Snow had fallen again the night before. The carriage wheels cut two deep ruts into the street as they rolled toward the palace.
Since they were due at the palace today, Liu Miqing had gotten up early, but Bu Jingci said there was no rush, they could wait until morning court was over. After dawdling over breakfast, they set out rather late, and even once he was in the carriage, Bu Jingci still looked half-asleep, leaning against the side with his arms folded, feigning a doze.
Liu Miqing didn’t wake him. Instead, he turned over the jade pendant Bu Jingci had given him the night before, playing with it in his hands.
The thing was about half the size of his palm, black as ink, carved with a qilin so lifelike that at first glance Liu Miqing had mistaken it for a particularly handsome ink stick. On closer inspection, though, he noticed its soft luster and exceptionally fine grain, it was a piece of jade of excellent quality. He had a vague feeling the original novel had mentioned something like it, but for the moment he couldn’t recall what it was for.
“Your Highness, we’ve arrived.”
The driver’s voice came from outside, and Bu Jingci opened his eyes, only to see Liu Miqing frowning at the pendant in consternation. He reached over, took it back, and hung it at Liu Miqing’s waist. “Keep it safe. Don’t lose this.”
“Oh.” Liu Miqing touched the pendant at his waist again. “What is this? I feel like, I’ve seen it before?”
Bu Jingci stepped down from the carriage and held out a hand to him. “No surprise if you have. It’s a waist token, I suppose.”
“A waist token?” Liu Miqing hopped down from the carriage with Bu Jingci’s help, thinking hard. The moment Bu Jingci said it, he remembered, there was indeed such a token in the original novel, one the scumbag top had given the beautiful bottom, though it hadn’t looked quite like this one. “I thought it was supposed to be purple.”
“That’s Third Brother’s.” Bu Jingci took the umbrella Ye Huo handed over and held it as he walked with Liu Miqing toward the palace. “Each of us brothers has one.”
Liu Miqing understood. “Then it must be important. Are you sure it’s fine to give me yours?”
“It’s no matter,” Bu Jingci said. “It suits you just right.”
Liu Miqing felt this ought to be something terribly significant, but before he could grasp what Bu Jingci meant, he simply understood that he’d been handed a very useful pass. “Thank you.”
“Let’s go.” Bu Jingci ruffled his hair. “Court should be dismissed by now. Perfect timing.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
“Your dad” Liu Miqing paused, feeling the wording wasn’t quite right, and corrected himself. “Is the Emperor fierce?”
Bu Jingci laughed at that. “Are you scared?”
Liu Miqing pouted and nodded. Of course he was scared, that was how it always went in novels and on TV. Emperors could have a man’s head off and exterminate his whole clan over the slightest displeasure, and Liu Miqing didn’t know any of the palace etiquette. How could he not be afraid?
“You should call him Father Emperor, same as I do,” Bu Jingci said. “No need to be so stiff. Just think of it as meeting an elder.”
Liu Miqing nodded, but his hand still clenched into a fist without his meaning it to.
Seeing this, Bu Jingci felt a bit helpless. He took his hand. “Cold?”
“A little.” Liu Miqing lowered his head, a little embarrassed, and let himself be led forward.
“When the weather warms up, I’ll take you to Jiangnan to have some fun. Want to go?”