Chapter 144

 

By the window of the bedroom’s flower hall, a small cradle had been placed. In it lay a tiny child, energetically waving his chubby little arms and kicking his legs, as if trying to roll over and sit up on his own. But it was easier said than done—his clothes were bundled too thickly, and each attempt fell just a little short. As he moved, a string of small golden bells tied around his ankles made a clear and pleasant tinkling sound.

Perhaps from the effort, a fine layer of sweat began to form on the tip of his small nose. He paid no mind to the maids who surrounded him, doing nothing more than trying to coax a smile. Holding his breath, he summoned all his infant strength, and finally, he managed to flip himself over.

He chuckled with delight, and laid on his belly, working hard to lift his head and continuing to kick his little legs. He was nearly upright, just about to push himself into a crawl, when one of the maids, worried he might tire himself out, reached over and flipped him back. He lay back on his back again.

He finally couldn’t help it, got angry, pursed his lips, and cried out loudly in grievance.

“Oh! The young master is crying! What’s the matter?”

The maids, unlike Zhu’er who had followed into the palace and often tended to the young master, rarely had the chance to see the child. Today, seizing the rare opportunity, they had all gathered around him. But unexpectedly, the little one suddenly began to cry and fuss, leaving them flustered and unsure of what to do. They were about to call He shi when they heard footsteps behind them. The maids turned around and saw that it was the master who had come. His clothes weren’t even properly fastened in his haste. The maids quickly bowed their heads and stepped aside to make way.

Pei Xiaoyuan rushed to the cradle and grasped the railing with both hands, leaning over to peer inside. In that instant when the child’s little face came into view, something within his heart quivered—as if a taut bowstring had been gently plucked.

He gazed at the crying child for a long moment, eyes fixed, unmoving. Then cautiously he reached out his hand and gently stroked the child’s face, which was so tender that even fine hairs could be seen under the window’s light.

But the instant his callused palm made contact, he froze. He quickly withdrew his hand, afraid that the rough skin and hardened calluses might have scratched or hurt the child’s tender skin.

Unexpectedly, the crying Xiao Hu’er stopped.

It was the first time for him to experience such a rough, warm and dry touch. He sobbed and opened his tearful eyes, looking curiously at the stranger leaning over his head.

Just like his mother’s nickname for him, he was not only big and strong, but also had strong hands and was very brave. He was not afraid of the stranger who suddenly appeared from nowhere. After looking at this person for a while, he forgot to cry. Maybe it was because of the innate blood connection, or maybe he just liked this person. He giggled again, waved his two little hands at him, and kicked his legs again and again.

Pei Xiaoyuan stared at the boy’s round eyes with long eyelashes. Because there were tears in his eyes, his two black grape-like pupils looked even brighter, like shining black gems.

These eyes enabled him to find her shadow immediately.

This was not a dream, it was real. The child smiling at him was the child he and she had together.

His heart softened instantly. Without any hesitation, he reached out and picked up his son from the bed. Then, he lifted him up high above his head.

At first, Xiao Hu’er trembled in surprise in his father’s hands, and then he seemed to feel the fun and laughed even louder.

Listening to the purest and most innocent laughter in the world, Pei Xiaoyuan’s eyes suddenly felt warm. He hugged the precious little child tightly to his chest again, pressing his face against the baby’s soft hands and legs. With eyes closed, he breathed in the faint milky scent that lingered on the child’s skin. After a moment, he opened his eyes and turned to look at the person standing behind him.

He shi was standing outside the door, watching him and his son meet for the first time.

The maids had quietly left. The room was quiet, with only him and the babbling Xiao Hu’er in his arms.

He glanced behind He shi, but it was deserted, with no other figure around.

He suppressed the feeling of loss that was rising in his heart and called out “Amu”.

He shi walked quickly inside, came in front of him, and shook his arm. Her eyes turned slightly red. Then she turned her face away and quickly wiped the corners of her eyes. When she turned back again, her face was full of joyful smiles.

“The Princess didn’t think I was useless. She took me into the palace and allowed me to help take care of the young master. This morning, she suddenly told me that you had returned and were at home, and asked me to bring Xiao Hu’er home to spend a few days with you.”

Pei Xiaoyuan was silent for a while, then smiled and said, “Thank you for your hard work, Amu. Let me take care of Xiao Hu’er today.”

During the day, he and his son really got along very well. The little guy seemed to like him very much and was brimming with endless energy, crawling all over him. The bedroom was filled with happy babbling. But the good times didn’t last long. As night fell and darkness crept in, things began to take a turn.

The little guy no longer cares for Pei Xiaoyuan, and he started crying again. No matter how He shi and the wet nurse who came with them from the palace tried to comfort him, he would not calm down. Pei Xiaoyuan was helpless.

He shi explained: “Although the Princess is busy, she will always sleep with the young master every night. He’s likely tired now, and not seeing her beside him is why he won’t stop crying.”

Pei Xiaoyuan paused, glanced at his son crying his heart out on the bed, and a vision of her—perhaps at this very moment, aching with worry as well—flashed through his mind. He immediately said, “Don’t mind me. In that case, Amu, take him back to the palace now.”

He paused.

“I’ll take you back.”

He shi nodded, turned around and hurriedly asked people to pack things and dress the child. She carried him onto the palace carriage, while Pei Xiaoyuan rode alongside on horseback, escorting them all the way to a side gate used for nighttime entries into the palace.

But in just over a year, many things had changed in Chang’an. The guard at the gate was a new face—likely appointed after Pei Xiaoyuan had left—and didn’t recognize him. Assuming he was merely an escort for He shi, the guard stepped forward and respectfully said, “There is a standing order in the palace—without official registry, no one may enter without a summons. If Master has a fish talisman, please show it to this humble official.”

He shi heard it and turned around and said, “He is—”

“Amu!” Pei Xiaoyuan interrupted He shi’s words.

He stopped outside the palace gate, glanced at the shadow of continuous palace towers in the dark night inside the gate, and said, “I’ve sent you till here. Amu, please go in quickly. It’s still a bit windy at night.”

He shi glanced at him, sighed secretly, and said no more. She hugged the child tightly in her arms and walked quickly inside under the escort of a group of people.

Pei Xiaoyuan watched her and her group disappear on the palace road, then stood alone outside the palace gate for a moment. Just as he was about to turn around and leave, another team of patrolling palace guards came over. The team leader was an officer under the Jinwu Guard. When he saw him, he showed surprise.

“General Pei! Prince Consort Pei!”

He shouted, ran up to him quickly, and bowed his head.

“When did Prince Consort return? Just yesterday, at the banquet, the brothers were still enthusiastically recounting Prince Consort’s heroic feats in Xifan—such courage, such spirit! We were all full of admiration, utterly impressed! I never imagined I’d run into you here!”

He excitedly waved over the group of new recruits he had brought with him.  “Come quickly and pay your respects! Weren’t you all just saying yesterday how much you wished to see Master Pei in person? Well, here he is, right before your eyes!”

The guards rushed up, introduced themselves, and bowed. Pei Xiaoyuan hurriedly asked everyone to stand up. At this time, the guard who had stopped him finally came to his senses and hurried out to apologize.

“This humble official failed to recognize Mount Tai. Just now commit an offense. Asking Prince Consort to please forgive. This humble official will pass the message in right away. Please wait a moment, Prince Consort.”

Pei Xiaoyuan smiled and said it was fine, and then said that he had something else to do and had no plans to enter the palace tonight. After a few more pleasantries, he told everyone to patrol the night carefully, then said goodbye and left, returning to Yongning Mansion.

That night, perhaps because he had slept enough during the day, but he couldn’t sleep all night and stayed awake until dawn.

The spring night was long, and the Yongning Mansion was silent and no one came.

Starting from the next day, Prince Ning invited him to his house for a banquet. Then, the grand princess made an appointment to meet and ask about Lu Wenjun. After that, some other people in the court who had some interactions with him in the past also came one after another, and the social engagements were endless.

In a flash, a few days passed.

In the silent but increasingly anxious wait, finally, on the third evening after his return, someone came from the palace again, saying that the emperor had summoned him.

Pei Xiaoyuan changed his clothes and entered the palace. Once again came to the Ziyun Palace that he would never forget, and waited outside the palace gate.

The setting sun shone on the palace corridors, and all around was quiet. He waited for a moment, and saw a staggering figure coming out from the shadows deep inside the palace gate.

The old palace eunuch Zhao Zhongfang conveyed the emperor’s words.

“His Majesty suddenly felt tired and exhausted, and said he would not receive visitors today. It’s been over a year since Prince Consort left, and now that you’ve returned, spring has already begun to show within the palace. His Majesty told the Prince Consort to stroll about freely—go wherever you please, and enjoy the scenery if you like.”

After the old palace eunuch finished delivering his message, he looked at him meaningfully, bowed with a smile, and gestured for him to go at his leisure. Then he turned around and slowly, staggered back inside, his figure gradually disappearing in the shadows behind the palace gate.

Pei Xiaoyuan stood there for a moment and then walked away.

He wandered aimlessly in the palace without being stopped at all.

Finally, his footsteps stopped outside the Dongnuan Pavilion of Xuanzheng Hall.

This was the place for court meetings, but its design was refined and elegant. Outside the pavilion was a courtyard planted with flowers and trees, unlike the main audience halls that often exuded a cold and oppressive air.

It was said that this was the very place where the Princess had, over the past year, frequently stood in for His Majesty—summoning officials and issuing imperial edicts.

At this hour, the evening drum had already sounded, and the dozen or so officials from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Rites who had been summoned to participate in the meeting were walking out of the Dongnuan Pavilion one after another. Walking along the palace corridors in twos and threes, they spoke in hushed tones about the recent discussions concerning the upcoming Captive Presentation Ceremony as they made their way out.

Pei Xiaoyuan instinctively didn’t want to be seen coming to this place. He stepped aside and slipped behind a cluster of ornamental rocks in the corner of the courtyard beside Dongnuan Pavilion. After everyone had walked over, the chaotic sounds of footsteps and voices disappeared, and his ears became quiet. He was about to walk out, but just then, as voices gradually grew farther, another round of footsteps echoed beyond the pavilion doors.

He paused and looked up. From the doorway across the courtyard, it seemed two more people had just come out.

Lan Tai, dressed in a crimson official robe with a golden belt at his waist, appeared all the more commanding and dignified. And then, an elegant figure of green-magnolia swayed slightly into view, stepping out from behind the door as well.

It’s her!

It looked like the meeting was over, and Lan Tai was the last one to leave.

Not only that, the princess even escorted him out personally.

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