Chapter 16: Incognito
A wave of dizziness washed over him.
More than half a month had passed since their departure. Everywhere they went, the towns where the imperial carriage stopped presented a picture of prosperity, bustling commerce, and peaceful contentment.
That night, they stayed in Fan City. There was no imperial palace there, and Xiao Linye had no intention of burdening the local populace with the cost of building a new one just for his visit.
Instead, he designated the residence of Wu Wei, the Prefect of Fan City, as their lodging.
Though their journey had been leisurely, with stops for sightseeing and rest, the constant travel had taken its toll. Xiao Linye, concerned about Pei Lanqing’s health, urged him and their child to rest first while he attended the local officials’ banquet.
After three rounds of wine, it was nearly midnight when he returned to the Prefect’s residence in his sedan chair.
Fearing Pei Lanqing might already be asleep and not wanting to disturb him, Xiao Linye forbade his attendants from making a sound. He quietly pushed open the door to their room.
The moonlight that night was perfect, a silver disc peeking through the window frame. Pei Lanqing, dressed in a pale green silk robe, was leaning against a small couch in the outer chamber, coaxing Quan’er to sleep.
As if sensing his footsteps, Pei Lanqing immediately looked up and smiled faintly at him, mouthing the words, “Ye’er is back.”
Xiao Linye stepped inside, leaving the old eunuch Tian Rui to watch Quan’er. He then wrapped his arm around Pei Lanqing and led him into the inner chamber’s bedroom.
“I was hoping the Grand Tutor would return early to rest. Why were you waiting for me instead?” Xiao Linye gently embraced Pei Lanqing, sitting beside him on the bed. He couldn’t help but feel concerned; Pei Lanqing had grown noticeably thinner recently and seemed constantly fatigued. He even regretted bringing him out of the palace to endure the hardships of their journey.
Pei Lanqing placed his hand on Xiao Linye’s chest and shook his head. “I wouldn’t have been able to sleep until Ye’er returned. I just spent some time talking with Quan’er, and I’m no longer tired.”
“Even so, the Grand Tutor should rest more,” Xiao Linye said, his hand caressing Pei Lanqing’s slender back through the thin pale-green robe. “What if I had returned even later? Would you have sat outside all night?”
“It’s not as serious as you make it sound,” Pei Lanqing chuckled, not wanting Xiao Linye to dwell on the matter. He raised his finger and pointed toward the table in the outer chamber. “Shortly after I came here this evening, the tribute from the nearby prefectures arrived.”
“Setting aside other matters, even the Xuān Brocade sent from Duzhou is finer than what has been presented to the imperial court in recent years.”
Speaking of the Xuān Brocade, Xiao Linye had noticed Pei Lanqing’s change of clothes the moment he entered the room. The young man’s azure robe was made from the very same fabric. Now, hearing Pei Lanqing’s words, Xiao Linye immediately understood the deeper meaning behind the gesture.
“The Xuān Brocade is a specialty of Duzhou,” Xiao Linye said, half stroking the fabric, half caressing Pei Lanqing’s body. “I’ve heard that Duzhou has profited greatly from it in recent years, even building a Brocade Pavilion in the city, claiming it to be the finest in the world.”
After years of intimacy, the two men understood each other perfectly. Pei Lanqing felt no need to hide his thoughts from Xiao Linye. “Indeed,” he replied. “Though I haven’t seen it myself, I was chatting with the young maids here this afternoon, and they described the pavilion as a paradise, overflowing with rare treasures and exotic wonders.”
“But I did some quick calculations,” Pei Lanqing continued. “While the Xuān Brocade is exquisite, its complex craftsmanship and lengthy production time mean that Duzhou has consistently claimed its output is too low to generate significant profits when submitting tax silver to the imperial court in recent years.”
“So how does the city suddenly have the spare funds to build a pavilion with such a grandiose title?”
“In my opinion, the Brocade Pavilion, said to be the finest in the realm, might not be just empty fame,” Xiao Linye said, holding Pei Lanqing’s hand. Though a gentle smile still played on his lips, his gaze had turned cold.
Pei Lanqing knew Xiao Linye was already determined to investigate the situation in Duzhou. He traced lines in Xiao Linye’s palm: “Judging by the distance, it should take us at least seven or eight days, or at most half a month, to reach Duzhou.”
Xiao Linye, however, pulled Pei Lanqing’s hand to his lips and kissed it. Then, he leaned in close, a knowing smile playing on his face. “Along the way, we’ve seen the local conditions in various places, but wherever we went, we were always greeted by officials, both high and low.”
“If they wanted to hide something, we wouldn’t have seen it.”
“So, Ye’er means…” Pei Lanqing’s eyes flickered, then he chuckled. “Are you suggesting we do what those novels describe—go on an incognito imperial tour?”
“Why not?” Xiao Linye wrapped his arms around Pei Lanqing’s waist, pulling him close. “We won’t tell anyone. We’ll take a few skilled guards, disguise ourselves as merchants, and stay in Dùzhōu City for ten days or a month.”
Pei Lanqing tapped Xiao Linye’s forehead with a finger. “The emperor himself, acting so recklessly.”
Xiao Linye refused to let go, continuing to nuzzle Pei Lanqing in his arms and dropping a kiss near his ear. “That’s right, Ye’er is determined to be mischievous this time. Grand Tutor, will you join me?”
Pei Lanqing, worn down by his persistence, finally chuckled in Xiao Linye’s embrace. “Very well, Grand Tutor will join you.”
Thus, the next day, news spread from the Prefect’s residence that Your Majesty had fallen slightly ill due to the unfamiliar climate and was temporarily halting his journey in Fan City.
Meanwhile, on a secluded government road outside the city, an unassuming carriage and a few idle steeds were heading towards Duzhou.
Without the usual retinue of officials, Xiao Linye and Pei Lanqing traveled light, reaching Duzhou’s borders within five days. Even before entering the city, they lifted the carriage curtains to observe the landscape. It was immediately clear that this place was unlike any other.
Instead of rice paddies, the gentle slopes outside the city were covered in endless mulberry fields.
Though the scenery was beautiful, Xiao Linye noticed that the people toiling in the fields, harvesting mulberry leaves, did not possess the rumored prosperity. Instead, they appeared gaunt and exhausted.
This only strengthened his conviction that something was amiss in Dùzhōu City.
The carriage slowly approached the city gate. Pei Lanqing glanced out the window with a puzzled expression. It was morning, usually the busiest time for the market, but only a handful of pedestrians strolled through the streets of Duzhou.
Not only were there few people, but even the shops that had opened for business seemed far from thriving.
As the guards at the city gate inspected their carriage, Xiao Linye decided to strike up a conversation. He pulled out a few pieces of silver and placed them in the guard’s hand. “Brother, I’m a tea merchant from the east. I’m passing through and hoping to do some business here.”
The guard pocketed the silver and raised his eyelids, sizing him up with disdain. “You want to do business in Duzhou? Do you even have the capital?”
Xiao Linye immediately sensed the problem but forced a smile and nodded. “It’s just a small business, but I’ve prepared some silver for… smoothing things over. I was wondering, which street in Duzhou City is the liveliest?”
The guard raised his eyelids again, scrutinizing him from head to toe with a mocking tone. “If you’re here to throw your money away, go to Yuanping Street.”
With that, he turned away without another word to inspect the next arrivals.
Xiao Linye was infuriated by the guard’s attitude. Once back in the carriage, he told the driver, “Take us to Yuanping Street. I want to see what money in Duzhou City I can’t spend!”
Pei Lanqing had been observing the street outside when he heard Xiao Linye’s angry outburst. He couldn’t help but chuckle and then sat down beside him. “My Ye’er is the wealthiest man in the world. There’s no amount of money you can’t afford.”
Xiao Linye’s anger flared quickly but subsided just as fast. Now, he only wanted to coax some affection from Pei Lanqing. He feigned grievance and pulled him into a tight embrace. “Since ascending the throne, no one has ever dared to speak to me like that.”
“You know this journey has been difficult. We were humiliated even before entering the city.”
Caught in his long arms, Pei Lanqing couldn’t break free. He could only soothe him as he had done in their childhood. “Yes, yes, that guard was blind and looked down on us. You’ve been wronged.”
Xiao Linye was amused by his tone and couldn’t maintain the act any longer. By now, the carriage had entered the city. He simply held Pei Lanqing close and gazed out the window.
The scene inside the city was much like what they had seen outside the gates. Only a few scattered shops were open, mostly grain and rice merchants.
“Duzhou converted all the farmland outside the city into mulberry fields to produce Xuān Brocade, so they now rely entirely on trade for grain,” Xiao Linye frowned. If Duzhou were truly as prosperous as rumored, this wouldn’t be a problem.
But now, Dùzhōu City appeared not prosperous but desolate. The city’s people certainly didn’t look wealthy.
The carriage passed through many streets and alleys, and Xiao Linye and Pei Lanqing’s expressions grew increasingly solemn.
In stark contrast to the desolation of the streets stood the magnificent seven-story pagoda-style building at the heart of Dùzhōu City.
Even from a distance, Xiao Linye could see the layers of shimmering eaves, the brocade curtains fluttering in the wind, and the golden bells tinkling beneath them. If the exterior was this extravagant, what wonders lay within?
After turning a corner, the carriage arrived at Yuanping Street, as the guards had described.
This was the only place that still showed signs of liveliness. Restaurants lined both sides of the street, along with shops selling various goods and entertainment. But it was clear that ordinary commoners couldn’t afford to patronize these establishments.
Xiao Linye helped Pei Lanqing out of the carriage. Gazing at the scene, he instructed his attendant, “First, find a restaurant for us to stay in. Then, inquire about any shops available for rent on this street.”
The attendant responded and immediately set off to do as he was told. Xiao Linye had no interest in sightseeing in the city at the moment. He and Pei Lanqing entered the nearest restaurant, requested a private room, and settled in.
After several days of travel, Pei Lanqing hadn’t felt particularly tired in the carriage. But now, in their room, exhaustion washed over him.
Though Xiao Linye was preoccupied with affairs in Duzhou City, he remained deeply concerned about the man in his arms. He immediately noticed Pei Lanqing’s discomfort, pulling him closer and settling him on the edge of the bed. “It was my impatience,” he said. “Duzhou’s problems won’t be solved in a day or two. I’ve only exhausted the Grand Tutor.”
Pei Lanqing shook his head, his face pale but still smiling. “It was just a few days in a carriage. What’s so tiring about that?”
“Though we traveled incognito, it was still far easier than being a true common merchant.”
Yet Xiao Linye remained uneasy, sensing that Pei Lanqing’s health had weakened again recently. “Grand Tutor, rest first. I’ll have the innkeeper bring up some food.”
With that, he released Pei Lanqing and rose to leave.
Pei Lanqing had intended to join him for some fresh air, but as he stood up, perhaps too abruptly, a wave of dizziness swept over him.
He heard Xiao Linye cry out, “Grand Tutor!” before losing consciousness.
