Li Xuanming paused in thought. In truth, ever since the time Yan Yihuan had been kidnapped, he had known that Yan Yihuan’s body was not as healthy as it appeared. That was why, in the palace, not only his meals but even the tea he drank were specially prepared by the Imperial Medical Bureau, and indeed he looked to be in good health.
But Li Xuanming had never imagined that these ailments might be connected to his fate itself. The Residence of King Yan must be most aware of this. For an instant, he even considered summoning Yan Zheng into the palace to ask him directly.
He quickly dismissed the thought. To summon him rashly would surely invite suspicion. Perhaps it would be better to wait until Yan Yihuan recovered a bit more and ask him directly.
As Sun Zhicheng had said, Yan Yihuan’s illness had come on fiercely but passed quickly. With such attentive care, he was back to his usual spirited self within a few days.
Yan Yihuan himself was utterly unconcerned. He even joked that he’d become a doctor from being sick so often[mfn]久病成医 – Its original meaning refers to someone who, after being ill for a long time, becomes familiar with medical principles. By extension, it refers to a person who, through extensive experience in a certain field, can become an expert.[/mfn] and had known all along that it was nothing serious. After rambling on with nonsense, he finally blushed, leaned close, and whispered that from now on they mustn’t do anything inside anymore.
Li Xuanming, who had been worried for days, found his look both exasperating and amusing. He tried probing him with a few indirect questions, only to realize that Yan Yihuan knew nothing about his fate. It was then that he began to feel this was no simple affair.
For the time being, Li Xuanming kept it to himself. As for Yan Yihuan, the most pressing matter before him now was the man standing in front of him, the Minister of Personnel Song Weiqian.
Yan Yihuan found him even more frightening than the emperor. Right now he was in the imperial study discussing affairs with the emperor, while Yan Yihuan sat at his own desk, seemingly writing diligently but in fact fumbling in a fluster.
Song Weiqian spoke on at length for half an hour before finally coming to an end. Yan Yihuan was secretly delighted. With his head lowered, the corners of his mouth even tugged up into a grin.
But he did not hear the sound of him taking his leave. Instead, Song Weiqian drank a mouthful of tea and said,
“I asked the Hanlin Academy. Since Grand Historian Yan took office, he has never submitted any historical records, so they have nothing to compile. So, Grand Historian Yan…”
Song Weiqian’s pause was exactly like the teacher back in his school days, and it made the already uneasy Yan Yihuan break into a cold sweat. He hurriedly stood up but did not dare look straight at him, only digging his fingers into his palm inside his sleeve.
“So, how are Grand Historian Yan’s records coming along?”
Yan Yihuan’s mouth went dry. He had no idea how to answer. He had written something, but it was essentially nothing. Seeing Song Weiqian’s gaze fall on the pages he had just written made him all the more tense.
“He was ill a few days ago and just recovered today,” Li Xuanming suddenly spoke. His tone was calm, as if merely stating a fact, without the least sign of partiality.
“Then why have I not seen a single word from his records before the spring hunt?” Song Weiqian raised his cup and took a sip of tea, as if he had already seen through Yan Yihuan’s panic. “Grand Historian Yan has not been writing, has he?”
Exposed so bluntly, Yan Yihuan was instantly terrified, and his lips turned pale. Although he held little hope, he still secretly looked towards the emperor for help, only to see him lower his head, hiding the upward curl of his mouth.
Was he really not going to save him?
Yan Yihuan was a bit bewildered. Angry in his heart, he decided to come clean and hand over the fragmented notes he had made to Song Weiqian, and if possible get dismissed from this useless official position and sent home.
But before he could speak, Li Xuanming, having stopped smiling, lifted his head and said,
“Of course Minister Yan has been writing. It’s just that he was busy preparing for the spring hunt, then he fell ill, which is why nothing was sent to the Hanlin Academy.”
Yan Yihuan stared in shock at the emperor, whose expression remained unchanged, then heard words that left him even more alarmed.
“Once Minister Yan has sorted it out, it will be sent over within a few days.”
With the emperor speaking personally, Song Weiqian did not press the matter further. He rose and took his leave. Although he finally left, Yan Yihuan felt even more unsettled than before. He looked towards Li Xuanming with an unknowing hint of grievance in his eyes.
“Song Weiqian is the sort of person who stubbornly clings to rules. But he is in charge of all the officials, and keeping the bureaucracy in order is the right thing to do. Zhen naturally cannot question that.”
“Then how can Your Majesty say it will be sent to the Hanlin Academy in a few days? What am I supposed to submit?” Yan Yihuan lowered his head and glanced at what he had just written. His chest tightened. In a small, embarrassed voice, he said, “They have always looked down on me. If I hand in something like this, it will surely become a laughingstock.”
“You’re panicking already?” Li Xuanming could not help but knock Yan Yihuan lightly on the head. He was quite satisfied to see the look of indignation that dared not be voiced on his face, “Why don’t we do something to forget about this bothersome matter?”
“Do… something?” Yan Yihuan froze, then immediately withdrew the knife-like glare in his eyes. He glanced with some hesitation at the bright sun outside the window, and quickly looked away, “It’s still broad daylight. That might not be proper.”
“Then when do you think would be proper?”
Suddenly his shoulders sank. He stole a quick glance at the pair of hands pressing down on his shoulders, and as the grip tightened, he gave a faint shiver and gritted out,
“That’s… not impossible.”
Watching the rapid flutter of his eyelashes, Li Xuanming could not help but let out a low laugh, then suddenly raised his voice.
“Li Jiang.”
“What are you calling him for!” Yan Yihuan shot up from his chair with a loud clatter, his face flushed red as he backed away a few steps, just in time to see Li Jiang appear at the door.
“Prepare some tea and refreshments.”
“Yes.”
Refreshments?
Yan Yihuan stood rooted in place. After a moment, he reacted. His face flaring crimson as he glared furiously, completely unaware that he was already showing the look of someone spoiled by favor.
Yan Yihuan froze in place. After a moment he reacted, his face suddenly flushed red, and then he glared furiously, entirely unaware that he was already showing the look of someone spoiled by favor.
Seeing that expression only pleased Li Xuanming. He admits he was being deliberate, teasing him on purpose, gradually revealing the nature that had been stifled by the palace.
Before long, Li Xuanming soon discovered that his occasional teasing was quite effective. Although Yan Yihuan did not yet dare to quarrel with him, his temper was growing. He did not utter a single word from the afternoon refreshments all the way to the evening meal, sulking in silence.
“Are you angry?”
“This lowly official would not dare.”
Pei. Saying he did not dare, yet his tone was harder than the stone steps of the Hall of Supreme Harmony[mfn]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall_of_Supreme_Harmony[/mfn]. Li Xuanming even wondered if it was because of his recent illness leaving him underfed that a few words could anger him so much.
But Yan Yihuan did not see it that way. Half his anger came from being teased, and the other half from blaming himself for being so useless, always led around by the nose.
He dared not confront him, so he decided to keep silent. It was like that until bedtime at night, Yan Yihuan was still keeping his distance, showing no intention of getting onto the bed.
Why was he suddenly so ill-tempered this time?[mfn]t/n: As in Li Xuanming did expect him to be angry but not that angry.[/mfn] Li Xuanming raised his brows slightly and patted the edge of the bed.
“Still not coming to bed?”
“It is against the rules for this lowly minister to sleep on the dragon bed all the time. It would be better for me to go to the side chamber.”
He had been sleeping so soundly night after night, nearly drooling on the dragon bed, yet now he claimed it was against the rules.
Li Xuanming finally figured it out. A few days ago, Yan Yihuan had already been showing signs of restlessness. However, since he had just recovered, Li Xuanming had held himself back. But after teasing him a little today, Yan Yihuan truly expected something, which was why he was so upset.
Sun Zhicheng had said his health was already restored. Since he was so impatient, then why not…
“The side chamber is cramped and cold. This palace has another bedchamber. Why don’t you sleep there?”
“There’s another one?” Yan Yihuan was taken aback. Seeing Li Xuanming drawing closer, he felt a sudden nervousness for no reason, “Go… go where?”
“To a place you have been before.”
