Three days later, the Emperor met with Xiao Yu.
No one knew what transpired during this meeting, not even Li Yuangui. After the meeting, the Emperor secluded himself for an entire night, with the palace lights burning continuously until dawn.
On the fourth day of the new year, the court holiday ended, and the morning court session resumed. As the fifth watch approached, Li Yuangui entered to attend to the Emperor and found him still in the same attire as the previous night, reclining against a screen couch, his face somber, eyes bloodshot, as if he hadn’t slept all night.
“Your Majesty, shall we postpone today’s morning court, or cancel it and reconvene tomorrow?”
Li Yuangui cautiously inquired.
The Emperor slowly turned his neck to look at Li Yuangui, staring for a long while with a dark gaze. Just as Li Yuangui began to feel uneasy, the Emperor suddenly asked: “Li Yuangui, do you also think that I was wrong?” His voice was hoarse and extremely unpleasant to hear.
Li Yuangui was startled and hurriedly knelt on the ground, kowtowing: “How could Your Majesty say such a thing? No father or ruler can be wrong. Moreover, since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have governed wisely and cared for the people. Your Majesty can go to the Tower of Shared Joy at the South Gate and see how, these days, from morning until night, the common people eagerly gather before the city tower to worship and pray, voluntarily beseeching heaven for Your Majesty’s blessings. With the people feeling thus, how could your servant feel any different!”
The Emperor gave a cold laugh: “Your words sound pleasant, but I fear in your heart you also secretly condemn me! Yes, they are all loyal ministers! All righteous men! Only I am the unrighteous one!”
Li Yuangui remained prostrate on the ground, constantly kowtowing: “Please calm your anger, Your Majesty. Your servant wouldn’t dare!”
The Emperor flipped off the couch, one hand on his waist, pacing back and forth on the ground, his expression gradually becoming agitated.
“Fine, what does it matter! Let them be loyal ministers! Let them be righteous men! Let me be the unrighteous one! I am not afraid!”
Almost roaring these words, the Emperor stopped in front of Li Yuangui, lost in thought for a moment, then showed a cold smile again: “Even Heaven stands on my side! You’an thinks he has won this time, but he hasn’t realized that in the end, he still lost!”
“My son does not recognize my good intentions, refuses to acknowledge me, and opposes me. He doesn’t want what I have to give!”
“What I do not wish to give, no one in the world can take. What I wish to give, no one in the world can refuse! Does he think he can win against me?”
“Li Yuangui, mark my words, the day will come when he will return of his own accord, willingly bowing his head to me!”
“He cannot win against me.” The Emperor said, word by word.
Li Yuangui remained prostrate on the ground, looking up at the Emperor in shock, momentarily not daring to speak.
The Emperor closed his eyes briefly, exhaling a long breath from his chest, and his expression finally gradually returned to calm.
“Today’s court session remains unchanged. Prepare my attire!” The Emperor said in a deep voice.
Li Yuangui responded and quickly got up from the ground, calling for palace attendants.
“Has the Prince of Liuyang arrived?”
The Emperor suddenly asked while changing his clothes.
The Prince of Liuyang was enfeoffed in the remote area of western Hunan, belonging to a branch of the imperial clan. In terms of generational hierarchy, he was of the same generation as Xiao Lie’s nephew but was older than Xiao Lie. For many years, he had been an honest feudal prince in his small fief in western Hunan, but his luck was poor. Now in his fifties, he had yet to produce an heir. With no son, he gradually despaired, knowing that after his death, his princely title would be abolished. Among the many imperial relatives and nobility of the Great Wei, he was utterly unremarkable. At the end of each year, the Emperor would customarily summon some feudal princes to the capital to participate in the court celebrations, as a show of favor to the imperial clan. The Prince of Liuyang hadn’t been permitted to enter the capital for over a decade. At the end of last year, he hadn’t expected it either but was suddenly summoned, allowed to enter the capital for the court celebrations. Overjoyed, he prepared tributes and, accompanied by his aged princess consort, immediately set out for the capital. Unfortunately, they encountered delays on the journey and arrived several days late, missing the grand court celebration on the first day of the new year.
“Your Majesty, the Prince of Liuyang and his consort arrived in the capital just yesterday. Having missed the court celebrations, they are extremely anxious and beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”
Xiao Lie smiled: “It’s good that they’ve arrived. What offense is there to speak of? I wish to receive the Prince of Liuyang and his consort today. Go and make arrangements.”
Li Yuangui acknowledged the order.
On the fourth day of the first month in the second year of Zhaoping, after the morning court session, the Emperor received the Prince of Liuyang and his consort in the palace. He praised the Prince of Liuyang for governing his territory with integrity and loving the people, saying his virtuous reputation had spread far and wide, which was why this year he had specially permitted the couple to come to the capital together for the celebrations. He bestowed generous rewards upon them. The Prince of Liuyang and his consort were moved to tears of gratitude. They spent half a month in the capital and, after the Lantern Festival, bid farewell and departed for western Hunan.
This Prince of Liuyang, with his small and poor fief, advanced in years, whose princely title would be abolished upon his death, was truly too insignificant. Therefore, even the Emperor’s exceptional favor toward him didn’t attract much attention. The court officials merely thought that the Emperor’s actions were intended to set an example for the many feudal princes of the Great Wei, so no one paid much heed. After a few days, no one discussed the matter any further.
Fate is just like this, often catching people unprepared. Including the Prince of Liuyang and his consort, no one could have imagined that this small episode today would later become a prelude that influenced the situation of the Great Wei court and the entire realm.
Even if Pei You’an was naturally brilliant, how could he possibly anticipate, while far away in a remote frontier region, that undercurrents were rising from this moment?
When he had decided to turn south, he thought he had calculated everything, yet he had forgotten to consider one thing.
That was the heart of the young man he wished to protect.
“I heard that Your Majesty was looking for me, so I came. Everything stems from me. From today, I will bear all sins, with no regrets whether I live or die.”
This was the first thing the young man said when he met the Emperor that day.
In this respect, he indeed hadn’t won against the Emperor.
In this round, both ruler and minister, both father and son, were defeated. There was no winner.
…
In the blink of an eye, the Lantern Festival passed, and Jia Fu had been here for more than half a month. Compared to before, food, clothing, shelter, and travel were certainly harder. The only vegetables available daily were limited to cabbage and radishes, with no fresh fruits. The chilblains on her feet still hadn’t healed, and whenever she went out, she was bundled up like a fat rice dumpling. That day, on a whim, she asked Pei You’an to take her out for another walk, but unfortunately, one leg sank into the deep snow. Unable to move by herself, she stood there like a green onion in the snow, until Pei You’an pulled her out. Afterward, he teased her about it, but she was quite content. What made her even happier was that in the past few days, Pei You’an had been busy connecting their room with the adjacent one, creating a dedicated bathroom.
It was too cold here. Some residents only bathed once or twice during the entire winter. However, Jia Fu had always loved cleanliness. In the past, whether at her parents’ home or in the capital, she bathed daily in summer and at least once every two days in winter. But here, bathing had become a problem. Although they had a bathtub, it took up considerable space, making the already small room even more cramped—one could hardly turn without bumping into something. Moreover, the kitchen was far from their living quarters, making it inconvenient to heat and bring enough hot water to fill half the bathtub. There was also no way to add more hot water. In this weather, the water often cooled down quickly after being poured in, leaving one shivering upon getting out, only able to hastily dry off, always feeling unclean. The winter here was very long, with the weather only gradually warming up in March or April, meaning several more months of severe cold remained. Being able to comfortably soak in a hot bath had become a luxury.
During the first month, the timber yard had little to do, so Pei You’an found masons from the city, connected the two rooms, and divided the adjacent room in half—building a stove in the front and using the back as a bathroom. He also called for a blacksmith, paid extra wages, and asked him to urgently forge iron pipes according to his drawings. The pipes were curved and winding; the craftsman had never made such things before and didn’t know what they were for. But since the employer specified them and didn’t mind the cost, the blacksmith spared no expense, quickly made molds, tried several times, and within a few days, delivered the pipes Pei You’an wanted. Pei You’an connected the pipes to the stove’s water outlet, with the other end leading into the bathroom. Whenever someone wanted to bathe, they only needed to light a fire in the stove to heat the water, and then open the wooden plug in the bathroom for hot water to flow continuously. Even more convenient was that there was another pipe for cold water, allowing for the mixing of hot and cold water, enabling one to soak for as long as desired.
With this new bathroom, not only was Jia Fu’s bathing problem thoroughly solved, but it also made it convenient for the two maids living nearby to access hot water, eliminating the need to carry water back and forth. On the day the bathroom was completed, all three were very happy. Only Auntie Ding, Old Ding’s wife, was stunned and tongue-tied when she discovered that all of Pei You’an’s busy work and considerable expense was merely to create a place for his wife to bathe.
That evening, heavy snow fell outside, but inside the room, it was as warm as spring. Jia Fu used the new bathroom for the first time with great success. After soaking in the hot bath, her pores were open, and her skin had a delicate pink flush. She lay down, and Pei You’an sat at the foot of the bed, massaging her feet where chilblains had formed.
Jia Fu praised him: “I never imagined that Lord Pei would even know how to do this. You’re so capable.”
Pei You’an smiled: “A beauty fresh from her bath, fragrant as a lotus blossom. For my Fuer’s satisfaction, I would spare no effort.”
Jia Fu knew he was teasing her, and the phrase “spare no effort” always made her think of improper things. Her face grew hot, her heart fluttering beneath her chest. She bit her lip and said: “You’ve become increasingly improper. I never knew this about you before.”
Pei You’an gazed at her charming face, poised between annoyance and shyness, and suddenly felt an impulse he hadn’t experienced for a long time. He asked softly: “Does your foot still itch or hurt?”
Jia Fu shook her head: “Much better.”
Pei You’an then instructed her to lie on her side facing outward, with her waist slightly curved and one leg bent.
Jia Fu saw him gazing at her with sparkling eyes, personally arranging her body’s posture. Thinking he had suddenly become aroused and wanted to try a different position with her, her heart beat faster, mixed with anticipation. Her cheeks flushed red, but she obediently replied with a soft “Mm,” then glanced secretly at the door, poking him and reminding him in a low voice: “Cousin, the door latch hasn’t been secured yet…”
Pei You’an was taken aback.
When Jia Fu came to find him, she hadn’t brought much luggage, but one of the boxes was filled with his books and high-quality writing materials that couldn’t be bought in this place no matter how much money one had—a Chengni inkstone, pine soot ink, an eight-treasure writing set, as well as a good quantity of fine Xuan paper and decorated paper.
She knew that in the past, he had never gone a day without reading and feared that in this place, he would have nothing to rely on emotionally. That’s why she had specifically brought such a heavy box, traveling mountains and crossing waters to reach him. Her attentiveness and deep affection made Pei You’an feel that even sacrificing his life would hardly repay a fraction of it. Initially, he had merely been captivated by her alluring posture after her bath and suddenly felt an inspiration he hadn’t had for many years—to draw a portrait of a beauty reclining on a couch. When she reminded him to secure the door, he hadn’t immediately understood. Seeing her lower her eyes shyly, even the tips of her ears turning a delicate pink with bashfulness, he finally understood. Holding back his laughter, he cleared his throat lightly and whispered in her ear: “Does Fuer want me to treat her that way? I was merely thinking of drawing a portrait of you.”
Jia Fu was stunned. She looked up to see him gazing at her, clearly trying hard to suppress his laughter. Only then did she realize her misunderstanding. Her face immediately flushed hot. With a cry of dismay, she covered her face with both hands, turned over, and buried her face in the pillow.
Pei You’an could no longer contain himself and burst into laughter, feeling in his heart that he loved this girl immensely.
Since the night of her arrival, this originally dim and cold old room had also become so warm and bright.
He pressed down on her, holding her shoulders, kissing the back of her neck and back. His lips moved to her ear, taking her burning, tender earlobe between them, murmuring: “How does Fuer want me to treat her tonight?”
Jia Fu twisted her body, not allowing him to kiss her. Pei You’an was quickly ignited by her, and any thought of drawing was completely forgotten. Her earlier misunderstanding had also aroused his desire, so he instructed her to lie as before, wanting to try it himself.
This time, Jia Fu was unwilling to obey so docilely. With a reddened face, she shook her head in refusal.
Pei You’an Fugned sternness: “You said earlier that you would be good to me.”
Jia Fu closed her eyes resentfully and fumed: “Fine, do as you wish! You’re just bullying me!”
Pei You’an was entranced by her half-refusing, half-inviting demeanor. He embraced her and lay down, about to position her, when he heard a voice from outside: “Lord Pei, the date-colored mare is about to give birth!”
Jia Fu immediately opened her eyes.
“Quick, let’s go see!”
She revealed a delighted smile, pushed him away, climbed down from the bed, and quickly dressed. Turning her head, she saw Pei You’an still lying there motionless, looking lazy.
“Hurry up!”
This mare, not giving birth earlier or later, but choosing this moment to deliver, was really…
Pei You’an sighed inwardly and had no choice but to get out of bed.
Jia Fu, who was usually quite afraid of the cold, had been going to see the mare every day since arriving here. Now, hearing that it was about to give birth, she was anxious and hurriedly dressed. She turned around, opened the door, and ran out, leaving Pei You’an behind. He quickly chased after her, caught her, covered her with a thick cloak, fastened the ties at her collar, and put a hat and gloves on her, wrapping her up securely. Only then did they brave the snow and head toward the stable.
The weather was bitterly cold. Although all the drafty spots in the stable had been sealed, Jia Fu was still worried about the mare being cold since it was carrying a foal. She had a dung fire burning outside the stable at night. Upon entering, it was comfortably warm inside. Torches for illumination had been inserted into the walls. The mare had lain down on a pile of dry hay and was in labor.
Hearing that the mare was about to give birth, Old Ding and his wife, Yang Yun, and others all came to watch. Tan Xiang and Mu Xiang were initially too shy to come and watch, but when they saw Jia Fu go, they hurriedly followed.
Jia Fu stood outside the stable door, nervously yet expectantly waiting for the foal’s birth. Finally, she saw a small horse leg pushing out from the mare’s rear and was overjoyed. She watched with wide eyes, waiting for the foal to emerge, but that little leg remained stuck, unable to come out. The mare seemed to be gradually losing strength, lying there with her belly rising and falling, breathing heavily.
Jia Fu grabbed Pei You’an’s arm, muttering: “What should we do? What should we do? She seems to have no strength left!”
Pei You’an comforted her with a few words, took off his outer garment, and asked her to hold it, then entered the stable. He fed the mare a couple of handfuls of wheat, massaged her abdomen for a moment, then washed his hands and went to the mare’s rear. Tentatively, he slowly reached in, probed for a while, and finally pulled out the other leg that was stuck in the opening. Then, holding the foal’s two hooves, he slowly, inch by inch, helped the mare pull the foal out. Finally, something covered in a white amniotic sac emerged from the opening, and the foal’s head appeared.
The mare seemed encouraged, and the rest of the delivery proceeded smoothly, with the entire foal being born.
Jia Fu breathed a sigh of relief and, along with Tan Xiang and Mu Xiang beside her, let out a cheer.
It was a black male foal, very beautiful, lying in the thick pile of dry hay, its body wet. However, it quickly opened its round eyes, shaking its small head, curiously surveying this new world.
The mare soon stood up, came to the foal’s side, and extended her tongue, gently licking her newborn child, grasping its neck with her mouth to help it lift its head and stand.
Gradually, the foal’s neck straightened, and its front legs knelt on the ground. The mare continued licking it, and slowly, the foal’s hind legs also knelt up. Finally, it stood up shakily, nuzzling against the mare’s neck and belly, mother and child showing affection.
Jia Fu was moved to tears by this scene and was reluctant to leave. Pei You’an called to her several times, but seeing her still clinging to the rail, watching the mother and child in the stable, looking as if she wanted to stay there for the night, he smiled and said: “The date-colored mare knows how to care for the foal, don’t worry. It’s late, you should go back and sleep!”
Jia Fu reluctantly left the stable. The two returned to their room. Pei You’an went to bathe, while Jia Fu sat on the bed, lost in thought with her chin in her hand.
Pei You’an came out of the bathroom, got into bed, and they lay down side by side.
“Cousin, I want to give you a child. Would you like that?”
Jia Fu murmured.
Pei You’an closed his eyes without responding, though the corners of his lips slowly curved upward. His palm caressed her silky-smooth, soft waist, gradually moving downward.
“Cousin, do you prefer a boy or a girl?”
Jia Fu breathed delicately, her hands tightly clinging to his rock-solid shoulders and back, yet still asking with a trembling voice.
“As long as it’s born from my Fuer, I would love either…”
He whispered, kissing her lips.
All was silent. The snow that night fell on the roof, making soft rustling sounds. Between heaven and earth, everything was peaceful.