HMAM CH 65 Gesha
By the end of May, the three armies returned in triumph, and General Li Tingqiu led his troops to pay homage. Jing Ye stood at the top of the high steps of the Taihe Hall and saw the young general, draped in a bright crimson cloak, riding his horse to a halt at the palace gate. He passed through the imposing imperial guards and other officials, and slowly walked up the steps.
It was another bright sunny day, and in the blink of an eye, the general had approached, kneeling on one knee and calling out, “Your Majesty.”
Jing Ye hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, his palm lightly touching the sun-warmed elbow guard. He felt a momentary tremor in Li Tingqiu's body, and for some reason, an image of the young general, weakly lying in bed with furrowed brows and an eager expression, floated to mind.
Bah, bah, bah. Jing Ye scolded himself in his heart. It must be that Li Tingqiu was too severely injured, leading to confusion in his thinking; all that strength, that kiss, that confession—he had forgotten everything!
As Li Tingqiu got to his feet, he bit his lip and looked at Jing Ye. The young general was as handsome as before, but the toll of continuous battles had added a severity to his features. The stuffiness he had previously exhibited while trapped in the palace was completely gone, replaced by a newfound composure and determination.
Jing Ye smiled and said, “Zhen was certain you would achieve a great victory, but zhen didn’t expect it to be concluded so swiftly. When the envoy came to report, zhen was taken aback as well.”
Seeing Jing Ye happy, Li Tingqiu also smiled slightly and replied, “Your Majesty, day and night, all this subject thought about was to return victorious and see Your Majesty as soon as possible.”
Jing Ye, not fully comprehending the deeper meaning behind those words, flicked his sleeve and turned around, saying brightly, “Come with zhen to the hall to receive your rewards, General Li.”
In the evening, Jing Ye hosted a banquet in the palace, seating Li Tingqiu at the lower right end of the table. To the left, he arranged a table for the Noble Consort Xiang.
The dancing girls were alluring, but unfortunately, the audience was distracted. Li Tingqiu took a small sip of wine, listening to two ministers chatting behind him.
“The Empress has long resided in Chengying Pavilion, and it seems the Noble Consort Xiang is favored by His Majesty.”
“Isn’t that right? The Wuhuan women are skilled dancers, especially since she's a princess. The moment His Majesty took a liking to her in Guangling Palace, he immediately moved her into Fengyang Palace and conferred the title of Noble Consort Xiang on the same night.”
“It’s a pity she's from a foreign tribe; no matter how favored, she can never compare to the Empress…”
A eunuch called out sharply, “The Noble Consort Xiang has arrived!”
The ministers hastily put down their cups and rose to welcome the foreign princess into the palace, seating her beside the emperor.
Li Tingqiu raised his eyes to examine her tall frame and the outline obscured by the veil, causing him to frown involuntarily.
The Noble Consort Xiang bowed to Jing Ye, who nodded and said, “Rise and take your seat.”
She complied, dressed in a white robe that was indistinguishable in gender, her long black hair held up high with a jeweled crown. She stepped onto the stairs and sat at the designated food table.
As she took her seat, the Noble Consort Xiang seemingly glanced at Li Tingqiu, and his frown deepened.
Halfway through the banquet, Jing Ye instructed the ministers to make themselves comfortable and departed the palace, stepping onto the imperial sedan. After walking a few steps, the sedan suddenly halted.
He opened his eyes and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Ye Mao cautiously replied, “Your Majesty, General Li is waiting ahead.”
Jing Ye was taken aback and motioned for the attendants to lower the imperial sedan. Upon standing, he indeed saw Li Tingqiu waiting at the palace gate, with palace lanterns casting a soft glow on his face through the sheer fabric.
Jing Ye walked over, and as the attendants parted to the sides, Li Tingqiu saluted, saying, “This subject is reckless and has disturbed Your Majesty's imperial sedan; I hope for Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”
Jing Ye smiled and replied, “Today is meant to celebrate your achievements; how could zhen blame you?” He lowered his gaze, “Are you waiting here because you have something to say?”
Li Tingqiu stated directly, “Your Majesty, have you had a chance to read the requests in this subject's memorial?”
Jing Ye tucked away his smile and replied, “Yes, zhen saw it.”
Li Tingqiu lowered his head and bowed again, “This subject earnestly requests that Your Majesty grant my petition.”
Jing Ye looked at him and said, “Raise your head.”
Li Tingqiu lifted his head and met the emperor's gentle gaze. Jing Ye stepped closer, locking his eyes on Li Tingqiu’s and almost accusingly asked, “Li Tingqiu, are you toying with zhen?”
Li Tingqiu immediately knelt on one knee and answered, “This subject dares not.”
Jing Ye replied, “Dare not? Zhen trust you with the border regions and key strongholds, and now you want to return to the capital to be a captain of the imperial guards? Do you treat zhen's decrees as a joke? Zhen sees you want a taste of the dungeons!”
Li Tingqiu remained silent. He had shed his armor and was now clad in official robes with purple gauze flowing over it. Under the warming palace lanterns, he seemed to revert to that elegant scholar who had once been a handsome tanhua.
Jing Ye put on a serious front, swung his sleeve, and quickly passed through the palace gates. Ye Mao led the attendants, bustling after him, and as they passed by the still-kneeling Li Tingqiu, he whispered, “General Li, kneeling here is of no use; you have to follow along. His Majesty has a soft heart; if you nag a bit longer, he will grant everything.”
If Jing Ye were to overhear that, Ye Mao guessed he would be eating vegetarian meals for the next six months.
Jing Ye moved forward while the attendants followed him, carrying the sedan. The summer night was muggy, and thin beads of sweat appeared on his body. As he turned back to enter the sedan, he noticed Li Tingqiu standing beside it, with palace lanterns reflecting a soft glow in his eyes.
Jing Ye's heart skipped a beat.
He said, “You…”
“Your Majesty.”
Jing Ye turned to see a Wuhuan maid rushing in, kneeling before him and saying, “Niangniang has just returned from the banquet and, for some reason, fainted. This servant beseech Your Majesty to take a look.”
The matters had collided together.
Concerns regarding the safety of the Noble Consort Xiang were tied to the goodwill between their two nations, and Jing Ye could not ignore it. He told the maid, “Get up and lead the way.” Then he turned to Li Tingqiu and said, “You… wait here while zhen checks on Consort Xiang.”
When they arrived at Fengyang Palace, the attendants all came out to pay their respects. Jing Ye waited outside the inner hall and called, “Where is the imperial physician?”
Two of the Noble Consort Xiang's personal maids knelt and replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, the imperial physician has already been sent for, but niangniang remains unconscious. We humbly ask for Your Majesty to go inside and take a look.”
Jing Ye frowned and stepped past the maids into the hall. Just as Ye Mao attempted to follow, the two maids blocked his way, saying, “It wouldn’t be convenient for you to enter, gonggong. Perhaps you’d better stay outside with us sisters.”
The palace had a great many pavilions and corridors, but none were as exquisitely adorned as Fengyang Palace.
Jing Ye stepped inside, walking on white jade stone slabs engraved with lotus patterns. He turned past twelve silk screens featuring flowers and birds and recalled that they were one of the rewards presented when he conferred the title upon the consort. He saw a figure lying on a couch within the gauzy enclosure.
Feeling somewhat awkward, Jing Ye cleared his throat lightly and approached slowly, calling gently, “Consort Xiang?”
There was still silence within the curtains, and Jing Ye frowned as he finally pulled back the curtain to reveal the sleeping figure.
The young lady was quietly leaning against a jade pillow, seemingly in deep slumber.
Jing Ye had never seen her face; as a Wuhuan princess, she had always worn a veil due to her cultural customs. Now, upon closer inspection, he noticed her long eyelashes gently curling, her skin as pale as snow, and her elegant features—one could imagine how deeply affectionate her gaze would be if her eyes opened to meet another's.
Yet, perhaps due to her foreign heritage, her silhouette had a somewhat more heroic and bold quality, lacking a bit of softness.
But none of that concerned him. Jing Ye thought to himself that no matter how heroic, she was still a woman… a woman?
Jing Ye paused; the Noble Consort Xiang's inner garment was open, and within her disheveled robe was not something he dared not look at, but rather a flat…
His Majesty the Emperor could no longer contain himself and poked at it gently.
Jing Ye: “…”
A long, slender hand reached out to grasp his, “Your Majesty, you’re making Gesha very ticklish.”
Jing Ye twitched and withdrew his hand, pointing at the now-awake young man, “You! You, you, you…”
The young man’s eyes curved into crescents, his robe still open, and he came closer to grab Jing Ye’s hand and kiss it, “Call me Gesha, Your Majesty. I don’t like ‘Consort Xiang.’”
Jing Ye inhaled sharply, “Zhen heard that the Wuhuan King has only one younger sister.”
“The Han people often say that hearsay is not to be trusted.” The young man playfully licked the tip of Jing Ye's finger, sending a wave of tingling sensation through him. Jing Ye quickly withdrew his finger but found himself pressed back against the couch by the young man.
“Addu (Wuhuan language for brother) says that the Emperor of Han likes handsome men.” The young man’s fingers were delicate yet his frame was solid, with his nose gently brushing against Jing Ye’s neck. His hands wandered to Jing Ye’s waist and abdomen, pulling at his belt, slithering downward. “Although Gesha is still yet to have a coming of age ceremony, I learned a lot from the elders in the tribe before I left; I’m sure Your Majesty will like it.”
Jing Ye attempted to shove him away, but his hands were bound by the young man. Soon after, those soft lips landed on his.
Jing Ye found himself unable to escape and gradually relaxed his body; his tongue ventured into the boy’s mouth, teasingly exploring. Clearly, the young man had never “consulted” anyone on this matter, and Jing Ye had him gasping for breath, inadvertently loosening his grip and cradling Jing Ye’s head to demand more.
Seizing that moment, Jing Ye rolled over, knocking over a decorative porcelain vase at the edge of the couch, which fell to the ground with a clatter.
Now it was Jing Ye who found himself on top of the young man, gripping his chin, “How old are you, little brother of the Wuhuan King? Fifteen? Sixteen?”
The young man gazed up at him, a slight blush creeping onto his cheeks, like white snow touched by the light of dawn.
Behind the screen, there was a flurry of footsteps as Li Tingqiu and Ye Mao hurried in, calling out, “Your Majesty! Is there…?”
The sentence was abruptly cut off.
Jing Ye’s body stiffened.
Beside him, Ye Mao glanced at Jing Ye’s disheveled hair and open robe, as well as “Consort Xiang” whose chest was exposed—he covered his face, unable to look further.