Chapter 23

Almost the moment Yun Yin rose to his feet, any remaining murmurs in the hall died away completely.

No one had expected Yun Yin to actually present a gift.

Li Zhaoyi looked at him. Their eyes met, and he offered a very gentle smile as he spoke: “The various Excellencies have all carefully selected gifts for Your Majesty. Your subject is untalented, and the gift I offer is meager. I only hope Your Majesty will not disdain it.”

Li Zhaoyi said, “…This Sovereign does not disdain it.”

He hadn’t expected Yun Yin would prepare a gift for him either.

Mainly because, in his daily life—clothes, food, necessities, and entertainment—everything was already prepared for him by Yun Yin.

But since Yun Yin had put it this way, he certainly wouldn’t embarrass him.

Soon, attendants carried Yun Yin’s gift forward.

On a wooden tray carved with complex patterns lay a narrow, elongated case. Judging solely by its exterior, compared to the luminous pearls and coral trees beside it, it was indeed far inferior, even bordering on shabby.

Li Zhaoyi didn’t find it shabby, only curious.

But at that moment, sitting upright in the seat of honor, he still had to maintain the dignity of an emperor. His heart felt like ants were crawling all over it.

Fortunately, Yun Yin had no intention of keeping him in suspense and instructed, “Open it.”

The attendant then opened the box.

Li Zhaoyi discreetly straightened his posture slightly.

But once he clearly saw what was inside, he was momentarily stunned.

He was stunned, but the faces of the assembled ministers all changed color dramatically.

Someone on either side abruptly stood up, voice sharp with anger: “Prince of Pingnan, how dare you!”

—No one could have imagined that inside the wooden case was a dagger.

Although the dagger’s hilt was lavishly decorated and looked quite valuable, it was still a deadly weapon.

Drawing a blade at the Emperor’s birthday celebration—just what was Yun Yin implying?

Like a stone thrown into a lake, a buzz of hushed whispers instantly arose. Many faces showed shock and uncertainty. Even Li Chunjin, who had been calmly drinking water, looked up with some surprise.

Moments later, a gleeful, malicious smile appeared on her face.

Under this immense scrutiny, Yun Yin spoke, unhurried and deliberate: “My lords, do not be hasty.”

He paused, and this time, he spoke while looking into Li Zhaoyi’s eyes.

“Your Majesty,” he said. “Your subject followed his father to the border passes at fourteen. During those military campaigns and marches, I heard many interesting stories.”

“The Tahang Tribe of Mobei—might Your Majesty have heard of them?”

Li Zhaoyi answered, “I have not.”

He had recovered his composure, but did not show the panic the ministers had anticipated.

On the contrary, his tone was very calm. Just like the image he usually presented before the court: quiet, composed, even mysterious.

He had been confined by Yun Yin into a very small world.

Most people knew he was a puppet, but very few knew his true personality, or the nature of his interactions with Yun Yin. Many assumed he was merely a frail songbird that Yun Yin could easily throttle to death on a whim.

But now, it seemed…

Someone thought with considerable surprise: this young Emperor did not appear afraid of the all-powerful Regent standing before him.

The ministers’ thoughts grew even more complex.

In the hall, Yun Yin’s tone remained as leisurely and content as ever.

“The Tahang Tribe lives in secluded communities year-round and rarely communicates with the outside world,” Yun Yin continued. “Your subject only came to stay there briefly by chance. Coincidentally, the Tahang Tribe was holding their annual celebration at that time. During the celebration, I learned of an interesting custom.”

He paused, then spoke slowly, “The Tahang people are simple and honest in their customs, valiant and skilled in battle. They practice monogamy and value fidelity above all. Should one find a person they fancy, during the celebration, under the witness of the tribal chief, they present the other party with their waist dagger.”

As his words subsided, the hall fell utterly silent.

The Vice Minister of War, who had just risen in anger, now stood frozen in place, unable to sit down, unable to remain standing. He stared at Yun Yin as if suddenly unable to understand the other man’s words, or as if he doubted his own ears.

No one had expected Yun Yin’s true intent to be such a speech.

Chang Zixuan, who had just been drinking and watching the show, now felt his mouth twitch uncontrollably. Lin Ping, whose face had already turned ashen at Yun Yin’s earlier words, could scarcely recover his wits. When he finally grasped what was happening, his face went completely black.

“Wretched scoundrel!” he cursed under his breath.

He immediately started to rise, but was dissuaded with great difficulty by an old minister beside him:

“Grand Tutor, please, wait. Look further. Perhaps the Prince of Pingnan’s intentions are not ones of offense; perhaps he has not yet finished speaking…”

Indeed, Yun Yin had not finished.

He said, “If the other party accepts the dagger, then the courtship is considered sealed. From then on, husband and wife are united in heart, and will surely be able to overcome any obstacle and remain together for a lifetime.”

As his words fell, not the faintest stir could be heard in the hall.

The Vice Minister of War’s expression was numb, his mouth twitching, his face twisted into a bizarrely contorted mask.

Just as contorted were the expressions of all the assembled ministers.

…What was he doing?!

Had he gone mad?!

No one dared to speak, but by now everyone had fully regained their senses. Even those who were drunk had their intoxication frightened away. No one could have imagined Yun Yin would say something like this. They looked at each other, seeing emotions bordering on horror and absurdity mirrored in each other’s eyes.

Li Zhaoyi was also dumbfounded.

He thought—was this what he thought it meant? Yun Yin, he…

He couldn’t believe it, but Yun Yin looked at him, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, his eyes filled with tenderness, as if Li Zhaoyi truly were someone he cherished, someone he wished to spend his life with. His throat went dry, but suddenly he thought of something.

He probed carefully, “And then?”

Yun Yin gave him a very deep look, then smiled and finished the final passage.

“…Therefore, your subject offers this dagger to Your Majesty, to demonstrate this subject’s utmost and sincere loyalty.” He said, “Your Majesty is virtuous, wise, and possesses sacred virtue; this is a blessing for the people and a fortune for the court and the country.”

“Your subject here wishes Your Majesty a robust and healthy imperial body, and a life of ten thousand years without limit.”

When Yun Yin was walking towards the Bright Clarity Hall, he ran into Chang Zixuan, who was returning from outside.

All around them were court officials. Tonight was the Son of Heaven’s birthday celebration, a time of universal rejoicing. Li Zhaoyi had just withdrawn from the banquet, and as a minister, one could naturally relax a little. But after the commotion earlier, many people were watching their side.

There were strange gazes, which Chang Zixuan naturally also perceived.

His mouth twitched. Only when they had reached a secluded spot did he say, “…You’re really something.”

Yun Yin said, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Then pretend you don’t understand,” Chang Zixuan said. “Every single one of the assembled Excellencies today has probably nearly had a heart attack because of you. You didn’t see Grand Tutor Lin’s expression just now. If you were standing next to him, he probably would have already fetched his discipline ruler to give you a thrashing.”

Yun Yin chuckled.

Chang Zixuan watched him for a moment, then sighed. “Was it necessary?”

“If you wanted to establish His Majesty’s authority,” he said softly, “why use such a method?”

“Don’t you believe that if you merely hinted at a willingness to pledge loyalty to His Majesty, those weathervane types would immediately become iron-boned loyal ministers? Why go to such lengths…”

With Yun Yin’s last sentence, those present understood his true meaning.

The dagger represented loyalty.

After today, no one would ever treat Li Zhaoyi as a puppet again.

But at the same time, Chang Zixuan believed that the rumors which were previously just tavern jokes would likely intensify. Same went for the speculation—caused by Yun Yin’s earlier refusal of Princess Chengyang’s marriage—that Yun Yin was a cut-sleeve.

Ultimately, there were hundreds of ways to establish authority, yet he had chosen this one, which bordered on marking territory. It was hard not to suspect that the person using this method harbored selfish motives.

To say nothing else…

A hundred years from now, this would inevitably become an indispensable piece of romantic lore in unofficial histories.

He didn’t bother asking Yun Yin exactly what his feelings were for Li Zhaoyi anymore.

It was no longer necessary.

If he couldn’t see Yun Yin’s intentions at this point, with words spoken to this degree, then he would have wasted all those years being Yun Yin’s brother.

He simply said, “You have to give me a straight answer.”

“There’s no straight answer,” Yun Yin drawled lazily. “I just said what I wanted to say. It was just a joke, not as complicated as you think.”

He paused. “As for the rest…”

“Hmm.”

Before, he hadn’t fully figured it out. Now, there was nothing hard to admit.

Chang Zixuan was speechless.

His guess had proven true, and his heart was a mix of emotions.

After a moment, he asked, “Is it just a fleeting desire, or is it… serious?”

Yun Yin replied absentmindedly, “What do you think?”

Chang Zixuan said nothing.

He didn’t speak, nor did Yun Yin.

He thought of the little Emperor just moments ago: under the gaze of all, high above, stunningly and breathtakingly beautiful.

Presenting the dagger to express loyalty was genuine, but the story had been a spur-of-the-moment invention. In that instant, a sudden feeling had seized him—a feeling that Li Zhaoyi was slipping through his fingers. Because he had abruptly realized that the little Emperor he had personally pushed onto the throne was the sovereign of all people, belonging to the entire realm.

And Li Zhaoyi himself did not belong to him, either.

Once this thought arose, it was like a fire was kindled in Yun Yin’s heart.

He knew he had acted somewhat excessively tonight.

But he did not regret it.

Li Zhaoyi was someone he had pushed onto that position. The sovereign of all people, the divide between ruler and subject—none of these could restrict him.

What was his…

was his.

Yun Yin felt he was a bit drunk.

His alcohol tolerance was actually decent, and ever since that night at Hidden Dragon Hall, he had kept the string in his heart taut, never allowing himself to fall into a passive, unconscious state.

Today, he had made an exception.

Chang Zixuan was still babbling about this and that at his side; he was getting more and more inclined to worry about things lately. Yun Yin felt a headache coming on and directly cut him off. “If you want to chant scriptures, can you chant them at your old man? Failing that, at your wife.”

“Oh,” he said lazily. “I forgot, you haven’t taken a wife.”

Chang Zixuan: “…”

He was utterly defeated.

He sneered, “As if you have one.”

Yun Yin’s expression froze for a split second.

His revenge achieved, Chang Zixuan’s mood finally settled.

He always said: the little Emperor, with that pitiable, endearing demeanor, was the perfect counter to Yun Yin’s type—the overly pretentious and sharp-tongued kind.

“Suit yourself,” he shrugged. “Do whatever you like.”

He paused. “I’ll only remind you of one thing: we both know the situation right now. At this critical juncture, I suggest you don’t create extraneous problems. No matter what, the Emperor is still the Emperor.”

He stopped right on the mark. Yun Yin’s smile faded.

He said, “I know.”

Since he said so, Chang Zixuan didn’t press further.

Just as he was about to leave, however, he couldn’t help adding, “Actually, I used to think that His Majesty was very lucky to have met you.”

He didn’t voice the “but” that followed.

Since he didn’t say it, Yun Yin pretended not to have heard it.

He continued walking towards Bright Clarity Hall.

A little less than half an hour ago, Li Zhaoyi had withdrawn from the banquet and returned to the palace to change clothes. Now, Bright Clarity Hall was half-dark, with only the candles in the bedchamber still burning.

He knew he shouldn’t be entering now; it was somewhat presumptuous, even discourteous.

But Yun Yin went in anyway.

No one could stop him.

He entered the inner room. Li Zhaoyi jumped in surprise and stood up.

Yun Yin saw his damp, loose hair, and the object he was holding in his hand.

Li Zhaoyi was playing with a rattle-drum.

He had received many gifts, but only this one was constantly kept at his side.

Actually, he liked everything Yun Yin gave him. Including today’s dagger, even though he recognized it as the very blade that had once been held to his neck.

He understood Yun Yin’s meaning.

Yun Yin was a man of his word. He had said he would not kill him, and he would not kill him.

So he gave him the dagger as a birthday present. Its purpose was to reassure him. Yun Yin hadn’t said it, but Li Zhaoyi just knew.

This was something unique to him and Yun Yin, an understanding cultivated over these days.

Precisely because of this, he couldn’t bring himself to get angry at Yun Yin’s joke.

He couldn’t get angry, but he still felt awkward.

He stood up somewhat flustered. “Why did you suddenly come?”

Yun Yin didn’t speak.

Li Zhaoyi caught the scent in the air. Hesitantly, he said, “Are you dru—”

He didn’t get to finish the sentence.

His elbow propped on the edge of the bed, he half-collapsed into a seated position, trapped in a confining posture.

The man covered him, his fingers brushing across the corner of his lips, grasping his chin, forcing him to look up. This distance was intimate beyond measure. The instant their eyes met, Li Zhaoyi’s eyelashes trembled violently.

The rattle-drum slipped from his hand, falling onto the bedding with a dull thud.

And at the same moment, elsewhere…

Beneath the silent corridor, a figure in eunuch’s robes brushed past a gorgeously dressed woman.

In that instant of passing, a paper note rolled into a sleeve.

Lu Zhong turned back. The woman’s trailing skirt swept the ground, her figure concealed in the shadows. Behind her hung a huge, cold, clear full moon.

The night had deepened.