When Qin Xuanqiao returned from the morning audience, he saw Qin Duoye leaning against the edge of the bed, wearing black sleeping robes loosely draped over his shoulders with his dark hair cascading down, quietly reading a book. A small wooden table stood beside the bed, holding a bowl of white tea, with faint wisps of tea fragrance drifting from the rim. A stir of emotion arose in Qin Xuanqiao. He took two steps forward, making his footsteps audible on the floor. Hearing the footsteps, Qin Duoye did not even raise his head, simply saying casually, Back? As he spoke, he turned the page of the book in his hands. His relaxed posture made it seem as if the imperial palace were his own home. Qin Xuanqiao paused for two seconds, inexplicably generating a wave of resentment from the morning audience. He had spent the assembly confronting one annoying face after another, yet upon returning home, he found his kept dependent sleeping on his bed, drinking his tea, reading his book, and not even bothering to afford him a proper look upon his return. He was cut from the exact same cloth as those pampered civet cats! Qin Xuanqiao removed his outer robe and hung it on the screen, preparing to head into the inner chamber to change his clothes. Passing by the bed, he casually asked, What are you reading? A biography of Emperor Cheng-lie of Wei, Qin Duoye replied offhandedly. His footsteps toward the inner chamber came to an abrupt halt. Qin Xuanqiao strode over to the bedside, snatched the book from Qin Duoye’s hands, and flipped to the title page. ? Qin Duoye, whose wrist had been grabbed, looked up uncomprehendingly. Seeing Qin Xuanqiao frowning as he inspected the book, he realized: I didn’t touch that copy on your desk. I had Gou Hongyang fetch me another one. Qin Xuanqiao’s hand froze mid-flip. His furrowed brows relaxed, and as he glanced at the serene person on the bed, a complex emotion flashed through his phoenix eyes. This person… On one hand, if you called him deferential, his actions over the past couple of days practically trampled on imperial majesty and sovereign power, every single move was an act of gross disrespect. He had never seen a courtier act so at ease within the imperial palace, ordering around the chief eunuch as if it were nothing, let alone pointing fingers and issuing orders to the Emperor without the slightest restraint. Yet on the other hand, if you called him audacious, he wouldn’t casually disturb the items inside the room, which made him appear exceptionally well-behaved. Qin Duoye raised an eyebrow at Qin Xuanqiao’s expression. Mischief suddenly rising in his heart, he curved his lips into a smile: What is it? Could my Emperor be hiding some secret inside that book? I merely loathe anyone touching my belongings without permission, Qin Xuanqiao sneered. He let go of his grip, and the book went thud, landing squarely on Qin Duoye’s forehead. Qin Duoye clutched his head: … How could this brat exact revenge the moment the thought crossed his mind? He holds grudges and repays them on the spot, such a petty person! What made you think of reading this book? Qin Xuanqiao decided not to leave, taking a step closer to the bed. Qin Duoye picked up the volume again, looked at Qin Xuanqiao, and then shifted toward the inner side of the bed, leaving a spot for him. This official is lonely and desolate in the inner palace, longing for Your Majesty day after day, and with nothing better to do in my idle time, I can only find a few books to pass the days. Qin Duoye drew out his tone lazily, talking nonsense while keeping his eyes fixed on the words, turning another page. As if. I merely wanted to see how future generations chronicled my past heroic bearing and praised my former achievements. Ah, this is truly wonderful. The posthumous title is Cheng-lie. Cheng signifies pacifying the people and establishing administration, possessing both virtue and accomplished ritual and music; Lie signifies vast sagely merits, purifying the realm, and ruling the world with dignity. Seeming unsatisfied that this wasn’t handsome enough, they added the character Sage to it, implying that the Emperor’s talent for governing and securing the country was unparalleled under heaven, and his achievements in bringing peace to a troubled age rivaled those of the sages. It seems all the civil and military officials were deeply saddened after my death, gathering together to craft such a posthumous title and honorific. The official historian is truly splendid as well, they practically blew my reputation up to immortal proportions. To be an emperor to this degree, leaving a legacy remembered through history for ages, Working myself to the bone in my past life was entirely worth it. Qin Xuanqiao had no inkling of Qin Duoye’s internal musings, assuming the man was merely self-deprecating, and thus seized the opportunity to mock him: … Esteemed official seems to have adapted quite well to the status of a male concubine. Naturally. Qin Duoye closed the book, watched Qin Xuanqiao climb onto the bed and lean closer, and said, This male concubine status still has its uses for me. That way, whatever instructions Your Majesty has for me can be casually summoned under the guise of an audience, keeping up appearances so no one knows what we’ve been discussing together. Qin Xuanqiao stared at him for two seconds before letting out a soft scoff: What Your Majesty and this official? Stop putting on an act. I’ve never seen you truly stand on ceremony with me. Qin Duoye: … Fine, Qin Duoye shrugged. What are you planning to do now? Suddenly, a force pulled Qin Duoye down, and he tumbled into the soft cloud-brocade and fabric pillows. Qin Xuanqiao looped an arm around his waist, lying down beside him on the couch. He saw Qin Xuanqiao close his eyes and heard the young Emperor’s voice, usually laced with a hint of sarcasm, soften slightly: Accompany me for a brief nap. We’ll have lunch together when we wake up. Qin Duoye quietly observed Qin Xuanqiao’s brows and eyes. With his phoenix eyes closed, the predatory aggressiveness of his gaze was much mitigated, and his thick eyelashes cast a raven-black shadow beneath his eyes. He looked rather well-behaved, carrying the genuine air of a youth. Relaxing considerably as well, Qin Duoye stretched out his limbs and lay down with peace of mind. His body was in a wretched state, and though he wasn’t mentally tired, the moment he lay down, a profound wave of exhaustion washed over him. He closed his eyes and drifted off without hesitation, sleep was sleep. As Qin Duoye relaxed into a deep slumber, he remained unaware that Qin Xuanqiao had opened his eyes. His gaze was crystal clear, devoid of the slightest trace of sleepiness. He stared dangerously at Qin Duoye’s face, tracing over his brows, eyes, and the corners of his lips, lost in thought as a turbulent undercurrent swept through the depths of his eyes. After a long while, he rose and got off the bed. Ensuring the man was not disturbed, he walked over to the desk in the hall. Atop the desk rested a volume titled Biographies of the Holy Emperor Cheng-lie of Wei. Flipping it open casually, he found the blank margins densely filled with tiny, fly-head-sized annotations. They were personal notes jotted down on a whim. After staring at the biography for a few moments, he reached out to pull open the drawer beneath the desk. Inside lay numerous books and scroll paintings; a casual glance revealed they were all related to Holy Emperor Cheng-lie of Wei. Qin Xuanqiao picked up a scroll at random and unfurled it. Depicted within the painting was the Portrait of Hu-style Cavalry Archery of Holy Emperor Cheng-lie. Had Qin Duoye laid eyes on this painting, he undoubtedly would have recognized it as a teaching drill scene from the Changye Army camp, recorded right before his final expedition out of the city to subdue the Northern Borders during his personal campaign. He had never expected the accompanying historian and court painter to have recorded it. Having grown up on the frontier since childhood, he followed his father in riding horses and shooting arrows, training in the military camp while also adopting the strengths of the Northern nomadic peoples to refine his horsemanship and archery skills. His equestrian archery was top-tier, even when looking across the entire Changye Army. Thus, during military training, apart from formulating drills, he would occasionally set an example for all the soldiers and generals of the Changye Army during exercises, teaching them how to better command their horses and achieve a seamless integration with swordsmanship, spear techniques, and saber play. In the painting, the young sovereign was high-spirited and vigorous, with his hair tied high in a ponytail, wearing light armor and battle robes. The two front legs of his warhorse were reared high, kicking up a spray of gravel and sand from beneath its hooves. The monarch straddled the horse’s back, his legs gripping its flanks, with a city-breaking halberd slung across his back. As he drew his bowstring back with both hands, his body stretched taut and muscles tensed, the sharp tip of the arrow flashed with a chilling glint. A tuft of red tassels fluttered in the wind. Qin Xuanqiao watched the painting quietly. Due to the perspective in the artwork, the sovereign’s eyes were obscured by his bangs and the hand drawing the bow. Yet, inexplicably, Qin Xuanqiao felt a tremor in his heart. He couldn’t help thinking that if those eyes… Qin Xuanqiao turned back to glance at the person sleeping soundly on the bed. Pale-skinned, sickly, and terribly thin, so much so that wrapping a hand around his wrist revealed the distinct contours of the wrist bones. He was worlds apart from Holy Emperor Cheng-lie. Yet why was it that Qin Xuanqiao always felt that if this person’s eyes were placed into the painting, those tranquil, sharp, invincible eyes dark as lacquered ink, they would be an absolute, flawless fit? Qin Xuanqiao gathered all the books and scrolls, placed them back into the drawer, closed it, and locked it.
Chapter 8 - Emperor Cheng-lie of Wei, Portrait of Hu-style Cavalry Archery
A Century After My Demise, I Became The Tyrant’s White Moonlight