TERTSGTGBFC Chapter 13

Xiao Linye had been closely monitoring Pei Lanqing’s condition throughout the journey. Fortunately, the carriage traveled smoothly, exiting the palace grounds without incident and arriving at Danyang Lake, where the Qionglin Banquet was to be held.

Because of Xiao Linye’s personal attendance, a red pavilion had been erected half a month in advance. A majestic Dragon Boat was moored at the shore, with civil and military officials and newly conferred scholars waiting below for the emperor’s arrival.

As the carriage gradually came to a halt, the officials below shouted, “Long live the emperor!” Xiao Linye rose and stood before the carriage, waving his hand to dismiss the greetings. However, he didn’t immediately dismount. Instead, he turned to help Pei Lanqing, whose movements were restricted, and together they stepped down from the carriage, Xiao Linye supporting Pei Lanqing’s waist.

Over the past few months, everyone had witnessed the emperor’s unprecedented behavior regarding the Grand Tutor. Initially, Censors had tried to dissuade him, but they soon realized that Xiao Linye was utterly impervious to any persuasion, whether gentle or forceful, unless the Grand Tutor himself spoke up. Eventually, they had to concede defeat.

The Dragon Boat slowly drifted away from the dock, accompanied by the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments. The spring blossoms on both shores, combined with the lake’s shimmering waters and the surrounding mountains, created a scene of breathtaking beauty.

Xiao Linye sat at the bow of the dragon boat with Pei Lanqing, watching the new faces below. After repeated discussions, they had decided to make Liu Weibai, a commoner with no family background, the top scholar. Lu Chengxian, a favored disciple of Pei Bingwen from the Pei Family, was named the second scholar. For the third scholar, they chose Wang Naying, whom Xiao Linye had met briefly the night he left the palace.

Su Minghui had failed the imperial examination and was forced to sit in a gloomy corner, missing his chance to place in the top three.

As a Qionglin Banquet, it was inevitable that the scholars would engage in poetry and literary games. Though Xiao Linye wasn’t interested in such things, he saw Pei Lanqing’s enthusiasm and personally composed the first line and set the rhyme scheme to get the game started.

After several rounds, Liu Weibai, the commoner top scholar, proved less skilled in such romantic pursuits and gradually fell behind. Pei Lanqing, Lu Chengxian, Wang Naying, and others, however, continued to produce brilliant lines, their competition fierce and evenly matched.

But this was meant to be a chance for the new scholars to shine. After a few more rounds, Pei Lanqing pretended to be defeated and withdrew, taking a glass of honey wine as a self-imposed penalty.

“Why aren’t you continuing, Grand Tutor? I wanted to see you defeat all the challengers,” Xiao Linye said, smiling as he peeled a fruit and fed it to Pei Lanqing.

Pei Lanqing was already accustomed to Xiao Linye’s public displays of affection. He bit into a piece of fruit and chuckled softly. “Of course we must leave some opportunities for the new talents Ye’er has chosen. If I were to win, wouldn’t this Qionglin Banquet be a waste of time?”

“Don’t say such things,” Xiao Linye shook his head, his gaze fixed on Pei Lanqing, completely oblivious to the increasingly intense linked verse competition among the scholars on the boat. “If the world could witness the Grand Tutor’s brilliance once more, this Qionglin Banquet would be truly worthwhile.”

“Ye’er is teasing me again,” Pei Lanqing said, just as he reached for the wine jug to pour Xiao Linye a drink. But suddenly, a sharp cramp shot through his stomach, which had been subtly aching all along. The wine cup tumbled onto the table with a clatter. “Ugh—”

“Grand Tutor?” Xiao Linye immediately wrapped his arms around Pei Lanqing’s waist, his hand gently probing his abdomen. “Is it stomach pain? I’ll have them dock the boat right away!”

The cramp came on suddenly and passed just as quickly. Pei Lanqing exhaled softly, shaking his head as he grasped Xiao Linye’s hand. “It’s nothing, just the baby moving. Imperial Physician Liu said the due date is still a few days away.”

But Xiao Linye remained uneasy. He wrapped his arms around Pei Lanqing from behind, his hands resting on his belly for a long moment, until he was certain everything was perfectly stable before finally allowing the boat to continue its journey.

The linked-verse competition on the ship was drawing to a close. Wang Naying, the third-ranked scholar, ultimately held out the longest and claimed victory.

According to tradition, the emperor should bestow wine as a prize. However, Xiao Linye’s entire attention was focused on Pei Lanqing. It was only when Pei Lanqing tugged at his sleeve that Xiao Linye snapped back to reality and instructed Tian Rui to present the wine.

But in that fleeting moment of distraction, he failed to notice Wang Naying’s unusual behavior, a lapse that nearly cost him a lifetime of regret.

Wang Naying knelt before Xiao Linye on the ship to express his gratitude. Then, he stepped forward and took the wine cup from Tian Rui’s hand.

Xiao Linye raised his own cup to drink with him. Just as his wide sleeve momentarily obscured his vision, Wang Naying, standing only three steps away, suddenly produced a short dagger from nowhere.

The attack was so sudden that no one reacted. Only Pei Lanqing, standing beside Xiao Linye, noticed the dagger first. He immediately cried out, “Ye’er, watch out!” and without a thought for his own safety, threw himself in front of Xiao Linye.

Fortunately, Xiao Linye had survived countless battles over the years. He reacted instantly, pulling Pei Lanqing behind him. Bracing himself against the table, he raised his foot and sent Wang Naying flying with a powerful kick.

Wang Naying, a mere scholar, couldn’t withstand Xiao Linye’s powerful blow. He immediately fell to the ground, coughing up blood uncontrollably. The surrounding guards swarmed forward and restrained him.

But Xiao Linye had no time to spare for him. Pei Lanqing, having been startled and jostled, felt a sharp pain in his already tender abdomen. He collapsed into Xiao Linye’s arms, drenched in cold sweat from the agony.

“Turn back! Turn back immediately!” Xiao Linye was nearly frantic. He held Pei Lanqing tightly, his eyes bloodshot, yet dared not apply any pressure, fearing he might hurt him further.

The carriage raced through the imperial city, returning them to the palace. Fortunately, Chengqian Palace had been prepared for Pei Lanqing’s delivery a month earlier, and Imperial Physicians Liu and Feng were on standby at all times. Upon hearing of their return, they rushed over immediately.

“Hurry, see what’s wrong with the Grand Tutor!” Xiao Linye fought to suppress his rising panic, one arm around Pei Lanqing’s body as he beckoned the physicians forward.

Pei Lanqing was in too much pain to speak, only feeling the fetus within him plummet erratically, as if it might tear his abdomen apart. He could only grip Xiao Linye’s hand tightly, clinging to his last vestiges of clarity.

After Imperial Physician Feng took Pei Lanqing’s pulse, he carefully touched his abdomen. His expression immediately changed. “Your Majesty, the Grand Tutor’s panic has caused the fetus to shift position. It seems we’re now facing—”

Xiao Linye glared at him, silencing the Imperial Physician instantly. He lowered his head to kiss Pei Lanqing’s sweat-soaked forehead, maintaining a gentle tone amidst his extreme frenzy. “Don’t be afraid, Grand Tutor. Everything will be alright.”

“Hurry and find a solution!”

Imperial Physicians Feng and Liu exchanged glances and immediately began frantically discussing remedies. The most experienced midwife in the palace worked to reposition the fetus, while the entire court held its breath.

Pei Lanqing’s body had been severely depleted since the early stages of his pregnancy. Despite Xiao Linye’s tireless efforts over the past few months to replenish his strength, he had only managed to restore about eighty or ninety percent.

Now, in his terror, the underlying weakness was triggered once more. Pei Lanqing collapsed into Xiao Linye’s arms, wracked with pain and utterly drained of strength. Even breathing became a struggle.

“Ye… Ye’er…”

“It hurts so much… Ugh…”

Xiao Linye’s heart shattered. He held Pei Lanqing tightly, letting him grip his arm for support, and kissed his sweat-drenched black hair repeatedly. “Grand Tutor! It’ll be over soon. Just hold on a little longer, alright? The pain will be gone soon!”

But it wasn’t that easy. Late that night, despite Pei Lanqing’s repeated efforts, there was still no sign of the child’s birth.

His undergarments[footnote] [/footnote] were soaked with sweat, and long strands of hair clung messily to his pale face, a heartbreakingly beautiful sight.

“Your Majesty…” Imperial Physician Feng took advantage of Pei Lanqing’s rest to pull Xiao Linye outside, lowering his voice. “The Grand Tutor’s condition is truly dire. May I be so bold as to ask…”

“Save the Grand Tutor,” Xiao Linye cut him off before he could finish. “I only want the Grand Tutor to live. I’ll give up anything else.”

“Do you understand?”

Imperial Physician Feng immediately bowed deeply. “I understand.”

Before they could finish speaking, Pei Lanqing’s hoarse cries of pain echoed from the inner chamber. Xiao Linye immediately abandoned the physician and rushed back to the bedside, grasping Pei Lanqing’s hand.

“Ye… Ye’er…” Pei Lanqing struggled to open his eyes, enduring the throes of labor as he gazed at Xiao Linye. “Am I… going to die…?”

“What nonsense are you talking about, Grand Tutor!” Xiao Linye’s voice trembled as he gripped Pei Lanqing’s hand tightly. “It’s just a minor complication. Just hold on a little longer, and the child will be born soon.”

Pei Lanqing had been writhing in agony for half a day. He was no longer fooled by Xiao Linye’s words. Knowing his time was short, he could only gaze at Xiao Linye with a wistful longing, wanting to see him just a little longer.

“Ye’er, don’t lie to me… I know everything…”

Xiao Linye carefully cradled Pei Lanqing in his arms, trying to warm him with his own body. “The Grand Tutor always told me to trust you. Why don’t you trust me now?”

“I said everything will be fine, and it will be!”

As he spoke, he signaled Imperial Physician Feng to abandon the child and focus solely on saving Pei Lanqing’s life.

But at that moment, Pei Lanqing seemed to sense something. Weakly, he pulled Xiao Linye’s hand and placed it on his belly, feeling the faint stirrings of the fetus. “Ye’er… touch him…”

“Can we keep him?”

Xiao Linye couldn’t answer. Pei Lanqing buried his face against his chest and continued in broken phrases, “I… can’t hold on much longer…”

“Let him stay with you, okay?”

“No!” Xiao Linye, for once, flatly rejected Pei Lanqing’s request. He knew Pei Lanqing was already giving up. His chest heaved violently as he held him tightly in his arms.

“The Grand Tutor wants to sacrifice himself to save him, doesn’t he?”

“Very well. Once the Grand Tutor is gone, I will immediately announce to the world that I am passing the throne to him and appointing Prince Li as regent. Then I will leave with you!”

“Ye’er!” Pei Lanqing knew his beloved, whom he had raised himself, too well. He knew that if Xiao Linye said it, he would certainly do it.

Tears flowed helplessly down his face, and his voice was hoarse as he said, “Why must you do this…”

Xiao Linye kissed away his tears, tasting their bitter, acrid flavor. He vowed, “I am now the emperor. My words are as good as gold, and there is no turning back.”

“Wherever the Grand Tutor is, I will be there too.”

Pei Lanqing closed his eyes in silence, implicitly accepting Xiao Linye’s words.

Imperial Physicians Feng and Liu were sweating profusely. Despite Xiao Linye’s decree, sacrificing the son to save the father was not an easy decision.

After weighing their options, Imperial Physician Liu bravely suggested, “Your Majesty, the Grand Tutor is only lacking one final push. In my humble opinion, we might try having him kneel, allowing him to use Your Majesty’s body as leverage. This might help him deliver the child naturally.”

With no other options left, Xiao Linye agreed. He carefully supported Pei Lanqing’s body, helping him kneel and lean against his chest, his hands supporting his waist and abdomen.

The change in posture immediately sent a wave of pain through Pei Lanqing, forcing him to arch his neck high. But he knew this was his last chance. He clutched Xiao Linye’s neck with both hands, summoning his remaining strength as the pain intensified.

“Ah—!”

Xiao Linye held him tightly, refusing to release his grip even as Pei Lanqing’s scratching drew blood on his shoulder. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Imperial Physician Feng’s joyful announcement reached his ears.

“It’s born! Your Majesty, it’s born!”

But the celebration was cut short as a torrent of blood quickly stained the bedding crimson.

Xiao Linye’s eyes widened in horror. He roared at the imperial physicians to find a way to stop Pei Lanqing’s bleeding, but bowl after bowl of medicine proved useless.

Pei Lanqing had already slipped into unconsciousness. Xiao Linye clutched his body tightly, refusing to let anyone else near. The once-grand and opulent Chengqian Palace now felt like a colossal coffin.

Imperial Physician Feng knelt on the floor, his hands soaked in blood. But just then, a spark of inspiration ignited in his mind. He scrambled to Xiao Linye’s side, crawling on his knees.

“Your Majesty, there’s still… there’s still a way!”

“The Medicinal Gu can not only counteract the poison but also prolong the life of the person who consumes it! If we can get the Grand Tutor to swallow another Medicinal Gu, we might still save him!”

A flash of light ignited in Xiao Linye’s eyes, but despair quickly returned. Pei Lanqing had never told him where the Medicinal Gu came from. How could he possibly find a second one now?

Still, he immediately issued orders for a thorough search of the palace and its surroundings. He also dispatched riders at breakneck speed to the Pei Family, demanding to know if Pei Bingwen had any knowledge of the matter.

That night seemed exceptionally long. Xiao Linye could feel Pei Lanqing’s body growing colder in his arms, bit by bit.

The sky seemed as if it would never brighten again. He felt like he had reverted to the forgotten little prince of the deep palace, who had fought tooth and nail to win the love he now stood to lose.

He called out Pei Lanqing’s name repeatedly, just as he had done in their childhood. Back then, Pei Lanqing had always patiently answered him. But now, all he received in return was the endless, echoing emptiness of the palace.

“Grand Tutor… just hold on a little longer…” Xiao Linye kissed Pei Lanqing’s face, feeling his faint breath. The Dragon Head Sword lay within his reach. The moment Pei Lanqing’s breath faded, the sword would be drawn.

Xiao Linye waited for what felt like an eternity, until the eastern sky finally began to lighten, and he thought he heard the sound of horses thundering through the palace gates—

“Your Majesty! Pei Bingwen has presented two Medicinal Gu. I have brought them back in their entirety!”

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