This year’s Lantern Festival was perhaps the liveliest the Emperor of Wei and his inner circle had experienced in years.
The Fourth Prince had been teased mercilessly, a fact that kept the Emperor in high spirits even after returning to his bedchamber.
As they spoke, the Emperor inevitably recalled the question Pei Shian had asked him earlier. He chuckled and said, "It’s no wonder the Duke of An mistook Ye Zhao for Lord Tianshu. These two—father and son—are alike in some ways and completely different in others, yet in certain aspects, the resemblance is startling."
For instance, their appalling talent for giving people nicknames.
The Emperor shed his outer robe. Eunuch Babao lowered his eyes as he moved to remove the accessories from the Emperor's waist. "Indeed. Sometimes, it truly feels as though one is facing Lord Tianshu himself..."
"Hmm?" The Emperor held his robe for a moment, noticing that Babao hadn't reached for it. Hearing the eunuch's words, he let out a questioning hum.
Babao snapped back to his senses, took the garment, and hung it on a nearby rack.
The Emperor had already walked over to a small side table and sat down. Pouring himself a cup of hot tea, he asked, "You think so too?"
*Too?*
Babao paused. *Does someone else think so?*
His expression soon settled into a calm stillness. Holding his horsetail whisk, Babao looked down at the silk carpet, appearing to study its intricate patterns in deep thought. After a long silence, he whispered, "This servant does not know."
"What kind of person was Lord Tianshu, and what kind of person is Ye Zhao? They seem the same, yet they are different."
He kept his head bowed, a hint of confusion visible on his pale, round face.
Recalling the day's events, he said, "Back then, when Lord Tianshu gave me the name 'Babao,' does Your Majesty know what it meant?"
The Emperor thought for a moment and said, "Because you know how to cook porridge."
Hearing this, Babao chuckled and shook his head. "Right, yet not quite. Would Your Majesty care to guess again?"
The Emperor pondered for a long time but couldn't find an answer. Seeing his expression, Babao sighed softly, his voice gentle. "Not everyone can guess it correctly on the first try, can they? But today, when I asked Young Master Ye this question, he guessed it. His answer was exactly the same, word for word, as what Lord Tianshu told me all those years ago."
The Emperor’s eyes widened slightly. The two men exchanged a look, the Emperor’s expression turning serious. "Do you think it’s a coincidence, or...?"
"That is why I say I do not know." One could not rule out the possibility of a coincidence, but if it were true, Ye Zhao didn't seem like someone who knew the truth.
The Emperor still had memorials to process, so he set the matter aside for the moment. Babao stepped out to fetch fresh hot tea.
After delegating the task to a junior eunuch, Babao stood at the entrance of the grand hall, staring blankly at the frost and snow covering the ground outside.
It had been a winter just like this one many years ago. He had just entered the palace—small, weak, and bullied by the other eunuchs and maids.
In the heavy snow, starving, he had gathered a few grains of rice from who-knows-where and tried to cook porridge in a broken clay pot. It was less like porridge and more like melted snow. With no fire or charcoal, he had struggled with damp wood until it produced nothing but thick, acrid smoke.
The smoke made him cough uncontrollably, which drew the attention of the passing Tianshu.
"What are you doing?"
Seeing the newcomer, the boy was so terrified he couldn't speak, tears welling in his eyes.
To his surprise, the man didn't scold or strike him. Instead, he walked over, wiped the soot from the boy's face with a handkerchief, and smiled. "Well now, have I found a little tangyuan in the snow?"
The boy wanted to say his name wasn't "Little Tangyuan."
Then, Tianshu took him away. At the time, the boy was still reluctant to leave behind his few grains of rice and the broken pot of snow water.
He did not know that from that moment on, his destiny had been rewritten.
Brought before the young Emperor, who was roughly his age, Tianshu told him, "From today on, you are His Majesty’s playmate. You must stay by his side and serve him well."
The look Tianshu gave him was gentle, like a spring breeze brushing against the heart. It was the most brilliant color he had seen since entering the palace—the same look Tianshu gave the young Emperor standing opposite him, without distinction.
Yet one was the Emperor of Great Wei, and the other... was merely a lowly young eunuch.
When asked what he had been doing earlier, the boy replied, "Cooking porridge."
Tianshu then said that one day he would teach him how to cook a specific kind of porridge called Laba porridge, or "Eight Treasures" porridge. When asked his name, the boy gave the name he had been assigned upon entering the palace. Tianshu found it unpleasing and said, "How about I name you Babao? From now on, you belong to the Emperor. You must have sharp eyes and keen ears, a sweet tongue and ruthless hands, fast feet and a loyal heart. Add to that one treasure for the porridge, and the final treasure... is you."
Tianshu had smiled at the end, lightly tapping the boy's forehead with an affectionate look that briefly reminded him of his deceased parents.
He had remembered those words. For all these years, he had stayed by the Emperor’s side, inseparable.
But during those first two years by the Emperor's side, things had not been easy...
"Eunuch Babao, the tea is ready." The junior eunuch returned and approached respectfully.
"Give it to me."
Babao pulled himself from his memories, took the tea, and entered the hall. After pouring a cup for the Emperor, he suddenly blurted out, "Your Majesty, you really weren't as cute as me when you were little."
It sounded like a boast, yet also a lament.
The Emperor: "???"
He was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Yes, yes, you were always the most likable one in front of Lord Tianshu."
He gave Babao a helpless look before returning to his work.
Babao held his whisk and stood by the desk, accompanying him.
They had been like this for many years.
Looking back at those early days, the young Emperor hadn't trusted him at first. He even thought Babao was a spy sent by Lord Tianshu to monitor him and thus disliked him intensely.
But time reveals a person's heart. As the misunderstandings faded, he gradually transitioned from a mere playmate to a partner by the Emperor's side, their bond deepening with every passing day.
***
When Ye Zhao arrived home, his mother had just finished preparing the dinner for the Lantern Festival.
Seeing him enter, she turned and said, "You're back?"
"Mm," Ye Zhao grunted in response, washing his hands before sitting down to eat.
Father Ye walked out from the inner room and sat across from him. "What did the Emperor want with you in the palace?"
Ye Zhao thought about it and replied, "Nothing much, we just had a meal together."
Father Ye froze. *A meal? He went to the palace just for a meal?*
Why did that sound so surreal?
Then he heard Ye Zhao say slowly, "However, I think certain rumors might be impossible to wash clean now."
Mother Ye, who was bringing a dish to the table, glanced at Ye Zhao and then at the stunned Father Ye. She said irritably, "What are you dazed for? He's saying your son has a new father and doesn't want his old one anymore."
Ye Zhao’s expression instantly turned to one of horror. "No, no, no! That's not it!"
"Those are just rumors spread by others! I never thought that, Mother!"
Ye Zhao turned to comfort his father, who looked like he had taken a critical hit to the heart. "Dad, don't worry! It's all rumors, and rumors can't be trusted! I only have one father, and that will never change as long as I live!!"
Ye Zhao was quick to show his loyalty, his voice firm and unwavering.
Father Ye’s dejection vanished instantly. Hearing those words, he was immediately healed and moved to tears, pulling his precious son into a hug. "My boy—!"
"Dad—!"
As the father and son shared a tender moment, Mother Ye watched from the side, finding it both hilarious and exasperating.
The Hidden Guards and Yulin Guards perched on the roof monitoring the family did not feel quite as good.
*This Ye Zhao actually doesn't want to acknowledge Lord Tianshu as his biological father? Instead, he's entirely devoted to his foster father, Ye Yuan?*
*This development is not good, not good at all...*
***
After the New Year, with some time left before Zhiyuan Academy reopened, Ye Zhao returned to his dilapidated tea house to "clock in" for work.
When Jiang Ziqi arrived, he was surprised to see the tea house filled with people. "How come your tea house has so many customers today?"
Ye Zhao shot him a look. "Am I not allowed to have a thriving business?"
Jiang Ziqi didn't realize these people were anything but ordinary. In reality, they were the Yulin Guards and Hidden Guards assigned to Ye Zhao. Since it was freezing outside, Ye Zhao had let them huddle inside. One had to show some consideration for one's bodyguards, right?
As Ye Zhao wiped the counter, he asked, "What brings you here all of a sudden?"
Jiang Ziqi made himself at home, heading straight behind the counter to look for tea leaves. Seeing Ye Zhao’s movements, he didn't answer the question but asked instead, "Why are you doing this work yourself? Where are your employees?"
Ye Zhao replied, "I only have one handyman. He had some family business recently and took leave."
Jiang Ziqi chuckled. "Your employee lives a more leisurely life than the boss. That’s a new one, haha..."
Having finally picked out a bag of tea leaves, he turned and asked, "Where’s the hot water?"
Ye Zhao put down his rag. "Just ran out. It's boiling now."
Jiang Ziqi curled his lip in disappointment, then suddenly jumped. "Wait! Didn't you say the handyman went home? Then who’s boiling the water? Did you hire someone new?"
Ye Zhao paused for two seconds. *Do I have to pay the Yulin Guards a salary for helping out?*
Jiang Ziqi lifted the curtain and walked toward the back. Sure enough, he saw a fresh face. The man looked up the moment Jiang Ziqi entered.
Their eyes met, and Jiang Ziqi froze for a split second. To be honest, he felt a small jolt of fear.
He walked back out and whispered to Ye Zhao, "Ye Zhao, your new worker looks a bit fierce, doesn't he?"
Ye Zhao glanced at the group of "potential workers" sitting behind Jiang Ziqi and gave an awkward laugh. "He just has a serious face. He’s actually quite kind-hearted."
The curtain was pushed aside, and the "fierce" worker emerged, carrying a large kettle which he placed on the stove by the counter to keep warm.
Ye Zhao quickly changed the subject. "Here, didn't you want tea? The hot water is here."
As expected, Jiang Ziqi stopped staring at the man and went to brew his tea.
Jiang Ziqi found an empty table near the counter and sat down to drink.
After a while, Ye Zhao felt something was missing in the shop. He looked at Jiang Ziqi and realized what it was. "Why are you so quiet today?"
Indeed, if Jiang Ziqi didn't speak, Ye Zhao almost forgot he was there. This was highly abnormal for Jiang Ziqi.
Jiang Ziqi propped his chin on his hand and said, "Ye Zhao, we’re graduating from Zhiyuan Academy this year. What are your plans for the future?"
A question mark practically appeared over Ye Zhao’s head. "What do you mean, plans? I’m going to run my mother’s shops."
Jiang Ziqi snapped his head up to look at Ye Zhao behind the counter, his face full of shock. "How can you still think that?! Don't you want to enter officialdom?"
Ye Zhao was confused by Jiang Ziqi’s shock. Hadn't he always known his plans? What was there to be surprised about?
"Why would I want to be an official? Isn't it better to be a commoner?"
The moment he said this, not only Jiang Ziqi but also the Yulin Guards and Hidden Guards in the shop turned to look at him in unison. They had truly never heard anyone claim that being a commoner was better than being an official.
What a rare sight!
Jiang Ziqi cried out, "But you are Lord Tianshu’s—"
"Stop!" Ye Zhao felt a headache coming on at those words. He raised a hand to cut him off and declared, "Don't you dare say that. I have absolutely no relation to Lord Tianshu!"
"But—"
"No 'buts.' Do you believe me, or do you believe the rumors?" Ye Zhao said righteously.
"However—"
Jiang Ziqi wanted to argue further, but Ye Zhao interrupted him again. "No 'howevers.' If you say another word, I’ll invite you outside to stand in the wind and clear your head."
"Uh... fine."
Seeing Ye Zhao’s stern face, Jiang Ziqi could only swallow his words.
The seated Yulin Guards and Hidden Guards exchanged glances. *This development... is not looking good...*
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 八宝粥 | Babao porridge / Eight Treasures porridge | A traditional Chinese congee made from eight different ingredients. |
| 汤圆 | Tangyuan | Sweet glutinous rice balls; also used as a nickname for someone round and cute. |
| 官快心忠 | Fast feet and a loyal heart | Part of the "Eight Treasures" definition given by Tianshu. |
| 嘴甜手狠 | Sweet tongue and ruthless hands | Part of the "Eight Treasures" definition given by Tianshu. |
| 眼尖耳利 | Sharp eyes and keen ears | Part of the "Eight Treasures" definition given by Tianshu. |
| 叶远 | Ye Yuan | Ye Zhao's foster father's full name (previously referred to as Ye Die/Father Ye). |
