Cining Palace
Yu Wang raised his hand to signal the palace maid not to announce him and quietly stood outside the hall doors.
The voices of the Empress Dowager and Imperial Concubine Wei chatting drifted out from the hall—one serene and dignified, the other coquettishly sweet.
“… Look at Zhao Er; he’s already over two months old, yet His Majesty has only come to visit five times. Today, he finally came, but after having lunch, he left again. I keep feeling as if I’ve grown fat and aged after giving birth, and His Majesty no longer cherishes me.”
“You’re really saying that? Even before you had the child, it’s not like the Emperor doted on you much. His visits to Yongning Palace were only slightly more frequent than to the other palaces. And of the three visits a month, weren’t two of them coaxed out by your tears and tantrums?”
“Oh, Royal Mother! Yiniang! Why are you both always picking on me…”
“The Emperor is the Emperor, after all, burdened with state affairs. You should be more understanding of his difficulties. Besides, the purpose of the harem is to provide him comfort and joy, not to add to his worries. If you keep on crying, making a scene, or threatening drastic measures, you’ll only drive him further away. Take my advice: know your place, be gentle and considerate, and when a man grows weary, he’ll naturally return to his haven of tenderness.”
“I am considerate! Look, I even prepared iced chrysanthemum tea and chilled plum drinks to help the Emperor cool off, but he barely took a sip. And what did he do this afternoon? Nothing about state affairs—he went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation because the Crown Prince begged and pleaded for him to personally officiate some coming-of-age ceremony for Su Yan! Royal Mother, what is this? Since when does an Emperor officiate a subject’s coming-of-age ceremony? It’s completely against protocol…”
“—Which Su Yan are you talking about?” the Empress Dowager interrupted.
“That Su Yan—the Crown Prince’s Shidu. The one who got flogged in court for leading the Crown Prince astray. The same Su Yan who was involved in that officer’s fall during the Dragon Boat Festival, which led to my early labor and nearly harmed the little prince. Surely you remember, Royal Mother?”
“Oh, the one who banged the drum of appeals and got Feng Que sent to the chopping block. His name keeps popping up everywhere lately. Didn’t your uncle also get mocked by him in court? Seems he’s a tough one. Who knows? Maybe someday he’ll bring up a list of charges against Marquis Fengan, twelve or twenty-four counts…”
“Oh, Royal Mother! Yiniang! That’s my uncle we’re talking about, your own brother-in-law’s younger brother! Can’t you wish him well for once?”
Yu Wang, calm as ever, folded his hands behind him and started to leave.
A palace maid asked, “Your Highness isn’t going to greet the Empress Dowager?”
“I just remembered something urgent. I’ll handle it first, then return to pay my respects,” Yu Wang replied, walking off leisurely.
***
As noon approached, Su Yan followed the Crown Prince to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
After a short wait, Lan Xi entered with two young eunuchs and said with a smile, “Your Highness and Su Shaoqing are early. You’ll need to wait a bit longer. His Majesty was on his way back from Yongning Palace when an urgent report came from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so he’s discussing matters with them now. His Majesty sent me ahead to inform you.”
“No problem. I’ll keep Qinghe company while we wait,” the Crown Prince said as he pulled Su Yan to sit with him on a circular chair.
“By the way, I heard today is Su Shaoqing’s birthday,” Lan Xi said, signaling his apprentice, Duo Guier, to present a doucai porcelain cup filled with amber-red wine. He handed it to Su Yan, saying, “Here’s a toast to your health and longevity.”
The rich aroma of the wine made Su Yan feel slightly dizzy. He suspected it was sorghum wine.
“This is Autumn Dew White from Shandong,” Lan Xi explained. “Smooth and rich with a slightly warm nature. The locals blend it with lotus flower essence, giving it a unique fragrance. It’s a tribute wine, unavailable elsewhere. Now, birthday boy, drink up.”
Su Yan stared at the porcelain cup, which was no smaller than the Crown Prince’s golden one, and suspected Lan Xi was still holding a grudge about the matchmaking fiasco.
Nevertheless, he accepted the cup, took a sip, and immediately realized it was strong liquor. He admitted defeat, saying, “My tolerance isn’t great. If I finish this whole cup, I might embarrass myself before His Majesty later. Please, Lan Gonggong, have mercy.”
Lan Xi smiled slyly. “Su Shaoqing, are you planning to refuse my goodwill yet again?”
The Crown Prince, hoping Su Yan would stay overnight at the Eastern Palace, chimed in, “Birthday wine is a must! I drank plenty last year. Don’t worry, if you overdo it, I’ll escort you home after the ceremony.”
Hearing the promise of safe passage, Su Yan reluctantly finished the drink. He hiccupped and said, “That’s my limit. If anyone else offers me wine later, I’m not drinking.”
“Alright, alright,” the Crown Prince said quickly. “If anyone else comes, I’ll block them for you.”
After some small talk, Lan Xi left, leaving Duo Guier behind to serve. Su Yan leaned against the armrest of the chair, the alcohol beginning to cloud his mind. He rested his chin on his hand and felt himself drifting off.
The Crown Prince, bored, nibbled on sweetened snacks while sneaking glances at Su Yan’s side profile.
After waiting nearly half an hour with no sign of the Emperor, the Crown Prince grew impatient. He leapt up and said, “What kind of urgent matter takes so long? I’ll follow the path and urge Royal Father along. It’s almost time for the ceremony.”
He turned to Su Yan. “You stay here and rest. I’ll be right back.” Then to Duo Guier, he instructed, “Take good care of Lord Su. Serve him some sliced fruit and cooling tea.”
Duo Guier complied eagerly and began preparing.
Su Yan rubbed his eyes and yawned. “Go ahead, Your Highness. I’ll wait here for His Majesty. The ceremony isn’t complicated—first the black cloth cap, then the deer leather hat, then the feathered crown, and finally, the oath. It’s just a formality; no need to fuss about it. Oh, by the way, did you finish your essays for today?”
Zhu Helin dreaded hearing that question the most, yet Su Yan never failed to ask it every time he came to the Eastern Palace. It was as if he were more dedicated than the imperial scholars tasked with supervising his studies.
The moment Su Yan caught a glimpse of Zhu Helin’s guilty expression, he knew the boy had once again shirked his assignments without anyone keeping an eye on him. Likely, he had accumulated a significant backlog. Su Yan sighed, feeling as though he was more concerned about Zhu Helin’s education than his own parents: “Your Highness, stop wasting time and go back to the Eastern Palace to finish your homework. Otherwise, what will you hand in tomorrow?”
Zhu Helin knew full well that Grand Tutor Li was both strict and nagging. If he failed to submit his work, the tutor would undoubtedly report him to the emperor, and he would face punishment again. Even so, he was worried that after Su Yan completed the ceremonial rites, he might leave the palace altogether, and thus hesitated to leave himself.
Seeing through his thoughts, Su Yan chuckled. “After the rites, I’ll come to the Eastern Palace to find you. How about that?”
Zhu Helin had been waiting for this assurance and quickly said, “Alright then, don’t forget what you said. I’ll leave an attendant outside the hall to wait for you. Once you’re done, come over early. I’ve got some new gadgets to show you.”
Su Yan solemnly agreed, repeatedly assuring Zhu Helin he wouldn’t sneak off. Satisfied, the crown prince finally left.
The hall returned to its quiet state. Su Yan, with a slight buzz from the wine, propped his chin up to rest his eyes. Before long, he drifted into a hazy sleep.
Lan Xi entered the hall and softly called out, but there was no response. He then instructed two attendants to help Su Yan to the bed in the sleeping chamber.
The attendants carefully removed Su Yan’s shoes and hat, settled him on the bed, and tiptoed out of the room. Lan Xi strolled into the chamber unhurriedly, pausing by the desk.
On the redwood base rested an intricately crafted bronze incense burner with gold and silver inlay, adorned with designs of chi and kui patterns. Its subdued gray-black hue exuded an understated elegance, a style favored by Emperor Jinglong. Lan Xi lifted the lid, placed a fragrant incense chip inside, and ignited it. Wisps of smoke meandered upwards, filling the room with a soft, pervasive aroma.
At the doorway, Duo Guier sniffed the air curiously and whispered, “Gonggong, isn’t this Tianshui incense? It’s not suitable for someone who’s been drinking…”
Tianshui incense, named after the phrase “Heaven gives birth to water,” was made from six ingredients: agarwood, dogwood, storax, amber, cinnamon, and dried ginger, mixed with honey and black bean broth, then ground and baked. Its properties, especially beneficial for men, could invigorate vitality when used appropriately. However, if combined with alcohol, its effects could intensify, turning from a tonic into a potent aphrodisiac.
“Suitable or not, that’s not for us servants to decide,” Lan Xi replied, tapping Duo Guier’s forehead with the handle of his whisk. “That’s why you’ll always be just a novice.”
In his semi-conscious state, Su Yan felt a wave of heat coursing through him. The constriction of his clothing became unbearable.
Believing he was at home, he instinctively reached to loosen his waist ties, shrugging off his outer robe. With clumsy hands, he managed to undo the sash of his inner garment, finally finding some relief.
His feet, now uncomfortably warm, sought each other for solace. In the process, he nudged off his silk stockings, leaving him sprawled halfway on his stomach as he continued to sleep.
The sensation of being enveloped in warm water grew more vivid, offering a blissful sense of release but also an unrelenting heat that seeped deep into his bones. Tiny embers seemed to ignite along his bloodstream, teasing his every movement into a spark that fanned the flames further. He shifted restlessly, his face unconsciously seeking out the coolness of the jade mat beneath him, though it was hardly sufficient to quell the inferno within.
Out of instinct, his lips parted slightly, yearning to grasp at something—anything. Each motion, however subtle, seemed only to fuel the fire enveloping him.
Suddenly, a cool touch pressed against his forehead. Subconsciously, he tilted his face toward the source of relief, his lips grazing the cooling presence as if to cling to it.
***
Emperor Jinglong returned from the Cining Palace, his journey delayed midway. Upon arriving at the Yangxin Hall, he found the main hall empty and turned to Lan Xi, who stood at attention. “What time is it?”
Lan Xi, ever perceptive, replied, “It’s already the third quarter of the afternoon. Su Shaoqing arrived at midday to await your presence but fell asleep in a chair after waiting for over half an hour.”
“Asleep?”
“Yes. Likely from the effects of the birthday wine he was toasted with earlier. The servants couldn’t rouse him, so I had him carried to the sleeping chamber to rest,” Lan Xi explained, punctuating his words with a light slap to his own face. “I overstepped my bounds! That is the dragon bed—it’s not for just anyone to lie on. I acted on the precedent from a few months ago when Your Majesty ordered him placed there after he fell asleep in the study. But this is different! Your Majesty hadn’t given any instructions this time. I’ll go pull him up at once.”
Lan Xi made to rush into the sleeping chamber, but the emperor raised his voice sharply, “Wait!”
He froze mid-step, then heard the emperor’s voice return to a calmer, more measured tone. “You all wait outside. I’ll take a look.”
Lan Xi lowered his head and assented, a faint smile curling his lips.
The emperor entered the chamber, greeted by the subtle fragrance lingering in the air. The scent was rich yet not overpowering, with a lingering finish. Unable to place the exact ingredients, he assumed the Imperial Household Department had introduced a new blend.
Half-draped over the dragon bed was an arm, pale as sculpted jade, its fingertips drooping languidly like a delicate flower petal. The sight tugged at the emperor’s composure.
The emperor stepped forward lightly and quietly. He saw the young official draped over the edge of the bed, half-lying on his side. A luxurious red robe hung messily over his body, leaving his bare feet peeking out from beneath the fabric, their delicate ankles forming graceful curves.
The robe had slipped off one shoulder, revealing a smooth, rounded slope amidst the crimson folds, connected to the hollow of a slender neck. A small patch of porcelain-like chest emerged from the disheveled collar, dazzlingly exposed to view. It sparked thoughts of the untouched skin hidden beneath, imagined as moonlit purity and lightning-bright splendor, exploding vividly in the emperor’s mind. In that instant, the bedchamber, the palace, and the swirling storms of the empire all seemed to recede into nothingness, leaving his thoughts anchored solely to this radiant figure.
The emperor stared in silence for a long time, letting out a deep breath before sitting down on the edge of the bed. He studied Su Yan’s flushed cheeks and reached out a hand to rest it on his forehead.
Su Yan stirred uneasily in his sleep, turning his face slightly and brushing his lips softly against the emperor’s palm.
The tender sensation spread from the emperor’s hand, stirring something within him that demanded a response. Unable to endure it, he withdrew his hand abruptly and leaned down closer.
Su Yan faintly sensed a warm breath drawing near and opened his eyes as if waking from a dream. The emperor’s refined face was right in front of him, his well-defined brows and bright eyes becoming clearer. Su Yan, still hazy with intoxication, smiled and murmured, “Your Majesty… why are you at my house?”
The smile struck the emperor like a thunderbolt, leaving his thoughts momentarily paralyzed. In a husky voice, he corrected, “You’re in my house—on the dragon bed in my bedchamber…”
“….Oh,” Su Yan blinked innocently, his mind foggy from the lingering effects of wine and fragrance. Yet he still tried his best to think.
He struggled to prop himself up, dazed for a moment, then suddenly slapped the bedding. “Right, the ceremony! I came here for my ceremony…” He grabbed the emperor’s dragon sleeve. “Your Majesty, bestow it upon me!”
The emperor let out a soft sigh and said, “Very well.”
Su Yan, still wobbly, tried to climb off the bed. The emperor easily lifted him, weighing his frame briefly. He had indeed lost weight again, prompting a dissatisfied flicker of the emperor’s brow. Supporting him to stand steadily, the emperor guided him to the ground.
Eunuchs entered in single file, placing three black lacquer trays inlaid with mother-of-pearl and a wine goblet on the table. They then retreated with heads bowed, not daring to glance up.
The emperor gently untied the half-undone belt around Su Yan’s waist, letting the brilliant red ceremonial robe cascade like a cloud. His hand hesitated momentarily at the tie of the undershirt before tightening it again, ensuring the pristine white fabric was neat. Taking the garments and cap from the first tray, he began dressing Su Yan.
“First don the deep robe and the coarse cloth cap, symbolizing simplicity and the weight of tradition.” The emperor’s voice was stately and steady, though tinged with a faint unease.
Removing the deep robe and coarse cloth cap, he replaced them with the patterned court attire and a deer leather cap from the second tray. “Second, don the patterned attire and leather cap, to signify emulating the virtues of the Three Kings.”
Finally, he took the ceremonial court dress and jeweled cap from the third tray. “Third, don the official robes and the jeweled cap, to show reverence for the divine.”
Su Yan swayed and submitted to the emperor’s arrangements, obediently donning and shedding garments and caps thrice over. He tugged at the emperor’s sleeve again, asking, “What about the incantation? I remember there’s a final step… Say it, and I’ll repeat after you.”
The emperor smiled faintly, gently stroked his face, and picked up the goblet of clear wine, holding it to Su Yan’s lips.
“I’m not drinking!” Su Yan protested, turning his head away. “I’ve had too much. My head’s spinning, and I’m burning all over.”
The emperor coaxed him patiently: “You must drink for the ceremony to be complete. This is ‘Golden Stem Dew,’ pure but mellow, virtuous and unharmful— the gentleman among wines. It won’t make you tipsy.”
Su Yan squinted suspiciously at him for a while, then relented. “Alright, since you’re the emperor. I’ll obey and won’t risk losing my head. But don’t cane me with the court rod again—it hurts like death!”
The emperor chuckled bitterly. “I won’t take your head, nor will I cane you… sigh.”
Pouting, Su Yan obediently drank the wine under the emperor’s guidance.
The emperor held the cup in one hand and supported Su Yan’s shoulder and waist with the other, his breath trembling as he murmured, almost incoherently, “The ceremonial wine is pure, its fragrance noble… Accept it as a blessing for your longevity and peace…”
Su Yan drowsily repeated fragments of the incantation, faltering, and finally slumped forward with his eyes shut.
The emperor abandoned the goblet and caught him in his arms as though anticipating this moment, embracing him tightly.
Su Yan burrowed further into the emperor’s embrace, muttering incessantly, “I feel suffocated… so uncomfortable…”
“You’ll feel better soon,” the emperor consoled, his hands trembling as he removed Su Yan’s jeweled cap and adjusted his ceremonial robes, breathing heavily. “It’ll be alright.”
Su Yan rested his face against the emperor’s chest, listening to the fierce rhythm of his heartbeat. Murmuring, he said, “Is this a battlefield? The drums sound so urgent… Must be a dire situation. Don’t worry, I’ll help you discover talents. Qi Jingtang, Li Ziyang, Wang Anming… and Yu Chezhi—oh, he’s already at the Ministry of War. These are all brilliant strategists who can assist you, leading troops to expel invaders and defend the Ming Dynasty…”
The emperor’s hand froze at the knot of Su Yan’s garment. After a long pause, he slowly withdrew it.
He doesn’t belong here. He shouldn’t bear what’s to come… the emperor thought, his chest tightening with pain. A sovereign’s desires can transcend all, indulged to the extreme, yet they can just as easily destroy cities, topple kingdoms, or ruin a pillar of the nation…
The emperor hesitated, his resolve wavering between divine righteousness and mortal weakness, before finally exhaling deeply. “Qinghe has grand ambitions; how could I bear to take them from you?”
He cradled Su Yan with one arm and bent to pick up the scarlet ceremonial robe from the floor. Shaking it out, he draped it meticulously over the young official’s shoulders, dressing him with painstaking care.
Su Yan, still overwhelmed by the fire within, writhed against the emperor’s robes, emitting low groans of dissatisfaction.
The emperor sighed again and pressed a deep kiss to Su Yan’s brow. “You’re drunk. You don’t know what you’re doing or what I want to do. To take advantage of you is no act of a gentleman. If, in the future, you come to me willingly, then we’ll speak of it again.”
The emperor prepared to withdraw, but Su Yan, consumed by the raging fire inside him, clung to his robes, refusing to let go. The emperor’s heart wavered, caught between a fleeting moment of divinity and temptation’s abyss, unable to release the young man in his arms.
In the midst of this tense struggle, a sonorous voice suddenly rang out from outside the hall, sharp and insistent: “Royal Brother! Your younger brother has urgent matters and humbly requests an audience!”
Lan Xi’s voice interjected, attempting to defuse the situation. “Your Highness! Please lower your voice… The Emperor is unwell and has just retired. He cannot see you. Might Your Highness return to your residence and await a summons?”
Yu Wang raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Royal Brother is unwell? Then as his brother, I must attend to him personally with medicine and care. To show my sincerity, I’ll wait at the door, ready to serve at a moment’s notice.”
He turned to the hall again and called out, “Royal Brother, may I be permitted to enter the inner chamber to tend to you?”
Lan Xi, exasperated by the Wangye’s audacious pestering, waved his whisk in agitation. “Stop shouting! Oh dear, what a mess this is. At such a critical moment, you might frighten His Majesty into a worse condition…”
The inner door swung open from within. The emperor emerged, impeccably dressed and composed, his expression cold as ice, his gaze fixed sternly on Yu Wang. “How dare you shout and make a scene in the imperial residence! Have you no sense of decorum?”
Yu Wang’s eyes flicked past him into the hall, scanning its emptiness fruitlessly. He smiled. “I was simply worried about my elder brother and let my concern get the better of me.”
The emperor sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “You know exactly what you’re concerned about. Don’t try to deceive me with such nonsense. What’s the matter? Are you disappointed—or satisfied?”
Feigning ignorance, Yu Wang maintained his grin. “What cryptic game is my royal brother playing? I’m afraid I lack the wit to follow. My purpose today is straightforward—to discuss a miraculous medicine called ‘penicillin.’ As it happens, its inventor is none other than a rising star among the court ministers, Su Yan, Qinghe. I request my royal brother’s counsel on this matter…”
The emperor was intrigued by the name and followed him to the main hall, while signaling to Lan Xi with a glance.
Lan Xi understood the unspoken command and quickly entered the sleeping quarters. He saw Su Yan sprawled over the desk, half-drunk, clutching a pile of ceremonial robes and hats in confusion. His attire was perfectly intact, showing no signs of impropriety with the emperor. Frustrated, Lan Xi stomped his foot in annoyance, muttering to himself: How could it come to this and still nothing happened? Is it him who’s incapable, or the emperor? No, the emperor is clearly capable—so it must be this Su Qinghe who lacks initiative! But even if he’s useless, the situation should progress somehow, right? The emperor is such a decisive person—how does this Su Qinghe always manage to stall him… Ah! What a waste of my careful efforts!
Though annoyed, Lan Xi knew he had to carry out the emperor’s will. He helped Su Yan up and exited through a side door, beckoning to a few eunuchs nearby. “Bring a soft sedan chair and take Lord Su to the Southern Study.”
While the emperor’s glance seemed to suggest having Su Yan sent out of the palace, the emperor was only aware of Su Yan’s drunken state and not the matter of the Tianshui incense. If he later found out that Su Yan had fallen victim to the drug and someone else took advantage of him first, there was no guarantee the emperor wouldn’t blame Lan Xi for failing to retain Su Yan.
Unwilling to let his painstaking arrangements go to waste, Lan Xi decided on a compromise: he would send Su Yan to the imperial study for now. After dismissing Yu Wang, he could see if the emperor still had any lingering interest in rekindling the night’s intended romance.
He watched as the soft sedan left through the screen door, shook his head, and returned to the main hall to attend to the emperor.
The sedan chair, draped in green silk, exited the gates of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, turned left into the palace pathway, and passed through Moonlight Gate before turning right toward the Southern Study.
Just as they reached Moonlight Gate, the sedan bearers were stopped by a Embroidered Uniform Guard commander clad in an imperial-commissioned Flying Fish Robe.
The eunuchs, seeing the commander approach from behind, checked his badge and respectfully inquired, “What brings you here, Lord Qianshi?”
Shen Qi replied solemnly, “By imperial decree, I am here to escort Lord Su out of the palace.”
The eunuchs hesitated. “But Lan Gonggong ordered us to send him to the Southern Study…”
Shen Qi’s face darkened, and he sneered. “The Embroidered Uniform Guard answer only to the emperor’s orders, not to some Lan Gonggong or Lu Gonggong. What, are you defying imperial command?” He pushed his thumb against his embroidered spring blade, drawing it from its scabbard with a metallic ring. The cold gleam flashed against the vermillion palace walls, sending the eunuchs trembling to the ground as they hastily released the sedan and bowed. “Forgive us, sir! We would never dare disobey—please show mercy!”
“This time, I’ll let it slide. But don’t let it happen again!”
The eunuchs stammered their thanks and scurried away. The Embroidered Uniform Guard were the emperor’s trusted guards, known for their arrogance and ferocity—especially when carrying out imperial commands. Shen Qianshi’s reputation preceded him: recently promoted for his contributions in the Feng case, he’d received personal imperial gifts of a black gauze cap, phoenix belt, and Flying Fish Robe, and now oversaw the Northern Surveillance Bureau. He was the rising star among the emperor’s confidants, someone not to be crossed lightly. His boldness in such matters was naturally backed by imperial authority; resisting him could easily result in beheading, with no recourse even in death.
Shen Qi sheathed his knife and said, “The sedan chair will be carried by Embroidered Uniform Guard guards. Your services are no longer needed.”
The eunuchs quickly retreated.
After ensuring they were out of sight, Shen Qi lifted the sedan curtain and stepped inside. He saw Su Yan curled up on the seat, breathing rapidly, his face flushed, and beads of sweat glistening on his forehead. Alarmed, Shen Qi immediately held him and called urgently, “Qinghe! Qinghe! What’s wrong?”
Su Yan, his face tinged with a drunken blush, struggled against the heat consuming him. He opened his eyes briefly, and some of the wariness in his gaze softened upon recognizing Shen Qi. In a low voice, he murmured, “I think Lan Xi… tricked me… That d*mned eunuch, he really dared to! Luckily, the emperor—” He bit his lip, stopping himself from continuing.
Shen Qi frowned. “I was worried about the crown prince and had no choice but to enter the palace to meet the emperor. The details… never mind that for now. I’ll take you out of the palace first.”
“Take me home…” Su Yan said hoarsely, struggling to form the words. “Right now, I can only rely on you, Qilang.”
