When Xin Yi arrived at Xiaoxiao Tower, Hu Yong was accompanying Chagetai as they looked out over the panoramic view of Kyoto’s Long Court. Chagetai’s expression still held traces of lingering anger; it seemed he had not yet regained his composure. Arsleng stood alone by the edge of the viewing platform, casting only a cursory glance toward Xin Yi as he arrived.
Xin Yi did not sit down. Instead, he noticed a familiar face hovering nearby. Recognizing him as the manager who often saw him at Xiaoxiao Tower, Xin Yi thought for a moment and walked toward him.
"I knew the Prince would be coming early," the manager said with a benevolent, kind expression. "The pastries and snacks the Prince usually enjoys have all been prepared. If the Prince finds a moment and wishes to taste them, just raise a hand, and we shall serve them immediately."
Xin Yi nodded with a faint smile. The manager offered a few more sycophantic pleasantries before withdrawing respectfully. Xiaoxiao Tower offered a wide variety of delicacies, and Xin Yi usually enjoyed sampling them when he was free. This manager was as shrewd as a monkey, eager to present the best of everything for fear that if Xin Yi were unhappy, Bai Jiu would be unhappy as well.
At that thought, Xin Yi’s cheeks flushed slightly. He felt the day growing hotter and raised a hand to loosen his collar, but just as his fingers touched the fabric, he suddenly remembered something and dropped his hand back down.
Last night... *cough*, better to keep it covered.
Later, Xiaoxiao Tower served ice along with fruit and pastries, which helped dissipate some of the heat. When Xin Yi’s portion was delivered, it was clear that great care had been taken. It wasn't that his display of status exceeded Chagetai’s, but rather the meticulousness of the preparation; one could tell the difference the moment it was received. The fruit felt icy cold in his mouth. Xin Yi held a small slice against the tip of his tongue, using it to drive away the slight summer heat within him. Unfortunately, it wasn't very effective; it only served to dispel his boredom.
Chagetai was in low spirits, and Hu Yong was helpless to change that, so the outing eventually ended abruptly. Xin Yi had been drowsy all afternoon, yet he did not return directly to the manor. Instead, he diverted to an ordinary private courtyard.
This courtyard was neither large nor small, situated in a common area of Kyoto. It did not look like the residence of a powerful noble, but rather that of a well-to-do family.
When Xin Yi arrived, the courtyard gate was already open. A young child with tufted hair stood by the door waiting. Upon seeing him, the child hurriedly bowed and led him inside. Xin Yi entered the courtyard and passed through the hall, at which point the child withdrew. Jibai Yue was standing beneath a scholar tree, waiting.
"Prince." Jibai Yue stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes shifting unpredictably in the play of light and shadow. He said quietly, "I have waited for the Prince for a long time."
Xin Yi stopped below the hall and looked at him, offering no reply.
Jibai Yue looked up at the lush leaves of the scholar tree above him. "The last time I saw the Prince was when the Second Young Master passed away." He paused slightly. "Time truly flies."
Jibai Yue’s time in the Prince of Yan’s manor had not been short. He was the eldest brother’s deputy general and was highly esteemed by Xin Yi's father. He had taught the third brother archery and horsemanship; he was known for his kind temperament and decisive nature. In the eldest brother’s heart, this man was both a close friend and a brother in spirit. Yet the man standing under the tree now was entirely different from the one Xin Yi remembered.
"The Prince sees me differently than before, and I see the Prince differently as well," Jibai Yue said, shifting his gaze back. "I have come this time for the Prince’s sake."
Knowing Jibai Yue was a man of many words, Xin Yi’s dimples deepened slightly as he said, "Xin Yi is but a discarded pawn. How could I be worth General Jibai’s long journey?"
"The game has only just begun." Seeing that Xin Yi remained entirely unmoved, Jibai Yue couldn't help but take a step forward. "Yet the Prince has not placed himself where a discarded pawn ought to be."
"The moves of the board are not up to me." Xin Yi’s eyes darkened slightly. "What business does the General have with me?"
"The Young Master perished at Wanze and is now buried along the border. You escaped from Xin Zhenxiao’s grasp, yet you haven't even gone to look." Jibai Yue’s voice turned cold. "Prince, your behavior is truly disheartening."
As the evening light gradually faded, the light in Xin Yi’s eyes seemed to vanish with it. He said, "I have always been a heartless person. Why is that surprising?"
"Do you hate us because we ignored you while you were with Xin Zhenxiao?"
Weariness touched Xin Yi’s brow. "If the General hurried here only to ask this, the price of alarming the Dayuan people is far too high."
Jibai Yue said, "My statement that I came to see the Prince was no mere pleasantry. What exactly are your intentions here in Kyoto?"
"That is my business," Xin Yi said, his tone becoming increasingly distant. "It has nothing to do with Beiyang."
"Oh?" Jibai Yue sneered. "As the Prince of Yan, you are tied to Beiyang until the day you die. Such words are childish! Now that the command of the three hundred thousand Beiyang troops is about to fall into your hands, are you truly willing to cower in Kyoto and engage in an unsavory entanglement with a powerful court official? Bai Jiu may cherish, pity, and pamper you today, but can he truly do so for a lifetime without change? The Prince of Yan had four sons; your three elder brothers were all men of integrity and pride! Why is it that when it comes to you, you have succumbed to the passion of the cut sleeve!"
"What does it have to do with you!" Xin Yi suddenly looked up, his gentle aura swept away. "Three hundred thousand Beiyang troops? Three hundred thousand Beiyang troops! General, your words are the ones that are truly childish. Are there really still three hundred thousand men in the Beiyang Army today? If the military power truly fell into my hands smoothly, I fear Shangjin would be the first to grow restless!" He stepped forward to face Jibai Yue, his words laced with a hint of gritted teeth. "I also want to ask—how did my mother’s ashes end up in the Imperial Palace? How did my third brother die from an arrow while on the march? Countless died in the Battle of Wanze. Jibai Yue, the path my eldest brother paved for you with his life—do you still find it comfortable to walk upon?"
Jibai Yue’s face turned deathly pale. Pressed by Xin Yi, he found himself speechless. Xin Yi’s pure features were clouded with a look of chaotic loathing. He said, "Everyone says the Three Passes of Beiyang are loyal to the Prince without peer, yet in the end, it was nothing more than power struggles, collusion, and arrows in the dark. I am a discarded pawn; even the most difficult situation is nothing more than this. Since I could endure Xin Zhenxiao, I can endure Kyoto just the same." Finally, he gave a light, mocking laugh. "I am a cut-sleeve by my own will. What does it have to do with others? What does it have to do with you? General, do not forget what you said yourself—none of this is your concern."
With that, Xin Yi turned and left, leaving Jibai Yue reaching out a hand, unable to even call out for him to stay.
Meng Chen poked his head out from the house, murmuring, "My goodness, is that really the Prince?"
Jibai Yue remained silent under the tree. Meng Chen jumped directly out of the window and offered comfort. "He doesn't understand the struggles within Beiyang, so naturally he doesn't know how much you've taken over for the Eldest Young Master, nor does he know your hardships over these years. Should I go find him again? The rift between the Prince and Beiyang is quite deep now."
"Do you truly believe his words?" Jibai Yue looked down. "If he truly had no heart for Beiyang, why would he be so intimately familiar with these matters?"
Meng Chen scratched his head. "Well, at least it's a good thing we don't have to kill anyone." He made a slicing motion across his neck. "If we really did it, I’m afraid I wouldn't have the face to meet the Prince and the Eldest Young Master in the afterlife. The Prince like this... he's actually quite to my taste."
Jibai Yue snorted coldly. "He has learned the Third Young Master’s aggressiveness and surpassed his teacher. It was our negligence; we truly underestimated the Prince. If it weren't for Bai—" Both men froze for a moment. Jibai Yue immediately corrected himself, "If it weren't for the help of that noble person, I fear Xin Zhenxiao truly would have died at the Prince’s hands."
"Sigh," Meng Chen said, puzzled. "I didn't know that noble person had cut-sleeve tendencies before. You said he and the Second Young Master were close friends for years, so how did he end up taking a fancy to the Prince in the end?" After speaking, he saw Jibai Yue glaring at him. He froze, completely bewildered, and asked strangely, "What are you looking at me for?"
Jibai Yue’s expression was grim as he flicked his sleeve and went inside. "None of your concern!"
Meng Chen followed behind innocently. "But weren't you the one who brought it up first..."
By the time Xin Yi returned to the manor, the sky was dark. He walked quickly to the room but saw no sign of Bai Jiu. A servant running behind him panted, "Pri... Prince, the Master... the Master is in front of the study, plant... planting—" Xin Yi had already headed straight there.
By the pond, he could see Bai Jiu. Wearing a loose robe, he was squatting in a small, newly fenced vegetable garden, tending to something. Old Qu stood nearby holding a lantern; he knew it was Xin Yi returning the moment he heard the footsteps.
Bai Jiu looked up and saw him, then stood. He first said to Xin Yi, "Wash your hands, then we shall eat." Then he said to Old Qu, "Plant the rest tomorrow."
Xin Yi didn't respond but ran straight to him. Bai Jiu’s narrow eyes darkened slightly. "What is it?" Before the words were fully out, Xin Yi had already lunged forward, wrapping his arms around Bai Jiu’s neck and burying his head in his shoulder. Bai Jiu was startled; his hands were covered in soil, so he couldn't hold him. He lowered his head and asked softly, "What happened?"
Old Qu hurriedly set down the lantern and turned his back, walking toward the edge of the pond.
Xin Yi remained silent. Bai Jiu nudged him with his arm, thought for a moment, and said, "Who made Xin Yi unhappy?"
"People," Xin Yi said muffledly.
Bai Jiu laughed. "Look at this aggrieved face."
Xin Yi buried his face in Bai Jiu’s chest and rubbed his cheek against him. "Being a cut-sleeve is good."
Bai Jiu roughly guessed what had happened. His narrow eyes half-lidded, hiding a cold, icy depth, yet he became even more gentle toward Xin Yi. He smiled and said, "Good. You even know about being a cut-sleeve now; you've made progress."
Xin Yi suddenly looked up, his face turning bright red. He said, "Why can't I be a cut-sleeve with you, Master?"
Bai Jiu felt those words didn't sound quite right to his ears, so he corrected him. "You can *only* be a cut-sleeve with me." He laughed again. "You're still young." Without waiting for Xin Yi to protest, he used his arms to hoist the boy up, carrying him toward the house as if cradling him.
Xin Yi finally realized the posture was wrong. His ears burned, and he wilted again. "I can walk myself."
"We’ll walk like this." Bai Jiu wouldn't let him go. As they walked, he said, "I’ve planted sweet potatoes in the garden. What else do you want to plant?"
Xin Yi’s head hung lower and lower, his face burning hotter. He said, "Walking like this isn't good. I... I’m heavy."
Bai Jiu still smiled. "Do you think I’m an old uncle who can't carry you anymore?"
"No..."
"Then what’s not good about it?" Bai Jiu leaned close to his ear and whispered, "I am in my prime; not only can I carry you, but I can also carry you while doing other things." Though the last part was spoken with a serious and solemn tone, it carried a different kind of seductive charm when it reached the ear.
Xin Yi buried his head, not daring to make another sound, his ears burning intensely.
"Tell me," Bai Jiu nudged him. "What else should we plant?"
"...Green vegetables."
Bai Jiu seemed to remember something and suddenly suggested, "Let’s raise some golden pheasants as well."
Xin Yi poked his head out. "Golden pheasants? Here? In front of the study?"
Bai Jiu said calmly, "Rustic charm."
Seeing that he was truly interested, Xin Yi thought about it and felt it was quite nice. Since the vegetable garden was already set up, raising a few birds would fit the scene, so he nodded in agreement.
As they reached the veranda in front of the door, Xin Yi wanted to jump down. Bai Jiu knew he was thin-skinned and that there were many servants waiting at the door, so he set him down. They entered the room, washed their hands, and ate dinner together. After the meal, Bai Jiu noticed his still tightly buttoned collar. Xin Yi followed his gaze, his face reddening again. He only said, "I... I haven't unbuttoned it..."
"That was for outside. Now that you're back, unbutton it. Your face is red from the heat." Bai Jiu sipped his tea, his narrow eyes watching as Xin Yi, with a blushing face, gently loosened a few buttons, revealing the red marks on his neck. Suddenly feeling a dry heat in his throat, Bai Jiu lowered his eyes and took another sip of tea. "Jibai Yue sought you out?"
Xin Yi nodded.
Bai Jiu tapped the corner of his lip with a finger. "Why were you unhappy then?"
Xin Yi slumped dejectedly against the table, looking just like Chichi when he lacked energy. Bai Jiu smiled and said to him, "Go bathe first. We’ll talk after."
While Xin Yi was bathing, Old Qu came in and stood by Bai Jiu’s side, whispering, "The Master’s guess was correct; it was indeed Jibai Yue."
Bai Jiu acted as if he hadn't heard.
Old Qu continued, "Only Jibai Yue and Meng Chen entered the capital this time. After the case of Registrar He, Xie Jingsheng removed Prince Qin, and the Capital Guard has also changed hands. Although Xie Jingsheng has drawn all eyes to himself, the Crown Prince has already noticed the Young Prince and has made some moves in Shangjin of Beiyang. Jibai Yue, who commands Lijin, has been suppressed by the arrogance of Shangjin to the point of being almost unable to move. Fearing the Crown Prince’s determination to seize military power, he decided to enter the capital to meet the Young Prince. I suspect he intends to support the Young Prince to reshuffle the power in Beiyang."
Bai Jiu’s expression didn't change. He gave a light laugh and said slowly, "He truly fancies himself another Xin Jing."
Old Qu immediately replied, "Indeed, he acts as if he wants to make decisions for the Young Prince. I believe the Young Prince sees things clearly and has a sense of propriety; he likely won't do as Jibai Yue wishes."
The jade tiles between Bai Jiu’s fingers clicked softly together. He said, "Even if he were to listen, it wouldn't be Jibai Yue’s turn to speak."
When Xin Yi came out, his hair was still damp. Bai Jiu was already sitting on the edge of the bed. Seeing him lift the curtain and enter, Bai Jiu closed the book in his hand and set it aside, then raised a hand toward him. Xin Yi went over and sat before him. Bai Jiu rubbed his hair and then pulled him into an embrace.
His thin lips gently grazed the marks he had left on Xin Yi’s neck and shoulder the previous night, whispering into his ear.
"Tell me. I’m listening."
***
Glossary:
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
笑笑楼 | Xiaoxiao Tower | A high-end restaurant/teahouse in Kyoto.
长庭 | Long Court | A scenic area or architectural feature in Kyoto.
垂髫稚子 | Child with tufted hair | Refers to a young child (the hairstyle indicates age).
槐树 | Scholar tree | Also known as the Japanese pagoda tree (Huai tree).
断袖之癖 | Passion of the cut sleeve | A traditional Chinese euphemism for male homosexuality.
甘薯 | Sweet potato |
锦鸡 | Golden pheasant |
赤赤 | Chichi | Xin Yi's pet eagle/bird.
离津 | Lijin | One of the Three Passes/regions of Beiyang.
上津 | Shangjin | One of the Three Passes/regions of Beiyang.
谢净生 | Xie Jingsheng | A character mentioned in political context.
秦王 | Prince Qin | A member of the imperial family.
京卫司 | Capital Guard | The military/security bureau of the capital.
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