Chapter 107: The 107th Episode

Chapter 107: One Hundred and Seventh Return

The imperial prison was thick with pestilent miasma, and though Lian Xiusheng was eager to see Lian Cheng and speak with him, he still returned first to his own palace quarters to scrub himself down and change into clean clothes before hurrying over.

The Empress Dowager and others were already present, tears streaming down their faces, with the whole room full of palace attendants knelt on the floor. When Lian Xiusheng arrived, what he saw was the other man dressed in a snow-white undergarment, going from attendant to attendant within the hall, helping them rise, saying, "No need to kneel to me. From now on, no one has to kneel in the palace anymore."

Though the mortal world is full of sorrowful faces, at last the bright moon deigns to shine.

There were too many attendants for Lian Cheng to personally help them all up; he only managed to pull up the first few. Before he could say anything more to the crowd, he heard Eunuch Cui flicked his horsetail whisk and announce, "Your Majesty, the Grand Secretary has arrived."

Grand Secretary? Which Grand Secretary? Lian Cheng turned around, assuming the newcomer was some old codger from the court, and had already slapped a fake smile on his face. But after turning, his expression abruptly froze. Beneath the glazed tiles of the bedchamber, atop the ten-thousand-layered white jade steps, stood Lian Xiusheng in a tea-colored gauze Daoist robe patterned with dark four-direction ruyi motifs, looking like a transcendent immortal—though he seemed to have lost a lot of weight.

This guy was basically his first love, and seeing his first love naturally delighted Lian Cheng. He hurried toward the newcomer, and when he stood before him, he took the initiative to spin around once, saying, "See, your big brother's all better now."

Then he punched Lian Xiusheng lightly in the arm. "Haven't seen you in a few days, and you're already a Grand Secretary. Not bad at all."

Lian Xiusheng glanced at the crowd within the hall, took two steps back, and knelt before Lian Cheng, prostrating himself in full obeisance before saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty. May your dragon body be hale and hearty—this is the blessing of the state and of your subject."

Lian Cheng was taken aback for a moment, then gritted his teeth and helped the man to his feet, lowering his voice to say, "If the Grand Secretary insists on keeping things so black and white with me, then don't ever think about getting back in my dragon bed again."

Just then, Zhang Ailian called Lian Cheng back, pouring out all her motherly worries from this time. Lian Cheng had thought he'd only been unconscious for a few days, never imagining it had been more than half a year. He performed the great ceremonial bow to Zhang Ailian, but couldn't hold back for long before he started tugging at her clothes. "Mother, this ceremonial cape and this jeweled phoenix crown are truly beautiful."

Previously, Lian Cheng had been active outside the palace, and the Lian family's food, clothing, and lifestyle had already opened his eyes. Yet the palace attire was even more luxurious and eye-catching. At the same time, he couldn't help thinking that this Li Xi was truly lavish and wasteful.

Soon after, the director and deputy director of the Imperial Medical Institute hurried over. Lian Cheng had gotten in and out of bed a few times and already felt his body weakening. He leaned against the bed frame, too exhausted to speak, letting the group of people fuss over him.

"The sword wound from before healed long ago. Waking today means he is fully recovered," the director said with his head bowed. "However, His Majesty has been bedridden for several months, his vital spirit unmoored, his spleen and kidneys both weak, his meridians starved of nourishment, and his muscles have wasted away. He still needs abundant supplementation and long-term careful recuperation. I and the Imperial Medical Institute will carefully deliberate on a qi-supplementing prescription, and as long as you follow the prescription, all will be well."

Zhang Ailian sent Qiong Hua to go with the medical director, then turned back to look at Lian Cheng, saying, "The New Year is right around the corner, and I have much to attend to. Later, the three of us—mother and sons—can sit down and eat together, and have a good talk."

She was now extremely assured of Lian Xiusheng, and added, "You've got nothing to worry about. Rest for a few more months, and if anything comes up, have Xiusheng handle it. He's way more capable than you."

Lian Cheng looked at Zhang Ailian with puppy-dog eyes, expecting that most of the palace attendants would follow the Empress Dowager away. But as it turned out, his mother only took Qing Zhu and one other familiar face, leaving a big crowd in his chambers—which was super awkward.

"All of you, get out. I want to take a little nap." Lian Cheng lowered his voice and said. But just as he finished speaking, among the eunuchs, he spotted one he recognized. He called out to him, "Wei Xiaoyu!!!"

Wei Xiaoyu let out an "ai!" and hurried over. After paying his respects to Lian Cheng, he rose and said, "What instructions does Your Majesty have?" This Wei Xiaoyu was now dressed in eunuch's attire, yet not as a low-ranking eunuch—he wore a blue lined robe and a three-peaked hard hat, with a handsome face and an air that was neither fully good nor fully bad.

"You... you, you," Lian Cheng sat up straight. "Li Xi did this to you?!"

Wei Xiaoyu bowed at the waist and replied, "Back when Your Majesty first fell into a coma, this servant took a blade and took care of it myself. I then found the Grand Secretary and asked him to let me serve you in the Imperial Inner Court. I couldn't rest easy with anyone else."

Lian Cheng was stunned, his heart in turmoil. "You didn't have to do this for me..."

"Your Majesty, back then in the imperial prison, you pulled this servant up by the hand. To you, it was a small favor, but to this servant, it was a debt as vast as the heavens. There is nothing this servant would not do for you." Wei Xiaoyu said slowly, "Though Your Majesty is now a dragon soaring in the sky, you are also surrounded by hidden dangers. Among your close attendants, quite a few are spies planted by other factions. This servant is different from them—this servant's whole person belongs to Your Majesty. Let Your Majesty keep this servant by your side, and I will root them out one by one."

Lian Cheng remained silent for a long while. Lian Xiusheng took charge and had Wei Xiaoyu leave first. When only the sovereign and his brother remained in the chamber, Lian Xiusheng sat directly on the edge of Lian Cheng's couch.

"Supervisor Wei was a capable man over at the Imperial Horse Administration. Previously, spies would always infiltrate the Inner Court attempting to pry into your affairs, and Supervisor Wei caught every one of them."

Lian Cheng asked what happened then, how they were dealt with.

"Worse than death—not a single one survived," Lian Xiusheng said. "In these past two or three months, with his fearsome reputation, the Inner Court attendants have been considerably more well-behaved."

Lian Cheng nodded. "I just feel bad for him, that's all."

Lian Xiusheng squinted his eyes and asked him, "Third Lang, what about me then?"

The hairs on the back of Lian Cheng's neck stood on end at this question. In the past, whenever Lian Xiusheng called him by his full name, his heart would thump with nerves. But this time upon waking, it was the address of "Third Lang" that made him uneasy.

Yet on second thought—he was the emperor now. What couldn't an emperor do? Lian Xiusheng was being presumptuous this time. So Lian Cheng cleared his throat, planning to have a good heart-to-heart with Lian Xiusheng.

But just as Lian Cheng was about to speak, Lian Xiusheng pounced on him. His back sank into the soft bolster, and before he could react, his fingers were interlaced with the other's, his entire body nearly enveloped in the young Grand Secretary's embrace.

Lian Cheng's face flushed crimson as he squeezed out the word "presumptuous." Lian Xiusheng pecked at the other's lips, which had finally regained some warmth, and said, "Your Majesty, won't you call me Sixth Lang?"

Lian Cheng's eyelashes fluttered wildly, but his mouth refused to yield. "Why don't you call me Third Lang?"

"Third Lang, it's your turn."

"..."

Lian Cheng wouldn't say it, his face and neck burning red, and instead asked Lian Xiusheng whether he had been with someone before, since he was so adept at this.

Lian Xiusheng knew his body was still weak and worried about agitating him into fainting, so he stopped teasing and said, "My beloved Third Brother—there is nothing I would not say to you. Now that Third Brother rules over all under heaven, have you forgotten your original heart?"

"Your elder brother certainly has not." Lian Cheng hastily denied.

"Then why won't Third Brother call me Sixth Lang?" Lian Xiusheng pressed his nose against the other's. Third Brother had lain these many days, growing ever thinner and softer. He could not wait to kiss and caress him.

The corners of Lian Cheng's eyes already betrayed his desire, but his mouth remained stubborn. After another long standoff, he finally called out "Sixth Lang" in a voice as sweet as a warbling oriole.

Only after confirming their mutual affection did Lian Xiusheng take the other's lips between his own. The taste of medicinal broth still lingered in that mouth. He furrowed his brow slightly, then hooked the other's tongue, toying with it for a while, savoring the sweet saliva to the full.

The two of them carried on for quite some time—though it was mostly Lian Xiusheng playing the role of the wine-asking moon, teasing his elder brother as a younger brother might—but it was as intimate as lacquer and glue, as fish and water knowing each other.

They carried on until Lian Cheng's strength gave out and he grew drowsy. Only then did Lian Xiusheng release him, and before letting go, he couldn't resist taking a bite of the other's fair, fragrant chest. Lian Cheng was simply out of energy by then, letting the other do as he pleased, and went straight off to seek the Sandman.

-

Things were different from the Lian residence. Lian Xiusheng could no longer stay overnight, unless he were a consort. And even if he were a consort, if the emperor did not summon him, he would still have to leave.

Lian Cheng slept for a day and woke in the starry night. No one was around. He spread both hands, feeling left and right—empty. He sat up.

The moment he rose, a voice came from beside the couch. "Your Majesty, do you have any instructions?"

Lian Cheng was startled. He pulled open the bed curtain, poked his head out, and looked at the young eunuch outside. "What's your name?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this servant is Lai Qing."

Lian Cheng paused, then asked, "The previous prince had the character Qing in his name. How is it you're still called Lai Qing?"

"This servant wasn't originally called Lai Qing—I was Lai Xi. Lai Qing was a name given by my godfather. Because Prince Qing rebelled and raised arms, my godfather said we must never have another Prince Qing again."

"Prince Qing rebelled?" Lian Cheng couldn't believe it.

"It happened about half a month ago," Lai Qing said. "This matter was detected by my godfather, who reported it to Young Lord Lian and Eunuch Cui, and only thus was this great calamity averted."

"And what happened afterward?"

"Just a mob of rabble. The Grand Secretary shot Prince Qing dead on the spot, settling the matter. No one said anything about it." The hall was sparsely lit with lanterns at this hour. Only after finishing did Lai Qing dare to steal a glance at this new emperor. Calling him new, he had actually been on the throne for half a year already—it was just that the man had only just woken up, only just become aware of things.

The new emperor lying down was like a painting; when he rose, he was like a bird leaving its cage—eyebrows gathering like green mountains, eyes holding autumn waters, bright and clear, open and candid, with a natural three-part smile that made people feel joyful and endearing.

Lai Qing's words reminded Lian Cheng of something that had happened in the book. Perhaps it wasn't a book—perhaps it had truly happened before. Lian Xiusheng had once shot and killed Li Wan, and this time it had been replaced with Prince Qing.

Lian Xiusheng had never truly changed, Lian Cheng thought. If everything had been the ordeal of the two of them, then Prince Qing counted as Lian Xiusheng's student, and Prince Qing had once treated him with utmost respect and genuine devotion. Yet Lian Xiusheng still showed not a shred of mercy. Lian Cheng didn't blame him for it—he simply felt a chill.

After digesting this matter, Lian Cheng asked Lai Qing again, "Who is your godfather?"

"Supervisor Wei Xiaoyu of the Imperial Horse Administration." Lai Qing answered.

"..." Wei Xiaoyu had learned bad habits from this group of eunuchs—at such a young age, he was already taking on godchildren.

"I'm a bit thirsty, I'd like some tea," Lian Cheng said, trying to dismiss Lai Qing.

Lai Qing turned around, "Someone, bring tea."

"..." Lian Cheng had no choice but to get off the bed. He wouldn't let Lai Qing help him with his shoes, bent down to put them on himself, then walked over to a nearby daybed and sat cross-legged, unable to resist asking, "Where has the Grand Secretary gone?"

Lai Qing stood nearby attending to him, answering properly, "Before Your Majesty woke, Young Lord Lian stayed in the duty room outside the Qianqing Gate. Now that you've awakened today, Young Lord Lian has already returned to the Lian residence."

After that, Lai Qing went on and on, drifting from Lian Xiusheng to Wei Xiaoyu, singing his godfather's praises for his tireless devotion. Lian Cheng felt drained and raised his hand to stop him, "Your godfather and I have our own bond; there's no need for you to speak well of him on his behalf. I'll make sure he's well taken care of."

Lai Qing fell silent, took the tea brought by the palace attendant, and poured it for the emperor.

Lian Cheng was genuinely thirsty and drank most of the bowl in one go, then suddenly asked Lai Qing again, "In your view, during my coma, who was the most exhausted and hardworking?"

This time, Lai Qing couldn't say Wei Xiaoyu. It was obvious to anyone with eyes; if he lied to the emperor, not to mention the emperor, his godfather would be the first to have his head. So Lai Qing said honestly, "It was undoubtedly Young Lord Lian."

Lian Cheng held the tea bowl and sighed, "I knew it."

Lai Qing smiled and asked, "How did Your Majesty know?"

"He and I..." Lian Cheng lowered his eyes, his expression unreadable, then catching himself, he glanced at Lai Qing and said, "We two are brothers, we just get each other."

Lai Qing echoed, "Though Your Majesty and Young Lord Lian are not blood brothers, you share a bond stronger than brothers—brothers in life and death, naturally able to understand each other."

"I was laid up for six months while he worked himself to the bone. How am I supposed to make it up to him?" Lian Cheng murmured.

Lai Qing was baffled. To him, even a minister dying for his emperor was just part of the job; the new emperor even bothering to say a kind word was already a huge honor.

"Then tell me, what has the Grand Secretary done these past six months?" Lian Cheng asked Lai Qing.

Lai Qing was still young, a clever lad of fifteen or sixteen. Seeing the new emperor so approachable, he soon stopped being timid. He ticked off points on his fingers, starting from the very beginning like a born storyteller. He first spoke of how Young Lord Lian had cleaned house with an iron fist. Since most officials were in bed with the former Grand Secretary Ye, Young Lord Lian first targeted Ye Jie, having multiple censors impeach Grand Secretary Ye. Young Lord Lian had no choice but to ask the Assistant Magistrate of the Imperial Guard Office to investigate, and what a can of worms that opened—it brought the whole Ye family down.

With the Ye family fallen, officials in the court connected to them all began to slip up one by one—some executed, some demoted. It was a bloodbath.

However, this also meant that no matter how justified Young Lord Lian's reasons were, he couldn't escape the infamy of turning on his own mentor.

Then came frequent uprisings across the regions under the rallying cry of "purging the court." The smaller ones were put down by Zhang Congrong, Duke of Han, Li Wan, and others; the more serious ones were handled personally by Young Lord Lian leading troops himself.

Yet Young Lord Lian's power and influence were immense, and few could stomach a kid barely out of his teens lording it over them. Add to that his outwardly gentle demeanor but ruthless and vicious actions, impeachment was the least of concerns—assassination attempts were just another Tuesday for Young Lord Lian.

"The world all says Young Lord Lian is a treacherous power-monger. I almost believed it, but my godfather told me that Young Lord Lian is guarding this realm for Your Majesty."

Lian Cheng listened, his heart full of bitterness, "He's been through so much."

Lian Cheng wasn't all talk. That night, after speaking with Lai Qing, he took Lai Qing to write an imperial edict. With his chicken-scratch handwriting, he dashed off a long, rambling decree, then held up his handwritten edict, secretly pleased with himself. He rolled it up and handed it to Lai Qing, "Tomorrow is a rest day. Go inform Eunuch Cui to deliver the decree to the Lian residence."

After sending Lai Qing away, Lian Cheng examined the emperor's magnificent, glittering throne. He wasn't greedy for wealth, just naturally curious. Within half an hour, he had inspected every corner of the hall. With nothing to do and not feeling sleepy, Lian Cheng returned to the throne, sat cross-legged, and rested his chin on his hand, thinking about how he would govern in the future. Daydreaming was boring, so he casually opened a memorial.

After reading two lines, Lian Cheng's face fell—it was just a sycophantic memorial, but he enjoyed it, so he read it again with pleasure.

Since Lian Xiusheng was so good at managing things, why not just let him handle it all? Lian Cheng thought.

The next day, as dawn broke, Eunuch Cui rode out of the palace gates in his sedan, with music and fanfare all the way to the Lian residence's front door.

The entire Lian family came out to kneel and receive the decree, each face unable to hide their joy. Eunuch Cui unrolled the edict, smiling warmly, "The emperor never forgets where he came from; you're a lucky bunch." Then he conveyed the decree, which was mostly gifts for the Lian family—countless gold and silver vessels, curtains, and bedding, plus two bolts of silk gauze for each person, with additional gifts of colored satin, silk, gold-threaded gauze garments, boots and socks, and five leopard skins, sable skins, and mink skins each... After listing the total, there was one item singled out.

The emperor, noting Young Lord Lian's tireless efforts, specially bestowed a dragon robe, jade belt, and—an imperial warrant of immunity.

Though Lian Xiusheng was young in the family, the eldest son was Lian Feng. Now that Lian Cheng had ascended to the throne, the family should have been led by Lian Feng, but the whole household tacitly accepted Lian Xiusheng as the decision-maker. Lian Feng was content to handle mundane affairs like a housekeeper, thriving in that role. So it was he who pushed Lian Xiusheng forward to receive the decree.

Eunuch Cui clasped his hands, still smiling, "When I left, His Majesty said he misses his family dearly. If you have the time, you might prepare yourselves and visit His Majesty at the palace?"

"Of course we have time!" Lian Yi jumped up, "I miss Third Brother so much!"

Fifth Madam was terrified and slapped her from behind, "What Third Brother? I'll slap your mouth!"

The family rose, discussing when and how to visit the emperor, lively and joyful. But Lian Xiusheng said he wouldn't go.

Lian Yi was puzzled, "But His Majesty treats Sixth Brother best. Why won't Sixth Brother go?"

Lian Xiusheng's expression was cold and aloof, and he spoke bluntly, "None of these things he sent are what I want. Please tell His Majesty, Eunuch Cui—when he knows what I want, that's when I'll see him."