Wish You All the Best - Chapter 94

Chapter 94

Three days later, the Emperor met with Xiao Yu.

No one knew the details of this meeting, not even Li Yuangui. After it concluded, the Emperor spent the entire night alone, the lamps in the palace burning until dawn.

On the fourth day of the month, the imperial New Year holiday ended, and morning court resumed. As the fifth watch approached, Li Yuangui entered to attend to the Emperor, only to find him still in the same clothes from the night before, slumped on a couch behind a screen. His face was sallow, his eyes bloodshot, as if he had not slept a wink.

"Your Majesty, should we postpone or cancel today's court and reconvene tomorrow?" Li Yuangui asked cautiously.

The Emperor slowly turned his head to look at Li Yuangui, staring for a long while with dark, hollow eyes. Just as Li Yuangui began to feel uneasy, he heard the Emperor ask, "Li Yuangui, do you think I was wrong, too?" His voice was hoarse and grating.

Li Yuangui started in alarm, hurriedly kneeling to kowtow. "How can Your Majesty say such a thing? The Emperor is the father of all under heaven, and there is nothing he does that is wrong. Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have governed with diligence and cared for the people. You need only look from the Nanshan Tower to see that for these past few days, from dawn until dusk, the people have flocked to the city gates to pay homage and spontaneously pray for Your Majesty's blessing. If the people feel this way, then I, your servant, naturally feel the same!"

The Emperor sneered. "Your words are pleasant, but I suspect you are slandering me in your heart. Yes, they are all loyal ministers! All righteous men! Only I am the unrighteous one!"

Li Yuangui remained prostrate on the floor, kowtowing incessantly. "Your Majesty, please calm your anger! I would not dare!"

The Emperor rolled off the couch, paced the floor with one hand on his hip, his expression growing agitated.

"Enough! What does it matter? Let them be the loyal ministers! Let them be the righteous men! Let me be the unrighteous one! I am not afraid!"

Having finished this near-roar, the Emperor stopped before Li Yuangui. Lost in thought for a moment, he let out a cold laugh. "Even the Heavens are on my side! Pei You’an thought he won against me this time, but he never expected that, in the end, it was he who lost!"

"My son does not understand my painstaking efforts; he refuses to acknowledge me and sets himself against me. He rejects what I offer him!"

"What I do not give, no one in this world can take. And what I choose to give, no one in this world can refuse! He thinks he can win against me?"

"Li Yuangui, watch closely. I tell you this: one day, I will make him come back himself and willingly bow his head to me!"

"He cannot win against me," the Emperor said, word by word.

Li Yuangui lay on the floor, looking up at the Emperor in shock, not daring to utter a sound.

The Emperor closed his eyes, exhaled a long breath, and his expression finally regained its composure.

"The court proceedings will remain unchanged. Bring my robes!" the Emperor said deeply.

Li Yuangui replied with a bow, scrambled to his feet, and summoned the palace servants.

"Has the Prince of Liuyang arrived?" the Emperor suddenly asked while dressing.

The Prince of Liuyang was enfeoffed in the remote region of Western Hunan. As a close relative of the imperial clan, he was of a higher generation than Xiao Lie, yet he was older in years. For many years, he had lived honestly as a feudal lord in his small fiefdom. However, luck had not been with him; though he was over fifty, he had no heirs. Resigned to the fact that his title would be extinguished upon his death, he had remained inconspicuous among the many imperial relatives. Every year, the Emperor would invite a select group of feudal lords to the capital for New Year’s greetings to show imperial favor. The Prince of Liuyang hadn't been allowed to visit the capital in over a decade. He hadn't expected an invitation this year, so when it arrived, he was overjoyed. He prepared his tributes and, accompanied by the old Princess, set out for the capital. Unfortunately, he ran into bad luck on the road, delays causing him to miss the New Year’s Day reception.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Prince and Princess of Liuyang arrived in the capital yesterday. Because they missed the reception, they are terrified and beg for Your Majesty’s mercy."

Xiao Lie smiled slightly. "As long as they have arrived, what sin is there? I intend to summon them today. Go and make the arrangements."

Li Yuangui agreed.

On the fourth day of the first month of the second year of Zhaoping, after the morning court, the Emperor summoned the couple. He praised the Prince of Liuyang for his virtue and love for the people, stating that he had specially invited them to the capital to celebrate. He bestowed upon them generous rewards. The couple was moved to tears. They spent half a month in the capital and, after the Lantern Festival, took their leave to return to Western Hunan.

This Prince of Liuyang, with his small and impoverished fiefdom, was of an advanced age, and his title would be abolished upon his death. He was truly too insignificant to be noticed, so even the Emperor’s special favor toward him attracted little attention. Court officials merely assumed the Emperor intended to set an example for other feudal lords, and thus, no one cared. Within days, no one was discussing the matter anymore.

Fate is often like this; it takes people by surprise. Including the Prince and Princess of Liuyang themselves, no one could have predicted that this small episode would eventually become a prelude that affected the political situation of the Great Wei Dynasty.

Even if Pei You’an was gifted with brilliance, how could he, far away in a remote frontier post, ever imagine that the undercurrents had already begun to surge?

When he first decided to head south, he thought he had calculated everything, but he had forgotten one single thing.

That was the heart of the young man he wished to fulfill.

"I heard His Majesty was looking for me, so I came. Everything stems from me; from today on, I will bear all the blame. I have no complaints, in life or in death."

These were the first words the boy said to the Emperor that day.

In this regard, he truly did not win against the Emperor.

In this game of monarch and subject, father and son, both were defeated. There were no winners.

...

In the blink of an eye, the Lantern Festival passed, and Jiafu had been here for over half a month. Her living conditions, compared to the past, were naturally arduous. The only vegetables available were cabbage and radishes, and there were no fresh fruits. The chilblains on her feet never fully healed, and she had to wrap herself up like a fat rice dumpling whenever she went out. One day, on a whim, she asked Pei You’an to take her out for a walk. She accidentally sank one leg into the deep snow and was unable to move, standing there like a scallion planted in the ice until Pei You’an pulled her out. He teased her about it afterward, but she was deeply content. What pleased her even more was that, over the past few days, Pei You’an had been busy knocking down the wall between their bedroom and the adjoining room to construct a dedicated bathing room.

It was simply too cold here. Some local residents only bathed once or twice throughout the entire winter. Jiafu, however, had always loved cleanliness. Back at her maiden home or in the capital, she bathed daily in the summer and at least every other day in the winter. But here, bathing had become a challenge. Although they had a tub, it took up so much space that the already tiny room felt even more cramped, making it impossible to turn around without bumping into something. Moreover, the kitchen was far away, making it highly inconvenient to transport water heated there. Without a way to keep the water warm, it would turn cold in no time in this freezing weather. She would emerge shivering and only able to do a quick sponge bath, never feeling truly clean. Winter here was incredibly long, lasting until the third or fourth month before the weather began to warm up. Having a hot, comfortable bath had truly become a luxury.

During the first month, the feed yard was idle. Pei You’an hired a mason from town to break through the wall and divide the neighboring room in two. In the front, they built a stove; the back served as a bathing room. He also called for a blacksmith, paying extra to have iron pipes forged according to his own drawings. The pipes were bent and twisted—the artisan had never forged anything like them before and didn't know their purpose. But since the master requested them and was willing to pay, he spared no expense in creating molds. After a few trials, the pipes were delivered. Pei You’an connected the pipes to the water outlet of the stove and led them into the bathing room. Now, whenever they wanted a bath, they only needed to light a fire in the stove. By opening the wooden plug in the bathroom, hot water flowed in continuously. Even more convenient was a secondary cold water pipe that allowed them to regulate the temperature, letting them soak for as long as they liked.

This new bathing room not only solved Jiafu’s bathing problem but also made it easier for the two maids next door to fetch hot water, eliminating the need to carry it back and forth. On the day the bathroom was finished, all three were delighted. Only Mother Ding from Old Ding’s family was left stunned, having watched Pei You’an spend so much money and labor, thinking he was building something of grand importance, only to realize it was just to give his wife a place to bathe.

That night, heavy snow began to fall outside, but the room was filled with the warmth of spring. Jiafu used the new room for the first time with great success. After her hot bath, her pores were open, and her skin was tinged with a soft, delicate pink. As she lay down, Pei You’an sat at the foot of the bed and helped rub her chilblain-stricken feet.

Jiafu praised him: "I didn't expect Master Pei to be so skilled at such things. You’re truly capable."

Pei You’an smiled: "When a beauty has bathed, the lotus fragrance unfolds. As long as my Fu’er is satisfied, I will gladly exhaust everything I have."

Jiafu knew he was teasing her, and the phrase "exhaust everything I have" always made her thoughts drift to improper places, heating her face and making her heart skip a beat. She bit her lip and said, "You’ve become more and more impertinent; I never knew this about you before."

Pei You’an gazed at her charming, blushing face, suddenly overcome by an urge he hadn't felt in a long time. He asked softly, "Does it still ache or itch?"

Jiafu shook her head. "Much better."

Pei You’an instructed her to lie on her side, arch her waist, and slightly bend one leg.

Seeing him staring at her with glowing eyes and personally adjusting her posture, Jiafu assumed he had suddenly taken interest in a new way of being together. Her heart raced with anticipation, her cheeks flushing red, yet she obediently murmured a soft "en." She stole a glance at the door, poked him, and whispered a reminder: "Big Cousin, the door isn't bolted yet..."

Pei You’an was stunned.

Jiafu hadn't brought much luggage with her, but one of her trunks was filled entirely with his books and fine stationery that couldn't be bought in this godforsaken place—Chengni inkstones, pine soot ink, eight-treasure stationery boxes, and plenty of high-quality Xuan paper and fancy decorative paper.

She knew he had never spent a day without his books and was afraid he would feel empty here, so she had gone to such great lengths to bring this heavy trunk, traveling over mountains and rivers. The depth of her devotion left Pei You’an feeling that even if he shattered his body, he could never repay her even a fraction. In truth, he had only been moved by how seductive and alluring she looked after her bath and had suddenly felt an impulse he hadn't experienced in years: to paint a portrait of his beauty reclining on the couch. He hadn't reacted to her reminder about the door, but when he saw her lowering her eyes in embarrassment, even the tips of her ears turning a shy, rosy pink, he finally understood. He suppressed a laugh, coughed lightly, and whispered into her ear: "Does Fu’er want me to treat you that way? I only wanted to paint your portrait."

Jiafu froze. She looked up and saw him looking at her, struggling to hold back his laughter. Only then did she realize she had misinterpreted him. Her face burned hot. With a cry, she covered her face with both hands, rolled over, and pressed her face into the pillow.

Pei You’an could no longer hold it in and burst into laughter. In his heart, he loved this girl before him more than anything.

With her arrival that night, this once dim and cold old room had become so warm and bright.

He pressed himself against her, hugged her shoulders, and kissed the back of her neck and her spine. Moving his lips to her ear, he nibbled her hot, delicate earlobe and whispered, "How does Fu’er want me to treat you tonight?"

Jiafu twisted her body to stop him, but Pei You’an was already ignited by her. He had no thoughts left for painting; he was too tickled by her curious fantasies. He told her to lie back down as she had before, wanting to give it a try.

Jiafu, however, refused to be obedient. Her face bright red, she shook her head in refusal.

Pei You’an feigned a stern face: "You said yourself earlier that you would be good to me."

Jiafu closed her eyes in grievance, angry: "Whatever you want! Just do it yourself! You’re such a bully!"

Pei You’an was intoxicated by her little act of half-hearted resistance. Just as he lay down with her to arrange her, a voice came from outside: "Master Pei, the chestnut mare is giving birth!"

Jiafu opened her eyes instantly.

"Go, go and see!"

She beamed with surprise, shoved him away, scrambled off the bed, and started dressing in a flurry. She turned to find Pei You’an still lying there, looking lazy and unmoved.

"Hurry up!"

This mare... why couldn't she have chosen another time?

Pei You’an sighed inwardly and had no choice but to get out of bed.

Jiafu had been afraid of the cold, but ever since she arrived, she went to check on the mare every day. Hearing it was time, she was anxious and eager. She threw on her clothes, turned around, threw open the door, and ran out, leaving Pei You’an behind. He hurried after her, caught her, wrapped her in a thick cloak, tied the collar, put on her hat and gloves, and bundled her up completely before they braved the snow toward the stables.

The weather was bitter cold. Although they had sealed all the drafts in the stable, Jiafu was always worried about the cold for the pregnant mare. She had lit a dung-fired stove outside the stall at night, so it was warm inside. Torches provided illumination on the walls. The mare lay on a pile of hay, struggling to deliver.

Hearing the mare was birthing, Old Ding and his wife, Yang Yun, and the others all came to watch. Tanxiang and Muxiang were shy at first, but seeing Jiafu go, they hurried to follow.

Jiafu stood outside the stable door, waiting nervously and expectantly. Finally, she saw a small hoof pushed out from behind the mare’s rump. She was overjoyed, eyes wide as she waited for the foal to be born, but the hoof became stuck, and it wouldn't come out. The mare seemed to be losing strength, lying there with her belly heaving as she panted continuously.

Jiafu grabbed Pei You’an’s arm, muttering, "What do we do? What do we do? It seems she has no strength left!"

Pei You’an offered a few words of comfort, handed her his outer coat to hold, and stepped into the stall. He fed the mare a handful of wheat and rubbed her belly for a moment. He washed his hands, moved behind her, and cautiously reached in. After feeling around for a while, he finally pulled out the other hoof that was wedged inside. Then, holding the foal’s two hooves, he helped the mare pull it out inch by inch. Finally, a mass covered in white membrane surged out, and the foal’s head appeared.

The mare seemed encouraged, and soon after, the entire foal was delivered smoothly.

Jiafu let out a breath of relief, cheering along with Tanxiang and Muxiang.

It was a beautiful little black colt, lying in the thick hay. Though soaking wet, it soon opened a pair of round eyes, shaking its little head as it curiously surveyed this new world.

The mare stood up quickly, went to her foal’s side, and licked her newborn with her tongue, gently nudging its neck to help it stand.

Slowly, the colt straightened its neck, its front legs kneeling on the ground. The mare continued to lick it. Soon, the colt’s hind legs followed, and finally, it stood up, wobbly, nuzzling its mother’s neck and belly in an affectionate display.

Jiafu was moved to tears by the sight, unable to bear leaving. Pei You’an called her several times, but seeing her still crouched by the gate, as if she wished to stay there all night, he smiled: "The mare knows how to take care of her foal; don't worry. It's late. You should go back and sleep!"

Reluctantly, Jiafu left the stable. Back in their room, Pei You’an went to bathe, and Jiafu sat on the bed, chin in hand, lost in thought.

Pei You’an came out of the bathing room, climbed into bed, and they lay down side by side.

"Big Cousin, I want to have a child for you. Would you like that?"

Jiafu whispered softly.

Pei You’an kept his eyes closed and didn't answer, but the corners of his lips curved upward. His hand traced her silky, soft waist and slowly moved downward.

"Big Cousin, do you prefer a boy or a girl?"

Jiafu breathed thinly, her hands clutching his sturdy shoulders, her voice trembling as she asked.

"As long as it is a child born to me by Fu’er, I will love it..."

He whispered, kissing her lips.

All was silent. The snow of that night fell upon the roof with a soft, rustling sound. Between Heaven and Earth, there was absolute peace.