Shang Yinyu led Qiao Beiji into the felt tent where the victory banquet was held. Everyone knelt prostrate, and Shang Yinyu walked to the seat of honor.
Qiao Beiji habitually followed behind the emperor, but An Dezhong pulled him, and with his hand indicated an empty desk below on the left.
Qiao Beiji glanced at the emperor’s back, his expression unchanged, thanked An Dezhong in a low voice, walked to the desk on one side, and joined everyone in saluting the emperor.
Shang Yinyu took his seat, looked at Qiao Beiji kneeling most of a tent’s length away from him, and was silent for a moment.
Beiji had never knelt so far from him. A shadow guard and his master are very close; he could report within three zhang of him. Nineteen was in his heart still in an especially close relationship with him, so naturally he was nearer.
Later, after entering the army, at Yumen Pass there was no general with a higher rank than Qiao Beiji, and after destroying Jin and returning to the capital, there was no one who could contend with the Guardian General.
Whether at morning court or banquets, among the many ministers Qiao Beiji was always the one nearest to him.
Now Beiji is only an Imperial Guard captain, and I know Beiji doesn’t want to be favored by me. He is that far from me, and it feels like I can’t touch him.
“Rise,” Shang Yinyu said.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
The sharp-eyed court officials had already noticed that His Majesty seemed quite displeased. After all, with such a big mistake in the hunt, anyone would be unhappy.
Everyone tried to lower their presence as much as possible, and no one dared to add drama to themselves in this situation, lest the unhappy Your Majesty make them unhappy too.
Shang Yinyu rewarded the top finishers of this hunt according to procedure.
The military officers were actually not as useless as he had thought. Quite a few had hunted large fierce beasts like wolves, tigers and leopards; the reason Qiao Beiji took first place was mainly that he had the merit of saving the emperor.
Understanding the reason, Shang Yinyu did not raise his impression of the armies’ generals much, and was especially displeased with the commander of the Imperial Guard who had been standing at his side at the time.
If the other had reacted faster and taken the gray bear down earlier with his people, where would be the occasion for Beiji to protect the emperor, and no one would know of Qiao Beiji’s existence.
Then he would not now need to introduce to the court officials: “This is the first place of this winter hunt, Imperial Guard Qiao Beiji, and also a personal disciple of Old General Qiao.”
The court officials showed expressions either of sudden recognition or of remembering the past. Old General Qiao had died many years ago, and with few people in his family, the Qiao family had been gone from the circle of court officials for a long time.
Some congratulated Young General Qiao on taking first place, some congratulated His Majesty on getting such a fine general, and the atmosphere of the victory banquet gradually picked up.
The martial artist who came third in the hunt volunteered to perform a sword dance for His Majesty, and the one who came second, a general of the upper fourth rank, immediately said he could play the xiao to accompany it.
Qiao Beiji felt that he too should present something to His Majesty along with them, but before he had decided what, the emperor had already nodded his consent, and Qiao Beiji could only watch the two perform.
The general borrowed a xiao from a musician, and An Dezhong personally presented the sword to the martial artist who would dance.
The sword looked extremely gorgeously decorated, with a cold gleam on the blade and seemingly very sharp, but actually it was a retractable sword for magic tricks, which Shang Yinyu had had people modify.
He valued his life very much. Even with guards inside the tent, he would not let anyone wave a real sword in front of him.
Shang Yinyu thought of Qiao Beiji again. About the other taking first place this time, he could not say he was happy, but he could not say he was angry either.
His original arrangement for Nineteen was only to have him appear in everyone’s view through the martial examination, and then go with the current and arrange him into the army.
Now Nineteen had become famous earlier than in his arrangement; with more than half a year still to go before the martial examination, the important ministers of the court already knew the name Qiao Beiji.
This was quite a good result. He was unhappy only because if things went on this way, he and Nineteen could never have a relationship other than ruler and minister.
He had not yet been with Nineteen.
If he said, “Beiji, I want you. Come attend my bed,” Qiao Beiji would surely not refuse him.
Qiao Beiji was that capable of enduring. He would endure until the world was at peace, until he became Guardian General, and then I would die again.
Also, last time’s death had been painless; he hadn’t even felt any suffocating struggle, as if with one close and one open of the eyes he had arrived in the Begonia Bath.
Shang Yinyu had no real sense of having died once.
If he had had even a little painful memory of it, Shang Yinyu would never have provoked Qiao Beiji again.
Let alone getting closer to Nineteen; in his shock and rage he might well have dragged Nineteen into the water at the Begonia Bath to die together, and even if he later realized it was a rebirth, he would not have let Nineteen off easily.
Recalling the scene of being pinned on the dragon couch by Qiao Beiji, Shang Yinyu was after all afraid. He had never seen Qiao Beiji’s desperate, all-in look, mad and resolute.
Fortunately he had not yet taken Nineteen completely, and there was still a chance to change everything.
Shang Yinyu silently rejoiced and picked up the wine cup on the desk. Raising his eyes by chance, he saw several court officials gathered around Qiao Beiji.
And Qiao Beiji, surrounded by them, seemed unable to refuse; he raised the cup with a bow of his hands and drank it all with his head tilted back.
Tsk, idiot! Can you even drink? And you let them pour for you like that!
Judging from the smooth motion, it seemed it was no longer the first cup. Shang Yinyu’s eyes almost spat fire.
Qiao Beiji seemed to sense his gaze and immediately turned his head to look over, his eyes perfectly clear.
Right, Nineteen could use inner force to drive off the effect of the wine; there was no need for him to worry at all.
Bang—
Shang Yinyu set down his cup heavily, and the tent instantly went silent. The musicians and the sword dancer all stopped and dropped to their knees with a thud.
“This wine is too weak. I don’t like it. An Dezhong, bring me a cup of strong liquor.” After giving the order, Shang Yinyu looked at the people prostrate on the ground and said: “The dance was good. Carry on.”
The music trembled back in, and the officials who knew one another exchanged glances secretly.
His Majesty seemed unwilling to see them too close to Old General Qiao’s disciple. Did His Majesty dislike this young Imperial Guard officer?
Everyone formed a judgment in their hearts and, without leaving a trace, moved away from Qiao Beiji’s side.
Qiao Beiji only looked at the wine cup in his hand. He felt that His Majesty did not want him to drink.
A shadow guard was not allowed to touch wine. Although he was appearing now as Imperial Guard Qiao Beiji, he should not drink either, and when he returned he would have to ask His Majesty for punishment.
·
When the banquet broke up, Shang Yinyu put on the cloak An Dezhong brought and headed toward the emperor’s tent.
Snow had already begun to fall outside, and An Dezhong held an umbrella for the emperor, following only as far as outside the tent.
He had disturbed His Majesty’s favoring once that day already and now dared not go in at all.
Shang Yinyu did not notice An Dezhong’s departure. Without taking off the fox fur, he turned behind the screen and sat directly on the couch.
It was only the eleventh month, and even with thick fox fur and charcoal burning in the tent, the room was still very cold.
At Yumen Pass, it had been snowing heavily too, and in the general’s tent there had not even been charcoal. He had taken off Qiao Beiji’s armor and laid him down on the desk.
Outside the north wind howled, and in the general’s tent both he and Qiao Beiji had scorching breath and sweated from their exertions, not feeling the cold of the sky in the least.
Thinking of how obedient Qiao Beiji used to be, and looking again at this empty tent, Shang Yinyu was in a very bad mood.
“Why is it so cold in this tent?”
Thinking An Dezhong was following, he felt something was wrong as soon as he said it, and when he looked up found only Qiao Beiji standing respectfully with head lowered before him.
Shang Yinyu was startled, caught off guard.
“Does Master feel cold?” Qiao Beiji asked with concern.
“Mm…” Shang Yinyu frowned slightly.
Why had Qiao Beiji followed? Didn’t the Imperial Guard have their own quarters? Oh, I seem to have said “come back and continue” or something; that’s in the past, no need to take it seriously.
How should I explain this to Qiao Beiji? Say I’ve thought it through and my little life matters more, so we’re not continuing?
While Shang Yinyu hesitated, Qiao Beiji knelt before him to serve.
Shang Yinyu: “?!”
Wait, I’m not prepared to take you. Calm down!
Qiao Beiji gently took the emperor’s hand resting on his knee and tucked it into his own chest, pressed against him.
Shang Yinyu’s breath caught.
“Master, is it warmer?” Qiao Beiji asked while reaching for Shang Yinyu’s other hand.
Warm, very warm. From winter into midsummer, the blood in his body boiled almost to burning.
Shang Yinyu managed to squeeze a bit of clarity from his brain, now burned to paste, and asked Qiao Beiji in a low voice, suppressing his fire: “Who taught you this?”
I certainly don’t remember teaching you this.
“On a mission, this subordinate saw Minister Su have a maid warm his hands this way.”
Minister Su?
Su Changping, Minister of Revenue?
Daring to foul my shadow guard’s eyes and corrupt my Nineteen, you’re finished!
Seeing Shang Yinyu’s displeased face, Qiao Beiji panicked inside, his hold on the emperor’s hand loosened, and he said helplessly: “Did this subordinate do something wrong?”
Shang Yinyu pulled Nineteen up and, with a dark face, closed Qiao Beiji’s clothes.
This still did not settle his annoyance, so Shang Yinyu simply leaned over and held the person, wrapping Nineteen up together with the cloak on himself.
“On a winter night like this, warming my hands this way, how cold you yourself must be.”
“This subordinate is a martial artist. I’m not cold.” Listening to the emperor’s heartbeat beside his ear, Qiao Beiji felt that his whole person was burning.
Shang Yinyu sighed softly and said: “Beiji, wash up. Tonight you’ll rest here with me, same as before.”
Same as before, treating Nineteen’s illness, nothing else.
“Yes.”
A hunting ground was not the palace, and there were no extra brocade quilts in the emperor’s tent.
After washing, Qiao Beiji lay on the couch first, intending that when His Majesty came he would shift back a bit and give the warmed spot to His Majesty.
Shang Yinyu lay down and looked at Qiao Beiji, flushed red and so close, and only then remembered that this should be the first time since his rebirth that he had shared a quilt with Nineteen.
Before, in Ganlu Palace, after he touched Nineteen, the two would bathe once more and then sleep each under his own quilt.
Never so close, lying quietly with nothing to do.
“Beiji, it’s cold. I’ll hold you and sleep.”
“Mm.” Qiao Beiji shifted forward and, without pressing on any part of His Majesty, burrowed into the emperor’s arms.
Shang Yinyu put his arms around the person in his arms, buried his face in Qiao Beiji’s shoulder, and asked: “Was Nineteen happy today?”
Do you like being the center of everyone’s attention? Do you like getting along with the court officials?
“This subordinate was very happy.” Master being so close to him, he had never been so happy.
Shang Yinyu rubbed against Qiao Beiji’s face, and Qiao Beiji ventured to ask: “Is Master happy?”
“Happy. Riding to hunt, listening to music and dance, very happy.”
Shang Yinyu said so, but what he thought in his heart was the complete opposite.
Happy my foot! I want to be a wise ruler, and I can’t be with Nineteen, so I have no happiness at all!
“Master, this subordinate can play the xiao and dance with a sword. If Master likes, this subordinate can play the xiao and dance the sword for Master at any time.”
Qiao Beiji spoke softly by his ear, and Shang Yinyu felt he was about to catch fire.
The last time Shang Yinyu remembered sensing that warmth was at a victory banquet, the one held for the Guardian General’s return after destroying Jin.
By then Qiao Beiji had completely turned against him. When he came into the palace for the banquet, Qiao Beiji still had the wound on his forehead, which Shang Yinyu had made the day before.
After the banquet, he and Qiao Beiji discussed the rewards again, and Qiao Beiji still wanted only his Imperial Guard military power.
He was furious and said with a cold laugh: “If the General wants to manage my palace, that’s easy to discuss. If the General serves me until I’m comfortable, naturally he will get everything.”
Qiao Beiji was silent for a while, then walked up before him and knelt.
How could Shang Yinyu let him touch him like that? He had the shadow guards on watch seal Qiao Beiji’s inner force and make him take medicine that left him without strength.
If he had not been so vexed by those ink-black eyes of Qiao Beiji’s, he would even have had Qiao Beiji’s jaw dislocated!
The time together that night was not good at all; Shang Yinyu had the intention of killing Qiao Beiji.
But recalling it now, Shang Yinyu remembered only Qiao Beiji’s warmth, and remembered only that as the sky grew light, after catching his breath for a good while, he turned to tell Qiao Beiji about handing over the military power of the Imperial Guard, and when he turned his head, Qiao Beiji was facing his direction with eyes closed, asleep.
Shang Yinyu closed his eyes for a moment, put away the memory, and said to Nineteen: “No, you don’t need to do that for me. From now on we will be just like now, doing nothing else.”
You don’t need to bear humiliation and carry the burden, and I won’t bully you. Just ruler and minister for a lifetime.
“Mm.” Qiao Beiji answered, then ventured to ask: “Master, will it always be like this?”
Shang Yinyu understood. His bullying of Nineteen today had worried Nineteen, and Nineteen was asking to confirm whether his assurance still counted.
Having been an emperor for more than ten years, Shang Yinyu no longer knew how to apologize, and could only assure him again: “Always like this.”
I will not humiliate you again.