Yongzheng wore a rare expression of bewilderment.
Yunxiang was also stunned. Recently, the news that Fourth Brother favored Snow Peak Spring Pear had spread like wildfire throughout the court and the inner palace, described with such vivid detail that it hardly seemed like baseless gossip.
Moreover, he remembered that in the Old Summer Palace, where Fourth Brother often resided during his time at Qian Di, there was a vast pear orchard. Every spring, pear blossoms would blanket the branches like snow, creating an utterly breathtaking scene.
For this reason, when he heard the news, he had instinctively assumed it was true.
Could it be that something was amiss?
Yunxiang furrowed his brow and said, “Is Fourth Brother truly unaware of this? The Snow Peak Spring Pear actually originated from the inner palace. It’s said to be related to a Taichangzai residing in Qianxi Sisuo…”
“Qianxi Sisuo again…”
Yongzheng thoughtfully rubbed the jade thumb ring on his hand and said, “Tell me more about this Snow Peak Spring Pear.”
Seeing that he seemed to have some recollection, Yunxiang breathed a sigh of relief and explained, “The flower is called Snow Peak Spring Pear. It’s actually a special variety of pear blossom, but it blooms earlier than ordinary pear blossoms, its color is purer and more delicate, and its fragrance is more subtle and elegant.”
“Some officials gifted me a few vases of it earlier. After examining them, I found them truly exquisite. The white-budded pear branches were meticulously pruned and arranged in Apple Green Glazed Vases, exuding both the vibrant energy of early spring and an ethereal, refined charm.”
Yongzheng seized upon the key point and asked, “Are you saying that Snow Peak Spring Pear is simply pear branches arranged in vases?”
Upon closer thought, this seemed somewhat off, yet not entirely incorrect.
Yunxiang hesitated and said, “Fourth Brother, this variety of pear blossom is different from others. I imagine cultivating it requires considerable effort. In my opinion, it’s fully worthy of its price of fifty to sixty taels of silver per vase.”
Yongzheng looked at him strangely and asked, “Cultivated?”
Yunxiang nodded and said, “Yes, it’s said that this Snow Peak Spring Pear was carefully cultivated by that Taichangzai in Qianxi Sisuo, requiring no small amount of effort.”
Yongzheng: “…”
If not for that night when he had sent Su Peisheng to Qianxi Sisuo, and the maid had reported: “That pear tree seemed to have gained a spirit of its own, shooting up over a foot overnight. It scared her half to death.”
He might have actually believed it.
But was Su Peisheng’s information truly accurate?
From the Haidongqing to Noble Lady Chang, and now to Snow Peak Spring Pear.
Each incident, one after another, had captured his attention, and all were inextricably linked to Guaerjia.
What if these were not coincidences, but part of a meticulously designed scheme?
First, they had calculated his suspicious and contemplative nature, knowing that he disliked any matter, big or small, slipping beyond his control.
Then, they used the Haidongqing flying into Qianxi Sisuo as bait, making him believe he was the hunter.
Next, they skillfully utilized Chang Wen’er to lure him to Qianxi Sisuo, where he saw those pear trees.
Even Yunxiang had become a piece in their calculation…
If this were truly the case, then the mastermind behind it must be a figure of near-demonic cunning, with deep knowledge of affairs in both the court and the inner palace.
Yongzheng’s guard instantly rose to the highest level.
He pondered carefully, concealing the gravity in his eyes. Then he stood up, walked to the edge of the pavilion, and with his hands clasped behind his back, gazed toward the west with an air of nonchalance. “Thirteenth Brother, we were so engrossed in our conversation earlier that I didn’t even notice—the rain is falling harder now.”
Yunxiang stood up and walked to Yongzheng’s side. Recalling the events of the day, a bitter smile touched his lips.
"Imperial Elder Brother, it is all my fault."
Had he known the rain would grow heavier, he should not have said those words in the imperial study earlier: "It's only drizzling a little, it should be fine."
Now, with no guards accompanying them, the two were trapped in the pavilion.
As he spoke, Yunxiang caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye of a dark, spreading stain on the hem of Yongzheng's bright yellow court jacket, which looked particularly conspicuous.
It must have been splashed by the rain earlier, and when he stood up, the wind blew it against the table edge or a pavilion pillar, soiling it.
Following his gaze, Yongzheng also noticed the stain. He immediately felt uncomfortable all over, frowned tightly, and was about to take off the court jacket he wore over his robes.
Yunxiang knew of his Fourth Brother's fastidiousness. Seeing this, without much thought, he took off his own blue fox-fur court jacket. But just as he was about to drape his jacket over Yongzheng's shoulders, his hand froze mid-air.
Now, Fourth Brother was the sovereign, and he was a subject. Their statuses were different.
Take these court jackets, for example. When they were both princes and Beile, they wore jackets made of moon-white satin lined with blue fox fur, swapping and wearing each other's without a second thought.
But now, Fourth Brother's jacket was an imperial garment made of bright yellow satin lined with sable. How could he wear Yunxiang's jacket now?
Not only would it be presumptuous, but it would also give others grounds for criticism.
Yet, not offering the jacket made him feel even more uneasy.
It was only the end of February, and the weather was still cold, especially with the heavy rain outside. As the saying goes, "Bundle up in spring, endure the cold in autumn." Early spring was already a time when one easily caught a chill. Out in the open like this, without a warm jacket, how could it be bearable?
Yunxiang was deeply conflicted.
Yongzheng was also somewhat conflicted, but his concerns were different from Yunxiang's.
First, his action of removing his jacket had been instinctive. When he noticed Yunxiang immediately taking off his own jacket, Yongzheng realized what he intended to do and reflexively wanted to stop him. Yunxiang's constitution was frail—how could he withstand the cold?
But Thirteenth Prince was too quick in removing his clothes. Before Yongzheng could even speak, he had already taken off his jacket.
Yongzheng's next plan was to enact a scene of humility, like Kong Rong offering the pear, when Yunxiang offered his jacket. He would use Yunxiang's poor health as a reason to persuade him to put it back on. If Yunxiang insisted otherwise, he would assert his authority as emperor and order him to comply.
But his well-laid plan faltered when he saw Yunxiang holding the removed jacket, hesitating without making a move.
The touching scene he had anticipated—his good brother, unable to bear seeing him suffer in the cold, offering his warm outer garment on such a rainy day—had vanished.
Yongzheng was taken aback, and in that moment of confusion, he understood Yunxiang's delicate considerations.
In that instant, Yongzheng suddenly felt the situation had become rather tricky.
Should he wear Yunxiang's jacket or not?
If he wore it, what would Yunxiang wear in this cold weather? The jacket he had just taken off? But it had a stain on it. Even he found it unpleasant, yet to let Yunxiang wear it would seem as though Yunxiang were beneath him. That would not be appropriate.
If he didn't wear it, not only would he be rejecting Yunxiang's kindness, but it would also create a cold distance. In their private moments, the rare bond of brotherhood would turn into a rigid sovereign-subject relationship, drawing a clear line between them. No matter how much he tried to smooth things over with words, this incident would become a lingering issue. Yunxiang would no longer see him as a brother but solely as his sovereign.
In short, being human is difficult—even for an emperor. Once one seeks to have the best of both worlds, there are far too many things to consider.
Yongzheng sighed inwardly. Just as he was feeling troubled, Su Peisheng arrived with a procession of guards and the imperial carriage, searching for him in a grand manner.
With the imperial entourage came spare clothes.
Yongzheng breathed a sigh of relief but had no intention of waiting for Su Peisheng to bring his own spare robe.
Instead, he naturally took the robe from Yunxiang’s hands, put it on, and teased with a smile, “I remember when you were young, you were quite mischievous. When you ruined your clothes, you’d secretly take mine and wear them, leaving me unable to find my own. I even thought there was a thief in the princes’ quarters. Who would have thought it would be the other way around now? Truly, heaven has eyes—what goes around comes around.”
Yunxiang also smiled. He had seen Su Peisheng and, following him, his own personal attendants.
And the spare clothes his attendants had brought.
Even if Fourth Brother wanted to give him the spare robe from the imperial attire, he would never accept it. His attendants had arrived just in time.
Yunxiang put on another blue fox fur robe. Turning his head, he noticed Su Peisheng subtly glancing at the blue fox fur robe on Fourth Brother, as if about to say something but ultimately holding back.
He said with a smile, “Imperial Elder Brother’s clothes are dirty, so he’s wearing mine for now. It’s cold outside—he can change when we return. It’s all the same.”
“Yes, yes, of course.”
Su Peisheng quickly bowed to Prince Yi. It was true that Prince Yi was kind-hearted, but as a servant, how could he remain indifferent or take a prince’s explanation for granted?
Turning to Yongzheng, Su Peisheng added with a flattering smile, “Your Majesty, the rain is getting heavier. Shall we return?”
Yongzheng was about to agree but paused, his expression turning indifferent as if something had crossed his mind. “All of you return first. I have other matters to attend to.”
Before anyone could try to persuade him, he added, “Thirteenth Brother, the rain is heavy and the roads are slippery. Stay in the palace tonight.”
His tone left no room for discussion.
Yunxiang had no choice but to comply. He bowed and said, “Yes,” then led Su Peisheng and the others back to the palace.
After everyone had left, Yongzheng opened an oil-paper umbrella and walked alone toward Qianxi Sisuo.
Today, he had to personally meet this Guaerjia.