It's a rare sight to see Empress Yin Xiulan having a bouquet of freshly picked flowers in her left hand. And as usual, her right hand holds her fan. As bright as the sun shining up in the sky, her face doesn't have a hint of grumpiness. In fact, she isn't wearing a fierce face today. Instead, she's making an unusual happy face. Like any other traveler that finally comes home after a long journey.
She's alone, walking in the deepest part of the woods. Although the weather is fair, the area is kind of dark due to huge trees that are blocking the sun rays.
When she arrived at her destination, her majesty the empress crouched down in front of a small mound. It's the late Lieutenant General Liu's grave.
She puts the flowers on top of it and speaks like someone really is listening to her. "It's been three years, Liu Chen. I wonder if you got into the wheel of reincarnation already." The wind blows gently, making the locks of her hair wave in the air for a short while.
The sun hasn't even risen yet our beau is already awake. His hands are occupied with making spring rolls, dumplings, and of course, his favorite wonton noodle soup. Today is the 3rd day of June, Yin Wenyan's birthday. Although he's been awake for a couple of hours now, he's still not done preparing the food. It is because he's been extra careful not to create unnecessary sounds that may awaken the still asleep birthday celebrant. After Yin Wenyan came to see Xu Zhengming in his bookstore, the former emperor declared something bold. He stated that since this beau pulled him back to life from Death's grip, the oh-so-great Xu-xiansheng should take responsibility. In other words, Yin Wenyan just wanted to live the rest of his life with him. Just like his brother, Yin Renshu, Yin Wenyan refused to go back to the imperial palace. According to him, he had enough of the heavy responsibilities and political matters. Well, after everything he's been through, he deserve
Tonight is a moonless night. The dark sky has only twinkling stars to illuminate the heavens. As usual, the night market has a countless buzzing variety of stalls. Some stalls sell street foods. Some sell weapons and tools. Some sell books, medicines, and magical items. And some sell cosmetic products. And in just a split second, everyone in the street turns their head to stare at a certain man who is more or less in his early twenties. He barely catches his breath as he runs as if his life depends on it. The night is chilly however, droplets of sweat are visible on the perfectly chiseled features of his face. The hems of his robe by his chest are also drenched in sweat but this only added to his overwhelming charisma - giving off a wet look. This man can be described as beautiful rather than handsome. Delicate rather than sturdy. Like a small flower that is extremely fragile to the breeze and rain. This man is strenuous rather than graceful.
"Y-Your Majesty, Please spare me!" Xu Zhengming stutters and his knees trembling. Yes, he is prideful but he knows very well that aside from his good looks he has nothing to be proud of. The emperor's phoenix eyes seem burning as the flame on his talisman reflects its radiance. He narrows his eyes as he looks down at the shorter man. This scene looks like a vicious predator is calculating how many times will it chew the pitiful trembling prey before it goes down to its stomach. Seeing this look on his majesty's face, Xu Zhengming kowtowed on the ground. His head is only a few centimeters away from the emperor's feet. "This... this lowly one greatly offended your majesty. I... I deserve death." Of course, Mingming doesn't mean any of it. He might have 'unintentionally' sexually harassed him but he thought, the emperor will not kill him for that offense... right? He must be reasonable, right?! It took the emperor a long time befo
"Pffft..." His majesty tried his best not to laugh. His identity is revealed to this beau so he has to maintain his composure. Seeing this, Xu Zhengming caught this and can't help but frown. "The concubines truly believed that you, a mere little eunuch, could seduce me? Ridiculous!" The emperor's voice still has a trace of suppressed laughter. "Would I be able to seduce his majesty if I am older then?" Xu Zhengming let out a rhetorical question with a displeased tone. Rude as it seems, luckily, the emperor didn't bother to give it much of a thought and changed the subject. "But what I found more... 'amusing' is that..." He clearly emphasized the word 'amusing'. It's more like the emperor used the word instead of "funny" to spare the little eunuch's face. "You didn't know that your rod will be removed to set your journey to become a eunuch? Pfft... Hahahaha." The emperor couldn't hold it any further and laughed out loud. Xu Zhengming's face turned red out of e
"Your majesty, her highness Princess Yin Xiulan has come." The court lady outside the hall announced loud and clear. "Come in." He answered. The doors of the hall slid open and the princess general walks in with her chin up. Although she's the first princess of the eighth generation of the dynasty, she isn't wearing an elegant and luxurious hanfu nor headgears or headdress made up of expensive materials. Instead, she only wears her usual pink tai chi-fu, and a jade hairpin to keep her long hair into a bun. In her right hand, she holds her closed fan made up of bamboo and rice paper. But what she saw made her eyebrows twitch. The emperor and his newly hired eunuch are happily chatting as they have their morning meal. Xu Zhengming quickly put his chopsticks down and faced the princess with a bow. "I was wondering what took you so long, and so I came here personally. It turns out you are still having your pleasant meal... with your servan
"Where have you been?" The emperor asked his little eunuch with a serious tone. Xu Zhengming and Empress Xue Chi walked for quite a long time before finally settling in the imperial garden. Also, on his way back to the Lotus Hall, he can't avoid getting lost. His memory isn't bad but when it comes to direction, he has it hard to get back into the right path. When he reached the Lotus Hall, the discussion between the emperor and Princess Yin Xiulan was long through and so, he has to find his way again to his majesty's hall. He almost got drenched when a sudden rainfall started to wet the ground. By the time he arrived, the emperor is already having his lunch. Xu Zhengming couldn't help but unconsciously swallow his saliva as he stares at his majesty's luxurious meal. "Didn't court lady Han told you, your majesty?" His gaze is still at his majesty's dish. The emperor played his chopsticks saying, "She did. She informed me that you went to a walk
"I appointed a eunuch to serve me and assist me to lighten up my burden as the emperor." His majesty whispered to himself annoyingly as he looks at the sleeping Xu Zhengming. His complexion is pale and his temperature is quite high. He got a fever.The emperor whispered to himself once again. "But it seems you just add up to my burden."He picks the nearly dried towel and soaked it in a lukewarm basin of water. He then squeezed it to remove the excess water then put it on the little eunuch's burning hot forehead.The court lady informed him that he was found lying on the emperor's bed a few hours ago when they are still away from the palace. She was about to nag him and drag him out of the bed but she found out that he got a really high fever. The court lady felt bad for making him leave the bed, and so she did not wake him up. In exchange, she couldn't stop apologizing to the emperor as she weeps."Your majesty..." The court lady is still swallowing her
Loneliness and sighs Is this the wisdom's price? Like a bird in a cage Shouldn't I be on stage? I felt being held back I can only blame my bad luck Under this willow tree Only here I am free. Yin Wenyan's lips form a slight smile after rereading the poem for who knows how many times already. He himself has lost count on it. This is the first poem that he got to record in a book. This poem was composed by the sixteen-year-old Xu Zhengming when he was still studying in the imperial academy. At that time, the long-lost royal siblings just got returned to the imperial palace. As early as then, Yin Wenyan already threw away his identity and became his twin brother's double. That's the will of the Grand Empress Dowager and they cannot possibly contradict it. They simply don't have the power yet His life at that time isn't too diffe