The Innocent Heart - Chapter 18

This was probably the most comfortable night Guan Yueyao had spent in a long time. He thought this while sitting in a rather spacious side room on the west side of Huo Qubing’s courtyard.

Looking up, he couldn’t see the starry sky, only a few roof beams spanning the ceiling. Guan Yueyao still couldn’t quite believe it as he touched the clean, soft undergarments he was wearing and the bedding beneath him. Just an hour ago, he was a little beggar struggling to get by in an abandoned, derelict manor. Now, because he randomly beat up a child on the street, he was living in such a remarkably large estate.

Although his status as a “retainer” was slightly higher than that of the servants in the household, the servants were not overly attentive in their care. The lack of constant personal attendance actually made Guan Yueyao much more comfortable.

He had just enjoyed his first hot bath in a long time, and his body felt indescribably refreshed. His hair was damp. The bath towels of this era had nowhere near the absorbency of modern ones, and there was no hairdryer. Guan Yueyao’s hair had grown quite long. Although he had tried hard to wring it out, if he went to sleep before it dried, he would get a headache. He looked at his constantly steaming hair and remembered what his mother used to say.

Suddenly, a commotion came from outside the room. A gentle female crying sounded outside the previously quiet courtyard. Curious, Guan Yueyao secretly peered out from the open window.

“Qubing, Qubing, my son, you’re finally back! Have you suffered out there? Let your mother look at you properly!” In the dim moonlight, Guan Yueyao vaguely saw a woman embracing Huo Qubing, who had also walked out upon hearing the noise, weeping sorrowfully.

This is Huo Qubing’s mother? Guan Yueyao thought. Unfortunately, the light was too dim to see the woman’s face clearly, but judging from the graceful silhouette outlined by the candlelight, her figure must be quite good.

Huo Qubing, at this moment, seemed to be trying his best to escape his mother’s embrace. He looked helpless and flustered, which almost made Guan Yueyao laugh.

But after watching for a few more moments, he couldn’t laugh anymore. He thought of his own mother. Did my mother cry this sadly when she discovered I was missing? His eyes felt sour and stinging, and a warm liquid seemed to be welling up. Guan Yueyao dared not look any longer. He quickly retreated from the window and hid in the inner chamber.

But even hiding inside, the commotion caused by Wei Shao’er and Huo Qubing did not stop.

“Mother, I’m fine! It’s late; you should go back!” Huo Qubing’s increasingly impatient voice drifted intermittently into Guan Yueyao’s ears.

That was the reckless response only a child who knew they were favored could give. Guan Yueyao was unwilling to admit that he felt a surge of envy towards Huo Qubing. The nagging that Huo Qubing despised was the earnest solicitude that he could no longer receive.

Guan Yueyao suddenly felt tired of acting like a hedgehog, raising his sharp quills against everyone who tried to approach him. He had to admit that deep down, he desperately craved warmth from others.

The trauma from being hurt—perhaps due to the new environment, perhaps due to the young man still making a fuss in the courtyard—allowed Guan Yueyao to once again find that warm, happy feeling of being accepted.

The commotion in the courtyard gradually subsided and returned to silence. Huo Qubing seemed busy. Not long after Wei Shao’er left, Wei Qing arrived in the courtyard. The uncle and nephew shut themselves in Huo Qubing’s study, discussing some important matter.

This worked out well for Guan Yueyao, giving him enough time to adjust to his new surroundings and enough time to settle his emotions.

The next day, Guan Yueyao was still vaguely asleep when the enthusiastic Huo Qubing dragged him out of bed.

“A’Yao, stop sleeping! Hurry and come practice riding and archery with me!” Unknowingly, Huo Qubing’s address to Guan Yueyao had already become so intimate.

Guan Yueyao rubbed his eyes, struggling to clear his mind slightly.

“Riding and archery? What riding and archery?”

“Horse riding and archery! You don’t know how to do them yet, do you? I can teach you!” Huo Qubing was excited and seemed full of energy. “I’ll teach you riding and archery, and you teach me your martial arts. Perfect! Neither of us will be the other’s sole master.”

So, this was the idea Huo Qubing was working with.

In contrast to the harmonious atmosphere in the Wei manor, Wei Qing in the Imperial Palace was walking on thin ice. After the morning court disbanded, Liu Che (Emperor Wu of Han) kept Wei Qing back alone: “Where is Qubing? I saw he was injured when he came to the palace the day before yesterday, but since the Grand Princess was present, I couldn’t be too obviously biased.”

Then, he turned and ordered his attendants: “Go, summon Qubing to the palace. Let me take a look at him.”

Wei Qing respectfully followed behind Liu Che to the Hall of Cooling (清涼殿) where Wei Zifu currently resided. The hall was quiet. Wei Zifu, who had been promoted to Furen (夫人 – Lady), hurried out from the hall to greet them.

“Your Majesty, why have you come so early today?” She presented a demure and appropriate demeanor.

Liu Che looked at the incoming Wei Zifu. Her features were delicate, and her voice was gentle and melodious. He felt the annoyance he had suffered the previous night in the Hall of Pepper Chambers (椒房殿, where the Empress lived) dissipate somewhat. He smiled kindly and took Wei Zifu’s hand, walking affectionately with her into the hall: “Did Zifu not say she hadn’t seen Zhongqing (Wei Qing’s courtesy name) for a few days? So I called him here.”

Liu Che laughed heartily. The three sat down according to their hierarchy. The palace maids, being astute, immediately served various seasonal teas and pastries. Liu Che coldly observed everything he saw in the Hall of Cooling and mentally compared it piece by piece to the Hall of Pepper Chambers.

“Your Majesty, court is arduous. Please have some refreshments,” Wei Zifu, attending by his side, spoke gently and respectfully offered a pastry to Liu Che.

Liu Che was quite pleased. He reached out and wrapped his arm around Wei Zifu’s shoulder: “I heard that Qubing left home sometime after returning to the palace the day before yesterday and did not return for the night. Zhongqing, why did you not tell me when you came to the palace yesterday?”

The speaker seemed casual, but the listener felt a cold sweat break out.

Upon hearing this, Wei Qing stood up, bowed, and walked to the center of the hall: “Reporting to Your Majesty, it was merely a child throwing a fit over a few words and running away from home. Unaware that the curfew had begun, he was delayed outside.”

Wei Qing spoke with great tact. He covered up the scandal of his second elder sister, Wei Shao’er, consorting privately with Chen Zhang, while subtly pointing out that although the Wei family was a nouveau riche nobility, they were by no means reckless individuals.

“Zhongqing, please rise! Why make such a fuss over a small matter? Here with Zifu, we observe the rites of family members. If you remain so stiff, I can’t relax either.”

Liu Che replied lightly. His personality had always been like this. His love and hatred were excessively clear. When he liked someone, he wished he could offer them all the best things under heaven. When love was present, it was like hiding beauty in a golden house (金屋藏嬌); when it was gone, he discarded them like worn-out shoes.

Wei Zifu knew well that she served the ruler of a nation, not a husband. Hearing Liu Che’s words, she did not dare to simply agree. She shifted slightly away from the monarch’s side and also bowed down.

“Zifu is of humble birth. Having the fortune to serve Your Majesty and bear you children is already a stroke of luck. How dare I harbor any presumption?”

Seeing his two beloved siblings acting like frightened birds, Liu Che felt both gratified and a little disappointed. My goodwill should just be accepted. Is my reward going to devour the Wei family?

At this thought, Liu Che’s fondness for Huo Qubing, who was also a member of the Wei family, grew stronger. It seemed that in the whole world, within the vast royal court, the only one who could openly accept his kindness without any calculating intent was that child, Qubing.

“Enough, enough. I merely spoke casually. Look how scared you two are,” Liu Che waved his hand, feeling slightly discontented. Wei Qing, relieved, bowed once more to his “brother-in-law” before returning to his seat.

The three chatted for a while, and a palace maid came to report that Huo Qubing sought an audience. Liu Che was delighted upon hearing this. He put down his wine cup and ordered the person to be brought into the hall.

When Zheng Rang (the chief palace attendant) arrived at the Wei manor, Huo Qubing was in the middle of teaching Guan Yueyao the technique of mounting a horse. Liu Che’s summons was urgent, and Zheng Rang knew that Huo Qubing was the junior most favored by Liu Che. Even the children of the Imperial Clan were far less respected by the Emperor than this young man. The Grand Palace Attendant Zheng Rang did not give Huo Qubing a chance to change clothes at home, hurrying him to the palace.

Furthermore, based on his understanding of the current Emperor, Huo Qubing’s current attire as a military man would only please His Majesty, not incur any blame. Zheng Rang was an old man who had served through the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing and had long since become a seasoned veteran.

Empress Chen’s position was unstable, and Grand Princess Guantao’s aggressive posturing in the outer court was gradually revealing its true nature as a sign of weakness and lack of power. Moreover, he knew better than anyone that the current Emperor was unlike Emperors Wen and Jing; he not only disliked others wielding too much power in his presence, but he was also a master manipulator of authority himself.

The Wei family was now highly favored by the Emperor. Although Empress Chen and Grand Princess Guantao were still obstacles, their influence was waning. Just like the strategic value of Ying Yiren to Lü Buwei, in Zheng Rang’s eyes, the status the Wei family could achieve was far beyond their current position. It wasn’t just because Lady Wei (Wei Zifu) had first borne the Emperor a princess; the Wei family’s future lay in the young man currently beside him and his maternal uncle.

Thinking this, Zheng Rang’s attitude toward Huo Qubing became increasingly pleasant.

“Qubing, come, step forward! Let me see you!” Liu Che couldn’t help but smile upon seeing Huo Qubing.

The bond between people was indeed marvelous. Liu Che held an affection for Huo Qubing that surpassed that for a mere subject. Even for the princess born to Wei Zifu, the attention and love Liu Che poured out were far less than that for the young man before him.

“Where have you come from? Why are you dressed like this?” Liu Che asked, curious about Huo Qubing’s casual attire.

Zheng Rang, waiting outside the hall, faintly heard the Emperor’s question and his heart clenched. Although he prided himself on understanding the monarch’s preferences, the Emperor was always unpredictable, and he wondered if this would anger the Imperial presence.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, when Lord Zheng came to summon me, I was practicing horsemanship at home. Seeing Your Majesty’s urgent summons, I took the liberty of coming in these clothes. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”

Immediately following, the young man’s cheerful reply and the Emperor’s laughter reached Zheng Rang’s ears, allowing his nervous heart to settle back into his chest.