Qin Yi’s throat tightened, and his voice came out hoarse. “I want to.”
Yan Tongshu beamed. She leaned forward and brought one of her cat ears to his lips. Qin Yi opened his mouth to bite it, but Yan Tongshu pulled it away.
“Can’t catch it.”
With that, she offered the cat ear to him again.
Qin Yi didn’t move.
Yan Tongshu gave a soft little “Hmm,” the corners of her eyes curving upward. “Don’t be angry. I was only in the mood to tease you. Here, eat.”
Qin Yi opened his mouth, but Yan Tongshu pulled it away again.
After several rounds of this, Qin Yi finally lost his temper. “Yan! Tong! Shu!”
Yan Tongshu pressed her lips together to hide her laughter. “You’re really getting impatient?”
Qin Yi rose to his feet. “I’m not eating it.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
“Qin Yi!”
At the sound of Yan Tongshu’s voice behind him, he instinctively looked back. Yan Tongshu leaped into his arms, and he caught her on reflex.
Her legs wrapped around his waist, and her arms circled his neck.
“Forget the cat ears.” She leaned close to his ear, her voice soft as melted sugar. “How about eating something else?”
The misting steam dyed everything in a dreamlike haze.
Their bodies pressed tightly together through their thin clothing. In the suspended silence, the air grew warmer by the inch.
Qin Yi felt as though he could hardly breathe. He had no control over himself at all.
“No.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed with difficulty, and his voice was hoarse to the extreme.
This was a dream.
He couldn’t keep desecrating her in his dreams with those secret, shameful thoughts.
Yan Tongshu stared straight into his eyes. “Are you sure you can’t?”
Qin Yi looked away. “I can’t.”
She lifted both hands and cupped his face, gently turning his head back until he was forced to look at her. “I say you can.”
The moment she finished speaking, Yan Tongshu lowered her head and kissed the corner of his lips.
It was like a feather brushing past—or a spark falling into a vat of boiling oil.
“You really don’t want to?”
The corners of her lips curved upward, her eyes reflecting his discomfiture. “Qin Yi, I can feel it.”
“Your body is being perfectly honest.” She lowered her head and lightly bit his prominent Adam’s apple. “You want it. You want it so badly you’re going mad.”
No.
This was a dream.
He had to wake up.
Qin Yi slowly opened his eyes, but the sensations in his body remained immersed in the dream. The restless heat within him was nowhere near gone.
A dream was a dream, and yet it wasn’t.
He stared at the canopy above him.
Inside the vast Fu’ning Palace, the candle flames swayed forlornly. Their dim yellow light failed to reach every corner.
For the first time, Qin Yi realized that Fu’ning Palace was too large, too desolate—and far too lonely.
Qin Yi sat up in bed, propped his forehead against one hand, and closed his eyes as he took a deep breath.
It seemed that… simply embracing her was no longer enough.
He wanted her. He wanted her like a monster, with a desperate, maddening hunger.
“Lu Xi.” Qin Yi called out in grim resignation, “Prepare a bath.”
Outside the hall, Lu Xi replied calmly, “Yes.”
…
The day before the Mid-Autumn Festival, Yan Tongshu packed the mooncakes she had made into custom gift boxes.
On the day of the festival, she arrived at the Kaifeng Prefecture Office early and distributed them to Zhang Jiu and Li Fulin. Even Cen Xu, who had come bearing official documents, received a box.
Then, when Meng Zheng came to hand over the documents, she brought out the oversized box she had prepared for him—five beef mooncakes and five taro-paste mooncakes.
“Ta-da!”
Yan Tongshu opened the lid. “Two different flavors. Surely you’ll like at least one of them.”
Meng Zheng picked up a beef mooncake and took a bite. He immediately gave her a thumbs-up. “Lord Yan, you’re amazing.”
He placed the official documents on the table. “How are you spending the evening? Admiring the moon and eating mooncakes with your family?”
“The Yan family will be very lively tonight.” Yan Tongshu’s eyes sparkled as she spoke. “Everyone from the Pei and Qian families will be coming to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with us.”
Meng Zheng understood at once. “Then it seems a happy occasion is close at hand for the Yan and Pei families.”
“When the time comes, I’ll send you an invitation. Lord Meng, you must do us the honor of attending.”
Yan Tongshu stamped the documents and handed them back to Meng Zheng. He accepted them and replied, “I guarantee I’ll prepare an enormous wedding gift.”
Yan Tongshu cupped her hands in a formal salute. “Then I’ll thank you on Liangyu’s behalf, Lord Meng.”
Meng Zheng returned the salute, documents in hand. “You’re welcome, Lord Yan.”
That afternoon, once she had finished her official duties, Yan Tongshu rushed home with Pearl and Jinbao.
Qian Buping and Chen Meirong had arrived at the Yan residence that morning. Mr. Pei, Mrs. Pei, and Pei Jin’an arrived in the afternoon.
When Yan Tongshu entered, everyone rose and respectfully bowed. “Lord Yan.”
Yan Tongshu smiled and waved her hand. “This is a family gathering. We’re all family here, so there’s no need for such formalities.”
Everyone replied respectfully, “Yes, Lord Yan.”
With the exception of Yan Liangrong and Zheng Ke, everyone had arrived. They all sat down and chatted.
Chen Meirong pulled Yan Tongshu aside. “Tongshu, I’m not familiar with the grown-up Pei Jin’an. Your eldest sister says he has good character. What do you think? You’ve served in court for so long—what’s your impression of Pei Jin’an?”
Yan Tongshu smiled brightly at Chen Meirong. “Auntie, what’s your impression of Pei Jin’an? Do you like him?”
Chen Meirong racked her brain. “He certainly looks decent, but… after being bitten by a snake once, I’m afraid of ropes for ten years. Before Liangyu had a betrothal arranged, I was eager for her to settle down. Now that she and Pei Jin’an are growing closer, I find myself even more uneasy. Look at Zhou Zhengxun. He seemed like a fine, upright gentleman at first. Who would have thought that the longer one spent with him, the more frightening his coldness and selfishness became?”
“Well…” Yan Tongshu’s gaze passed over Chen Meirong and landed on Pei Jin’an. He was a graceful young man, warm and courteous, but as for what lay beneath that exterior…
Yan Tongshu remembered what she had heard from Cen Xu long ago, when she had asked him about Pei Jin’an.
Cen Xu had lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment before asking, “Does Lord Yan want me to confirm something, or are you hoping to hear something else?”
Yan Tongshu had replied, “Just tell me the truth.”
Cen Xu had smiled. “All I can say is that Pei Jin’an, like me, is neither a gentleman nor a bad man. In officialdom and in life, he knows when to advance and when to retreat. He can be a loyal minister, or he can be a sycophant. It all depends on a single thought.”
Afterward, Yan Tongshu had kicked Cen Xu.
The way Cen Xu spoke—and the way he conducted himself—was as elusive as drifting clouds.
“What is he really like?” Chen Meirong asked anxiously, tugging at her sleeve.
Yan Tongshu came back to herself and smiled. “The Pei family has upright values. He is kindhearted and highly capable. Besides, the Pei family rules forbid taking concubines or bringing in secondary wives.”
After saying this, Yan Tongshu’s gaze returned to Pei Jin’an.
His eyes burned brightly as he stared at Yan Liangyu, making no attempt to conceal his feelings for her.
In official circles, Pei Jin’an was adept at navigating relationships. Like Cen Xu, he was neither a gentleman nor a bad man. He was skilled at socializing, at reading people, and at moving through the official world with ease. That was not a flaw.
A person who was too unyielding would break easily. Compared with someone as honest and straightforward as Zheng Chun, Liangyu would have a much easier life married to a capable and adaptable man like Pei Jin’an.
Moreover, Pei Jin’an was willing to request a transfer to the Judicial Office for Liangyu’s sake—a department that offered no benefit to his career and every possible disadvantage. That alone proved that his feelings were genuine.
Yan Tongshu gave Chen Meirong a reassuring look. “Liangyu is an official herself, and she has all of us behind her. What is there to fear? If she and Pei Jin’an live happily together in the future, then everyone will be pleased. If anything happens to him, she’ll still have us to fall back on. She can support herself, can’t she?”
Those words eased Chen Meirong’s worries somewhat.
Yan Tongshu asked, “Have you settled on a date yet?”
Chen Meirong replied anxiously, “Not yet. We’ve only informed both sides for now. After this meal, we’ll formally invite the matchmaker in a few days and choose an auspicious date to finalize the marriage.”
As she spoke, another layer of worry clouded her brow.
In truth, she did not even know exactly what she was worrying about.
The closer the wedding drew, the more flustered she became.
She was afraid of choosing the wrong husband for her daughter and making her repeat her own fate, yet she was also reluctant to see her daughter marry.
But men and women eventually had to marry, and the two of them were genuinely in love.
She fretted over one thing after another, worrying that once the engagement was settled, they might fail to agree on the dowry and betrothal gifts, or that something might go wrong while preparing the wedding.
She was even afraid that after Liangyu married, she might suffer during childbirth.
Oh dear, why was she so worried about everything?
Yan Tongshu smiled. In her opinion, Chen Meirong was not troubled at all—she was simply suffering from premarital anxiety.
Yan Tongshu comforted her. “Auntie, if this is truly a good match, everything will fall naturally into place, and all will go smoothly. There’s no need to worry so far in advance.”
“Alas.” Chen Meirong let out a long sigh. “She’s my only daughter. How could I possibly stop worrying?”
There was nothing to be done about that.
When one’s only daughter was about to marry, any mother was bound to fret.
Yan Tongshu smiled and pulled Chen Meirong back down into her seat.
As everyone chatted and laughed, Yan Liangrong returned from the academy with Zheng Ke. She was also carrying a box in her hand.
Yan Liangyu and Pei Jin’an had been teased until their faces flushed scarlet, so they hurried over to change the subject.
“Sister, what’s that?”
“Mooncakes.” Yan Liangrong opened the box. Inside were ten perfectly round mooncakes, with some dried lotus seeds beneath them. The lotus seeds were plump and uniform, clearly selected with great care.
Yan Liangrong pulled Yan Liangyu over to Yan Tongshu’s side, set down the box, and lowered her voice. “Tao Jiang had someone deliver them. She said they’ve settled down now. Her sister received excellent treatment, and at present she can remain conscious for an hour in total, though in intermittent periods throughout the day. The physician says that if she keeps taking her medicine, she should regain full consciousness within half a year.”
“That’s wonderful!” Yan Liangyu clasped her hands together, filled with delight.
It was the best news she had heard all day.
Yan Liangrong’s voice was gentle and filled with relief. “On my way back today, I took a detour to visit Lu Lan. She and her grandmother are still living in their original village. She says she and her childhood sweetheart are close to getting married. She’s always been cheerful by nature, and she’s come to terms with many things now. She rarely lets herself get hurt anymore.”
Yan Tongshu smiled. “Then when they marry, we’ll prepare a gift for them as well.”
“I was thinking the same.” Yan Liangrong finished speaking, then turned to Yan Liangyu with a bright smile. “When our Liangyu gets married, what gift would you like? It’s your big day, so just tell me. No matter what it is, your sister will give it to you.”
“Oh, stop.” Yan Liangyu had only just been teased by everyone and had turned bright red. Now Yan Liangrong was joining in, too, and she grew flustered. “Sister, don’t tease me anymore.”
“How is this teasing you? I’m simply letting you choose your gift.” Yan Liangrong gave her a mischievous smile. Yan Tongshu joined in as well. “That’s right. Tell us what you want. Your brother will give you something, too.”
“I’m not speaking to any of you anymore.”
Yan Liangyu turned and ran back to Lady Yan’s side. The moment Pei Jin’an saw her return, he hurried over to her.
“Sister.”
She shot him a sideways glare. “This is all your fault.”
Pei Jin’an’s voice was clear and gentle, as though it held spring water. “Yes, it’s all my fault. I’ll make it up to you.”
Everyone laughed and joked together, and before long, darkness had fallen.
Yan Liangrong had the kitchen begin serving the dishes, while Yan Tongshu ushered everyone to their seats.
It was a lively feast, and every guest enjoyed themselves.
Since it was the Mid-Autumn Festival, they naturally had to eat mooncakes as well.
After the meal, the kitchen brought out the carefully prepared mooncakes. Everyone took one and sampled it slowly with tea.
With the full moon hanging high in the sky, Pei’s parents were inspired to recite poetry and compose couplets.
Yan Tongshu’s eyes widened.
As expected of the Pei family.
First there had been Grandfather Pei proposing poetry at Qin Yi’s birthday banquet; now Mr. and Mrs. Pei were reciting poetry and matching couplets at the Mid-Autumn feast. Perhaps this was simply a family tradition passed down through the generations.
Yan Tongshu quietly ate her mooncake and tried to make herself invisible.
She gazed at the night sky. The full moon hung like a jade plate against the crow-blue canopy, its silvery light spilling over the earth and bathing everything in brilliance.
“Lord Yan, it’s your turn,” Mr. Pei reminded her gently.
Yan Tongshu came back to herself. “Poetry? Well…”
After thinking for a moment, she said, “I do have a line.”
She raised the cup in her hand.
“May we raise this cup of reunion, year after year beneath the Moon Palace.”
“Wonderful!” Mr. Pei cried out. “What a fine verse! From now on, we’ll raise our cups to the Moon Palace every Mid-Autumn Festival.”
Lady Yan smiled with dignified grace, warmth shining in her eyes.
Qian Buping suggested that everyone raise their cups to invite the moon. They all lifted their wine cups toward the bright moon overhead and drained them in a single swallow.
After the banquet ended, Pei Jin’an stood at the gate, secretly holding on to the sleeve of Yan Liangyu’s robe and refusing to let go.
Moonlight flowed like water over him, cloaking him in a cool silver radiance. His already fair complexion appeared even whiter beneath the moonlight, as flawless as jade.
Yan Liangyu could not help smiling. “It’s not as though we won’t see each other tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow is still several hours away,” Pei Jin’an said unhappily.
“Then what should we do?” Yan Liangyu tilted her head, her voice carrying a hint of indulgence.
Pei Jin’an lowered his lashes and said softly, “Sister, you promised to marry me. You can’t go back on your word.”
Yan Liangyu smiled. “Do I seem like that kind of person?”
“I heard yesterday…” Pei Jin’an paused, then lifted his eyes and cautiously studied her expression. “The Zhou family’s marriage negotiations didn’t go well. The matchmaker said they felt the other families weren’t as distinguished as Sister’s and looked down on them… They must regret it now.”
“What does their regret have to do with me?” Yan Liangyu bent down, seeking out his lowered eyes. “Are you afraid?”
Pei Jin’an pressed his lips together, a trace of bitterness in his voice. “Compared with Eldest Young Master Zhou, I may be more handsome, more talented, and more aware of how hard things have been for you… But you and Eldest Young Master Zhou shared many years of affection. Naturally, I can’t compare with that.”
Yan Liangyu raised three fingers. “A good horse never turns back to eat old grass. I promise I never will. Besides…”
She paused, the corners of her lips curving upward.
Pei Jin’an raised his head and looked at her nervously.
Yan Liangyu pressed her lips together in a smile, her brows and eyes curved like crescent moons. “I don’t like him anymore.”
Pei Jin’an held his breath, waiting for her next words.
She no longer liked Zhou Zhengxun—but whom did she like now? Was it him?
But after saying that, Yan Liangyu stopped. Instead, she urged him, “All right, Uncle Pei and Aunt Pei are calling you. Hurry back. I’ll see you at the Judicial Office tomorrow.”
Pei Jin’an looked at her with quiet grievance and murmured, “Sister, I’m afraid I’ll be completely under your thumb for the rest of my life.”
With that, he returned reluctantly to the Pei family carriage.
Yan Tongshu sidled up to Yan Liangyu and caught hold of the corner of her clothes. “Oh, come on, Sister! I don’t want to leave. Can’t you see it? My eyes are telling you I don’t want to go. You have to keep me firmly under your thumb for the rest of my life!”
“Big Brother!”
Yan Liangyu had completely lost her composure. Her face flushed bright red, the heat spreading from her ears all the way down her neck. Covering her face, she turned and fled.
Yan Liangrong came over and shot Yan Tongshu an exasperated look. “Honestly, you’ve taken that joke too far. Look how embarrassed you’ve made Liangyu. She probably won’t dare show her face to you for three days.”
Yan Tongshu blinked, suddenly feeling guilty. She had only gotten carried away and wanted to tease Liangyu a little. She hadn’t meant to take it so far, had she?
After returning to her courtyard, Yan Tongshu sat by the window with Yuanzi in her arms.
Moonlight streamed through the lattice window, casting mottled shadows across the floor.
She raised her head and gazed at the moon overhead. What was Qin Yi doing at this hour?
The palace had not held a Mid-Autumn banquet this year. The officials were all celebrating separately with their own families.
What about Qin Yi? Was he… spending the festival alone?
The late empress and the Late Crown Prince had both passed away. Though the empress dowager in the palace had been released from house arrest, she was still a nail—a nail belonging to Prince Ming—that could drive itself into Qin Yi’s heart and stab him at any moment.
As for his brothers, some had been demoted and others executed in the years before. There were hardly any of them left in the capital.
Yan Tongshu stroked Yuanzi’s head. “Yuanzi, do you think Snowfluff missed you today?”
Yuanzi lifted her little head and stared blankly at Yan Tongshu. Then she found a more comfortable position in her arms and settled down again, snoring away.
Yan Tongshu laughed.
What a pampered little thing.
…
Qin Yi’s carriage traveled along the main street on its way back to the palace.
He had just come from the residence of the Former Crown Princess—his sister-in-law, Tang Shiqi.
Last year, when he went to see her, she had said that she was ready to move forward.
This year, on the Mid-Autumn Festival, she had told him that she was leaving the capital to return to her maternal family.
Qin Yi lifted the carriage curtain. If they turned here and crossed one more street, they would pass the Yan residence.
Given Yan Tongshu’s personality, she had probably spent the evening making merry and would soon be fast asleep.
Qin Yi raised his brows slightly.
He suddenly realized that Yan Tongshu and his sister-in-law shared one or two similarities in temperament.
Both of them were the sort of people who could live each day to the fullest, no matter what happened.
No matter what happened, they always looked ahead. They were always bright, vibrant, and passionate about life.
They possessed an inexhaustible vitality.
Whether they had people by their side or not, they could live perfectly well.
Ha!
Qin Yi’s brows lifted faintly.
In short, they were both heartless.
Qin Yi let the curtain fall.
The carriage entered the imperial city at a steady pace.
Qin Yi removed his outer robe and washed up with the assistance of the eunuchs and palace maids.
He had just changed into his nightclothes when Lu Xi approached him quietly.
“Your Majesty, the palace guards have reported that Jinbao from Lord Yan’s residence delivered something earlier. He said it was a festival gift presented by Lord Yan.”
Qin Yi raised his brows slightly.
On such a lively occasion, she had actually remembered him—this supposedly “insignificant” person?
Qin Yi asked, “What is it?”
Lu Xi clapped his hands. A young eunuch carried in a box, which Lu Xi opened. Inside sat a small revolving lantern.
Lu Xi carefully lifted it out. “Your Majesty.”
Qin Yi stared at the lantern for a moment before parting his thin lips. “Put it on the table.”
“Yes.”
Lu Xi placed the revolving lantern securely on the table. After receiving Qin Yi’s permission, he lit it.
As the candlelight flickered to life, the rising heat set the lantern turning lazily. It was only about the size of two palms.
As the light and shadows revolved, the simple drawings on the lantern became clear.
Snowfluff happily ran toward Yuanzi. Yuanzi stood atop a rockery and blew a puff of air at Snowfluff below. Startled, Snowfluff darted away. But after running some distance, he turned back to look at Yuanzi—the “goddess beneath the moon”—and charged toward her again.
Yuanzi blew at him again, and Snowfluff ran away once more…
Several pictures were linked together in sequence. As the lantern continued to turn, Snowfluff repeatedly ran toward Yuanzi, only to be frightened away each time.
Qin Yi let out a soft laugh.
He sat down beside the table, his gaze fixed on the lantern. His eyes settled on Yuanzi. “You’ve become addicted to bullying Snowfluff, haven’t you?”
Lu Xi lowered his eyes, a smile curling at the corners of his lips.
His Majesty seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood tonight.
He drew back his gaze and lowered his head. Then he noticed that there was still a piece of paper inside the box. He picked it up and unfolded it, only to find that it was an “instruction manual.”
So that was it.
Lu Xi stepped forward. “Your Majesty, Lord Yan says that this lantern can be used in three different ways.”
Qin Yi’s interest was piqued. “How?”
Lu Xi reached out and removed three of the six picture cards from the lantern, replacing them with the other three. Together, the six pictures showed Snowfluff running over to Yuanzi and climbing up the rockery. Yuanzi glanced at him but said nothing. The two cats simply sat there, gazing up at the bright moon, creating a warm and peaceful scene.
Pleasure touched the corners of Qin Yi’s eyes and brows. “The pictures can actually be changed. What about the third version?”
He looked at Lu Xi.
Lu Xi removed the remaining three cards and replaced them with a new set.
This time, after Yuanzi and Snowfluff finished admiring the moon, Yuanzi kicked Snowfluff off the rockery, held her head high, and walked away. Snowfluff let out a pitiful little meow.
Qin Yi reached out and poked Yuanzi’s round, chubby face on the lantern. “You really have become addicted to bullying Snowfluff, haven’t you, little thing?”
“Meow~”
Hearing her name, Snowfluff—who had been pretending to sleep nearby—opened his eyes and scampered over.
“Meow!”
Wow! It’s the goddess!
He stretched out his neck and rubbed against the Yuanzi on the revolving lantern.
Qin Yi grabbed him by the scruff and lifted him up. “Have you no shame? She gives you the slightest bit of sweetness, and you come running over like a fool. You don’t have a shred of dignity.”
“Meow, meow, meow!”
Snowfluff kicked wildly with all four paws, struggling desperately.
I don’t want dignity! I want Yuanzi! I want my goddess!
Qin Yi tossed Snowfluff onto the floor and pointed at Lu Xi. “Take him out. He is not to appear before Me tonight looking so utterly shameless.”
Lu Xi carried Snowfluff away with a smile. “Yes, Your Majesty. This servant obeys.”
After Snowfluff was taken away, Qin Yi quietly watched the revolving lantern, changing the picture cards from time to time.
Again and again.
Late into the night, he let out a soft laugh. “I can’t believe she came up with this.”
With that, he blew out the candle, put the revolving lantern away, and went to bed.
…
On the third day after the Mid-Autumn banquet, Grandfather Pei, Mr. Pei, Mrs. Pei, and Pei Jin’an came to the Yan residence with a matchmaker to formally ask for her hand. The marriage between the Yan and Pei families was officially settled.
Once the happy news spread, visitors came one after another to offer their congratulations.
The Yan and Pei families were filled with joy. By comparison, the Zhou residence was deserted. Even the matchmakers had grown weary of it.
The matchmaker sighed. “Lady Zhou, your requirements for a daughter-in-law are simply too high. There’s truly nothing I can do. Tell me, throughout all of Bianjing, what family has a higher standing than the Yan family? And you’re demanding not only an equal family background, but also a bride who is gentle, virtuous, respectful, frugal, and modest, along with a lavish dowry. Even if some young lady takes a liking to your Eldest Young Master Zhou, her parents aren’t fools.”
“What are you saying?” Lady Zhou snapped, displeased. “When did I ever say I wanted a family with a higher standing than the Yan family? I merely said I wanted a family of equal social standing to the Zhou family. Is that really such an unreasonable demand?”
