Although the imperial banquet was briefly interrupted, the atmosphere remained festive. The ministers drank to their hearts’ content, and the Emperor himself had consumed a fair amount. Ruan Jinyu looked up and saw that the Sovereign’s face was tinged with a hazy intoxication. His expression, usually heavy and unreadable, now seemed even more inscrutable.
Curiously, Yan Yan’s eyes appeared to have a subtle, dull vacancy that Ruan Jinyu had never seen before.
Ruan Jinyu glanced at him, then at Consort Qin, who followed closely by his side—less than a fist’s width away. He decided it was time for him to leave. He prepared to pay his respects and withdraw.
“You should head back first.”
Before Ruan Jinyu could raise his hands to salute, the low, raspy voice spoke from across him. The words were perfectly timed. Just as Ruan Jinyu was about to accept the dismissal and bow out, another voice cut in.
“Yes.”
It was Consort Qin’s crisp response. “This concubine takes her leave.”
The Imperial Preceptor’s hands were halfway up. He straightened his back and lifted his head, his eyes filled with confusion. He watched as Consort Qin waved her hand and strode out of the pavilion.
Left behind in the pavilion were Ruan Jinyu and the Emperor.
Is something wrong here?
“Why is Teacher standing?” Yan Yan asked with a sudden smile, his eyes lowered. “Sit.”
Ruan Jinyu sat back down, momentarily unsure of how to respond. After a brief hesitation, he asked, “Is Your Majesty somewhat intoxicated?”
“Teacher is speaking nonsense,” Yan Yan replied, lifting his eyes and wagging a finger. “Why do you not look at me?”
He truly seemed quite drunk. People said Consort Qin currently held the sole favor of the Sovereign and that he spent every night with her; yet today, he had reserved this time to dally with Ruan Jinyu. The Preceptor didn’t quite understand what the Emperor was trying to do.
Seeing that the Emperor was clearly inebriated, Ruan Jinyu looked left and right. Eunuch Hong En was guarding the garden outside the pavilion, but he was some distance away. Ruan Jinyu didn’t know what to do.
He tried tentatively: “Your Majesty, let this servant summon Eunuch Hong En. The night has grown dark, and it is time…”
“Why would you call him?”
Yan Yan cut him off mid-sentence. Ruan Jinyu pursed his lips and fell silent.
“Do you want to leave?” Yan Yan asked.
“Not exactly,” Ruan Jinyu replied, looking solemn while lying through his teeth. “This servant merely feels that the night is deep and the wind is strong. Your Majesty should preserve your dragon body.”
“That is true,” Yan Yan’s slightly furrowed brow smoothed out, as if he had suddenly remembered something. “The night is deep, and the wind is strong. It is not good for one’s health.”
Having uttered these words languidly, Yan Yan rose from the stone stool. Ruan Jinyu, assuming he had finally decided to return to the inner palace, hurriedly rose to follow.
As they emerged from the pavilion, Eunuch Hong En rushed forward to attend them. It was obvious that Yan Yan’s steps were unsteady. As he descended the pavilion stairs, he stumbled. Hong En, who happened to be right there, reached out to steady him, fearing the Emperor might fall.
However, the Emperor brushed his hand away and pointed a finger at him, dropping two words: “Impudent.”
This terrified Hong En, who immediately knelt to beg for mercy. Yan Yan didn’t give him a single glance, sidestepping him and continuing his unsteady walk forward.
Hong En remained on the ground, unsure whether to rise. Ruan Jinyu stepped forward and bent down to help him up. “Rise, Eunuch. His Majesty won’t blame you. He is just a bit…”
The words “He is drunk” didn’t leave Ruan Jinyu’s mouth, but Hong En, being a veteran of the palace, understood perfectly. The eunuch stood and continued to follow the imperial procession, but he dared not get too close. He trailed behind, alongside Ruan Jinyu.
Hong En was worried but too afraid to step forward. He shifted his eyes toward Ruan Jinyu and whispered, “Imperial Preceptor, perhaps you could step forward? This servant is very concerned.”
Though many called him “My Lord” out of respect for his rank, Hong En, as the Emperor’s personal attendant and a long-standing elder of the palace, rarely used the formal title “Imperial Preceptor” so earnestly. He was clearly genuinely worried. After all, the Son of Heaven must not be allowed to stumble or fall.
“Where does His Majesty usually go at this hour?” Ruan Jinyu asked, making no move yet.
Hong En bowed slightly. “Usually, His Majesty would be moving to Consort Qin’s palace.”
There you go, Ruan Jinyu thought. After all this, he’s still going to Consort Qin.
This left Ruan Jinyu in a bind. “I can hardly follow him into the harem.” He could certainly watch over the swaying Emperor for now, but if the Sovereign was headed to a consort’s quarters, how could a court official accompany him?
Hong En also looked troubled. As they hesitated, the Emperor had already walked quite a distance. Though his steps looked unsteady, his feet hit the ground with weight and purpose; he didn’t look like someone who had lost his senses to alcohol. Except… except for the sudden stumbles or the moments where he walked headfirst toward a pond with total seriousness.
Yan Yan suddenly stopped and turned around. His gaze wandered before landing on Ruan Jinyu. “Why is Teacher no longer walking?”
His speech was steady and deep.
Hong En nudged Ruan Jinyu urgently. “Imperial Preceptor! My Lord, please go first. This servant doesn’t even know where His Majesty intends to go. If you can, please ask His Majesty’s intent.”
Seeing the normally calm Hong En so frantic, Ruan Jinyu had no choice but to accept the task. “Very well.”
He stepped up to the Emperor’s side, making sure to leave a respectful gap. Maintaining the distance between ruler and subject, he didn’t grab him directly but asked, “Your Majesty, where are we headed?”
Yan Yan didn’t answer. Seeing that Ruan Jinyu had caught up, he turned his head and continued walking. Left with no other choice, Ruan Jinyu followed. Fortunately, the Emperor didn’t scold him for being too close or call him impudent.
As they walked, they exited the Dianluo Garden. Ruan Jinyu tried again: “Your Majesty, are we moving to the Lanqing Palace?”
The Lanqing Palace belonged to Consort Qin. Ruan Jinyu assumed he was following his usual routine, but Yan Yan suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. He turned and looked at Ruan Jinyu with a dead-serious expression. He said nothing, but after a moment of staring, he turned back and resumed walking.
However, as they left the Dianluo Garden, the gallery Yan Yan turned into was not leading toward the harem at all!
Ruan Jinyu wiped a stray lock of hair from his forehead, feeling utterly helpless. But he didn’t complain, simply following once more. “Your Majesty—”
Hong En watched from behind, his heart in his throat. Fortunately, it seems the Emperor has no intention of punishing the Preceptor.
Ruan Jinyu caught up and finally heard a response.
“I am going to the Palace of Ultimate Bliss.”
Good, Ruan Jinyu thought. No matter was, at least there’s a destination. He nodded repeatedly. “Understood.”
The walk from the Dianluo Garden to the Palace of Ultimate Bliss was not short. Usually, the imperial carriage would be used, but tonight Yan Yan insisted on walking. After quite some time, they had only just cleared the garden gates.
Yan Yan was walking straight ahead. Further up, the gallery branched into two paths. Ruan Jinyu, following by the Emperor’s side, saw that the Sovereign was about to walk straight into a wall instead of turning. Without thinking, he instinctively reached out and grabbed Yan Yan’s arm. “Your Majesty, this way.”
Once he had guided the man onto the correct path, Ruan Jinyu realized what he had done and quickly pulled his hand back. As he considered whether he should offer a formal apology for the touch, he noticed the Emperor wasn’t even looking at him.
However, while Yan Yan’s body was now pointed in the right direction, his feet had stopped moving altogether. Ruan Jinyu thought he was too tired to walk and saw a perfect opportunity. “Your Majesty, shall we travel by carriage instead?”
Yan Yan heard the voice and turned his head toward the sound. “Teacher… are you weary of walking?”
Who knew the Emperor would interpret it that way? Ruan Jinyu didn’t have time to respond.
Before he could, the sharp-eyed Hong En seized the moment. He had been trailing them and finally dared to step forward. “Your Majesty, the night wind is growing stronger.”
At his signal, the servants immediately brought the imperial carriage forward. The Emperor said nothing, which was taken as consent. He stepped into the carriage, but the curtain remained open, and he issued no order to move.
Ruan Jinyu stood there, assuming his work was done and breathing a sigh of relief. Hong En immediately gave him a shove. “Imperial Preceptor, is His Majesty not waiting for you?”
Ruan Jinyu wouldn’t dream of it. He waved his hands. “I wouldn’t dare.”
Hong En hit the nail on the head. “It wouldn’t be the first time, nor is it against precedent. In my view, the Preceptor should just go.”
Ruan Jinyu turned to him. “If His Majesty takes offense, the Eunuch shall take responsibility.”
Hong En gave a thin, somewhat empty smile. “The Preceptor is the National Strategist. I suspect he will not.”
Ruan Jinyu saw right through him and gave a dry laugh. What else could he do? They couldn’t stay frozen here; the carriage couldn’t move until the Emperor was settled.
This was the second time Ruan Jinyu had shared a carriage with the Emperor, and his heart was still pounding. Again, the Emperor did not scold him. The carriage rose and finally began to move.
This time, he dared to look at the Sovereign beside him. Unlike before, the Emperor was currently not in his right mind. Drunkards always seem to sway, and while it wasn’t obvious in Yan Yan’s gait, the swaying in his eyes was hard to miss.
A voice clearly reached Ruan Jinyu’s ears: “Teacher, sit firmly. Do not fall.”
He really was quite far gone. Ruan Jinyu felt a sudden urge to laugh. He suppressed the sound, waitng for a moment until he had composed himself before replying to Yan Yan:
“I shall try my best.”