Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 105

In the first year of Yanxi, the ninth month, continuous rain enveloped the sky, and dark clouds rolled, shrouding the vermilion walls and glazed tiles in a vast expanse of misty water.

After leaving the Kunning Palace, Xiao Yu turned towards the direction of the Yangxin Hall. Eunuch Sheng silently raised an oiled-paper umbrella, quickening his pace.

Raindrops pattered overhead.

Upon reaching Yangxin Hall, Xiao Yu walked to the desk, first retrieving a fresh ink block from the rack and placing it on the stone dragon-patterned inkstone. Then, he gathered finely powdered pigments like malachite green, cinnabar, orpiment, and azurite.

Eunuch Sheng guessed the emperor’s intention to paint and promptly picked up a bronze spoon, measuring water into the inkstone. The new ink, once used, couldn’t be ground again. Eunuch Sheng’s wrist moved lightly, the sound of even grinding echoing in the hall.

Xiao Yu laid out a piece of Xuan paper with a ruler, pausing in silence for a moment. He dipped the brush into the ink and portrayed the figure from memory onto the paper—a woman with an elaborate hair bun, crimson pearl hairpin, a straight and tall nose, expressive eyes, even the cloud pattern on her garment—the very design she adored.

He meticulously rendered the details, not setting down his brush until the afternoon.

Eunuch Sheng tentatively inquired, “Your Majesty… would you like to have a meal?”

Xiao Yu placed the painting in a flat box and hoarsely replied, “No, bring in some water.”

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Sheng finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned to attend to matters outside.

After freshening up, Xiao Yu went to the Shou’an Palace.

Seeing the emperor notably thinner, Consort Dowager Sun felt a pang in her heart. Slowly approaching, she placed the warm piece of meat into Xiao Yu’s hands. “Yun’er just opened his eyes, but now they’re shut again.”

The child’s body curled up, premature and barely larger than a man’s palm. Xiao Yu awkwardly supported the baby’s bottom with stiff hands, his heart quivering. An indescribable surge of emotions accompanied the warmth in his palms. Having a child, truly being a father, but…

Consort Dowager Sun helped adjust the posture beside him.

She dared not mention whom the child resembled, fearing it might stir up sorrow. She only said, “The eldest prince is well in the Shou’an Palace. Your Majesty, rest assured.”

Xiao Yu nodded. “Thank you for your care, my lady.”

Consort Dowager Sun replied, “I don’t deserve your gratitude. Allowing me to raise the eldest prince is already a blessing for me.”

Observing Xiao Yun remaining quiet without crying or fussing, Xiao Yu asked, “Why hasn’t he made a sound?”

Consort Dowager Sun furrowed her brow and continued, “The court physician mentioned it yesterday, examined his throat, and said there’s no issue. Perhaps… it’s his nature to be quiet and serene.”

Xiao Yu nodded lightly.

Consort Dowager Sun and her attendants withdrew, leaving only the father and son together.

As soon as the door closed, the young prince kicked his leg and slowly opened his eyes.

Locking gazes, Xiao Yu looked at those grape-like, freshly washed eyes. His arm seemed to tingle as if struck by electricity. His lips moved stiffly, and he softly murmured, “Yun’er… your father has come.”

The little child, of course, didn’t understand much. He blinked dazedly, then drifted back to sleep quickly, the tiny bundle of flesh resting peacefully, completely unaware of the impending storm outside.

Seeing his son sound asleep, Xiao Yu gently placed him on the bedside table and covered him with a blanket. Then, he positioned the portrait of the empress beside the pillow.

Staring at the small hand, he contemplated for a long while.

As dusk approached, he left the Shou’an Palace. His eyes showed no sorrow, but his departing figure was no longer as upright and resolute as when he arrived.

***

After that day, Xiao Yu resumed attending the morning and evening court sessions.

With the empress’ passing, the palace seemed like an empty shell. Li Yuan had once mustered courage to encounter him in the imperial garden, carrying a bowl of ginseng gruel. She bowed and said softly, “I’ve seen Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be well.” Her gentle and melodious voice was captivating.

However, Xiao Yu didn’t even glance at her. It seemed he hadn’t furrowed his brow or given her a second thought as he brushed past her.

“Your Majesty!”

Li Yuan closed her eyes, clenched her fists, and watched his retreating figure. The dark dragon robe billowed in the wind. In that moment, she fervently wished the man before her was a different kind of ruler.

Ruling over the world, surrounded by concubines like clouds, indulging in all pleasures. She wished he desired something more, something shared with her.

As a bowl of hot soup shattered on the ground, splashing Li Yuan’s skirt, she knew that he would never go to the Changchun Palace to hear her sing again since the empress had departed.

Or perhaps, he never had.

***

The court reformed governance, revamped taxation, and prioritized financial management among countless other tasks awaiting attention.

Yangxin Hall remained unchanged; only the emperor grew busier. The court sought new talents primarily through the imperial examinations. However, departments like the Ministry of Personnel and the Hanlin Academy, responsible for selecting and transferring officials, were tightly held by certain influential families.

In frustration, the emperor personally promoted someone to the Hanlin Academy, a man named Zhong Bainian.

Lu Ze tentatively remarked, “Placing someone in the Hanlin Academy might stir up some movements in the Chu family…”

Xiao Yu asserted, “I must make a move in the Three Temples.”

Lu Ze nodded, “I’ll immediately have someone keep an eye on Zhong Bainian.”

Xiao Yu murmured, then added, “What do you think of Xu Bowei, the vice-minister of the Ministry of Justice?”

Lu Ze pondered for a moment before responding, “The Xu family is prestigious, with shallow roots in the capital. Despite six years in the Ministry of Justice and impressive achievements, he hasn’t had close dealings with Minister Xue. I believe he is someone we could use.”

Xiao Yu cleared his throat and said, “That’s enough, you may go now.”

As Lu Ze left Yangxin Hall, another high-ranking official awaited his audience.

Observing the ceaseless candlelight in Yangxin Hall throughout the night, Lu Ze turned to Eunuch Sheng and asked in a low voice, “Has His Majesty recently met with the court physician?”

Eunuch Sheng sighed, “He has, but…”

Lu Ze inquired, “But what?”

“The court physician advised His Majesty to rest and recover, suggesting he refrains from attending the court sessions,” Eunuch Sheng tapped his right hand with his left, seemingly distressed, “His Majesty finds a single court session per day insufficient, how could he possibly abstain? Oh, Commander Lu, perhaps you could try persuading him. While I may not understand the affairs of the court, I do understand the principle that haste makes waste. What matters now is nothing more crucial than His Majesty’s well-being…”

Lu Ze offered reassurances outwardly, but inwardly understood. The emperor sacrificed rest, day and night, striving relentlessly. Firstly, to pave the way for the eldest prince, and secondly, out of unwillingness to let go of control.

Lu Yanqing understood the emperor’s sentiments towards the late empress better than anyone. When they had just married, His Highness, the Prince of Jin, would often roam outside, scoffing when someone mentioned his wife. He’d sneer, “She got into the royal register, yet dares to demand a divorce from me? Since Su Jingbei didn’t teach her well, I’ll educate her myself.”

It was a demeanor akin to someone itching to whip a soldier into shape.

However, what began as ‘education’ turned into, “Yanqing, I’m not going for drinks tonight; I’ll be at home.”

As time passed, it was uncertain who was educating whom.

The rain persisted, transforming into snow as winter arrived. Eunuch Sheng dared not bring up the issue of turning over the cards. Unable to find a gentler path, he resorted to preparing medicinal cuisine in various ways.

After tending to the medicine, Eunuch Sheng bowed and suggested, “With the year’s end approaching, since all officials are taking leave, wouldn’t it be better for Your Majesty to rest early?”

“Go prepare some water.”

Xiao Yu set aside his brush and headed for the sleeping quarters. The calming incense in the brazier filled the air with mist as Xiao Yu slowly lay down and closed his eyes.

As night fell and the winds outside intensified, rattling the door frames, Xiao Yu woke up, furrowing his brow. His throat felt parched, and in a hoarse voice, he requested, “Ah Ling, bring me a cup of water.”

Yet, his words were met by an eerie silence that filled the room.

With closed eyes, he slowly reached out, searching the empty space beside him. His heart twisted painfully, the air seemed thin.

“Third lang, there’s a storm outside.”

“Here’s the water, drink slowly…”

“Is Your Majesty unwell? Should we summon the court physician?”

Echoes lingered in his ears, but the person was undeniably gone.

Slowly sitting up, eyes reddened, he gazed outside the window. Suddenly realizing, those habits of harboring hidden memories were like a blunt knife grinding away at his life.

Xiao Yu raised a hand to cover his forehead, a self-mocking smile tugging at his lips. “Ah Ling, what should I do? The days ahead… are so uncertain.”

The plea hung in the air, unanswered, leaving the future looming uncertainly.

***

The imperial examinations hadn’t even commenced when the Cabinet brought forth accusations against Zhong Bainian. They presented two major charges: embezzlement and alleged incompetence and moral inadequacy. The aristocracy often united against the rising power of the lower class in control of imperial authority.

The next day, Zhong Bainian was thrown into prison. Simultaneously, the Left Censor Mu Kangjing died unexpectedly in a brothel. The emperor then appointed Xu Bowei, the Vice-minister of Justice, as the new Left Censor.

From the end of the first year of Yanxi until the following autumn, the court was in turmoil, swamped with administrative duties. The struggle between imperial authority and the aristocracy resembled an endless chess game, each move fueling an unending power play.

Attending court sessions, meeting ministers, and entertaining foreign guests kept Xiao Yu relentlessly busy. Even Eunuch Sheng sensed that time was a remedy, that some things had indeed passed.

Until several months later.

Lu Ze delivered a letter from Su Huai’an to Xiao Yu.

Clutching the letter, Xiao Yu’s knuckles turned white as he read through it without raising his head. Eunuch Sheng could feel the intense waves of imperial pressure.

In a sudden moment, Xiao Yu spat out blood and collapsed in Yangxin Hall.