Chapter 24: The Emperor

On the second day, the nobles and wealthy families of the capital had already erected high platforms along the streets, hiring opera troupes and famous courtesans to dance and sing upon them.

Some courtesans from outside the capital rented street-side platforms to perform, hoping to catch the attention of high officials and wealthy patrons in the capital, to stay in the city, and earn a name that would be remembered in history.

At night, the uncurfewed Bianjing filled every foreign envoy and outsider tribe with astonishment—they had never seen such bustling crowds or such thriving cuisine in their own lands or islands.

How thriving? The “Dreams of Splendor in the Eastern Capital” listed nearly a full page of food names.

Since the performance was two days away, Sun Shi, for safety’s sake, did not let Xu Zaijing go out.

So that day, only the four Xu siblings accompanied Sun Shi on a night stroll through the bustling Bianjing.

They returned only by the hour of Hai.

Yet they did not forget their younger brother at home, bringing back many lanterns, snacks, poems, and silk handkerchiefs and sachets tossed by the courtesans.

The maid Xiao Zhu, who stayed behind, lowered her voice and said: “Young Master Jing is asleep—he said he’s conserving his strength for the performance.”

“Watch over him closely. Don’t let him kick off his covers and catch a chill.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Xu Zhaizhang and Xu Anmei, who had wanted to sneakily wake their younger brother for fun, were taken away by their mother.

“Don’t disturb your brother. He’s not a child anymore—how can he still be so childish?”

Outside the Yongyi Marquis Mansion,

the streets remained crowded and noisy,

and as Xu Zaijing slept in his room, he drifted vaguely back to the modern city, sitting on a train, standing by the restroom door in the carriage.

He waited and waited, but the person inside never came out,

a voice urged him to wake up, yet Xu Zaijing felt a lingering fondness for the convenience and technological advancement of modern life.

He wanted to savor modern life a little longer, and unconsciously did not wish to wake.

Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!

Just as he could no longer hold it, the restroom door finally opened—he rushed in frantically.

A wave of relief.

A warmth below.

Xu Zaijing woke up.

Damn it!!

He couldn’t possibly sleep all night in wet clothes—if he caught a cold because of this, it would be a terrible loss.

So he could only call out.

Xiao Zhu hurried over, still in her robe.

Xu Zaijing: “It’s wet.”

Xiao Zhu: “.”

Tomorrow was the Emperor’s birthday.

At the Yongyi Marquis Mansion’s dining table, Sun Shi glanced curiously at her youngest son’s seat.

Today, her son had not joined them for breakfast on time.

Just as she was about to send Xiao Ju to check, Xiao Zhu—who had cared for Xu Zaijing the night before—came smiling to her side and whispered a few words into her ear.

Sun Shi’s face showed surprise, yet her eyes brimmed with amusement.

Her son was too sensible—she almost suspected he had past-life wisdom.

But Xiao Zhu’s words made her realize her son was merely a six- or seven-year-old child—one who still wet the bed.

Xu Zaijing knew his mother would find out about the bedwetting; his thin skin made him too embarrassed to eat breakfast at the table.

“Pack a few portions in a food box and send them to the horse field.”

Xiao Zhu replied: “Yes.”

The four Xu siblings were deeply curious, but Sun Shi glanced at them and said: “Eat. When you’re done, go do what you must.”

Xu Zhaizhang and Xu Anmei exchanged glances, clearly thinking something mischievous.

In the horse field, the groom was talking to the page Qingyun.

“Tomorrow you’ll go to the palace with Young Master Jing. Do you remember what I told you?”

I remember: watch over the young master’s horses, let no one approach them, let no one touch the young master’s horses. Let no one touch the young master’s clothes, bow, or arrows. After arriving, inspect the target and the mechanisms.

Good. Remember, your foremost duty is the young master. If someone tells you someone from the mansion is looking for you, what will you do?

If it’s urgent, they’ll find Madam. I’m just a page—my priority is guarding the young master.

“What if someone tells you I’m dead?”

Qingyun’s eyes widened in shock, but seeing his uncle’s stern gaze, he lowered his head.

“Raise your head! Look at me and speak!”

Qingyun is the young master’s playmate page. A, a, a, a groom dying—what has that to do with me? His voice cracked with tears by the end.

“Extend your hand.” The groom said.

Qingyun wiped his tears and timidly extended his hand.

“Smack!”

A red mark appeared on his palm.

“Say it again.”

“A groom, that’s all—dead—what has that to do with me!”

“Hmph.”

The groom turned and walked away.

As he left, he said: “Take the shield. Stand in front of the target.”

“Yes.”

The groom walked to Xu Zaijing’s side and said casually: “Today, practice less—just keep your touch. Qingyun will stand before the target. Don’t let him distract you.”

Xu Zaijing said: “I won’t.”

The Emperor’s birthday.

The moon shone bright, the stars clear, the sky still not fully light.

Early on, Xu Zaijing entered the palace with the household servants.

Before leaving, Sun Shi encouraged Xu Zaijing; seeing her son’s bright eyes, she touched his cheek and said: “Go.”

The bow, arrows, and target mechanisms had already been delivered to the palace yesterday; today Xu Zaijing only needed to bring his servants, horses, and clothing.

Officials from the Ministry of Rites stood at the palace gate, checking names against their list.

They also arranged everyone’s positions according to the performance order.

Xu Zaijing sat quietly in his assigned spot, closing his eyes to rest, when a voice called out.

“Xu Zaijing! Xu Zaijing!”

He turned to see a young boy holding a short spear waving at him from nearby.

The spear was made in the palace—its shaft even, its tip forged of fine copper, its red tassel smooth.

Beside the boy was a page who, seeing Xu Zaijing, hurriedly bowed: “Greetings, Third Master.”

Qingyun, who had been well-taught in manners these days, quickly bowed to Gu Tingye: “Greetings, Second Master.”

Gu Tingye came over to Xu Zaijing’s side; over the years, Xu Zaijing had visited the Ningyuan Marquis Mansion often, and the two were naturally familiar.

Gu Tingye was no longer the child who lost his mother in the story—he was not so harsh or brittle. Though he liked to compete with Xu Zaijing over strength, overall, he was still an ordinary boy.

He wouldn’t go around harming the palace goldfish.

“Third Master, when I came in, I saw a pond in the palace—its fish were this big!” Gu Tingye gestured with his hands.

“After we perform for Uncle Emperor, let’s catch a few and roast them!”

Well, Xu Zaijing retracted his earlier thought—Gu Tingye would indeed keep harming the palace goldfish.

“Don’t act foolishly. Everything in the palace is imperial property. What would it mean if you caught them? Aren’t you afraid the Marquis will punish you?”

“Hmph. He dares… dare to beat me to death, but those fish really are big—and stupid. When I came near, they all swam right over.”

Saying this, Xu Zaijing pulled a strip of beef jerky from his sleeve,

“Here. Want some?”

“If you give it to me, what’s there to fear? If anything happens, I’ll have my mother go complain to Aunt Sun.”

Hey!

The night before last, I saw performers on the street—it was amazing!

Have you seen it? Right beside the Imperial Street.”

Saying this, Gu Tingye snatched it; his page Zhi Que glanced once, saying nothing.

(End of Chapter)