AYM Chapter 39

Yan Yihuan looked around, then pointed at himself. It seemed like this eunuch was trying to signal him to go there?

 

Seeing the eunuch nod, Yan Yihuan first peered through the window slit. The emperor was listening to something attentively. Looking around again, he saw no one else nearby. After a moment’s hesitation, he got up and walked over behind the tree.

 

The eunuch looked to be in his twenties, with black but bright eyes. Catching the confusion in Yan Yihuan’s eyes, he quickly said,

 

“Greetings, Third Young Master. This humble servant is a servant from the imperial study, called Gao Yu, you can just call me Little Yu-zi.”

 

In the palace, all the attendants addressed him as Grand Historian Yan, but this person was calling him Third Young Master. Yan Yihuan didn’t quite understand, simply nodded, and was about to turn and leave when Gao Yu suddenly lowered his voice and said, 

 

“This humble servant is under Crown Prince of Qin’s command. His Highness says you need not be afraid, and if there’s anything you wish to pass on, I can deliver it for you.”

 

“Jing ge?” Yan Yihuan’s eyes widened. Then, recalling the conversation between his father and Li Xuanjing, his heart started pounding, “I… I have nothing to say to him.”

 

At this moment, Yan Yihuan’s mind was racing. He already had more than enough to worry about over his father and brother’s matters, if the emperor found out he was still in contact with Li Xuanjing here, deep within the palace, how could he possibly explain himself?

 

Seeing his alarm, Gao Yu thought he simply didn’t believe his identity, so he smiled and said, “If you ever need anything, Third Young Master, you can always come find me. Besides, His Highness will be arriving in a few days for the spring hunt. When you see him then, you could also speak to him directly.”

 

Just then someone seemed to be approaching. Gao Yu quickly slipped behind the hall, vanishing from sight, leaving Yan Yihuan standing there, still stunned and unable to shake off his shock.

 

“Grand Historian Yan?” Li Jiang spotted him frozen under the tree. He glanced suspiciously around, and asked, “Is something the matter?”

 

“N-no!” Yan Yihuan hurriedly denied it.

 

Li Jiang didn’t press further, simply nodded and said, “His Majesty has summoned you.”

 

Li Xuanming had peered out through the window slit several times without seeing any sign of him, so he finally sent someone to fetch him. As Yan Yihuan entered the imperial study, he happened to run into Minister of Personnel Song Weiqian, who had just finished his audience with the emperor and was leaving.

 

Having attended court for several days now, Yan Yihuan could already recognize which official this was. He quickly stepped aside, bowed, and greeted him respectfully, “Greetings, Minister.”

 

Song Weiqian had been about to walk straight past, but hearing this, he paused, turned, and gave Yan Yihuan a long, assessing look.

 

Although Yan Yihuan found it a bit odd, he knew how strict the hierarchies of the imperial court were. Facing a minister who greatly outranked him, and hearing no word permitting him to rise, he continued to hold his bow, maintaining his respectful posture.

 

“When I first heard that His Majesty had personally appointed a Grand Historian, I thought it must surely be some scholar of profound knowledge and mastery of the classics,” a stern, faintly scornful voice rang out. “Never mind writing essays for now, just the fact that the Grand Historian’s duty is to accompany His Majesty, recording every word and deed in detail. Yet while this official was discussing state affairs with the emperor, Grand Historian Yan was outside amusing himself with birds. How utterly improper.”

 

At these words, Yan Yihuan’s face instantly turned bright red. Although he was well aware of how others viewed him, hearing it laid out so bluntly still left him feeling guilty and ashamed, completely at a loss.

 

Seeing that Yan Yihuan had no reply, Song Weiqian gave a cold snort and flicked his sleeve, turning to leave. Only after his figure had disappeared beyond the hall doors did Yan Yihuan slowly lift his head again, his eyes still full of embarrassment.

 

“Historian Yan, His Majesty is waiting for you.”

 

Li Jiang couldn’t very well say anything more. Seeing him stand there in a daze, he spoke up to remind him. Yan Yihuan jolted back to himself and trudged dispiritedly into the imperial study.

 

A person’s whole spirit could be heard just from their footsteps.

 

Li Xuanming had his head lowered, but at the sound of Yan Yihuan entering, he lifted his eyes. Sure enough, Yan Yihuan wore a listless, dejected expression.

 

“What were you doing just now?”

 

The question immediately brought to mind that eunuch called Gao Yu. A cold sweat broke out all over Yan Yihuan’s body. His face, red just a moment ago, now turned pale, and his eyes darted around to avoid Li Xuanming’s. Not knowing how to answer, he finally forced out a stiff,

 

“Nothing much.”

 

After speaking, Yan Yihuan sat down at his desk beside the emperor’s, and stared straight at the inkstone and brush before him.

 

He must have run into Song Weiqian on his way out just now. Li Xuanming could easily guess what had happened. Song Weiqian was famously upright, having entered court as the top-ranked scholar of his year, he naturally carried a certain pride in his learning.

 

As Minister of Personnel, he paid close attention to these newly appointed officials. Seeing the way Yan Yihuan was now, he must have spoken some cutting words.

 

Looking at Yan Yihuan’s slightly dejected figure, Li Xuanming couldn’t help setting aside the memorial in his hand. He walked over, bent down, and propped his arms on the desk on either side of Yan Yihuan.

 

“Did Song Weiqian say something to you? Shall I go shut him up for you?”

 

Clearly it was only the warmth of his back that was rising, yet somehow it felt as if a gentle current was flowing through his chest, leaving it faintly tight and sore. This unfamiliar feeling made Yan Yihuan freeze for a moment, then he shook his head.

 

“I think he’s right. I’m holding the position of Grand Historian, yet I’m not fulfilling any of its duties. It’s not just Your Majesty’s face I’m disgracing, it’s also the reputation of the Residence of King Yan.”

 

Li Xuanming hadn’t expected Yan Yihuan to take Song Weiqian’s words so much to heart. By nature, he seemed the sort to live purely for pleasure. But how could he have known that Gao Yu’s sudden appearance had sparked a deep sense of crisis in Yan Yihuan?

 

Yan Yihuan felt that if he went on like this, he was bound to be in the wrong at every turn. And if the emperor truly chose to punish his family someday, how could he possibly have the face to plead for them?

 

At that thought, Yan Yihuan’s heart began to pound wildly. Suddenly, a flash of insight struck him, and an idea took shape in his mind.

 

Yes, that must be it. His Majesty was deliberately indulging him in pleasure now, only to use his negligence as a pretext to move against the Yan Prince’s household when the time came to curb the vassals. Then he truly wouldn’t be able to argue his way out of it!

 

No matter what, he couldn’t fall for such a trap. With that, Yan Yihuan felt an unexpected clarity settle over him. At last, he’d sorted out the entire chain of cause and effect.

 

Part of him still lamented his own misfortune at being forced into this web of schemes and intrigue, yet another small part couldn’t help feeling a faint, smug pride. Who said he could only cower under his father’s and brother’s protection? He, too, understood a thing or two about the shifting tides of the imperial court himself.

 

Li Xuanming had no idea that in just this brief moment, Yan Yihuan’s thoughts had twisted and turned a thousand times. Seeing him rise to his feet, Li Xuanming straightened up, then watched with surprise as Yan Yihuan went over to the shelves and retrieved the history book he’d put away earlier, and sat down in silence to copy it out.

 

Seeing Yan Yihuan so earnestly doing something he’d always disliked, a strange, indescribable tenderness welled up in Li Xuanming’s chest. Was he truly so concerned about what others thought of him?

 

Or was he simply afraid of disgracing Li Xuanming himself?

 

Retracting his gaze from Yan Yihuan, Li Xuanming sat back down and opened the memorial once more. In that instant, the imperial study fell utterly silent, broken only now and then by the faint rustle of turning pages.

 

Li Xuanming had assumed it was just a passing whim on Yan Yihuan’s part. Yet unexpectedly, over the next two days, he didn’t laze in bed anymore. Although he still seemed flustered at court and his records were far from perfect, it was clear he was truly making an effort.

 

What’s more, he even had Li Jiang fetch him a little wooden board to prop up his records, and tied a small porcelain bottle filled with ink to his belt, carrying a brush in hand so he could scribble things down at any moment right by Li Xuanming’s side.

 

Every time Li Xuanming wanted to get closer, Yan Yihuan would dodge away, claiming he was afraid of spilling the ink. It annoyed Li Xuanming so much that he nearly dismissed him from his post as Grand Historian on the spot.

 

And just like that, three days later, it was the time of Jingzhe, which also marked the beginning of the spring hunt.

 

Author’s note:

Little Yihuan: I really am just too clever, no wonder I’m the pride of the whole village.

Li Xuanming, lines of exasperation on his forehead: You’re better off filling some yellow waste instead.[mfn]t/n: honestly don’t know how to translate this 😭 Original text is 你还是装点儿黄色废料吧。Direct translation: You’re better off filling some yellow waste instead. (Yellow means smutty/indecent content in this context). So maybe the ‘filling’ is about the small porcelain bottle that’s filled with ink that Yan Yihuan carries around.[/mfn]