TL: Hua
Chapter 94: The Proclamation – “Wow!”
As the Crown Prince Yuanhe case was being wrapped up, Pei-wenshu didn’t need to accompany them, so he kept himself busy painting in the warm study.
This painting was very mysterious. On two occasions when Zong Suiyang entered the study, Pei Xiting would act startled and immediately put his hand up to stop him from getting closer.
On the third visit, Zong Suiyang deliberately took a step closer, which made Pei Xiting jump up and run over to block him.
Zong Suiyang didn’t try to sneak a peek. He obediently took a step back, wrapped his arms around Pei Xiting’s waist, and said, “What are you painting that’s so secretive?”
“None of your business…” Before Pei Xiting could finish his sentence, his feet left the ground as Zong Suiyang hoisted him onto his shoulder.
Zong Suiyang’s tone was icy. “I’ll bury you in the snow.”
“Your Highness, please spare me!” Pei Xiting was quick to surrender. “I was wrong, I was wrong! I was just kidding; it has to do with you!”
Zong Suiyang wasn’t entirely satisfied with the answer. He paused for a moment but continued carrying Pei Xiting outside.
“Everything about me has to do with you!” Pei Xiting said quickly.
Zong Suiyang stopped and put Pei Xiting down with an expression that said, “I suppose that’s good enough.” Pei Xiting stroked his hair and said with a chuckle, “You just love it when I say sweet things to coax you, don’t you?”
Zong Suiyang didn’t say yes or no. “Is there anything wrong with that?”
“No, there’s nothing wrong,” Pei Xiting said, looking very serious. “Nothing you do is wrong. Your beauty is a free pass!”
“Sweet-talker,” Zong Suiyang said, flicking Pei Xiting’s forehead. “Go back to your important work. I’m leaving.”
Pei Xiting immediately became tender and tried to hold him back. “Where are you going?”
“I don’t know,” Zong Suiyang said after a moment’s thought. “The front hall.”
“Why don’t you bring your official documents here?” Pei Xiting looked around and pointed to a couch nearby. “You can put them there.”
Zong Suiyang pretended to be concerned. “Wouldn’t that be a bad idea? What if I disturb your mysterious work? I’d better go somewhere else.”
Pei Xiting was happy to fall for the act and said with a smile, “I trust you won’t peek at my private things.”
Zong Suiyang willingly accepted the compliment. Yu Shaoyun brought the official documents from the front hall into the warm study and served him a cup of hot tea.
Pei Xiting returned to the desk by the window, took a sip of his soy milk, sighed contentedly, and continued to paint with his head down.
The lid of Zong Suiyang’s teacup clinked softly. He glanced at the stack of long scroll-like documents beside the desk. Judging by the size of the stack, was the great painter Pei planning to illustrate an entire book?
It turned out Zong Suiyang’s guess was a good one. For the next few days, Pei Xiting spent his free time painting his long scrolls in the study. Even at night, after getting into bed, he would mumble to himself thoughtfully.
“I’ve discovered something recently.”
In the evening, Pei Xiting had finished his painting for the day and was lying on Little King, chuckling as he read a storybook. Zong Suiyang sat down on a lounge chair beside him and said this slowly.
Hearing this, Pei Xiting lowered the book and looked at Zong Suiyang, his eyes asking, What is it?
“It’s about these kinds of storybooks,” Zong Suiyang said, glancing at the thin book in Pei Xiting’s hand. “Someone wrote one based on me.”
Even though the book in Pei Xiting’s hand was a martial arts story, he still flinched nervously when he heard this. He pretended to be surprised and said, “Really? What kind of story?”
“An erotic story,” Zong Suiyang said calmly. “A book about men’s love.”
Oh no, no, has Chief Lu been found out? Pei Xiting’s heart thumped. He feigned shock and said, “Are you serious? Who would be so bold as to write such a story about the Crown Prince? I think it’s unlikely. Maybe you misunderstood.”
Given Pei Xiting’s personality, he would normally have asked someone to buy a copy to see it right away. The way he was acting now was, in Zong Suiyang’s eyes, a tacit admission.
Zong Suiyang gave Pei Xiting a knowing look and said, “When I first heard about it, I thought it was a misunderstanding, too. But after I ‘enjoyed’ it myself, I realized there was no misunderstanding at all.”
“I can’t believe someone would do such a thing! How awful!” Pei Xiting’s attitude changed. He jumped off Little King and said indignantly, “We have to find the person. I’m going to give him a good beating!”
Little King, who had been dozing, suddenly felt lighter. It turned its head to look at Pei Xiting, then at its master, and went back to lying down.
Zong Suiyang raised an eyebrow. “Why are you so angry?”
“It’s a book about men’s love! Where do I, your actual partner, fit in?” Pei Xiting said, completely serious. “If they’re going to write a book, it can only be about the two of us as a kind of blessing. Otherwise, it’s just defamation!”
Blessing. Zong Suiyang savored the word, met Pei Xiting’s gaze for a moment, and gave a slight nod. “Not bad.”
Pei Xiting lay back down and said, “So… what’s the name of that book?”
“Night Records of Pomegranate Flowers,” Zong Suiyang said, looking at Pei Xiting. “It’s already on its third volume, and the first two even have illustrated editions.” He then casually asked, “Xiting, have you read it?”
“Night Records of Pomegranate Flowers,” Pei Xiting said, pretending to think. Then he said, “I think I saw it in a bookstore.”
Zong Suiyang said, “I heard it’s selling extremely well. You can’t buy it anymore.”
“Then where did you read it?” Pei Xiting asked, seizing the opportunity to find out more.
Zong Suiyang replied, “My mother’s place.”
Pei Xiting shot up again. “What?!”
“Yesterday, the wife of Duke Wen came to the palace to play cards with my mother. During their chat, they talked about popular books, and the Duke’s wife mentioned this one. My mother was interested, so she borrowed the first two volumes,” Zong Suiyang said slowly. “I saw them on the couch when I went to Fengyi Palace this evening and just happened to flip through them. That’s when I discovered something extraordinary.”
Heh heh, the heavens want to destroy Chief Lu. Pei Xiting thought. He asked, “Did you think it was a good read?”
“It was alright,” Zong Suiyang said. “The illustrations were what I found most appealing.”
We’re done for. The heavens want to destroy Painter Pei. Pei Xiting thought. He struggled to find an excuse. “Wow, so it was an illustrated edition. It seems Duke Wen’s wife really liked it.”
Zong Suiyang neither confirmed nor denied it. He then put on a thoughtful expression and said, “Speaking of which, I thought the illustrations looked like something you would paint.”
“…Huh?” Pei Xiting said blankly. “How could that be? You can’t just say things like that!”
“I was just kidding. There’s just a slight resemblance,” Zong Suiyang said. “It’s fine. I’ve already sent people to investigate. We’ll soon find out who this bold erotic writer and illustrator is.”
It seems we’re really finished this time, Pei Xiting thought, scratching his head, agonizing over whether to turn himself in and ask for a lighter sentence. He glanced at Zong Suiyang, who had closed his eyes and was resting against the back of the chair.
Pei Xiting cautiously leaned forward to the lounge chair and rested his head on the armrest. “If you find them, what are you going to do?”
“Writing and selling such obscene books…” Zong Suiyang thought for a moment. “They’d at least get twenty lashes.”
Pei Xiting plopped down onto the floor!
At least twenty lashes? Wouldn’t that cripple a person?
Zong Suiyang’s eyes were closed, but his hearing was sharp. He could hear Little King’s snores, the sound of the little fox scratching his head, and the rustling of clothes. Then, he felt his leg being hugged. He opened his eyes to see the little fox squatting at his feet, his arms wrapped around his calf, staring at him with a hopeful expression.
“What’s wrong?” Zong Suiyang asked, as if confused. “Why are you suddenly looking at me like that?”
“I’ve been thinking,” Pei Xiting said, gritting his teeth, nodding, and finally speaking. “I’m going to turn myself in.”
Zong Suiyang sat up straighter, leaned forward, and looked at the little fox. “What do you mean?”
“About that ‘Night Records of Pomegranate Flowers’… I’ve actually read it,” Pei Xiting said quietly, while studying Zong Suiyang’s expression. “And those illustrations were indeed painted by me. Your Highness, you truly have sharp eyes. Nothing can escape you!”
“Oh?” Zong Suiyang said. “Is that so?”
Pei Xiting pouted and said, “Since I’ve turned myself in and confessed honestly, can I be acquitted?”
Zong Suiyang said, “I could never bear to give you lashes. But…”
“But what?” Pei Xiting asked quickly.
Zong Suiyang said, “You two are the first to do something like this. If I don’t stop you, won’t it encourage this kind of crooked trend? In the future—”
“Mwah!” Pei Xiting interrupted him.
Zong Suiyang paused. “In the future—”
“Mwah!” Pei Xiting interrupted him a second time.
Zong Suiyang raised an eyebrow, took hold of Pei Xiting’s chin, and let out a light laugh. “Are you that afraid of me giving you lashes?”
“I know you wouldn’t really strap me to a bench and hit me with a long stick until I’m bruised and paralyzed, but still,” Pei Xiting paused and then gave Zong Suiyang a third, much heavier kiss on the mouth, making a sound like a suction cup pulling away. He licked his lips. “I didn’t get your permission. If you really don’t like it, I won’t continue painting.”
Zong Suiyang’s eyes fell on the lips that were opening and closing. His throat bobbed. He lifted Pei Xiting’s chin and kissed him deeply, and only then did he open his eyes and say, “If you don’t paint, what should I look at?”
“So you don’t mind… wait a minute.” Pei Xiting, his mind a little fuzzy from the kiss, suddenly realized what was going on. “You knew all along, and you were just tricking me, weren’t you?”
Zong Suiyang just smiled.
Pei Xiting glared at him, let go of Zong Suiyang’s leg, and pushed him lightly but not too hard.
The lounge chair swayed back and forth. Zong Suiyang leaned back lazily and said, “Lu Mang is the chief clerk of the Longhe Division. I’ve been looking at his handwriting for many years. Even if he deliberately disguised it, I’d still recognize it. As for your paintings, I don’t need to look closely to see they’re yours.”
“Oh, you’re so amazing,” Pei Xiting said sarcastically.
Zong Suiyang patted his thigh, beckoned the mischievous, sarcastic little fox over, and said while holding him, “Have you been hiding from me and painting this stuff all this time?”
“Not at all,” Pei Xiting said, swinging his legs. “There are only seven or eight illustrations per volume. How long could that take? To give you a sneak peek, I’ve already finished the illustrations for the fourth volume.”
Zong Suiyang looked at Pei Xiting’s proud face and asked, “The hardcover editions have the author’s name, so why isn’t yours there?”
“It’s a storybook; the content is what’s important. Why would I sign it?” Pei Xiting’s eyes darted around. “Do you want me to?”
Zong Suiyang nodded and said, “Is there a special edition?”
“Yes,” Pei Xiting said with a fond smile. “For the fourth volume, I’ll print a special copy just for you with both the author’s signature and mine.”
“The author’s is optional. The painter’s signature is enough,” Zong Suiyang said.
Pei Xiting giggled.
He was giggling more and more. The respect, caution, and innate coolness he showed when they first met had disappeared. Most of the time, he was like a child. Zong Suiyang couldn’t help but reach out and touch his cheek. “It’s almost New Year, and the markets in Yejing are being decorated. The nights are especially lively. Don’t spend all day painting in the study. You’ll get a sore neck. You can go out with Yuan Fang or invite your friends.”
“I have legs. If I want to go out, I’ll go out. Do I need you to tell me?” Pei Xiting took Zong Suiyang’s hand and kneaded it like clay. “What are you thinking about?”
“I’ve been very busy lately. I’m either at the palace or the ministry every day. I’m rarely with you during the day and often come back late at night,” Zong Suiyang paused. “I’m afraid I’ve been restricting you.”
In his heart, Zong Suiyang wanted Pei Xiting to be his little fox, inseparable for all twelve hours of the day. But he knew a little fox curled up in one spot all the time would lose its vitality. When he was calm, he understood this, so he had to constantly remind himself.
“Don’t overthink it. Am I the kind of person who would let myself be wronged?” Pei Xiting said mysteriously. “My painting is a big project; you’ll see when the time comes!”
Zong Suiyang, remembering not to pry into the great painter Pei’s private business, said, “Is there anything I can do for you?”
“Yes, my paints are running out, and you have to get me some good ones. Also, I really like that vermillion brush from the Ministry of Rites,” Pei Xiting extorted. “Give it to me. I’m planning to replace my own brush.”
He was talking about the vermillion brush Zong Suiyang used to review official documents. The carved lacquer with cloud patterns was particularly exquisite and a joy to look at.
“You have to ask me for that? Just take it and use it. The storeroom has already stocked up on the best paints, with an endless supply,” Zong Suiyang said, pinching Pei Xiting’s chin. “I thought you knew, since you often go to the storeroom to look for little trinkets.”
“I didn’t notice!” Pei Xiting said happily. “Thank you, thank you. I won’t take it for free. I’ll pay you ninety-nine cents a month!”
Zong Suiyang said in surprise, “That’s so much money; you might break my treasury.”
Pei Xiting laughed and then said, “Let’s get ready for bed. I can’t sleep in tomorrow.”
“Does the great painter Pei have important plans for tomorrow?” Zong Suiyang let go of his hand, patted Pei Xiting’s butt to let him up, and stood up himself.
“If I sleep until noon, I won’t be able to go out and play mahjong with Mei Xiu and the others,” Pei Xiting said, outlining his plan. “I’ll wake up early, finish painting tomorrow’s work, and then go out after lunch or in the afternoon and come back at night.”
Thinking that Pei Xiting hadn’t been out for several days, Zong Suiyang didn’t torment him much that night. He just held him, kissed him for a little while, and then they went to sleep.
Unfortunately, Pei Xiting wasn’t cooperative. The next day, he woke up to a bright sun outside. He sat up and asked, “What time is it?”
A palace attendant from the outer chamber entered quietly and said, “It’s a quarter past 10 a.m.”
Pei Xiting dazed for a moment, then fell back down, wrapped himself in the blankets, and quickly fell back asleep.
The attendant pulled the curtains and quietly withdrew.
—
Afternoon, Yuanyang Pavilion.
Mei Xiu sat on a chair, his figure dignified and elegant, and asked, “Why hasn’t Xiting arrived yet?”
“He can’t make it,” Zong Rui said as he entered. “He’s busy at the East Palace and can’t leave.”
Mei Xiu glanced at Shangguan Jie and Zhao Fan, who were sitting opposite him, and chuckled. “What a shame. Some people were really hoping he would come, but now they’re disappointed, alas!”
Shangguan Jie shot him a cold glare and said, “You’re clearly gloating over someone else’s misfortune.”
“Am I?” Mei Xiu said innocently.
Shangguan Jie gritted his teeth.
Zong Rui sat down calmly, sipping his tea and watching.
“I’m just saying, you two should give up,” Mei Xiu said with certainty. “Xiting would never be with you.”
Zhao Fan asked, “How do you know?”
“He didn’t even invite you to his birthday, which shows you’re not that close,” Mei Xiu said, spreading his hands. “If you want to talk about love, you’re even less qualified.”
Zhao Fan: “…”
Shangguan Jie: “…”
“Besides, he already has someone, and they’re deeply in love and very sweet together,” Mei Xiu said nonchalantly while expertly shuffling the mahjong tiles. “You two are out of luck. Give up now while you can still sit at the same table and play cards.”
Shangguan Jie said, “Did you see it with your own eyes?”
“I did,” Mei Xiu nodded. “And not just me, Prince Zong and everyone at the birthday banquet saw it that night.”
Of course, for the sake of his mother, his father, and all eighteen generations of his ancestors, he didn’t dare to say it was His Royal Highness the crown prince. He could only say vaguely, “They’re a perfect match! A match made in heaven!”
Clank!
Mei Xiu was startled and looked at Shangguan Jie, whose hand had just crushed a teacup. He clicked his tongue and said, “You should go get that bandaged.”
Shangguan Jie stood up abruptly, flicked his sleeve, and left. Zhao Fan’s expression darkened, and he also got up and left.
“Hey, not playing anymore?” Mei Xiu said, puzzled. “Now we’re two short.”
“I expected it,” Zong Rui said, instructing someone to call Qing Lingling, and then added, “Lianhai will be here later.”
Mei Xiu said, “Oh. Wasn’t he busy with the Crown Prince Yuanhe case?”
“He’s mostly done. He’s just deciding on how to handle the sentencing now,” Zong Rui said.
The truth of the old case could not be revealed to the public in every detail. Crown Prince Yuanhe had to be exonerated, but Emperor Xining would never admit his own wrongdoing for his cold indifference and deliberate inaction.
“On a private level, the emperor will not willingly change his tune. On a public level, if it’s revealed that the emperor, due to his personal bias, allowed someone to frame the crown prince, what will happen to the emperor’s authority? What about the imperial family’s reputation?” While Zong Suiyang was deep in thought at his desk, Zong Lu knelt down, bowed his head to Zong Suiyang, and said, “Please let the crime be limited to Li Buyan, the grandson of Lord Li Zhong, and clear Crown Prince Yuanhe of all charges.”
Zong Suiyang studied Zong Lu without immediately responding.
“For this day, you have let Wang Wei live until now, but his crimes are worthy of being torn to pieces. Please publicly announce all his crimes, and let the Ministry of Justice sentence him to a cruel execution,” Zong Lu said. “Also, I ask that Empress Wang be stripped of her posthumous title ‘Yixian,’ that the entire Wang Wei clan be expelled from Yejing, and that they be forbidden from holding office for three generations.”
There was a long silence in the Mingzheng Hall. Zong Suiyang closed his eyes and said, “Granted.”
Zong Lu bowed three times. His eyes welled up with tears, and he said in a trembling voice, “Thank you, Fifth Uncle.”
Zong Suiyang stood up, walked down the steps, helped Zong Lu up, straightened his collar, and said, “Go.”
The next day, when the public notice was posted, Pei Xiting and Yuan Fang were waiting for their grilled fish by the street.
A crowd suddenly swarmed to the nearby bulletin board. Pei Xiting’s sharp ears caught the words “Crown Prince Yuanhe,” so he told the boss he’d be right back and took Yuan Fang with him to join the crowd.
Some of the common people couldn’t read, so the person in the front read the notice aloud, causing everyone to discuss it animatedly.
“Crown Prince Yuanhe was framed by his own attendant? Who is this Li Buyan?”
“It says right there, doesn’t it? He’s Li Zhong’s grandson. Li Zhong was the previous Minister of Justice, who was framed by Crown Prince Yuanhe’s uncle—the Imperial Censor who was banished from the capital by the current Crown Prince a few years ago. His grandson was getting revenge for him!”
“Looking at it this way, all those people who suspected that Crown Prince Yuanhe was killed by… cough cough… the current Crown Prince, were completely slandering him!”
“It was just nonsense anyway! If the current Crown Prince had done it, why would he clear Crown Prince Yuanhe’s name years later? There’s no need for that.”
“And after Crown Prince Yuanhe’s incident, the Crown Prince has been raising his son. I heard the little prince started participating in court affairs before he was even ten years old. The Crown Prince values and nurtures him a lot!”
Pei Xiting listened for a while from the back of the crowd. At some point, Yuan Fang got a handful of melon seeds from somewhere, and they stood side by side, cracking them as they listened. Soon, the topic of conversation began to shift.
“The Crown Prince probably thinks of the little prince as his own son.”
“How can that be? The Crown Prince will definitely have his own son after he gets married. How will the little prince fit in then?”
“Will the Crown Prince really get married? The Emperor and Crown Prince Yuanhe’s children were already toddlers when they were his age.”
“The Crown Prince must have high standards… Hey, isn’t that Third Young Master Pei?”
Everyone turned to look. Pei Xiting stopped cracking his melon seeds and quickly turned to run, but he was surrounded. He could only say, “Don’t push, don’t push, let’s not cause a stampede!”
Person A: “Ah, Third Young Master Pei, I heard you’re now a clerk at the East Palace. So you’re close to the Crown Prince?”
More than that, I’m with the Crown Prince. Pei Xiting said vaguely, “Something like that.”
Person B: “Then tell us, is there any sign of the Crown Prince getting married?”
More than that, if that were possible, he’d be having children by now. Pei Xiting said vaguely, “I think so.”
“What?!” The crowd gasped.
Person C: “Which lady from a good family is it?”
Someone who is far away yet right in front of you. Pei Xiting said mysteriously, “I can’t say.”
Person D: “Can you give us a hint? What is she like?”
That would be a faithful description of me, Pei Xiting thought. He cleared his throat and said calmly, “He has a beautiful face and an outstanding temperament.”
Note: He and She have the same pronunciation in Chinese.
“Wow!”
“He’s in the prime of his life and has a special skill.”
“Wow!”
“He’s bold and decisive, which made the iron tree blossom.”
“Wow!”
“He and the Crown Prince are a match made in heaven, deeply in love, and they’re going to—” Pei Xiting looked around and said loudly, “—be together forever!”
“WOW!!!”
Yuan Fang was almost deafened and covered his ears.
Patrolling officers heard the commotion and came over, rescuing Pei Xiting, who had somehow held an impromptu “press conference” and a “semi-official announcement of the Crown Prince’s relationship.”
When Pei Xiting went back to get his grilled fish, Yuan Fang asked, “Will there be any trouble from saying all that?”
“I didn’t say who it was,” Pei Xiting said, his eyes gleaming as he stared at the grilled fish on the stove. “They’ll never guess it was me, so don’t worry.”
ꉂ (≧ヮ≦)
Xiting is such a troll
HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA I LOVEEE ITTT