Chapter 65 May I Hold You When We Leave the Palace?
"Your Majesty, my surname is Pei."
Pei Ji replied, maintaining his bow, his gaze fixed on the reflection of the palace lanterns on the ground.
From above came Empress Dowager Chu's emotionless voice: "The Pei family of Hedong?"
Pei Ji replied, "I come from Dongqing County, Laizhou. My ancestors for three generations have always been a family of farmers and scholars. I dare not presume to associate myself with the Pei family of Hedong."
He answered frankly, revealing his humble origins. As soon as he finished speaking, several gazes in the hall fell upon him, each with a different expression—some gloating, some sympathetic, and some simply curious.
Empress Dowager Chu did not respond immediately.
This silence was even more unsettling than the scrutiny that had just been directed at him. Pei Ji could feel that gaze still lingering on him, carrying a meaning he couldn't quite fathom. The music had ceased sometime earlier, and in the vast Qionglin Garden, only the occasional crackling of palace lanterns and candlelight remained.
Just as Pei Ji's heart was beginning to tighten, Empress Dowager Chu's voice rang out again:
"Come forward a little."
Four words, spoken lightly, yet they caused Pei Ji's breath to catch in his throat almost imperceptibly.
He stepped forward—close enough for the Empress Dowager to see every subtle feature of his face.
Pei Ji quickly responded, "Your subject obeys the decree."
He straightened up and took a step forward.
His movements were graceful and his steps steady; the scarlet robe of a scholar seeking the imperial examination gleamed softly under the palace lanterns.
One step, two steps—the distance between him and the Empress Dowager's throne closed, and her face gradually became clearer in his eyes, the expression in her eyes becoming more distinct.
It was a profound depth, refined by power and the passage of time. Fine lines creased the corners of his eyes, yet they did not reveal his age; instead, they added to his imposing presence. At this moment, those eyes were quietly watching him approach, their gaze as deep and unfathomable as an ancient well.
Three steps, four steps—
Just as Pei Ji was about to reach a position three steps in front of the imperial steps, a position where he could hear the conversation clearly but would not be too presumptuous, a series of hurried but deliberately light footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall.
A middle-aged eunuch dressed in a dark blue palace attendant's robe, with a fair complexion and no beard, hurriedly entered. Without looking to the side, he walked straight to the Empress Dowager's throne, leaned down, and whispered a few words in her ear.
Pei Ji stopped in time, still maintaining a respectful posture with his head bowed.
Yu Guangzhong noticed that Empress Dowager Chu's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly for a moment before relaxing again.
After a moment, Empress Dowager Chu raised her hand, and the eunuch bowed and stepped aside.
She slowly stood up, her wide sleeves cascading down. Her gaze swept over the silent crowd below, finally landing on Pei Ji, but lingered for only a moment before moving away.
"Today, at this grand banquet, I am deeply gratified to see all of you pillars of the nation," Empress Dowager Chu's voice rang out again, regaining its former haughty yet gentle tone. She raised the golden cup before her to her chest, "This cup is to toast you all for your years of diligent study and success in the imperial examinations. May you all diligently serve the country in the future, living up to the emperor's favor and the people's expectations."
The scholars immediately raised their cups and said in unison, "We will humbly obey the Empress Dowager's teachings!"
Empress Dowager Chu downed the wine in her cup in one gulp. After setting down the cup, she offered a few words of encouragement, her words tactful yet firm, praising the talents of the newly appointed scholars while reminding them of their duties as ministers. Having finished speaking, she looked at the young emperor on his throne and nodded slightly: "Your Majesty, please treat these newly appointed scholars well. I am somewhat tired and will return to the palace now."
The young emperor immediately stood up, his face showing just the right amount of concern: "Your Majesty's health is of utmost importance. Your son respectfully sees Your Majesty off."
Empress Dowager Chu said no more. Surrounded by palace maids and attendants, she turned and slowly left through the side door of the rear hall. Her ochre-red palace dress gradually disappeared behind the layers of curtains, leaving only a faint scent of ambergris in the air.
Pei Ji returned to his original position, his lowered eyelashes concealing the fleeting thought in his eyes.
Was the Empress Dowager's sudden departure due to the message delivered by the eunuch, or... did she already see what she wanted to see?
After the Empress Dowager left, the atmosphere at the Qionglin Banquet became noticeably more relaxed. The young emperor resumed his duties, and while he still maintained his imperial dignity, he was more approachable than before. He would occasionally exchange a few words with the scholars nearby, and sometimes raise a cup to drink with everyone, which could be considered a harmonious relationship between ruler and subject.
During the banquet, Pei Ji could feel eyes on him from time to time, but he remained calm and composed. He raised his cup when appropriate and responded when necessary, his demeanor composed and proper, showing none of the awkwardness of a poor scholar entering such an occasion for the first time, nor the arrogance of a newly appointed scholar who had suddenly received honors. This composure, on the contrary, made some people who were secretly observing him think more highly of him.
The banquet lasted until late afternoon. After expressing their gratitude to the emperor, the scholars left Qionglin Garden in turn.
Pei Ji walked slowly with the crowd, but his mind was filled with thoughts of the day.
Just as he was pondering, a young eunuch dressed in a light scarlet eunuch's robe, with a fair face and no beard, quietly walked to his side and whispered, "Scholar Pei, His Majesty invites you to come with me to the Zhangde Hall."
Pei Ji paused slightly, glancing sideways, and recognized He Zhu, one of the young emperor's close attendants. His expression remained unchanged, only a slight nod: "Thank you for leading the way, sir."
He Zhu gestured for Pei Ji to enter, leading him down a quieter palace path. The two walked slowly, one in front of the other, and along the way, they encountered several patrolling imperial guards and palace servants, all of whom bowed their heads and gave way.
Zhangde Hall is located on the east side of the palace and was where the young emperor reviewed memorials and received his close ministers. The courtyard in front of the hall is spacious and planted with several cypress trees.
He Zhu stopped outside the palace gate and bowed, saying, "Pei Tanhua, please wait a moment while I inform him."
Before long, the young emperor's clear voice came from inside the hall: "Summon him."
Pei Ji stepped into the hall. The furnishings of Zhangde Hall were simple yet solemn. Facing him was a huge rosewood imperial desk, on which memorials and documents were neatly stacked, with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones arranged in an orderly fashion. On both sides, bookshelves reached the ceiling, displaying various classics, histories, philosophical works, and literary collections.
The young emperor was not seated behind his imperial desk, but rather standing before a painting table by the west window, holding a fine brush and intently sketching something. Hearing footsteps, he did not look up, but simply said, "Minister Pei has arrived? Come and see my painting."
Pei Ji followed his instructions and stopped three steps away from the painting table, his gaze falling on the Xuan paper.
It is a painting of plum blossoms in winter.
Several old plum branches extend diagonally from the lower left corner of the painting, their gnarled trunks as strong as iron. The ink, varying in shades, perfectly captures the plum tree's weathered strength and resilience. The plum blossoms on the branches are in various stages of bloom—some budding, some just beginning to open, and some in full bloom—touched with very light vermilion, lending a vibrant, crisp life to the otherwise dark ink. In the upper right corner, two lines of poetry are inscribed: "Her icy beauty fears not the frost and snow, ashamed to be near jade towers or ancient peaks."
His painting skills are mature and his artistic style is elegant; it is not something that can be achieved overnight.
After reading it, Pei Ji said, "Your Majesty's brushwork is vigorous and the ink is vivid. The plum branches are like iron, showing integrity; the plum blossoms are like jade, showing elegance."
Upon hearing this, the young emperor finally put down his pen and looked up at Pei Ji. In the candlelight, the young emperor's face lacked some of the solemnity of the daytime, but had more of the vibrant energy that belonged to his age. He smiled slightly, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes: "Pei, the third-ranked scholar, truly lives up to his title. His critique of paintings is like his critique of literature, and his character is like his writing, every word a gem."
These words sounded like a compliment, and the tone was gentle, but Pei Ji could sense a test. He immediately took a step back, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I have presumptuously commented on the imperial edict, and my words were inappropriate. Please forgive me."
"Hey—" The young emperor waved his hand, walked around the painting table and personally helped you up. "I was just joking with you, why be so formal? Get up."
Pei Ji straightened up.
This young emperor, who was composed and dignified at the Qionglin Banquet during the day, revealed a bit of casualness in private, making him hard to fathom.
The young emperor returned to his desk and sat down, gesturing for Pei Ji to sit as well. After the palace servants served tea and refreshments and withdrew, he spoke again, his tone casual, as if chatting about everyday matters: "Does Minister Pei have any calligraphy?"
"Your Majesty, my teacher once gave me the courtesy name 'Guanzhen'."
“Guanzhen…” the young emperor repeated softly, tapping his fingertips lightly on the imperial desk. “Observe the auspicious signs of heaven and earth, and examine the fortunes and misfortunes of human affairs. Fine calligraphy. Since a teacher has already bestowed a calligraphy upon you, I will not overstep my bounds.”
He picked up his teacup, lifted the lid, and gently brushed away the tea foam, seemingly asking casually, "Who else is in your family? Are your parents well?"
Pei Ji answered each question in detail, recounting his prepared explanation: "I am from Dongqing County, Laizhou, and both my parents were commoners."
The young emperor listened attentively, nodding occasionally, and finally sighed, "It is all the more difficult for a noble son to emerge from a humble family. Pei Qing's success today is not only due to his own diligence, but also undoubtedly to the guidance of his teachers. May I ask which great Confucian scholar he studied under?"
Pei Ji remained calm and replied, "I was educated in a village school, and later received guidance on the classics and essays from Master Chen, the headmaster of Shanqing Academy. Master Chen's name was Shangming Xiade, and he was a Juren (successful candidate in the imperial examination) in the eighteenth year of Jinghe. He was very learned."
The young emperor seemed to have asked casually, and after hearing the answer, he did not delve further. Instead, he said, "The official documents for this year's Jinshi graduates will be issued in the next few days. According to custom, the top three in the first rank will all enter the Hanlin Academy. However—" He paused, looked at Pei Ji, "I have an idea, and I would like to hear your opinion first."
Pei Ji felt a chill run down his spine, and his expression became even more respectful: "Your Majesty, please speak."
"The national history has been neglected since the late reign of the late emperor, and more than ten years have passed since then. Historical materials are piling up and urgently need to be organized and compiled," the young emperor said slowly. "I intend to reopen the National History Bureau and select talented scholars to enter the bureau to compile history. Your writing skills are solid and your insights are remarkable. After you are appointed to an official position, you can train under Scholar Qi. What do you think?"
Scholar Qi—Qi Shen, a Hanlin Academy Reader, a fifth-rank official. Pei Ji remembered this man; more importantly, this man was a protégé of Prime Minister Zheng.
He instantly realized that the young emperor was trying to win him over, using Zheng Xiang's protégé to bring him into the court.
This arrangement shows great care and consideration.
Pei Ji immediately stood up and said, "Your Majesty has not abandoned me, and I will do my utmost to repay your kindness."
"Good, good." The young emperor looked satisfied and gestured for him to rise. "Compiling the national history may seem tedious, but it can temper one's character. I hope you will not disappoint me."
"Your subject will remember this."
Pei Ji bowed again and slowly withdrew from the hall. Just as he was about to turn and leave, the young emperor's voice suddenly came from behind him, still casual in tone, but asking a question that made Pei Ji pause slightly:
"Is Pei Qing ever married?"
Pei Ji turned around, bowed his head, and replied, "Your Majesty, I am not yet married, but my elders have already arranged a marriage for me."
The young emperor gave an "Oh," seemingly casually asking, "A marriage arranged? Which family's daughter is she?"
“He is from the same hometown as me, surnamed Yu. His family runs a food shop and is a respectable family.”
The young emperor nodded, not pressing further, and simply said, "I understand. You may leave now."
"Your subject takes his leave."
As Pei Ji was leaving Zhangde Hall, he encountered a eunuch carrying a food box entering. The food box was an ordinary vermilion lacquered box, nothing special, but Pei Ji remembered the eunuch's face—it was the same eunuch who had just entered at the banquet.
The two brushed past each other outside the palace gate. Eunuch Geng kept his eyes straight ahead, while Pei Ji also lowered his head to avoid him. In the instant they passed each other, Pei Ji caught a faint aroma of medicinal food wafting from the food box.
Inside the palace, the young emperor was carefully rolling up the plum blossom painting he had just seen and tying it with a silk ribbon. Seeing Eunuch Geng enter, he feigned surprise: "Eunuch Geng, what brings you here? Does the Empress Dowager have any instructions?"
The eunuch Geng presented the food box and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty. The Empress Dowager was worried that Your Majesty was too busy with social engagements at the Qionglin Banquet during the day and did not have a proper meal, so she specially ordered the kitchen to prepare a bowl of bird's nest and poria cocos soup and sent it to me. Please eat it while it's hot."
The young emperor gestured for He Zhu to take the food box, and then personally opened the lid. A warm, fragrant aroma immediately filled the air. The soup in the cup was crystal clear, the bird's nest strands were distinct, and the poria cocos was sliced thinly—it was clear that it had been prepared with care.
He picked up the jade spoon, took a sip, and nodded, saying, "It tastes just like before. The Empress Dowager always thinks of me." He then looked at Eunuch Geng and asked with concern, "Is the Empress Dowager feeling any better? I saw that she still looked a little tired at the Qionglin Banquet today, and I was very uneasy."
The eunuch Geng respectfully replied, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. The Empress has taken the prescription given by the imperial physician and is much better. However, the physician advised that she still needs to rest for some time." After a pause, he added, "Your Majesty would also like to add one more thing: Your Majesty's diligence in governing and love for the people is a blessing to all. However, no matter how busy you are with state affairs, you should prioritize your health. I hope Your Majesty will take good care of yourself."
Upon hearing this, the young emperor was moved and said, "I will always remember the Empress's kindness. Please tell the Empress that I will take care of myself. I also ask that the Empress take good care of her health."
"This servant obeys the order."
The eunuch Geng bowed and took his leave, then slowly and quietly exited the palace.
The young emperor slowly stirred the soup with the jade spoon in his hand, the expression of emotion on his face gradually fading until it returned to calm. He put down the spoon, his gaze fixed on the food box, remaining motionless for a long time.
He Zhu stood by, holding his breath and bowing his head, not daring to make the slightest sound.
After an unknown amount of time, a very soft knock came from outside the palace door. The young emperor looked up: "Enter."
A eunuch dressed in ordinary palace attendant's robes, with an unremarkable face that would be easily lost in a crowd, entered silently and presented an unsealed letter with both hands.
The young emperor did not take it, but simply said, "Nian."
The eunuch unfolded the letter, his voice flat and emotionless, as if reciting scriptures: "At three quarters past 9:00 AM, a lady-in-waiting from the Empress Dowager's palace delivered a secret letter to Scholar Liu's residence. Scholar Liu read it and burned it, but I managed to discern some characters in the ashes: 'Pei,' 'Wai,' 'Jing,' and 'Zhou.'"
These few words contain an astonishing amount of information.
Scholar Liu—Liu Wenyuan, Vice Minister of Rites, and one of the Empress Dowager's confidants in court. The Empress Dowager sent him a secret letter mentioning "Pei," naturally referring to Pei Ji. "Exile," "Jingzhou"—was this an invitation to send this newly appointed third-ranked scholar to Jingzhou, far from the capital?
According to the custom of our dynasty, the top three scholars in the first rank of the imperial examination were never directly appointed to outside the capital; they were all kept in the capital and entered the Hanlin Academy to be trained as close advisors to the emperor. The Empress Dowager's move has broken this century-old rule.
The hall fell into a deathly silence.
The young emperor remained seated behind his desk, his fingers unconsciously stroking the handle of the jade spoon, his gaze unfathomable. After a long while, he suddenly threw the spoon back into the bowl with a loud clatter. The sound was not loud, but it made He Zhu, who was standing to the side, tremble.
"Withdraw." The young emperor's voice was devoid of emotion.
He Zhu hurriedly stepped forward and carefully carried away the food box along with the bowl of bird's nest and poria cocos soup that had only been touched once.
Only the young emperor and the ordinary-looking eunuch remained in the hall.
The candlelight flickered, casting shifting shadows on the young emperor's face. He unfolded the painting of plum blossoms again, his gaze lingering on the line "Ashamed to be near the jade tower and ancient peaks," unmoved for a long time.
"Since the founding of the dynasty by Emperor Taizu, there has never been a precedent of a top-ranking scholar being sent to a remote region without being granted an official position." The young emperor suddenly spoke, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable chill. "A third-ranking scholar being sent to a prefecture or county?"
The eunuch lowered his head and remained silent, like a clay or wooden sculpture.
The young emperor's fingertips lightly traced the scroll, finally stopping at the two characters "Gu Cen". He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, his eyes were clear and resolute.
"Issue my imperial decree," his voice became steady, restoring the emperor's majesty, "Liu Wenyuan has been diligent in his duties to the king and has made great contributions. His son, Liu Changnian, has come of age and is talented and learned. He is to be appointed as the chief clerk of the Yongzhou governor's office and shall take up his post immediately."
Yongzhou is not as remote as Jingzhou; it is very close to the capital.
The position of Registrar of the Prefectural Governor's Office of Yongzhou—a seventh-rank official—may seem low, but it is a powerful position. More importantly, it was a position that the Empress Dowager's faction might have originally wanted to secure for their own nephews and nieces.
In exchange for Liu Chang's lucrative post in the capital, Pei Ji was allowed to stay in the capital and enter the Hanlin Academy.
The eunuch kept his head bowed, memorizing every word, and then bowed again: "This servant obeys the decree."
"Go."
The eunuch withdrew silently, just as he had arrived.
Silence returned to the palace. The young emperor sat alone behind his desk, his gaze once again falling on the painting of plum blossoms in the winter. The plum blossoms in the painting braved the snow and frost, their branches gnarled and strong, as if one could feel their indomitable vitality through the paper.
He looked at it for a long time, and finally slowly rolled up the scroll, carefully tied it with a ribbon, and put it into the painting jar next to him.
...
When Pei Ji walked out of the palace gate, it was already completely dark. Gu Qiu, who had returned from afar, was leading a carriage outside the palace gate and called out, "Your Majesty."
Once the master was on the carriage, he turned the horse around.
Pei Ji leaned against the carriage wall, closed his eyes, and the events of the day flashed through his mind.
The Empress Dowager's scrutiny, the young emperor's recruitment, Prime Minister Zheng's favor, and all those overt and covert glances...
As the carriage passed through the night market, Pei Ji asked Gu Qiu to stop for a moment. He lifted the curtain and stepped out, following the familiar sweet aroma to a roasted chestnut stall. Black sand and chestnuts tumbled and collided in the iron pot, crackling softly, and the steam mixed with the aroma of caramel wafted over.
"I'll take a pack, fresh out of the pan," he said.
The stall owner quickly wrapped the chestnuts in an oil paper bag and handed it to him. The chestnuts were piping hot, and he could feel their warmth even through the paper bag. Pei Ji paid, got back into the carriage, and carefully placed the warm bag of chestnuts beside him.
When he returned to the house, he noticed something different. Two more lanterns hung under the eaves of the gate, illuminating the stone steps in front of the door. Pushing open the door, he saw that the lights under the front porch were also on, casting the shadows of the newly planted flowers and trees onto the white wall, swaying gently.
A familiar figure was reflected in the paper window of the main room, head slightly bowed.
Pei Ji tiptoed to the door and pushed it open. Yu Man was sitting on the couch by the window, holding a letter in her hand, reading it carefully by candlelight. Hearing the noise, she looked up, her eyes sparkling in the candlelight.
"You're back?" She put down the letter, her gaze falling on the oil paper package in his hand, her nose twitching slightly. "Roasted chestnuts?"
"I bought some chestnuts because I smelled the aroma while passing by the night market." Pei Ji walked to the edge of the couch, sat down, placed the chestnuts on the small table, and began to untie the rope. The oil paper was spread out, and the heat mixed with the sweet fragrance immediately filled the air.
He took one out, and with a slight pressure from his fingertips, the shell cracked open, revealing the plump, golden flesh. He carefully peeled it clean and handed it to her.
Yu Man took it, put it in her mouth and chewed, her eyes crinkling into a smile: "Sweet."
Pei Ji continued peeling the second chestnut, his movements unhurried and deliberate. Chestnuts cool down easily after being peeled and left to cool, losing their warm, soft, and sweet flavor, so he always peeled two and handed them to him.
"Is this a letter from Uncle Yu?" he asked as he peeled the paper.
"Hmm." Yu Man ate another chestnut before saying, "Father said the food shop's profits this month are good, up 10% from last month. Madam Xue has brewed several kinds of fruit wine, saying that I can open the jars as soon as I get back." As she spoke, a smile appeared in her eyes.
Pei Ji smiled slightly and handed over another peeled chestnut.
Yu Man took it, but didn't eat it immediately. She suddenly moved closer, stopping only half a foot away from him, and took a light sniff.
“You drank a lot tonight,” she said softly.
Pei Ji paused.
Indeed, although she didn't drink much at the banquet, she still picked up quite a bit while toasting others. On the way back, the wind dispersed most of the smell of alcohol, but she still managed to smell it.
"I'm going to take a shower." He put down the chestnuts in his hand and prepared to get up.
But her wrist was gently pulled.
Yu Man didn't let go, but instead moved closer, then looked up at him: "...Actually, it smells quite nice. There's the scent of ink, and... um, like osmanthus wine?"
Pei Ji looked at her face so close to his, her warm breath brushing against his chin, carrying the sweet scent of roasted chestnuts.
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he called out softly, "Xiaoman."
"Hmm?" Yu Man responded, still not backing away.
Pei Ji asked, "May I hold you?"
Yu Man blinked.
He wondered if this trip to the palace would damage his self-esteem.
Without waiting for her reply, Pei Ji reached out and gently pulled her into his arms.
His movements were initially restrained, his arms only loosely encircling her. But the next moment, feeling her lean against his chest, that restraint receded like a tide. He tightened his arms, holding her firmly, his chin resting on the top of her head.
Yu Man could smell the lingering scent of alcohol on him, mixed with his own clean and refreshing aura, as well as the incense from the palace banquet.
She didn't move, letting him hold her, and gently patted his back.
The wind outside the window rustled softly through the flowers and trees in the courtyard.
After a long while, Pei Ji loosened his grip slightly, but still held her close. He lowered his head, his lips almost touching her ear, his voice so low that only she could hear:
"Today the Empress Dowager asked me what my surname is."
Yu Man suddenly lifted her face from his arms.
Facing the big boss head-on, that's definitely a bit scary.
Pei Ji continued, "Then he asked if I was from the Pei family of Hedong." He paused, "I replied that I was from a poor family in Laizhou and had nothing to do with the Pei family."
Yu Man listened carefully.
"She told me to come forward."
Yu Man grabbed his sleeve: "Then she..."
“I didn’t recognize her.” Pei Ji took her hand in the process. “Or rather, even if I had some suspicions, I didn’t react on the spot.”
Yu Man breathed a sigh of relief, but then frowned: "After that..."
"The young emperor kept me here," Pei Ji said, "and allowed me to follow Zheng Xiang's students." He briefly recounted the events that followed the Qionglin Banquet.
After listening, Yu Man said, "So now, you're on the Young Emperor's side?"
Pei Ji looked down at her, a slight smile playing on his lips: "That's what others see."
Yu Man understood; he would stand alone on one side!
She stuffed the uneaten chestnuts into his mouth, saying, "Eat more, my esteemed scholar, you're one step closer to becoming prime minister."
Pei Ji looked at her and suddenly said, "I am only the third-ranked scholar."
Yu Man: "...So"
Pei Ji: "Not the top scholar." He was afraid of disappointing her.
Yu Man: "..." If she didn't know this person well, she would really suspect that he was faking it!
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