The following day, when Yun Biechen awoke, the daylight was already bright.
He rose slowly, washed, and ate his morning meal.
Wang Sheng was serving him on the side. Seeing that Yun Biechen was in good spirits today, he mentioned some fresh news from outside: “Young Master, I heard that Consort Li fell in the Imperial Garden last night and sprained her ankle.”
Yun Biechen picked up a crystal dumpling and took a bite. “How did she fall?”
“They say she went to admire the moon at night and stepped on ice,” Wang Sheng lowered his voice. “But I heard from the young eunuch on night duty that Consort Li saw something that scared her so much she fell backward, which is how she sprained it.”
Yun Biechen gave an “oh” and did not ask further.
After finishing his breakfast, he wanted to go for a walk again. As usual, Wang Sheng draped a cloak over his shoulders, and the two left the Linhua Palace.
This time, they did not head toward the Imperial Garden but walked toward the east. Several palace chambers were located there, housing low-ranking concubines, and it was generally quiet.
When they reached the base of a palace wall, Yun Biechen stopped.
Some residual snow was piled against the base of the wall, revealing the tip of a withered branch. He stared at the branch for a moment. Just as he was about to leave, he heard muffled crying coming from the other side of the wall.
The crying was very soft and intermittent, like the mewling of a cat.
Yun Biechen rounded the palace wall and saw someone crouched in a corner, shoulders heaving.
It was the concubine in green he had seen in the Imperial Garden that day. He did not know her name.
Hearing footsteps, the concubine in green looked up sharply, tears still hanging on her face. Seeing that it was Yun Biechen, her complexion paled, and she hurriedly stood up to salute.
“Young Master Yun.”
Technically, Yun Biechen’s rank was only equal to that of a noble lady, but the resources Yan Linyuan provided him were arranged on par with an imperial consort. Therefore, when facing Yun Biechen, the concubine in green subconsciously treated him as someone with a higher rank than her own.
Yun Biechen looked at her. “Why are you crying?”
The concubine in green bit her lip, and tears fell again. “Nothing.”
“Is someone bullying you?”
The concubine in green shook her head, then nodded, and finally broke down in tears: “It is Consort Li. Consort Li said I caused her to sprain her ankle, claiming I spread ice in the Imperial Garden. But I did not! I did not even leave my room last night!”
She wept bitterly, her voice turning hoarse. Yun Biechen listened quietly. Only when she had cried enough did he ask, “Why would she frame you?”
The concubine in green sobbed: “Because a few months ago, His Majesty awarded me a pair of jade bracelets. Consort Li saw them and was unhappy. She has held a grudge against me ever since.”
Yun Biechen gave an “um” and said nothing.
The concubine in green looked up at him with teary eyes: “Young Master Yun, could you please speak to His Majesty? Consort Li has lost favor now, so she takes her anger out on us low-ranking concubines. I truly cannot.”
“I cannot say anything,” Yun Biechen interrupted.
The concubine in green froze.
“I am not close with His Majesty,” Yun Biechen said. “You should go find him yourself.”
He spoke candidly, but the concubine in green was stunned. Who in the palace did not know that His Majesty visited the Linhua Palace daily and bestowed endless rewards? Yet Yun Biechen claimed they were “not close.”
Yun Biechen did not say more and turned to leave. The concubine in green panicked, stepped forward, and grabbed his sleeve. “Young Master Yun! Please.”
Before she could finish, a voice came from behind: “Let go.”
The concubine in green stiffened. Turning around, she saw Consort Li standing not far away, her face dark and terrifying.
Her foot was wrapped in bandages, and she walked with a limp, but her eyes were sharp as knives.
“Wretch,” Consort Li stared at the concubine in green. “I knew you were here badmouthing me.”
The concubine in green was so frightened she let go and fell to her knees with a thud. “Your Ladyship, please forgive me! I was only…”
“Only what?” Consort Li approached and looked down at her. “Only thinking that because I have lost favor, I am easy to bully? Or do you think that by clinging to Yun Biechen, you can climb the social ladder?”
As she spoke, her gaze turned to Yun Biechen, and a cold sneer curled her lips. “Young Master Yun, would you not agree?”
Yun Biechen looked at her, his expression calm. “I do not know.”
The smile on Consort Li’s face stiffened. She stared at Yun Biechen, scanning him from head to toe, her gaze as if she wanted to strip him bare.
“Young Master Yun is truly talented,” she said slowly. “Because of you, His Majesty no longer visits the other concubines in the harem. To His Majesty, we concubines are now likely no better than stones on the roadside.”
Yun Biechen did not respond.
Consort Li took two more steps toward him, coming closer. She wore a heavy scent of perfume mixed with medicine, which was somewhat pungent.
“Do you know?” she lowered her voice. “Though His Majesty did not often summon us before, he would come to the harem a few times a month to admire flowers, listen to music, or see us.”
“But ever since you moved into the Linhua Palace, His Majesty has not set foot in the harem. He goes nowhere except to your place.”
As she spoke, bloodshot veins appeared in her eyes: “Tell me, is this your achievement?”
Yun Biechen looked at her and suddenly asked, “Is your ankle still hurting?”
Consort Li was stunned.
“Did the Imperial Physician see it?” Yun Biechen asked again.
Consort Li opened her mouth, suddenly unsure of what to say. The sharp, spiteful words she had prepared were all choked in her throat by this calm inquiry.
“Does it hurt?” Yun Biechen watched her. “If it hurts, go back and lie down. Standing for too long will only make it worse.”
With that, he turned and left. Wang Sheng hurriedly followed. After walking a few steps, he looked back and saw Consort Li still standing where she was, her complexion alternating between pale and flushed.
Once they were further away, Wang Sheng whispered, “Young Master, Consort Li…”
“She is angry,” Yun Biechen said.
“Angry?”
“Um,” Yun Biechen kept walking. “Angry that Yan Linyuan does not look at her, angry that I stole what was hers.”
Wang Sheng felt a tightness in his chest: “Then, Young Master, are you not angry?”
“Why would I be angry?” Yun Biechen looked at him. “She did not steal anything of mine.”
Wang Sheng froze, then realized the truth. The Young Master truly did not care. He did not care about Consort Li’s jealousy, the harem’s strife, or even the conspicuous favor bestowed by His Majesty.
All he seemed to care about was sleeping, eating, and looking at the plum trees.
When the two returned to the Linhua Palace, it was nearly noon. Just as they entered, they saw Yan Linyuan sitting in the main hall, facing a chessboard and playing against himself.
Hearing the movement, he looked up.
“You are back?” Yan Linyuan set down a piece. “Where did you go?”
“Just walking.” Yun Biechen took off his cloak and sat down opposite him.
Yan Linyuan looked at the clothes he was wearing. “Are these comfortable?”
“They are comfortable.”
“That is good.” Yan Linyuan pushed the chessboard aside. “I had a few new ones made; they will be delivered in a couple of days.”
Yun Biechen gave an “um” and said no more.
Lunch was soon served. It was still mostly spicy dishes. Yan Linyuan had specially ordered a dish of poached meat slices, red with chili oil, which looked very appetizing.
Yun Biechen ate very earnestly, one bite of meat, one bite of rice, chewing slowly. Yan Linyuan ate little, mostly watching him eat.
Halfway through, Yun Biechen looked up. “Are you not eating?”
“Watching you eat has filled me,” Yan Linyuan said.
Yun Biechen frowned. “Strange person.”
Yan Linyuan chuckled but did not reply.
After finishing lunch, Yun Biechen wiped his mouth and stood up to head toward the couch. Yan Linyuan called him back. “It is not good to sleep immediately after eating.”
Yun Biechen looked back at him. “Then what should I do?”
“Keep me company and talk for a while.”
“Talk about what?”
Yan Linyuan paused and suddenly asked, “You have been in the Cold Palace for so long, are you not bored?”
Yun Biechen sat by the couch, thought for a moment, and shook his head. “Not bored.”
“Why are you not bored?”
“There are plum trees, there is snow, and there is porridge to drink,” Yun Biechen said. “It is enough.”
Yan Linyuan stared at him for a long time before saying, “You do not need to drink porridge anymore. If you want to eat something, just have the Imperial Kitchen prepare it.”
“Um.” Yun Biechen responded, leaned back, and closed his eyes. “I am sleepy.”
“How are you constantly sleepy?” Yan Linyuan said, though he did not stop him.
Watching the person on the couch fall asleep quickly, he stood up and walked to the window. Outside, the white plum tree stood quietly in the afternoon sun, its buds having blossomed further.
He watched for a while, then turned to leave.
“Wang Shunde.”
“This old slave is here.”
“Have someone build a warm pavilion in the back courtyard of the Linhua Palace,” Yan Linyuan said. “It must be bright on all sides so one can enjoy the sun and admire the plum blossoms. Line it with thick carpets, place a soft couch inside, and prepare some books and snacks.”
Wang Shunde bowed. “Yes.”
“And,” Yan Linyuan stopped at the door. “No need to summon Consort Li anymore.”
Wang Shunde’s heart skipped a beat. “This old slave understands.”
Yan Linyuan said nothing more and stepped out of the Linhua Palace.
The sunlight felt warm on his body. He looked back at the hall; through the window paper, he could see the faint white figure on the couch.
Like a painting, he had locked him in this deep palace.
Yan Linyuan turned and walked toward the Qian’an Hall.