Three days later, the emperor met with Xiao Yu.
No one knew what transpired during this meeting, not even Li Yuangui. After the meeting concluded, the emperor remained alone all night, the palace lights burning until dawn.
On the fourth day, the imperial court's New Year recess ended, and the morning court session resumed at dawn. As the fifth watch approached, Li Yuangui entered to attend to the emperor and found him still in the same attire from the previous night, reclining on a screen couch. His face was sallow, his eyes bloodshot, as though he had not slept at all.
"Your Majesty, shall we postpone this morning's court session or cancel it altogether and resume tomorrow?"
Li Yuangui asked cautiously.
The emperor slowly turned his head to look at Li Yuangui, staring at him for a long while with a dark, inscrutable gaze. Just as Li Yuangui began to feel uneasy, the emperor suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse and grating:
"Li Yuangui, do you also think that I am in the wrong?"
Li Yuangui was startled and immediately dropped to his knees, kowtowing. "How could Your Majesty say such a thing? There is no fault in the sovereign. Moreover, since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have governed with diligence and compassion for the people. If Your Majesty were to ascend the Tongle Tower at the southern gate, you would see—day and night these past few days, the common folk have flocked to the city walls to bow in reverence, offering prayers to heaven on Your Majesty's behalf. If the people are so devoted, how could this servant think otherwise?"
The emperor let out a cold laugh. "Your words are sweet, but I suspect your heart harbors resentment! Yes, they are all loyal ministers! Righteous men! Only I am the villain!"
Li Yuangui pressed himself to the ground, kowtowing repeatedly. "Your Majesty, calm your anger! This servant would never dare!"
The emperor rolled off the couch, planted a hand on his hip, and paced back and forth, his expression growing increasingly agitated.
"Fine! What does it matter? Let them be the loyal ones! The righteous ones! Let me be the villain! I am not afraid!"
Nearly roaring these words, the emperor stopped in front of Li Yuangui, lost in thought for a moment before his face twisted into another cold smile.
"Even Heaven stands on my side! Right An thought he had won against me this time—he never imagined he would lose in the end!"
"My son does not understand my intentions. He refuses to acknowledge me, opposes me at every turn. He rejects what I offer!"
"What I do not give, no one in this world can take. What I choose to give, no one in this world can refuse! Does he truly believe he can defeat me?"
"Li Yuangui, mark my words—one day, he will return of his own will and bow his head to me willingly!"
"He cannot win against me," the emperor said, each word deliberate.
Li Yuangui remained on the ground, looking up at the emperor in shock, momentarily too afraid to speak.
The emperor closed his eyes, exhaling a long breath, and gradually regained his composure.
"The court session today will proceed as scheduled. Help me change." The emperor's voice was firm.
Li Yuangui acknowledged the order and scrambled to his feet, summoning the palace attendants.
"Has the Prince of Liuyang arrived yet?"
The emperor suddenly asked as he was being dressed.The Prince of Liuyang was enfeoffed in the remote western region of Hunan. As a close relative of the imperial clan, he was of the same generation as Xiao Lie's nephews, though older in age. For many years, he had dutifully served as a vassal prince in his modest fiefdom in western Hunan. Unfortunately, despite being over fifty, he had no heir to inherit his title. With no son to carry on his line, he gradually despaired, resigned to the fact that his princely title would be abolished upon his death. Among the many imperial relatives of Great Wei, he was utterly inconspicuous.
At the end of each year, the emperor customarily summoned select vassal princes to the capital for the New Year's court celebrations as a gesture of imperial favor. The Prince of Liuyang had not been permitted to attend for over a decade. Last year, he had not even entertained the thought—yet unexpectedly, he received the summons, granting him permission to join the celebrations. Overjoyed, he immediately prepared his tribute and set off for the capital with his elderly princess consort. Unfortunately, their journey was beset with delays, causing them to miss the grand court assembly on the first day of the new year.
"Your Majesty, the Prince and Princess of Liuyang arrived in the capital yesterday. Having missed the court assembly, they are deeply remorseful and beg for Your Majesty's forgiveness."
Xiao Lie smiled faintly. "Their arrival is enough. There is no fault to forgive. Today, I shall summon the Prince and Princess of Liuyang for an audience. Make the arrangements."
Li Yuangui acknowledged the order.
On the fourth day of the first lunar month in the second year of Manifest Peace, after the morning court session, the emperor received the Prince and Princess of Liuyang in the palace. He praised the prince for his virtuous governance and benevolent rule, which had earned him widespread acclaim, hence the special permission for him and his consort to attend this year's celebrations. Bestowing generous rewards upon them, the emperor left the couple overwhelmed with gratitude. After spending half a month in the capital, they took their leave after the Lantern Festival and returned to western Hunan.
The Prince of Liuyang's fief was small and impoverished, and he was advanced in years. Upon his death, his princely title would be revoked, rendering him utterly insignificant. Thus, even the emperor's unusual favor failed to attract much attention. Court officials assumed the emperor merely intended to set an example for Great Wei's many vassal princes, so no one paid it much mind. Within days, the matter faded from discussion.
Such is fate—often catching people unprepared. Neither the Prince and Princess of Liuyang nor anyone else could have foreseen that this minor episode would later become a prelude to events that would shake the court and the empire of Great Wei.
No matter how brilliant Pei You'an was, how could he, far away in the remote borderlands, have anticipated the undercurrents that had begun to stir?
When he had decided to turn south, he believed he had accounted for everything—except one thing.
The heart of the young man he sought to protect.
"I heard Your Majesty was looking for me, so I came. All of this is my doing. From this day forth, I alone shall bear the consequences of my actions, without regret, even unto death."
These were the first words the young man spoke when he met the emperor.
In this regard, he had indeed not bested the emperor.
In this game between ruler and subject, father and son, there were no victors—only mutual defeat.
...In the blink of an eye, the Lantern Festival passed, and Jiafu had been here for over half a month. Compared to her previous life, the daily necessities—food, clothing, shelter, and travel—were undoubtedly much harder. The vegetables she could eat every day were limited to just a few varieties like cabbage and radish, with no fresh fruits at all. The chilblains on her feet still hadn’t healed, and whenever she went out, she had to bundle up like a plump rice dumpling. One day, on a whim, she had asked Pei You'an to take her out for another stroll, only to accidentally sink one leg into the snow. Unable to move, she stood there like a scallion stuck in the snow, until Pei You'an finally "pulled" her out. He had laughed at her afterward, but she had felt utterly content. What made her even happier was that these past few days, Pei You'an had been busy knocking down the wall between their living quarters and the adjacent room, transforming it into a dedicated bathroom.
It was simply too cold here. Some of the local residents only bathed once or twice the entire winter. Jiafu, however, had always been fond of cleanliness. Back in her maiden home or in the capital, she would bathe daily in the summer and soak in a bath at least every other day in winter. But here, bathing had become a real challenge. Though they had a bathtub, it took up too much space, making the already cramped room feel even smaller—turning around often led to bumps and knocks. Moreover, the kitchen was far from their living quarters, so hauling enough hot water to fill most of the tub was inconvenient, and there was no way to replenish the hot water. In this weather, the water would turn cold almost immediately after being poured in, leaving her shivering when she stepped out. She could only manage a quick wipe-down, always feeling like she hadn’t gotten clean enough. Winter here was excruciatingly long—it wouldn’t start warming up until March or April, meaning several more months of bitter cold. Being able to soak in a hot bath comfortably had truly become a luxury.
During the first month of the year, the fodder yard was idle, so Pei You'an hired masons from the city to knock down the wall between the two rooms. They divided the adjacent room into two sections: the front was fitted with a stove, while the back served as the bathroom. He then summoned a blacksmith, offering extra pay to forge iron pipes according to his drawings as quickly as possible. The pipes were curved in a way the blacksmith had never made before, and he had no idea what they were for. But since the master insisted and spared no expense, the blacksmith spared no effort either, quickly crafting molds and testing them a few times. Within days, the pipes Pei You'an wanted were delivered. He connected them to the stove’s water outlet on one end and ran them into the bathroom on the other. Now, whenever Jiafu wanted to bathe, all she had to do was light a fire in the stove to heat the water, then pull the wooden stopper in the bathroom—hot water would flow in continuously. Even more convenient was the additional pipe for cold water, allowing the temperature to be adjusted so she could soak for as long as she pleased.
This new bathroom not only completely solved Jiafu’s bathing troubles but also made it easier for the two maids living nearby to fetch hot water without having to carry it back and forth. On the day the bathroom was completed, all three of them were overjoyed. The only exception was Ding Mo, Lao Ding’s wife. At first, seeing Pei You'an bustling about and spending so much money to have those things made, she had assumed it was for some grand purpose. When she finally realized it was just to create a bathing space for his wife, she was utterly dumbfounded, clicking her tongue in disbelief.
That night, heavy snow drifted outside, but inside the house, it was as warm as spring. Jiafu used the new bathroom for the first time, and everything went smoothly. After soaking in the hot bath, her pores opened up, and her skin took on a delicate pink hue. She lay down afterward, while Pei You'an sat at the foot of the bed, gently massaging her chilblained feet.
Jiafu praised him, "I never expected Lord Pei to be skilled at this too. You’re truly amazing."Pei You'an smiled and said, "A beauty fresh from her bath, like a lotus in full bloom. As long as my Fu'er is pleased, I would spare no effort."
Jiafu knew he was teasing her, and the phrase "spare no effort" always made her thoughts wander inappropriately. Her face grew warm, and her heart fluttered beneath her chest. Biting her lip, she retorted, "You're becoming more and more improper. I never knew you were like this before."
Pei You'an gazed at her delicate face, which could shift so easily between feigned anger and shyness, and suddenly felt a long-dormant urge stir within him. Softly, he asked, "Does your foot still itch or hurt?"
Jiafu shook her head. "It's much better."
Pei You'an then instructed her to lie on her side, facing outward, arching her waist slightly and bending one leg.
Seeing the glint in his eyes as he adjusted her posture, Jiafu thought he had suddenly taken an interest in trying a new position with her. Her heartbeat quickened, and a flush crept onto her cheeks, mingling with anticipation. She obediently murmured an "Mm," then stole a glance toward the door and poked him, whispering a reminder, "Cousin, the door isn't latched yet..."
Pei You'an froze.
Jiafu hadn't brought much luggage on this visit, but one of her trunks was filled entirely with his books and high-quality stationery—items that couldn't be bought even with money in such a remote place. There were Chengni inkstones, pine-soot inksticks, an eight-treasure stationery box, and stacks of fine Xuan paper and decorative letter sheets.
She knew he had never gone a day without reading, and fearing he might feel adrift here, she had painstakingly carried this heavy trunk across mountains and rivers. The depth of her thoughtfulness and affection made Pei You'an feel that even shattering himself to pieces could never repay her. Initially, he had simply been struck by her alluring post-bath beauty and felt an urge—absent for years—to paint a portrait of her reclining. But when she mentioned latching the door, he didn’t immediately understand. Then, seeing her shyly lower her lashes, even the tips of her ears tinged a delicate pink, realization dawned. Suppressing a laugh, he coughed lightly and whispered by her ear, "Did Fu'er wish for her husband to treat her that way? I merely intended to paint you."
Jiafu blinked, lifting her gaze to see him struggling to hold back laughter. Realizing her misunderstanding, her face burned, and with an embarrassed "Oh!" she covered it with her hands and buried herself facedown into the pillow.
Pei You'an could no longer restrain himself and burst into laughter, his heart overflowing with adoration for the girl before him.
Since her arrival that night, this once dim and chilly old room had become so warm and bright.
He pressed against her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders, kissing the nape of her neck and her back, his lips grazing her ear as he nibbled her flushed earlobe and murmured, "How would Fu'er like me to treat her tonight?"
Jiafu squirmed, trying to evade his kisses, but Pei You'an was already aflame. Any thought of painting vanished, replaced by the tantalizing mischief of her earlier assumption. He ordered her to lie as before so he could "try it out."
This time, Jiafu refused to comply, her face crimson as she shook her head stubbornly.
Pei You'an feigned sternness. "You promised earlier to be good to me."
Jiafu squeezed her eyes shut, pouting. "Fine, do as you please! You’re just bullying me!"
Her half-hearted resistance only ensnared him further. As he pulled her down to adjust her position, a voice called from outside: "Lord Pei, the jujube mare is foaling!"Jiafu immediately opened her eyes.
"Go check quickly!"
A delighted smile spread across her face as she pushed him away and scrambled off the bed, hastily dressing. She turned her head to see Pei You'an still lying there lazily, unmoving.
"Hurry up!"
This mare—why couldn’t she have picked any other time to give birth?
Pei You'an sighed inwardly and had no choice but to get out of bed.
Jiafu, who had always been sensitive to the cold, had taken to visiting the mare every day since arriving here. Now, upon hearing it was about to foal, she was frantic with excitement. After hurriedly dressing, she turned and flung open the door, leaving Pei You'an behind as she dashed outside. Pei You'an quickly caught up, pulling her back to wrap a thick cloak around her, fastening the ties at her collar, and fitting her with a hat and gloves until she was thoroughly bundled. Only then did they brave the snow together, heading toward the stable.
The weather was bitterly cold. Though all the drafts in the stable had been sealed, Jiafu, worried the pregnant mare might be chilly, had placed a dung-fueled stove outside its stall at night. Inside, it was warm, with torches lighting the walls. The mare lay on a pile of dry hay, laboring to give birth.
Upon hearing the news, Lao Ding and his wife, Yang Yun, and the others had all rushed over to watch. Tanxiang and Muxiang had initially been too shy to come, but when they saw Jiafu heading there, they quickly followed.
Jiafu stood outside the stall, tense with anticipation as she waited for the foal’s arrival. Finally, she saw a tiny leg emerge from the mare’s hindquarters and gasped in excitement, eyes wide as she waited for the rest. But the leg remained stuck there, refusing to come out. The mare seemed to be losing strength, lying still as her belly heaved with labored breaths.
Clutching Pei You'an’s arm, Jiafu muttered, "What do we do? What do we do? She’s running out of strength!"
Pei You'an reassured her before removing his outer robe and handing it to her. He stepped into the stall, feeding the mare two handfuls of wheat and gently massaging her belly. After washing his hands, he moved behind her, carefully reaching inside to explore. After a moment, he managed to pull out the other stuck leg. Then, gripping both of the foal’s hooves, he slowly, inch by inch, helped the mare push until a mass of white membrane gushed out, followed by the foal’s head.
Encouraged, the mare soon delivered the rest of the foal without further trouble.
Jiafu exhaled in relief, letting out a cheer alongside Tanxiang and Muxiang.
It was a handsome black colt, lying damp in the thick hay. Soon, its round eyes blinked open, and it wobbled its little head, curiously taking in its new world.
The mare quickly rose and moved to her foal’s side, tenderly licking it clean before gently nipping its neck to help it lift its head and stand.
Slowly, the colt stretched its neck, its front legs kneeling. As the mare continued licking, its hind legs gradually straightened until, swaying unsteadily, it finally stood, nuzzling against its mother’s neck and belly in affectionate warmth.Jiafu was unexpectedly moved to tears by the scene, reluctant to leave. Pei You'an called her several times, but seeing her still lingering by the fence, gazing at the mare and foal in the stable as if she wished to stay there overnight, he chuckled and said, "The mare knows how to take care of her foal. Don’t worry. It’s getting late, you should go back and rest."
Reluctantly, Jiafu left the stable, and the two returned to their room. Pei You'an went to bathe while Jiafu sat on the bed, lost in thought with her chin resting on her hand.
When Pei You'an emerged from the bath and climbed into bed, they lay side by side.
"Big cousin, I want to have a child with you. Would you like that?" Jiafu murmured softly.
Pei You'an kept his eyes closed, but the corners of his lips slowly curved upward. His hand caressed her silk-smooth waist, gradually moving downward.
"Big cousin, do you prefer a boy or a girl?" Jiafu asked breathlessly, her hands tightly gripping his rock-solid shoulders, her voice trembling.
"As long as it’s Fu'er who bears it for me, I’ll love it all the same..." he whispered before capturing her lips in a kiss.
All was silent. The night’s snow fell gently on the roof, whispering softly. Between heaven and earth, there was only peace.
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