The moment Yun Yin’s words left his mouth, everyone present was dumbstruck. The shopkeeper, whose face had just been stiff, dropped her jaw, unable to recover for a long time.
From somewhere behind Yun Yin, his Covert Guards, who had appeared at some unknown point, materialized with blank expressions and handed over the silver.
“Let’s go,” Yun Yin said.
Li Zhaoyi, led by the hand for a few steps, suddenly stopped. He said quietly, “You bought everything.”
His shock was clearly evident even through the veiled hat, his usually crisp tone audibly altered. The corner of Yun Yin’s mouth curved up. “Indeed.”
“Didn’t my Lady like them all,” he said.
Li Zhaoyi’s face flushed red. “…Could you please not call me that.”
He paused, then added, with even more disbelief, in a small voice, “Did you buy them… for me?”
Yun Yin paused for a few seconds. He suddenly realized that Li Zhaoyi might never have considered these were gifts specifically for him, despite being asked so many times before the purchase whether he liked them or not. Liked, but wouldn’t belong to him. That was what Li Zhaoyi had actually been thinking when he answered.
After a moment of silence, Yun Yin said, “Your Majesty was very good today. This is a reward.”
Li Zhaoyi’s lips moved. He felt something was a bit off in Yun Yin’s tone and tried to retort, “I’m not a child anymore.”
Yun Yin’s tone was careless, stating a fact: “But Your Majesty still likes little rocking wooden horses.”
Li Zhaoyi! His ears turned red. He couldn’t out-argue Yun Yin. After a moment, he murmured, a little helplessly, “…It’s too expensive.”
He didn’t have a clear concept of money, but he knew buying out an entire shop’s worth of toys couldn’t be a small sum. Yun Yin’s sudden action left him at a loss, and also a bit uneasy.
Yun Yin looked at this person who was, at this moment, theoretically the most honored under heaven. “It’s not expensive,” he said.
A moment later, Li Zhaoyi understood what Yun Yin meant. The toys weren’t expensive. Because there were things even more expensive.
–
That evening, Yun Yin took Li Zhaoyi around, browsing through most of the Capital. This in itself wasn’t much – the Capital was prosperous, especially in spring, a true spectacle of flowers and splendor, indeed a fine place for sightseeing.
But Yun Yin didn’t just browse; he bought. In less than an hour, everyone on the main street of the West Market knew: a wildly generous young master had come tonight. He was splashing out a fortune for his newlywed Young Madam, buying up everything in sight – antiques, jade artifacts, crafts, trinkets – the whole lot.
At first, Li Zhaoyi tried to stop him, but later he grew numb to it. Led by Yun Yin, he tried things on one by one, bought item after item. Initially embarrassed, a strange feeling crept over him. …It was as if he really were Yun Yin’s newlywed wife, being cherished and treasured. He felt a bit dazed.
And at some point deep into the night, this outing, which Li Zhaoyi found somewhat absurd, finally ended.
Yun Yin didn’t accompany him on the journey back. Li Zhaoyi wore the gemstone bead bracelet Yun Yin had bought on his wrist, and his jade pendant hung from his belt, his whole person seeming marked by another. Just before he boarded, Yun Yin lifted the carriage curtain, pausing for a few seconds without speaking.
Li Zhaoyi looked at him, slightly confused, and asked, “What is it?”
The veiled hat blocked some of the wind. From the long walk, his forehead hairs were damp with sweat, making his lips appear even more vividly colored.
“Nothing,” Yun Yin said. But his gaze didn’t let go.
After a moment, Li Zhaoyi called out to him again, a bit awkwardly, and only then did Yun Yin withdraw his gaze.
“At tomorrow’s Morning Court,” he said, “There will be an urgent report.”
Li Zhaoyi paused.
“Your Majesty need not do anything,” Yun Yin said. “Just listen. Leave everything to this subject to handle.”
With that, he dropped the carriage curtain. The sound of horse hooves faded into the distance, and Li Zhaoyi sat inside the carriage for a while.
Then, it dawned on him. This was the first time Yun Yin had informed him of his arrangements in advance. The purpose… was so he wouldn’t be nervous at that time. Or be afraid.
~
The next day’s Morning Court indeed carried a heavy, solemn atmosphere. Despite the storm Yun Yin and Li Zhaoyi had stirred up throughout the city last night, there weren’t many memorials today. Sitting high up on the throne, Li Zhaoyi listened to the verbal sparring below. For once, it was rarely aimed at Yun Yin. Key phrases floated to his ears, something about the drought in the Southwest. Remembering yesterday’s lessons, he perked up.
After court adjourned, Yun Yin didn’t leave. Li Zhaoyi watched from afar as he and Gu Qingdai conversed in front of the hall. Their expressions were normal, but they talked for a very long time.
Neither of them came for the afternoon lessons either. That day, Lin Ping went over yesterday’s exam papers with Li Zhaoyi. Classics and history required much memorization, and Li Zhaoyi had already memorized seventy to eighty percent of it at Yun Yin’s residence the day before. Now, when Lin Ping questioned him, he could answer some things.
Lin Ping’s expression was noticeably more satisfied. Hearing that Li Zhaoyi had reviewed the lessons, he praised him: “Your Majesty may find the learning tedious at present, but there’s no need to worry. This subject has taught many students. Your Majesty’s natural aptitude is above average. Paired with this diligence, you will surely make up for lost ground in time.”
Even when giving praise, he was stern and serious. Li Zhaoyi, having never been praised like this before, felt his cheeks warm up, but his eyes brightened considerably. Lin Ping’s heart softened at the sight. Li Zhaoyi’s age was around that of his grandchildren. He sighed inwardly, his tone softening further as he continued the lecture.
But just before leaving, Li Zhaoyi hesitated, then called out to him, “Teacher, Vice Grand Secretary Gu didn’t come today. This student wishes to ask a question.”
Lin Ping thought for a moment, then said, “Your Majesty wishes to ask about the refugee uprising in the Southwest?” Li Zhaoyi quickly nodded.
“This matter is neither too big nor too small,” Lin Ping mused. He paused. “If we are to discuss official politics, this subject is no match for Lord Gu. However, Your Majesty need not worry overly much. With the Prince of Pingnan here, the matter will be resolved.”
Li Zhaoyi saw that he was actually offering reassurance. Along with the reassurance, Lin Ping also felt a touch of gratification. An emperor who cared about the common people and the realm could become a good emperor.
Then, he heard Li Zhaoyi say, “Teacher seems… to have great faith in the Prince of Pingnan.”
Lin Ping abruptly let out a cold snort. A moment later, his expression complex, he spoke slowly: “This subject had the honor of once being the Prince’s teacher. In terms of talent, he deserves the phrase ‘a prodigy blessed by heaven’.”
This was extremely high praise. But Li Zhaoyi caught the key point. In terms of talent. Meaning, Lin Ping only acknowledged Yun Yin’s talent. Li Zhaoyi lowered his eyes.
“He respects you greatly,” he said.
Lin Ping paused. He was silent for a moment, then said, “This subject knows.”
“Your Majesty,” he bowed, “this Old Minister takes his leave.”
Li Zhaoyi stood up, returned the teacher-student bow, and watched him depart from the Hall of Civil Governance.
–
Li Zhaoyi suddenly felt an urge to talk to Yun Yin. He wanted to know why. Why Yun Yin had killed Li Zhaocheng back then. What kind of profound bond he had with Li Zhaoyu that drove him to such a decisive act. He wanted to know exactly what happened that night in the Hidden Dragon Hall. Most of all, he wanted to know why Yun Yin had pushed him onto the throne. Yun Yin was like an immense enigma to him. He didn’t know Yun Yin’s past, didn’t know anything. He wanted to know.
But he also understood clearly that Yun Yin would not tell him.
Sitting in the Hall of Civil Governance, Li Zhaoyi diligently studied his lessons every day. Beside his hand was the rattle-drum he liked so much. He had hung a cute little charm on it and cherished it, keeping it close by. Studying was tiring, but seeing it and giving it a little shake made Li Zhaoyi feel less weary.
He waited for Yun Yin to come. Even if he couldn’t ask him anything, that was fine. But days passed, and Yun Yin did not come. The matter in the Southwest was thornier than expected, and the verbal battles in the Imperial Court grew heated. Through the beaded curtain, Li Zhaoyi could see Yun Yin’s calm and composed expression. Occasionally, their eyes would meet. In those moments, his heartbeat would quicken for an instant, and then he’d feel a bit more at ease.
He waited for this affair to end, so he could tell Yun Yin he’d been diligently studying governance lately, and his quiz results were the proof. But before he could wait for Yun Yin, he waited for someone else.
On a nondescript rainy night. Li Zhaoyi lay drowsily in bed, the candle flame long extinguished, the chaotic sound of rain in his ears. At a certain moment, feeling a sudden presence, he abruptly opened his eyes.
A pair of hands covered his mouth. Li Zhaoyi’s eyes widened. By the faint moonlight, he made out that face, and that hideous, terrifying scar.
