While Xiao Jin was running himself ragged across the capital, Xin Yi had only just woken up. Today was the Mid-Autumn Festival. Since the foreign envoys were being hosted at a palace banquet, he had a rare moment of leisure before his duties began, allowing him to spend the day with Bai Jiu. Just as he finished washing up, Old Qu entered with a beaming smile to offer his holiday greetings.
"Today is the Festival of Reunion. The servants have prepared mooncakes and osmanthus honey wine to honor your Lordship and the Young Prince. Would you both care to sample them with your breakfast?"
"They are thoughtful." Bai Jiu was in a good mood today, his striking features softened by a touch of pleasure. "Reward them."
The two shared a meal, after which the imperial rewards arrived from the palace, followed by a never-ending stream of gifts from various factions. Bai Jiu never had the habit of receiving guests; he simply had their calling cards collected and sent back mooncakes and fruit in accordance with etiquette, refusing to see anyone in person. One delivery, however, was specifically for Xin Yi. The calling card bore the name 'Beiyang.' Xin Yi glanced at the name once and never mentioned it again.
Unexpectedly, He Anchang also paid a visit. Xin Yi invited him into the courtyard for tea, but after three cups, the man took his leave without uttering a single word about his purpose.
Bai Jiu was painting a sesame lantern for Xin Yi. As Xin Yi leaned against the window, watching He Anchang disappear around the corridor, he asked, "What is wrong with Master He?"
Bai Jiu’s brush gave a slight flick. "Xie Jingsheng is stationed at Qingping and won't be returning to the capital even for the end-of-year reports."
Xin Yi realized the situation. "A pity."
Bai Jiu didn't mention that this was actually Xie Jingsheng’s own decision; he had even decided to let Xiao Yan handle the year-end debriefing alone. Ever since the investigation of the previous case, he had been intentionally avoiding He Anchang, even sneaking away when he left.
Chichi circled Bai Jiu’s feet, rubbing against him. Xin Yi leaned down to pick the dog up and sat beside Bai Jiu to watch him paint. Bai Jiu ruffled his hair with one hand and asked, "What color do you like for this part?"
Xin Yi thought for a moment. "Let’s use red. It’ll look festive when lit at night." Then, a thought occurred to him—red was also the color of weddings. His cheeks flushed slightly as he quickly added, "On second thought, maybe blue?"
Bai Jiu dipped his brush in red pigment. "Too late." Xin Yi watched as he painted a wave in vibrant red. Bai Jiu said leisurely, "Festive is good. It should be festive."
Xin Yi’s face burned even hotter.
Bai Jiu painted several lanterns for him in various shapes and sizes, but the primary color for all of them was red. They were hung in a row along the outdoor corridor. They would be breathtaking once lit at night. Xin Yi walked around them for a long time, absolutely enchanted. Though Bai Jiu said nothing, Old Qu understood his intent perfectly and immediately gave orders: these lanterns were to remain hanging there indefinitely.
Dinner should have been a grand feast, but since the household consisted only of Bai Jiu and Xin Yi and neither cared for opera performances, they opted for a small banquet. Outside the screen, they set out watermelon carved into lotus shapes, mooncakes, and seasonal offerings to worship the moon. With the autumn air thick and crisp, the small spread naturally included crabs served with ginger wine, as well as a dish of osmanthus duck.
While the preparations were underway, Xin Yi noticed Old Qu standing under the corridor looking sentimental. When he asked why, Old Qu replied, "His Lordship hasn't celebrated a festival in over a decade. This is the first time since he established this manor."
Xin Yi was shocked. "Did he usually spend them in the palace?"
Old Qu shook his head. "His Lordship hasn't celebrated a single festival since leaving Shanyin."
Xin Yi truly didn't know the story behind that. He knew nothing of what Bai Jiu’s life had been like before. But he could tell Old Qu was intentionally avoiding the subject, and since no one else knew, he realized that if he wanted to hear it, he would have to wait for the day Bai Jiu chose to tell him himself.
And he only wanted to hear it from Bai Jiu.
After dinner, the two changed their clothes and headed out.
Tonight, the Street of Long Lanterns was a riot of noise and excitement. Festive lanterns of every description—birds, beasts, flowers, and trees—were on display. The most frequent loiterers beneath these lanterns were scholars in their blue-collared robes, obsessively pondering every riddle they found. They would occasionally offer a reserved smile to a passing maiden, exchanging a lingering, soulful glance—a Mid-Autumn dream in its own right. Ordinary children ran through the crowds in laughing groups, carrying lanterns made from hollowed-out pomelos. Xin Yi took particular note of these pomelo lanterns, secretly planning to make one for Bai Jiu.
The Xiaoxiao Pavilion and the Buer Teahouse were locked in their usual competition. One had a "fire dragon" parading before its doors, while the other had erected a "Mid-Autumn Tree." Both had converted their top floors into moon-viewing terraces, creating a scene of extraordinary bustle.
People were everywhere. Quite a few young women tossed scented sachets and flower pouches toward Bai Jiu. His Lordship wore a dark blue robe of cloud-patterned brocade with vertical fastenings; the color wasn't flashy, but standing in a crowd, his height and commanding aura made him impossible to miss. He frowned as he became covered in floral scents. Xin Yi suppressed his laughter the whole way until they stopped beneath a lantern.
"Let's solve a riddle," Xin Yi said to Bai Jiu. "If we keep squeezing through, the path will be blocked by sachets." He looked up at the hanging lanterns. "Which one do you like? I'll win it for you."
Bai Jiu scanned them, instantly gauging their difficulty, and pointed to a fish-scale lantern. Xin Yi stood on his tiptoes to read it: "Mountain upon mountain, unable to return; evening rain on the Xiang River, the partridge flies." His dimples deepened. "This one is easy. The answer is 'Exit'."
Having won the fish-scale lantern, Xin Yi grew confident. "Pick another."
Holding the lantern, Bai Jiu’s narrow eyes searched the display before pointing to one depicting a child playing with a carp. Xin Yi laughed, finding it endearing that His Lordship had such a playful side. He read the next one: "Solitary peaks layered, the clouds disperse... Clouds disperse... is it the word 'Towering'?" When the shopkeeper handed over the child-and-carp lantern, Xin Yi leaned close to Bai Jiu’s ear and whispered happily, "I didn't think the riddles in the capital would be this simple. If you like them, I'll win them all for you."
Bai Jiu heard his joy, but seeing that the other lanterns bore riddles he "disliked," he took the opportunity while accepting the lantern to squeeze Xin Yi’s fingertips. "Only these two have captured my heart."
Xin Yi felt a slight pang of regret. On second thought, he felt he was performing exceptionally well tonight; what if he won every single lantern? He decided to leave the shopkeeper a way to make a living... Bai Jiu could guess seventy or eighty percent of his thoughts just by seeing him purse his lips. There was a hint of smugness in the corners of the boy's eyes, making him look wonderfully vibrant.
The two wandered the streets together until the hour grew late, then began their return. Back at the corridor, they were greeted by the sight of the beautiful lanterns. Xin Yi stopped to admire them for a long while as Bai Jiu hung the fish-scale and child-and-carp lanterns alongside the others.
"How is it?"
"Beautiful." Xin Yi’s dimples appeared as he gave him a wide, bright smile. He repeated, "It’s beautiful."
Bai Jiu turned back and saw Xin Yi’s obedient, innocent features under the festive lights, his smile peaceful and serene. Bai Jiu smiled as well. "Nothing but silly grins. Let's go inside."
By the time Bai Jiu finished bathing and stepped out from behind the screen, the room was pitch black. He pulled back the curtains of the canopy bed to find a faint, hazy glow. Xin Yi’s face was slightly red as he held up a pomelo lantern. "The last one."
Bai Jiu climbed onto the bed and took the lantern. It still smelled of fresh pomelo; the boy must have made it in secret while he was bathing. Bai Jiu looked down at the clumsy, rough carvings on the pomelo skin, his gaze tranquil.
"Is this Chichi?"
Xin Yi’s enthusiastic expression froze. He shrank back into the blankets. "It’s a rabbit..." Bai Jiu let out a laugh. Xin Yi’s cheeks were scalding. "If you want it to be Chichi, then it’s Chichi."
Bai Jiu placed the pomelo lantern on the small shelf at the edge of the bed. He turned and pulled Xin Yi into his arms, holding him close. Xin Yi’s ears burned. "Happy Mid-Autumn, Jingyuan."
"Happy Mid-Autumn," Bai Jiu replied. He traced the line from the boy's forehead to his nose, eventually finding the perfect spot for a lingering kiss.
Xin Yi’s heart hammered against his ribs. His body seemed to anticipate what was coming before his mind did, reacting to Bai Jiu’s meticulous kisses. He was pressed down into the bedding, feeling embarrassed, yet in their close friction, he sensed Bai Jiu’s quiet excitement. Bai Jiu’s hand slid down; before long, Xin Yi let out a muffled groan, his chest heaving, his eyes misting over with a flushed, dazed moisture.
The pomelo lantern flickered as their breaths intertwined.
***
Ji Baiyue was practicing his calligraphy by lamplight.
The autumn night was slightly cool. His brush left stiff, upright strokes on the paper, looking very different from the man himself.
He was better suited to holding a blade.
"The Young Prince still refuses to see us." The man in sturdy traveling clothes sitting behind him frowned. "We are people of Beiyang. Why do you think he won't see us? Has he truly been cowed by that King of Hell? Does he intend to defect to the capital's faction?" Receiving no response, he anxiously gripped the saber on his lap. "A-Yue, do you think the Young Prince can do it?"
"I don't know." Ji Baiyue stopped his brush and turned slowly to the man. "But he is the only choice we have."
The bright lamplight revealed Ji Baiyue’s face. It was a rather delicate face, and despite his age, the stubbornness in his eyes and brow was still evident. Unfortunately, a deep scar ran across his brow bone, turning his handsome features into a mask of grim, silent coldness.
"He is Xin Jing’s brother. He cannot be a dog for the capital."
"And what if he becomes one anyway?" Meng Chen’s anxiety was written all over his face. He was much older and appeared more straightforward. "When was the last time we saw him? At his one-month-old banquet? When he was still in swaddling clothes? How many years has it been? The Prince of Yan’s manor was framed and oppressed; his father and brothers are all gone. He was left alone in the hands of Xin Zhenxiao to be beaten and scolded. I truly don't know what kind of character the Young Prince has developed!"
Meng Chen had been anxious since the moment they set out. They knew nothing of Xin Yi, yet they needed him desperately. No—it was more accurate to say that Xin Yi was vital to them. Without him, they could do nothing.
"If he is weak and useless, I will kill him." Seeing Meng Chen grow agitated again, Ji Baiyue raised a hand to stop him. "Beiyang is at the end of its rope. If we wait any longer, the Emperor will surely find a way to reclaim the Beiyang military tally. It is already Mid-Autumn; the end of the year will be here in the blink of an eye. Once the Crown Prince returns from his Buddhist retreat, everything will be set in stone, and we will be powerless to change it. Currently, only the Young Prince can block the transfer of the tally. But if he is truly incapable, what other path do we have? Rather than being slaughtered, it is better to strike first!" He spoke those last words with forceful conviction, his spine perfectly straight, possessing the unmistakable bearing of a career soldier.
Meng Chen had no counter-argument, but his anxiety remained. He paced the room before letting out a long sigh. "Arslang has also come to the capital. If war breaks out now, our Beiyang might not even be able to save itself, let alone fulfill the oath we swore to the Prince of Yan to defend the nation to the death." His mood grew even darker. "It would have been fine if any of the other young lords had survived. Why did it have to be this one?"
Ji Baiyue gripped his brush again. "If we don't test him, how will we know he isn't capable?" he said heavily. "The Prince and Consort had four sons. The first three were dragons among men. I bet that this last one is no mere insect."
"He won't even see us. How are we to test him?"
"If he won't see me, I will find a way to see him."
***
