GD Chapter 46

Of course, there were never many people permitted to stand in attendance during such intimate affairs within the inner court. Tongshi was among the closest, while others such as the eunuchs from the imperial household and the record keepers from the Office of Attendants waited far beyond the main hall’s grand entrance.

Su Xinghe was deeply conflicted about whether he should inform the Crown Prince of what had transpired. In truth, this matter was not necessarily grave. At the Emperor’s age, if he, in a moment of vigor, chose to favor a female officer, it might not stir up much of a storm. Today, he was captivated. If she could shield him from unnecessary worries, then she would do her best to keep them at bay. Su Xinghe instructed Tongshi, “Let this matter rot in your stomach. Not a single soul must hear of it.”

 but who was to say he wouldn’t cast her aside in a few days?

Yet, at the same time, it was not a trivial matter either. Affairs in this world tend to evolve slowly, and what seems insignificant at first could eventually lead to great upheaval depending on the fate of those entangled in it. If he were to tell the Crown Prince, it might only add to his sorrow. His sole comfort after his mother’s passing had been the belief that, over the years, his royal father had not become infatuated with any particular consort. The occasional selection from the imperial registry was merely a formality meant for leisure and to maintain balance within the harem.

But if news of the Emperor’s recent indulgence in both Empress Hui and Chang Consort reached his ears, who knew how deeply it would wound him?

 

If she could spare him from unnecessary worries, then she would do her best to shield him. Su Xinghe instructed Tong Shi, “Keep this matter to yourself. Not a single soul must know.”

Tongshi immediately responded, “Rest assured, Lord Su. I understand what should be spoken and what should not.”

She nodded. “I don’t know if His Majesty acted on impulse or if this will become a regular occurrence. If it continues happening frequently, make sure to send someone to inform me.”

Leaving Tongshi behind, she walked away with a heavy heart. As she passed through Anren Gate on her way to Qianqiu Hall, she vaguely heard wailing from the alley near the princess’s residence. Amid the cries, a boy’s gleeful voice rang out:

“Hit him! Beat him to death!”

Su Xinghe stopped in her tracks and listened carefully. The voice sounded like Prince Xin’s. The young prince, full of youthful vigor, had likely found some new amusement, stirring up trouble with a group of companions and making someone’s life miserable.

The Princess’s Residence had once been the designated place for raising imperial princesses. When they reached a certain age, they would leave their mothers and move into this courtyard, where governesses would instruct them daily in embroidery and scholarly lessons. In the Great Yin dynasty, aside from the notoriously unruly Princess Xialing, the remaining five princesses were all well-educated and well-mannered.

Since Empress Gong’s passing, no other concubine had borne children within the palace, and all the older princesses had since grown up and been married off. As a result, the residence had been left vacant, rarely visited except for the occasional palace servants assigned to maintain it.

Ordinarily, Su Xinghe had no interest in meddling in other people’s affairs. But Prince Xin was different; he was the Crown Prince’s full-blooded younger brother. Since she had encountered this situation, she felt compelled to take a look.

Lifting the hem of her robe, she ascended the steps and pushed open the half-closed courtyard gate. What she saw made her pause in shock. Prince Xin had rolled up his sleeves, one foot propped on the stone base of a crane statue, energetically egging on his attendants. They were ruthlessly beating a person whose head was covered by a sack.

She called out, “Your Highness, what are you doing?”

Prince Xin turned and saw her. Grinning with delight, he cheerfully called out, “Second Sister-in-law! You came at the perfect time! We’re giving this bastard a good beating just for you!”

Su Xinghe glanced at the figure beneath the sack, noting his build and attire. She immediately understood it was Nian Shikuan, the chief steward of Consort Zuo’s palace.

Last time, he had slapped her three times, and Prince Xin had vowed to avenge her. She hadn’t taken his words seriously back then. But now, it seemed he truly meant it. While the beating did serve as payback, what followed could become a serious problem.

From inside the sack came a hoarse, desperate voice.

“Lord Su… Lord Su! I beg you, have mercy! Please save me! If I offended you, it wasn’t by choice.  I had no other way, I was only following orders… Ah! My backside… My legs… They’ve punched me, kicked me, please, I beg you, Your Highness, let me go already!”

Prince Xin spat on the ground. “You think you get to decide that? I’ll keep beating you until I’ve had my fill,  then I’ll throw you into a well and be done with it! Let’s see how a wretched servant like you still dares to bully others just because you’ve got someone backing you!”

If it really came to that, things would spiral out of control. Another round of fists and kicks rained down on Nian Shikuan, who wailed in agony, sobbing as if his life depended on it. Su Xinghe quickly stepped forward to intervene.

“That’s enough! If this continues, someone’s going to die.”

She then turned to Prince Xin, cupping her hands in a respectful gesture.

“Your Highness, I truly appreciate your concern for me. But what’s past is past, bringing it up now will only cause more trouble. The New Year is approaching, and everyone should be in good spirits. Let’s not let this matter spoil the mood. Please, let him go. Even when beating a dog, one must consider its master otherwise, Consort Zuo Zhaoyi will lose face.”

“Consort Zuo Zhaoyi?” Prince Xin let out a cold chuckle. “If she dares hold me accountable, I’ll take responsibility. This wretched servant had the audacity to offend me. As a prince of the imperial family, am I not allowed to discipline him?”

Su Xinghe had no choice but to patiently continue persuading him. “There’s no need to take a life over this. From the looks of it, he’s already been beaten more than enough. If he actually dies, what then? The New Year is just around the corner, why not let this go?”

Prince Xin thought for a moment, then signaled his men to remove the sack. The face beneath was already swollen and bruised beyond recognition, his own mother wouldn’t have known him. Seeing this, Prince Xin burst into laughter. After he was done laughing, he pointed at the man’s battered face and said,

“Xiao Nianzi, since Lord Su has pleaded on your behalf, I’ll let you go this time. Otherwise, from today onward, your mistress would have to start looking for a new chief steward. Listen carefully, nothing lasts forever. When your mistress asks, repeat my words to her exactly. If she’s unhappy, tell her to take it up with the Emperor. I’ll be waiting for her in the Lìzhèng Hall.”

Nian Shikuan scurried away, tail between his legs, completely ignoring the laughter behind him. No servant in his right mind would dare report a prince’s wrongdoing to the Emperor so this beating, however severe, was ultimately in vain.

Yet Su Xinghe felt a heavy weight settle in her heart. She turned to Prince Xin and asked, “Your Highness, are you not afraid of making enemies so openly?”

Prince Xin raised a brow in amusement. “Since when were we ever not enemies with Consort Zuo Zhaoyi?”

At this point, there was nothing more to say. Realizing further words would be useless, Su Xinghe had no choice but to take her leave. As she walked away, Prince Xin watched her retreating figure and let out a cold chuckle.

“An enemy is an enemy. And those who aren’t well, we’ll soon see.”

—

When Nian Shikuan returned to Fengchu Palace, Consort Zuo Zhaoyi frowned at the sight of him. “How did you end up in this state?”

With a pitiful expression, Nian Shikuan recounted everything that had happened. “It was thanks to Su Xinghe’s intervention that I was spared. Otherwise, I’d already be rotting at the bottom of a well.” As he spoke, he rubbed his face, pressing too hard on his bruises, he winced in pain and let out a sharp hiss. “That little bastard Prince Xin has a vicious hand! If Su Xinghe had been a moment later, they would’ve beaten me to death.”

Hearing the faint gratitude in his words, Consort Zuo Zhaoyi shot him a disdainful look. “You ungrateful dog. You got beaten up, and you still have the nerve to feel thankful?”

She sneered, “If this wasn’t a setup by Su Xinghe and Prince Xin, then what was it? The Su family has grown wings now that they see my path to the Empress’s seat slipping away, they’re seeking higher ground. And now they’ve gone a step further, beating my people under the banner of justice. It seems our ties have truly come to an end.”

Holding back her fury, Consort Zuo Zhaoyi refused to disgrace herself by losing her temper over a mere servant. She clenched her teeth and forced herself to stay calm.

In her arms, she held her golden-furred, silver-pawed cat, running her fingers through its coat with increasing force. The irritated feline struggled, twisting and writhing before finally breaking free and dashing away.

Consort Zuo Zhaoyi hissed in pain, sharply drawing in a breath. She lowered her gaze to the scratch marks on the back of her hand and gently covered them with a silk handkerchief.

“What else did Prince Xin say?” she asked coldly.

Nian Shikuan hesitated before replying, “He said that if you are upset, you are welcome to hold him accountable.”

Consort Zuo Zhaoyi let out a laugh, but her eyes were devoid of amusement. “As if I have the power to charge a prince with a crime! What else? What did Su Xinghe say?”

Nian Shikuan blinked his small eyes, then carefully recounted, “Su Xinghe said, ‘Even when beating a dog, one must consider its master.’”

He hesitated before continuing, but under his mistress’s sharp, pressing gaze, he dared not withhold the rest. Trembling, he blurted out, “Prince Xin said, ‘Nothing stays in bloom for a hundred days.’ He told you to curb your temper, Your Highness.”

At those words, Consort Zuo Zhaoyi truly lost control. With a furious sweep of her sleeve, she knocked the hand warmer off the heated brick table. The burning charcoal scattered across the floor, and the moment it touched the thick embroidered rug, the scent of singed fabric filled the air.

Sensing danger, Nian Shikuan panicked. Fearing the rug would catch fire, he quickly shouted for the servants.

A beautiful, intricately woven “Twin Lions Playing with an Embroidered Ball” rug was now scorched beyond repair. Several palace maids scrambled to roll it up and carry it outside to the open courtyard.

Without the carpet, the blue bricks looked even colder and more desolate. Thinking about how the Emperor had spent the previous night in the Greenhouse Palace only made her feel more stifled. She let out a long sigh.

“How long has the Eldest Prince been gone?”

Nian Shikuan tilted his head, counting the days. “Today makes exactly half a month.”

“It seems he’ll have to spend the New Year in Southern Xinjiang… I wonder if it’s cold there this time of year.”

Men were unreliable, especially men of such high status. How many women had exhausted every means to win his favor? Even if he thought highly of someone… What did it matter? Good or bad, they were all just women who had once served him. Who was truly favored, and who was not?

Only her son was dependable.

She had carried him for ten months, nourished him with her own flesh and blood. No matter who in this world might betray her, her son never would.

 

No matter how busy the court was, the New Year had to be celebrated. In the blink of an eye, the thirtieth had arrived. Even the cold and unfeeling Office of Military Affairs had been adorned with large red lanterns, festive couplets, and intricate window decorations.

Su Xinghe was busier than ever, balancing responsibilities on both fronts. She was the only female officer in the department. Commander Nan Yushu was a straightforward man who simply did his job without concerning himself with anything else. The case of the assassinated returning officials wouldn’t be solved before the year ended; it would have to carry over into the new year. The others remained occupied with their own duties, while Su Xinghe led Jinyi and the others in tidying up the office.

By late afternoon, when it was time for dismissal, she let everyone off duty. Before they left, she had personally prepared a small red envelope for each of them. She clasped her hands together, bowing slightly to each one in turn, offering New Year’s greetings and presenting the red packets as a token of gratitude for their tireless efforts over the past months.

It wasn’t about the money, it was about the festive spirit. The group bustled with noise, exchanging an avalanche of auspicious words. Aside from those on duty, everyone else left to celebrate the holiday with their families.

Before heading out, Su Xinghe made a final stop to see the Qianhu (Thousand-Household Commander) under Commander Nan Yushu’s command. She left behind fourteen neatly prepared red envelopes. Though these men didn’t technically serve under her, who knew? One day, they might.

The Qianhu was caught off guard. “There’s even some for us?”

Su Xinghe smiled. “I am your Deputy Commissioner, does that not make you my people too?”

The Qianhu chuckled awkwardly, trying to smooth things over. “No, no, that’s not what I meant…” Unable to think of anything more refined to say, he simply cupped his hands and said, “On behalf of my brothers, I thank you for your generosity, my lord.”

She nodded. “Just a small token of appreciation I hope you won’t find it too meager.”

Glancing up at the darkening sky, she added, “I should return to the palace now there’s still much to do there.”

With that, she cupped her hands in farewell and stepped out of the Yamen.

On the way back, the distant sound of firecrackers echoed intermittently. A dull thud shot up into the sky. The first explosion was tolerable, but the second was deafening. She disliked loud noises and quickly covered her ears. Yet, curiosity got the better of her, and she lifted the cotton curtain by the window to take a look outside.

The closer they got to the palace gates, the quieter the sounds became. Within the palace, firecrackers weren’t allowed to be set off recklessly before the designated time, as stray sparks were difficult to control. She was about to let the curtain fall back into place when the sight before her held her spellbound.

The palace city, bathed in the setting sun, stood in all its vast and majestic splendor. The cold of winter did nothing to diminish its grandeur; the red walls and golden rooftops, under the hues of dusk, appeared even more striking, exuding an isolated yet breathtaking magnificence.

As the carriage moved closer, a lone figure stood beneath the towering palace gates, silhouetted against the dimming sky. The evening glow illuminated half of his face, highlighting his elegant demeanor, graceful and unparalleled in beauty.

She gasped softly in astonishment. “Is that… His Highness the Crown Prince?”

Ye Jinchun narrowed his eyes to get a better look, then quickly said, “His Highness has come outside the palace gates to meet you.”

The Crown Prince was unlike ordinary royal sons, he was the empire’s heir, belonging to this imperial city just as the emperor did. Though he was free to move about the capital, he was forbidden from leading troops into battle unless the emperor himself took to the field. Because of this, the Crown Prince was a refined and scholarly heir. Despite his exceptional martial skills, he remained bound to this palace, unable to wield them in war. Only when the sun dipped below the horizon could he momentarily set aside his endless state affairs and steal a brief moment of leisure to wait for the one he cherished to return.

The official palanquin stopped by the Tongzi River. He took two steps forward, watching as she lifted the curtain and stepped out. She seemed to be in a hurry, her pace quickening until, in the final stretch, she nearly ran toward him.

“Slow down,” he called out.

She paid no heed. Finally reaching him, she looked up with a bright, breathless smile. “Your Highness, were you waiting for your humble servant?”

He let out a soft “Mm.” “Didn’t you say you’d be back by the hour of Shen (3–5 PM)? Why did it drag on until now?”

She explained that there had been too much to do at the yamen. “I even handed out New Year’s gifts to the Qianhu under my command today. I heard that Commander Nan Yushu never gave any before. Those officers might not lack the money, but my gesture was what mattered, wouldn’t you say?”

The Crown Prince replied, “That makes sense. They work hard all year long,” but then he noticed her gaze on him.

His words stuck in his throat.

Come to think of it, she had served as his female official for ten years… and he had never once given her a New Year’s gift.

He spread his arms open. **“Then why don’t you take a look? See if there’s anything on me that you like, just take it.”**  

 

She gave an awkward laugh. **“That’s not what I meant. How could I take anything from Your Highness? I do my job and receive my salary accordingly. You’ve never shorted me on my wages.”**  

 

That wasn’t quite the point. Even the Qianhu officers had extra income from confiscated property, yet they still received court salaries. The Crown Prince thought for a moment, then said, **“How about I give myself to you? You can do whatever you want with me.”**  

 

Typical stingy people always found a way to brush things off. Su Xinghe chuckled. **“What would I do with a full-grown man? I can’t eat you, I can’t ride you, and I’d have to take care of you too, what a hassle.”**  

 

To her surprise, the Crown Prince suddenly seemed energized, as if he had been injected with life. As they neared Xuande Gate, he grabbed her hand and declared with conviction, **“Open your big cow eyes and look at me carefully!”**  

 

Su Xinghe was forced to meet his gaze, but just as she did, he hesitated, suddenly flushing with embarrassment. **“If you want to eat or ride… it’s all up to you.”**  

 

The night wind was chilly, sending goosebumps all over Su Xinghe’s skin. She frowned. **“Your Highness, what’s gotten into you? Did you get haunted in your sleep? It’s the New Year where I am supposed to find a shaman to exorcise you?”**  

 

The Crown Prince looked at her, thoroughly disappointed.  

 

He realized that their minds were never on the same wavelength.  

 

Could she actually be frigid?  

 

Why was it that, standing before such an undeniably handsome man, she remained utterly unfazed?  

 

Did she really have no desires? No moments of restless longing?  

 

Here he was, a perfectly fine man, standing right in front of her, clearly edible, clearly rideable yet she claimed he was of no use.  

 

Was she just spouting nonsense?  

 

Or was she truly blind to it all?

He sounded a little resentful. “Su Xinghe, you’ve never once seen me as a man.”

Su Xinghe suddenly noticed a tiny lacewing resting on the lapel of her robe. Its delicate green wings were so frail, so out of place in this season. Surprised by its presence, she exclaimed, “Look, Your Highness!”

She completely ignored his complaint.

The Crown Prince’s gaze followed hers only to land directly on her chest.

The tiny insect had long been forgotten.

What he saw instead was the embroidered floral insignia on her robe, lifted high by the curve beneath. The taut silk fabric stretched tight, its glossy weave reflecting the light, making everything appear a size larger than it actually was.

He swallowed hard. “Now this… this is truly a rare sight.”

Su Xinghe didn’t catch his meaning at all. Still muttering to herself, she said, “Exactly. It’s so cold, how did it even survive?”

Then she pursed her lips and blew gently, sending the lacewing fluttering away.

The Crown Prince rubbed his nose in frustration, yet his eyes couldn’t help but drift back again.

She caught him.

Crossing her arms over her chest, she raised a brow. “What are you looking at?”

He looked away, a little embarrassed. “Just checking if there were any more bugs.”

She let out a sharp snort filled with unmistakable sarcasm.

She had interrupted him so thoroughly that he nearly lost track of the conversation. The topic of New Year’s gifts had been left hanging.

After thinking for a moment, he took off his prayer bead bracelet and slipped it onto her wrist.

It was a man’s bracelet bigger and more rugged than the delicate accessories women wore. But everything he owned was of the highest quality. If he was giving something away, it would never be shabby.

The only problem was that her wrist was too slender. The bracelet dangled loosely, looking almost borrowed. She kept shaking her hand, nearly flinging it off several times, all the while protesting, “I really can’t accept this, Your Highness.”

But in the Crown Prince’s mind, one day, even if he would belong to her, what was a mere bracelet?

He held her hand down forcefully and warned, “Keep fussing! If you shake it off, I’ll spank you, try me.”

Su Xinghe immediately fell in line, but she still felt uneasy about keeping it. It was too big, and she couldn’t even wear it properly, what was the point?

Hesitantly, she murmured, “You should take it back. I really can’t wear it.”

“If you can’t wear it, just handle it once in a while. Let it develop a patina. I’ll be checking on it regularly.”

Seeing how awkwardly she held her hands, as if they had nowhere to go, he grabbed her wrist firmly. This way, there was no risk of her losing it.

It was New Year’s Eve walking down the long street hand in hand with the woman he liked, filled him with warmth and contentment.

But to Su Xinghe?

It felt like an adult dragging along a child, tight grip and all, afraid she’d wander off.

Fireworks had begun lighting up the city, bursting in scattered beauty against the darkening sky, only to vanish in an instant.

The Crown Prince turned to her. “Su Xinghe, are you happy right now?”

Su Xinghe smiled. “Of course! Tomorrow I can finally get a full night’s sleep. No duty ha!”

The Prince’s enthusiasm was doused once again.

He couldn’t understand why she was so utterly oblivious to romance?

In operas and storybooks, it was always the devoted woman pining for the indifferent man. Why was it reversed for them?

She was more skilled at being an official than at being a woman, a waste of over twenty years of womanhood!

He let out a long sigh. “Fireworks fade, glass shatters. If you don’t cherish the good times now, you’ll regret it later.”

She turned to look at him.

Under the twilight, his eyes were deep and filled with a sorrow she couldn’t quite name. It made her heart tighten for no reason.

“Your Highness…” she called him hesitantly.

He lowered his gaze to her, but she hesitated again and changed the subject. “Tonight’s imperial banquet… it must be starting soon?”

On New Year’s Eve, the imperial family’s feast followed strict tradition: Father and son never dined together.

First, the Empress Dowager would take her seat, with the Emperor and Empress attending her.

Then, that table would be cleared, and a new one set this time for the Emperor and Empress, with the Crown Prince attending them.

As for his own meal? The final round of the banquet was insignificant; he could eat however he pleased.

He squeezed her hand.

“I just need to make an appearance at Anren Hall. When I’m done, let’s have our own feast. Just a small table, just the two of us. How about that?”

Su Xinghe agreed readily, “What would you like to eat? How about steamed lamb?”

The Crown Prince wasn’t particular about food. What mattered was who he shared the meal with.

Having lingered too long at the northern palace gate, he had wasted precious time. When he finally returned to Lizheng Hall to change into his court attire and ceremonial crown, he had to do so in a great hurry.

Once he was ready, he rushed out again.

Su Xinghe watched from the palace steps as the four-slit hem of his robe billowed high with each stride. The moment he turned past the gate of Lizheng Hall, he vanished from sight.

Yinchen came up beside her, hugging her arm. “It’s New Year’s Eve! This is my first time spending it in the palace. Su Xinghe, can we celebrate together?”

Su Xinghe smiled. “Everyone is gathering tonight. There’s a banquet set up in the side hall where we can even have a few drinks.”

Yinchen hesitated, then murmured, “I wanted to spend it alone with you…”

Su Xinghe found herself in a bit of a bind. “His Highness asked me to prepare wine and food. He won’t be able to enjoy himself at the grand banquet, so he wants a private meal afterward. I have to keep him company.”

Yinchen puffed up her cheeks, looking displeased.

Su Xinghe sighed. “How about tomorrow? We can have lunch together in the duty office.”

At that, Yinchen’s face brightened again.

Sometimes, her clinginess was exactly as her mother had described overwhelmingly so.

Back then, it was fortunate that the Crown Prince had never taken an interest in her. Yinchen had never warmed up to him.

If things had been different, if she had truly fallen for him, then given her syrupy, sugar-coated attachment, the Crown Prince might have been doomed.

Su Xinghe instructed the attendants to set up a small table in front of the hall. It was a petite curved rosewood table, designed to be split into two halves and joined together as a full table. She placed it where they could see the open sky so that even if the moon wasn’t visible, when thousands of households set off their firecrackers and fireworks, they could sit and watch the dazzling display.

The palace kitchen eunuchs began serving cold dishes, bustling back and forth. Su Xinghe stood aside, lost in thought, her fingers brushing against the amber beads on her wrist. A faint sense of uncertainty crept into her heart.

She took off the bracelet, rolling each bead between her fingers, one by one.

He had worn this handstring for nearly six or seven years, never once parting from it. The years of wear had given it a smooth, warm luster.

As she held it in her palm, a quiet sense of calm settled over her.

Perhaps it was the amber’s natural effect but before long, an unprecedented warmth and tranquility spread through her entire being.