Chapter 29: The First Test – Could it be because of the Regent...?
As the sun rises in the east, the morning light envelops the majestic and towering Qin Zheng Hall. The overlapping glazed tiles shimmer and gleam, and a row of mythical beasts standing on the roof ridge reflects the blue sky and white clouds, creating a magnificent sight.
The guards standing outside the vermilion-lacquered, intricately carved gate were expressionless and as quiet as clay figurines.
Inside the study, separated by only a wall, a lively debate was taking place. More than ten ministers, who were usually highly respected in the court, were now arguing heatedly, their faces flushed, veins bulging on their foreheads, and spittle flying everywhere.
The source of this controversy was that the red jade carving that the Prince of Liang presented to the capital broke in two during the palace banquet.
Liangzhou red jade is famous for its vibrant color, resembling pigeon blood, with a delicate and translucent texture. During his recent trip to the capital, the King of Liang personally selected two exceptional pieces of red jade from the mines, ordering local master craftsmen to meticulously carve them into a soaring dragon and a bonsai tree laden with ripe peaches.
The two auspicious tributes were carefully stored in a box lined with tea leaves. They were guarded by soldiers along the way and stored at the post station after entering the capital. They were not taken out of the brocade box until the palace banquet.
Last night, Chu Yueyuan left the banquet early and did not witness what happened. However, Xiao Yun described the scene to himself while having breakfast.
"When Eunuch Wang carried that dragon-shaped ornament into the palace, its tail snapped off with a crack. And of the peach tree in the bonsai, three out of ten peaches fell off, leaving..."
Xiao Yun started counting on his short, radish-thick fingers. He was just starting his formal education and couldn't even count to ten. He didn't take the accident to heart at all.
But the officials in the court clearly didn't think so.
Some officials believed that the King of Liang's deliberate presentation of flawed tribute was a blatant curse upon the young emperor on the throne. They argued that the King of Liang's intentions were malicious and that he had committed a grave offense of disrespect; therefore, the Regent should strip him of his military power in Liangzhou to prevent future trouble.
Some officials also felt that the red jade ornament was inherently fragile, and given the long and arduous journey from Liangzhou to the capital, it was inevitable that it would be bumped or knocked over. The fact that the red jade broke at the palace banquet could not be entirely blamed on the King of Liang; instead, the craftsmen with poor skills and the guards who failed to take proper care of it should be punished.
Originally, there were five princes in the Great Qi who held military power. The Prince of Shu was stripped of his military power for plotting a rebellion, and the Regent Prince was stationed in the capital to assist the Emperor. Now, only the Prince of Liang, the Prince of Chen, and the Prince of Runan remain.
The Prince of Runan expressed strong dissatisfaction with Pei Muwei's assistance to the Emperor. Not only did Pei Muwei refuse to come to the capital to pay his respects, but the governor sent to the southern border was also beheaded by the Prince of Runan outside the city gate. He declared that he would never bow down and recognize a traitor as his sovereign.
Therefore, the choice between Prince Liang and Prince Chen becomes crucial.
At this critical moment, the jade carving presented by the Prince of Liang broke right under the noses of the court officials. If the regent punished him lightly, it might embolden him.
However, if the King of Liang is severely punished, it may force him to turn against the King of Runan.
Morning light streamed through the long, red-lattice carved window, casting dappled shadows on the woman's radiant profile. Her hair, styled like clouds and mist, swirled atop her head, accentuating her slender neck and snow-white skin. The touch of crimson at the corner of her eye resembled a rosy begonia blossom.
Listening to the officials outside the jade curtain arguing incessantly for two hours, Chu Yueyuan felt her mouth go dry just thinking about them.
Seeing the young empress dowager put down her book, Jin Tong immediately opened the carved lacquer food box she had brought to the study that day.
"Would Your Highness like to have some tea and snacks?"
Chu Yueyuan stared at the exquisitely arranged tea and snacks in the food box, her eyes flickering slightly. She shook her head and said softly, "I'm not hungry yet, I'll wait a little longer."
Yesterday, she asked Granny Xu to make a plate of taro and yam cake overnight.
Xu Mama assumed that Chu Yueyuan had suddenly become interested in eating this, so she went to the Imperial Kitchen to ask for fresh Lipu taro.
After finishing the dessert, she solemnly instructed the palace servants of Fengqi Palace to make sure that this plate of taro and yam cake was stored separately and not mixed up with the Emperor's meals.
Xiao Yun is allergic to taro; even a small bite will cause him to break out in a rash all over his body.
But Chu Yueyuan clearly remembered that her sister's favorite pastry was taro cake.
Since Chu Wanxi is not allergic to taro, Xiao Yun most likely inherited the allergy symptoms from his biological father.
Chu Yueyuan decided to test the Regent with this taro and yam cake to see if he would develop the same red rash as Xiao Yun after eating it.
After waiting anxiously for half an hour, the ministers who had been discussing matters in the study finally dispersed. Chu Yueyuan picked up the carved lacquer food box and walked towards the tall figure behind the screen.
Behind the rosewood desk with cloud and dragon patterns, Pei Muwei was engrossed in reviewing memorials. Hearing the woman's light footsteps, the man did not raise his eyebrows.
Chu Yueyuan was used to this. She gently put down the food box and took out three plates of pastries one by one, her voice soft:
"I heard about what happened at the palace banquet last night. I guessed that Grand Secretary Zhou and his group would seize the opportunity to make a scene for half a day. So I had the kitchen prepare some tea and snacks. Minister Pei, please rest for a while and have something to eat first."
Pei Muwei put down the memorial, looked up at the three plates of pastries on the table, and pointed to the one closest to him:
"I have never seen this tea snack before."
Chu Yueyuan smiled slightly: "This dish is taro and yam cake. The Imperial Kitchen received Lipu taro delivered by the magistrate of Minzhong County. As the saying goes, food should be eaten locally and in season, so Xu Mama and I made this dessert with fresh taro."
Pei Muwei gave a faint "hmm," and with her silver chopsticks, she reached across the white porcelain plate in front of her and picked up a piece of Longjing tea cake from another plate.
A hint of disappointment flashed in Chu Yueyuan's eyes.
Today's affairs were busy, and the debate among the officials over the damaged tribute was delayed until noon. Pei Muwei ate a few bites and then put down his silver chopsticks.
"Your Majesty, how can a few bites be enough to fill your stomach? Why not try some of the taro and yam cake I made myself?"
He raised his eyes and met the young empress dowager's concerned smile.
The woman's eyes were shaped like peach blossoms, and when she smiled, her watery eyes were like springs, gathering the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, making her exceptionally beautiful and captivating.
Pei Muwei leaned back in his armchair, his fingertips tapping the dragon-head armrest slowly and deliberately, his tone calm: "The Empress Dowager's attitude towards me today seems to be different from usual."
Chu Yueyuan's eyelashes trembled slightly, her long nails digging deeply into her palms. She smiled nonchalantly, "Oh, what's the difference?"
"In the past, the Empress Dowager would always put the leftover pastries on a plate and bestow them upon me. To allow me to taste them first today is truly unprecedented..."
The man's fingers, which were tapping on the back of the chair, suddenly stopped. His phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as he stared intently at the expression on her face, his deep black eyes seeming to see through her soul.
His voice deepened slightly: "Moreover, the Empress Dowager seems to really want me to have this tea snack."
Pei is truly cunning!
Chu Yueyuan's breathing hitched slightly. She suppressed her racing heartbeat, met the man's sharp, hawk-like gaze, furrowed her brows, and feigned displeasure:
"This dessert looks simple, but it's quite troublesome to make. You have to mash the peeled taro into a paste, sift it three times, and then knead the freshly picked whole flower petals into the flour. It took almost an hour to bake four complete pieces. I originally wanted the Regent to taste my cooking, but I never expected to get this suspicion in return, as if I wanted to poison you..."
She put aside her complaints, picked up the taro and yam cake from the plate, took a big bite, and handed the remaining half over.
"Since you enjoy eating the pastries I leave behind, then this piece will be yours as a reward."
The young empress dowager's soft, coquettish voice, tinged with a hint of coquettishness, swelled with the aroma of pastries in her mouth, her fair and delicate skin resembling sweet, soft cheese, making her look more delicious than any delicacy.
The sharpness in Pei Muwei's eyes melted away like snow in the light. He glanced down at the pastry that was almost touching his face, leaned back slightly, and said in a calm tone:
"Your Majesty, I have wronged the Empress Dowager. Please forgive me. However... I do not like to eat taro."
Chu Yueyuan was so excited she almost crushed the pastry in her hand. She leaned down, bracing herself on the edge of the table with her other hand, her eyes curving into two crescent moons. With even more patience than when coaxing Xiao Yun to take bitter medicine, she softly coaxed him:
“Pei Qing is a true man, how can he be so picky about food like a three-year-old? He only took a small bite and didn’t want to disappoint me, who was cooking for the first time.”
The taro from Lipu, which was presented as tribute from Fujian, had a rich aroma. Although the Empress Dowager added osmanthus to the pastries, the unique smell of the taro still reminded Pei Muwei of that memory.
His thin lips gradually lost their color, and his five fingers, resting on the back of the chair, clenched into a fist, with visible blue veins on the back of his hand.
Chu Yueyuan was preoccupied with how to get the Regent to eat the tea and snacks so as to verify whether he was allergic to taro, and she did not notice the subtle changes in the other party at all.
No matter how much she pleaded, the man kept his thin lips pressed tightly together and turned his head away, as if she were feeding him not tea and snacks, but poison that would rot his guts.
With the opportunity to prove Xiao Yun's father's identity so close at hand, Chu Yueyuan was unwilling to give it up.
She lowered her arm, her eyes drooping, and sighed softly, "So Pei Qing, like everyone else, sees me as an unlucky woman who brought death to her husband, and dislikes the tea and snacks I make, thinking they're cursed and will bring bad luck if I eat them..."
She didn't use honorifics, but she subtly lowered her stance, adding a touch of feminine weakness and vulnerability.
Her eyes were red-rimmed, and she gently bit her lip, as if trying her best to suppress the grievances in her heart. The tears shimmering at the corners of her eyes swayed in the sunlight, making her look as pitiful as a lotus emerging from the water.
Amidst a delicate gasp, a helpless sigh escaped from the man.
Pei Muwei raised his hand and gently wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes with his calloused hand, his voice deep and warm: "If the Empress Dowager has the ability to kill the late Emperor, it would be an auspicious omen for this humble subject."
Chu Yueyuan was amused by the words of the treacherous minister, but her eyes were still filled with tears, like pear blossoms quietly blooming after the rain.
She sniffed and asked softly, "Then...would Minister Pei like to have some tea and snacks prepared by me?"
Pei Muwei looked helpless, but his tone was unusually gentle: "After I have eaten, Your Highness must not cry anymore."
"Of course, the pastry in my hand has fallen off, so I'll get you a whole one."
"It's alright, Your Highness. I just like to scavenge Your Highness's leftovers."
Pei Muwei took half a piece of taro and yam cake from the Empress Dowager's hand. He paused just before putting it in his mouth, then looked up and saw the woman's expectant gaze. He frowned slightly, then put it in his mouth without further hesitation.
Chu Yueyuan was so happy she could hardly suppress the upward curve of her lips, but afraid of showing it too obviously in front of the man, she quickly pretended to be very concerned and asked the Regent how it tasted.
Pei Muwei picked up the teacup on the table, frowned, drank half a cup of tea, and then said in a low voice, "The Empress Dowager's cooking is exquisite, and the taste is very good."
He put down his teacup, picked up a handkerchief and slowly wiped his lips. He saw the Empress Dowager pull over a round stool and sit down at the desk. She happily picked up her silver chopsticks and began to taste the dishes she had brought one by one.
"Doesn't the Empress Dowager go back to her study next door?"
Chu Yueyuan scooped up a spoonful of fish soup and took a sip. She spoke with conviction: "Once I leave, the Regent will have to review memorials again. I just heard Grand Secretary Zhou and the others say that Minister Pei should also take a break and have lunch with me."
What a joke! If she goes back so soon, how will she be able to confirm whether the Regent has developed a rash?
Chu Yueyuan made up a random excuse so she could deliberately stay by the man's side.
The midday sun was just right. The woman's jade-like face was lightly brushed, her hair was loosely tied up, and a sandalwood harp hairpin was inserted in her hair. She wore an elegant white and green cloud skirt, without any pearls or jewels. However, her naturally beautiful face was like a pearl from the Sui Dynasty, making the whole room shine.
The young empress dowager, unusually, didn't just eat by herself, but also served him a bowl of fish soup.
Pei Muwei gazed at the tranquil and beautiful scene before him and suddenly recalled a woman who once wore simple, elegant clothes. She sat quietly by the window, the sunlight making every strand of her hair shine.
The woman's gaze towards him was always gentle, like the warm sunshine.
But when she saw the man whom everyone revered, her eyes suddenly turned cold and ruthless, as if all emotions had been stripped away, leaving only a cold shell.
So Pei Muwei also resented that man and hated every time he appeared.
"What is Pei Qing thinking about?"
Chu Yueyuan felt uncomfortable under the man's intense, dark gaze. She forced herself to drink a few spoonfuls of fish soup, and finally couldn't help but ask.
Pei Muwei lowered his eyes, his expression cold and indifferent. He scooped up a spoonful of fish soup and tasted it for a long time before saying in a low voice, "Your Majesty's appearance just now reminded me of an old friend."
Chu Yueyuan's mind stirred.
She and Chu Wanxi are sisters, and they look somewhat alike. Could the old friend that the Regent mentioned be her sister?
Just as she was wondering whether to press for an answer, the Regent changed the subject.
"Your Majesty, you have just heard the discussions among your ministers. What is your opinion on the matter of the Prince of Liang presenting flawed tribute?"
Chu Yueyuan was slightly taken aback. She usually ignored court affairs except for writing memorials.
She had no intention of getting involved in this mess, but the image of Princess Liang's sincere smile appeared in her mind, so she put down her spoon, pondered for a moment, and slowly said:
"I know very little about court politics, and I find that all the ministers' words have merit. However, during the banquet last night, when Princess Liang toasted me, she mentioned in casual conversation that Prince Liang had gone to great lengths for those two red jade tribute pieces. She said that Prince Liang had 'visited the thatched cottage three times' to persuade the renowned craftsman Zhan Nanxing, who was living in seclusion in the mountains, to come out of retirement and finally carve two exquisite masterpieces..."
"That jade-carved golden dragon was presented to the Emperor by the Prince of Liang, and the other peach-shaped bonsai was presented to me..."
She paused, then looked up at the Regent, whose expression remained impassive, and continued, "Judging from the attitude of the Prince of Liang in presenting the treasures, he clearly intended to slight Minister Pei. If that's the case, why would he tamper with the treasures presented to the Emperor and me, thus pleasing neither side..."
Liangzhou is famous for its red jade. King Liang could have presented three jade carvings, but he deliberately left out the Regent's share.
Chu Yueyuan was unaware of any past grudges between the Prince of Liang and the Regent. The Prince of Liang disliked the Regent, so he put a lot of effort into the tributes in order to elevate her and the Emperor in front of the officials, while simultaneously neglecting the Regent.
Therefore, she guessed that the damage to the tribute was not done by the King of Liang.
Otherwise, the King of Liang wouldn't have traveled all the way to the capital with the intention of offending everyone.
Pei Muwei's gaze deepened as he looked at the woman: "The Empress Dowager is insightful and discerning, even more so than the ministers who have served in the court for many years. So let's do as the Empress Dowager says and give Liang Wang lenient punishment for damaging the tribute."
“Minister Pei is a man of deep thought and foresight. He must have seen through this long ago. He is simply doing me a favor.” Chu Yueyuan smiled. Knowing that the Regent would not punish the Prince of Liang, her mood improved, and she scooped up a spoonful of fish soup and put it in her mouth.
"Your Highness, it seems you understand me very well?"
Dealing with a regent like him, who has eight hundred schemes in his mind, is truly exhausting.
Chu Yueyuan put down her silver chopsticks, looked at him with a smile, her watery eyes shimmering with innocence: "I trust Pei Qing because I know him well."
Pei Muwei stared at the woman's beautiful face, his phoenix eyes curving slightly: "Then this humble subject will certainly not fail the Empress Dowager's trust."
After the emperor and his minister had finished their tea and snacks, the palace servants removed the porcelain plates and served two cups of clear tea.
Pei Muwei buried himself in reading the first batch of memorials, while Chu Yueyuan pointed out the window and remarked that the sunlight here was better than in her study, and continued to shamelessly linger by the desk.
She selected a book of poetry from the rosewood bookshelf, leaned against the sandalwood screen depicting the four seasons, casually flipped through a couple of pages, and then her gaze gradually moved past the spine of the book, quietly glancing at the regent who was bent over his desk.
The last time Xiao Yun accidentally ate taro, he cried out that his body was itchy in less than fifteen minutes. Small red rashes quickly appeared on his arms, and he couldn't stop scratching them. He only felt better after taking the decoction prepared by Imperial Physician Zhao.
Why did the Regent show no sign of discomfort even after half an hour had passed?
Could it be because the Regent is... more tolerant?
Sunlight streamed through the window onto the man's broad shoulders. He wore a purple robe and a jade crown, exuding a composed and dignified air. The lifelike four-clawed dragon on his brocade robe shone brightly in the sunlight, as if it were about to leap from his shoulders and transform into a five-clawed golden dragon, a symbol of supreme power.
Holding the book, Chu Yueyuan stared blankly at the man's handsome features, straight nose, and abstinent lips. Perhaps it was preconceived notions, but the more she looked, the more she felt that the man's features resembled Xiao Yun's, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Until the man turned his head, his dark eyes quietly looking at her, his brows slightly furrowed, his deep voice like a fine wine aged for many years, sending chills down her spine the moment he spoke:
"Why is the Empress Dowager staring at me?"
Caught red-handed, Chu Yueyuan's snow-white ears, hidden beneath her cloud-like hair, quickly flushed crimson. She coughed lightly and shook the book in her hand, saying:
"Ahem, this book, 'The Water of Longtou,' describes 'Fallen leaves fly over Longshan, wild geese fly across the cold sky...' I've never left the capital, and I couldn't help but imagine the towering Longshan Mountains and the murmuring Long River, and for a moment I drifted off into thought..."
Pei Muwei stared at her small face, which was as white as the morning sun, and said in a calm voice, "There is a beacon tower in the territory of Beiting. From the top, you can see the entire Longshan landscape. Once the Canglang people are driven out of Kunlun Mountain and the Northwest is completely settled, the Empress Dowager can go to Beiting to enjoy the scenery."
Chu Yueyuan had wondered how the Regent would treat her and Xiao Yun after he became emperor.
Will they be sent to a desolate and lonely imperial mausoleum to waste their remaining years, or will they be sent to a beautiful and secluded palace to live out their old age in peace and tranquility?
Or they could be sent to the Northern Court, where horses' hooves would freeze and crack, geese would be shot to stave off hunger, and ice would be used to quench thirst, and thus imprisoned for life.
Chu Yueyuan's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. At this moment, she desperately hoped that the Regent was Xiao Yun's biological father, so that the two of them could avoid the fate of dying in Beiting.
The man sat calmly in the armchair, his face as handsome as jade, his posture elegant. His wide, cloud-patterned sleeves hung down to the edge of the rosewood table, and his long, slender hand holding the brush was perfectly poised. He didn't even put down the wolf-hair brush between his fingers, let alone scratch an itch.
"I was just speaking casually, Minister Pei need not take it to heart. How could a weak woman like me endure the terrible weather of snow falling in June in the Northern Court..."
As Chu Yueyuan spoke, she picked up the green pomelo teacup, lowered her eyes, and blew away the steam from the tea, concealing the panic in her eyes.
As she put down the teacup, her wrist suddenly tilted, and the scalding tea that had overflowed from the rim spilled precisely onto the Regent's cloud-patterned cuff.
"Oh dear, I didn't mean to. Did I burn Minister Pei?"
She hurriedly put down her teacup, her eyes filled with concern, and without a word, she grabbed the Regent's arm and quickly rolled up his sleeve.
The man's forearm muscles are strong and powerful, and the perfect lines exude masculinity.
Chu Yueyuan had no time to appreciate it. When she saw the smooth texture of the other man's forearm, she stared wide-eyed in disbelief. She quickly pushed the man's sleeve up a little higher and reluctantly touched it all with her hand.
"If Your Highness continues to pull, I will have no choice but to take off my clothes."
When the man's calm voice rang in her ears, Chu Yueyuan felt as if she had been struck by lightning, and froze on the spot.
The afternoon sunlight was exceptionally bright, and tiny dust particles floated gently in the air inside the room. Outside the window, cicadas chirped loudly, making the study completely silent.
The emperor and his minister sat and stood, the minister's clothes were disheveled, and the wide sleeve with cloud patterns on his left hand was almost rolled up to his shoulder, while the gentleman's delicate hand still held tightly to the other's strong arm.
Their eyes met. The man's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, deep and dark, while the woman's blush deepened, becoming a vibrant, almost dripping red.
Chu Yueyuan felt the skin under her palm was very hot. It was as if she was holding a red-hot iron lump. Holding it was too hot to handle, and she was afraid of dropping it and hitting her own foot.
Her throat tightened, and her words betrayed a hint of guilt: "I was afraid of burning Minister Pei, and in my concern, I lost my composure..."
The man stared at her thoughtfully, his thin lips slightly parted; "Your Majesty, I thank you for your concern."
Chu Yueyuan suppressed her doubts and pretended to be calm. She took out a silk handkerchief to wipe the tea off the Regent's hand and then pulled down the sleeve that was rolled up to his shoulder and smoothed it out.
With a sigh, she said reluctantly, "I have troubled you for so long, my dear minister. I should go to my study to affix my phoenix seal now."
Turning to leave, she suddenly felt a tightness in her wrist, and Chu Yueyuan was pulled back a few steps, falling into the man's arms, which were filled with the scent of sandalwood.
She looked up and met those unfathomable, deep, dark eyes, as if she had fallen into an unfathomable, icy pool.
"Your Highness, please wait a moment."
With a sudden weight on her shoulders, she was pressed down into a rosewood armchair by the Regent. Then, the Regent lifted her sleeves, revealing a section of her snow-white forearm.
Chu Yueyuan: ....
The Regent is vindictive; does he think I just deliberately teased him and now wants to retaliate in kind?
So be it. It's just an arm. She can give it up so that she won't be sent to the Northern Court by the Regent to suffer in the future.
Chu Yueyuan closed her eyes in shame and indignation, noticing that her rolled-up sleeves stopped at her elbows, and then she felt a coolness on her skin.
She opened her eyes and saw a white porcelain jar in the man's hand, containing a transparent ointment.
Pei Muwei used his long fingers to scoop out a piece of ointment and applied it to her forearm.
Chu Yueyuan then noticed a red mark on her forearm from the scalding tea. She felt a burning pain and gasped, biting her lip tightly.
Pei Muwei lowered his eyes and said in a light tone, "Your Majesty, please bear with it. The weather has been hot and humid lately. If the wound is not treated in time, it will easily become infected and fester."
The young empress dowager's skin was too delicate, and the scalded skin quickly became red and swollen. As the transparent ointment slowly melted, it was like snowflakes melting on jade, making her fair skin even more crystal clear.
Noticing her pain, Pei Muwei softened his fingertips.
Chu Yueyuan looked at the Regent's focused profile. In the past, it was always the tall and upright man who looked down at her, but now he was kneeling beside her, finally showing some of the demeanor of a virtuous minister.
"The Empress Dowager didn't shed a tear even when she burned her arm, but she burst into tears because I refused to taste the tea and snacks... I really can't understand her..."
Pei Muwei lowered his head, gently blowing on her flushed skin, his voice clear and cold: "Is Your Highness... hiding something from me?"
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