The Crown Prince’s robe swayed as he walked out of the Eastern Palace, leading her all the way to the watchtower.
The watchtower stood in the northeastern corner of the Eastern Palace, connected to a stretch of long city walls. Its elevated position required them to climb a steep staircase. They had only the distant glow of the guard’s melon-shaped lanterns for light, making the ascent precarious. Several times, she nearly stumbled and fell.
Su Xinghe wanted to call out to him, but remembering her earlier words, she felt embarrassed and kept quiet. What was strange, though, was that he hadn’t taken the opportunity to tease her this time. Perhaps the sun had risen in the west today. Still, she didn’t dare get her hopes up, it wasn’t that he wouldn’t retaliate, just that the time hadn’t come yet. Once they reached the watchtower and sat down, who knew what new way he’d find to mock her.
They climbed upward against the wind. The higher they went, the stronger the gusts became, biting into their faces like needles in the midnight chill. The Crown Prince asked if she was cold without even turning his head. Su Xinghe clenched her frost-numbed fingertips and replied, “Not cold. Are you cold, Your Highness?”
How could he be cold? The fire in his heart burned so fiercely it could almost set him ablaze.
The Crown Prince had been lost in thought from the end of the grand banquet until now. Fruits ripen and fall; men grow up and must marry. Some feelings, once matured, burst forth uncontrollably, beyond the power of human restraint. Going up to the watchtower alone might feel lonely, but having two people made it much better. Despite the freezing cold, when he thought about it carefully, this was the first time in his 22 years of life that he’d brought a young lady along to share a poetic and picturesque moment. He wasn’t sure if Su Xinghe would be moved, but he himself was almost moved to tears.
She was walking slowly, maybe because she couldn’t see the path clearly. He waited for her, then reached out to take her hand. Her icy fingertips fell into his palm, and he let out a soft “Hmm?”
“Didn’t you say you weren’t cold?”
What was the point of admitting she was cold? It wouldn’t change anything. She hadn’t expected him to bring her here and didn’t have time to grab a cloak before leaving.
In such freezing weather, couldn’t they drink anywhere else? Why insist on coming here? The cold was so biting that even her heart was trembling. The Crown Prince really had a peculiar sense of fun. Then again, men naturally had a strong internal warmth, and his hands were so warm… As she thought this, she shamelessly extended her other hand and tucked it into his palm as well.
The Crown Prince silently grumbled to himself, he’d never seen a woman like this. Was this the difference between childhood friends and other marriageable young women? Wasn’t a woman supposed to blush and shy away when a man held her hand? But here she was, snuggling up and treating him like a portable hand warmer.
The Crown Prince signed sincerely, “You sure you weren’t supposed to be born a man?”
She responded with a casual “Hmm,” and added, “My mother said the same thing, she joked that I rushed into reincarnation so fast I left the ‘little rooster’ behind.”
The Crown Prince turned back to look at her incredulously. Even though her face was just a blurry outline in the dim light, he still gave her a sharp glare. This girl could be utterly exasperating at times. “You’re a woman. Words like ‘little rooster’ shouldn’t be coming out of your mouth.”
Su Xinghe felt a bit embarrassed. “I can’t stand the ceremony with you. After all, we’ve known each other for so many years.”
No matter how long they’d known each other, the difference between men and women remained unchanged. Besides, he had feelings for her, and here she was talking about ‘little roosters’ and ‘little roosters’ that, completely disregarding his feelings. Didn’t she realize that he had a ‘little rooster’ too, and it was one that would grow?
He sighed. “You, you’re just too unreserved. I’m not asking you to be extraordinarily virtuous and demure, just to remember you’re a woman. Women should act shy and modest in front of men.”
Words like these were wasted on her. For most childhood friends, the concept of gender usually became blurred over time. But there were exceptions like her and General Lou Yueting. After years apart, she’d missed him deeply, and that longing had naturally turned into affection. As for the person beside her now? They’d lived under the same roof and eaten from the same pot for ten years. Most of the time, they couldn’t stand the sight of each other, and when things went poorly, they even schemed to make each other’s lives harder. Sure, there had been fleeting moments of realization that he was a man, but those moments were brief and quickly forgotten.
“You’ve said a whole carriage’s worth of words just because you don’t want to warm my hands. So why bother asking if I’m cold?” she muttered softly, preparing to pull her hands away. But he stubbornly yanked them back, holding them tightly again.
Su Xinghe couldn’t help but laugh. She didn’t even know why, perhaps it was because she realized that the Crown Prince was, at heart, someone whose words were harsher than his actions. Even if he wasn’t always kind to others, he still treated her with a certain warmth and care.
The city walls were tall after all, it was the palace, and only a fortress-like enclosure could ensure the security of the imperial city. After climbing for quite a while, they reached a flat, open area at the top of the wall. From here, the night view of the capital spread out before them. Since it was a festival, every household in the city had red lanterns hanging at their doors. Occasionally, there was a muffled boom as fireworks exploded in midair. Each burst of firelight was followed by the sharp scent of sulfur, painting the winter solstice night in a mix of enchanting vibrance and simple charm.
She shivered cheerfully, stomped her feet for warmth, and pointed westward. “That’s where my house is.”
The Crown Prince followed her gesture. Among the scattered lights of countless homes, he couldn’t tell which one was hers. “Do you have night vision or something, to see that far?”
She smiled brightly. “I just feel like it’s over there. Anyway, our house has lights on.” The wealthy lived in the east, the noble in the west, the poor in the north, and the destitute in the south; her home was bound to be within that zone.
The Crown Prince placed the wine jar on a parapet and took off his Qinglian fox-fur cloak, draping it over her shoulders. He even tied a neat knot to secure it.
She quickly tried to refuse. “Your Highness, you’ll get cold yourself. It’s so windy up here…”
He ignored her protest. “Just wear it. Why do you talk so much?”
Su Xinghe puffed out her cheeks in annoyance. He really couldn’t speak kindly, could he? Even when doing something so thoughtful, he refused to drop his superior air. How was she supposed to appreciate the sentiment like this?
He held her hand again as they walked, the faint light from the city gate illuminating one side of his face.
The young man had a refined and delicate air, untainted by the grime of worldly struggles. He didn’t have the weariness of someone hardened by years of mingling with the mundane. At that moment, the Crown Prince appeared so pure it was as if no speck of dust could cling to him.
As Xinghe walked, she couldn’t help stealing glances at him. Perhaps he noticed, as he shifted uncomfortably. “Can’t you just watch where you’re going? Do you need me to lead you around like you’re blind?”
She huffed in annoyance. “I didn’t ask you to hold my hand. Let go!”
He refused. “If you trip and fall, it’ll just cause more trouble.”
The northern wind stung her nose, making her sniffle. She couldn’t out argue him, so she hunched her shoulders. He casually pulled up her hood, lined with soft fox fur, making her face sink into it as though she were nestled in a warm quilt. She accepted it happily, but the faint trace of his scent lingered inside the hood, subtly filling her senses.
She sneezed twice in quick succession. “There’s fur getting into my nose!”
The Crown Prince, exasperated, stopped and asked, “So what? Figure it out yourself. Or do you need me to pick it out for you?”
Without a hint of hesitation, she pulled out her handkerchief and blew her nose loudly, without the slightest concern for decorum.
The Crown Prince gave her a helpless look. This girl, thinking she could rebel one day? If he hadn’t been indulging her all this time, who knew how many times she’d have met her end. Bending down slightly, he asked, “Feel better now?”
She sniffed and nodded. “It’s out.”
“Then let’s keep going.” He gestured to the watchtower ahead, it’s dark silhouette crowned with elegant eaves. “We’re almost there.”
Following his lead, she glanced out beyond the walls at the world outside. After years of confinement in the palace, she had never imagined standing so high, gazing out over the entire capital. The mountains and rivers, the rough and the refined only by being here could she feel her own insignificance.
The landscape was like a painting, and no wonder so many heroes had fought fiercely for it, risking their lives to claim it.
Finally, they arrived at the watchtower. The Crown Prince pushed the door open, removed his flint to strike a spark, and lit the fire rope, which in turn ignited the red candles on the lampstand. She stood quietly to the side, watching. In this moment, there was no distinction between master and servant, it was as if they were just the most ordinary of friends in private, unceremoniously at ease with each other. Boys did the work, and girls simply waited for the results; after all, being a girl had its privileges.
Although the Crown Prince was practically useless in day-to-day chores, always attended by others, in tasks like this, he was highly capable. After years of accompanying the autumn hunts, he’d spent days and nights in the wilderness, neither starving nor freezing. He lit all the lamps around the watchtower and then led her to the second floor, which was higher and closer to the sky. Pulling down the canopy fabric, he spread it across the floor. Opening the row of tall lattice doors, they sat at the edge. The roof’s eaves were short and flat, leaving the vast expanse of the night sky fully exposed before them.
A sliver of the moon hung high in the sky. The Crown Prince remarked, “No bright moon tonight, but we have Su Xinghe.” His pun was deliberate, and he felt rather poetic about it.
Su Xinghe, oblivious, responded with a literal take: “The stars look like they’re shivering, flickering on and off.”
Knowing she was cold, he quickly poured her a cup of wine and handed it over. “Have some to warm up.”
She took the cup and drank it all in one gulp. Smacking her lips, she said, “This wine is so sweet.”
Not even a hint of the spiciness registered for her. Clearly, Dequan hadn’t prepared this wine with much thought. The Crown Prince took a sip himself and found it smooth yet potent, a slow burn that packed a punch. His spirits lifted, but he kept his expression composed. Reaching into his pouch, he pulled out some dried beef. Beef with wine only got better the more you drank. He raised his cup. “Cheers!”
“Earlier this afternoon, I spoke with the Emperor about the matter of conferring the Empress title,” he said.
Su Xinghe sipped her wine and casually asked, “What did His Majesty say?”
Leaning against the doorframe, he sighed. “From his expression, he seemed disappointed that the Left Consort’s conferral was obstructed. I hinted at the idea of the Right Consort filling the role instead, but that will depend on fate.”
In the end, the Emperor’s decision to establish an Empress was both a national and a family matter. It was inevitable that a man might show favoritism to the woman he loved. Su Xinghe asked, “What if His Majesty overcomes the opposition from both the court and the people and insists on conferring the Left Consort as Empress?”
Under the night sky, the Crown Prince’s face took on a strange, inscrutable expression. He smiled coldly, “There’s no problem in this world that can’t be solved. The Emperor’s favor is immense, but one must have the life to enjoy it.”
A fine layer of goosebumps rose on Su Xinghe’s back, but it only lasted for a moment, and she calmly accepted it. In the face of life and death, no matter how high one’s position, it was all ultimately irrelevant. While the Emperor still lived, things could remain in balance, but once the Emperor passed, a brutal fight for survival would be inevitable.
She poured each of them a cup. “The boat will naturally reach the bridge when it comes. Your Highness need not worry.” The delicate porcelain cups clinked together. “I’ll drink to that. You go ahead and take your time.”
The Crown Prince tilted his head back, the fiery drink burning its way down his throat. “Good wine!” He looked at her with eager eyes. “Su Xinghe, are you alright? Don’t drink too much and get drunk.”
Su Xinghe smiled gently. “I can still manage another two cups.” What she didn’t tell him was that she had a nickname,“ the wine funnel.” After returning to Beijing, she often made her own wine at home, and she would snack on the leftover wine lees. At first, her mother strongly disapproved, worried that it would damage her brain and lead to mistakes in the future. But her father was more open-minded and said she should drink freely. It was a good thing for a young woman to be able to drink just in case she ever encountered someone with ulterior motives, being able to hold her liquor and stay standing would be quite a skill.
The Crown Prince didn’t think about those things; he was still lost in his own fantasies. What if she got drunk? Should he carry her back and tuck her into bed, or should he give in to his feelings and do something here and now? Since she said she could still drink, there was no need to be polite. He filled her cup generously. She was a little greedy for wine, sipping happily, and still remembering to invite him. “Your Highness, drink too.” As she spoke, she reached out to check how much was left in the jar, worried there might not be enough to satisfy her thirst.
The Crown Prince started to wonder whether the wine was truly as good as it seemed. Why was it that after ten or so cups, she showed no signs of being affected? Of course, he had drunk a fair amount himself. He couldn’t just egg her on without drinking as well, or it would look like he was trying to force her to drink.
After a few more cups, the Crown Prince started feeling dizzy, his thoughts drifting. With a somewhat wistful tone, he said, “Su Xinghe, you mentioned the old couple thing earlier, and I’ve thought about it, it really does seem like that. Aside from not doing that one thing, we’ve done everything else. What do you think would happen if we did that too?”
Su Xinghe didn’t want to engage, so she replied, “If you want to do that, I’ll find someone for you. Don’t have any ideas about me.”
“I don’t trust strangers.” The Crown Prince propped one leg up, resting his arm on his knee, and idly twirled his cup, “I, Huo Qingzhu, the Crown Prince of the Great Yin, where am I lacking? As for you, your reputation precedes you. There aren’t many who would dare marry you. Why not just follow me?”
Su Xinghe didn’t take his words seriously. “Your Highness, you’re drunk.”
He denied it, scoffing. “Nonsense. If you’re drunk, I can’t afford to be.” He pushed the cup toward her. “Come on, fill it up for me.”
Su Xinghe had no choice but to refill his cup. He clinked glasses with her again, his speech a bit slurred, “Drink up. Don’t let your cup sit there. Look at your eyes… they’re full of… wickedness. You’re not trying to get me drunk so you can do whatever you want with me, are you?”
What a hassle now he was talking nonsense. Su Xinghe didn’t hesitate and drained her cup in one go, “Whoever shows weakness first is a fool.”
The Crown Prince was very offended by this title, and he certainly didn’t believe that women could drink as much as men. So began another round of competition. They went back and forth, drinking more than half a jar, their tongues growing numb. The Crown Prince finally said, “I only recognize you as my match.”
Su Xinghe nodded in agreement, “Alright, alright.”
“Tell me the truth, am I handsome?”
Su Xinghe had a mouthful of wine and couldn’t respond immediately. He, being impatient, staggered to his feet, stood up, and began to take off his official robe. Beneath the dark, dragon-embroidered robe, the belt was tightly fastened, and with his tall frame and long legs, he struck a pose in front of her, saying, “I am in my prime… my looks are exceptional.”
She nearly choked, quickly standing up to help him put his robe back on, continuously assuring him, “Don’t worry, I’ve lived over twenty years and have never seen a man more handsome than you.”
He asked, “Really?” Unbuckling the robe again, he added, “Then, do you want to sleep with me?”
Su Xinghe immediately burst into laughter, replying, “I have no such fortune, no such fortune…”
The Crown Prince mumbled, “We’ve grown up together, so it’s no big deal. I won’t blame you.”
He was truly drunk now, and the wine must have been potent! But the Crown Prince had good manners when drunk; others might make a scene, but he would at most just take his clothes off.
It seemed they couldn’t continue drinking. Su Xinghe said, “It’s getting late. Let’s head back.”
The Crown Prince turned his head to look at the sky, asking, “Who blew out the candle?” But he refused to move, sighing deeply, “I’m getting older, and today, my father asked me to have children… If you don’t sleep with me, how can I have children…”
Su Xinghe felt a bit sympathetic toward him, realizing that the lack of an heir was probably his biggest worry recently. She tried to coax and pull him, “Let’s go back. It’s too cold here, you’ll freeze.”
The Crown Prince refused, “I want to stay here, and I’m going to take my pants off right now.”
He was determined, and Su Xinghe protested, “This weather, you’ll catch a cold. Besides, what do you need to take your pants off for? Do you really want me to sleep with you? I don’t have the ability, and I’m too scared to do that.”
She fumbled, trying to dissuade him while gesturing, but the Crown Prince was stubborn. He didn’t say a word, his mind fixed on one thing. When drunk, a person was completely different from when sober. He had originally been thinking of getting Su Xinghe drunk to force her into doing something, but unfortunately, she didn’t get drunk, and he had collapsed first. Now his obsession had turned into infinite drive, and he wasn’t willing to let go of his plan. He had swapped places with Su Xinghe in his mind and imagined himself as the charming, gentle lady. Frustratingly, his pants wouldn’t come off. In a panic, he tugged at them so hard that he tore his official robe.
Su Xinghe saw that she couldn’t stop him and could no longer force a smile. “Are you going to listen? If you don’t, I’ll have to hit you!” A drunk person wouldn’t remember anything once they sobered up, and she had made up her mind. If he really dared to take off his pants, she wouldn’t be polite.
The Crown Prince stopped, looking at her with a sad gaze. “Do you know that I like you?”
Su Xinghe’s heart skipped a beat, and her mind was filled with a whirlwind of thoughts, like hundreds of windmills spinning wildly. She knew he was just talking nonsense in his drunken state, but why did she feel so uneasy, and why did her hands feel so weak? Perhaps this was the reaction any girl would have in such a situation. Although she was no longer young, he was the first person to ever speak such words to her. A childhood friend… having feelings for a childhood friend, she had thought about General Lou Yueting, but never considered him. The emperor’s precious son, the future ruler of the kingdom, had everything at his disposal. He could have as many women as he wanted, and she didn’t want to be that cup.
She shook her head, realizing she was confused. In moments like this, nothing should be taken seriously. But then, thinking back on his recent strange behavior, she realized she hadn’t completely ignored it; she just hadn’t dared to believe it.
She furrowed her brows and looked at him. In the dim light, the Crown Prince’s face was slightly flushed, his breath heavy, and his eyes held more complexity than the golden mountains and rivers. She couldn’t tell if his words were true or not, so she hesitated and asked, “What… what are you saying?”
He took her hand. “I’ve liked you for a long time… Abao gege.”
Su Xinghe almost fainted from anger and punched him, “Can you stop being so smug? ‘Abao gege,’ you shameless idiot!”
The Crown Prince’s head was filled with alcohol, and he didn’t even feel the pain from the punch. He swayed a bit and collapsed onto the ground. Trying to pour himself more wine, his hand trembled and his vision blurred, so he simply grabbed the wine jar and took a big gulp.
“I’m not having it easy… I…” His tongue started to fail him, and he stuttered, “I… I’ve been the Crown Prince for twenty-two years… when will I become Emperor…”
Clearly, he was tired of being the Crown Prince and probably wished his father would die sooner! Su Xinghe looked at him with sympathy, feeling like she had no place to vent her own frustration. She could barely think straight, her mind clouded. These kinds of thoughts were better kept to oneself, but now that he had said it out loud, at least it was to her. If someone else had heard, it could have caused trouble.
She went along with him, tidying up the wine cups while half-heartedly replying, “When the Emperor passes away, you’ll be the Emperor.”
He muttered, “When… when? I want to establish an Empress…”
So that’s his ambition to become Emperor just to establish an Empress? Su Xinghe suddenly remembered that she should take the opportunity to probe him and cautiously asked, “Master, do you know the Su family’s stance? When you become Emperor, how will you deal with the Su family?”
“The Su family…” He burped. “Your family?”
Su Xinghe nodded slightly, leaned in a little closer, and caught the strong scent of alcohol on him. She stared intently at him. “It’s my family. If you become Emperor, would you kill the Su family?”
The Crown Prince quieted down, his eyes locking with hers. It seemed like he was pondering, yet there was a hint of confusion in his gaze. She braced herself with her hands on the ground, leaning forward to look at him, but his mind, clouded by alcohol, grew even more muddled. He mumbled, “Su Xinghe…” and sincerely placed his hands on her shoulders. Afraid she might pull away, he exerted a lot of strength to hold her in place, then lowered his head and kissed her firmly on the lips.
The soft, warm lips made a crisp sound when they met. He whispered, “To become Empress… would you?”
Su Xinghe had been teased, but since there was no one else around, she remained calm. She gave him a silent look for a long moment. “I don’t want to be an empress, you know that…” But before she could finish, he pounced on her and pinned her underneath him. Due to his unstable posture, his weight came down clumsily, and the purple marten fur on his collar brushed against her face. Struggling to get free, she managed to separate her legs, but he started to undo his trousers. This time, Su Xinghe was too scared to kick him, afraid she might actually hurt him. Grabbing the corner of his robe, she ripped off a three-finger-wide strip of satin from his ceremonial attire, then jumped up and bound his hands tightly.
The drunk prince’s eyes were hazy, and his movements were sluggish; he could only let her tie him up. But his mouth was still active. “Abao… Nuinui… I’m so uncomfortable, it hurts…”
Shameless! Su Xinghe blushed, tightening the rope in anger. She hauled him up and marched him out of the corner tower, taking him up to the city wall.
The cold wind hit him, and it seemed like he began to understand. As she pushed him, he turned his head to glance at her. “What’s wrong?”
Su Xinghe pressed her lips together and didn’t answer. When they reached the stairs, she supported him from below, afraid he might fall and injure himself. That would really be too good for Prince Xin.
The two of them clung to each other as they descended the wall, and Dequan, along with several eunuchs, rushed over to greet them. When Dequan saw his master in such a state, his eyes almost filled with tears. His hands were bound, the inner lining of his coat exposed, and the wind blew, making the silk cotton flutter like a refugee fleeing from disaster. He gasped. “My lord, what’s going on here!”
Naturally, Su Xinghe couldn’t tell the truth. In the eyes of those people, a married couple could do whatever they wanted, regardless of the location. She fabricated an excuse, saying that her master had drunk too much, “He got drunk and started causing trouble, wanting to jump off the city tower. I couldn’t do anything, so I had no choice but to bring him down this way.”
“Looks like he’s really drunk!” Dequan sighed, looking at her with a furrowed brow. “The master is like this, and yet you’re still fine?”
She casually replied, “I don’t get drunk easily. Let’s hurry and take him back, don’t let him catch a cold.”
Dequan cursed his bad luck internally. It was like trying to steal a chicken and ending up losing a bag of rice. When the prince woke up, who knew how he would be punished? So when she tried to leave, he shamelessly stopped her. “Please wait, Lord Su. Looking at the situation… I really can’t handle it. You’ve worked hard, please help me get him back to his chambers. If there’s any questioning tomorrow, at least you’ll be clear about it, and I won’t be caught in the middle and get scolded later.”
