1.
As December passed, the Prime Minister’s only son turned eighteen.
The Prime Minister was troubled because the Empress Dowager had told him that the young Emperor was quite fond of his son. He immediately bowed and agreed profusely.
One evening at dinner, Prime Minister Yang suddenly put down his chopsticks and asked Yang Qinyu, “Yu’er, what do you think of the palace? It’s grand and bright, surely better than our residence.”
At that moment, Yang Qinyu was staring at a large green leaf in his soup bowl. Without thinking, he replied, “…It’s not bad.”
Prime Minister Yang nodded thoughtfully.
On another evening, Prime Minister Yang paused again and asked, “Hmm, Yu’er, what do you think of the young Emperor? Though young, he’s mature. You should be able to get along well.”
After a moment of contemplation, Yang Qinyu furrowed his brows and stared at his father, “…Not bad?”
Prime Minister Yang probably didn’t notice the expression on Yang Qinyu’s face that seemed to say, “Are you serious?” or the hint of doubt in his tone. His face turned red with excitement as if he had just drunk two jugs of wine.
Yang Qinyu watched as his father slammed the table, then produced a white handkerchief from nowhere, weeping with joy, “As expected of my son! Such ambition truly reflects the Yang family legacy—our true legacy!!”
Seeing his father about to pass out from excitement, Yang Qinyu quickly called for servants, saying his father was overworked and should be carried to his chambers.
Little did he know how his words would be misinterpreted.
The next day, Minister Yang, face dark, stared at the servants in white mourning clothes and the white paper cuttings about to be pasted on the walls. His finger trembled as he pointed at the air.
“You… you’re trying to kill me!”
The servants remained silent with their heads lowered. Upon closer inspection, a few were covering their mouths, clearly suppressing laughter.
When Yang Qinyu appeared in the hall, he was startled, his yawn caught in his throat.
He turned to his personal attendant and asked, “What’s going on? Did someone die?”
The attendant leaned in and whispered, “Young Master, last night someone saw the Master faint, so…” He gave a knowing look and continued, “You know.”
Yang Qinyu blinked in confusion, then after a moment, remarked, “The Prime Minister’s household is indeed highly efficient.”
2.
Just after mentioning the high efficiency, the next day, Prime Minister Yang packed Yang Qinyu’s belongings and sent him off to the palace.
As they parted ways, Prime Minister Yang waved a small handkerchief, tears streaming down his face, “Yu’er, take care of yourself out there. Remember to dress warmly—drink hot water—eat plenty… wuwuwuwu…”
Yang Qinyu nodded repeatedly. Suddenly hearing more crying, he turned to see his father’s guards wiping tears from their eyes. He stared with wide, innocent eyes and asked, “I’m going to the palace to have a good time, why are you crying?”
The guards, who couldn’t return home in the freezing weather and had to stand watch, cried even harder upon hearing this.
.
Outside the carriage, snow fell heavily. Inside, one could hear the crunch of wheels compressing the fluffy snow.
“Young Master, the Emperor is now twelve years old. The Empress Dowager’s intentions are clear—she wants you to become the Imperial Tutor.”
Yang Qinyu sighed, closing his book and waving his hands, as if trying to distance himself from the matter. He looked helplessly at his page boy who accompanied him and, after some thought, said, “What are you always thinking about in that head of yours?” He then placed his index finger on his lips, “Be careful with your words—”
The page boy pursed his lips, bowed slightly to Yang Qinyu, and nodded, “Young Master, your words are wise, I will be cautious.”
Imperial Tutor… Yang Qinyu paused, lifting a corner of the carriage curtain to look outside. Everything was covered in silver, and any hint of color stood out sharply against the vast whiteness.
He didn’t dare to interpret that kind of meaning recklessly.
His father, as Prime Minister, surely understood the possibility of his power overshadowing the throne.
Prime Minister Yang had countless times wrinkled his face into a mass of furrows, cursing that he must have been out of his mind to agree to become Prime Minister for the late Emperor.
After much consideration, Yang Qinyu felt he was merely a facade. Ostensibly sent to the palace to teach the young Emperor the ways of ruling, he was, in reality, a pawn to restrain the Prime Minister’s power.
After all, as someone lacking in talent and ambition, he was most suited to be a figurehead. What other thoughts could he possibly have?
He only hoped that his father’s oft-repeated claim of loving him dearly wasn’t just talk, and that he wouldn’t be facing execution the moment he set foot in the palace.
3.
Surprisingly, it was the young Emperor himself who came to receive him.
“Brother Qinyu, you must be tired from your journey,” the Emperor, still very young with traces of childishness not yet faded from his face, spoke seriously to Yang Qinyu, his baby face strained.
The Court Recorder stood nearby, one hand holding a register, the other wielding a brush that danced rapidly across the page. His sharp gaze was fixed on the two conversing.
“Your Majesty is too kind. My family’s residence is not far,” Yang Qinyu smiled awkwardly, afraid of saying anything inappropriate that the Court Recorder might note down.
Thus, the two exchanged pleasantries they had learned since childhood, the formalities seeming endless.
For the first time, Yang Qinyu felt his knowledge was insufficient. He thought he should ask his father for a copy of “Complete Guide to Official Courtesies” upon his return.
The weather was not particularly good, with snow continuing to fall steadily.
A palace servant held an umbrella for the young Emperor. The height of the umbrella made Yang Qinyu aware that someone else stood behind it, though he couldn’t make out their appearance.
Finally, the young Emperor coughed lightly behind his hand and said with feigned authority, “It’s freezing out here. Brother Qinyu, please come with me into the palace first.”
Yang Qinyu bowed respectfully to the young Emperor, not realizing that the snow beneath his feet, recently compressed by the carriage, had become smooth and slick. Before he could take a step, he experienced a moment of weightlessness, as if he were about to fly like a bird.
At that moment, his page boy, the young Emperor, and the layers of guards surrounding the Emperor all watched in bewilderment as Yang Qinyu traced a perfect arc through the air before them.
Yang Qinyu thought he was about to make intimate contact with the snow-covered ground, but a flash of black robes swirled before his eyes, and he found himself in a warm embrace.
“How can you set an example for the Emperor if you’re this careless when walking?”
The person quickly released him. When Yang Qinyu looked up, he saw the man who had just held him now frowning, his dark eyes filled with an indescribable emotion as he looked at Yang Qinyu, his perfectly proportioned lips moving as he spoke.
This person was so good-looking, yet their first words to him were a reprimand. Yang Qinyu sighed inwardly, feeling a tinge of regret.
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