Near the fourth watch of the night, Su Yan returned to his residence under Jinghong Zhui’s escort. When he removed his cloak, his hand felt damp, it had been moistened by the spring night dew.
“My lord should rest. I will take the cloak to dry by the fire,” Jinghong Zhui said.
Su Yan had already passed his usual bedtime and was quite alert now. There was no morning court today, so he had Jinghong Zhui bring in a brazier and dried both of their outer garments inside the room.
Jinghong Zhui sat on the footboard in front of the bed, drying the clothes. Su Yan washed his face, then went to the medicine cabinet and found a jar of herbal ointment for reducing inflammation and pain, applying it to his split lips as he muttered, “Fortunately, the next court assembly is in three days. By then it’ll have scabbed over. If anyone asks, I’ll just say I got heat sores that burst.”
“‘Anyone’, who?” Jinghong Zhui asked, his tone a little cool.
Su Yan was momentarily at a loss for words.
Indeed, those not close to him might not even notice such a small wound even if they saw him; those close to him, even if they noticed, would not ask about something so personal. In the end, the only one in court who would press or interrogate him about it was a single person.
“…My lord seems a bit afraid of him?” Jinghong Zhui asked again.
“That’s not the case!” Su Yan straightened his face. “From the first day we met, I was never afraid of him, and even less so now.”
Jinghong Zhui said calmly, “Is that so? I see that my lord dares to tug the old emperor’s whiskers, dares to kick the young emperor in the chest, dares to smash a chessboard into Yu Wang’s face. As for this subordinate, I follow only my lord’s lead. Yet only toward Shen Qi does my lord always retain a trace of caution, as though holding a key to a beast’s cage in your heart.”
Su Yan froze, recalling Zhu Jintang’s doubts and evaluation of Shen Qi.
“He is a hidden blade, used to kill the demons of the night. But after killing too many, he himself will become one of those demons.”
“Every time Zhen speaks with him, looking at his seemingly obedient demeanor, Zhen can see straight into his heart through his eyes, guess what Zhen sees and hears there? A ferocious beast bound in iron chains, roaring and biting.”
“In my view, he is the ferocious beast Taowu. Violence and bloodthirst are his nature. Even if restrained by rites, order, or emotion, they are but chains on the verge of breaking, ready to snap at any moment.”
He also remembered the promise he had once made before His Majesty: that he would use himself as the chain to restrain Shen Qi, and if he could not restrain him, he would willingly feed him with his own flesh and blood.
Looking back, His Majesty’s evaluation, though sharp, was not without truth. From time to time, Su Yan could sense the dark parts within Shen Qi’s soul. Those parts were well concealed, especially in front of him, restrained and hidden as much as possible, but as time passed and experiences accumulated, some of that hidden darkness would inevitably leak out from behind the gate, like strands of coldness not meant to be examined too deeply.
Yet Su Yan still wanted to accept all of Shen Qi, whether warm or cold, light or dark.
For the public good, he restrained and guided Shen Qi, like holding a double-edged sword, like erecting the final iron chain at the edge of a cliff on the verge of losing control. In private… he had promised to stay with Shen Qi for life, this was a vow, and also his own wish.
And what comforted him was that Shen Qi was also doing his utmost to control himself. Since being with him, he had never done anything against heaven’s principles or excessively out of line, nor had he ever harmed him in the slightest.
Except for…
“Is my lord thinking, this man is truly like a mad dog in bed, tormenting relentlessly?”
Su Yan sat cross-legged on the bed, his face flushed red, half from embarrassment and half from anger. He grabbed a feather pillow and hurled it at Jinghong Zhui: “Shut up, you shameless traitor eavesdropping at the wall!”
Jinghong Zhui took his angry words seriously and, with a hint of unease, defended himself: “This subordinate was guarding the door, not eavesdropping, and would never betray my lord… Next time my lord calls me, no matter the situation, I will respond at once. I only ask that afterward my lord not hold resentment toward me.”
Su Yan always felt that there was something more in Jinghong Zhui’s words, but judging by his expression and tone, he was extremely serious, leaving Su Yan at a loss for how to deal with him.
A perfectly good swordsman had turned from a silent, cold-blooded killer into a prickly guard, and then from a prickly guard into a thick-skinned veteran, making it impossible for him to even find an excuse to vent his anger… Su Yan huffed and flopped backward, the back of his head hitting the bedboard with a “thud.”
D*mn, he had forgotten he had just thrown the pillow away!
Having been injured twice in one night, even if both were trivial, it still left Su Yan somewhat dispirited. He turned over and buried his face in the blanket, not wanting to speak anymore.
Jinghong Zhui held the feather pillow in one hand and felt the thick mattress with the other, unable to understand how someone could hit the back of their head just by lying down. He suspected that Lord Su not only had skin as soft as tofu, but also a skull like an egg.
So he no longer bothered with the half-dried cloak. Moving lightly, he stuffed the pillow under Su Yan’s head, then took off his boots and outer robe and climbed onto the bed.
Su Yan did not lift his face, muttering gloomily, “Get lost. Don’t come near me.”
Jinghong Zhui felt that Lord Su’s scolding was rather gentle, and as a subordinate, he quite enjoyed it. So he lay down on his side as well, embracing the lord he admired and cherished from behind, rubbing his face back and forth against the roots of his hair at the nape of his neck.
Lord Su grew ticklish, his scolding tinged with a hint of laughter: “Get off, like a dog. Even if you keep rubbing, I won’t soften my heart.”
Jinghong Zhui said, “My lord need not soften his heart. When it’s time to be firm, just be firm.”
Su Yan first jabbed him hard with his elbow, to no effect, then turned around and smothered him with the quilt. In the process of smothering him, he ended up wrapping himself into the same quilt as well.
The quilt stirred for a moment, and a low, pleading voice came out: “Don’t, my mouth hurts…”
Su Yan poked his head out and took a deep breath. Jinghong Zhui’s head and neck emerged from between the quilt and his chest, like a consort attending the emperor in the palace, looking at his sovereign with eager patience.
After steadying his breath, Su Yan asked, “Tell me, if I stay indoors for these three days, will Shen Qi insist on coming to see me, then notice my split lip and start interrogating me about who the adulterer is?”
Jinghong Zhui’s face darkened as he gritted his teeth: “My lord is still thinking about that! If you think it’s unfair to him, then next time when my lord is on my bed, call his name too and let him stand guard?”
Su Yan was once again rendered speechless.
Immediately sensing the situation, he changed the subject: “Do you think if I agree with Minister of Rites Yan Xing, and next time they bring up the matter again, submitting a memorial requesting the new emperor to select consorts and establish an empress, I attach a note of ‘approval,’ would Zhu Helin actually consider it seriously?”
Jinghong Zhui was not focused on this, but after a moment’s thought said, “If you get involved, the young emperor might very well make a scene in court and directly declare you, Prime Minister Su, as empress.”
Su Yan shuddered and immediately decided never to involve himself publicly in this matter.
“Who else is on your mind? My lord might as well finish thinking about them all at once. Beforehand, this subordinate can wait patiently, but once things begin… my lord knows that I am a person of steadfast perseverance.”
The words “steadfast perseverance” made Su Yan feel a bit of regret and apprehension again, but once the bow was drawn, there was no turning back, even if he wanted to regret it, it was too late.
***
Su Yan took two days of sick leave and refused all visitors.
On the third day, Shen Qi came to visit him, and the servant who had gone to request leave had also returned.
“There’s a scab on your lip. Was it broken before?” Shen Qi asked.
In the courtyard, the peach blossoms were in full bloom. Drowsy with spring lethargy, Su Yan lay lazily on a bamboo rocking chair under the tree, swaying gently back and forth. “Heat sores, got a small ulcer on my lip. It’s almost healed now. By the way, has anything noteworthy happened at court these past two days?”
Shen Qi pulled over a grand chair and sat beside him. His concerned yet probing gaze swept over Su Yan’s face and body before he said calmly, “There has been some rather bad news.
“The Imperial Guard has also discovered that that demonic book is being secretly circulated in the capital, and in considerable quantity. A few days ago, the city gate troops increased inspections, searching the belongings of those entering the city, but no large influx of books was found. Thus, it is presumed that this batch was printed within the capital itself. Several informants tried to follow the trail to uncover the underground printing operation, but they fell into a trap for unknown reasons, their bodies were found exposed in the wilderness outside the city. The coroner confirmed they died from venomous snake bites. The Northern Surveillance Bureau is still investigating.”
The rocking chair stopped swaying, and Su Yan’s expression grew serious.
“The second matter: something has happened to Fang Qing, the Right Shilang of the Ministry of War. While leading troops across the river in Cangzhou, he fell into an ambush and was reportedly killed by the brothers Wang Wu and Wang Chen. The news only reached the court yesterday. Upon hearing it in the Grand Secretariat, Yu Chezhi wept and raged, immediately petitioning the emperor to take command of military affairs and replace Fang Qing in suppressing the Wang rebels.”
Su Yan immediately asked, “Did the young emperor agree?”
Shen Qi shook his head. “He has become much more cautious in handling state affairs. He intends to discuss the matter at tomorrow’s court session, hear the opinions of the ministers, and then decide on the candidate for command.”
Su Yan let out a breath of relief. “That’s how it should be, listening broadly brings clarity. And if the matter is decided through court discussion, then even if the appointed commander later fails to suppress the rebels, the ministers will not consider it solely the emperor’s fault for poor judgment in appointments.”
Shen Qi asked him, “Do you think Yu Chezhi is not suitable?”
“No, he’s quite capable. But he alone is not enough, he needs someone who can complement him.” After careful thought, Su Yan spoke a name, “Qi Jingtang.”
A trace of daze suddenly appeared in Shen Qi’s mind.
He remembered that name.
It was when Su Yan made his second trip to Shaanxi that Emperor Jinglong had, through Lan Xi, issued a secret order to the Northern Surveillance Bureau, “There are two individuals, Qi Jingtang and Wang Anming. Have the Imperial Guard investigate their identities and backgrounds. Start by checking within the military.”
No one knew how the emperor had come to know these two obscure names; even Lan Xi did not understand why they were suddenly to be investigated.
Shen Qi accepted the task and secretly ordered informants across various prefectures to cast a wide net and investigate thoroughly. After two months, their identities were finally confirmed, there really were such people. One was in Shandong, serving as a garrison officer of the Guard, a fifth-rank position; the other had resigned from a county magistrate post two years ago and was now running an academy in the countryside.
A mid-level military officer from a local garrison, and a retired scholar running a school, how had their names caught the emperor’s attention? Shen Qi had pondered it countless times without understanding.
But now, one of those names came from Su Yan’s mouth, naturally, confidently, as though he had long anticipated it.
Shen Qi faintly understood something. His pupils contracted, and he suddenly turned his head, shouting sharply: “Who is there eavesdropping?”
At the corner of the corridor, Su Xiaojing was so startled that he nearly dropped the tray in his hands, hastily steadying the wine pot and cups on it.
Su Yan looked over at the sound and laughed. “This is my residence, not the Northern Surveillance Bureau nor the imperial palace. Qilang, relax a little. Xiaojing, come, bring the peach blossom wine I brewed this year for Commander Shen to taste.”
Clopping over in his wooden clogs, Su Xiaojing set the tray down on the stone table beneath the tree and complained, “That scared me to death. They say the Imperial Guard has a heavy killing aura, I never really felt it before, but today I’ve seen it for myself.”
Su Yan smiled and poured him a cup first. “Take it and drink, calm yourself.”
Su Xiaojing thanked him and happily downed a cup, wanting to ask for another. But under Shen Qi’s piercing gaze that made his back prickle, he had no choice but to set the cup down and chuckle awkwardly. “You two lords continue your discussion, I won’t disturb you. I’ll take my leave.” With that, he slipped away in a flash.
“…That child.” Su Yan shook his head with a smile.
Shen Qi withdrew his gaze from Su Xiaojing’s retreating figure, took a fresh cup, filled it with wine, and handed it to Su Yan. “The servants in your residence are growing up. You should at least establish some rules, let them understand hierarchy and propriety. Otherwise, they will eventually grow arrogant from being favored.”
Su Yan took the cup but did not drink immediately. He poured one for Shen Qi as well. Only after they raised their cups in a toast did he take a slow sip and say, “It’s fine. I like seeing them this unrestrained. Only when unrestrained are they real, living people, not servants or objects.”
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