Following the enthronement ceremony came the ancestral temple rites and a grand banquet for the assembled officials.
Xiao Linye toiled in the imperial court all day, finally managing to extricate himself only at the late hour of *suye*.[footnote] T/N:While “suye” might sound like a single word, it is actually a combination of two characters: “夙 (sù)” which means morning or early, and “夜 (yè)” which means night. Therefore, the phrase “夙夜 (sù yè)” encompasses both morning and night, signifying a continuous period of time [/footnote]
Yet instead of returning to Chengqian Palace, the traditional residence of Great Qi’s emperors, he ordered his palanquin bearers to carry him directly to Phoenix Prosperity Palace.
The winter night grew increasingly frigid. As Xiao Linye stepped down from the imperial palanquin, draped in a thick cloak, he noticed the red plum blossoms blooming vibrantly against the snow. He instructed an attendant to pluck a few branches.
Phoenix Prosperity Palace remained brightly lit, as if awaiting Xiao Linye’s return.
Clutching the plum blossoms, Xiao Linye entered the inner chamber. Through layers of sheer curtains, he saw Pei Lanqing sitting on the bed, clad only in a thin robe.
Pei Lanqing appeared to have just bathed; his hair was still damp, and a faint flush lingered on his pale cheeks. The recent illness had further thinned his frame, leaving only his noticeably swollen belly as evidence of the nurturing he had received.
At this sight, Xiao Linye’s grip tightened around the plum blossoms, his Adam’s apple bobbing. He paused briefly before continuing toward the inner chamber.
Hearing his footsteps, Pei Lanqing’s face lit up with a smile. He struggled to rise, leaning heavily on his arms as he greeted Xiao Linye, “Your Majesty has returned?”
Xiao Linye strode over to Pei Lanqing and steadied him by the waist. The day’s exhaustion vanished as he inhaled the scent of Pei Lanqing’s hair. “Why doesn’t the Grand Tutor call me Ye’er anymore?”
Pei Lanqing paused, then reached up to remove Xiao Linye’s crown. “Your Majesty has ascended the throne,” he said softly. “It’s no longer appropriate to address you so informally.”
Xiao Linye, however, was unwilling to accept this. He swept Pei Lanqing into his arms, carried him to the bed, and leaned in to press tender kisses across his face. “But I still want to hear the Grand Tutor call me Ye’er. And I don’t want to address me as ‘We’ before you.”
“Will you call me that, Grand Tutor?”
Pei Lanqing’s body, having grown accustomed to Xiao Linye’s attention over the past few days, responded instinctively.
Tonight, however, he had no desire to suppress or conceal his reaction. It was Xiao Linye’s coronation day, and he intended to give him a grand gift. That was why he had timed Xiao Linye’s return to the palace, bathing and waiting in advance.
Pei Lanqing gazed into Xiao Linye’s eyes, then finally tilted his head back and kissed his lips, his voice trembling slightly. “Alright… I’ll still call you Ye’er from now on.”
“Ye’er, shall the Grand Tutor please you tonight?”
Xiao Linye couldn’t possibly miss the meaning in Pei Lanqing’s words. His eyes darkened suddenly as if concealing an endless fire that quickly spread to both of them.
That night, Xiao Linye truly experienced what it meant to be utterly joyous and completely satisfied. Even the celestial paradise couldn’t compare to this earthly bliss…
++++++
The next morning, before the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), the old eunuch Tian Rui gently reminded Xiao Linye from behind the dragon-embroidered curtains that it was time for the morning court session.
Xiao Linye still held Pei Lanqing tightly against him, the lingering afterglow of their passionate night making him reluctant to let go. Wanting Pei Lanqing to sleep a little longer, he simply kissed his forehead.
Yet even this slight movement roused Pei Lanqing. Every inch of his body ached, but the child in his womb felt nourished and content.
“Grand Tutor, sleep a little longer,” Xiao Linye murmured. “I’ll return after court to have breakfast with you.”
Pei Lanqing, nestled against Xiao Linye’s strong chest, shook his head gently. “No, I have something to do today.”
“Something to do?” Xiao Linye stroked Pei Lanqing’s back, looking at him with a hint of confusion. “What is it, Grand Tutor?”
Pei Lanqing tried to sit up, but his aching waist betrayed him, and he collapsed back into Xiao Linye’s arms. “This requires Ye’er’s permission. I want to go home for a visit.”
Xiao Linye froze at the mention of Pei Lanqing’s request. Logically, with the Pei Family still intact, there was no reason to stop Pei Lanqing from visiting his family. Yet, Xiao Linye selfishly wanted to keep his Grand Tutor all to himself. “Does the Grand Tutor miss home?”
Pei Lanqing understood Xiao Linye’s thoughts perfectly. His pale fingertips gently traced the scars left by war across Xiao Linye’s body, caressing each inch. “I’ve been teaching in the palace since my teens, returning home every month or so. It’s not really a matter of missing home.”
“But first, the New Year is approaching, and I must return at least once. And second…”
“Second, though the Pei Family holds no official power, our students are scattered across the land. Ye’er, now that you’ve just ascended the throne and need capable men, I want to persuade my father to publicly declare his support.”
Xiao Linye’s heart warmed at these words. His Grand Tutor had always been this way, wholeheartedly assisting him in everything.
“So, Your Majesty, will you grant your subject permission to leave the palace?” Pei Lanqing asked deliberately, seeing Xiao Linye’s silence.
“Of course,” Xiao Linye replied, kissing Pei Lanqing’s cheek again. He sighed. “If the Grand Tutor wishes to return home to persuade his father-in-law, how could I, as his son-in-law, possibly stop him?”
Pei Lanqing was caught between anger and amusement by Xiao Linye’s words, tapping his fingertip sharply against Xiao Linye’s lips. “Ye’er, you’re talking nonsense again.”
But before he could react, Xiao Linye had bitten down on his fingertip, gently nibbling it. “Since I can’t stop you, Ye’er can only beg the Grand Tutor to return quickly and not leave me alone in an empty room.”
“You’re really getting more outrageous with each word,” Pei Lanqing said, pushing himself up and turning his back to Xiao Linye.
Xiao Linye, however, wrapped his arms around Pei Lanqing from behind, his hand resting on Pei Lanqing’s belly. He kissed Pei Lanqing’s ear as he whispered, “The Grand Tutor has been away for too long. Our child must miss his imperial father.”
As if understanding his words, the baby inside Pei Lanqing’s womb gave two gentle kicks, making Xiao Linye laugh. “See? I told you I was right.”
Pei Lanqing couldn’t help but smile as well.
“If the Grand Tutor must return home, take Tian Rui with you. Those little eunuchs who usually attend to you are so clumsy. I don’t trust them.”
“And be sure to bring plenty of warm clothing and hand warmers. The Ministry of Revenue was saying the other day that this winter will be exceptionally cold.”
“Alright, I’ll do as you say.” Pei Lanqing silently clasped the hand Xiao Linye had wrapped around his waist, inwardly marveling at how his Ye’er had truly grown into a man he could rely on.
