PCA Chapter 103

Su Cen didn’t get to stay for lunch at Xingqing Palace before he was whisked away. With the New Year approaching, only three days were given to prepare for the new heavenly sacrifice. Having just accepted the position of Ritual Officer, he had to relearn all the rituals and procedures. The people from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices had been searching all over Chang’an for Lord Su, nearly going crazy.

 

In the end, it was Qu Ling’er who came to Xingqing Palace to fetch him. He had just wanted to have a peaceful afternoon nap, but visitors kept coming one after another, nearly breaking down the Su family’s front door.

 

When Qu Ling’er arrived, he was as fierce as a storm, but upon seeing Qi Lin, he became as docile as a little bird. If it weren’t for Su Cen’s presence, he would have clung to Qi Lin.

 

Su Cen rolled his eyes, wondering what kind of love potion Qi Lin had given him that night. In just a few days, he had completely forgotten the pain of his past wounds.

 

Qi Lin, following Prince Ning’s orders, escorted the two out of Xingqing Palace. Just as they reached the gate, Su Cen suddenly stopped, looking directly at Qi Lin but speaking to Qu Ling’er: “You go out first.”

 

Qu Ling’er frowned, “Brother Su…”

 

Seeing that Su Cen had no intention of responding to him, and that his Brother Qi seemed to have tacitly agreed, he could only leave Xingqing Palace, looking back every few steps.

 

After making sure Qu Ling’er was out of earshot, Su Cen asked, “What’s going on in Xingqing Palace?”

 

Qi Lin had initially thought Su Cen was going to question him about his relationship with Qu Ling’er. He was surprised when Su Cen instead asked about Xingqing Palace. He paused briefly before saying, “The Lord forbade me to speak of it.”

 

“Did he forbid you from telling others, or just from telling me?” Su Cen pressed Qi Lin. “What if I insist on knowing?”

 

Qi Lin stood firm, holding his sword: “I apologize, but I cannot comply. I take orders from…”

 

“What about for Qu Ling’er’s sake?” Su Cen interrupted. “He nearly died by your hand, and it was my family who saved him. Whether out of guilt or gratitude, I just want to know… is the Prince alright?”

 

Qi Lin stood silently for a while before finally relenting: “Master is fine. It’s just an old ailment.”

 

Su Cen frowned: “What old ailment? How did it suddenly flare up? If it’s just an old ailment, why has Xingqing Palace increased its security?”

 

Qi Lin thought to himself that Su Cen was indeed not easily fooled. He glanced at Qu Ling’er waiting outside, kicking pebbles, and his cold demeanor softened slightly. “You can understand it as someone attempting to poison him.”

 

“Poison?!” Su Cen immediately lost his composure and turned to go back. “He’s been poisoned and you still let him attend court? And review memorials?!”

 

“The poison isn’t lethal,” Qi Lin pulled him back. “It just triggered an old ailment. Master’s intention is to keep it low key.”

 

“How could someone poison him in Xingqing Palace? Who did it? The Secret Door people?”

 

Su Cen fired off several questions, but Qi Lin just shook his head.

 

After a moment, Su Cen understood. “It was someone from the palace.”

 

A non-lethal poison was a message to Prince Ning: if the emperor wants a subject dead, the subject must die.

 

“The young emperor wouldn’t have this kind of knowledge. Was it Empress Dowager Chu?”

 

“Regardless of who did it, this matter ends here,” Qi Lin said. “We also bear responsibility. Everyone in Xingqing Palace received thirty lashes. This won’t happen again.”

 

When something goes wrong with an imperial gift, one can only suffer in silence to save face for the royal family. Yet Prince Ning still had to act as if nothing had happened, attending court and handling state affairs while helping to conceal the news!

 

“He just endured it…” Su Cen felt a lump in his throat, as if that bitter medicine he had tasted earlier had come back, making him wince.

 

Qi Lin watched as Su Cen’s eyes reddened with anger, about to rush back and confront Prince Ning. But in the end, Su Cen gritted his teeth and turned away, quickly disappearing from the gates of Xingqing Palace.

 

Su Cen’s pent-up anger found its outlet on the instructors at the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

 

With only three days to prepare, time was tight. The heavenly sacrifice procedure alone had hundreds of steps. Welcoming the gods, offering jade and silk, presenting sacrificial vessels, the initial, secondary, and final offerings – all long and complex. Additionally, they had to custom-make Su Cen’s Ritual Officer’s ceremonial attire. The tailors from the Imperial Workshop came to take Su Cen’s measurements repeatedly, rushing back to make adjustments, coming back and forth several times. These few days were far from peaceful.

 

The instructors were pleased that Lord Su, befitting his status as the top scholar, seemed to memorize all the rituals and protocols almost instantly. After a few run-throughs, he rarely made mistakes in the procedures. The only issue was that Lord Su always wore a stern expression, cold and unapproachable. The sacrifice ceremony, which should be humble and harmonious, sometimes revealed sharp edges.

 

The instructors were at their wits’ end. Su Cen was now favored by the young emperor, and they dared not offend him. They could only carefully guide him: “Just imagine you’re facing the Empress Dowager’s gentle, spring-like face…”

 

Before they could finish, Su Cen shot them a fierce glare, startling the instructors – this was even scarier than before.

 

Fortunately, Su Cen was still cooperative. He went through the complex procedures repeatedly without a single complaint. From morning to night, he stood, knelt, and kowtowed, repeating the awkward prayers over and over. Yet he still stood straight, knelt properly, and recited the prayers clearly and accurately, without a hint of laziness.

 

However, as soon as it was time to leave, Lord Su would depart immediately, and no one could stop him.

 

Those who didn’t know might think Lord Su had a beautiful wife waiting at home, rushing back to enjoy marital bliss. Little did they know that Su Cen would head straight to Xingqing Palace, personally attending to Prince Ning’s medicine and acting as his “calming incense” at night.

 

Prince Ning immediately understood what was happening. After finishing his medicine and wiping his mouth with a handkerchief, he asked, “Did Qi Lin tell you everything?”

 

Su Cen’s hand paused, and he quickly said, “I forced him to tell me. It has nothing to do with Guard Qi.”

 

Without looking up, Prince Ning said, “Qi Lin has gone to receive twenty court lashes.”

 

Su Cen was about to argue when he saw Qi Lin already accepting the order without a word of protest and leaving.

 

Su Cen felt a pang in his heart, thinking to himself that he would let the matter with Qu Ling’er go for now. But if Qi Lin dared to bully Qu Ling’er again in the future, he wouldn’t let it go so easily.

 

Prince Ning then put down his handkerchief and examined Su Cen’s face closely, frowning, “Doesn’t the Court of Imperial Sacrifices feed you? You seem to have lost weight.”

 

“I eat more than anyone,” Su Cen patted his stomach. “I’m worried that after the sacrifice, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices won’t dare to let me come back.”

 

“Is that so?” Prince Ning’s large hands also covered Su Cen’s abdomen, warmth seeping through the fabric. He took the opportunity to lay Su Cen down. “Let me see just how big Zixu’s appetite really is.”

 

On the day of the heavenly sacrifice, banners were unfurled. Like a few days ago, the young emperor wore black robes with a crimson skirt in the center, flanked by Prince Ning and Empress Dowager Chu. The only difference was a new face among the ritual officers beside the imperial carriage.

 

This person wore a crimson ritual robe, cinched at the waist with a large belt, holding a jade tablet. With a slender waist like bamboo and a face as fair as jade, he led the imperial procession with unwavering eyes.

 

Su Cen attended to the emperor as a ritual officer but stood closer to Prince Ning’s carriage. Prince Ning could see him with just a slight turn of his head, and he couldn’t help but smile. He had seen this person’s expressive eyes, with a hint of cunning in every smile, and had also seen his determined endurance, with pride in his very bones. Seeing him so proper and formal now was rare, and it made Prince Ning want to tease him a little.

 

Prince Ning coughed lightly, and sure enough, Su Cen glanced over discreetly. Prince Ning slightly turned the black jade thumb ring on his hand, and Su Cen immediately looked away. Soon after, Lord Su’s ears turned red.

 

Last night, it was this very hand with the thumb ring, its palm burning hot and the ring ice-cold, that had measured every inch of him inside and out, under the pretext of checking if he had really lost weight.

 

He didn’t know if he had lost weight, but he certainly felt like a fish out of water under that hand.

 

From then on, Su Cen kept his eyes straight ahead, not bothering to pay any more attention to Prince Ning.

 

Prince Ning smiled slightly, his gaze fixed on that half-reddened ear for the entire journey.

 

Upon reaching the Circular Mound Altar in the southern suburbs, drums and music sounded, and sacrificial firewood was lit to announce the arrival of the Heavenly Emperor. Next, Su Cen guided the young emperor to wash his hands and offer jade and silk before the tablets of the Heavenly Emperor and ancestors. The young emperor then returned to his position, leading Prince Ning, Empress Dowager Chu, and all officials in the ritual of three kneelings and nine kowtows.

 

Su Cen knelt directly behind Prince Ning, his little finger barely touching the hem of Prince Ning’s robe.

 

The instructors had initially worried that Su Cen’s demeanor during the ritual might be too sharp, offending the Heavenly Emperor. However, Su Cen’s gaze was clear, each bow filled with sincerity.

 

His eyes were fixed solely on the back of that one person.

 

Three kneelings and nine kowtows, paying respects to the Heavenly Emperor and ancestors. While others prayed for blessings, protection, good weather, and high positions, he only wished for this one person’s safety and well-being.

 

After the ceremony, during the blessing wine, Su Cen handed a cup to Prince Ning, and they exchanged a smile.

 

After the sacrifice, Su Cen was immediately taken back to Xingqing Palace. His red ceremonial robe was too eye-catching, and the person wearing it even more so. Prince Ning joked that he feared Su Cen might be snatched away if seen on the streets.

 

So he had to be hidden away in a golden house, brought back to be well taken care of.

 

Su Cen pouted, “I’m not some innocent maiden, it’s not like I can’t be seen.”

 

The old fox’s eyes narrowed, and he casually picked up a red tablecloth from the table, draping it over Su Cen’s head.

 

He really wasn’t going to let others see him.

 

Su Cen’s vision went dark, and he angrily tried to pull off the cloth. But then he heard Prince Ning’s voice suddenly deepen as he grabbed Su Cen’s hand, saying, “Don’t move.”

 

Su Cen thought something had suddenly happened and immediately froze.

 

The next moment, his feet left the ground as he was lifted up in Prince Ning’s arms.

 

Su Cen’s heart skipped a beat.

 

Soon after, a door was kicked open, and he was gently placed on the bed in Prince Ning’s bedchamber. Through the edge of the red cloth, he could see Prince Ning standing before him in his splendid robes. The prince, unusually patient, waited a moment before reaching in with his ring-adorned hand, lightly touching Su Cen’s face.

 

“All auspicious signs have gathered, the two families rejoice. Respecting this new marriage, the six rites are complete. We’ve bowed to heaven and earth, to our elders, and drunk the nuptial wine. Isn’t it time for the wedding night?”

 

As the veil was about to be lifted, Su Cen suddenly grabbed that hand and asked softly, “Does it count?”

 

Prince Ning remained composed: “What if it does, and what if it doesn’t?”

 

“If it doesn’t, then I’ll just play along with Prince Ning,” Su Cen’s voice lowered slightly. “But if it does…”

 

If it did count, then the ceremony was complete. They would be newlyweds who had bowed to heaven and earth, to their elders. From then on, they would be husband and wife, loving and trusting each other without doubt.

 

Prince Ning pondered for a moment, but slowly withdrew his hand.

 

And then, he was gone.

 

Su Cen looked at the small empty space beneath the curtain and couldn’t help but smile bitterly. In brothels and pleasure houses, the most taboo thing was for pretense to become reality. He was no different. Knowing it was impossible, what more could he ask for?

 

Su Cen looked at his ceremonial robe and the ridiculous tablecloth. How could they compare to the jeweled hairpins and phoenix crown of the Princess Consort of Ning? Asking such questions was nothing but a farce, a self-inflicted wound.

 

Su Cen reached out to lift the red veil. Just as he pulled back a corner, he felt a gust of wind and was pushed back onto the bed.

 

“How can the bride unveil herself before her husband arrives?”

 

The man seemed to have just had a cup of clear wine, the scent of alcohol enveloping them. Yet strangely, Su Cen felt as if he was the one who was drunk.

 

Prince Ning kissed those thin lips through the red veil, and after a long moment, he said:

 

“It counts.”

 

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