On the twenty-third day, three days before the grand celebration of the emperor's fiftieth birthday, Jiafu and her son Ci'er quietly arrived in the capital without alerting any outsiders.
It was already late at night when the carriage carrying the mother and son entered the palace directly through the Chang'an Left Gate. Upon reaching the Gate of Heavenly Succession, they disembarked and switched to a fully enclosed sedan chair, carried by palace attendants northward through the Upright Gate. They passed through the passageway flanked by the Altar of Land and Grain on the left and the Imperial Ancestral Temple on the right, then through the Meridian Gate before turning west. In the deep of night, one heavy palace gate after another swung open for them. Finally, they passed through the Western Flowery Gate and arrived at the West Garden. By the time the third night watch drum sounded, they had been escorted to a palace garden called Banana Garden.
Banana Garden was lush with flowers and trees, its white bridges arching over clear waters where the Great Liquid Pond and the garden’s own ponds intertwined. Hundreds of brilliantly colored koi, each a foot long, swam in the ponds. On clear days, if one stood on the bridge and scattered fish food, the koi would leap and swirl in a lively, delightful spectacle. The palace chambers prepared for the mother and son had clearly been meticulously arranged in advance—cloud-patterned carpets covered the floors, brocade curtains dazzled with color, jade screens shimmered like rosy clouds, and incense curled from Boshan burners.
The sedan chair journey from the palace gates to this place had been long. Ci'er, cradled in Jiafu’s arms, had fallen into a deep sleep along the way. After settling her son, Jiafu lay down beside him in her clothes. Though weary from the journey, she found no sleep at all and remained awake until dawn.
The next morning, when Ci'er awoke refreshed, Cui Yinshui was already waiting outside the hall to attend to them. Jiafu declined his service and dismissed him. Cui Yinshui knelt, but Jiafu did not summon any other palace attendants either, instead dressing and washing her son herself before combing his hair. Once ready, they ate breakfast. Ci'er, curious, looked around and learned that this was the great dwelling called the "Imperial Palace." Remembering the eunuch’s mention of his unseen "imperial grandfather," he asked, "Mother, when can I meet Grandfather?"
No sooner had he spoken than Jiafu heard Li Yuangui’s voice from outside: "Madam, His Majesty has arrived."
Turning, Jiafu saw a figure step into the hall, his shadow appearing at the entrance. The man walked slowly inward before stopping.
Xiao Lie had arrived, wearing a black gauze folded hat and a narrow-sleeved round-collared robe embroidered with golden coiled dragons on the shoulders and lapels. He stood motionless in place.
Jiafu was slightly startled.
She had left the capital for Suyeh City in the autumn of the second year of Manifest Peace. Now, in the spring of the sixth year of Manifest Peace, though only three or four years had passed—neither too short nor too long—the emperor appeared noticeably older. Perhaps the burdens of state affairs had weighed heavily on him, for streaks of silver now lined his temples.
In Jiafu’s memory, the emperor had still been a middle-aged man. But now, at first glance, she realized he had truly aged, no longer bearing the vigor of his prime.
After only a brief look, Jiafu immediately lowered her head and, taking Ci'er by her side, knelt and kowtowed to the figure before them, addressing him as "Your Majesty."
Xiao Lie’s gaze settled on the small figure bowing before him, staring intently without moving. A moment later, when the child peeked up at him with bright, curious eyes, the emperor smiled and beckoned to him.Ci'er scrambled up from the ground and walked toward the figure clad in yellow robes with a jade belt cinched at the waist. He stopped a few steps away, tilting his head slightly to meet Xiao Lie's gaze. After a moment's hesitation, he asked in a small, childish voice still laced with baby tones, yet solemn in demeanor, "Are you my Imperial Grandfather?"
Xiao Lie's voice trembled slightly, "You are Ci'er?"
Ci'er nodded. "Ci'er is my pet name. My formal name is Pei Yiyuan—'Yiyuan' as in 'the hawk soars to the heavens, the fish leaps in the deep.'"
Xiao Lie gazed at the child before him, suppressing the overwhelming surge of emotion within. He stepped forward until he stood directly in front of him.
"Pei Yiyuan, I am indeed your Imperial Grandfather!"
Bending down, Xiao Lie scooped the child into his arms and lifted him high into the air.
Jiafu looked up, watching as her son's tiny frame was raised overhead by the emperor. The boy's delighted laughter, clear as a bell, echoed through the hall, deepening her astonishment.
She couldn't help but recall her last encounter with the emperor. Back then, she had rushed to the capital seeking an audience, only to face his lingering wrath as he interrogated her about what she knew. She had managed to deflect his questions then—whether he truly believed her or merely chose to let it pass, she couldn't say.
Years had passed since. When Li Yuangui came to fetch her and Ci'er, addressing the boy as "Imperial Grandfather," it had already shocked her. Now, the emperor openly acknowledged Ci'er in her presence without the slightest pretense.
What was he planning?
As if sensing her bewilderment, Xiao Lie slowly lowered Ci'er and turned to Jiafu. "Your birthday gift has been received. Ci'er is my grandson—my own flesh and blood. You've raised him well. Rise now. Since you're here, you may stay at ease." Then, smiling at the child, he asked, "Ci'er, would you like to come with Imperial Grandfather to my quarters to play?"
Ci'er was about to nod eagerly but hesitated, glancing back at Jiafu. He ran to her side. "Mother, Imperial Grandfather wants to take me to play. May I go?"
Meeting the emperor's piercing gaze and her son's hopeful eyes, Jiafu nodded slowly.
Ci'er turned back joyfully. "Imperial Grandfather, Mother says yes!" Then, to Jiafu, he added, "Mother, I'll come back to you after playing with Imperial Grandfather."
Suddenly remembering something, he dashed inside and emerged clutching the chess box.
Jiafu watched as Xiao Lie took her son's hand and led the skipping boy out of the hall, their figures gradually disappearing from view. She stood frozen in contemplation.
...
After concluding the morning court session, Xiao Lie brought Ci'er to the Imperial Study and dismissed all attendants. Beaming, Li Yuangui personally presented twelve trays of dried fruits—longan, lychee, walnut kernels, assorted candies, pickled plums, dates, and chestnuts—along with six trays of fresh fruits like apples, crabapples, and grapes, before withdrawing, leaving only grandfather and grandson.
Xiao Lie beckoned Ci'er closer. Noticing the boy clutching the chess box and staring intently at his face, he chuckled. "Why do you look at Imperial Grandfather like that, Ci'er?"
Ci'er replied, "Mother told me before that you're different from ordinary people, Imperial Grandfather. How are you different?"Xiao Lie was taken aback for a moment, then touched his own face and burst into laughter. He lifted Ci'er onto the long couch he usually rested on—a sandalwood-framed divan with mother-of-pearl inlays of clouds and dragons on three sides—and said with a smile, "Your mother was wrong! Your imperial grandfather is no different from ordinary people. I miss you too when I can't see you."
"That beardless man also said that you were sick, Imperial Grandfather, which is why you summoned Ci'er and my mother to see you. Are you better now?"
Xiao Lie laughed heartily again and nodded. "Seeing you, my illness is completely cured."
Ci'er's face lit up with joy. Noticing the box in his arms, Xiao Lie asked with a smile, "What are you holding, Ci'er?"
Ci'er quickly placed the box on a small table beside the divan and carefully opened the lid, taking out the chess pieces one by one. "This is the birthday gift Father gave me. He made it himself. Would you like to play chess, Imperial Grandfather? If you don't know how, Ci'er can teach you."
"Good, good!"
Xiao Lie eagerly nodded, climbing onto the divan and sitting cross-legged opposite Ci'er.
Ci'er unfolded the folding chessboard and meticulously arranged the pieces for both sides. As he did so, he earnestly explained the rules to Xiao Lie, his expression serious and focused.
Xiao Lie gazed at the busy little figure before him, his heart swelling with warmth. Gradually, a resolute glint—as if he had made a final decision—appeared in his eyes.
"Pei Yiyuan, in three days, your imperial grandfather will turn fifty. On that day, there will be a ceremony to present prisoners before the Noon Gate Tower of the palace. Those prisoners are Japanese Pirates who have ravaged the coastal people of Great Wei. For decades, they have committed every atrocity—murder, arson, and worse. Now, those pirates have been utterly vanquished. The envoys from Japan tremble in fear and have submitted a letter of surrender. On that day, your imperial grandfather will order their execution before the Noon Gate, to proclaim our nation's might and honor our fallen heroes. Pei Yiyuan, are you afraid?"
Ci'er's face flushed red, his eyes widening. "Pei Yiyuan is not afraid! My father has killed countless bad men in Suyeh City! Pei Yiyuan wants to grow up quickly and fight alongside my father to kill the bad men too!"
"Good! Then I ask you this: when the time comes, would you be willing to accompany your imperial grandfather to the Noon Gate and witness this grand ceremony?"
"Pei Yiyuan is willing!"
Ci'er clenched the chess piece in his hand tightly and nodded firmly.
Xiao Lie roared with laughter once more, the sound shaking the palace tiles. "Good! Then it's settled. When the time comes, your imperial grandfather will take you up the Noon Gate Tower, and you shall help me give the order to execute all those who dared to defy Great Wei!"
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