Chapter 27: Birthday Gift
After Wen Ning’an and Feng Qi returned to the capital, the palace began to prepare for the Longevity Festival. Feng Qi had even teased before that he and Wen Ning’an were very fated, their birthdays being only a week apart.
[Translator’s Notes: Longevity Festival: The traditional term for the emperor’s birthday celebration in imperial China.]
For the Son of Heaven’s birthday, the whole country celebrated, with a three-day holiday for all. The common people all wore brightly colored fine clothes, and all slaughter of livestock was forbidden. It was just that this year, there was no general amnesty. As for why, everyone knew without being told.
Wen Ning’an had only been back at the Wen Residence for a few days before it was the Longevity Festival, and he had to enter the palace again. After the incident between Wen Ning’an and the Empress Dowager and the fall of the Xu family, there was much discussion in the capital. The relationship between Wen Ning’an and Feng Qi was shrouded in mystery, sparking people’s imagination. So, when Wen Ning’an returned home, he was inevitably subjected to a worried interrogation by his family, but Wen Ning’an muddled through it all, not going into detail. Master Wen was an understanding man. Seeing Wen Ning’an constantly beating around the bush, he didn’t press further and even comforted his wife, telling her to be at ease.
On the day of the Longevity Festival, just as the sun was setting, Wen Ning’an and Wen Ningyuan rode into the palace together in a carriage. All civil and military officials had to attend the banquet on the night of the Longevity Festival to kowtow and congratulate the Son of Heaven. Wen Ningyuan was also an official, so he naturally had to go with Wen Ning’an. Speaking of which, the current Wen Ningyuan was no longer just a minor scribe in the Censorate. After the Xu family incident, a large number of people in the court were replaced, and Wen Ningyuan was promoted to Censor-in-Chief. Madam Wen was both happy and worried. She was happy that her son had risen so high, but worried that Censor-in-Chief was not an easy position to hold. If he didn’t do it well, or wasn’t smooth enough, he would become a thorn in others’ sides.
Seeing Wen Ning’an carrying a small bundle, Wen Ningyuan asked, “Is that a birthday gift for His Majesty?”
Wen Ningyuan frowned. You either don’t give a gift, or if you do, it must be exquisite, rare, and novel. Wen Ning’an’s bundle was a bit… simple?
“No,” Wen Ning’an said. “This is a gift for Ah Bai.”
After leaving the villa, Wen Ning’an had originally thought of letting Ah Bai go to the Wen Residence, but Feng Qi had objected. So now, Ah Bai stayed in the palace, doing some minor chores under Fu Che.
“Ah Bai? The pitiful child you mentioned you met at the villa?”
Seeing Wen Ning’an nod, Wen Ningyuan said, “One can’t be too careful. The child’s origins are unknown. It’s better to be more cautious.”
Wen Ning’an smiled and patted Wen Ningyuan’s hand. “It’s alright. Ah Bai has a simple nature. It’s you, elder brother, who shouldn’t be so pessimistic about everything. Life will be more pleasant that way.”
Wen Ningyuan smiled and shook his head, asking, “You didn’t prepare a gift for His Majesty? You always did in previous years.”
Even when he was exiled to the frontier, the birthday gift would be delivered to the capital on time.
Wen Ning’an was stunned for a moment, then said, “I did.”
“What is it?”
Wen Ning’an turned his head away and didn’t speak.
“Tsk.” Wen Ningyuan had asked for a rebuff and muttered, “Speaking of which, what on earth is going on between you and His Majesty? Good one moment, bad the next.”
Wen Ning’an played dead.
As the carriage approached the palace gates, they could hear the faint sound of music from inside. Wen Ningyuan couldn’t help but whisper to Wen Ning’an, “Tonight’s banquet has a full ninety-nine rare delicacies. Ninety-nine! The amount of silver spent on that quantity and those ingredients is half a year’s food for a common family!”
Seeing Wen Ningyuan’s righteous expression, Wen Ning’an smiled and placed his index finger to his lips, shaking his head slightly.
“It’s custom. The Son of Heaven, Son of Heaven—they call him Heaven for a reason.”
“Even if he is the Son of Heaven, he must know how to be considerate of the people’s suffering. ‘Be the first to worry about the world’s worries, and the last to enjoy its pleasures.’ Only a wise ruler can make the court clean, the country strong, and the people live and work in peace and contentment.”
Wen Ning’an sighed silently. For Feng Qi, this was perhaps out of reach. It was his elder brother who was truly worrying. With such a temperament, he’d better not get into any trouble in the Censorate.
The carriage slowly approached the main hall, and the sound of music and the chatter of the crowd grew clearer. Wen Ning’an had no choice but to stop this topic.
In the Golden Throne Hall, Feng Qi was leaning back on the Dragon Throne, his elbow on the armrest and the back of his hand against his cheek, his eyes slightly narrowed in a languid posture. Below, ministers were presenting their birthday gifts.
Wen Ning’an and Wen Ningyuan’s seats were separate. Wen Ning’an put away the small bundle and was slowly walking to his seat, about to sit down, when he heard Feng Qi, not far away, suddenly call out, “Yixin.”
Feng Qi extended his hand towards Wen Ning’an. “Yixin, come here.”
There was a moment of silence, then the crowd immediately pretended as if nothing had happened and continued to chat, and the hall returned to its boisterous state.
Wen Ning’an was originally a little hesitant, but seeing that Feng Qi had no intention of withdrawing his hand and was staring at him with no intention of compromising, he had no choice but to walk up the steps to the Dragon Throne.
Feng Qi took Wen Ning’an’s hand and pulled him to sit in an empty seat beside him.
Not far away, Qin Zhaohuang winked at Wen Ning’an, his eyes full of teasing. He even made a whistling shape with his mouth, looking mischievous.
Wen Ning’an smiled to himself, partly because of Qin Zhaohuang, and partly because… Feng Qi had even prepared a seat for him in advance…
Wen Ning’an felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles. He could feel the scorching gazes from around the master’s seat even with his head down, especially the Empress Dowager’s. As for Feng Qi’s only two consorts, Empress Li Luoyan and Consort Su Miao, they showed no reaction, still maintaining their proper smiles, not even lifting their eyelids.
“Your Majesty…”
Censor Zhou stood up and said in a muddle, “This old subject is being abrupt, but General Wen is a military official. For him to sit up there seems… seems to be against the rules!”
The other ministers, seeing Censor Zhou’s wrinkled face and cloudy eyes, thought to themselves that he was probably so old his eyes were dim and his mind was not clear… To dare to say such a thing, they almost wanted to erect a monument for his bravery.
“Against the rules?” Feng Qi raised an eyebrow.
The hall suddenly fell silent. Seeing everyone holding their breath, Feng Qi smiled. “Today is my birthday, so I won’t hold it against you. Beloved Minister Zhou, you may sit down.”
“Your Majesty…”
Bang—
Feng Qi slammed the table in front of him. The wine cup on the table shook, and a few drops of wine even splashed out.
Feng Qi still had a smile on his face. He looked at Censor Zhou and said slowly, “Against the rules? I am the rule of this world. If I want Beloved Minister Wen to sit here, then Beloved Minister Wen can sit here. In other words…” Feng Qi’s eyes narrowed slightly as he added, “If I want you to die, you will die, immediately.”
“This old subject has misspoken. This old subject’s crime deserves ten thousand deaths…” Censor Zhou sat back down in his seat, his face pale.
Qin Zhaohuang looked at Wen Ning’an, who was sitting on pins and needles, his eyes full of discomfort but trying hard to suppress it, and secretly shook his head.
These two will get into trouble sooner or later.
As expected, after the banquet ended, Feng Qi pulled Wen Ning’an back to the bedchamber.
With only the two of them around, Wen Ning’an said, “Huaitian, next time… don’t be like this.”
Feng Qi frowned, seeming a little aggrieved. “What did I do? I just wanted you to sit with me. Is that… not allowed?”
“You are the Emperor,” Wen Ning’an sighed. “This would be perfectly normal for an ordinary family, but we are not ordinary people.”
How ironic. For an ordinary family, it’s warm companionship, but for Feng Qi, it’s the act of a fatuous ruler.
“I am the Emperor. Why should I care what others think?”
You are the Emperor, but I am not.
For all your mistakes, the world will always blame me.
Wen Ning’an sighed and, in the end, didn’t say it out loud.
Seeing that Wen Ning’an’s mood seemed off, Feng Qi wrapped his arm around his waist. “If you don’t like it, I won’t do it next time.”
Wen Ning’an smiled at Feng Qi.
“Wait a minute.” Feng Qi beckoned for Fu Che to present a wooden box.
“Do you remember that fine piece of jade we saw at the Xu Residence? After the Xu family fell, I had Fu Che go to the factory to negotiate and… bought it from the factory owner.”
Feng Qi opened the wooden box, and Wen Ning’an saw two pieces of beautifully carved jade lying inside. One was a fierce and domineering divine dragon, and the other was a majestic tiger. When the two pieces of jade were put together, the two divine beasts intertwined, complementing each other without hiding their flaws. The tiger stood on the ground, guarding the mountains and rivers, while the divine dragon was surrounded by auspicious clouds, as if it were about to break through the nine heavens.
Feng Qi took out one of them and handed it to Wen Ning’an. “This is yours.”
Wen Ning’an took the tiger. The fine Hotan yellow jade was warm in his palm, and the warmth seemed to spread from his palm to his heart, making his whole body feel warm.
Feng Qi first hung his own piece on his waist, then took the one from Wen Ning’an’s hand and hung it for him. “You must wear it well.”
The two of them then sat side by side on the bed. Feng Qi couldn’t help but ask, “Where’s my gift?”
Wen Ning’an prepared a gift for him every year, and it was always the rare item he wanted most. It met his expectations every year, so he couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation.
Wen Ning’an was silent.
What Feng Qi wants most right now is…
“What’s wrong? You didn’t prepare one?” Seeing Wen Ning’an sitting on the bed without moving, Feng Qi stroked his head and smiled. “It’s alright. You are my best gift.”
“I did prepare one…”
Feng Qi was puzzled. It’s just a gift. Why is he stammering and hesitating?
Feng Qi didn’t rush him, just sitting beside him and waiting patiently. He believed that what Wen Ning’an gave him would be the best, as it was every year.
After a while, Wen Ning’an finally spoke, but his cheeks and earlobes were a suspicious shade of red.
“Huaitian…”
Wen Ning’an extended his hands towards Feng Qi as if he were facing death and said with his eyes closed, “The gift is here. You can unwrap it.”
…
…
…
Thud—
Wen Ning’an felt the world spin. When he came back to his senses, he was already lying on the soft Dragon Bed, with Feng Qi, his eyes bloodshot, pressing down on him.
“Yixin, I…” Feng Qi seemed a little overwhelmed by the favor.
Wen Ning’an kept his eyes tightly shut, constantly hypnotizing himself in his mind. Feng Qi has changed, he’s no longer the one from before… no longer the one from before…
Feng Qi lowered his head and kissed Wen Ning’an’s lips.
Unlike the previous kisses, which were like a storm, rough and full of possessiveness, this kiss was very gentle. Wen Ning’an felt Feng Qi’s lips gently rubbing against his, as if kissing something fragile or sacred, with piety and cherish.
The light kisses moved up from his soft lips, to the tip of his nose, between his eyebrows, his forehead… like a gentle spring breeze.
Wen Ning’an understood what Feng Qi was trying to convey and took the initiative to wrap his arms around his neck.
Feng Qi could no longer hold back and tore open Wen Ning’an’s robes. Wen Ning’an felt a chill run through his body, and then he was completely naked before Feng Qi’s eyes.
Feng Qi took out a small brocade box from the head of the bed and said to Wen Ning’an with a wicked smile, “Using this will hurt less.”
And, it will be more enjoyable…
Then, Feng Qi applied the aphrodisiac, which exuded a decadent fragrance, to Wen Ning’an’s key areas. After putting the ointment-covered index finger into Wen Ning’an’s mouth and forcing him to swallow, Wen Ning’an soon felt his whole body heat up, especially that… that unspeakable place…
“Huaitian… Huaitian…”
“Wuu…”
The night was as cool as water, and a spring night was worth a thousand gold. This night, Feng Qi forced Wen Ning’an, who was dominated by desire, to beg him for more, to beg him to enter, to scream crazily, to moan, to say shameful, wanton words…
Once tasted, forever addicted. Feng Qi felt it was never enough. He had never lost control like this before, as if this was the only joyous thing left in life.
