This year, spring arrived unusually early in the Imperial Capital. Though it was barely past the second day of the second month, new buds had already sprouted on the willow branches along the streets. The warm east wind brought a pleasant warmth to the heart.
During the morning court session, officials from the Ministry of Rites presented the list of candidates for the Spring Imperial Examination. Xiao Linye, gazing at the fresh names on the scroll, felt that a breath of new life had finally entered the stale and stagnant court.
With a decisive stroke of his brush, he moved the Palace Examination to early March.
That day’s official business was light. Before noon, Xiao Linye returned from the morning court to Chengqian Palace.
Knowing that Pei Lanqing was deeply invested in the Spring Imperial Examination, he brought the list to show him. But as he entered the front hall, he found Pei Lanqing sitting at his desk, wearing a spring robe. Instead of reading, he was fiddling with two jade carvings.
“Why are you using that carving knife again? Be careful not to cut yourself,” Xiao Linye said, walking over to the desk with a mixture of helplessness and concern.
Since the original pair of Jade Wild Geese belonging to Pei Lanqing could no longer be used, Pei Lanqing had asked Pei Bingwen to send two new pieces of jade into the palace. He intended to carve a new pair of wild geese himself to give to Xiao Linye.
Xiao Linye, confident in his past experience with seal carving and engraving, found that carving the Jade Wild Geese in earnest was far more challenging than he’d anticipated. After nearly cutting himself several times, Xiao Linye forbade him from touching the carving knife again.
To his surprise, returning home early that day, he found Pei Lanqing secretly carving.
Caught red-handed, Pei Lanqing could only smile sheepishly and explain, “I had nothing to do in the palace, so I took it out to look at. I couldn’t just lie in bed all day, could I?”
Xiao Linye walked to the table, wrapped his arms around Pei Lanqing from behind, and let him lean against his chest.
He knew that Pei Lanqing was now more than eight months pregnant, his body growing increasingly heavy and making it impossible for him to do anything else. Indeed, life in the palace must be terribly dull for him these days.
“Just wait a little longer. Once the baby is born, we’ll go out and explore the world beyond the palace walls.”
Pei Lanqing chuckled and placed Xiao Linye’s hand on his swollen belly. “Ye’er, you make it sound like we’re going to leave him in the palace and go off having fun ourselves. Be careful he doesn’t hear you, or he’ll throw a tantrum.”
Xiao Linye cradled Pei Lanqing’s belly in his hands, gently stroking it as if negotiating with the child inside. “You mustn’t trouble your father too much. When you’re a bit older, Imperial Father will take you out to play.”
After a moment of laughter, Xiao Linye presented the list of candidates who had passed the preliminary examinations to Pei Lanqing. Pei Lanqing carefully reviewed each name, pointing out those from noble families and discussing them in detail with Xiao Linye.
Having spent years fighting on the border regions, Xiao Linye’s understanding of the noble families’ children naturally couldn’t compare to Pei Lanqing’s.
While talent and merit were the primary considerations for selecting officials, the intricate web of relationships and their potential benefits and drawbacks also needed careful consideration.
The two of them deliberated for a long time, roughly outlining a plan, with the remaining details to be refined during the Palace Examination itself.
Pei Lanqing gazed at the list of candidates, a wave of emotion washing over him. “I hadn’t realized it, but over a decade has passed in the blink of an eye. I almost miss the days when I was young and full of ambition.”
Xiao Linye’s gaze darkened slightly. His Grand Tutor had been a prodigy since childhood, destined for a distinguished career in government. If not for him… Pei Lanqing wouldn’t be trapped within these palace walls today.
Pei Lanqing sensed Xiao Linye’s gaze. After all, he had raised the young man himself, so he immediately understood what Xiao Linye was thinking.
He tilted his head to rest on Xiao Linye’s shoulder, his hand pressed against his chest. “Ye’er, don’t overthink things,” he said softly. “I’ve never regretted any of this—and I know you won’t let me regret it.”
Xiao Linye embraced Pei Lanqing tightly, nodding firmly. After a moment, he loosened his grip slightly. “Grand Tutor, after the Spring Imperial Examination results are announced, I heard the scholars will be celebrating at the Drunken Wind Pavilion. Would you like to go and see?”
Pei Lanqing hesitated, instinctively glancing down at his belly. But under Xiao Linye’s burning gaze, he finally nodded. “Yes.”
The unassuming carriage rolled out of the Imperial Palace and headed toward the liveliest spot in the Imperial City: the Drunken Wind Pavilion.
Both Xiao Linye and Pei Lanqing had changed into casual clothes. Just in case, Xiao Linye had Pei Lanqing wear a long-veiled hat. From an outsider’s perspective, it was impossible to tell their genders. They simply looked like an ordinary husband accompanying his pregnant wife on a stroll.
The Drunken Wind Pavilion was now packed with the shortlisted scholars, making it nearly impossible to find a seat. Fortunately, nothing couldn’t be solved with money. Under Xiao Linye’s generous offer, the proprietor managed to secure them a prime window seat on the second floor, complete with a screen to separate them from the other patrons.
Even after Xiao Linye ascended the throne, he rarely ventured out of the palace like this. As they gazed at the spring scenery outside the window and listened to the scholars’ lively discussions, they felt an exhilarating sense of freedom.
“With the court clearing out redundant officials and outdated systems, this special imperial examination is the Holy Emperor’s clear intention to recruit new talent. It’s truly a golden opportunity for us.”
“Indeed. This year’s travel and lodging subsidies for scholars traveling to the capital for the exam are twenty percent higher than in previous years, a clear sign of His Majesty’s genuine desire for talent.”
“I hear even disciples of the Pei Clan are participating in the examination, a testament to the New Emperor’s popularity.”
Xiao Linye couldn’t help but curve his lips into a smile at these praises. “It seems all these months of hard work haven’t been in vain.”
Pei Lanqing reached out to hand him a teacup, his smile equally warm. “You’ve done well, Ye’er. The people of the realm can naturally sense it. This is how the hearts of the people turn.”
“That’s all thanks to the Grand Tutor’s excellent teaching,” Xiao Linye said, taking Pei Lanqing’s teacup and kissing him forcefully on the cheek. He wrapped his arms around Pei Lanqing’s waist and continued, “If left to my own nature, I’d just be out on the battlefield, killing and fighting. These principles of governance are all thanks to the Grand Tutor’s guidance.”
“You,” Pei Lanqing said, tapping Xiao Linye’s forehead with his fingertip. He leaned into Xiao Linye’s embrace, and together they continued listening to the scholars’ discussion.
“Even so… I still think the current Holy Emperor is a bit too ruthless. Looking back at what happened with the Prefect of Fengzhou in the first month of the year, it truly sends shivers down my spine.”
“Indeed. After all, our new emperor comes from the battlefield. It’s hard to shake the feeling that he’s still too steeped in blood.”
Hearing these words, Pei Lanqing instinctively glanced at Xiao Linye with concern. Xiao Linye, however, remained composed, sipping his tea as if nothing was amiss. Sensing Pei Lanqing’s gaze, he smiled. “What’s wrong? Is the Grand Tutor worried I’ll get angry?”
“They’re not entirely wrong. Why would I be angry?”
Pei Lanqing met Xiao Linye’s gaze for a moment before suddenly speaking loudly toward the screen: “That’s not quite right. May I ask, esteemed scholars, what truly defines ruthlessness and benevolence?”
Xiao Linye hadn’t expected Pei Lanqing to speak and looked at him in surprise. But Pei Lanqing simply held his hand, just as he had countless times in their childhood, shielding him from harm.
“Naturally, minimizing bloodshed is benevolence, while killing without teaching is tyranny.” Another voice came from downstairs. Xiao Linye found it familiar and realized it was Su Minghui, the scholar they had met outside the inn that night.
“If that’s the case, then the current Holy Emperor is not only not tyrannical, but is in fact a paragon of benevolence,” Pei Lanqing said, his tone calm yet flowing like a clear spring into their hearts.
“When Your Majesty takes to the battlefield, it is to vanquish our enemies and protect the people of Great Qi. This is the ultimate expression of benevolence.”
“And the Prefect of Fengzhou, a government official paid by the imperial court, secretly engaged in corruption and embezzlement, even attempting to deceive and mislead the Emperor. You just said that killing without teaching is tyranny. How can Your Majesty’s execution of this traitor, meant to serve as a lesson for all Great Qi officials, be considered tyrannical?”
“That’s a valid point, Brother. I’m convinced,” Su Minghui said, rising and bowing to them across the screen. Beside him, Wang Naying suddenly turned pale and abruptly left the Drunken Wind Pavilion.
Xiao Linye, however, had no attention to spare for them. His gaze was fixed on Pei Lanqing, and each word of praise and defense Pei Lanqing spoke burned like fire in his chest.
“Grand Tutor—if they want to talk, let them. I truly don’t care.”
“But I do,” Pei Lanqing said, his hand gently caressing Xiao Linye’s face. His voice was both gentle and resolute. “My Ye’er, you shed your blood on the battlefield, you work tirelessly in the court to serve the people—you have never done anything wrong. Why should you suffer their criticism?”
Each word was like the warmest Spring Breeze, caressing Xiao Linye’s skin. He could no longer restrain himself and lowered his head to deeply kiss Pei Lanqing’s lips. Pei Lanqing didn’t shy away, wrapping his arms around Xiao Linye’s neck to return his affection.
The two remained in the Drunken Wind Pavilion for a long time, until evening when the sun began to set. Pei Lanqing’s body was exhausted, so Xiao Linye finally helped him put on his hat and supported him as they walked downstairs.
Just as they were about to enter their carriage, they heard Su Minghui’s voice from behind them. “My lord, do you still remember your student? I’ve never forgotten what happened that day. I never expected to meet you again today!”
Xiao Linye turned to face him and nodded slightly. “Oh, it’s you. As I said, I was carrying out an imperial inspection of the inns. If you want to be grateful, be grateful to the Holy Emperor.”
“But—” Su Minghui began to say, but then he saw Pei Lanqing standing beside Xiao Linye. His voice became strained. “This is… your esteemed wife?”
“Yes,” Xiao Linye replied without hesitation. Pei Lanqing, wearing a straw hat, couldn’t speak, so he simply nodded slightly.
Su Minghui watched them, about to say something more, when Xiao Linye spoke again: “My wife is tired and can’t stay long. We’ll take our leave now. Please, young master, do as you wish.”
Without waiting for Su Minghui’s reaction, Xiao Linye bent down and gently carried Pei Lanqing into the carriage.
The carriage rolled through the streets, circling a few times before heading toward the palace.
Pei Lanqing leaned against Xiao Linye’s chest, slightly lifting the carriage window to glance back at the figure still standing in the same spot. Smiling mischievously, he remarked, “It seems Ye’er truly has remarkable charm. After only two meetings, you’ve already left someone utterly captivated.”
Xiao Linye showed no guilt. He simply held Pei Lanqing closer and said, “I can’t compare to the Grand Tutor. From the moment I first saw him, he’s been the only person in my heart.”
Pei Lanqing sighed softly, patting Xiao Linye’s hand. “That was then. Now I’m older, my body is swollen. How can I compare to those young men riding the crest of success?”
“There’s no comparison,” Xiao Linye said seriously, even though he knew Pei Lanqing was only half-joking. “But in my eyes, none of them can even begin to match a fraction of the Grand Tutor’s brilliance.”
