Chapter 27: Changing Her Name (2)

Qi Ying entered the palace at noon and was led by a eunuch to the entrance of the imperial study. There, Su Ping, the chief eunuch trusted by the emperor, greeted him with a smile and said, “Young Master Qi, please come in. His Majesty has been waiting for you.”

Su Ping was an old retainer from two dynasties and was highly respected by all officials. Qi Ying treated him politely and responded, “Thank you for guiding me, Chief Eunuch Su.”

Upon entering the imperial study, Emperor Liang was reviewing memorials at his desk. Seeing Qi Ying arrive, he smiled and said, “Jingchen, have you had lunch yet? Today, we have venison from the north. The imperial kitchen has prepared Xiaotiansu; come share it with me.”

The emperor was nearly seventy years old, with a bloated figure, gray hair, and dark circles under his eyes, not appearing to be in good health. This was partly due to his long-term use of wushi powder, a drug popular among the imperial family. It was rumored that the emperor once indulged in the substance with his concubines, but after damaging his health a few years ago, he had gradually reduced its use.

Qi Ying knelt before the emperor, who personally descended from the dais to help him up. They then proceeded to a side hall of the imperial study for lunch.

The emperor favored meat, and the dishes on the table were mostly meat-based. The Xiaotiansu consisted of stir-fried venison and chicken, accompanied by other meat dishes like Zhu Toushun, Tonghua Soft Beef Intestines, and Shuilian Du. Qi Ying preferred a light diet and wasn’t accustomed to such rich food, but dining with the emperor required no complaints. Thus, he maintained a composed demeanor while eating.

The emperor had a hearty appetite and was in good spirits. He inquired about Qi Ying’s recent work at the Secretariat. Qi Ying replied, “Your Majesty has entrusted me with the position of deputy minister. I have been coordinating with various departments, familiarizing myself with past documents, and rely entirely on Minister Zhang’s guidance for any unclear matters.”

The Minister Zhang Qi Ying referred to was Zhang Heng, the current head of the Secretariat, who had previously served as deputy minister before the disastrous defeat at Shicheng.

The emperor nodded and sighed, saying, “Zhang Heng is mediocre and unworthy of the position of head minister. However, considering your youth, appointing you as head minister might cause dissent among the officials. Therefore, I placed you under Zhang Heng. But precisely because of his incompetence, it will be easier for you to take control. Though you hold the title of deputy minister, you should understand that I am entrusting the entire Secretariat to you.”

With these words, Qi Ying had to put down his chopsticks and kneel to express his gratitude. While he felt no particular gratitude toward the emperor, he maintained an appearance of deep appreciation. The emperor did not insist on making him kneel but told him not to be overly formal, adding, “Jingchen, in this era of great contention, heroes often emerge young. Gao Wei has found their man—Gu Juhán, who, despite his young age, has killed countless of our soldiers on the battlefield. None of the generals in our court could repel him from our gates. How can this not send chills down one’s spine?”

The emperor sighed again, looking earnestly at Qi Ying, “That young General Gu is already showing his prowess. Given time, he will undoubtedly become a major threat to our dynasty. Jingchen, I know you are a man of extraordinary talent, and I believe only you can stand against Gu Juhán. On the battlefield, perhaps no one surpasses the Gu family of Gao Wei in swordsmanship. However, national competition extends beyond the battlefield to the boundless political arena behind it. I firmly believe that in terms of strategic wisdom over vast distances, you are unparalleled in this era, far surpassing the likes of the Gu family of Gao Wei.”

At this point, no matter how polite the emperor was in discouraging it, Qi Ying had to kneel. He said, “Your Majesty flatters me. I will dedicate myself wholeheartedly and do my utmost.”

The emperor repeated “Good” three times, personally helped Qi Ying up, handed him his chopsticks, and continued eating. He took a piece of Danlong Jinru flakes and even placed a piece of Guifei Hong on Qi Ying’s plate. Midway through the meal, the emperor suddenly asked, “Jingchen, if you were in my position, between Zihuan and Ziteng, whom would you choose as crown prince?”

Upon hearing this, Qi Ying immediately put down his chopsticks.

Since ancient times, the selection of a crown prince has been a fundamental matter of state, never to be discussed by ministers. Those who violated this taboo were invariably executed without exception. Qi Ying responded cautiously, “Both princes are capable of fulfilling Your Majesty’s expectations. This is not something my limited insight can discern.”

Qi Ying was naturally cautious and rarely revealed his true thoughts. Despite the emperor’s lengthy expressions of trust, they stirred no significant emotions within him. Especially during this delicate period when the imperial family’s attitude towards noble families was particularly complex, he remained vigilant. When the emperor asked which prince he favored, it was likely a test of his stance—whether he supported the third prince, who was distancing himself from noble families, or the fourth prince, who relied heavily on them. The emperor wanted to gauge Qi Ying’s position.

And Qi Ying couldn’t let him see through.

The emperor scrutinized Qi Ying for a moment, seeing him humbly bow his head, seemingly indifferent to the choice of crown prince. A shadow flickered across the emperor’s eyes, followed by a loud laugh. Patting Qi Ying’s shoulder, he chuckled, “Your only flaw is being too rigid. We were just having a casual conversation; why be so serious? Enough, enough, let’s eat.”

Qi Ying still respectfully acknowledged, “Yes,” and then resumed eating.

After some lighthearted conversation, the emperor seemed to suddenly recall something and said to Qi Ying, “Since you’re in the palace today, why don’t you visit Ziyu before you leave? She has mentioned to me many times that she hasn’t seen you since you joined the Secretariat and has been complaining that I’ve overworked you. She… really adores you.”

Xiao Ziyu.

A hint of emotion flashed across Qi Ying’s lowered eyes.

The emperor mentioning Xiao Ziyu at this moment made Qi Ying ponder deeply. Xiao Ziyu was like a rope tied around his neck by the emperor. When the dynasty needed capable individuals, the rope was loosened, allowing Qi Ying to wield power. But once the emperor decided to reclaim authority, the rope would tighten instantly. If he became a son-in-law, he would forever lose real power in the imperial court.

Qi Ying was well aware that he needed to handle this rope carefully. If the emperor felt he was out of control, the power of the Secretariat would not fall into his hands. He didn’t covet power, but he feared that if he lost it, when the emperor eventually turned his blade against noble families, including the Qi family, he wouldn’t be able to save his family from peril.

He couldn’t get too close to Xiao Ziyu, nor could he distance himself too much.

Qi Ying kept his eyes lowered, concealing his thoughts beneath his eyelids, and then obediently said, “Yes.”

Led by Su Ping into the imperial garden, Xiao Ziyu was playing double sixes with palace maids.

Double sixes was a popular board game since previous dynasties. Each player had fifteen pieces, black or white, and used two dice to determine moves. White pieces moved from right to left, and black pieces from left to right. Victory was determined by moving all pieces off the board first. Unlike Go, which was intricate and time-consuming, double sixes was easy to learn and especially popular among women.

Xiao Ziyu sat with the maids under an octagonal pavilion in the garden, wrapped in a thick white fox fur coat. She was beautiful, resembling her brother, the fourth prince Xiao Ziteng, with a pair of peach blossom eyes. Though only sixteen, she exuded a flirtatious charm and was the most favored princess in the royal family. Laughter occasionally erupted from the pavilion; Xiao Ziyu had just won and was teasing a maid for being too slow.

The maid blushed, embarrassed, and upon seeing Young Master Qi approaching with Chief Eunuch Su, quickly stood up and joked with Xiao Ziyu, “Winning against us isn’t impressive. Beating Young Master Qi would be a real feat!”

Hearing the maid’s words, Xiao Ziyu knew Qi Ying had arrived. Turning around, she indeed saw him walking toward her with Su Ping.

Qi Jingchen wore his official robes today. She had seen many officials dressed this way, usually finding them dull and uninteresting. Yet, seeing him in them, she thought they suited him perfectly. His inherently reserved nature made the official attire appear more serious, but she liked him this way—cold and proper.

Xiao Ziyu stood up to greet him, and the maids discreetly retreated outside the pavilion. Su Ping also stood outside, smiling and bowing to Xiao Ziyu, saying, “This old servant will not disturb the princess and Young Master Qi. I’ll return to report to His Majesty.”

Xiao Ziyu stole a glance at Qi Ying and then turned to Su Ping, smiling, “Thank you, Chief Eunuch Su, for bringing him here. Please convey my thanks to Father.”

This remark made the maids outside the pavilion giggle. Su Ping laughed too, obediently agreeing before leaving.

Xiao Ziyu turned back to Qi Ying, watching him stand by the double sixes board where she had been playing with the maids, examining the board. Unexpectedly, her face flushed red. She walked over, pushed him slightly, and pouted, “What are you looking at?”

Qi Ying chuckled and replied, “Previously, Fourth Prince urged you to play proper chess, but you refused. Instead, you’re interested in these games.”

Xiao Ziyu looked coy and said, “I won’t play proper chess with you. When will I ever win against you? This is different. Why don’t you try? You might lose to me.”

Qi Ying shook his head with a smile, sat down, and gestured to the seat opposite him, saying, “Why not give it a try?”

Xiao Ziyu watched Qi Ying. His movements as he sat down were very graceful, and the gesture inviting her to sit was equally elegant. His unintentional smile was the most charming. She felt increasingly delighted.

She sat opposite Qi Ying and watched him reset the black and white pieces. As he tidied up, he asked, “Why sit outside in such cold weather? Aren’t you afraid of catching a cold?”

Xiao Ziyu glared at him and said, “It’s all because of you! If we were indoors, you’d say something about propriety, and I’m too lazy to listen.”

Qi Ying shook his head and said, “For a young lady like you, it’s for your own good.”

“I’d rather not have your kind of care,” Xiao Ziyu rested her chin on her hand, leaning half on the stone table. Her peach blossom eyes sparkled mischievously and pitifully, “Isn’t it just about reputation? No matter how careful you are, everyone knows about us.”

Qi Ying glanced at Xiao Ziyu and said nothing. Irritated by his gaze, she exclaimed, “It’s true! Everyone in Jiankang knows I want to marry you!”

Qi Ying didn’t respond, scanned the board, and calmly said, “You go first.”

Xiao Ziyu stole a glance at him, unable to discern his emotions, feeling somewhat disheartened.

He was always like this—hovering between closeness and distance, neither warm nor cold. Whether she threw tantrums or hinted at her feelings, he always received them but never responded, leaving her heart aching and itching. Yet, he always appeared oblivious and detached, utterly maddening! Feeling frustrated, she moved a piece randomly, clearly out of temper.

Qi Ying looked at her, shook his head, and smiled, “Didn’t you want to beat me? How will you win like this?”

Xiao Ziyu listlessly lowered her head and fiddled with a piece, saying, “Anyway, I can’t win. Even if I win, it’s because you let me. It’s meaningless.”

Qi Ying said, “You’re still acting like a child…”

Xiao Ziyu’s eyes widened with annoyance. Slamming the table, she said, “Can’t I act like a child? Who else can? That little girl you’re hiding in Fenghe Garden?”

Qi Ying raised an eyebrow, knowing Xiao Ziteng must have told Xiao Ziyu about it.

Qi Ying didn’t want more people to know about this. Although he had given Shen Xiling a false identity, it wasn’t entirely secure. Xiao Ziyu had a volatile temperament, and if she harbored resentment, she might persistently dwell on it. Qi Ying set down his piece and said, “She’s just a young girl not yet of age. Is she really worth your concern?”

Far from calming her, Xiao Ziyu became angrier, throwing her piece and saying, “Not of age? So what! I fell for you before I came of age too!”

She was genuinely upset, her eyes red-rimmed and brimming with tears, staring straight at Qi Ying. Qi Ying felt weary, stood up, bent down to pick up the piece Xiao Ziyu had thrown, walked to her side, and placed it on the stone table next to her, calmly saying, “Do you remember Minister Fang Yukai, who transferred from Bazhou to the Secretariat?”

Xiao Ziyu’s eyes were still red, but Qi Ying had successfully diverted her attention. She instinctively followed his lead, looked up at him, thought for a moment, and said, “The one who blocked a sword for you?”

Qi Ying nodded and said, “The young lady the fourth prince saw is Minister Fang’s orphaned daughter. Both emotionally and rationally, I must take care of her.”

Xiao Ziyu looked surprised, evidently not expecting the girl to be of such background. She felt guilty, stood up, approached Qi Ying by two steps, grabbed his sleeve, pursed her lips, still looking pitiful and aggrieved, and said, “I didn’t know she was Minister Fang’s daughter…”

“It’s alright,” Qi Ying’s expression was calm but lacked warmth, appearing very solemn, “However, I hope you won’t mention this to others. It wouldn’t be good to constantly remind the girl of her father’s tragic death.”

Xiao Ziyu nodded repeatedly in agreement, glanced at his stern and distant face, bit her lip, and tears welled up in her peach blossom eyes again. “I’m not jealous of others… It’s just that I haven’t seen you since you joined the Secretariat. If I hadn’t begged Father today, you probably still wouldn’t have come to see me… Brother Jingchen, I miss you.”

Xiao Ziyu looked quite sorrowful and continued, “Father told me to be sensible and not let personal feelings interfere with national affairs. I understand, but I can’t help feeling sad… You know, I only want—”

Qi Ying subtly withdrew his sleeve from Xiao Ziyu’s grasp, his demeanor suddenly turning cold. He performed the formal salute of a subject and said, “Princess, please respect yourself and speak carefully.”

Qi Jingchen was like this. When he was gentle, he could make people feel as if basking in spring breeze; when he was cold, he made others dare not cross the line. Even someone as spoiled as Xiao Ziyu, seeing Qi Ying’s cold demeanor now, dared not continue speaking. They stood silently in the pavilion for a long time before Qi Ying finally said, “I was the fourth prince’s study companion, so it’s natural that we’ve known each other since childhood and are somewhat familiar. Regardless of what kind of relationship exists between us, with the nation in crisis, where is there room to discuss personal feelings? His Majesty has entrusted me with important duties, and I cannot fail him—Your Highness, do you understand?”

Xiao Ziyu’s eyes were wet and red as she nodded.

Qi Ying glanced at her, looked up at the sky, and said to Xiao Ziyu, “It’s getting late. I still have official duties to attend to at the office, so I’ll take my leave…”

Before he finished speaking, Xiao Ziyu grabbed his arm urgently, speaking rapidly, “I understand everything you said, but I haven’t seen you for over a month. Now that you’re finally here, you’re leaving already? No matter what, stay and have dinner with me!”

Qi Ying frowned, but before he could speak, Xiao Ziyu interrupted again, “Don’t lecture me. I’ll say this once: if you don’t have dinner with me tonight, I won’t let you leave, even if Father comes to fetch you!”

Her tone softened, and she pleaded softly, “Just have one meal with me. I’ll call my brother too, so it won’t look inappropriate. Just this one meal, and I won’t bother you for the next month, okay?”

Qi Ying frowned, speechless.

In the end, Qi Ying was persuaded by Xiao Ziyu to stay for dinner in the palace. The fourth prince Xiao Ziteng also joined them. Setting aside their titles, the three of them were childhood friends and had a pleasant time during the meal.

Xiao Ziteng was a libertine who loved drinking and, like the emperor, enjoyed meat dishes. In truth, this prince embodied the traditional Jiangnan literati’s free-spiritedness. He could indulge in fine wine endlessly, and after getting drunk, he would lie down carefree. Though his behavior might seem dissolute, it was nonetheless genuine.

However, Xiao Ziteng not only enjoyed drinking himself but also disliked drinking alone. He insisted on dragging along the man he considered a sure bet as his future brother-in-law to drink with him. Qi Ying wasn’t bad at drinking, but recently he had been too busy to eat properly. The lunch he shared with the emperor earlier made him uncomfortable, and his body wasn’t in good condition, making it unsuitable to drink. However, Xiao Ziteng wouldn’t let him leave until he was thoroughly drunk. After some deliberation, Qi Ying decided to drink with him.

When Xiao Ziteng finally drank to his heart’s content, Qi Ying was finally able to leave. Xiao Ziteng personally escorted him out of the palace. The winter night wind was extremely cold, but it blew away some of the drunkenness.

He said to Qi Ying, “I noticed Ziyu seemed rather down tonight. What did you say to her during the day?”

Qi Ying didn’t answer, and Xiao Ziteng chuckled, likely guessing something.

His sister had been infatuated with Qi Jingchen since she was a child, determined to marry him. If her beloved Jingchen were an ordinary nobleman’s son, it might have been acceptable. But being highly regarded by the emperor, it wasn’t something Xiao Ziyu could recklessly pursue. Even without considering national affairs, Xiao Ziteng felt they weren’t suited. Qi Ying was too deep and heavy-hearted, while Xiao Ziyu was spoiled. If Qi Ying reciprocated her feelings, it might have been fine, but clearly, he had no such intention. If Xiao Ziyu persisted, she would surely suffer consequences.

Xiao Ziteng patted Qi Ying’s shoulder and said, “I won’t interfere in your affairs, but whatever happens… don’t hurt her.”

“How could I?” Qi Ying sighed, “I consider her a sister.”

Xiao Ziteng smiled and saw Qi Ying off to his carriage before returning to the palace.

The night was bitterly cold, and the carriage wheels creaked.

Inside the carriage, Qi Ying’s complexion was pale, and his stomach ached. Qingzhu was sweating profusely, hurriedly offering him a hangover remedy. Usually composed, Qingzhu’s face showed signs of anxiety, “Fourth Prince encouraged you to drink. Couldn’t you have refused? What if something happens to your health?”

Qi Ying drank the remedy. Winter chilled the liquid, and drinking it cold worsened his stomach pain. He frowned, waved his hand to signal it was fine. Outside, Bai Song heard the commotion inside and knew his master wasn’t feeling well. From outside, he asked, “Master, shall we skip the office tonight and return home?”

Bai Song knew Qi Ying well. Ordinarily, without unexpected circumstances, he worked tirelessly at the Secretariat every night. Normally, at this hour, he wouldn’t rest. However, given his discomfort tonight, it was best not to overwork and instead rest at home.

From inside the carriage, Qi Ying was silent for a moment before saying, “To Fenghe Garden.”

Fenghe Garden? Bai Song raised an eyebrow.

At this hour, what was there to do at Fenghe Garden? Qingji Mountain was far from the palace, requiring over half an hour by carriage. With his master feeling unwell, why not return home nearby?

Bai Song was puzzled but didn’t dare question further, simply replying, “Yes.”

Meanwhile, Shen Xiling had been waiting for Qi Ying for nearly four hours.

Initially, Shen Xiling stood at the entrance, her legs aching from standing but unwilling to leave, fearing Qi Ying would think her negligent if she left. The passing servants were surprised to see someone standing at the Forgetfulness Room entrance without leaving, causing whispers and pointing. At first, Shen Xiling felt extremely awkward and unsure, but gradually she got used to it, pretending nothing was happening.

By the Hai hour, with fewer people passing by the Forgetfulness Room due to the late hour, a maid named Zijun noticed her standing there for a long time and kindly approached to chat. Upon learning she was waiting for Second Master Qi to return, Zijun said, “Sigh, it’s already this late and the master hasn’t returned. He probably forgot about meeting you or got delayed by something else. You should stop waiting and go back.”

She glanced at Shen Xiling’s small frame, noticing her clothes damp with night dew, unsure how long she had been standing there. Feeling pity, she added, “Aren’t you just recovering from a serious illness? It’s freezing lately. Hurry back to avoid getting sick again.”

After saying this, Zijun couldn’t bear the cold any longer and quickly ran back to her quarters.

Shen Xiling was very grateful. Throughout the afternoon, amidst the bustling crowd, only Zijun had spoken to her kindly, making her feel a little happy. She knew Zijun was right—Second Master Qi might have forgotten or been delayed. She should go back now.

She hesitated for a moment, stepping down from the threshold of the Forgetfulness Room, thought for a bit, and then returned.

Shen Xiling didn’t know why, but she inexplicably trusted Qi Ying deeply, believing he would keep his promises. For instance, he had written in his note that he would come to see her tonight, so regardless of how late, he would definitely return.

This unwavering belief was baseless but deeply rooted in Shen Xiling’s heart at that moment. She walked back to the entrance, leaned against the railing corner to shield herself from the wind. After a while, unable to stand any longer, she sat on the ground in the corner, continuing to wait. She remained optimistic, thinking that since she had waited this long, a little longer wouldn’t matter. Even if Qi Ying didn’t return tonight, she could wait again tomorrow.

She leaned against the railing, her hands freezing cold. She rubbed them and breathed warm air onto her palms, gazing up at the star-filled sky, which reminded her of how beautiful it was when her parents were alive. Watching the stars, she grew sleepy and dozed off against the railing.

When Qi Ying returned late at night, this was the scene he encountered.

Author’s Note: I originally planned to write 10,000 words, but given my slow pace, 6,000 is the best I could manage…

BTW, updates will be mentioned in my wei-bo. If I need to take leave or plan an extra update (?), I’ll mention it. If you’re interested, you can check it out and discuss the plot, etc. (Hmm, hopefully, this recommendation isn’t too obvious... [doge])