“You Sleep Your Own Sleep; Let It Be Excited on Its Own.”
Emperor Hongjia was extremely pleased and bestowed generous rewards upon Chu Yuan.
After exchanging a few words with Nie Chouwen, Chu Yuan returned to Lu Ronghuai’s side with an armful of rewards.
The man stood beneath the flowering tree waiting for him. One brow raised slightly. In the shifting light and shadow, the teasing smile in his eyes could not be hidden.
The smile was too brilliant, dazzling even more than the sunlight.
Chu Yuan could not help lowering his head. As though caught by the contagion of it, his lustrous lips curved gently upward. The smile was serene, like a tender green lotus of early summer shyly awaiting its bloom, carrying an airy and pristine beauty.
The two understood one another without speaking. Neither mentioned it aloud, yet both knew something between them was quietly changing.
Just as winter had already receded and warm spring had descended upon the mortal world, the dust of human life burning with renewed warmth.
The two departed hand in hand. Their figures gradually disappeared into the layered forest of blossoms. Ning Yuqiang stood behind a tree, staring fixedly at Chu Yuan. His fingernails dug into the bark until they turned pale.
Su Ruhe walked slowly past him holding a scroll of painting. With a tone almost like a sigh, he murmured softly.
“Some people are not only beautiful to look upon but gifted beyond measure as well. Truly, they leave no path of survival for others.”
Ning Yuqiang drew a deep breath, turned his head with a cold expression, and strode away.
Su Ruhe tilted his head, eyes following the figure of Ning Yuqiang’s furious retreating figure. The corner of his eyes curved slightly, as though in a smile.
Then suddenly…
“Vice Minister Su, may this humble one borrow your painting to examine for a moment?”
Su Ruhe tightened his arms around the scroll and slowly turned his head.
Nie Siran stood before him, gently fanning a folding fan. His smile looked warm and harmless. Earlier he had noticed Su Ruhe painting here. From time to time Su Ruhe would raise his eyes to look toward Chu Yuan, lips pressed together, eyes brightening with each look.
The longer Nie Siran watched, the more suspicious he became.
Su Ruhe said, “That would be somewhat inconvenient.”
Nie Siran let out an “Oh.”
“That is truly unfortunate.”
Su Ruhe had no wish to speak with him further and quickly took his leave.
Once the man had gone far away, a guard stepped forward. Nie Siran covered his mouth with the folding fan and spoke quietly.
“Follow him. Do not let him notice you. Determine the contents of the painting and return to report.”
A total of seven competitions were held that day. The Kingdom of Lu won four of them. Emperor Hongjia was so pleased that he took an extra half-bowl of rice at the evening meal.
That night.
“Your Majesty, the ruler of Chu Kingdom requests an audience.” Eunuch Yuan Sheng entered the inner hall and bent his waist as he spoke to Emperor Hongjia, who was in the midst of removing his robes.
Emperor Hongjia dismissed the young eunuchs.
“At such a late hour, what does he seek Zhen for?”
Yuan Sheng stepped forward and smilingly retied the Emperor’s belt.
“The ruler of Chu says he has an important matter to discuss with Your Majesty. This old servant told him Your Majesty had already retired, yet he refused to leave and insisted upon seeing Your Majesty.”
“Zhen would like to see what medicine he sells in his gourd.”
Emperor Hongjia draped on an outer robe and strode toward the front hall.
The ruler of Chu waited inside the great hall. When Emperor Hongjia entered, a polite smile rose onto his face.
“The ruler of Chu pays a visit deep into the night. What important matter brings you here?”
The ruler of Chu glanced at Yuan Sheng.
Emperor Hongjia nodded. Yuan Sheng understood and bowed as he withdrew from the hall, thoughtfully closing the doors behind him.
“Very well. There is no one else here now. Speak freely, ruler of Chu.”
“This ruler has come tonight to propose a transaction with Your Majesty.”
Emperor Hongjia gestured for him to take a seat. Hearing this, he asked with considerable interest, “What transaction does the ruler of Chu wish to make?”
A flash of sharp light passed through the ruler of Chu’s eyes.
“May I ask whether Your Majesty has ever heard the legend of the South Sacred Sea?”
“The South Sacred Sea?”
“Indeed. The South Sacred Sea lies to the south of the Kingdom of Chu. It is said that upon the sea there stands an immortal palace. Within dwell immortals who can reach the heavens and escape the earth, beings who govern the cycle of reincarnation and possess boundless divine powers.”
Emperor Hongjia showed little reaction when he heard this.
“Surely no more than rumor.”
“It is not entirely rumor. When this ruler was young, out of curiosity I once set sail in search of that immortal palace. Yet upon the sea I encountered violent winds and towering waves. I was swept into the sea and nearly lost my life.”
Emperor Hongjia was astonished.
“Then how did the ruler of Chu survive afterward?”
The ruler of Chu’s eyes filled with recollection.
“At that time this ruler lost consciousness. When I awoke again, I was upon a small boat. I remained on that boat for four days, yet I felt no hunger at all.”
“How could that be?”
The ruler of Chu said, “Upon that boat stood a red candle. It burned for four days and four nights without finishing. Its fragrance was most unusual. Only when the boat drifted to the shore did this ruler doze briefly. When I opened my eyes again, the candle had already vanished.”
“The moment I stepped onto land, I instantly felt hunger in my stomach. The hunger was so fierce that I fainted on the spot.”
Emperor Hongjia had already become stunned from listening.
After a moment his expression grew excited.
“That candle, could it be an object of the immortals?”
The ruler of Chu nodded.
“This ruler spent more than ten years investigating it. I finally learned that if that candle burns day and night, it can grant a person eternal life and longevity equal to heaven.”
Emperor Hongjia suddenly stood up.
Seeing his excitement, the ruler of Chu allowed a faint smile to appear on his lips.
“For many years this ruler has continually sent people to search for the location of the immortal palace. At present, we already possess some clues.”
Emperor Hongjia nodded repeatedly and asked eagerly, “What do you wish to exchange for the sacred treasure of the immortal palace?”
Half an hour later.
The ruler of Chu walked out of the great hall. He raised his head to glance at the star-filled night sky. The thick fat of his swollen body squeezed his eyes into narrow slits.
He exhaled a breath of turbid air. His objective achieved and departed in excellent spirits.
Meanwhile Emperor Hongjia ordered Yuan Sheng to quickly summon the Celestial Master.
Left alone in the great hall, he paced back and forth. One moment he clenched his hands with shining eyes full of excitement. The next moment he clutched his chest and let out two heavy breaths.
Celestial Master Zhengqing arrived swiftly. The moment he entered, Emperor Hongjia seized his wrist with fervor.
“Celestial Master, Zhen has just received good news.”
Celestial Master Zhengqing remained standing in place with calm composure, smiling faintly as he waited for Emperor Hongjia to speak.
“That white candle you possess, Celestial Master, was it obtained from the South Sacred Sea?”
A trace of unusual emotion flashed through Zhengqing’s eyes, though he concealed it well.
“It was, Your Majesty.”
Emperor Hongjia’s eyes gleamed.
“In the South Sacred Sea there is also a red candle. Its effect is even greater than the white candle. It can truly grant eternal life!”
Zhengqing’s smile deepened.
“That is wonderful indeed. Has Your Majesty already obtained this sacred object?”
“Not yet. However, it will not be long.”
Zhengqing asked, “From whom did Your Majesty come to know of this? This humble Daoist obtained the white candle only by fortunate chance.”
Emperor Hongjia laughed with a face full of red radiance.
“The ruler of Chu told Zhen. He has a means of obtaining the red candle.”
Zhengqing cautioned him, “Such sacred objects must never become known to others. Can the ruler of Chu truly be trusted?”
Emperor Hongjia’s tone was light. “Celestial Master may rest assured. He seeks something from Zhen and would not dare act recklessly.”
When Zhengqing left the Emperor’s sleeping palace, he carried a lantern and walked toward his own residence. Halfway there he looked around in all directions. After confirming that no one was nearby, his steps changed direction toward the Empress’s palace.
Xian Shuang stood upon a tree branch. His black clothing concealed him perfectly in the darkness. He followed Zhengqing into the palace and hung upside down beneath the eaves.
After they finished speaking, he lightly tapped the ground with the tip of his foot and vanished.
Xian Shuang returned to Guanghao Palace and gently knocked upon the door of the inner hall.
Footsteps soon sounded inside. Lu Ronghuai opened the door and stepped out wearing an outer robe, his outer robe draped loose over his shoulders.
Xian Shuang repeated everything he had heard. Lu Ronghuai listened with a deepening furrow between his brows.
“The red candle of the South Sacred Sea?”
Xian Shuang said, “There are skilled guards guarding the Emperor’s sleeping palace. This subordinate did not dare approach too closely. The Celestial Master has passed news of the red candle to the Empress. The Empress will likely make a move next.”
Lu Ronghuai said, “Keep watch on that side. Withdraw for now.”
He closed the door and turned toward the inner chamber.
Chu Yuan had already lain down. Lu Ronghuai placed his outer robe upon a rack and lifted the gauze curtain before entering.
The mattress beside him sank slightly. Soon afterward a scorching warm body covered him from behind, and a large hand draped itself around his waist.
“Your Highness, was it Xian Shuang who came just now?” Chu Yuan’s eyes were half closed. His voice carried a hint of weariness, yet it remained clear and pleasant.
“Mm. That worthless father of yours told the Emperor about the red candle of the South Sacred Sea. Ah-Yuan, do you know what that thing is?” Lu Ronghuai’s deep voice sounded beside his ear.
Chu Yuan suddenly opened his eyes. The sleepiness vanished from them completely.
The room fell silent for a moment.
“This subject… has never heard of it.”
Lu Ronghuai did not pay much attention. Hearing that Chu Yuan’s voice sounded slightly hoarse, he asked with concern, “Did the wind in the peach grove chill you today? Your voice does not sound quite right.”
“It is nothing. This subject is only a little tired.”
Lu Ronghuai himself was not sleepy. His spirits were excellent and he wished to speak with Chu Yuan a while longer. Yet hearing this, he pulled the quilt higher around him and said thoughtfully, “Very well, sleep quickly then. Shall I tell you a story to sleep by?”
Chu Yuan curled his legs and shrank deeper beneath the quilt, leaving only a pair of dark bright eyes exposed.
His voice sounded muffled.
“This subject is not a child.”
“Then Ah-Yuan may indulge one wish of mine. I want to coax you to sleep.”
Chu Yuan pressed his lips together to keep from smiling and gave a small nod.
Lu Ronghuai buried his face within Chu Yuan’s hair. Breathing in the faint clean scent of soapwort, he curved his lips in a smile.
“So well-behaved.”
“Your Highness…”
“Mm?”
“You…”
“What is it?” Lu Ronghuai continued rubbing and nuzzling at his neck like a large dog.
“You… you are pressing against me.”
Chu Yuan buried his entire face beneath the quilt, his cheeks flushed pink.
Lu Ronghuai’s expression was one of perfect innocence.
“There is nothing to be done about it. It grows excited whenever it sees you.”
Chu Yuan “….”
Unable to help himself, he shifted slightly toward the inside of the bed. He had barely moved when the dog-skin plaster behind him stuck to him again.
“You sleep your own sleep; let it be excited on its own.”
Chu Yuan took a deep breath.
“Your Highness, this subject cannot sleep like this.”
“Then I shall tell you a story.”
“Your Highness is not sleepy?” Chu Yuan asked with weary resignation.
They had both been occupied the entire day. How was this man still so bright-eyed and full of energy?
Lu Ronghuai answered honestly.
“I am not tired. I am too excited to sleep.”
“…this subject is aware.”
“Ah-Yuan, guess why I am excited.” He gently bit the rim of Chu Yuan’s ear.
Chu Yuan’s ears were extremely sensitive. The instant his ear was taken into the other’s mouth, a numb shiver ran through his entire body.
His breathing became uneven.
“This subject does not know.”
“I am very happy today.” Lu Ronghuai’s hand wandered beneath the quilt until it quickly found its target. He grasped that soft and smooth hand and let out a satisfied sigh.
The treasure he had nurtured for several months had finally acknowledged that he belonged to him and had shown closeness toward him. That brought him even more joy than when he ascended the imperial throne in his previous life.
The tips of Chu Yuan’s ears turned red. Pretending not to understand, he closed his eyes and tried to sleep.
Lu Ronghuai knew he was not asleep. He gazed at those vivid, reddened earlobes for a long, appreciative moment, before saying, “Say it once more for me, Ah Yuan. Would you?”
Chu Yuan’s eyelids trembled faintly.
“Say it to my face again. I wish to hear it.” Lu Ronghuai pressed a kiss to his ear.
Unable to endure any longer, Chu Yuan suddenly turned over. He wrapped his arms around Lu Ronghuai’s firm waist and buried his entire face against his chest.
Then Lu Ronghuai heard Chu Yuan’s muffled voice against him, shy and faintly indignant, calling out in one bright burst of sound.
“Husband, hurry and sleep!”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Yuanyuan: Alright, it is time to sleep. If you keep pressing, it becomes impolite.
Lu Dog: What bad intentions could it possibly have? It only wishes to pay you its respects.
Yuanyuan: …
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