(Because Xiao Qing is a woman disguised as a man, the narration switches between “she” and “he.” From the perspective of those who know she is a woman, “she” is used; from the perspective of those who believe she is a man, “he” is used.)
It was midsummer, and the sun scorched the earth. Even in the evening, the heat lingering in the air was enough to make one’s chest feel tight.
The setting sun melted into gold, and the officials waiting outside the capital stirred faintly.
Just then, a mounted troop came galloping toward them beneath the evening clouds, dust billowing in their wake.
“Look! Lord Xiao and the others are back!”
The man at the head wore a pale moon-white brocade robe. They said the fabric had been sent as tribute from Gaul. It shimmered beneath the sun, yet did not grow hot when worn. There were only two bolts of it in existence, making it exceedingly rare.
They also said that Yangzhou was unbearably hot. When His Majesty knew that Lord Xiao did not tolerate the heat well, he had the palace embroiderers make two outfits from the fabric as soon as it arrived, then had them sent to Yangzhou overnight.
Before seeing Xiao Qing for themselves, the officials of the court had always assumed the rumors were false. Even if His Majesty favored Xiao Qing above all others, could he really concern himself with such trivial details? Xiao Qing was a subject, not a consort.
Only after seeing him today did they realize the rumors were true. For a moment, everyone’s eyes settled on the imperial gift, and they secretly envied Lord Xiao’s standing in His Majesty’s heart.
Once the party drew near, the officials around them scattered to either side.
Xiao Qing looked at the city walls before her and let out a breath of relief. She had finally returned.
At the beginning of spring, she had been ordered to travel to Yangzhou to investigate the salt trade on His Majesty’s behalf. She had been gone for half a year, and by the time she returned, autumn had already arrived.
The days of continuous travel had left the insides of her thighs red and swollen.
When she dismounted, she failed to find her footing and nearly fell. Her attendant hurried forward to support her.
“Oh, Lord Xiao, do be careful. If anything happens to you on this servant’s watch, His Majesty will skin me alive.”
Lord Xiao was now the official credited with uncovering the problems in the salt trade and bringing a substantial sum of silver into the imperial treasury. He was also one of the emperor’s close ministers, someone who had grown up alongside him and enjoyed his special favor. Su Mingde did not dare neglect him in the slightest.
“Eunuch Su, you flatter me,” Xiao Qing said softly, her voice clear as a spring flowing through an empty valley.
Su Mingde marveled inwardly. In the half-year since they had last met, Lord Xiao had become even steadier. Nor did he possess the pedantic rigidity common among scholars. His movements were composed, his bearing extraordinary. The evening breeze stirred the wide sleeves of his crescent-moon-colored brocade robe, embroidered with green bamboo, and standing there, he looked like an elegant young nobleman who had stepped straight out of a painting.
.
Xiao Qing came from a distinguished marquis’s family. His grandfather was a venerable minister who had served under three reigns, and he himself was extraordinarily gifted. At only eighteen, he was already a Grand Secretary as well as Right Vice Minister of Revenue.
There had been rumors in the court regarding this salt inspection: the emperor intended to entrust Xiao Qing with an important post, adding another achievement to his record. Once he returned to the capital, he was certain to be promoted.
Thinking of this, Su Mingde became even more careful in his service. Seeing that his complexion was not very good, he waved for an attendant to bring over the imperial food box.
“His Majesty was worried that Lord Xiao might suffer heatstroke while returning to the capital in this scorching weather, so he specifically ordered this servant to prepare some heat-relieving herbal tea.”
When the food box was opened, a wave of chill air rushed out.
“His Majesty knows that Lord Xiao dislikes the smell of huoxiang[1]an aromatic medicinal herb commonly used in traditional remedies for summer heat and digestive discomfort jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3485272_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3485272_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, so he specifically ordered this servant to chill it with ice to lessen the scent.”
His Majesty even knew that Lord Xiao disliked huoxiang. The depth of his favor was plain to see, and everyone felt another surge of envy.
Though Xiao Qing disliked it, she could not refuse something bestowed by the emperor. She took the tea bowl and, gritting her teeth, drank it down.
The strange taste assaulted her senses the moment she swallowed, sending her into a fit of coughing. Her originally fair face flushed from the coughing, as though rouge had been brushed across it.
Seeing that Eunuch Su was about to bring her a second bowl, Xiao Qing quickly stopped him.
“Give a bowl to each of the other officials as well. Everyone has worked hard these past several days; let us all receive His Majesty’s grace together.”
Su Mingde hesitated, but before he could say anything, the surrounding officials all dropped to their knees and kowtowed in thanks for the imperial favor.
Xiao Qing watched the officials painfully swallow the tea while wearing expressions of utter gratitude, and the corners of her lips curled up before she could stop them.
“Lord Xiao, His Majesty is still waiting in the palace. We must hurry; we cannot keep him waiting.”
Xiao Qing nodded. “Very well. We shall set out at once.”
Suddenly, she turned her head and instructed her attendants, “Take Miss Qiao back to the residence first.”
At Xiao Qing’s words, Su Mingde glanced toward the rear of the party. He saw a woman in a pale green ruqun. Judging from her hairstyle, she was an unmarried young woman, Su Mingde could not help but show a puzzled expression.
With a faint smile, Xiao Qing explained, “On the way back, I encountered this woman being forced into prostitution. I could not bear to see her youth wither away, so I intervened and rescued her. Both her parents have passed away, and she had nowhere to go, so I brought her back. We will arrange a place for her later.”
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Su carefully examined Miss Qiao. Her glossy black hair was gathered with a single green-jade hairpin, which complemented her clothing perfectly.
She had delicate features and rosy cheeks. After hearing Xiao Qing’s words, she gazed over shyly, a hint of nervousness in her eyes, which only made her seem more delicate and vulnerable
At this, Eunuch Su understood everything. She was indeed quite beautiful. Then again, it made sense. How could a woman who had moved Lord Xiao to step in and rescue her possibly be ugly?
Men were all the same—they couldn’t resist playing the hero and rescuing a beauty. Even Lord Xiao, renowned throughout the capital, was no exception.
Qiao Yue obediently stepped forward, bowed lightly to Xiao Qing, then gave Eunuch Su a proper curtsy before following the attendants away.
Eunuch Su thought to himself that she was not bad at all—a girl who understood proper etiquette. “Lord Xiao is truly fortunate.”
Xiao Qing knew perfectly well that Eunuch Su had misunderstood, but that misunderstanding was not a bad thing for her.
She gave a faint smile. “Eunuch Su, shall we go?”
…
Outside Zichen Hall, Eunuch Xiaoxi stood by the entrance. Sweat trickled into his eyes, yet he did not dare raise a hand to wipe it away. His Majesty had been in an especially foul mood these past few days and had already dealt with several palace matters. In theory, Lord Xiao had thoroughly purged the salt trade and filled the imperial treasury, so His Majesty ought to have been delighted.
He secretly stole a glance inside the hall. A young emperor sat upright behind a red sandalwood writing desk, jade adorning his crown. He wore a regular court robe embroidered with auspicious clouds and dragons, the garment fitting neatly over his tall, straight frame. His noble and commanding presence was unmistakable. Holding a vermilion brush, he kept his eyes lowered in concentration, and every movement carried the majesty of the imperial house.
After only one glance, Eunuch Xiaoxi hurriedly lowered his head. His Majesty had ascended the throne at fifteen. Five years later, he already held firm control of the court. His imperial presence was so imposing that few dared look directly at him.
“Xiaoxi!”
Hearing the emperor call him, he immediately bowed and hurried into the hall. “This servant is here.”
“How much longer until your master returns?”
“In answer to Your Majesty, the guards at the palace gate just sent word that Master and Lord Xiao have already arrived at the gate. They should be here in the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.”
Zhao Xuanye’s brows drew together. In a flat voice, he said, “You may leave.”
Eunuch Xiaoxi unobtrusively breathed a sigh of relief and withdrew outside the hall.
Zhao Xuanye tossed down his brush and reached up to massage the space between his brows, inexplicably irritable.
As soon as Xiao Qing took that woman into his party, Zhao Xuanye received a secret report from his secret guards. The instant he read it, he was furious. That damned man was utterly hopeless!
Of all things, he had to imitate the capital’s spoiled young masters and play at rescuing a beauty.
Did he not know how many eyes in the court were watching him? If he made even one mistake, those civil officials were no pushovers.
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