Chapter 83 Part 2

 

Over the past few days, the emperor had been in and out of sleep, and his spirits were very poor. Now, he finally seemed to be in slightly better condition. Xuyu, unwilling to leave so soon, shook her head and said, “During the day, it’s Zhao Bandang and the others taking care of you. Daughter isn’t tired. I’ll stay here and keep you company. Once you fall asleep, I’ll leave.”

The emperor stopped chasing her away and told Zhao Zhongfang to take everyone downstairs to rest. When his daughter was the only one left, he patted the edge of the bed and told her to come up as well.

Obediently, Xuyu climbed onto the bed, lying sideways with her clothes on, resting by her father’s knees. She felt his hand reach out, gently brushing over the top of her head with a soft, tender touch.

The surroundings were utterly silent except for the sound of the night wind whistling in some valley of Cangshan in the distance. It seemed to sigh softly, as if murmuring secrets and sorrows, a ceaseless, plaintive wail.

She listened to the sound of the wind and slowly closed her eyes. She didn’t know how much had passed, in a hazy half-sleep, she suddenly heard her father speak, saying leisurely: “Hao’er, just now, as Father looking at the moon, guess who Father was thinking of?”

Xuyu’s eyelashes moved slightly.

“Besides your mother, Father suddenly thought of Pei Ji.”

During the trip to Cangshan, the emperor summoned Pei Ji to join him, but he refused on the pretext of being unwell and only sent He Jin to deliver the apology letter.

Xuyu knew that the emperor was quite dissatisfied with his behavior, and he didn’t believe that he was really unwell.

Xuyu also knew that the emperor even thought of sending imperial physicians to the Eastern Capital to investigate, but later because of Chen Sida’s mutiny, the matter was shelved.

“It is natural for Father to think of Mother, but why did you suddenly think of Lord Pei?” She followed the emperor’s words and asked softly.

The emperor was silent for a moment, and his hand stroking her head slowly stopped.

“That day, Pei Ji’s nephew carried Father down the mountain on his back. Do you know what Father was thinking at that time?”

Xuyu’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as she quietly opened her eyes.

“Father, what were you thinking?”

“When Father was young, Father fought on horseback. After Father became the emperor, Father traveled mostly on a sedan chair. Father won’t hide it from you. Being carried on his back like that was something Father had never experienced before. At that time, Father actually had an idea in mind—”

The emperor paused, as if he found it difficult to speak.

Xuyu did not urge him again, but just waited quietly.

“Father actually thought, how wonderful it would be if this boy was Father’s son. So just now Father thought of Pei Ji and felt a little jealous that his Pei family could have such a son…

“Father has done too many wrong things in life. But Heaven made Father the emperor, which probably used up all of Father’s luck in this life, so other things will never go as Father’s wish.”

When Xuyu heard what the emperor said, she sighed deeply, with a self-deprecating tone.

The departure of her mother, the separation of father and daughter for many years, and the fight between the crown prince and Prince Kang…

Was this what her father referring to?

A deep feeling of melancholy welled up in her heart.

“Father, don’t say that. If you really appreciate him, it’s very simple. Just wait until he comes back and reward him well!”

She closed her eyes and spoke in a relaxed tone.

After returning from the hunting ground, the Four Guards along with Chengping and the others were all rewarded for their contributions that night, but there was no mention for Pei Xiaoyuan. Moreover, a few days after returning, he was sent out to eliminate the remnants of Chen Sida’s accomplices outside. Yuan Zhi went with him as the military supervisor.

It had been almost a month since he left. If all goes well, he should be back soon.

The emperor listened to her words and remained silent, didn’t give any response. Just when Xuyu thought he had fallen asleep due to fatigue, she suddenly heard another sigh.

“Hao’er, Father is worried about you! This wretched heaven! Ever since Father ascended the throne, it has never shown Father any kindness! Father is a little scared that Heaven will inflict Father’s punishment on you!”

His voice suddenly faltered, filled with dread, but then, in an abrupt burst of energy, he lifted the hand that had been gently stroking her hair and slammed it heavily onto the edge of the bed. His tone shifted, resolute and forceful: “No, no, no! Hao’er, you don’t have to listen! Father was sick and confused just now! Father is the emperor—the emperor of the whole world! What heaven? It unseen, untouchable! And nothing Father has done was wrong! You are a princess, and you’ve already endured years of suffering outside. Now you finally come back, from now on Father will never allow you to suffer any grievances! Not to mention suffering because of that Pei’s son! No matter how good he is, if he doesn’t bow his head, it won’t do!”

Xuyu opened her eyes again, climbed up from the bed, and knelt beside the emperor. She saw that he was looking at her with blazing eyes and his expression seemed extremely emotional. She reached out and touched his forehead and felt it was burning again.

“I understand. I will be fine. Father, please lie down!” Xuyu coaxed him.

“Father is not confused!”

The emperor turned away, avoiding her outstretched hand. At this moment, Zhao Zhongfang walked in lightly, looked inside, and saw that the emperor and Xuyu were still awake, so he said, “Your Majesty, this old servant has just learned that Pei Ji, the Resident Regent of the Eastern Capital, has arrived!”

Xuyu was stunned and immediately looked at the emperor. She saw that he too stared at Zhao Zhongfang with a very surprised expression.

“Who? Who’s coming?” The emperor asked again, as if he couldn’t believe his ears.

“Back to Your Majesty, it was Pei Ji! He said he had heard about the matter of the hunting grounds and that Your Majesty had been in poor health recently. He was worried about Your Majesty, and since he had recovered, he rushed over here.”

“Where’s the person now?”

“Just outside Qingrong Palace. Just now he talks a few words with this servant. When he heard that Your Majesty has gone to bed, he said he would come to see Your Majesty tomorrow!”

“Tell him to come right away!”

The emperor seemed to be momentarily stunned. Suddenly, he sprang up from the bed, landed on the floor, and immediately placed his hands on his hips. Without even bothering to put on his boots, still in his socks, he began pacing back and forth in front of the bed.

“What are you standing there for? Go quickly! Tell him Zhen has just woken up and can see him right away!”

“Yes! This old servant obeyed.”

Zhao Zhongfang probably rarely encountered the emperor showing such an excited and even out-of-control expression. He was stunned at first, but when the emperor urged him, he hurriedly responded. He went out to pass the message and called people in to light lamps and change clothes for the emperor.

Xuyu also reacted at this time, unable to suppress the joy in her heart, and hurriedly followed Zhao Zhongfang out. As soon as she walked out of the Qingrong Palace, she saw a thin old man standing solemnly under the palace steps from a distance. The man was thin and aged, his hair and beard streaked with white, his expression serious. Dressed in an official’s robe, he bore the weariness of long travel—it was none other than Pei Ji, whom she had last parted with in Ganliang at the beginning of the year!

“Lord Pei!” she called out.

Pei Ji had seen her too. His face softened with a smile as he strode towards her. When he reached her, he greeted her respectfully, calling her “Princess,” and began to kneel in salute. Xuyu couldn’t let him show such a great courtesy to her, so she rushed forward and helped him up with her hands: “I would much prefer Lord Pei to call me Miss Ye like before. Lord Pei, it’s fine if you call me Princess, but why are you so polite? Please rise, you make feel me embarrass!”

Although Pei Ji no longer performed the grand salute, he still performed the regular salute. He then sized up Xuyu with his eyes and said with a smile, “Last month, I was in the Eastern Capital and heard the news that the princess had returned to the court. I was surprised, but after thinking about it carefully, I felt that it was the Heaven’s will, and I was even more happy for the princess.”

Xuyu thanked him and asked about his health. He said that he was ill for a few days due to unfamiliar climate and water, but he is well now. She said, “It’s good that Lord Pei is here. You must have had a hard time on the journey. My father…”

She wanted to say, “My father was very happy when he heard that Lord Pei was coming,” but suddenly she remembered the words that the emperor had specifically instructed Zhao Zhongfang.

Obviously, in front of this old minister whom he had not seen for many years, her father still had to maintain some dignity as a monarch. She paused, did not expose him, and looked at Zhao Zhongfang instead.

Zhao Zhongfang then took over the conversation with a smile on his face, saying that the emperor had just woken up and heard the news of his arrival, and since he had nothing else to do, he could meet him directly.

“Lord Pei, please follows this servant.” Zhao Zhongfang’s tone was respectful.

Given his current status and reputation, the only person in the court who could make him speak like this was probably Pei Ji alone.

Pei Ji bowed to Zhao Zhongfang, asked Xuyu to go first, and then he also followed him into Qingrong Palace.

The emperor did not let him wait for long. Soon, he finished changing his clothes and sat in the outer hall, looking at Pei Ji who hurried in with a dignified face. However, when Pei Ji bowed properly and kowtowed, he heard the emperor on the seat say stand up, and slowly raised his head. The pair of monarch and minister, who had not seen each other for many years, faced each other again, and saw each other’s familiar but old faces. The atmosphere slowly turned into silence.

After a long while, the emperor suddenly smiled bitterly and said in a low voice: “We are old, we are old! Zhen also didn’t realize it. Zhen remember that when you left the capital, your hair was not so white. It must be that Ganliang is too cold and bitter, and now you have become like this.”

Pei Ji’s eyes were slightly moist, and he said, “Your Majesty, have you been well these years? It’s truly a blessing that Your Majesty still remembers this minister. This minister has managed to get by decently enough. The heart finds its home where peace resides. While the winds and sands of Ganliang are harsher than most, they have granted this minister a dozen years of tranquillity that never had before. This minister also thought he could retire, but unexpectedly, Your Majesty did not abandon this minister, and transferred this minister to the Eastern Capital and entrusted him with important tasks. Though unworthy, this minister has done his best to continue serving the court. This minister received a summons from Your Majesty last month, and should have come earlier, but this minister was truly ill, the strength doesn’t match the intent. This minister has missed the opportunity to visit Your Majesty, and feels deep regret. Later, this minister learned that there were some accidents here, and Your Majesty’s dragon body was slightly unsteady. This minister happened to have recovered. After much deliberation, this minister ventured to come without an official summons. Humbly beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness for this presumption.”

After he finished speaking, he kowtowed to the emperor again.

The emperor looked at him in silence for a moment, then suddenly said slowly: “Zhen’s mind is far inferior to yours.”

After he said this, he stood up from his seat, walked to Pei Ji, stretched out his hand, and tried to help him up from the ground.

“It’s good that you are here. Zhen still has to stay in Cangshan for a while, so you can stay here too. Zhen remember that you were an excellent chess player in the past. When you have nothing to do, it would be nice for us to find a quiet place and play chess together.”

Pei Ji smiled and thanked him, but refused to stand up. He continued, “Your Majesty, this minister also came here for another matter, and would like to ask for your permission.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about the princess.”

The emperor’s expression gradually turned solemn. He slowly sat back in his seat and looked at Pei Ji with a flickering gaze. “What about the princess?”

“This minister would like to ask your Majesty. At the beginning of the year, the princess was taken to Ganliang, does Your Majesty know about this?”

The emperor hummed faintly, then turned cold and noncommittal.

“Then this minister shall presume that Your Majesty knows everything. This minister heard that not long after the princess returned to the court, many young men have sought her hand in marriage. The Princess is of peerless character and virtue. As for this minister’s nephew, Xiaoyuan, he is but a simple and unremarkable man, wholly unworthy of such a match. However, as this minister thought of the past event, this minister still feel that he and the princess share a deep and unique connection. If such an opportunity to wed the Princess were to slip away due to some twist of fate, it would undoubtedly be a source of lifelong regret.

“He himself cannot voice this wish outright, and with both his parents gone, it falls to this minister, his elder, to speak on his behalf and humbly present this request to Your Majesty.

“If Your Majesty deems him worthy and grants this union, allowing the Princess to wed him, it would be a blessing for this minister’s nephew, an honor for this minister, and a great fortune for the entire Pei family!

“This minister dares to speak so presumptuously tonight. If there is anything inappropriate, hope Your Majesty will forgive!”

After Pei Ji finished speaking, he kowtowed solemnly to the emperor again and then waited for a response.

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