While Chao Ge was at the temple, his subordinates weren't idle either. Chao Lun was sent by his elder brother to handle New Year's affairs, stuck in Yongning Palace day after day, not even allowed to leave the palace gates.
As he was attending to governmental matters, someone reported that the Consort Dowager had arrived.
"Mother?" Chao Lun stood up to greet her.
Ba-Yun Taifei stepped over the threshold and entered with a slight smile on her face. "The New Year is approaching, so the little princess and I came to see you," she said, gesturing for the servants to present gift boxes.
Although Chao Lun was her biological son, he had been raised by his father from a young age. After Chao Ge ascended the throne, he became cautious of the power of the previous dynasty and avoided letting Chao Lun grow too close to the Ba-Yun family, so the two of them rarely saw each other and weren’t particularly close. Thinking of this, Consort Ba-Yun couldn’t help but resent Chao Ge. If not for him, her son would have been the king already, and she would be the most honored Huangtaihou (Empress Dowager) of Wugan.
"You didn’t need to bring gifts, just coming is enough, Mother," Chao Lun said as he lifted Chao Bao. The little girl was about to turn nine after the New Year, chubby and round, making it a bit difficult for Chao Lun to carry her.
Chao Bao, however, wasn’t shy and immediately tried to climb onto her brother's shoulders. "Hey, hey, hey, don't pull on me, I can't hold you!" Chao Lun, afraid she might fall, hurriedly called for her to come down.
Ba-Yun Taifei's expression also changed, and she sharply reprimanded Chao Bao.
Reluctantly, Chao Bao got down. "Big Brother can still carry me and fly. Why can't you?"
Chao Lun was momentarily speechless. How could his strength compare to his elder brother's? But, of course, he wouldn’t admit it out loud. "Oh right, Chao Ge sent a lot of New Year's gifts. I'll take you to pick some," he said, satisfied as he saw his sister’s attention shift.
Ba-Yun Taifei didn't follow them but instead focused on the scattered documents on the desk. "Has the Second Prince been working on these things for the past few days?"
"Yes, with the Sovereign confined to the temple, many of the internal and external New Year affairs are being handled by His Highness," said a servant assigned to Chao Lun by Chao Ge, deliberately trying to win favour in front of the Ba-Yun Taifei.
Who would have thought Ba-Yun Taifei would snort coldly? "All these trivial matters—who couldn’t handle them?" This response not only rejected the compliment but also embarrassed Chao Ge.
The servant thought to himself that Ba-Yun Taifei was aiming too high while lacking real skill. The Second Prince was still far from being capable of ruling. How else could he develop if not by starting with the finer details? The Sovereign’s efforts were truly being wasted.
The servant forced a smile and stood quietly to the side, his mind racing.
Chao Lun returned carrying Chao Bao, followed by several people carrying a row of gift boxes. Seeing this, Ba-Yun Taifei couldn't help but scold Chao Bao softly, blaming her for taking so much without understanding the situation.
"It’s fine. Big Brother gave plenty, and I still have more. If Chao Bao likes it, let her take it," Chao Lun reassured.
"The Sovereign seems to be paying close attention to you," Ba-Yun Taifei said, her tone oddly sarcastic. Chao Lun looked up at his mother and forced a slight smile.
Although he usually engaged in frivolous matters, he was, after all, the Heir, and his sharp instincts were not lacking. How could he not know about the dirty dealings between the Ba-Yun family and the royal family? However, due to his age, he couldn’t harden his heart and could only pretend to be ignorant. But since Consort Ba-Yun spoke that way, it left him feeling uneasy, and the atmosphere grew cold. Ba-Yun Taifei didn’t stay long.
After Ba-Yun Taifei left, Chao Lun was filled with frustration. No matter how many times he tried to organize the accounts, they never made sense. Seeing his agitation, the servant standing by his side comforted him, "Your Highness, there’s no need to rush. Take your time, and things will eventually fall into place."
Chao Lun turned to look at him and asked, "But what if I never manage to figure it out?"
"Our dynasty has many talented people. Surely someone skilled in calculations can assist you, Your Highness. When the boat reaches the bridge, it will naturally straighten. Besides, don’t you still have the Sovereign?"
Chao Lun sighed, "My elder brother handles countless affairs every day, never taking a break year after year. How could I trouble him further?"
Chao Lun held a near-reverential admiration for Chao Ge, almost like one would for an elder. This was a fact that still angered Consort Ba-Yun but left her powerless. An heir that couldn’t be controlled was of no benefit to them.
While Chao Lun was overwhelmed with the complicated New Year's matters, things weren’t going smoothly for Chao Ge either.
The temple was dimly lit, and the servants moved quietly, fearing they might anger the spirits. The surrounding stone walls were etched with bloody totems, their dark red strokes appearing ominous and fearsome in the shadows. Yan Guan carried the meal inside and was startled by the wild and brutal atmosphere, his breath faltering for a moment. It wasn’t until he set the food in front of Chao Ge that he calmed down.
Chao Ge noticed Yan Guan’s unease and said, "Next time, have Daxi bring it in."
Yan Guan, eager for an excuse to leave, nodded and knelt on a cushion, shrinking like a quail.
As Chao Ge was eating, he heard someone enter. The newcomer was a lean young man whom Yan Guan had never seen before.
"Sovereign," Dai Qing bowed to Chao Ge and cast a curious glance at Yan Guan.
Yan Guan thought that they must be discussing important matters, so he tactfully got up and left.
"The carriages and horses heading south are all prepared."
Chao Ge watched Yan Guan’s departing figure and replied absentmindedly, "You’ll accompany the army as well. People in the court know who you are, so after the business there is done, return to the capital secretly with the messenger."
"Understood," Dai Qing responded. Trying to gauge Chao Ge’s intentions, he asked, worried, "Sovereign, leaving for the southern inspection during the New Year—won’t this unsettle the people and play right into the hands of the Ba-Yun family?"
Chao Ge shook his head, his expression darkening, "I can’t take the risk of neglecting the welfare of the people. If an epidemic really breaks out and rumours spread, that’s when the public will truly become unsettled."
No one could influence Chao Ge's decisions, not even Caidan had been able to change his mind.
"How is it over in Sangta?"
Dai Qing shook his head, "The hawks we released haven’t returned, and I suspect they’re lost."
Could the wind and snow there already be that severe? It took at least half a month to travel to and from Sangta. The vanguard had already been sent, but they wouldn’t arrive so soon. Hawks were faster, but sadly they likely froze to death mid-flight. No word had yet come from Sangta.
Chao Ge put down his chopsticks, lit an incense stick, and bowed deeply toward the statue in front of him, saying, "May the Divine Lord protect our people." The vast temple echoed with his words, sounding like both a sigh and a lament.
Not long after, Dai Qing came out holding the food box, and Yan Guan, who was standing by the temple door, quickly stepped forward to take it.
"You look unfamiliar. Are you new?"
Yan Guan took a moment to respond, speaking awkwardly in Wugan dialect, “yes”.
Dai Qing raised his eyebrows in slight surprise, "From Liang Dynasty?" There weren’t many servants from Liang in the palace. Without a unique skill, it was impossible to stay. Thinking back to a previous conversation with Daxi, he connected the rumors to the person in front of him, "Oh~, you’re the one the Second Prince sent to the Sovereign."
Yan Guan wanted to argue, but when he looked up and saw the smile on Dai Qing's face, he closed his mouth. So, it was a joke at his expense. Yan Guan couldn't help but grumble inwardly, wondering how the people around the Sovereign—Chao Lun, this man, and even Daxi—didn’t seem very serious.
"Alright, I’ll stop teasing you. You're a physician, right? I’m leaving now," the young man said without malice.
Yan Guan sighed quietly and carried the food box back.
Chao Ge had to stay in the temple for ten days. Every time Yan Guan entered that place, he felt a sense of oppression and discomfort, so later Daxi was sent in instead, leaving Yan Guan happy to have some peace.
"Hmm? That little guy from before didn’t come today?" Dai Qing, who delivered messages to the temple every day didn’t see Yan Guan this time, so he asked Daxi who was cleaning up nearby.
Chao Ge glanced at him and replied, displeased, "He doesn’t feel comfortable coming here. What are you so concerned about?"
Dai Qing shrugged, "I teased him once last time, and he almost took it seriously. It was kind of funny."
Chao Ge was not pleased, "The customs between the North and South are different. Stop messing with him."
Daxi, listening nearby, almost burst out laughing but quickly excused himself, pulling Dai Qing out with him.
Dai Qing followed behind Daxi, chewing on the thought for a while before finally catching on. With a few quick strides, he caught up with Daxi and playfully bumped him on the shoulder, “Hey, hey, are those two...?”
“They aren’t,” Daxi replied with a serious expression, thinking to himself that their Sovereign (Chao Ge) was dead set on a slow-burn romance, letting feelings grow naturally over time. But who knew when that little spark would be reciprocated? Right now, there’s not even the slightest sign.
“Not? Then why is Chao Ge so jealous?” Dai Qing asked.
Daxi coughed, leaned in, and whispered, “I feel like the Sovereign is interested, but that Yan Xiaoguan doesn’t have the same thought.”
Dai Qing’s eyes lit up as he put an arm around Daxi’s neck, “Tell me more! How can you tell? The Sovereign's iron heart blooming with affection after a thousand years, that’s rare!”
Chao Ge didn’t know his two loyal subordinates were gossiping about him behind his back. But sometimes he unconsciously or instinctively showed his feelings, and it was hard to suppress. Fortunately, Yan Guan wasn’t familiar with Chao Ge and just assumed it was a difference in customs between foreign people.
In Huien Palace, with the master away, Yan Guan had little to do besides preparing three meals a day. He spent most of his time holed up in the kitchen, studying medicinal recipes and dishes.
Outside, the wind and snow howled, but inside, it was warm. Yan Guan sat by the stove, warming himself, his face glowing red from the heat. The old housekeeper brought him a bowl of lamb soup and smiled as she watched him drink it.
It had only been a month since he came to Huien Palace, and Yan Guan had already gained a bit of weight. His once thin face had filled out a bit, finally giving him the appearance of a proper young man. Before, he always looked pitifully frail.
The kitchen staff never skimped on his meals, sometimes even spoiling him a little too much. The housekeeper treated him like the palace cat, determined not to stop until he was plump and healthy.
“Ay, poor thing,” the housekeeper said, stroking the fat cat in her hands, though her eyes were on Yan Guan. Her Wugan dialect was so singsongy that it sounded like she was singing. Yan Guan tried to understand, but couldn’t, so he just smiled at the old lady.
“Aiya, the old woman says you’re ‘poor’,” the butcher at the chopping block explained while rhythmically hacking away at the meat.
“I’m not poor,” Yan Guan said, confused, lifting his head from the large bowl, only to see the housekeeper’s smile deepening.
“She’s complimenting you, you get it? It’s like in your country when people say ‘adorable’ or ‘rare’,” the butcher clarified. Embarrassed, Yan Guan buried his head back into the bowl. Liang people were more reserved, and Yan Guan had never been complimented like this before.
Footnotes:
Imperial Hierarchy (Ming dynasty onwards) goes:
Empress (皇后; huánghòu)
Imperial Noble Consort (皇貴妃; huángguìfēi)
Noble Consort (貴妃; guìfēi)
Consort (妃; fēi)
Concubine (嬪; pín)
The Imperial consorts of the former emperor would be addressed as dowager (太; tài) according to their rank. A consort would be called consort dowager (太妃; tàifēi).
An empress who outlived her husband would become empress dowager (皇太后, huángtàihòu) and would be known as “imperial mother (母后皇太后, mŭhòu huángtàihòu)”. If the new emperor's birth mother was one of the former emperor's consorts, she would also become empress dowager and would be known as “sage mother (聖母皇太后, shèngmŭ huángtàihòu)”, as well as being posthumously honored as empress.
Consort Ba-Yun is NOT the empress dowager. She was a Consort, that’s why Chao Lun was personally raised by the late King. She was hoping to be honoured as “huángtàihòu” after her son ascended the throne, but Chao Ge ruined her plans.
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