Chapter 73

Chapter 73

On the second day, when Lin Qingyu went to the palace to examine the Emperor’s pulse, the Empress and Concubine Chen happened to also be there. The Empress was in charge of the harem and Concubine Chen assisted her. The three were discussing the arrangments for the New Year’s celebration in the palace.

The Empress and Concubine Chen were both beautiful women in their youth. Now that they were getting on in the years, the Empress looked graceful and dignified, with a temperament befitting the mother of the nation; Concubine Chen was careful to maintain her looked and she has been favored for many years. She was like a peony in full bloom, looking barely over thirty.

Lin Qingyu knelt down and saluted the three, “Paying my respects to the Emperor, the Empress, Concubine Chen.”

The Emperor was vexed by the two women on either side. Seeing Lin Qingyu, he felt even more so that his wife and concubine were making senseless fuss. Lin Qingyu, without any official position, was wearing a crescent white uniform. His simple, unadorned style seized everyone’s attention.

When the Empress saw him, her face turned cold. Concubine Chen though was rather polite to him. “The Emperor’s headaches have improved a lot recently. This is thanks to Doctor Lin’s hard work.”

Lin Qingyu said, “It is the good fortune of this student to share the burdens of His Majesty.”

“I heard it was Doctor Lin who found the cure for the epidemic that was ravaging the south last year.” Concubine Chen pulled the emperor’s arm, “Your Majesty, this concubine wishes to borrow Doctor Lin’s services.”

The emperor asked absent-mindedly, “Where does Aifei feel unwell?”

“Not I but the Crown Prince.” Concubine Chen’s brows were knitted together, her eyes brimming with motherly love. “Ever since the Crown Prince met... met with that serious illness, his health has never recovered to how it was before, no matter how much medicine he takes. When all is said and done, they’re all incompetent doctors of the Imperial Hospital. They were unable to cure the Emperor’s headaches and they’ve also failed to restore the Crown Prince’s health.”

The emperor’s expression was indifferent. “As they say, mental worries cannot be cured by medicine. Otherwise, the Crown Prince wouldn’t handle so carelessly the duties Zhen has assigned to him.”

Concubine Chen’s expression changed slightly and her fingers tightened. She forced on a smile. “I am sure the Crown Prince must be doing his best to do his duties properly. It may be that he is a bit unable to do as much as he would wish.”

Lin Qingyu quietly glanced at the Empress. The Empress concealed her expressions well; neither joy nor anger could be seen.

“Forget it.” The Emperor stretched out his wrist and said to Lin Qingyu, “Later, go the Eastern Palace and examine the Crown Prince.”

Lin Qingyu replied, “Yes.”

The Empress hesitated for a moment and said, “The list of attendees for the New Year’s Eve family banquet has been drawn up. I ask His Majesty to please take a look.”

There was no need for the Emperor to weigh in on this. “No need. I have every confidence in the Empress’ arrangements.”

“Your Majesty, it may be best to take a look still.” Concubine Chen raised the corners of her lips, “The Empress has reserved a place for the Sixth Prince this time.”

The emperor said, displeased, “Is this true?”

The empress knelt down quickly, no longer as calm and composed as before. “New Year’s Eve is a time for family to come together. Li’er is the Emperor and mine’s flesh and blood, the brother of the princes and princesses...”

The emperor interrupted coldly. “The Sixth Prince doesn’t understand any of this. Why even go through the trouble of having him come?”

The empress begged, “Your Majesty...”

“Empress Niangniang, please say no more.” Concubine Chen donned on a kind-hearted expression, making as though to smooth things over, “The Emperor is about to get angry.”

The emperor was rather impatient. “Enough. Both of you withdraw.”

The empress said, silently enduring, “I shall take my leave.”

The empress and Concubine Chen left. Lin Qingyu too had finished with his examination. “The Emperor’s headache has yet to be eradicated and the matters of state affairs are arduous. His Majesty should try to get some more rest.”

Why would the emperor not want to get more rest? He used to have a Crown Prince who could supervise the country in his stead but right now, the Crown Prince’s heart and mind were who knows where. There were now a lot of matters that only he himself could attend to.

The Emperor stared at Lin Qingyu. Suddenly, he asked, “You have been married to Gu Fuzhou for a while, have you not?”

“Yes.”

“Her Majestry treated Young Master Hou like her own child and the Young Master has always kept you and His Highness in his thoughts. He had been worried about your situation in the palace, worried that Concubine Chen might make things difficult for you. He asked me to do my best to share Her Majesty’s worries.”

The empress looked at him coldly. “If you truly held Wancheng in your heart, how could you marry someone else even before his body has had time to grow cold!”

Lin Qingyu sighed softly, “If I don’t do this, how can I help Her Majesty?”

The empress looked fixedly at Lin Qingyu. The man in front of her stood tall, bright and handsome. His eyes were like deep pools enticing people to approach and then looking for the right moment to drown them.

Lin Qingyu may have ulterior motives, but of this there was no doubt: If Xiao Ting succeeds in ascending to the throne, her Li’er will never ever make it back home in her lifetime.

After weighing the matter several times over, the Empress said calmly, “What would you like me to do?”

A few days later, the Nan’an Hou asked for an audience with the emperor. He proposed that Xiao Jie be given his title as feudal king. The emperor was a little surprised. The Nan’an Hou had never been one to involve himself in political struggles. When the struggle for succession was the most intense, he had never spoken for any prince. Why would he speak for the mediocre Fourth Prince now?

The Nan’an Hou brought out the reasons that Lin Qingyu had thought of in advance. “The Crown Prince used to show talent for governing the country but has lost heart due to his illness. The minister thinks that Your Majesty could use this conferring of title to the Fourth Prince as a reprimand to the Crown Prince. While the battle between the princes may be terrible, it can also useful.”

The emperor listened to his counsel but did not immediately express his position, saying only, “Let me consider this matter.”

In the blink of an eye, it was New Year’s Eve. Concubines, princes and princesses gathered together for New Year’s Eve dinner. During the banquet, there was signing and dancing; everyone talked and laughed. It was really lively.

Seeing that the emperor was in good spirits, the empress smiled and said, “The Fourth Prince will be nineteen after the new year. It’s about time to find him a concubine.”

Xiao Jie had just bitten into a piece of food. He hurriedly swallowed it whole. “Thank you for the Empress Mother’s concern. Yo-your son is in a hurry.”

“What do you mean in no hurry?” The empress rebuked, “When your uncles were your age, not to mention married, several of them were even already fathers.”

The empress’ words reminded the emperor of the Nan’an Hou’s suggestion. He glanced at Xiao Cheng. He was absently holding a wine cup, his expression dejected, showing none of his high-spiritedness of before. And thus, the emperor immediately made a decision.

——Xiao Jie was conferred the title of feudal king, King Ning, at the New Year’s Eve palace banquet.

Compared with the liveliness in the palace, the General’s mansion was a lot more sedate. Only the two masters, the General and his wife, celebrated the New Year together. Even so, Yuan Yin still decorated the entire mansion. Paper decor were pasted on the windows, lanterns hung below the eaves. The whole place looked jubilant.

After the New Year’s Eve dinner was served, Lin Qingyu gave his servants leave. Gu Fuzhou moved the table out to the outdoor corridor and the two sat under the red lantern, drinking while admiring the moon.

With their plan already in motion, Lin Qingyu allowed himself a few more glasses. His face appeared flush; even the teardrop mole underneath his eye took on a crimson hue. Gu Fuzhou’s alcohol tolerance was tempered in the military camp and he had a larger capacity for alcohol than Lin Qingyu. Seeing that Lin Qingyu was a little tipsy, he said, “Should I carry you back to the room?”

Lin Qingyu rested his forehead on his hand. He looked at him with drunken eyes, appearing as though shrouded in light. “Why do you like carrying me so much...”

Gu Fuzhou said half truthfully, “Because I like appearing handsome in front of you.”

Lin Qingyu laughed and lazily stretched out his hand to Gu Fuzhou. He invited, “Come on then.”

Gu Fuzhou leaned over and took Lin Qingyu into his arms. The two of them were too different in stature. Such a hug made Lin Qingyu appear even more smaller. In fact, he was considered slender among men his age.

Gu Fuzhou returned to the room and sat down at the edge the bed but instead of putting Lin Qingyu down, he let him sit on his lap. “Would you like to drink sobering soup?”

Lin Qingyu put his arms around his neck. He leaned in close to his ear and asked in a hoarse voice, “What are you...hard for?”

Gu Fuzhou chuckled. He said, vexed, “Oh? I’ve been found out. I’m sorry, but I can’t do anything about it.” His voice was low and cut into Lin Qingyu’s ears. “I miss it too much.”

The corners of Lin Qingyu’s red eyes slightly picked up. “Miss it?”

Gu Fuzhou’s Adam’s apple bobbed and he asked, “Qingyu, do you still only like girls?”

A mist of confusion appeared in Lin Qingyu’s eyes, as if he himself didn’t even know the answer.

Gu Fuzhou sighed, got up and put Lin Qingyu down on the bed. He was about to head out, planning to look for someone to cook sobering soup. Just as he turned around, he felt that something pull on his sleeve. He looked down, and met Lin Qingyu’s eyes.

Lin Qingyu’s breath was suffused with hot wine. “...Not necessarily.”