After drying his hair and drinking a bowl of medicinal soup, Su Yan glanced out the window to see that it was past noon. He suddenly remembered it was about time for the Crown Prince to finish school. He quickly took his leave from the eunuch who had helped him with his attire and rushed out of the hall. Just around the corner, he almost bumped into someone.
He looked up and saw a middle-aged eunuch in a dark green silk robe with a phoenix belt and a black hat with gold embroidery. Judging by the rank of his attire, he was likely a high-ranking eunuch with a fair, oval face and a refined appearance.
The eunuch smiled and clasped his hands in apology, “I almost bumped into Su Shidu. My apologies.”
Su Yan found the voice somewhat familiar and, after a moment of recollection, exclaimed, “Lan Gonggong?”
Lan Xi smiled meaningfully, “It seems Su Shidu still remembers our previous encounter.”
Su Yan bowed, “Not only do I remember, but I am also deeply grateful for your help yesterday.”
Lan Xi made a gesture to lower his voice and said, “This place is too crowded. Let’s find somewhere else to talk.”
The two walked along a corridor and turned into an empty gallery. Lan Xi examined Su Yan and then said, “You do not resemble Lord Su but rather your grandfather.”
Su Yan was surprised, “Lan Gonggong knows my grandfather and father?”
Lan Xi said, “Not only do I know them, but your great-uncle and my father were sworn brothers. By our relationship, I should call you ‘nephew.’”
So there’s this connection after all… Despite feeling helpless about the awkward old customs of his hometown, Su Yan still performed a respectful bow and humbly greeted, “This younger nephew greets Uncle.”
Lan Xi helped him up by the arm and smiled, saying, “No need for such formalities, dear nephew. Let this matter remain between the two of us. In front of others, we must act as if we do not know each other. The Emperor has always been wary of close ties between internal and external officials. If he were to learn of our connection, it would undoubtedly cause hesitations when considering you for important appointments in the future. You are a man of great talent and limitless potential—such prospects must not be jeopardized by a minor oversight.”
Su Yan admired the eunuch’s cautious and shrewd nature, nodding, “Nephew will remember this. As Uncle is close to the Emperor, you’re always aware of things in advance. If there are any signs of trouble in the future, I hope you will give me a heads-up and offer guidance.”
Lan Xi said, “Naturally. As your only relative in the palace, I will take care of you. I’ve heard about the recent events in the Imperial Study. It seems the Emperor is quite fond of you. If you manage to win the Crown Prince’s favor and handle matters cleverly, I will make sure to mention you when the opportunity arises, and the Emperor will naturally value you more.”
Su Yan waved his hands repeatedly, “Please don’t. I don’t know why, but I feel nervous around the Emperor, and my legs start to cramp. I have no intention of climbing up the ranks. It’s better to keep a respectful distance and avoid accidentally offending His Majesty, lest I receive the disciplinary lashes I owe from before.”
Lan Xi looked at him with a mix of exasperation and frustration, “Foolish! How can one not strive for promotion in an official position? If you don’t climb up, you’ll only be a stepping stone for others. The court is full of predatory wolves and tigers, and treacherous schemes abound. If you’re not careful, you might lose your position, and even your life!
Since you are in the court, you must aim to rise step by step, all the way to the position of ‘second only to the Emperor,’ until you hold great power and reach the pinnacle of officialdom!”
Su Yan was somewhat taken aback by his words.
Lan Xi continued, “Do you know what it means to be an official? After spending over twenty years in the palace, I’ve come to understand one thing: ‘Gauge the Emperor’s intentions.’
Where do positions and power come from? They are all granted by the Emperor. One word from the Emperor can elevate you to the heavens or bring you crashing down. If you don’t learn to please the Emperor, all your talent will be in vain.
When I first entered the palace, I was nothing more than a lowly fire tender, enduring hardship every day and scraping by in the cracks. From a humble errand-runner to a Supervisor, I clawed my way up to this position as the Seal-Wielding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial. Those memorials from external officials, including the Cabinet—was there a single one that didn’t pass through my hands and get stamped with the imperial seal by me personally? Those civil and military officials—who among them doesn’t greet me with smiles plastered across their faces, acting with the utmost courtesy? Without relying on the maxim of ‘cunning and perseverance,’ how could I have achieved today’s success?”
Su Yan listened, tongue-tied. This was a vivid lesson in the art of power and manipulation, delivered by a grand eunuch himself. The speech was both rousing and persuasive; anyone with ambitions in government would surely be fired up after hearing it.
Unfortunately, Su Yan was inherently lazy and unambitious. He had been that way in his previous life, and little had changed in this one. All he wanted was to enjoy a carefree life as a hedonistic noble.
But fate had other plans. Through a series of coincidences, he had stumbled into the murky waters of the bureaucratic world. From that day forward, he hadn’t enjoyed a single moment of peace. First, he had to serve the little ones, and now he had to serve the big ones—all while constantly worrying about whether his head was still securely attached to his neck. What was the point of it all? He’d much rather go with the flow, taking it easy and settling for a middling official post that allowed for some semblance of stability.
Though he disagreed inwardly, Su Yan put on a look of enlightenment and respect. “Your wise counsel has truly opened my eyes, Uncle. I’ll be sure to work even harder going forward and won’t let your expectations down.”
Lan Xi smiled and nodded approvingly. “A teachable young man.”
Suddenly, Su Yan seemed to remember something and exclaimed, “Ah, the Crown Prince’s lessons should be ending soon. He’ll probably be sending for me. I’d better return to the Eastern Palace.”
Lan Xi quickly said, “The Crown Prince is arrogant and temperamental—nothing like the Emperor, who is more even-tempered. Don’t waste any time. Go attend to him.”
Inwardly, Su Yan thought: I completely disagree with you. The young one is easy to deal with—he’s just a little clawing kitten. The older one, however, is a seasoned tiger. Though he appears mild-mannered on the surface, he’s unfathomably deep. It’s best to steer as far away from him as possible.
“Well, I’ll take my leave, then,” Su Yan said with a polite bow. He walked a few steps before turning back. “Oh, by the way, Uncle, I accidentally lost a jade pendant shaped like a lotus leaf yesterday. Did you happen to come across it in the garden?”
Lan Xi shook his head. “I haven’t seen it. Hurry along now, and don’t keep the young master waiting, or you’ll upset him.”
Su Yan sighed in mild disappointment and responded with a quick acknowledgment before stepping out of the corridor.
***
Upon reaching the gate of Duanben Palace, Su Yan grabbed the eunuch, Fu Bao, and inquired. He learned that the Crown Prince had not yet returned from Wenhua Hall. It was better this way; he wouldn’t have to explain his visit to the Imperial Study.
He quickly entered the palace, removed his official robes, and leaned on the Luohan bed, adjusting the quilt.
The incense burner nearby emitted a faint, lingering fragrance, and the gentle smoke made Su Yan feel drowsy, half-closing his eyes as if in a light sleep.
After an unknown period, he suddenly sensed someone very close, with warm breath on his face and a light tickling sensation on his eyelids.
Su Yan’s eyes flew open.
The face right in front of him jerked back with a startled “Ah,” as if surprised by his sudden wakefulness.
Looking at the grinning Crown Prince, Su Yan raised an eyebrow helplessly, “What trick are you up to now, Your Highness?”
Zhu Helin, somewhat embarrassed and pleased, revealed his left hand, which held two slender ivory toothpicks.
“I noticed Qinghe’s eyelashes were long and curled, so I thought I’d try putting a toothpick on them to see if they could hold it…”
Su Yan rolled his eyes and ground his teeth, “Your Highness really has too much free time!”
Zhu Helin pouted in displeasure, “It’s all because of you. We agreed to go out of the palace for some fun, but when I came back, you were still lying in bed, sick. It’s no fun!”
Su Yan sighed, “My health is not suitable for accompanying you. Why not find some other amusement or invite someone else to go out with you?”
The young crown prince, frowning and speaking gruffly, said, “I’m bored with archery, football, and polo. Besides, with your health, you can’t play with me. I wanted to take you out to the market, but you keep making excuses. It’s really dull.”
Su Yan, sensing the underlying frustration in his tone, thought about how hard it must be for the little demon. At just thirteen or fourteen, he was already burdened with the responsibilities of a future ruler, constantly under scrutiny.
The ceremonial officials and critics always prattled on about ancestral systems and sages, and the Crown Prince’s tutors pushed him to study endlessly. Any sign of slackness would result in reports to the Emperor. It was even worse than the pressure of high-stakes exams.
Feeling a sudden softening of his heart, Su Yan said, “If Your Highness is truly bored, how about we play a game of chess?”
“Chess?” Zhu Helin asked with a hint of disinterest, “Go or Xiangqi?”
Su Yan smiled slightly, “Neither. It’s international… no, Western chess.”
Zhu Helin’s eyes brightened, “Western chess? Do Westerners also play chess? Are their pieces the same as ours?”
“Uh, not quite,” Su Yan began explaining the chess pieces, rules, and moves of international chess using gestures and drawings.
Zhu Helin, intrigued, had a palace servant fetch paper and pens to draw the pieces as Su Yan described them, then handed them to the palace carpenter to make a set immediately.
In less than an hour, a chess set made of boxwood was brought to them. Su Yan looked at it and found it quite accurate, though the king was wearing a crown and the pieces had the characters for the Ten Celestial Stems and Twelve Earthly Branches on the board, blending Chinese and Western styles.
Zhu Helin moved a purple sandalwood table onto the Luohan bed, placed the chessboard on top, and, taking off his boots, sat cross-legged and rolled up his sleeves. “Let’s play a few games.”
Su Yan took the first move and, while playing, guided the Crown Prince on basic strategies and tactics. After winning several games, Su Yan felt a thrill of delight in beating his opponent soundly. When he won the tenth game, he couldn’t help but laugh triumphantly, “Checkmate! Your Highness, your poor king is going to meet his end.”
Zhu Helin’s face turned red with anger, “That was clearly a pawn. How did it suddenly become a queen?”
Su Yan gave him a sidelong glance, “Didn’t I mention? When a pawn reaches the opposite end of the board, it can be promoted to a queen.”
Zhu Helin grabbed a spare bishop and declared, “Then my bishop should be promoted to a queen too.”
Su Yan quickly intervened, “The promotion of pawns is a special rule. What you’re suggesting is cheating and against the rules!”
Zhu Helin pressed down on Su Yan’s hand, forcing it onto the chessboard, his eyebrows raised and his gaze sharp and defiant. “Rules? Who made the rules? I’m the prince. What I say goes. Anyone who dares to stop me will be punished!”
Su Yan looked at his young but fierce face, feeling a twinge of unease. A tiger, even when small, is still a tiger. The Crown Prince, despite his youth, was already accustomed to the supreme authority given to him. Su Yan wondered if his overly bold behavior might create future troubles.
Thinking this, Su Yan lost interest and, with a habitual faint smile, said, “Your Highness is correct. Not just chess pieces, but all beings in this world are subjects of the Emperor and you. As a servant, I am at your mercy. Anyone who dares obstruct will be punished.”
Zhu Helin appreciated this but felt uncomfortable with the smile on Su Yan’s lips.
Noticing that Su Yan’s right hand was still pinned on the chessboard, he slowly lifted his hand, seeing the red marks and finger impressions on Su Yan’s fair hand. His brows furrowed slightly.
Su Yan smiled, “Your Highness, are you tired of playing? Would you like to take a break?”
Zhu Helin pursed his lips and said gruffly, “Aside from Royal Father, no one in the palace has ever beaten me at chess. I know they don’t win because they’re afraid to, even when they lose, they try to hide it. But Qinghe, you’ve beaten me ten times in a row, without giving me any face.”
Su Yan sighed inwardly, pushed aside the chessboard, and bowed, “I apologize for my rudeness. Please punish me, Your Highness.”
Zhu Helin looked down at him kneeling obediently, unable to see his expression, only the back of his head bowed before him. He suddenly wondered what it would be like if even Su Yan became submissive and indistinguishable among countless other heads.
Feeling a pang of regret, he tapped Su Yan’s forehead with his knuckles, “Get up! I’m not blaming you. Why are you kneeling? From now on, don’t just kneel and apologize without reason!”
Su Yan winced, touching the small bump forming on his forehead. He felt a surge of anger: D*mn, does he think I enjoy kneeling? In my past life, I only kneeled for Heaven and my parents. Who does this little brat think he is? I’m not serving him anymore!
He immediately stood up, meeting the Crown Prince’s changing expression with a defiant attitude, “I won’t kneel anymore, and that’s what you said yourself!”
Zhu Helin was taken aback and looked somewhat embarrassed, “Well… in front of Royal Father and the officials, it’s still necessary to maintain appearances.” He glanced around and continued, “Other times, it’s fine. I don’t like seeing you kneeling while talking.”
Su Yan, prepared for punishment, was surprised. This Crown Prince—should he say he’s down-to-earth and approachable, or overly arrogant and capricious?
Seeing Su Yan’s awkward expression, as if choked into silence, Zhu Helin chuckled and poked his forehead again, “Are you stunned? Fine, you must be tired from playing so much chess. Rest for now, and get well so you can accompany me out of the palace for some fun.”
This little brat is really obsessed with fun. Su Yan sighed inwardly and resolved to be better prepared next time, just in case. Otherwise, even if the Crown Prince didn’t punish him, the Emperor surely would.
