HMAM CH 64 Cherish Your Beauty
By mid-May, the days grew longer and the summer cicadas in the imperial garden began to chirp loudly. Taking advantage of Jing Ye's nap, Ye Mao instructed several little eunuchs to use long poles to remove the cicadas that were singing on the trees.
“Come over a bit, right there—ai!” Ye Mao slapped his apprentice on the head, “You’re so clumsy; how can I rely on you to serve His Majesty?”
The little eunuch scratched his head and smiled awkwardly, “His Majesty will wake up soon from his nap. It’s hot outside; Teacher should go in and serve His Majesty while we stay here.”
Ye Mao gave him a knock on the head: “Instead of learning how to serve properly, you just know how to act cute.” After saying that, he flicked his whisk and intended to enter the sleeping chamber.
Just as he was about to turn around, he suddenly saw the little eunuch responsible for delivering messages rush in, saying, “Teacher, General Li Tingqiu has sent word that there’s been a great victory in the north! The army is already on its way back to the capital!”
Ye Mao was both surprised and delighted, saying, “What a rare piece of good news!” He instructed the little eunuchs to wait, and then entered the hall to find Jing Ye already sitting up from the couch, slowly adjusting his clothing as he prepared to rise.
Ye Mao stepped forward with a smile, saying, “This servant brings good news to Your Majesty! General Li has won a great victory, and the northern campaigns have achieved significant success. The soldiers are now on their way back in triumph!”
Upon hearing this, Jing Ye was momentarily startled, then smiled and replied, “It was only a matter of time, just a little earlier than zhen expected.”
Ye Mao hurriedly said, “General Li is a capable commander; Your Majesty has gained a good general, which is indeed a great joy.”
Jing Ye couldn’t help but chuckle, “You have a way with words.”
Ye Mao bent down slightly, “Just a clumsy servant trying to make His Majesty happy.”
In the afternoon, Jing Ye met with the military officer who had come to deliver the news in the imperial study. The officer presented a memorial written in Li Tingqiu's own hand. After receiving his rewards, he withdrew.
Jing Ye glanced through the memorial—at the beginning were the usual praises and reports of the military situation. Li Tingqiu, being a candidate of the inertial examination with the highest honors, naturally wrote well, but the concluding remarks were brief and left him feeling puzzled.
After returning to the personal quarters from the imperial study and having dinner, Jing Ye mentioned the matter to Gu Hong.
Gu Hong paused while serving tea and asked, “Did he ask for Your Majesty to allow him to stay and guard the imperial city?”
“He said this battle has weakened the Xirong, and with the Wuhuan growing stronger, the border conflicts have stabilized. He requests that zhen allow him to stay in the capital and continue in his position as captain of the imperial guards.” Jing Ye sighed, feeling perplexed. “Is it that the rewards zhen have given are not satisfactory? Bixue City is a crucial stronghold on the border; isn’t it his lifelong aspiration to utilize his talents there?”
Gu Hong's eyes sparkled as he smiled softly, “Humans are often insatiable.”
“Insatiable?” Jing Ye repeated. In exchange for a position of captain in the Yulin Army, he gives up a position as a city lord. What has he truly gained or lost?
Gu Hong smiled knowingly. Once people gain titles and military achievements, they will crave trust and want to be stationed in important places. Once they have the trust to command a northern expedition against the Xirong, they will also desire the heart.
But alas, the human heart is the hardest to comprehend, especially that of an emperor.
Gu Hong took Jing Ye's fingertips into his hand. On this hot day, Jing Ye's fingers felt cold to the touch. He couldn’t help but ask, “Have you been sleeping well at night lately?”
Jing Ye rolled his eyes, “You don't know how I sleep at night?”
Gu Hong replied, “Last night, when this subject was awakened in the middle of the night, this subject saw that you hadn’t yet gone to sleep.”
Jing Ye finally flushed. Ugh, it was the fault of that beast, Lu Baizang!
As the summer heat intensified, the several of them sharing a bed at night often ended up brushing against each other. Moreover, with Jing Ye not having any particular ailments, a few playful touches from someone would lead to a couple of indulgences that he would accidentally let happen.
As a result, the emperor found himself with a sore back and feeling drowsy during the day.
Thinking of this, Jing Ye put on a stern expression and said, “It’s extremely hot in the summer; it’s uncomfortable for several of us to squeeze onto one bed. You all ought to return to your respective palaces to rest.”
Gu Hong raised an eyebrow, “Your Majesty is serious?”
Jing Ye replied, “Of… of course… zhen is serious.”
Gu Hong took a sip of tea, his eyes curved into a smile, “With Your Majesty’s decree, this subject would not dare disobey. As long as Your Majesty has instructed Xiao Sheng and Villa Master Lu to comply, this subject shall return to my palace at the appointed hour tonight.”
Jing Ye perked up, “This is what you said.”
Gu Hong narrowed his eyes and said with a soft chuckle, “Yes, indeed.”
Jing Ye began to ponder to himself. Though having a beauty by one's side every night brought joy, it was not as enjoyable when the “beauty” was him.
As night approached and the lights were about to go out, the palace attendants all withdrew. Lin Xiaosheng sat beside Jing Ye and leaned over to kiss his lips.
Jing Ye allowed him to kiss him, breath uneven, and then retreated slightly, saying, “Zhen is tired.”
Lin Xiaosheng moved closer and asked, “Shall this subject serve you, Your Majesty?”
Jing Ye cleared his throat, grasped the hand that was moving toward his waist, and smiled, “It’s extremely hot in the summer; it’s stifling when we all gather together. Why don’t you return to your palace to sleep?”
Lin Xiaosheng raised an eyebrow and observed Lu Baizang wrapping his arms around Jing Ye from behind, lowering his eyes and saying, “Has Your Majesty grown weary of us?”
Jing Ye was typically the type to buckle under soft pressure. Seeing his beautiful companion posing in a pitiful way made his heart melt, “Well… it has been too hot these past few nights; zhen hasn’t had a proper sleep…”
Lu Baizang lightly bit down on Jing Ye’s delicate neck, and his hands began to wander unapologetically over Jing Ye's chest and abdomen, speaking in an exaggeratedly jealous tone, “Lord Lin seems unaware that a letter came from the north, stating Li Tingqiu is coming back to the capital and requesting that His Majesty permit him to stay. Hmph! It's understandable that the new favorite who has been gone for several months would be more appealing than us old ones.”
Jing Ye exclaimed angrily, “What nonsense! I just want to get some sleep! Ah!”
It turned out Lu Baizang had pinched him in a particularly sensitive place, and Jing Ye exclaimed, “You treasonous and disrespectful… mmm!”
Lin Xiaosheng kissed his mouth, while the usually quiet Gu Hong also darkened his gaze, his fingers entwining within the emperor’s flowing hair.
The next day during the morning court, Ye Mao addressed the waiting officials, saying, “His Majesty suffered from the heat last night and is now bedridden. Morning court is canceled today; please return.”
The officials dispersed in groups, murmuring along the way, “The weather has just started to get hot, and already His Majesty’s health is a concern. The imperial hospital has a heavy burden ahead.”
Meanwhile, Jing Ye lay on the soft couch. The incense burner still smoldered with calming and invigorating scents, and after reading through a few memorials, he felt drowsy, stuck in a half-dream state, indignantly grinding his teeth.
Jing Xiao Yun ran in, holding a wooden horse that he had snatched from Lin Dun. “Uncle! The palace maid said I’ve grown taller!”
Jing Ye responded lazily, “En, good.”
Feeling dissatisfied with such a perfunctory reply, Jing Xiao Yun tossed the wooden horse aside, climbed onto the soft couch, and plopped onto Jing Ye’s waist. “Uncle! I’m so tall now!”
Jing Ye exclaimed, “！！！！”
Lu Baizang followed in, and upon seeing this, he hurried over and lifted Jing Xiao Yun by the scruff, “Little rascal! Where are you sitting?”
Jing Ye moved awkwardly, “Zhen's waist…”
Lu Baizang hastily set him down and sat beside Jing Ye, asking, “What’s wrong? Is it painful?”
Jing Ye pressed his face against the soft pillow, unable to show his expression. Lu Baizang couldn’t help but turn his face gently, whispering, “Are you hurt?”
His fingertips grazed a bit of moisture, and Lu Baizang hesitated, leaning in closer to take a look. He discovered that the emperor had indeed been hurt in a critical area, and surprisingly, tears welled in his eyes.
Just a couple of physiological tears hung from the young man’s long eyelashes, trembling like leaves, stirring a twinge in Lu Baizang’s heart. Unable to resist, he leaned forward and kissed away the tears, murmuring, “My dear Majesty, you’re so lovely; it breaks my heart to see you cry.”
Jing Ye: “…”
Despite being the emperor, bound to act within reason and decorum, he couldn’t help but squeeze Lu Baizang’s hand that was trailing down his waist, then kicked him off the couch, “Get out!”
The Wuhuan envoy finally came to bid farewell to Jing Ye, and the chosen noble lady for marriage was confirmed to be Yang Yuying.
At the farewell, the Noble Consort Xiang also arrived, standing under the vermillion steps of the Guangling Palace with hands clasped quietly. The envoy knelt on one knee before her, performing a bow toward the hem of her dress while her attendants behind her recited silently.
Minister Yang, with his wife and daughter, stood to one side. Madam Yang, in tears, relinquished her daughter to the Wuhuan maidservants. When it was time for parting, she was utterly heartbroken.
Jing Ye felt a pang of discomfort watching this scene, yet he patiently waited for the mother and daughter to finish their farewells before Yang Yuying stepped forward with her maid to express her gratitude.
Jing Ye said, “From now on, you are zhen's own sister. Zhen's princess may marry far away from the borders, but zhen will never allow others to bully you.”
Although Yang Yuying's eyes were filled with tears, she remained composed and replied, “What Your Majesty said, Yu Ying will always remember.”
Jing Ye recalled the wishes of those young ladies he had seen in the imperial garden, noting that only Yang Yuying had inscribed the wish, “Cherish your beauty.” Rather than a wish, it reflected her attitude toward the “will of heaven”.
“Cherish your beauty, go with the flow,” neither bending to the prevailing winds nor shouting to overturn everything.
Such a woman should be able to survive anywhere.
Watching the procession exit the palace from the jade steps, Ye Mao stepped forward at the right moment, saying, “Your Majesty, standing in the scorching sun for too long could lead to illness. It would be better to return to your chamber to rest.”
Jing Ye replied, “En.” As he turned, he caught sight of the Noble Consort Xiang quietly standing to one side. The eyes of this woman unexpectedly reminded him of a blade, sharp as autumn water and intensely beautiful, yet indescribable.
Being stared at so openly by her made Jing Ye uncharacteristically awkward, “Consort Xiang, you’ve also worked hard; please return to your palace to rest.”
The other withdrew her gaze, lowered her long lashes, and silently bowed before departing. Only then did Jing Ye realize that since their first meeting, he had never heard this Wuhuan princess utter a single word.
Could it be shyness? Jing Ye recalled her earlier unabashed gaze and shivered for no reason.