The grand banquet to welcome the emperor to Yicheng took place as scheduled the following day.
Officials and dignitaries gathered at the former Prince Ping’s Manor. Due to Xiao Linye’s repeated troop deployments, the gathering included many military officers. Even Prince Li Xiao Huanyan, who had been stationed in the encirclement of Yicheng, had rushed to the capital.
As the appointed hour arrived, Grand Eunuch Tian Rui’s booming voice announced the emperor’s arrival. Palace attendants escorted Xiao Linye and Pei Lanqing into the banquet hall.
The scene felt strangely familiar to Pei Lanqing. He had attended a similar imperial banquet after Xiao Linye’s coronation. Back then, he had been pregnant with Quan’er; now, he carried two more children.
Xiao Linye remained by his side, his arm wrapped around Pei Lanqing’s waist, supporting him as they walked slowly together. They took their seats behind the dragon table at the head of the hall.
Below them sat Xiao Yuquan’s seat.
Though Yicheng officials rarely visited the imperial capital, they had long heard rumors of Grand Tutor Pei’s deep affection with the emperor. Now, they watched with a mixture of astonishment and restrained curiosity.
Everyone present couldn’t help but secretly sigh. For years, the emperor had kept his palace empty, showering his sole affection on Grand Tutor Pei. Their eldest son, born into the world, was immediately named Crown Prince, and now Grand Tutor Pei was pregnant with the emperor’s heir once more.
Each of these events was a rare display of a monarch’s deep affection.
Xiao Linye had long ignored the whispers of others. After the banquet began, the hall filled with music and dance, a scene of joyous celebration. Yet he only turned his head to whisper intimately with Pei Lanqing beside him, personally serving him dishes and refilling his tea. This meticulous care had become a habit.
Pei Lanqing smiled faintly at him. In earlier years, he had worried that Xiao Linye’s behavior would undermine the emperor’s dignity. But over the years, he had learned he couldn’t sway Xiao Linye, and had resigned himself to accepting it.
As the two exchanged glances and whispered to each other throughout the banquet, their eyes brimming with obvious affection, the courtiers couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.
Prince Li Xiao Huanyan sat alone at his table, gazing at Xiao Linye and Pei Lanqing on the dais above. His eyes were filled with an indescribable bitterness, and he downed several more cups of wine.
Halfway through the banquet, Pei Lanqing could no longer sit still. Pregnant with twins, his lower abdomen felt heavy, and sitting for too long caused him discomfort.
Xiao Linye naturally noticed Pei Lanqing’s discomfort. He leaned over and began massaging his lower back. “You’ve been sitting too long today. I’ll accompany the Grand Tutor back to rest.”
“Mmm…” Pei Lanqing groaned as Xiao Linye pressed into his sore lower back. He couldn’t help but lean slightly against Xiao Linye for support. But glancing at the assembled officials, he shook his head. “The banquet has barely begun, Ye’er. How can you leave now? I see Yicheng has many more arrangements planned. We can’t waste their efforts.”
“Tian Rui and the others can escort you back.”
Xiao Linye remained uneasy. Only after Pei Lanqing repeatedly urged him did he reluctantly agree. Even then, he personally helped Pei Lanqing to his feet and escorted him to the banquet hall entrance before returning to the feast.
Meanwhile, Prince Li Xiao Huanyan seized the opportunity to slip away unnoticed, using a casual excuse to leave the banquet as well.
Though Pei Lanqing returned to his sleeping quarters alone, he still rode in Xiao Linye’s imperial carriage. After a short drive through the Imperial Retreat, they reached the Inner Palace.
Tian Rui and several young eunuchs carefully helped him out of the carriage. As they walked through the garden outside the sleeping quarters, they suddenly spotted a figure standing there, as if waiting for them.
The old eunuch Tian Rui immediately grew alert, ready to call for the guards. But Pei Lanqing took a closer look and recognized the figure as Prince Li Xiao Huanyan.
“It’s been many years, Grand Tutor. Are you well?” Xiao Huanyan asked, a bitter expression on his face, just as he had when they were students together at the Hall of Literary Glory. He performed a student’s bow toward Pei Lanqing.
Pei Lanqing frowned slightly, recalling his conversation with Xiao Linye in the carriage that day. Intending to probe Xiao Linye’s intentions, he shook his head at Tian Rui, signaling him not to alert anyone.
“This humble servant is doing well in all matters, thanks to Prince Li’s concern.” [footnote] T/N:- Since he performed a student’s bow toward Pei Lanqing, Pei Lanqing also addressed the prince in the status of a teacher to a royal prince. [/footnote]
Seeing Pei Lanqing’s aloofness, Xiao Huanyan laughed self-deprecatingly. “Of course. Now that I see how highly Your Majesty values the Grand Tutor, how could things be anything but good?”
Pei Lanqing sensed something amiss in his tone and asked directly, “Prince Li, did you wait here today to discuss something important?”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Huanyan’s expression grew even more desperate and anguished. He knelt directly before Pei Lanqing. “I beg the Grand Tutor, in consideration of the years you taught me, to save my life!”
Pei Lanqing was startled by this sudden gesture. His own physical condition made it difficult for him to move, so he gestured for Tian Rui to help Xiao Huanyan up. “Prince Li, this humble servant is unworthy of such a great bow from you.”
Yet Xiao Huanyan refused to rise, kneeling there and pleading desperately: “Grand Tutor, please save me! You’re the only one who can!”
Pei Lanqing frowned, patiently reasoning with him: “Your Highness is a Prince of Great Qi. Who would dare harm you? Why would you need my help?”
Xiao Huanyan glanced at the eunuch beside Pei Lanqing, but for the sake of his life, he gritted his teeth and sobbed: “Grand Tutor, it’s precisely my title as a Prince of Great Qi that threatens my life.”
“Two of the three princes are already gone. I know Your Majesty harbors suspicions toward me as well, but I truly have no rebellious intentions!”
“Please, Grand Tutor, consider our past teacher-student bond and plead my case to Your Majesty. I… I’m willing to renounce my title as Prince, just to live out my remaining years in peace!”
Though Pei Lanqing had known Xiao Linye suspected Prince Li, in his memory, Xiao Huanyan’s character differed from that of Emperor Fengming’s other sons.
Xiao Huanyan’s mother was unloved, and he had been bullied by the others at the Hall of Literary Glory. Pei Lanqing had once felt some sympathy for him, but that sentiment soon shifted entirely to Xiao Linye.
From that day forward, while Pei Lanqing remained fair in his teaching of the princes and protected Xiao Huanyan from bullying, he showed him no special favor.
Now, watching Xiao Huanyan kneeling before him, weeping bitterly, Pei Lanqing couldn’t help but sigh. “Ye’er… His Majesty is not a man who cannot distinguish right from wrong.”
“You are not like the Second Prince. As long as you remain absolutely loyal to His Majesty, he will not make things difficult for you.”
“But, but—” Xiao Huanyan still refused to rise, continuing to sob before Pei Lanqing. Pei Lanqing leaned down, gazing into his eyes with a stern expression. “Prince Li, no one can save you but yourself.”
“With the Zhaojiang war imminent, this is your chance to demonstrate your loyalty to His Majesty. Any other words are mere empty rhetoric.”
“Remember this well.”
Pei Lanqing had been Xiao Linye’s companion for many years. Though by nature gentle, when he grew serious, he possessed a commanding presence reminiscent of Xiao Linye himself. This sternness silenced Xiao Huanyan’s wails, forcing him to swallow his sobs.
After a long silence, Xiao Huanyan kowtowed heavily to Pei Lanqing several times. “Thank you, Grand Tutor, for your guidance. Your student now knows what to do.”
“That’s good.” After this conversation, Pei Lanqing, already exhausted, could no longer hold himself up. He didn’t say another word to Xiao Huanyan and, with Tian Rui’s support, returned to his chambers.
The events in the garden naturally didn’t escape Xiao Linye’s notice. After the banquet concluded, he returned to his chambers to find Pei Lanqing still awake, leaning against the bed, engrossed in a book and waiting for him.
Xiao Linye removed his outer robe and leaned into the bed curtains, hovering over Pei Lanqing. He trapped Pei Lanqing’s body with his arms. “What are you reading, Grand Tutor?”
He had assumed Pei Lanqing was passing time with a travelogue, but to his surprise, it was a primer used to teach young children poetry and classics. He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Why are you reading this? Quan’er has already memorized it. Are you preparing to teach the two little ones in your womb early?”
“Ye’er, you’re mistaken this time,” Pei Lanqing said with a gentle smile, handing the book to Xiao Linye. “I found this for you.”
“The Grand Tutor wants me to study this?” Xiao Linye couldn’t help but chuckle, but he still took the book. He lay down beside Pei Lanqing, letting him lean against his chest as they flipped through the pages together.
Though he hadn’t read it in years, the familiar verses quickly brought back memories of studying with Pei Lanqing long ago.
“Meeting Prince Li in that courtyard today reminded me of many old things,” Pei Lanqing said, his head resting on Xiao Linye’s chest as he turned the pages, a smile playing on his lips.
“The Grand Tutor should have seen it,” Xiao Linye said, wrapping his arms around Pei Lanqing. “I used to underestimate Xiao Huanyan. He actually had the audacity to go before you and talk about teacher-student bonds—”
“The Grand Tutor only taught him for a few years! What bond is worth this much sentimentality?”
Pei Lanqing couldn’t help but laugh as he listened. He set the book aside and reached up to stroke Xiao Linye’s face. “Prince Li said so much, and all you remembered was this.”
“Now that you’re about to become the father of three children, why is your temper regressing?”
“Who cares about his tearful words? I naturally picked out the important parts,” Xiao Linye said matter-of-factly, still holding Pei Lanqing tightly. He stroked Pei Lanqing’s increasingly round belly and addressed the two children inside: “You two mustn’t be like him and act so pathetic.”
“Alright, stop calling him pathetic. Don’t you remember who scared him in the first place?” Pei Lanqing, tickled by Xiao Linye’s touch, couldn’t help but press his hand down and laugh.
“What? Does the Grand Tutor think I’m scary?” Xiao Linye raised an eyebrow, his face adopting the stern expression he usually reserved for reprimanding officials. Yet his eyes, fixed on Pei Lanqing, still held a gentle smile. “Tonight, I’ll test whether the Grand Tutor truly fears me—”
With that, he lowered his head and kissed Pei Lanqing with exaggerated ferocity.
That night, Pei Lanqing truly experienced Xiao Linye’s “scary” side. Though exhausted, he had also been thoroughly nourished, and the next day his complexion was noticeably rosier.
This prompted Xiao Linye to hold him close and repeatedly sigh, declaring that for the Grand Tutor’s health, such nourishment was essential and should be provided frequently.
