Two years later, Persia.
Yin Zhuli had traveled to the north to procure furs. On her way back, she heard news of a bear hunt and couldn't resist joining in the fun, which delayed her return by two days.
Persia was a beautiful land with distinct seasons and a pleasant climate. On the streets, women wore veils that revealed only beautiful eyes dusted with gold powder, filling the air with an exotic allure.
When Yin Zhuli first arrived, she had taken a particular liking to the local maidens' attire. Nalu had accompanied her, wandering through almost every street and alleyway. Since Yin Zhuli did not know the language, he recommended several reliable translators and inevitably taught her some Persian himself.
Over time, the two grew increasingly close. The servants of the Yin household began to treat him almost as a second master.
In early January, a message arrived from Hao Jian. Aside from the detailed accounts of the Yin family’s income and expenditures in Daxing, there were several portraits of Yin Zhuli. One look at the fluid, graceful brushwork made it clear whose hand had held the brush. Unsure of Yin Zhuli’s thoughts, Hao Jian only briefly mentioned that the King had dispatched secret envoys to Dayuezhi, searching for the two of them in private.
When Yin Zhuli replied, she personally added a line at the end of the letter: *Hao Jian, I see you’ve grown far too idle. Why don’t you handle the Persian accounts for me as well?*
After that, Hao Jian dared not mention the person in the palace again.
By mid-March, Nalu visited Yin Zhuli. He had surprisingly brought a team of Kunlun slaves to carry in a set of *bianzhong*—bronze chime bells. There were over sixty pieces in total, weighing nearly two tons. While the pitch wasn't as precise as those from the Central Plains, the casting of such items was no easy feat. Yin Zhuli ran her hands over them, feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the gesture.
As Nalu ordered the men to carry the bells inside, Yin Zhuli remained bewildered. "Mister Nalu, for you to give such a magnificent gift for no reason... I truly have no way to repay you."
Nalu was fluent in Han Chinese. He replied with a smile, "Not at all. Chief Yin could always repay me by offering herself in marriage."
He was usually a rigorous and serious man. This sudden jest caused Yin Zhuli to pause before she laughed it off. "Mister, you mustn't make such jokes."
Realizing he might have been too forward, Nalu quickly changed the subject. "The elder Madame Yin mentioned that today is your birthday, so I came specifically to offer my congratulations. In Persia, a birthday is a very important day. What have you prepared, Zhuli?"
Yin Zhuli shook her head quickly. "Mister, I never celebrate my birthday. However, since I’ve received such a precious gift from you, I must certainly treat you to a fine meal."
Nalu laughed heartily and took her hand to lead her inside. "Then today, I shall have the pleasure of witnessing the Chief’s culinary skills."
Yin Zhuli looked down at her hand held in his. By then, their relationship was indeed quite close, and Nalu was not a person she disliked. Yet, she had to exert a great deal of effort to keep herself from pulling her hand away from his palm.
That night, she roasted a whole lamb with Nalu, naturally striking the chime bells to add to the festivities. When her song reached the lyrics, *"Longing lasts forever, in Chang'an... The beauty is like a flower behind the clouds. Above is the high, dark blue sky; below is the surging green water..."* she inexplicably thought of her childhood.
A certain someone had once said he couldn't stand the gamey smell of mutton. She had broken off a roasted leg for him and said calmly, "That is why we are eating beef today."
That person had eaten with great relish, though he was a bit confused. "Why is the cow's leg so small?"
She had reached out to wipe the grease from his lips, answering without a moment's hesitation, "Because it was a calf..."
Nalu left after the meal. As was her custom, she went to pay her respects to Yin-shi. Her mother was still nagging her about marriage. "You cannot delay any longer. You aren't getting any younger; it’s time you let me hold a grandchild. I think Nalu is a good man, and he treats you sincerely..."
Yin Zhuli felt her head throbbing from the lecture and quickly slipped away.
Tossing and turning on her couch half the night, she found it difficult to sleep while thinking about this mess. In truth, Nalu was a fine man. But why did the mere thought of sharing a bed with him make her skin crawl?
The next day, the manager of the tea shop came by, saying a major client wished to meet Yin Zhuli. She changed her clothes and followed him to the warehouse. Because they sold specialties from the Central Plains, the shop was built in a quaint, traditional style. As Yin Zhuli entered the inner hall, she saw a man leaning against the railing of the corridor, draped in a white silk fur cloak. He held a small teapot in his hand, his fingers looking more delicate than the porcelain itself.
Yin Zhuli felt a wave of awkwardness. Just as she was debating whether to stay or retreat, the man called out softly, "Wenxu."
Steeling herself, Yin Zhuli walked forward with a faint smile. "So it is the Ninth Lord. Look at my blind eyes; I almost failed to recognize you."
She expected him to be furious, or perhaps awkward and flustered, but he was neither. He simply studied her closely, his gaze as calm as still water. "Can we sit down and talk? I don't want to play hide-and-seek with you anymore."
Yin Zhuli couldn't gauge his intentions. Logically, they had settled their debts long ago. She smiled politely. "The Ninth Lord has traveled thousands of miles to get here; I should naturally host you well." She turned to the shop manager. "Go and book a banquet to welcome the Ninth Lord."
Shen Tingjiao walked slowly to her side. Yin Zhuli felt he was steadier than before—in his gaze, his stride, and his posture. He sat down by a Go board in the corridor, his voice not even stirring the dust. "After you left, the Teacher spoke with me. He said that if one wishes to keep fish, one must prepare a body of water; if one trains a hawk, one must give it the sky."
He stood up and quietly handed her an object. Yin Zhuli looked down and realized it was the Huangquan Yin she had buried in the frozen soil of the Changbai Mountains. His expression was warm. "I truly thought you had gone to Dayuezhi. I searched for you for a long time, and I thought a lot. Zhuli, if I am willing to give you that sky, and you are still seeking wings that can protect you and your family, can we start over?"
Yin Zhuli took the Huangquan Yin, falling into a pensive silence. Shen Tingjiao did not pressure her. After two years, he had acquired the aura of an emperor. "What you wish to protect is a family, which does not conflict with what I seek. Zhuli, if I appoint you as Chancellor, would you be willing to return with me?"
Yin Zhuli looked up at him. Seeing his determined expression, she couldn't help but laugh. "Do you think the civil and military officials at court would agree? It would be a miracle if they didn't raise an uproar."
Shen Tingjiao clearly had a plan. "I can give the Ministry of Revenue to you. I hope you can see my sincerity."
Yin Zhuli’s eyes narrowed. If she were a Chancellor in name only, the officials would certainly look down on her. But if she held the Ministry of Revenue—if she held actual power—that would be a different story.
Shen Tingjiao captured the subtle shifts in her thoughts. He had to remain composed, to let her know that the man he was now was someone she could rely on. "The situation at court is settled; I have complete control. You should also know my feelings for you. Fine, I admit I love you—very, very much. If you still wish to safeguard your family, no matter where you wander, there will never be a protector more suitable than I. As for being Empress... whether you are willing or not, I leave that entirely to you."
This was already the greatest concession he could make. Yin Zhuli understood this. Outside, the banquet was ready. She smiled lightly. "Let's not speak of this for now. This humble subject shall welcome the Ninth Lord."
The atmosphere during the meal was harmonious, as if she were not a runaway Empress and he were not the sovereign of Daxing. They seemed more like old friends reunited after a long separation. Yin Zhuli occasionally served him food, introducing local Persian dishes. He truly had no fondness for Persia—Yin Zhuli had been hiding here while he was driven nearly mad searching for her in Dayuezhi.
Midway through the feast, a person appeared to break the harmony. Nalu found Yin Zhuli and draped an arm intimately over her shoulder. "Zhuli, it’s our tribal chief’s birthday tonight. May I invite you to be my companion?"
At the table, Shen Tingjiao narrowed his eyes, staring fixedly at the arm resting on Yin Zhuli’s shoulder. Yin Zhuli gave a dry laugh. "Mister Nalu, I’m afraid tonight won't work. I have a guest who has come from afar; I cannot be so rude as to leave."
Only then did Nalu look at Shen Tingjiao. The two had met once during the "Guangling Cessation" incident, but he did not know Shen Tingjiao’s true identity. He frowned. "And this is...?"
Yin Zhuli found it difficult to introduce him. Firstly, Shen Tingjiao was now the ruler of Daxing; appearing suddenly in another country’s territory was dangerous, and his identity could not be leaked. Secondly, she hadn't decided on her next move and didn't want to do anything that signaled her intentions.
Instead, Shen Tingjiao shifted closer to her, leaning against her as if he were a wolf eyeing a rival encroaching on his territory. He squinted at Nalu with a dark, sinister gaze. Nalu, being a clever man, immediately realized their relationship was not simple. He withdrew his arm from Yin Zhuli’s shoulder and gave a dry laugh. "Since Zhuli is busy today, I shall visit again tomorrow."
Yin Zhuli saw him out of the tea shop with pleasant words. Shen Tingjiao drank half a cup of wine and, surprisingly, did not mention Nalu. He returned to their previous topic. "Think it over carefully. I can wait. However, I came in a hurry and have no place to stay yet."
He looked at Yin Zhuli as he spoke, wearing an "as you well know" expression. Before he could say more, Yin Zhuli sighed. "I know. I can hardly let the Ninth Lord sleep on the streets..."
Shen Tingjiao settled into the Yin household. Yin Zhuli didn't say how many days she would need to consider, and he didn't rush her. Being new to the area, he was somewhat unaccustomed to the local climate and rarely went out. On several occasions when Nalu visited, he ran into him, and Nalu’s attitude was none too friendly. Nalu was a straightforward man who couldn't hide his thoughts. "Who exactly are you, and what is your relationship with Zhuli?"
Shen Tingjiao was curled up on a lounging chair covered in bear-skin rugs. He was dressed in thin robes, his feet bare, with a snow-white fox fur draped over him. As the sunlight spilled over his lap, he possessed a charm that would stir even a man’s heart. A rather unpleasant suspicion formed in Nalu’s mind. "You... you are her kept..."
Shen Tingjiao turned over, lazily soaking in the sun. Hearing this, he smiled faintly. "Something like that."
Nalu knew that people from the Central Plains had a custom of keeping domestic entertainers, and some wealthy women would privately keep male favorites or playthings. Given that Yin Zhuli was a lustful sort to begin with, he was absolutely convinced that the man before him was a "pretty boy" she was keeping.
Consequently, Yin Zhuli received a thorough lecture from a certain someone. "Zhuli, I know customs differ in the Central Plains, but you shouldn't keep a 'pretty boy.' Zhuli, these are bad habits; you should change them. If you feel lonely, I... I can spend more time with you..."
Yin Zhuli was completely bewildered. She cut him off before he could finish. "Stop, stop! Mister Nalu, what am I keeping...?" As the words left her mouth, she suddenly understood. "The one in the courtyard told you he was my kept 'pretty boy'?"
Nalu nodded. She laughed so hard she couldn't stand up straight.
***
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