“By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: summon Yu Yu, the legitimate son of the Grand Councilor, to enter the palace as a companion to the Crown Prince in his studies.”
Yu Yu knelt to receive the edict, the weighty imperial decree settling steadily into his palms. The Grand Councilor, quick to read the room, exchanged pleasantries with the eunuch who had delivered the decree, and before long, the whole procession made its way noisily toward the front hall.
Only Yu Yu, the very subject of the matter, remained where he stood. Only after the clamor of voices had faded into the distance did he retreat to his chambers under his old nursemaid’s urging to pack his belongings.
In the household, he was a veritable ghost. Whenever a matter, related to him or not, forced his name to be spoken, a brief silence would fall, and then he would be deliberately overlooked once more.
Had there been any way to avoid it, and had they not feared the eyes of the court, the one scrambling to pack his things and leave would not have been Yu Yu.
The weather of late had been poor, with the sun stubbornly refusing to show itself. As Yu Yu stepped out of the family estate, no relatives had come to see him off, only his nursemaid, wiping her tears as she gave her parting words:
“Once you’re in the palace, young master, be careful in all things. The Emperor’s countenance, this old servant has never once laid eyes on it in all her years. If anything should go wrong, I’ve buried twenty taels of silver by the outer wall of the estate. Take it out and use it as you need.”
The nursemaid clutched Yu Yu’s hand, unwilling to let go, her deeply wrinkled face streaked with tears. She spoke as if this were a parting of life and death. And yet, to them, wasn’t Yu Yu’s fortune in being summoned to the palace a supreme honor?
Yu Yu said nothing. The nursemaid, thinking he was upset over the lack of a family farewell, cursed them through sobs and sniffles: “You’re a little blessing, you are. The way they treat you, they’ll get their comeuppance, mark my words.”
Perhaps moved by genuine sentiment, or perhaps for the sake of this final parting, Yu Yu chose at last to tell her a lie: “Nursemaid, I hold no grudges.”
The nursemaid patted his head, then drew a small box from her bosom and pressed it into his palm.
“The silver they gave you surely won’t be enough. This is the private savings your mother had me hide away. Keep it safe, young master. From here on, you’ll have to walk your own path.” At the urging of the coachman, she pushed at Yu Yu’s back, hurrying him into the carriage.
Yu Yu pulled out half of the land deeds and shop titles from the box and pressed them back into the nursemaid’s arms, leaving her with the last words he would ever speak in this house, to the one person who wished him well: “I stole your indenture papers and tore them up. Take these, and leave the capital at once.”
He climbed into the carriage without looking back. The nursemaid called after him in a panic, but he did not turn around. The rickety carriage carried him away from this tomb.
The gates of that house would never open for Yu Yu again. In the end, they had chosen to cast him aside.
Once through the palace gates, a young eunuch came to receive Yu Yu and told him that His Majesty had summoned him.
“When you go in, young master, do not look directly upon the Emperor’s face. Whatever he asks you, answer truthfully.” The eunuch spoke in his high, clipped voice.
Yu Yu nodded, drew a piece of silver from his sleeve, and slipped it into the eunuch’s hand when no one was watching. “Thank you for the reminder, eunuch. Do have some tea on me.”
The young eunuch pocketed the silver with a grin and led Yu Yu into the inner chamber, pushing open the door for him.
Yu Yu entered with a bow, catching a glimpse of imperial yellow from the corner of his eye. He knelt and paid his respects: “May the Emperor enjoy ten thousand years of peace.”
The Emperor seemed to be in good spirits. He bade Yu Yu rise and ordered a seat to be brought for him.
“I have long heard that the legitimate son of the Grand Councilor is a man of exceptional bearing, but have never had the opportunity to summon you to the palace. Now that the Ninth Prince has just returned to the capital, I summon you to be his study companion. You share the same birthday, so you are bound to have similar interests.”
Yu Yu raised his head slightly, catching a glimpse of the bright yellow imperial robe from the corner of his eye. A massive dragon sprawled across it, claws bared as if it might pounce on him at any moment and pin him down, leaving him helpless.
“Rest assured, Your Majesty. I will keep the Ninth Prince good company and help him become familiar with the capital as soon as possible.” Yu Yu gave his assurance, neither nervous nor timid, steadily receiving the emperor’s words.
“Then I am at ease.”
As he came out, the sky was overcast and gloomy, a torrential downpour imminent.
The same young eunuch as before was waiting under the eaves, carrying Yu Yu’s luggage on his back.
“His Majesty’s wish is that you stay in the prince’s residence. The prince has just returned to the capital and is still getting used to his surroundings. Having a young man who has long lived in the capital to keep him company at play puts His Majesty’s mind at ease.”
The young eunuch chattered on beside him. Yu Yu showed little reaction, occasionally offering a few words of agreement. He looked at the heavy black clouds pressing down on the sky, weighing on his heart, and thought anxiously:
When will this rain finally fall?
“We’ve arrived.” At the entrance of a palace hall, the young eunuch stepped forward and knocked on the door. Before anyone inside could respond, a pebble came flying down from the eaves.
“You’ve brought him, now you can go.”
Following the sound, Yu Yu’s gaze met a pair of lazy, unrestrained almond-shaped eyes. The owner cast only a sidelong glance down at the eaves before turning his gaze back to the misty sky. A stalk of dog’s-tail grass dangled from his mouth as he toyed with it. He wore flowing purple silk, a carved gilt belt cinched at his waist. Looking up, even the storm brewing behind him seemed merely a backdrop to his spirited bearing.
A prince of the imperial blood, even after years away from the capital, no one could outshine him.
The young eunuch handed Yu Yu’s bundle back and took his leave.
Yu Yu still stood before the palace gate, not entering.
As if sensing the stillness of the figure in his peripheral vision, Xie Xin cast his gaze down again.
“Why haven’t you come in?”
“The prince has not yet given his consent, so I dare not overstep.” Yu Yu stood rigidly under the eaves, making no further move.
A clear, bright laugh rang out from the eaves. Then Xie Xin turned over and leaped down with ease, landing steadily beside Yu Yu. He grabbed Yu Yu and pulled him inside, shutting the door with swift finality.
“Why so stiff and proper?” He pressed Yu Yu against the door, studying him with curiosity, as if trying to read something in his eyes.
Their gazes crossed. Both detected a hint of scrutiny in the other’s eyes, and both saw suspicion and wariness mirrored back. In a flash, Yu Yu shoved Xie Xin away, deliberately speaking in a tone of feigned indignation: “Your Highness, show some restraint.”
Xie Xin released him, casually pointing to one of the rooms. “You, stay there.”
Yu Yu picked up the bundle that had fallen to the ground and walked toward that room. After closing the door, he could hardly contain the storm raging within him; his heart still pounded uncontrollably.
They were the same kind of people.
Divine officials descended to the mortal world, awaiting the day they would ascend to godhood. The anomalies on the day of their birth had foretold not only his own destiny, but also that of Xie Xin, born in the palace.
Newly born immortals of the Heavenly Court, enduring one trial in the mortal realm before taking their place among the celestial ranks, this was fate.
The same fate for both of them.
The rain came down in sheets just as expected, thunder rumbling and crashing outside the window. Yu Yu curled up under the blanket, not daring to poke his head out.
Ever since his mother passed away, Yu Yu had always been afraid of rainy days.
The thunder outside seemed to want to devour people, releasing its terrifying roar without mercy. Yu Yu kept his eyes tightly shut, fine beads of sweat forming at the tip of his nose. The air under the blanket was thin, and feeling suffocated, he quietly opened a small gap in the covers.
At the same moment, the window was carefully pried open, and a dark shadow slipped in from outside.
Yu Yu was buried under the blanket, the thunder booming loudly, and by the time he noticed the footsteps drawing closer and closer, it was already too late to mount any greater defense. The instant the blanket was yanked away, before Yu Yu could even strike out, his hands were seized and pinned behind his back by his attacker, and before he could cry out, his mouth was covered.
“I’m Xie Xin.” the newcomer announced himself.
So it was him. Yu Yu let out a breath of relief, shaking his hands to signal Xie Xin to let go. Xie Xin released him, then lowered the hand that had been covering Yu Yu’s mouth, and climbed onto the bed after tossing aside the blanket.
Seeing his actions, Yu Yu lowered his voice and asked, “What are you doing?”
Xie Xin lay down, reaching out to slip an arm around Yu Yu’s shoulders, pulling him back down onto the pillow.
Yu Yu’s brows drooped slightly, but he still softened his tone: “You’re a prince, and I’m a subject. In the mortal world, it’s best we don’t provoke each other.”
“I’m not going to eat you.” There was only one pillow on Yu Yu’s bed, so Xie Xin had to rest his hands beneath his head to make himself comfortable. No lamp was lit in the room, and his eyes, long accustomed to the dark, now clearly made out Xie Xin’s appearance.
A high, straight nose, lips curving slightly upward at the corners, brows that moved as he spoke, and lashes that fluttered like butterfly wings, it was from him that one could see the vitality of seventeen.
As for Yu Yu himself, he had lost his mother young, and his father was unkind. If not for the obsession in his heart, he truly would have found no reason to live.
Jealousy is an innate flaw of human beings, and Yu Yu suddenly felt a surge of resentment.
Why should Xie Xin get to live so well?