”
Emperor Jinglong merely sneered, “You don’t understand, but you let the Crown Prince understand! I’ve tolerated you teaching the Crown Prince with shadow puppets, diabolo, and card games, pretending not to see it. But now, you dare to bring such vulgar and corrupt things to ruin the Crown Prince’s character? Such a crime is punishable by death!”
Su Yan’s limbs went cold, but in his extreme fear, he calmed down. Straightening his back, he said, “Your Majesty suddenly went to the Eastern Palace and then suddenly produced this book. Could it be that someone has reported this matter?”
Emperor Jinglong was taken aback by his words and hesitated. “The Censorate and the Six Departments have the duty to oversee officials. It’s only right for them to impeach wrongdoing.”
“If I had intended to corrupt the Crown Prince and knew the consequences would be severe, I would have hidden it as best I could. The only ones in and out of the Eastern Palace are eunuchs and palace maids. The censors are outside officials; how could they know what happens behind closed doors?”
The Emperor paused, then said, “Perhaps a palace servant leaked it.”
Su Yan replied, “Why doesn’t Your Majesty consider that someone might have planted the evidence to frame the Eastern Palace?”
Emperor Jinglong’s body shook. He looked down sharply at Su Yan, whose face was calm and eyes were clear. The Emperor was momentarily at a loss for words.
Su Yan bowed deeply and earnestly, “I am insignificant and not worth saving, but the Crown Prince is virtuous and cannot be sullied by those with malicious intent. I beg Your Majesty to see the truth.”
Emperor Jinglong was silent for a long time before slowly saying, “Are you sure you didn’t do this?”
Su Yan raised his head and looked straight at the Emperor, without a word.
Emperor Jinglong gazed into his eyes, and his expression gradually softened. “I will investigate this matter.”
Su Yan said, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your discernment.”
Emperor Jinglong turned to look out the window. The heavy glazed rooftops glowed in the twilight, contrasting sharply with the dark shadows beneath the eaves, exuding a chilling grayness, as if something cold was seeping out.
When he turned back, his face was grim, and he called loudly, “Lan Xi!”
Lan Xi entered, bowing. “Your servant is here.”
Emperor Jinglong coldly commanded, “Announce my decree: Crown Prince’s Shidu Su Yan is guilty of neglecting his duties, failing to properly assist the Crown Prince in his studies. He is to be punished with thirty strokes of the cane. Add twenty more for his previous offenses.”
Su Yan turned pale with shock, clutching the Emperor’s robe and pleading, “Your Majesty—”
Emperor Jinglong turned away, allowing Su Yan to cling to his robe, and sternly said, “Take him out.”
Su Yan pushed away the eunuchs trying to drag him and walked out with a pale face.
Emperor Jinglong sat silently, staring out at the walkway. The room was so quiet that the faint sound of the wind whistling through the eaves could be heard, chilling to the bone.
Lan Xi hesitated for a long time before softly suggesting, “Your Majesty, the weather has changed, and it looks like it’s going to rain. Should we return to Qianqing Palace?”
Emperor Jinglong shook his head. “The wind has picked up. You look thinly dressed; go get a warmer garment.”
Though it was near April, and not particularly cold despite the changing weather, Lan Xi was momentarily puzzled. But suddenly, he understood and bowed in gratitude. He hurriedly exited the study and called down the corridor, “Duo Guier, bring a cotton jacket! No, bring two thick ones!”
Duo Guier asked in confusion, “It’s not cold. Why does Gonggong need cotton jackets?”
Lan Xi kicked him. “Don’t ask questions, just do as you’re told!”
Su Yan was escorted by palace guards towards the Meridian Gate. As they turned past Qianqing Palace, he spotted a familiar figure hastily heading east. A thought crossed his mind, and he called out loudly, “Fu Bao!”
The young eunuch looked back—it was indeed Fu Bao.
Su Yan turned to the guards and respectfully asked, “Brothers, this is a Gonggong from the Eastern Palace. May I have a word with him?”
For over half a month, Su Yan had been moving between the Eastern Palace and the Imperial Study. The guards had seen him often enough to afford him some respect. One said, “Make it quick.”
Fu Bao stumbled over hurriedly, and Su Yan whispered softly in his ear, “Did the Crown Prince send you to investigate?”
Fu Bao nodded frantically.
“Listen carefully,” Su Yan instructed, “Do not let His Highness learn of this. Go back and report only that the Emperor scolded me.”
“But, young master—” Fu Bao began, his voice anxious.
Su Yan cut him off sharply, “You know the Crown Prince’s temper. If he charges directly to confront the Emperor, it will only worsen matters. The Emperor is already furious—do you want to get your master killed?”
Fu Bao shivered and stared at him, terrified.
Su Yan’s expression softened into something inscrutable. “Don’t be afraid. Do as I say, and even if the Crown Prince finds out later, it will be fine.”
Fu Bao, his voice trembling, said, “But Lord Su is innocent. The Emperor…”
Su Yan’s face grew unreadable, and he spoke slowly, “The Emperor… has his reasons. Neither you nor I can fathom them.”
A guard urged quietly, “Hurry up.”
Su Yan turned back and said firmly, “Remember my words.” With that, he was led away.
Fu Bao stood frozen in the damp wind. Suddenly, he felt a chill on his neck—heavy raindrops had begun to fall from the sky, growing into a cascading curtain of silver that blurred even the closest silhouettes.
***
At the square before the Meridian Gate, a hundred officers, clad in gleaming armor and holding wooden rods, stood imposingly in two lines.
Beneath a rain-shielding canopy on the western side stood the eunuchs, a dozen or so in number. The head among them was Yao Shun, a shaojian of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs. On the eastern side, under another canopy, sat Feng Que, the commandant of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, flanked by over twenty subordinates.
Seeing this intimidating scene, Su Yan felt his heart sink. Thoughts of officials in history who had endured public beatings filled his mind. Those lucky enough to survive required months of bedridden recovery. If the punishment officer intended to enforce the full penalty, the outcome was often fatal or left the victim permanently crippled. Su Yan’s face turned as pale as a sheet.
The officers stripped him of his official robes and pressed him to the ground. Dressed in a plain white inner garment soaked through by the rain, his slender, well-proportioned figure was outlined clearly. Trembling slightly in the cold wind, he resembled a fragile, fleeting wisp of cloud. Even the guards escorting him showed traces of pity on their faces.
Yao Shun, without even raising his eyes, brushed aside the tea foam with his cup lid and ordered, “Lay the rods.”
Suddenly, a piercing voice rang out from a distance: “Wait!”
Yao Shun turned to look. Seeing who it was, he quickly rose and bowed with a fawning smile. “Lan Gonggong, why have you come? In such heavy rain—take care not to get wet!”
“Do we, as servants, have the luxury of choosing fair weather over rain? You’re working hard as well, Yao Gonggong.”
“Yes, yes, indeed. May I ask what brings Lan Gonggong here today?”
Lan Xi took the thick winter-like padded garments from Duoguier, who was holding an umbrella for him, and smiled. “Nothing much. The Emperor felt a chill and asked me to bring down some warm clothing.”
Yao Shun glanced at the thick padded garments, then at Su Yan, who was lying on the ground awaiting punishment. His expression shifted subtly, and he quickly said, “Lan Gonggong, rest assured, I understand the Emperor’s intentions.”
He signaled to a nearby eunuch, who immediately stepped forward and tucked the padded garments inside Su Yan’s inner robe, making his lower back swell up, resembling a misshapen ingot.
Satisfied, Lan Xi nodded and left.
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