Soon, an elderly physician with a medicine box arrived, bowing to the Crown Prince.
Zhu Helin waved his hand impatiently, “Forget the formalities. Imperial Physician Lin, quickly examine him.”
Imperial Physician Lin, feeling nervous under the Crown Prince’s intense gaze, carefully took Su Yan’s pulse and wrote a prescription, instructing the servants to prepare and cook the medicine immediately.
After that, he bowed and reported, “Your Highness, Su Shidu has caught a chill, but it is not serious. However, he is somewhat depleted in vitality, and his pulse is a bit weak. He will need some mild, nourishing medicine in the future, taken gradually, to strengthen his body and restore his vitality.”
Su Yan made a slight face. What vitality? It’s something invisible and intangible. How can one tell if there’s enough? The real problem with this body is lack of exercise and low immunity. It seems he needs to come up with a fitness plan; after all, health lies in exercise.
The Crown Prince took the matter seriously, instructing that nourishing medicine be prepared daily and delivered to the East Palace.
After dismissing Imperial Physician Lin, the sky was already darkening. Su Yan suddenly remembered that the palace gates would be closing soon and said, “Your Highness, the palace gates are about to close. I need to leave quickly.”
Zhu Helin shifted on the bed, finding it more comfortable, and decided to remove his boots and prop up his legs. “You’re not going out. A cold wind can turn a minor illness into a major one. You should stay here at the East Palace tonight. I’ll inform Royal Father.”
Su Yan hesitated, “It might not be appropriate for an outsider to stay in the palace. It might invite unnecessary gossip.”
Zhu Helin said, “What’s inappropriate about it? There’s precedent for outsiders staying in the palace due to business. Royal Father is considerate of his officials and will understand that you’ve caught a cold and grant permission. Besides, as the Crown Prince’s shidu, it’s only natural for you to stay here. I’d like to see who would dare criticize.”
Su Yan wanted to say more, but a palace maid brought a bowl of pine nut, lotus seed, and jujube porridge. He then realized it was mealtime. Feeling a bit guilty that both he and the Crown Prince hadn’t eaten because of his illness, he said, “Your Highness, please go ahead and have your meal. I’m fine now.”
Zhu Helin smiled and said, “It’s no problem. I’ll eat with you.”
He gestured for the maid to serve him a bowl as well. Instead of getting out of bed, he held the bowl with both hands and ate.
The maid, holding a gold-rimmed white jade bowl, carefully stirred the porridge with a silver spoon and brought a spoonful to Su Yan’s lips.
The young maid, with delicate fingers and a shy demeanor, only dared to look below his nose, her movements gentle and demure.
Su Yan enjoyed the porridge, feeling quite pleased. This treatment was so luxurious! In his previous life, his girlfriend couldn’t even cook instant noodles properly, and he had to pull out chairs and get the clothes when dining out to show gentlemanly manners. He had never enjoyed such pampering before.
After Zhu Helin finished a few spoonfuls of porridge, he looked at the scene before him—one maid feeding with shyness and Su Yan eating with a delighted expression. The sight increasingly irritated him, and he felt a surge of irritation rise from his chest. He snapped, “Get away!”
The maid was startled, seeing the Crown Prince’s displeased face, and quickly withdrew.
“Wait, give me the bowl!” Zhu Helin took the bowl from the dazed maid’s hands, scooped a spoonful of porridge, and said to Su Yan, “Open your mouth.”
Why do you have to feed me? Give the maid back!
Suddenly realizing that it was quite inappropriate for the Crown Prince to feed him, which could be seen as a serious breach of etiquette, he quickly stopped him, “Your Highness, please don’t…”
Zhu Helin, impatient, used the opportunity when Su Yan was talking to shove the spoon into his mouth.
“Hot—” Su Yan struggled with the hot porridge in his mouth, unable to swallow or spit it out, grimacing.
Zhu Helin, somewhat uncomfortable, pulled back the spoon and muttered, “This Crown Prince is deigning to feed you, and you still complain about this and that. Ungrateful!” He scooped another spoonful, blowing on it a few times with less-than-gentle motions and forced it into Su Yan’s mouth.
Su Yan’s eyes welled up with tears. The Crown Prince thought he was deeply moved, his mood improving as he fed him with more enthusiasm.
This wasn’t eating porridge; it was like being tortured… D*mn demon, I’ll make sure one day to repay you with a super spicy hot pot!
The half bowl of porridge felt like an ordeal, making Su Yan’s head spin with sweat and discomfort, almost like a martial arts expert having steam coming out of his head.
When the medicinal broth arrived, fearing that the Crown Prince might insist on feeding him again, Su Yan quickly took the bowl and drank it all in one go.
Zhu Helin was satisfied and patted his face. “You’ve sweated a lot, so the medicine seems effective. Get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow, when you’re better, come with me out of the palace for some fun.”
Su Yan looked at the smiling Crown Prince and felt utterly helpless, burying his head deep into the pillow.
That night, he slept in a daze, with dreams of being beaten by a large imperial staff or being tied to a bed and forced to drink water by a little emperor. He awoke with a start, crying out in distress.
***
When he saw the daylight outside the window, Su Yan groggily got up, feeling his fever had mostly subsided, and his mind was clearer. However, he was still covered in sweat and felt sticky and uncomfortable.
The inner servant came over when he heard him call and asked what he needed.
Su Yan asked, “What time is it now?”
“It’s just past the hour of Chen. The young master has already gone to Wenhua Hall to read and instructed us not to wake up Lord Su.”
Su Yan thought that since he missed the morning reading, he might as well skip the day’s class. With the Crown Prince’s protection, he instructed, “Prepare water. I want to bathe and change my clothes.”
After soaking for more than half an hour in the fragrant hot spring bath sprinkled with clove jade powder, he felt much better. With his long, dark hair still damp, Su Yan lazily walked out of the inner chamber.
He changed into clean undergarments and put on freshly pressed white pheasant feather ceremonial attire. While adjusting his waist, he suddenly realized that the jade pendant with the carved lotus leaf design he always wore was missing!
He searched through his discarded old clothes and called for the inner servants to inquire, but it was nowhere to be found. Su Yan recalled the previous day’s events and thought he might have lost it on the grassy area where he had slept. He remembered that his clothes had been caught on something, so perhaps it got tangled in the branches at that time.
The lotus jade pendant had been a gift from his mother in this life. The jade was clear and warm, and while the carving was exquisite, the important part was the inscription “Qinghe” on it. If some low-ranking eunuch or maid found it, that would be one thing, but if it fell into the hands of someone with ill intentions and was reported to Emperor Jinglong, it could expose his eavesdropping on the Emperor.
Feeling increasingly uneasy, Su Yan hurriedly arranged his hair and left the East Palace, determined to find the crucial jade pendant before anyone discovered its loss.
After searching the area of the grass thoroughly, Su Yan finally accepted the disheartening truth that the pendant was truly missing. With no other options, he resolved to let things take their course and slowly walked back.
As he passed by the Wenhua Hall, Su Yan hesitated for a moment but decided to return to the East Palace first.
At that moment, a procession emerged from the Wenhua Hall. Leading were heavily armored guards in brocade, followed by a sedan chair carried by eight bearers, and several inner servants trailing behind, heading straight towards him.
Realizing it was the Emperor’s procession, Su Yan quickly moved aside.
He knelt and bowed, hoping the Emperor’s procession would pass quickly. Unexpectedly, the sedan chair stopped right next to him after moving a short distance. A voice from above said, “Su Yan?”
Su Yan had no choice but to reply, “This official is Su Yan, paying my respects to Your Majesty.”
Emperor Jinglong said, “Aren’t you ill? Why are you still wandering about?”
Su Yan carefully replied, “I took the medicine prescribed by the physician last night and have improved. I feel fine today and was planning to go to the Wenhua Hall to accompany the Crown Prince in his studies to fulfill my duties.”
Emperor Jinglong said, “It’s rare to see your diligence. However, since the lecture is ending today, you don’t need to go in. Accompany me to the Imperial Study instead.”
Su Yan’s heart sank, and he felt a heavy sense of unease. Why would the Emperor suddenly order him to attend? Could it be that the jade pendant really ended up in his hands?
He boldly glanced up and saw Emperor Jinglong’s gentle and serene expression. Realizing he might be overly anxious, Su Yan relaxed and clasped his hands, saying, “I will follow your instructions.”
The Imperial Study had already been filled with dragon’s saliva incense, awaiting the Emperor’s return from morning court.
As soon as Emperor Jinglong entered, he frowned. “Remove the incense; the smell is too strong and makes my chest tight.”
The surrounding inner servants quickly moved the gilded incense burner and used peacock feather fans to disperse the residual scent. Soon, the room was refreshed.
Emperor Jinglong then walked to his throne and picked up the memorials on the table, while the Directorate of Ceremonies presented him with a cinnabar ink slab, waiting for the Emperor’s annotations.
Su Yan stood with his hands at his sides, not daring to make a sound. After a long time, he couldn’t help but glance at the Emperor, who was calmly reviewing the memorials, seemingly having forgotten him.
He quietly shifted his aching feet, feeling frustrated: he was inexplicably summoned to the Imperial Study and left here ignored. Did the Emperor consider him merely a decorative potted plant? Unfortunately, he couldn’t speak up first and had to wait for the Emperor to remember him. The formalities and rituals of ancient court life were indeed tedious.
While he was grumbling internally, Emperor Jinglong suddenly lifted his head, as if sensing something.
A subtle and refined fragrance floated in the air, like clove enveloped in mist and rain, pleasing yet faint and elusive.
Emperor Jinglong scanned the room and his gaze landed on the forgotten minister. “Su Yan, come closer.”
Su Yan was startled by the sudden summons and instinctively took a couple of steps forward.
Emperor Jinglong’s brows furrowed. “Come closer.”
Su Yan hesitated and took another couple of steps.
Emperor Jinglong, seeing him shrinking back like a frightened animal, felt both amused and exasperated.
The Emperor’s call to attend is a prestigious honor that many ministers would seek, yet this person appeared fearful and reluctant, almost like he was throwing himself into a tiger’s den.
He darkened his expression and said, “What? You’re unwilling to come closer when I call you?”
Seeing the Emperor’s displeasure, Su Yan had no choice but to move closer, standing by the ornate golden silk phoenix-patterned desk.
The faint fragrance seemed to become clearer, mixed with fresh and moist air. Emperor Jinglong inhaled deeply, closing his eyes slightly in a state of mild intoxication. After a short while, he resumed his usual demeanor and asked, “How old are you this year?”
“Replying to Your Majesty, I will be seventeen in three months.” This was the age of the original owner, while Su Yan himself was a twenty-two-year-old university graduate.
Emperor Jinglong murmured, “You’ve already become a tribute scholar before reaching the age of twenty. You’re quite talented.” He picked up a memorial from the desk and handed it to Su Yan. “Take a look and tell me what you think.”
