Chapter 58: Palace Banquet and Memories Those Quietly Awakened, Belonging to Haruka...
The Northern Liang delegation arrived in Bian Jing on a grand scale. The Regent Queen personally appointed the envoys to bring treasures and gold and silver, demonstrating the importance the new Northern Liang emperor attached to friendly relations with Zhongshan Kingdom.
The audience at the imperial court was conducted according to proper etiquette. Atop the Golden Palace, Emperor Xie Xuanhui of Zhongshan sat aloft on the dragon throne. His expression was even more stern and majestic than it had been five years before, though a hint of gloom and fatigue settled between his brows.
The members of the delegation came forward in order to pay their respects. When it was the turn of the deputy envoy, the Northern Liang official named "Shu Wang", he stepped out calmly, bowed, and spoke in a clear and calm voice:
"I, Shu Wang, the Northern Liang envoy, pay my respects to His Majesty the Emperor of Zhongshan. May His Majesty live long and prosper."
At that moment, Xie Xuanhui, who was sitting on the dragon throne, seemed to be struck by an invisible thunder!
That face! That face that haunted his dreams every night, that was etched in his mind, that face he had been searching for for five years, almost to the point of despair!
It’s Xiao Wangshu!
There was no doubt about it! Even though he was dressed in Beiliang official uniform, his aura had a touch of the northern land's vastness and tranquility, and his brows had lost some of their former coldness and sharpness, and instead had a touch of unfamiliar calmness, his facial features, his posture and bearing were clearly the person he had been dreaming about!
"see……"
Xie Xuanhui suddenly stood up from the dragon throne, his body swaying slightly with extreme shock and excitement, and the cry that burst out of his mouth almost broke his throat. Some of the ministers in the palace also recognized him, but five years had passed, and who knew how many ministers had changed.
These ministers were mostly shocked by the emperor's sudden loss of composure, and whispers were heard everywhere.
Imperial Master Chi Hua stood at the bottom of the stairs, lowering his eyes and sighing inwardly:
The five-year period has arrived, and what was supposed to come has finally come.
Xiao Wangshu (Shuwang) in the hall felt a shock in his heart when he felt the scorching gaze from the throne that almost set him on fire.
He raised his head and met those deep eyes filled with shock, ecstasy, pain and disbelief. He felt an inexplicable palpitation in his heart, but he could not find any memory of this person no matter how hard he tried.
He could only maintain a bowed posture, his brows slightly furrowed, with pure strangeness and alienation in his eyes.
This alienation, like a basin of ice water, extinguished the fire of ecstasy that had suddenly ignited in Xie Xuanhui, leaving only excruciating pain.
He forced himself to calm down and slowly sat back on the dragon chair, digging his nails deep into his palms. His voice trembled slightly.
"... Stand tall. Envoy from Beiliang, thank you for your journey."
Xie Xuanhui was almost distracted by the following court meeting agenda. His eyes seemed to be attracted by a magnet and drifted uncontrollably towards the calm and indifferent figure standing in the ranks of the Beiliang envoys.
That night, the palace held a banquet to entertain the Beiliang delegation.
At the banquet, amidst the sounds of stringed instruments and the clinking of glasses, Xie Xuanhui's gaze remained fixed on Xiao Wangshu. He watched him whisper to the Queen of Northern Liang, and saw him handle the Zhongshan minister's probing with composure. His words and actions vaguely recalled the shrewd and capable Minister Xiao of yesteryear, yet something seemed different.
What made Xie Xuanhui's pupils shrink even more was that Xiao Wangshu was wearing a jade pendant around his waist that he was very familiar with - the Pisces Heart Jade Pendant!
That was his mother's relic, and he had tied it for him with his own hands, almost obsessively, with endless love and possessiveness!
But the completely unfamiliar eyes and distant attitude made him feel deeply uneasy, and a wave of mixed hope and pain swept over Xie Xuanhui.
He could no longer hold back. When the atmosphere at the banquet was at its peak, he suddenly put down his wine glass, his eyes fixed on Xiao Wangshu, and his voice rang out clearly in the noisy banquet hall:
"The jade pendant on Deputy Envoy Shu's waist is quite exquisite and unique. I see...it looks very familiar."
Instantly, the entire room fell silent. All eyes focused on Xiao Wangshu's waist, then looked towards the emperor in confusion.
Xiao Wangshu was slightly startled, and subconsciously touched the jade pendant. He had been carrying it with him since he woke up. Lou Guanshan and the Queen of Beiliang were vague about it, only saying that it was his old item and very important. He looked up at the emperor and said calmly:
"Your Majesty, this is an old belonging of mine. As for its origin... I don't know."
"Not sure?"
Slowly standing up, Xie Xuanhui walked down the steps and stood before Xiao Wangshu, so close they could almost feel each other's breath. He stared intently into those unfamiliar eyes, his voice low and filled with suppressed emotion, "This jade pendant is a pair. The other one is with me."
He also took out an almost identical Pisces jade pendant from the inside of his dragon robe, but the color of his jade pendant seemed to be more gentle due to years of wear and caressing.
"!!!" Xiao Wangshu was completely stunned. He stared at the paired jade pendants in the emperor's hand, then felt the cool touch of the one around his waist. His mind was in a turmoil. Could this pair of jade pendants... truly be related to this Zhongshan emperor?
The ministers were in an uproar! The emperor and the Northern Liang envoy were wearing matching jade pendants? This... this was outrageous!
Only a few people who knew the inside story felt that they should have known this would happen and the matter was settled.
No matter how surprised everyone was, Xie Xuanhui only had eyes for the person in front of him. He took a step closer, almost gritting his teeth, and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear:
"Brother Wangshu...you really...don't remember this jade pendant, don't remember our past? You don't remember me at all?"
The intense, almost destructive sadness and deep affection in the eyes of the person so close to him deeply shocked Xiao Wangshu. He subconsciously took a half step back, calmed his mind, and said in a distant and polite tone:
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I truly do not remember. If I were once a minister of the Zhongshan Kingdom and had a relationship with Your Majesty, it would be impossible for me to possess such a token."
He could not imagine that his past self would have such a relationship with a prince, especially the emperor in front of him, which went beyond the relationship between monarch and subject.
"Friendship between monarch and minister?" Xie Xuanhui's eyes flushed red as if he had heard something ridiculous. "What a friendship between monarch and minister!" He raised his head suddenly, scanning the entire audience, his voice carrying the unquestionable imperial pressure:
"Deputy Envoy Shu is exceptionally talented and learned, and I am very pleased. Effective immediately, I have appointed him as my advisor, to reside in the Lantai Pavilion within the palace, facilitating exchanges between our two countries and providing consultation at any time!"
"Your Majesty! No!" An old minister immediately stepped forward to object. "Deputy Envoy Shu is an envoy from Northern Liang. It's against etiquette for him to stay in the palace!"
"I have made up my mind!" Xie Xuanhui interrupted sharply, his eyes piercing. "This matter concerns the diplomatic relations between our two countries. I will handle it with discretion! Withdraw!"
He didn't give anyone a chance to object and forcefully decided on the matter. His gaze turned back to Xiao Wangshu, with a kind of paranoia that was determined to win:
"Deputy Envoy Shu, do you have any objections?"
Xiao Wangshu frowned, his heart filled with resistance and confusion. However, given the current situation, if he refused forcefully in front of the monarchs and ministers of both countries, it might cause trouble. He glanced at the Queen of Beiliang, and seeing her slightly nod to show forbearance, he suppressed his inner turmoil and bowed, saying:
"...Your subordinate, obey your order."
After the palace banquet ended, Xiao Wangshu was "detained" in the palace of Zhongshan Kingdom in an extremely embarrassing identity, and lived in Nianyue Pavilion not far from the emperor's bedroom.
The emperor of this foreign country summoned him almost every day, sometimes to ask about the customs and people of Beiliang, and sometimes to discuss difficult government affairs.
Although he has lost his memory, his insights and wisdom are still there. He always gets to the point and offers unique ideas.
Every time this happened, Xie Xuanhui would always look at him with a strange and focused gaze. The affection contained in that gaze always made him secretly shocked.
He could feel the emperor's "preference" for him, which could even be described as cautious "flattery."
The emperor somehow knew that he liked quietness, so he decorated Nian Yue's place with quiet and elegant decoration, and withdrew most of the palace servants, leaving only a few who were nimble and taciturn.
Knowing that he loved the pastries from Jiangnan, he sent someone to travel 800 miles to collect the freshest and most exquisite pastries from Suzhou and Hangzhou, and delivered them to Nianyue Pavilion in different styles every day.
When he discovered that he showed interest in the rare books in the palace library, he ordered the library to be opened to the highest level of authority, allowing him to browse at any time, and even sent some rare books directly to Nianyue Pavilion.
Xiao Wangshu was not unaware of these meticulous considerations. He could sense the complex and intense emotions threatening to overflow from the young emperor.
That persistence, that clumsy flattery, confused him, and also... made a corner of his heart loosen slightly.
But he still couldn't connect the emperor in front of him, who was strong but occasionally showed fragility and dependence, with his past.
Especially the mention of "a pair of jade pendants" was like a thorn in his heart. He could not accept that he had ever had such an immoral relationship with the monarch.
On this day, Xie Xuanhui did not discuss political affairs with Xiao Wangshu, but took him to the depths of the imperial garden, to a remote but tranquil pavilion and waterside terrace.
"Brother Wangshu," Xiao Wangshu felt uncomfortable with the intimate address. However, the emperor, who always obeyed him, was stubborn and refused to give in on this matter. The emperor looked at him with a gentle look of nostalgia, "Do you still remember this place?"
Looking around, the lake was sparkling and the rockery was scattered around. An inexplicable sense of familiarity came to his mind, but Xiao Wangshu still shook his head.
Xie Xuanhui had anticipated his answer and was not discouraged. He took out a small, somewhat old brocade box from his sleeve and opened it. Inside was a translucent stone with light green patterns, which had been polished to be smooth and warm.
"This is..." Xiao Wangshu was puzzled.
"This is the 'Green Water Stone,'" Xie Xuanhui said, gently placing the stone in Xiao Wangshu's palm. "When you were eleven, you accompanied your father to the palace for the first time during the Dragon Boat Festival banquet. The banquet was boring, so you ran to this imperial garden alone... It was by this lake that you found this stone. You thought it was beautiful, so you gave it to me."
Xiao Wangshu held the slightly cool stone, and a strange touch seemed to come from his fingertips.
Xie Xuanhui's voice was low and slow, bringing him back to that distant afternoon:
"At that time, although I was the crown prince, my mother died young, my father... despised me, and the servants in the palace were accustomed to flattering the powerful and bullying the weak. My life was even worse than that of a respectable eunuch.
That day at the palace banquet, no one paid any attention to me. I was alone by the lake. I don’t know who pushed me from behind, and I fell into the icy water…”
As he narrated, the scene gradually became clearer in Xiao Wangshu's mind—
The young prince, his clothes even a little worn, struggled helplessly in the water. There were faint sounds of laughter on the shore, but no one came to his aid. A young man, also young, dressed simply, with a cool and handsome face, happened to be passing by. Seeing this, he jumped into the water without hesitation and struggled to pull the prince ashore.
That young man was Xiao Wangshu from that year.
"You rescued me, soaking wet and shivering with cold, yet you still took off your coat and wrapped me in it." Xie Xuanhui's eyes shone with tears, but a smile played on his lips. "You asked me, 'Why did they push you? Aren't you the crown prince?' I said, 'Because no one likes me.' You frowned at my utter disgrace and said nothing."
"But later," Xie Xuanhui said with a hint of pride, "at that banquet, you deliberately knocked over the wine of a young man from an aristocratic family, attracting everyone's attention. Then, in front of all the young men and women from the aristocratic families, you 'inadvertently' revealed that the crown prince fell into the water and no one was in charge, and that the palace was negligent.
You said, 'The Crown Prince is the foundation of the country. Even if Your Majesty is busy with government affairs and neglects to take care of him, how can you sit idly by and watch the royal dignity be damaged? '"
"Although you're young, your words were so harsh that they blew up into a big deal. Those noble families valued respect and protocol above all else, and word quickly reached the upper court. An imperial censor submitted a memorial based on the incident, accusing the palace of chaotic management and harsh treatment of the crown prince, which undermined the dignity of the state. Under pressure, my father arranged for me to live in a decent residence and have servants."
Xie Xuanhui looked deeply at Xiao Wangshu. "Later, I begged Father to appoint you as my study partner. Father initially refused, feeling you weren't of the right stature. But I insisted, even... threatening to go on a hunger strike, and with the help of the noble families, Father finally agreed."
"From then on, I truly began to live like a prince. And you, Brother Wangshu, served as my study partner, accompanied me in reading and martial arts training. You stood in front of me when I was bullied by other princes, and secretly brought me food when I was punished by my father... It was you who pulled me out of that cold corner and gave me light and warmth."
Listening quietly, Xiao Wangshu felt the jade stone in his hand warm. Those blurry, fragmented images gradually pieced together as Xie Xuanhui recounted them—the icy lake, the helpless child, the young man who spoke up for justice, and the years they spent together afterwards… Though still incomplete, that feeling, that natural closeness and protectiveness, felt so real.
He looked at Xie Xuanhui, who was already the emperor in front of him, but showed an expression of dependence and grievance like a puppy in front of him. The defense line built of ice in his heart finally cracked.
It turns out that their bond began in childhood, stemming from the purest kindness and redemption.
"So," Xiao Wangshu's voice was a little dry as he stroked the jade stone. "This jade pendant..." He seemed to understand why there were such a significant pair of jade pendants. Perhaps it wasn't just love, but a bond and commitment that transcended the boundaries between ruler and subject, a deep, deep bond.
Seeing his attitude soften, Xie Xuanhui's eyes instantly lit up. He eagerly and with a hint of flattery said, "Brother Wangshu, do you remember? Even just a little bit?"
Xiao Wangshu did not answer, but simply clenched the stone in his hand. He looked at the emperor in front of him with a complicated look, and said softly, "Your Majesty, I... need some time."
This time, he didn't call himself "your humble official" anymore, but "minister." Although he was still distant, Xie Xuanhui was ecstatic.
He knew that his brother Wangshu was coming back little by little. And he had enough patience to use all his sincerity and the rest of his life to wait, to make amends, and to win back the heart he cherished so much.
Under the candlelight of Nianyue Pavilion, the emperor's clumsy but persistent pursuit, and the quietly awakened warm memories of his distant childhood, intertwined into a lingering nocturne, flowing slowly in the deep palace of Bianjing.
The criticism from the court officials still existed, but Xie Xuanhui didn't care. He only knew that his light had been lost and regained, and he would never let it go again.
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