The Banished Immortal of the Cold Palace: His Majesty’s Young Master Yun Has Fallen Asleep Again - Chapter 12

The two of them had barely stepped out of the West Courtyard when they saw Wang Shunde approaching with several eunuchs. Wang Sheng felt a tightening in his chest and hurriedly bowed in salute.

Wang Shunde glanced at Yun Biechen. He saw that the young man was draped in a half-worn cotton robe, his ink-black hair unstyled and hanging loosely over his shoulders, his face still bearing the languidness of someone who had just woken from a nap.

He sighed inwardly. If the Emperor truly saw the young master in such a state, he feared that for the foreseeable future, the Emperor would frequently inquire about the young master’s movements.

“Young Master Yun,” Wang Shunde began, “this old servant has come to convey the second imperial decree.”

Yun Biechen raised his eyes to look at him but remained silent.

Wang Shunde unfolded the imperial decree and read it out in a flat, monotonous tone. When he reached the words “Ennobled as a Young Master, granted residence in Linhua Palace,” Wang Sheng’s head snapped up, the color draining completely from his face.

Young Master? Ennobled?

He looked at Yun Biechen in disbelief, only to see that Yun Biechen still held no expression, save for a slight furrow of his brows, as if he were annoyed by the long-winded phrasing.

There was not the slightest hint of surprise.

He seemed to have known all along.

Once the decree was read, Wang Shunde closed the scroll and looked at Yun Biechen. “Young Master Yun, would you accept the decree?”

By protocol, it should have been received on one’s knees.

Yun Biechen stood there without moving.

Wang Shunde did not urge him, simply waiting quietly. Internally, he was miserable. Based on his understanding of Yun Biechen, the young master would absolutely not kneel.

For a moment, the courtyard was so quiet that only the sound of the wind remained.

Sure enough, after a long time, Yun Biechen finally spoke, his voice raspy with sleep. “I will not kneel.”

Wang Shunde paused. “Young Master, this is the Emperor’s decree. Please, just accept it and stop making things difficult for this old servant.”

“I know,” Yun Biechen said, “but I will not kneel.”

The atmosphere grew taut. Wang Shunde was nearly on the verge of tears.

Wang Sheng was sweating profusely from anxiety, wanting to persuade him but not daring to speak. The young eunuchs behind Wang Shunde held their breath, not daring to make a sound.

Just then, Yun Biechen suddenly reached out and took the imperial decree from Wang Shunde’s hands.

The action was as natural as taking a cup of tea.

Wang Shunde was stunned.

Yun Biechen unfolded the decree, glanced at it twice, rolled it back up, and handed it to Wang Sheng behind him. “Hold this.”

Wang Sheng took it in a flustered state, hugging it to his chest as if it were a scorching hot potato.

“Is there anything else?” Yun Biechen asked Wang Shunde, his tone as calm as if he were asking if someone had eaten.

Wang Shunde took a deep breath, suppressing the complex emotions surging in his heart, and said, “The Emperor has commanded that the white plum tree in the Cold Palace be transplanted to Linhua Palace for your enjoyment. Additionally, daily necessities have been prepared in Linhua Palace. You may settle in once you arrive.”

Yun Biechen grunted in acknowledgment and began to walk away.

After two steps, he stopped and turned back to look at Wang Sheng. “Gui-Gui, keep up.”

Only then did Wang Sheng snap out of his trance, hurriedly following after him while clutching the imperial decree and the bundle of clothes.

After walking a few steps, he could not help but look back and see Wang Shunde still standing there, gazing at the young master’s retreating figure with a look of helpless distress.

At the same time, he also saw a hint of worry.

Wang Sheng knew that Wang Shunde also did not want Yun Biechen to remain in the palace.

The West Side Hall of Linhua Palace was indeed grand.

It consisted of three main rooms and two side chambers. The windows were bright, the floors were clean, and the under-floor heating made the room comfortably warm.

On the table sat fine porcelain tea sets, the shelves were stocked with new books, the bed was covered with a brocade quilt and embroidered pillows, and even the curtains were made of high-quality soft silk gauze.

Wang Sheng’s eyes were dazzled the moment he walked in. Having stayed in the Cold Palace for so long, he had not seen such exquisite items in ages. For a moment, he was at a loss, standing at the doorway and not daring to walk inside.

Yun Biechen, however, maintained his usual composure. He walked straight into the inner room and sat down on a soft couch by the window. The couch was covered with a fox-fur mattress, soft and warm. He reached out to touch it and commented, “It will do.”

Only then did Wang Sheng dare to follow him in. He placed the bundle on the table and asked cautiously, “Young Master, can we really use these?”

“Why shouldn’t we?” Yun Biechen leaned back and closed his eyes. “Since they were sent here, they are mine.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than there was a commotion outside. Several eunuchs carried in chests and baskets, opening them one by one. Inside were clothes of all colors, jewelry, ornaments, and a box of gold and silver ingots.

Wang Sheng’s eyes went wide. In all his years in the palace, his monthly allowance had never exceeded two taels of silver; he had never seen so much money.

He swallowed his saliva and turned to look at Yun Biechen, only to find that Yun Biechen was already reclining on the couch, seemingly asleep once again.

“Young Master,” he called out softly.

Yun Biechen did not respond.

Wang Sheng had no choice but to count the items himself. There were winter clothes and spring garments, all made of high-quality cloud brocade and Suzhou embroidery. Although there was not much jewelry, each piece was exquisite. As for the box of gold and silver, he counted them: ten gold ingots, twenty silver ingots, and a pouch of loose silver.

It was enough for them to use for several years. They could make so much porridge.

Wang Sheng felt both happy and uneasy. He was happy that the young master would no longer have to suffer from the cold or hunger, but he was uneasy because this sudden wealth came at the price of Yun Biechen being taken into the Emperor’s harem, which always left one feeling unsettled.

Just as he was thinking this, someone else arrived outside. This time it was Wang Shunde, followed by several gardeners who were carefully moving that white plum tree.

The tree was not large, but its root system was deep. The gardeners put in great effort to dig it out intact and plant it in the hole already dug in the courtyard of Linhua Palace.

Wang Sheng stood under the veranda and watched as the familiar plum tree stood firmly in the new courtyard. The snow on the branches rustled and fell away, revealing little white plum blossoms beneath.

“Young Master,” Wang Sheng returned to the room and said softly, “the plum tree has been transplanted.”

Yun Biechen was still closing his eyes. He turned over, remained still, and mumbled, “I know.”

Wang Shunde walked in and saw that Yun Biechen was still lying on the couch with no intention of getting up. He was not annoyed, but simply said, “Young Master Yun, the Emperor has sent word that he will come to Linhua Palace during dinner to share a meal with you.”

This time, Yun Biechen finally had a reaction. He turned his head and opened his eyes slightly. “What is he coming here for?”

Wang Shunde was choked by the question for a long while before he managed to say, “The Emperor is coming to see if you are accustomed to living here.”

Yun Biechen was silent for a moment and then suddenly asked, “Is there meat?”

Wang Shunde was stunned by the abruptness of the question. “What?”

“For dinner,” Yun Biechen said. “Is there meat? I want to eat meat.”

Wang Shunde replied, “Of course. The Imperial Kitchen will certainly prepare it.”

Yun Biechen nodded and closed his eyes again. “That is fine. Gui-Gui, I am going to sleep for a while. Wake me up when it is time to eat.”

With that, his breathing evened out.

Wang Shunde stood in the room, looking at the person on the couch who had fallen asleep in seconds, and for a moment, he did not know what to say.

After a long time, he sighed and said to Wang Sheng, “Serve him well. As for the Emperor, this servant will inform him.”

Wang Sheng nodded repeatedly and saw Wang Shunde out of the door.

When he returned, he saw that Yun Biechen had turned over and was sleeping facing the wall. Outside the window, the white plum tree stood quietly in the new courtyard, its flower buds seemingly more open under the warm sun than they had been in the Cold Palace.

Wang Sheng gently closed the door and walked over to the table, touching the box of gold and silver. The cold sensation from his fingertips was so real that it made his heart tremble.