Chapter 20

The air inside the Yongning Palace was not particularly pleasant, yet Qin Xiangyi was filled with intense curiosity. Her eyes widened as she took in every detail of the grand hall.

The Emperor had once lived here. The Yongning Palace served not only as his living quarters but also as a place to receive court officials; thus, a resplendent, golden dragon throne sat in the center of the hall. Had the palace not been abandoned, Qin Xiangyi would never have had the chance to witness such a sight. The white jade pillars surrounding them soared toward the ceiling, emphasizing the magnificence of the hall.

As she stepped inside, He Yanzhou began to guide her, saying, "This is where the Emperor received us every day. See this patch of floor that is unusually smooth? That is where I usually knelt."

Qin Xiangyi looked down and saw a remarkably polished area. She asked him, "Is it necessary to kneel that much?"

He Yanzhou replied, "It isn't exactly a lot, I suppose. It just wore down like that over time." As a court official, who wouldn't learn a thing or two about kneeling?

Qin Xiangyi glanced at his legs, then felt she shouldn't have looked. Yet, she couldn't help but wonder about the state of his knees; perhaps they had developed thick calluses from the years of service.

"Let's go further in and take a look," He Yanzhou said, taking her hand.

Qin Xiangyi followed his lead, utterly compliant, mimicking his every step. As he walked before her, she watched his broad, dependable shoulders and back. She looked at their joined hands, then up to the slightly flushed tips of his ears, the mole behind his ear, and the veins visible beneath the thin skin of his neck.

Finally, he said, "This is the Emperor’s bedchamber."

The bedchamber was the best-preserved part of the palace. The fire had started on the outside, and the Emperor had been surrounded by guards who quickly escorted him to safety. Qin Xiangyi looked around, noting that a bright yellow quilt embroidered with dragons still lay upon the imperial bed. She reached out to touch the bed frame, sighing, "It is such a pity to waste such fine golden-nan wood and such exquisite craftsmanship. Is this bed really to be discarded just because he left?" As a craftswoman herself, she naturally cherished fine work.

He Yanzhou replied, "The Emperor’s possessions are discarded as easily as they are acquired. No one would dare repurpose them."

Suddenly, footsteps sounded from outside. He Yanzhou immediately became alert. The living quarters were small, and the dragon bed occupied a third of the space. He Yanzhou used his free hand to raise a finger to his lips. Qin Xiangyi nodded; she, too, heard someone entering. The footsteps drew closer, seemingly heading toward this specific room.

He Yanzhou pulled Qin Xiangyi into the narrow space behind the dragon bed. Qin Xiangyi was accustomed to hiding, so she moved without a hint of panic. He Yanzhou remained calm as well; the Yongning Palace was remote, and whoever was coming was certainly no high-ranking master. He squeezed her hand—they had not let go of each other since they entered. Qin Xiangyi looked at him, and He Yanzhou mouthed the words, "Don't be afraid."

Qin Xiangyi understood and nodded. After a moment, she looked at him again and mouthed, "I am not afraid with you here." It was unclear if he understood, but the space was so cramped that once they settled, the impropriety of their position became increasingly apparent. They were pressed so close that their breathing was audible, their exhales mingling. Qin Xiangyi felt the intensity of He Yanzhou’s presence—his scent, his body heat, the tactile sensation of his skin—all magnified. Fortunately, the room was dim, and they could not see the flush on each other's faces. Above them, the scent of wood emanated from the bed’s backboard.

They were far more interested in who had arrived and what they intended to do than in the awkwardness of their hiding spot. Regrettably, there were no voices, only the sound of footsteps—two people. They stopped right by the dragon bed, followed by the rustling of clothing.

A sinking feeling rose in Qin Xiangyi’s heart. She carefully looked up at He Yanzhou, who clearly did not yet grasp the situation. Then, the entire dragon bed began to shake. Qin Xiangyi knit her brows, while He Yanzhou’s entire face turned crimson. It was not just the shaking of the bed, but the increasingly unrestrained gasps—"Ah," "Hiss"—that enveloped them.

The two hiding behind the bed slowed their breathing, not daring to meet each other's eyes. Qin Xiangyi’s hand stirred in He Yanzhou’s, and he slowly released her, even less willing to look at her now. She turned to face him and tugged at his robe. He was forced to turn toward her, and as he lowered his head, he saw a small, fleeting smile.

Qin Xiangyi smiled only for a second, intending to convey, "It is fine; just treat it like watching a play." But upon meeting his gaze, her heart skipped a beat, then began to pound. She wiped away the smile and stared into his eyes, perhaps still frowning, for she could not decipher the look in them. Their breath collided and intertwined. He thought to himself that if she touched him now, she would feel his entire body burning with heat. Thankfully, she would not; she was a woman of strict propriety.

Yet, he wondered, would she be angry with him for bringing her to the Yongning Palace to witness such filth? He should have known that there was no clean corner in the entire palace; he should not have brought her here.

But then, she reached out, covering his ears with both hands. Her expression was solemn, as if to say, "You must not listen."

He Yanzhou felt a bitter smile in his heart; it was he who was supposed to protect her. The tips of his ears were burning, and he wondered what it felt like to have them held in her palms. His mind was in a whirl; he felt that a head held in her hands should not possess any reason. The look in his eyes shifted quietly. He could no longer hear the unrestrained gasps and rhythmic thuds outside; she was all he could see, all he could feel. His Adam's apple bobbed, and his hands balled into fists. He knew he should not have any such thoughts, but she was his "Aunt."

He breathed carefully. Even though his hearing was blocked by her hands, the tremors of the dragon bed persisted. Qin Xiangyi waited quietly, thinking she should be more composed. She was not an innocent girl; she should carry herself like an adult. Yet, the heat of his skin against her palms alarmed her, and she looked away. She was not entirely innocent herself. It was only natural, she reasoned; He Yanzhou was in the prime of his youth, and hearing such sounds would naturally trigger a reaction. It did not mean he harbored thoughts of her.

He Yanzhou did not know that Qin Xiangyi was making excuses for him. He almost wanted to abandon all restraint—what if she discovered his shamelessness? But he dared not touch her, not even in the slightest.

Before long, Qin Xiangyi slowly removed her hands from his ears. The sounds outside had ceased. The two people seemed to be catching their breath, followed by the rustling of clothes being put back on.

Qin Xiangyi looked up at him, perhaps to see his state, or perhaps to see what he was thinking. His eyes flickered with fine, shattered light, and as he stared fixedly at her, there was a sense of pressure beneath his usual gentle warmth. Qin Xiangyi suddenly dared not meet his gaze. She had intended to look after his emotions, but the clarity and depth in the young man's eyes made her flinch.

When the people outside had completely departed, Qin Xiangyi tugged his arm and said, with feigned ease, "We can go out now."

She led him out, intending to take the lead. Being his elder, she felt responsible for clearing away the awkwardness, even though she herself was in a state of utter confusion. However, she did not expect He Yanzhou to take the arm she was holding and slide her hand into his palm, gripping it tightly.

"Aunt," he said, "let's go this way."

She, who had intended to lead, found herself being pulled along by He Yanzhou. The living quarters were thick with an air that made one’s ears burn, and He Yanzhou hurried her out. As they were about to step off the stairs of the Yongning Palace, Qin Xiangyi paused, and He Yanzhou turned to look at her.

Qin Xiangyi glanced at their still-clasped hands, her fingers twitching, and He Yanzhou slowly released her. He couldn't resist adding, "Aunt, be careful on the stairs," masking everything as if it were perfectly natural and proper.

Under his gaze, Qin Xiangyi nodded and restored her posture to an impeccable state. When they walked side by side onto the palace path again, everything was unspoken. Qin Xiangyi was still wrapped in his cloak, and He Yanzhou was still carrying her box. Yet, both wore such stern expressions that anyone who saw them would only assume they were colleagues walking together for a brief moment, simply attending to their duties in the palace.

Later, he rode his horse to escort her back to the General’s Mansion, as was his custom, and left before her, just as always. The incident in the Yongning Palace, likely involving a palace maid and a guard, was never mentioned by either of them.

The following day, He Yanzhou went to the gates of Qingjing City to welcome a long-awaited future colleague—Wang Tingyang, who would become a like-minded partner. The man had traveled for days and was covered in dust. Wang Tingyang, a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations, had read all the classics since childhood. He possessed the integrity of a true intellectual and, upon entering officialdom, remained diligent and tireless. He wielded his pen like a blade to denounce the injustices of the world, his heart set on comforting the common people.

He Yanzhou was different; in front of him, he felt a sense of inadequacy. Even if the He family wished to care for the people, their primary objective was to fathom the Emperor's heart and balance the court; they could only hope that within these maneuvers, they could do something for the common folk.

Knowing Wang Tingyang had arrived in the capital, He Yanzhou felt he had to offer some guidance to avoid a repeat of what happened with Tian Siyuan.

"Brother Tingyang, I have long admired your name. I have prepared wine and food at the Huixian Pavilion; let us eat and talk."

They had never met before, but He Yanzhou had the honor of reading several of Wang Tingyang's essays and was deeply moved by them. Upon meeting, it felt like encountering a kindred spirit, and he had much he wished to discuss at length. Wang Tingyang had also heard much of the He family’s young master; the rigor and uprightness of He Yanzhou, Right Assistant Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, were already widely known among scholars. Meeting him today, Wang Tingyang felt the rumors were true: Lord He was a true gentleman.