Ajiao was woken by the heat. She nudged the warm mass beside her and blearily opened her eyes.
*That old man, Liu Che!*
Her mind cleared instantly, and she sat up. The person beside her was also startled awake by her movement; he wriggled twice and then pressed his face against her stomach.
"You’re awake!" The Emperor's voice sounded muffled, as if he hadn't slept well.
Ajiao smiled. "Why is Your Majesty sleeping here? What time is it? I’ll have them bring in breakfast." As she spoke, she scrambled up to hook back the bed curtains.
Liu Che remained lying down, eyes closed as he chuckled. "It’s already noon; what breakfast is there to eat? I’ve already had my lunch."
Ajiao was a bit dazed. Liu Che pulled her back to sit on the edge of the bed, resting his head on her lap. He picked up a lock of her dark hair and began to toy with it. "Why did you sleep so late last night? Didn't I say I wouldn't be back?"
Recalling her nocturnal excursion to his bedchamber, Ajiao smiled. "But Your Majesty said you would accompany me for breakfast this morning. Yet here you are, having already finished lunch on your own."
Liu Che curled his lips, his eyes still closed. "That Lady Yan is quite interesting. I spent... half the day with her, and only just returned."
Ajiao’s own lips curved upward. "How interesting could she be to make Your Majesty so reluctant to leave?"
Liu Che opened his eyes and looked at Ajiao with a half-smile. "Last night, she pleaded for Chen Xuan’s life for nearly half the night. She didn't let me leave until noon today, when I finally agreed to spare him. Tell me, isn't that interesting?"
Ajiao was slightly stunned. She searched her memory but couldn't recall any relative of her family named Yan. Or was it a new relative from the past few decades that she didn't know about? She could only smile and say, "Consort Yan is truly kind-hearted."
Liu Che reached up to stroke Ajiao’s face. "She is indeed kind-hearted." With that, he hooked his hand around her neck to pull her down. Ajiao dodged, covering her mouth. "I haven't washed up yet!"
Liu Che sat up. "Then go wash quickly. Once you’ve eaten, I’ll play with you for a while." He reached out to pinch Ajiao’s waist.
*Play for a while? Liu Che, you’re a fifty-year-old uncle; is it really okay to indulge in such "spring nights" day and night?* Furthermore, the thought of that talisman-covered canopy in his bedchamber made Ajiao feel uneasy.
She smiled. "Your Majesty, this place was only tidied up yesterday and is still quite messy. Why don't we go play in Your Majesty’s bedchamber instead?" She even managed to put on a bashful expression.
Liu Che’s expression froze for a split second before he smiled again. Had she not been staring intently at his face, Ajiao felt she might not have noticed the anomaly.
She heard Liu Che say, "I’m a bit weary and too lazy to move."
Ajiao threw herself into Liu Che’s arms. "Oh, please, Your Majesty!" She looked up at him with pleading eyes. "If others can enter, why can't I? If people see this, they’ll think Your Majesty dislikes me."
Liu Che thought to himself: *You are very likely a wandering ghost, so you really cannot enter.* He could only comfort her, saying, "Another day. Another day. I’m truly tired right now." With that, he lay back down.
Ajiao’s heart turned cold. Did Liu Che really know she wasn't human?
But if he knew, how could he still be intimate with her? Tsk. She wondered if Chu Haiguang was around; she should take the chance to ask him.
While pondering, Ajiao called for her attendants to help her wash and dress.
Mianfu’s skillful hands styled her hair into a "Startled Swan Bun," paired with a set of orange-red *ruqun*. Liu Che looked on with admiration. "These are the colors someone of your age should wear. The previous two outfits were far too somber."
Perhaps it was because he was getting older, but he found himself increasingly fond of these fresh, young girls. It was as if being with them made him feel young again.
After the meal, Ajiao pulled Liu Che out for a walk, claiming she needed to digest. Liu Che had no choice but to follow. As they strolled, the Emperor suggested visiting Wei Qing, so the two of them wandered over leisurely.
From inside, there came a series of crashes and bangs, as if a fight were breaking out. The two exchanged a surprised look.
Stepping inside, they found Wei Qing standing in a corner with a cold expression. Wei Kang and his brothers stood by their father’s side, while Wei Yuan was picking up objects and hurling them toward Chen Chuo—or perhaps she was trying to hit him but kept missing.
"What is going on here?" Liu Che asked in a deep voice.
Everyone in the room was startled. Wei Yuan was left holding a vase, unsure whether to throw it or put it down. Ajiao frowned and scolded, "Second Sister-in-law, put that down at once."
The group performed their salutations. Liu Che carefully stepped over the porcelain shards on the floor and took the seat of honor. He smiled. "What’s this? Junzhuo, have you brought your domestic spat before your father-in-law?"
Chen Chuo cupped his hands. "Replying to Your Majesty, it was just a slight... disagreement." He glanced back at Wei Yuan, only to see her biting her lip so hard that beads of blood were surfacing.
With things smashed all over the floor, this was hardly a "slight" disagreement. Ajiao stepped forward to support Wei Yuan, smiling. "What’s wrong, Second Sister-in-law? Did Second Brother upset you? Second Brother, come here and apologize to her." Though she didn't know the details, Chen Chuo had to yield in front of Liu Che.
To her surprise, Chen Chuo turned his head away. "I won't admit it. I won't admit to something I didn't do."
Ajiao shot him a meaningful look, but Chen Chuo ignored it. Admit it? Admit what? Admit that he had an affair with Princess Liu Qing? He had done no such thing.
Liu Che grew interested. "Come, come, I shall judge for you. Tell me, what is the matter?" Wei Qing lowered his head.
"Your Majesty, it is merely a domestic matter between children. We dare not trouble Your Majesty," Wei Qing said, cupping his hands.
"It’s fine, it’s fine. I just happened to be out for a stroll. Speak up; I am the most impartial judge. One of you is the daughter of my high official, and the other is my close attendant. I favor neither."
Chen Chuo remained silent. Wei Yuan lowered her head and began to cry. After a moment, as if she had made a decision, she wiped her tears and looked up.
"Your Majesty, it is nothing. It is just that... I am pregnant, and my mood has been poor. My father and the others were just humoring me, letting me vent my frustrations."
Chen Chuo’s face twitched, aggravating his wound. He let out a sharp hiss of pain. Wei Yuan, however, did not even look back.
"Truly?" A smile appeared on Liu Che’s face. "This is a joyous occasion. Congratulations, Zhongqing. You are to be a grandfather."
Wei Qing forced a smile. "It’s still early, still early."
Liu Che spoke with Wei Qing for a good while longer, asking about his health, before finally leading Ajiao away.
He leaned down and whispered in Ajiao’s ear, "Did you see that? Your second brother, Chen Junzhuo, has likely gotten someone’s belly big outside! Zhongqing is just holding down the fort to let his daughter vent her anger."
Ajiao’s eyes widened. "Surely not? With Wei Yuan’s temper, if she had beaten both that woman and Chen Chuo to death, I’d believe you." But despite her words, she felt uncertain.
Liu Che whispered with her a bit longer before preparing to return to the Jade Hall to handle government affairs. Ajiao took the opportunity to head to Ruan Qing’s quarters to gather some information.
When she arrived at Ruan Qing’s residence, her "cheap father" Chen Yang was not there. Only Ruan Qing sat by the window, doing needlework for the children.
Ajiao dismissed the maids. After a few pleasantries, she asked about the situation between Wei Yuan and Chen Chuo.
Ruan Qing was inwardly surprised that "Sister Wan" had forgotten the affairs of the Marquis of Changping’s manor, but she explained nonetheless.
Ajiao was stunned. *Good heavens!* Liu Qing had actually taken a liking to Chen Chuo and had been pestering him. "Then what is Second Brother’s attitude toward the Eldest Princess?"
Ruan Qing hesitated. "I am, after all, only his sister-in-law, so I don't know much. However, my husband says that Second Brother does not like the Princess and has no intention of marrying into the royal family."
"Then...?" A bad thought rose in Ajiao’s mind. "Has Second Brother met with the Eldest Princess privately lately?"
Ruan Qing thought for a moment and shook her head. "I don't believe so! Everything seemed fine. I only heard that Second Brother and his wife just had a fight and went to the Great General’s quarters together. Sigh... I don't know how much of a mess it will become. They were living so well; why did the Eldest Princess have to interfere?"
Ajiao patted Ruan Qing’s hand. "Indeed. She’s a married woman herself, yet she insists on forcing her way in. Right, if anything else happens with Liu Qing, remember to send someone to tell me quietly... Sigh, once we return to Chang'an, it might be harder to send messages."
The two chatted about family matters for a while longer before Ajiao decided to go see Chen Xuan.
Chen Xuan was settled on a small couch. Princess Longlü was watching as the Imperial Physician Qin applied medicine to him. Liu Chun sat nearby, her expression indifferent.
Chen Xuan was restless; though he couldn't move much, he kept reaching out to tug at Liu Chun’s sash.
Hearing that "Chen Wan" had arrived, both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were somewhat surprised. Only Chen Xuan shouted, "Quickly, invite her in!" He said with a grin, "Mother, Chun'er, she was the one who taught me yesterday to kneel until Uncle’s heart softened." It really worked; this morning, his uncle had only scolded him a few times before sending him back.
Princess Longlü’s lip twitched. She thought to herself, *Do you think your mother’s money was given for nothing?* Nevertheless, she had her household manager go out to greet the guest—after all, she was the Emperor’s new favorite. Regardless of what the future held, it was never wrong to show a bit of respect now.
Ajiao walked in with a smile. "I heard His Majesty has pardoned Lord Zhaoping’s punishment, so I came specifically to visit. I hope the Eldest Princess won't find my intrusion bothersome."
Princess Longlü, Liu Qi, smiled. "Since the Noble Lady has come specifically to visit, how could I find it bothersome? It is just that this child is disappointing; he frightened Yi'an terribly, which truly leaves me feeling uneasy." *Could this Lady Chen have been sent by the Emperor?*
Ajiao waved her hand. "Think nothing of it. His Majesty only wishes for Princess Yi'an to be well. As the Eldest Princess knows, the child has no one to rely on now, so His Majesty naturally dotes on her more. Unfortunately, last night Lord Zhaoping was truly... His Majesty was quite frightened!"
Liu Qi quickly forced a smile and invited Ajiao to sit. They chatted for a few moments, while Liu Chun remained silent throughout.
Ajiao took the opportunity to ask, "At noon today, His Majesty mentioned that even the newly moved-in Consort Yan of Chuyuan Palace pleaded for Lord Zhaoping. Does the Eldest Princess’s family perhaps have some old acquaintance with Consort Yan?"
Liu Qi was also taken aback. She said slowly, "Consort Yan? That... I don't recall any!" She looked toward Liu Chun, who also shook her head slightly.
Ajiao grew even more puzzled. She asked again, "Could she be some relative of Lord Zhaoping’s uncles’ families?"
Liu Qi’s expression stiffened. She thought of how poor the relationship between the two families had been when Chen Xu and Chen Jiao were alive, let alone now that Chen Jiao had been dead for nearly ten years with no contact! She could only smile and say, "I haven't heard of any such thing."
Ajiao had to drop the subject, but she still smiled at Liu Qi. "Since Consort Yan helped Lord Zhaoping, the Eldest Princess should remember to prepare a gift to thank her properly."
Chen Xuan laughed from the side. "Of course. Once I’m better, I’ll go thank her in person. Yi'an, will you come with me?"
Liu Chun said nothing. Liu Qi’s expression instantly soured. She said, "Chun'er is likely still frightened. Please excuse her, Noble Lady."
Ajiao knew that this matter would not be easily overlooked in Yi'an’s heart. She sighed inwardly and prepared to take her leave.
*Since that’s the case, I might as well go see this Consort Yan.*
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
惊鹄髻 | Startled Swan Bun | A traditional Chinese hairstyle where the hair is looped to resemble a bird taking flight.
襦裙 | Ruqun | A traditional Chinese outfit consisting of a short wrap-around jacket (ru) and a long skirt (qun).
颜氏 / 颜美人 | Lady Yan / Consort Yan | A new concubine of Liu Che. "Meiren" (Beauty) is a specific rank for imperial consorts.
昭平君 | Lord Zhaoping | The title of Chen Xuan.
隆虑公主 | Princess Longlü | Liu Che's sister, mother of Chen Xuan. Her personal name is Liu Qi (刘玘).
夷安公主 | Princess Yi'an | Liu Che's daughter (in this context), married to Chen Xuan. Her personal name is Liu Chun (刘淳).
储元宫 | Chuyuan Palace | The residence of Consort Yan.
玉堂 | Jade Hall | One of the halls in the imperial palace complex.
秦太医令 | Imperial Physician Qin | The head of the imperial physicians.
公主家令 | Princess's Household Manager | An official in charge of a princess's domestic affairs.
