HMAM CH 68 Morning After
After a scare, Jing Ye waved his hand and ordered Ye Mao to send the imperial physician, who had been on his way, back.
Ye Mao complied and left. When he returned, he saw Jing Ye still standing by the couch, lost in thought. He cautiously approached and asked, “Your Majesty, shall this servant have someone send Lord Feng back to the library?”
Jing Ye pressed his temples, feeling a headache coming on, and said, “No need. Just have the palace maids bring a light blanket for him to cover up with. In the morning, once he wakes, tell him to return to the library by himself.”
Ye Mao replied, “Understood.” Although his tone was official, there was a hint of regret in it.
Jing Ye raised an eyebrow, and Ye Gonggong immediately went to carry out the instruction.
Jing Ye stood by the soft couch for a while longer, glancing at the person lying there, completely unaware in their sleep. He let out a soft sigh and turned back to the sleeping quarters.
The next morning.
“Lord Feng?”
The sunlight streamed brightly through the paper window and fell on the face of the hungover Feng Ling, who blinked awake, feeling as if his head would split open.
He turned towards the source of the voice, and as the figure before him came into focus, he realized it was a pretty palace maid. Seeing him awake, she bowed slightly and said, “This servant has been sent by His Majesty to assist Lord Feng in washing up.”
His Majesty… His Majesty?!
Feng Ling suddenly sat up, looking around. The hibiscus cushions and the pine-jacquard curtains were furnished with nothing but precious items, completely incomparable to the cold and desolate library he was used to.
He strained to recall what had happened the night before, but his aching head made it difficult, so he pressed his temples in frustration.
The palace maids were all seasoned attendants to Jing Ye and speculated about the several gongzi around the emperor. Lin Gongzi, with his ethereal demeanor; Gu Gongzi, with his calm elegance; and Villa Master Lu, with his carefree charm. They had yet to see a gentleman as upright and refined as Lord Feng receiving such special treatment, so they predicted he might also be among them in the future. Therefore, they remained respectful and orderly, not daring to gossip, only saying, “Lord Feng, will you be getting up to wash? The hangover medicine is prepared.”
Feng Ling sat there in a daze. He finally managed to pull a few threads from his tangled memories—he had gotten drunk and done something he had always wanted to do, but he had left it unfinished, just shy of completing it—
Feng Ling closed his eyes, still feeling the buzzing headache, and his heart was filled with mixed emotions.
Feelings that had been trapped inside for too long turned into sharp needles, incessantly pricking at his heart and making it ache, more tormenting than any sudden physical pain.
The keen-witted palace maid noticed Feng Ling had fallen silent, seemingly suffering from a terrible headache, and quietly instructed her companions, “Go tell His Majesty that Lord Feng is feeling unwell from his hangover and ask if His Majesty wishes to summon the physician.”
One of them quickly left to report back.
Feng Ling snapped back to reality, throwing off the thin blanket to get up and saying to the palace maid, “Thank you for your trouble.”
The maid smiled gently, saying, “My lord, please come sit here so these two servants can help you wash up.”
A young palace maid brought a set of blue robes for Feng Ling to change into, helped him fasten a jade crown, and after he had washed up, the servant returned and reported, “His Majesty has summoned the physician; and asks Lord Feng to go and see him.”
Feng Ling then followed the palace maid towards Jing Ye's sleeping quarters, when they happened to run into another visitor.
On the stone steps of the courtyard stood Gesha, veiled and flanked by two Wuhuan maidservants. He was new to the capital and, still adjusting to the environment, was slightly thin, making it hard to tell his gender at first glance, although he was indeed tall.
Seeing someone dressed in a way that was neither masculine nor feminine and different from the usual palace consorts, Feng Ling had figured out who it was. The palace maid leading him quickly curtsied and announced, “Greetings to niangniang.”
Feng Ling promptly returned the greeting with a clasped hand gesture, standing respectfully with his head lowered as he said nothing further.
However, Gesha was not bound by such formalities. He looked Feng Ling up and down curiously, while one of his maidservants, understanding her master’s intent, stepped forward with a slight curtsy and smiled, “This gongzi looks quite familiar; may we ask which part of the palace Gongzi belongs to? We would like to pay our respects.”
Feng Ling was taken aback, realizing that they were mistaking him for a male consort. Just as he was about to explain, feeling awkward, the guiding palace maid quickly interjected, “This is Lord Feng of Hanlin Academy serving His Majesty. He was summoned by His Majesty last night, and due to the late hour, he was permitted to stay in the side room.”
Gesha squinted his eyes; although he was a Wuhuan, he was well aware of the strict rules and etiquette of the Central Plains court. It was a grave offense to intrude or spend the night in the emperor's chambers. The palace maid’s words seemed too nonchalant for such a serious matter.
Lord Feng. Gesha snorted, turned, and ascended the steps, entering the hall directly.
The palace maid sighed and said to Feng Ling, “Please, my lord, let’s go inside to pay our respects.”
Jing Ye had just finished the morning court session and was speaking with Jing Yun and Zhao Yue while holding a cup of tea, when he looked up and saw Gesha and Feng Ling entering one after the other to pay their respects. Seeing that they had bumped into each other, he set down his teacup and said to Gesha, “Ai fei has suffered coming to pay respects under the hot sun; you should go to the back and rest for a while.” (TN: like ai qing used to address ministers, ai fei is used to address consorts in the harem)
As he spoke, he gave Jing Yun a pat on the head, saying, “Yun'er, why don’t you take your younger brother and Consort Xiang to the back to play?”
Jing Yun obediently hopped off his uncle’s knee and tugged at Gesha’s sleeve, saying, “Xiang liangliang.”
Gesha looked down at the future crown prince, seeing that Jing Xiao Yun had gotten pastry crumbs all over his “Xiang liangliang”’s sleeve. The fabric was softly embroidered, cool to the touch, a rarity even in the palace, gifted to him during his consort ceremony.
Jing Xiao Yun also noticed how pleasant the fabric felt and rubbed it a few times, causing the entire sleeve edge to become messy.
Gesha’s expression stiffened. He had grown accustomed to the dry heat of the frontier and could not tolerate the capital's sweltering conditions, so he loved wearing his few pieces of soft silk clothing. Now if they were soiled by Jing Xiao Yun, he would have no replacements, so he stretched out his long arm and lifted the little one entirely, letting him sit on his arm.
Jing Xiao Yun’s weight was quite hefty now, and the palace maids had stopped daring to hold him for fear of dropping the precious prince. Gesha, holding him like a little chick, performed an awkward bow towards Jing Ye before strolling deeper into the palace.
Jing Xiao Yun wriggled around in Gesha’s embrace, but upon being given a stern look from Gesha, he immediately nestled into Consort Xiang’s embrace, looking quite pitiful.
Gesha held the soft little child, leaned down to sniff, and indeed, it seemed the resemblance of uncle and nephew extended even to their scents.
Once the hall was left with only Jing Ye, Feng Ling, and the physician—who was making himself look as still as a statue—Jing Ye addressed the physician, saying, “Take a look.” He then said to Feng Ling, “You sit.”
The physician stepped forward on small, rapid steps, producing a soft cushion, checking Feng Ling's pulse and complexion. Turning back, he reported, “Your Majesty, it is not unlike common drunkenness. The headache is typical. This subject has a pill that can cure headaches post-drinking; take one, rest for a bit, and one will feel better.”
Jing Ye nodded and said, “Give the pills to Ye Mao; you may retire.”
The physician exhaled with relief and quickly exited, thinking how challenging it was to examine the future favorite in front of the emperor.
Thus, only Jing Ye and Feng Ling remained in the hall, with the palace maids and Ye Gonggong dutifully observing, acting as wallflowers.
Jing Ye asked, “Does your head still hurt?”
Feng Ling quickly clasped his hands and replied, “It is much better now.”
Jing Ye said, “Oh, that’s good.”
“…”
Ye Gonggong and the others: “…”
After a long while, Jing Ye spoke, “Hangovers are bad for your health, Feng Qing. As a Hanlin scholar, it is wise to exercise moderation.”
This statement carried a hint of reproach, and Feng Ling hurriedly knelt and apologized, saying, “This subject offended Your Majesty last night; this subject is willing to accept any punishment and hopes Your Majesty will quell your anger.”
Jing Ye lowered his gaze and replied, “En, do not let it happen again. Take the pills and leave.”
Feng Ling was taken aback for a moment, closed his eyes, and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty… this subject will take my leave.”
Once Feng Ling left, Jing Ye stood up, and Ye Mao quickly asked, “Your Majesty, will you be going hunting today?”
Jing Ye shook his head, turning to walk further inside.
Upon entering the inner chamber, he found palace maids attending while Jing Yun and Gesha sat on the ground assembling a small bamboo house.
Jing Yun was constructing the roof while looking around and said, “Where did the small table go?”
Gesha furrowed his brow, placing a bamboo table no bigger than the palm of his hand into the little boy’s outstretched hands.
Jing Yun muttered, “We need a big bed.”
Gesha placed the bamboo bed he had assembled onto the floor.
Jing Ye motioned for the palace maids to remain silent and smiled as he watched the two worked for a while. Finally, he called out, “Yun'er.”
Jing Yun looked up at Jing Ye and exclaimed, “Uncle!”
Gesha also stood up and bowed, but it seemed the court ladies of Fengyang Palace responsible for teaching etiquette were not doing their job.
Jing Ye shook his head and said, “These etiquette rules among the palace women are rather troublesome for you. In the future, just greet zhen as my subjects do, with a clasped hand gesture.”
Gesha appeared to breathe a sigh of relief.
Jing Ye picked up Jing Yun and weighed him. “Yun'er, is Consort Xiang good-looking?”
Jing Yun glanced back at Gesha, then buried his head into Jing Ye’s embrace and said, “Uncle Gu is the most good-looking.”
Gesha: “…”
Jing Ye laughed aloud, while Gesha huffed. Jing Ye then asked, “Did you come here for something?”
Gesha, clasped his hands awkwardly, said, “This consort wishes to go hunting.”
Jing Ye was taken aback, thought for a moment, and smiled, “That makes sense. Having grown up on the frontier, it is natural to feel constrained within the palace. Very well, there will be a hunting outing tomorrow; you can accompany zhen.”
Gesha's eyes brightened, and he clasped his hands again, saying, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”