The main hall was in utter chaos, but in the end, everyone swiftly dispersed under an unspoken mutual understanding.
In the bath, Jing Xuan, his face flushed red, finally shoved Gu Fang away. He turned at once, trying to escape to the shore, only for Gu Fang to seize his wrist and yank him back.
"Your Majesty plans to use me and leave?"
His voice was still that same languid teasing tone from before, making Jing Xuan seem like some heartless unfeeling scoundrel instead.
Since when did a regent prince act like some pleasure house courtesan?
Jing Xuan, already driven half-mad by Gu Fang’s tormenting not-kiss-but-almost-kiss maneuver, wished nothing more than to cripple him with a single kick.
"Cut out that seductive nonsense at once. It’s broad daylight under the heavens. What sort of conduct is this?"
The way he shouted this was fierce but not in the same way as usual.
If in their past arguments he had always been like a little tiger ready to sink its teeth into him at any moment, then today he was like a kitten bristling at the slightest touch.
And not just any kitten but one that had somehow stolen a taste of rouge from somewhere, ending up stained all over with a blushing sultry red.
Come to think of it, His Little Majesty had been acting strange ever since they left the Prime Minister Shi’s manor.
Not because he kept cursing him.
After all, he always cursed him.
But because today all his scolding seemed to have lost that usual sharp cutting edge that could anger a man to death.
Instead, it carried an odd hint of shyness, hesitation, and restraint.
As if he were the one being bullied instead.
So Gu Fang simply asked outright, "Your Majesty seems particularly afraid of me today."
Jing Xuan "...."
"Bullshit!"
He bared his tiger fangs in a menacing glare, but the blush on his face only deepened.
Gu Fang, seeing through him at once, continued, "Then was Your Majesty’s late-night visit to Hua Ting last night in any way related to me?"
Jing Xuan blurted out at once, "Stop flattering yourself."
His plump earlobes were flushed red, nearly dripping with color.
Gu Fang had already figured it out.
"So regarding the matter of selecting an empress, is Your Majesty planning to delay it simply by angering all the senior ministers into fainting one by one? You should know there aren’t many old men left in court."
Thinking back to last year when he made the Minister of Revenue so angry that he had a stroke,
The year before when he made the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy so angry that he resigned,
And the year before that when he made the Chief Astronomer so angry that he died.
Jing Xuan "..."
His political achievements over the past few years were admittedly quite impressive.
But what did it have to do with Gu Fang?
"Since when is it your place to meddle in my affairs?"
He put on the full airs of a tyrannical and unbridled ruler.
Gu Fang, however, showed no irritation whatsoever. He simply replied at a leisurely pace
"Since it concerns my rightful position as the primary wife, this concubine naturally has a duty to intervene."
Jing Xuan: "?"
"Since Eunuch Fu Chang said today that there is a ‘Beauty Fang’ in the palace, then naturally, there must truly be a ‘Beauty Fang.’ Otherwise, during the Mid-Autumn banquet, if the seat beside His Highness is left empty, I fear we would not know which family's young lady would end up taking it. Or… does His Highness truly intend to make Hua Ting the empress?"
Gu Fang's gaze lowered slightly, speaking unhurriedly.
The gentleman was still the same gentleman, dark hair cascading like a waterfall, wide sleeves drifting like clouds, his brows and eyes carrying an elegant coldness like plum blossoms on a southern mountain, like steadfast pines in lush greenery.
Only now, his dark hair had lost its adornments, his wide sleeves were drenched in water, and his lashes cast deep shadows over his narrow eyes. At the corners of his eyes, a misty glimmer rose, making it unclear whether his composed words carried the schemes of a regent prince or the subtle jealousy of a lover.
And his gaze, completely unreserved, was fixed on Jing Xuan, as if unafraid of being seen through. Yet, it left Jing Xuan unable to discern anything.
Jing Xuan: "..."
Was this bastard truly trying to seduce him?
He had originally doubted that dream.
After all, dreams come from what one thinks about during the day. He often dreamt of strange things after resenting Gu Fang too much, and Gu Fang had always appeared detached from worldly desires, like a monk.
So even though he had wanted to be cautious, he never actually believed Gu Fang would do such a thing.
Yet now, Gu Fang's gaze upon him was truly strange.
Strange enough that he felt if he stayed here a moment longer, he might just overheat and explode.
"You, you, you—you take your ten men and roll through the side gate to Chunshui Pavilion!"
Jing Xuan used all his strength to kick Gu Fang away, then scrambled ashore in a panic. Clutching his robe, he bolted toward the sleeping quarters without looking back.
Behind him, Gu Fang leaned leisurely against the cold edge of the pool, rubbing his fingers where warmth still lingered. He lowered his eyes in contemplation, as if deep in thought, or perhaps letting something settle.
It wasn’t until the lead guard of the 10 men hurriedly presented a slip of paper that Gu Fang languidly lifted his gaze.
"Your Highness, a carrier pigeon just arrived with news. There’s been a lead in Zhangtai Alley."
Gu Fang casually took the note, glanced at it, and indifferently said, "Mm, noted. With Mid-Autumn approaching, avoid bloodshed. Also, prepare—we're moving into Chunshui Pavilion."
—
“What? His Majesty actually made that male vixen a Beauty Fang and even granted him Chunshui Pavilion?”
In the Minister’s residence, Jiang Yue who had just been needled back to life by the imperial physician nearly fainted again upon hearing the news from Weiyang Palace.
Madam Jiang, startled, quickly pinched his philtrum to keep him conscious and hastily said, “Isn’t it true? That little eunuch who sent the message said that wretch was not only carried to Chunshui Pavilion in the imperial sedan but was also draped in His Majesty’s outer robe. Half-dressed yet still pretending to be reserved with a veiled hat. One look, and you can tell he’s a top-class seducer!”
Madam Jiang had spent her life scheming against concubines in the Jiang household. Upon hearing this, just imagining the scene made her gnash her teeth in anger.
She even smacked the Minister beside her so hard that he yelped, “Be gentle!”
“Gentle? If I were any gentler, you’d just faint and save yourself the trouble of fighting for our daughter’s position as empress!” Madam Jiang was beyond furious and turned to scold someone else. “And you! I painstakingly raised you to adulthood, yet you can’t even compete with a man. What use are you?”
Jiang Yingxue was leisurely cracking melon seeds, seemingly in a good mood. “I never wanted to compete in the first place. You people forced me to go. I went, and now, the one being carried back in disgrace isn’t me. Why are you taking it out on me?”
“You! Cough, cough, cough—” Jiang Yue hadn’t even finished his scolding before he started coughing violently from rage. “It’s all because your mother was useless and didn’t give me a legitimate son! That’s why you grew up this wild and unruly! Now that you’ve lost your chance to be empress, what noble family would dare take you in?”
Jiang Yingxue was entirely unfazed, ignoring the latter half of his words. “It really is your fault for not having a son. At least if you did, he could fight for the position with Beauty Fang and Hua Ting. In that sense, Father, you truly lost to the Prime Minister Shi.”
“You—you—you… How did I raise such an unfilial wretch?!”
Jiang Yue roared in fury.
Jiang Yingxue wasn’t one to back down. She slammed the plate of melon seeds onto the table. “I should be the one asking how I ended up with a father like you! You knew full well that His Majesty prefers men, yet you still shoved me into that fire pit. Am I your daughter, or just a tool for you to climb higher?”
“What do you know?!”
“I know nothing, except that no matter how much you push me, I can’t magically grow those two taels of flesh down there. So instead of forcing me, why don’t you hurry up and drink the deer blood that the Grand Consort granted you? Then work on having a son. Otherwise, even if I do end up with the empress title, what’s the use of it without any favor?”
With that, she spun around and walked off with flair.
Behind her, Jiang Yue’s fingers trembled with impotent rage. “She—she—she…”
“What she thinks doesn’t matter.” Madam Jiang quickly soothed him. “Husband, have you forgotten? Years ago, we saved a beggar from Miaojiang. That child is still being raised in Zhangtai Alley.”
As she spoke, a meaningful smile crept onto her lips.
Jiang Yue’s expression paused slightly.
Zhangtai Alley, Liu Chou’er
Jiang Yue rubbed his fingers together and called for a servant.
“Send a fine bottle of wine to the Commander of the Golden Scale Guards. Tell him His Majesty is still young and should not be kept confined for too long. If he wishes to leave the palace, I trust the Commander will be understanding—no obstructions, no hindrances, and no reports to Prince Xiangding. Oh, and while you’re at it… bring me a certain someone.”
---
"Wait, Your Majesty, why did we manage to sneak out so easily this time? And didn’t Prince Xiangding just issue a confinement order? If he finds out we slipped away like this, won’t we be as good as dead?"
On a moonlit night in Chang’an, an inconspicuous carriage sped along Zhuque Avenue toward the Eastern Market.
Inside the carriage, Hua Ting, dressed as a servant, kept lifting the curtain, peering outside, his entire posture radiating unease.
In contrast, the one who had truly snuck out of the palace sat on the couch, clenching his fists and grinding his teeth, his face full of frustration and impatience. "Mind your own business."
"With Gu Fang behaving as he did today, as long as that man can still function as a man, I won’t have a peaceful day!"
As for why things went so smoothly..
The night wind lifted the curtain, sending the cityscape surging in like a waterfall.
Brilliant lanterns flickered to life along both sides of the street, hanging from eaves, swaying atop high branches, flowing like a river of light across the skies of Chang’an. Below, the streets teemed with people, drums pounded in the distance, and the glow of lanterns made the night as bright as day.
Such prosperity.
The Great Yan dynasty had endured his grandfather’s late-years folly, his father’s military struggles, and his own reckless youth. Yet, in just over twenty years, it had shifted from prosperity to decline, then from decline back to prosperity.
Some said it was due to the solid foundation left by the late emperor.
Some credited the Minister Jiang Yue and Prime Minister Shi, both renowned as wise statesmen.
Others claimed it was Prince Xiangding who entrusted by the late emperor took charge during times of peril and kept the empire from collapse.
But no one ever credited the young emperor, who had ascended the throne at twelve and, despite never allowing any one faction to seize full power, remained overlooked.
If people spoke of him at all, it was to marvel at his peerless beauty, enough to dazzle nations, enough to bewitch enemies, radiantly unmatched in all the world.
And yet, beneath the gilded exterior lay nothing but empty fluff—a mere embroidered pillow.
Over time, everyone had come to believe he was nothing more than a useless, beautiful fool.
The Minister Jiang Yue in particular had grown so confident that he even thought he could extend his reach into the Golden Scale Guards.
How laughable.
That old man had forced him to endure many grievances over the years, but had he ever truly outmaneuvered him?
A mocking smirk curled at the corner of Jing Xuan’s lips.
Beside him, Hua Ting hesitantly spoke. "Your Majesty… you’re smiling really creepily right now."
Jing Xuan raised his eyes. "?"
Hua Ting explained, "Like an idiot trying really hard to act smart."
Jing Xuan: "…"
With a swift kick, Hua Ting went flying.
"I should’ve left you scrubbing chamber pots in the guards’ barracks!"
Hua Ting clutched his backside, wincing. "Oh, now you’re blaming me? If I hadn’t been covering for you, would Prince Xiangding have thrown me into latrine duty in the first place?"
"Do you have any idea how disgusting those chamber pots in the patrol barracks are? You don’t!
"Because instead of caring when I was suffering injustice and humiliation, you were busy favoring that so-called Beauty Fang! You even granted him Chunshui Pavilion, the residence closest to Zichen Hall!"
A rapid-fire string of accusations and grievances tumbled out, and Hua Ting was so aggrieved that tears were about to start falling.
Jing Xuan: "…"
A little guilty.
But only a little.
"Are you brain-damaged? You’ve known me for so many years do you seriously not know whether I like men or not?"
"Of course I don’t know! I heard it straight from the palace maids! They said that in broad daylight, under the clear heavens, you and that Beauty Fang were frolicking like a pair of mandarin ducks, toppling the phoenix, seven times in a single night—utter debauchery! And they said that when Beauty Fang left Zichen Hall, his clothes were torn to shreds, and his legs were so weak he couldn’t even walk properly! And you still say you don’t like men?"
Hua Ting was utterly self-righteous.
Jing Xuan: "???"
What "toppling the phoenix," what "seven times in a single night," what "utter debauchery"?!
It hadn’t even been an hour, and the palace was already buzzing with such outrageous rumors?!
He had long since purged the inner ranks of Zichen Hall, there was no way his people would dare spread such talk without his approval.
And Minister Jiang Yue was desperate to cover up any trace of his supposed fondness for men, keeping it as tightly under wraps as possible.
That left only one possibility—
"Gu Fang!"