Fifteenth of the First Month, noon.
Feng Xiao entered the palace for an audience with the Emperor.
Compared to the time before Feng Xiao left the city, the Sui Emperor had more silver hairs in his head than he remembered.
At this moment, it hasn't been three years since the establishment of the new Dynasty.
For the first time, Feng Xiao sensed dejection from Yang Jian.
As if proving his feelings correct, Yang Jian sighed.
"Yuntian, there is only you and I here, in this place. I will be frank with you. As present events progressed, there is no harm in telling you that although there is still will in my heart, my strength for them is no longer there."
Feng Xiao raised a brow. "His Majesty takes care of a myriad of affairs a day as he worked night and day. It's labouring. Turn in earlier every day, and your health might take a healthier turn."
Yang Jian remained silent for a moment. "In the last few days, there is a song going around in the capital. Have you heard of it?"
Feng Xiao: "This humble subject has just hurried back from Luoyang. After I washed and changed into a new set of clothes, I came into the palace immediately. I have not managed to hear of any song."
"The Yang flower withers in defeat in the drizzling rain, the good and the bad shall be rewarded in the end. A few days ago, Li Mu died. Yesterday, Liu Fang too, died. The Empress said she's seen the Yuwen family in her sleep, then she fell ill from a cold. Presently, she's still bedridden." Yang Jian said, his expression taking a worrisome turn, "Say, would there really be spirits of the wronged who refuse to rest, and hence turned into vengeful spirits to sow chaos in the living?"
Feng Xiao found nothing strange with these happenings. "Thoughts during the day would materialize into dreams; a cold is not a serious illness. The Heavens stand by the Empress, and she will recover fully after a few days. This humble subject has not seen Li Mu and Liu Fang himself, so I could not make a conclusion. As for the folk song, pardon this humble subject for being direct. Someone must be pulling the strings with ill intentions towards Your Majesty. If the Dynasty has reached the end of its reign and on the verge of decay, armies from across the lands would be descending into chaos and groups of so-called 'heroes' will rise to take matters into their own hands—in that case, it would not be strange if some rumours are being spread. But now, Your Majesty has just begun building this country with a heart of philanthropy while waiting for the opportune moment to prove yourself. The people will have the eyes to see everything that you have done for them and judge you in their hearts. There is no need for His Majesty to overthink about those rumours. Just seize those thieves and send their heads to the ground!"
Yang Jing finally smiled. "These words are filled with spirit; they truly do cheer one up. I should have demanded your return to the capital earlier. I like what you have said best!"
Feng Xiao: "There is no need for Your Majesty to remember these trivial matters in his heart."
Yang Jian sighed and said, "I am certain you too know that from the time I ascended the throne, there were already many veiled displeasures. I was also thinking these few days: Was I too ruthless towards the remnants of the Yuwen family?"
He would never spill an ounce of these words to just any onlooker.
However, Feng Xiao looked like he was long used to this attitude of Yang Jian's.
The relationship of this pair of Emperor and subject were much more than what they looked on the surface.
They looked like old friends who weren't estranged by the difference in their age.
Yang Jian wasn't alone in his thoughts; even other people had also thought him too cruel when he was eliminating the remnants of the Yuwen family.
Even Yang Jian's very own eldest daughter, Princess Leping had a thorn in her heart regarding her parents that she was unable to remove all these years.
"Perhaps some of them didn't deserve to be killed, but I've done it. Just like Yuwen Chan, who was only nine when the crown was handed over to him. Despite Princess Leping begging pitifully, I still killed him. I could have let him live."
Feng Xiao was expressionless. "Why is there a need for His Majesty to beat around the bush? You were waiting for the opportune moment to make your own great accomplishment of your generation. If the Yuwen family played their part properly, how would they have fallen into such a state? Since the passing of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, Yuwen Yong, there was never another capable person from the Yuwen family. From the way I see it, after Yuwen Yong, the only capable person in his lineage is the one who is currently a Khatun in Göktürk, Princess Dayi."
Yang Jian gave a bitter smile at his lack of empathy, "You…"
Feng Xiao: "When a reign comes to an end, naturally, a new mandate of the Heavens will overtake it. Was this not the case when the Qin Dynasty had fallen into chaos, and the Han Dynasty replaced it? If the Yuwen family had refused to accept their faith, they would have raised a rebellion. If the Heavens are on their side, and if they had earned the hearts of the common people during their rule, they would have succeeded. What has been done, is done. I heard of His Majesty's intention in the new "Laws of Kaihuang" to reassemble all the ancient records that were lost and repair them. Compared this initiative, what has the Yuwen family done? Your Majesty has already killed their remnants, so what use is there to throw such a childish attitude?"
The tone he used was different from other people around Yang Jian, yet Yang Jian was neither angry nor upset at him.
In fact, his heart felt at peace.
After gathering back his emotions, Yang Jian returned to his usual brilliant and decisive attitude.
"Something is wrong about Li Mu and Liu Fang's death. I will order the Ministry of Justice to pass those case scrolls to you and allow you to investigate them in secret. Do not alert too many people."
"Call Cui Buqu. The both of you always work miracles when you solve cases together in the past. I believe this time would be the same."
"Before this, the Jiejian and Zuoyue Bureaus often stood against each other. After these few times, I believe you already have a change of opinions on them?"
There was a teasing tone in the last sentence the Emperor spoke.
Feng Xiao could not reply in time, because a servant had come in to report that Prince Qin had entered the palace to bid his greeting.
Prince Qin, Yang Jun, was the Emperor and Empress' third son. He was neither the eldest nor the youngest, and hence he was in quite a neutral position.
However, this fella could let go more easily. He wasn't a person of ambition, and he often played the obedient child in front of the Emperor and Empress while he ran out to indulge in luxuries behind their backs.
Similarly, Feng Xiao also knew and loved to enjoy luxuries. Both of them shared many conversations and were considerably close.
Once Prince Qin came in, he saw Feng Xiao who stood at the centre of the palace.
He gave Feng Xiao a surreptitious wink.
The Emperor gave a light cough: "What foul manners!"
Only then did Prince Qin give his greetings in earnest seriousness with a face full of smiling, "Your son has come to see you. Did Emperor Father eat and drink well in these last few days?"
The Emperor gave him a glare, "Have you paid your Empress Mother a visit?"
Prince Qin said: "I will be going later."
The Emperor sighed and said: "Your Empress Mother fell ill recently. She is not in a good mood. Say a few pleasant words when you do, and do not anger her."
Prince Qin put his hands together, "Your son knows."
Watching how he paused and spoke, the Emperor added, "What is the matter?"
Prince Qin smiled and said: "I heard Second Brother hunted a deer in the suburb and gave it to you. Your son knows you never drank deer blood, so could you bestow that deer blood upon me?"
The Emperor wanted to reprimand him for leading such a dissolute life but waved his hand as he thought that he wasn't in the mood for such a winding discussion. "Go ask them from Feng An1."
Feng An is the eunuch that served the Emperor, who was currently waiting outside the door.
Prince Qing was delighted and immediately knelt to thank him before preparing to leave.
Before he left, the Emperor reminded him, "There will be a Buddist Festival in Daxingshan Temple two days later. I will be there to pray for blessing for the Empress. Remember to come."
In the hearts of outsiders, everything about the Emperor was good, yet he was afraid of his wife.
In the heart of the Emperor, when he was going through the most difficult and trying times of his life, it was Empress Dugu who supported him from behind; almost like she had an arm around his shoulder as they walked down this path.
Between both of them, they weren't only husband and wife, but also good teachers and beneficial friends as they supported each other.
The Emperor naturally had his own thoughts. Naturally, there were arguments between the two of them, but a word from Empress Dugu would most certainly be ten times more effective compared to someone else's.
After the Empress was bedridden, this was a serious impact on him.
And so Prince Qin immediately agreed. "How would your son forget to pray for blessings for the Empress Mother? One must be well-dressed in participation and pray for blessings in great devotion!"
He turned around to blink at Feng Xiao, hinting that they were on the same boat.
Feng Xiao paid him no attention, and so Prince Qin could only leave with his head hung low.
"Your Majesty, I wish to borrow a painter."
The Emperor was taken by surprise at this request.
"Why would you want a painter all of a sudden?"
Feng Xiao seriously said, "When this humble subject looks at himself in the mirror, I often think: such elegance and suave would most certainly be lost to the world of mortals after a few hundred and thousands of years if it is not properly preserved in the annals of the country with paintings."
The Emperor: "…"
This was not his first day of getting to know Feng Xiao, and so naturally, he knew that Feng Xiao was born like this.
Unless the ridges in the mountains have vanished, or the sky and the earth becomes one, he would never be modest2.
As both of their eyes met, the Emperor finally admitted defeat.
"There is a painter in the palace, Master Lin with the given name Shouheng. His skills are superb and not much inferior to famed artists. He will be lent to you and whenever you feel like giving him back, it's all according to your wishes."
Feng Xiao smiled and said: "Then I should thank His Majesty."
Prince Qin was holding a bowl of deer blood as he waited outside the palace for a while now before Feng Xiao finally showed himself.
Yang Jun complained, "Oh, how long you've taken!"
Feng Xiao gave the deer blood in his hands a look and said, "To make aphrodisiacs?"
Yang Jun laughed and changed the subject, "Have you met any beauties on this trip of yours?"
Feng Xiao thought for a moment and nodded, "There is."
Yang Jun's eyes shone. "With your standards, the one you've taken a fancy on is an unrivalled beauty, surely?"
Feng Xiao, "Who could compare to me?"
Yang Jun: …He almost forgot how this fellow is!
He wasn't disheartened, and changed into another method of asking: "Even if their looks couldn't compare to you, at the very least there's something that attracted you? When are you going to introduce them to me?"
That person…
That iconic curl of thin lips and that cold sneer immediately came to his mind.
Feng Xiao couldn't help himself smiling.
"Their virtue is… when they scold people."
Yang Jun: "???"
Feng Xiao: "They also like to scheme behind everyone's back."
Yang Jun: "???"
Feng Xiao: "They're cold and bad-tempered; and if you caused them even a minor loss, they will swear to god to return the debt to you tenfold."
Yang Jun was suspicious about it. "Are you sure you are speaking of the person you like, and not an enemy?"
Feng Xiao gave him an impossible look. "All my enemies are dead, but this person cannot die. I want them to live their life in perfect health, and to live as long as a hundred years."
Yang Jun nodded his head. "I understand it now. You don't like someone who is submissive to you, you love those that oppose you at all times around the clock. This is what we call masochism."
Feng Xiao: "…"
He no longer wanted to pay him any attention. Raising his foot, he was ready to leave, but Yang Jun stopped him.
"Alright, alright, alright! I'll stop joking and go straight to the point! My manor is holding a Lantern Festival tonight. The Crown Prince, Second Brother, and the others will also attend. Why don't you come and join the crowd as well?!"
Feng Xiao raised his brow. "Is there anything new?"
Yang Jun turned cocky. "Naturally! I hired an entire band of musicians from Kucha on purpose. There is also one particular dancer. I guarantee that her dance will surely impress you!"
Feng Xiao replied in disinterest. "Deal. If I have time tonight, I will attend."
Seeing that he's about to leave again, Yang Jun grabbed his sleeve.
"You must come! I have promised them!"
Feng Xiao gave him a half-smile: "Has Your Highness Prince Qin sold me off?"
Yang Jun laughed with him. "I suppose it cannot be considered selling. Number Five3 would be going."
Feng Xiao: "I've mentioned before to His Majesty and I hold no desire to climb to higher society via Princess Lanling's status, neither do I have the desire to become a Fuma4."
Yang Jun: "Alright, alright, I understand. However, both of you are not married, and your social statuses do match. It shouldn't be a problem to just meet? If you have someone you like, you too can bring her to the banquet. Maybe that might make Number Five give up?"
Feng Xiao didn't respond to him. He turned around to look behind him.
Yang Jun too turned around.
A horse carriage was coming their way slowly and from the looks of the emblem, it should be from the manor of Princess Leping.
Yang Jun was enlightened. "It's probably Eldest Sister bringing her daughter to visit the Empress Mother in the palace."
The horse carriage stopped in front of them.
When the curtains were drawn, there was a young maiden inside.
Yang Jun curiously said: "Why are you the only one going into the palace? Where is your mother?"
Yuwen Xuanzhu took a step down the horse carriage and bowed, her voice pleasant to the ear: "Greetings, Third Uncle. Greetings, Commander Feng. Mother is unwell to accompany me into the palace to see Grandmother. Because Commander Cui came, Grandmother has spoken more often to us."
Before Cui Buqu left the capital, rumours regarding the Empress' intention to matchmake her and Cui Buqu had spread.
Many people thought that if not for the Empress falling ill, the betrothal would have already been made.
Once Yang Jun heard this, he gave a sensual smile: "Then didn't you speak more often to Commander Cui?"
Yuwen Xuanzhu's cheeks turned pink as she dropped her head shyly.
Feng Xiao asked suddenly: "Didn't Princess Leping disapprove of this betrothal? Why does it seem like Xuanzhu was pleased with Cui Buqu all of a sudden?"
Yang Jun smiled and said: "You've been away from the capital for far too long, there is something you don't know. Maiden Ying asked us many things regarding Cui Buqu and the Zuoyue Bureau, and after hearing how you people took care of the matter in the City of Six Crafts, her attitude changed. So I said: Which beauty wouldn't fall for heroes? Although Cui Buqu is slightly in poor health, he could nurse it in due time. They might even grow old together!"
Feng Xiao said: So I see, yet he reached out to touch Yuwen Xuanzhu's face.
He was neither quick nor slow. After Yuwen Xuanzhu gave a look of shock, she took a step back.
"Commander Feng, what are you doing!" Her maiden voice was startled.
Even if Yuwen Eying wasn't the granddaughter of the Emperor and Empress, to a common maiden, this was extremely inappropriate behaviour.
Feng Xiao looked very calm. His expression didn't change. He even generously said: "Xuanzhu's face is like a peach blossom, and just now I simply went out of control. My apologies."
Even if he was a playboy, then he would probably be the boldest playboy in all of history.
In broad daylight, within the palace ground, he would dare touch the granddaughter of the Emperor and Empress.
But when Yang Jun looked at Feng Xiao, then at Yuwen Eying, he didn't feel like his niece was at a loss.
Yuwen Eying bit her bottom lip, but seeing that Yang Jun hadn't reprimanded him, she swallowed down her fury and turned out without a word to leave on her carriage.
Only then Yang Jun came back to his senses and told Feng Xiao: "You are too bold. How dare not take this uncle seriously!"
Feng Xiao smiled and said: "How would I dare? Truth be told, when the Xuanzhu was being shy just now, she looks a little like the person I like, and so I lost control of myself for a moment. When I see her again, I will properly apologize."
Yang Jun's focus was wrangled away abruptly, and he was immediately curious about Feng Xiao's desired person.
Feng Xiao made some small talks as he stole glances from the corner of his eyes at the horse carriage that was not far away, as if something was on his mind.
He felt that one surnamed Cui really has good eyes. He might have already noticed it.
....
The one surnamed Cui was in the palace harem.
As one of the official 'Twin Holiness', Empress Dugu was someone a subject could rarely see inside the palace.
Because of the Empress' contributions and position, the Emperor and his subjects had no objections to her.
And Cui Buqu was a frequent visitor.
Only, the Empress who was lively in the past was now laying in bed unmoving, frequently coughing.
Between her and Cui Buqu, no one could tell who looked sicker.
A face that was originally round and full has obviously slumped on both cheeks with eye bags under her eyes.
The Empress suddenly sighed.
She has a strong character in nature that has never once sighed, but one's energy would be ground thin when they've fallen ill.
"Before this, I originally betrothed Maiden Ying to you to comply with a plan of yours, but now that illness binds me and the future is uncertain, as Empress and subject, as well as close friends, I truly have the intention of actualising this betrothal. You could also build a family of your own. What does Buqu think about this?"
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[1] 冯安[Feng An]: uses the same 'Feng' with Fong Xiaolian. I remained his surname here because he's not really a significant character. Recap: the right pinyin for Fong Xiaolian's Fong is actually 'Feng', but I changed it to 'Fong' to avoid clashing with Feng Xiao's Feng since both of them are quite important characters and they're not using the same Chinese character of 'Feng'. Feng Xiao's Feng means 'Phoenix'.
[2] 山无棱,天地合,乃敢不自恋: Wordplay from Shangye (The Heavens), a folk song of Han people. I couldn't find an English translation, so I tried.
[3] 阿五[A-Wu]: Literally translates to 'number five' referring to Princess Lanling being the fifth child.
[4] 驸马 [Fuma]: Husband of a princess is called a Fuma.