“Of course there is.” Qin Yi stared unblinkingly at Yan Tongshu, as if silently warning her: Choose the first option again, and I will never forgive you.
He said, “The second is for you to enter the palace and keep me company. The third is for me to go to your quarters and keep you company.”
What was the difference?
Yan Tongshu was speechless, but she still stubbornly met Qin Yi’s murderous gaze and held up one finger. “I choose the first.”
Qin Yi ground his teeth in fury. “Why?”
Yan Tongshu replied, “I already said, I don’t accept any transactions involving power and sex.”
“A transaction involving power and sex?” Qin Yi was so furious that he rose from the couch and strode straight over to Yan Tongshu. “Yan Tongshu! What power do you possess that is worth exchanging for My ‘sex’?”
With that, he swept out of the room.
What was that supposed to mean?
This was the Funing Palace. Where did he think he was going?
Yan Tongshu turned stiffly toward the door and called out, “Your Majesty, you haven’t approved the promotion list yet.”
“The imperial seal is on the desk. Stamp it yourself.”
Qin Yi’s voice came from outside the door.
“Can the imperial seal just be used at random?”
Yan Tongshu called after him, but no one answered.
She strongly suspected that the dog emperor was trying to frame her. Once she stamped the list with the imperial seal, he would leap out and accuse her of showing contempt for imperial authority before sending her to prison.
Yan Tongshu stood there for a while, but the dog emperor did not return.
She wanted to leave, but the promotions in the Office of Justice concerned Liangyu and her elder sister. Was she really going to walk away just like that?
In any case, it was the dog emperor who had ordered her to do it. Perhaps she should just stamp it?
After much hesitation, Yan Tongshu made her way over to the desk. The imperial seal lay there quietly.
She picked it up.
Smack.
She stamped it onto the promotion list, then turned and ran for her life.
After a while, Lu Xi took the promotion list to the Chuigong Hall, where Qin Yi had already dressed.
Lu Xi presented the list with both hands. “Your Majesty, Lord Yan has stamped it.”
“Mm.” Qin Yi responded indifferently, though a trace of amusement appeared in his eyes. “Put it on the desk.”
Lu Xi hesitated, then finally spoke. “Your Majesty, Lord Yan seemed rather frightened.”
“She has plenty of courage. Nothing could frighten her.” Qin Yi sat down on the dragon throne.
Lu Xi suddenly understood. “Your Majesty, this was your plan from the very beginning.”
Qin Yi merely smiled without answering.
He understood what Yan Tongshu was afraid of.
And so, he had raised the stakes—
to make sure Yan Tongshu could come to his side without any reservations.
…
Now that she knew in advance that her elder sister and Liangyu were about to be promoted to the rank of Judicial Examiner, Yan Tongshu left the palace and happily took Pearl and Jinbao out to choose gifts.
Judicial Examiner was a seventh-rank position, roughly equivalent to a Section Chief in the Six Ministries, though its rank was slightly lower than that of a Section Chief.
A year later, there would be a competition for the position of Senior Administrator, modeled after the position of Minister in the Six Ministries. Naturally, its rank would still be somewhat lower than that of a Minister.
And there would be only one such position.
As for the other posts temporarily occupied by male officials, once the Senior Administrator and Judicial Examiner positions had been confirmed, the Office of Justice would conduct its own evaluations and assessments, then submit the results for approval. Over the course of three years, female officials would gradually take over the positions held by male officials.
In effect, this granted the Senior Administrator and Judicial Examiner a certain degree of authority over personnel appointments and dismissals.
Since these were gifts to celebrate their promotions, Yan Tongshu specially went to a porcelain shop and commissioned two sets decorated with a revolving official-ball motif. She also bought a large quantity of writing implements, along with precious jewelry.
Naturally, there had to be food as well.
Once they received their promotions, they would distribute celebratory gifts to their colleagues and let everyone share in their joy.
Yan Tongshu ran through seven shops in one breath. Then she went to Shikeji, one of the Yan family’s establishments, and instructed the manager to have the kitchen prepare four varieties of pastries and package them beautifully. Only after that did she head to the main branch of Qian’s Silk Shop to find Chen Meirong and ask her to hurry and make several more sets of new clothes.
Her daughter was about to marry the man of her dreams—and would soon be promoted as well.
It was truly a double blessing.
Chen Meirong was so delighted that the corners of her mouth nearly reached her ears, and she simply could not stop smiling.
Qian Buping happened to be at the shop too. The moment he heard the news, he immediately took charge and ordered someone to prepare the two kinds of incense he had recently acquired—Banyue Fragrance and Yike Fragrance—as congratulatory gifts.
Both fragrances were gentle and refreshing without being cloying. They possessed a pure, harmonious quality and were said to soothe the spirit, nourish the temperament, and bring the body and mind into balance.
Yike Fragrance in particular had been lost to the world. Only a small amount had survived, and Qian Buping had gone to great lengths to obtain it.
His face creased with smiles as he took Chen Meirong’s hand.
“Oh, I really have been blessed in this life. I was fated never to have a daughter, yet you brought one to me. And this daughter of ours—not only is she beautiful, considerate, and filial, she’s become an official too. Not only an official, but one who keeps rising higher and higher! Oh, what wonderful news! Once the appointment document arrives, we must hold a grand banquet and celebrate properly.”
“Exactly, exactly.” Chen Meirong was more than happy to bask in the glory. “We’ll invite several more tables of guests when the time comes.”
The two of them immediately began discussing the guest list and banquet menu.
Yan Tongshu could not stop smiling.
Sure enough, the appointment document arrived the next day.
Yan Tongshu specially brought two bouquets of flowers to the Legal Office to congratulate Yan Liangyu and Yan Liangrong.
“Seventh rank!”
Yan Liangyu was so thrilled she nearly jumped for joy.
The women at the Legal Office were all exceptionally capable. After passing the examination and becoming female clerks, each of them had thrown herself into striving for advancement.
Compared with her own easygoing attitude toward life, Yan Liangyu felt that she had fallen behind.
She had never expected to appear on this promotion list.
Although she had come last among the seven Legal Officials, it was still an enormous and delightful surprise.
As for becoming a Senior Officer, though, she was probably not qualified to reach that position.
Judging by their current merits…
Yan Liangyu studied the promotion list.
It recorded each person’s name, age, and the accomplishments they had earned over the past six months.
According to their merits, the most likely candidates for Senior Officer were her elder sister and He Liqing.
Yan Liangyu looked toward He Liqing, who was celebrating her promotion with great joy.
Sister He was forty this year. Strictly speaking, given her age, she could be considered an elder to the rest of them.
But the Legal Office did not concern itself with seniority. They were all sisters, so everyone addressed her as Sister He.
The admiration and envy in Yan Liangyu’s eyes were unmistakable as she watched He Liqing.
Sister He would turn forty-one in September.
She had heard that He Liqing’s grandson was already three years old.
For decades, both her maiden family, the He family, and her husband’s family, the Xun family, had devoted themselves to supporting the men of their clans in pursuing official careers. They had hoped to produce an official who could lift the entire family upward and help them escape the lowly status of merchants—but neither family had succeeded.
Who could have imagined that the first person from either family to enter officialdom would be Sister He?
At forty-one, she was full of lofty ambition, vigor, and energy. She only grew more courageous with every battle.
Yan Liangyu could not help wondering: When she reached forty-one, would she still possess such drive?
“What are you thinking about?”
Yan Liangyu was lost in thought when Yan Tongshu appeared before her, holding out a bouquet of fresh flowers. “Liangyu, congratulations on your promotion.”
“I was thinking about what I’ll be like when I’m forty.” Yan Liangyu accepted the bouquet and lifted it to her nose. The fragrance was light and pleasant.
Hearing that, Yan Tongshu instinctively glanced at He Liqing as well.
At the moment, Yan Liangrong was speaking with He Liqing. Not wishing to interrupt, Yan Tongshu had brought the flowers to Liangyu first.
Yes.
She was forty-one, after all.
Even by modern standards—never mind ancient times—someone like He Liqing, who could climb a mountain in one go without so much as losing her breath, was practically a marvel among people.
After a while, Yan Liangrong finished speaking with He Liqing and came over. Yan Tongshu quickly took the flowers from Pearl and handed them to her. “Sister, congratulations! May you rise step by step and soar to great heights.”
“I’ll gladly accept your good wishes.”
Yan Liangrong took the flowers, then asked a few more questions about Princess Xing'an. Only after confirming that everything was going smoothly with the diplomatic mission did she finally relax.
“Oh, honestly, Sister, stop worrying about everyone else. Mother, Auntie, and Boss Qian have already arranged the banquet at home. They’re just waiting for you to get off work so we can celebrate together. Remember—you have to leave early today.”
“Yes, yes. I promise.” Yan Liangrong smiled and nodded.
It was not yet time to finish for the day. Celebrating was all well and good, but official business could not be delayed. After delivering the flowers, Yan Tongshu had Jinbao and Pearl carry the congratulatory gifts down from the carriage and distribute them among the women of the Legal Office.
They had only just finished handing out the gifts when He Liqing’s son, Xun Jianshan, rushed over with two servants in tow.
“Mother! The moment I heard the news, I had people prepare congratulatory gifts and hurried right over.”
The two servants were carrying an enormous chest, their faces equally brimming with delight.
Xun Jianshan hurried to He Liqing’s side. “Mother, congratulations, congratulations! You truly are the greatest contributor to our family.”
“Enough nonsense.” He Liqing gave a soft snort, lifting her chin slightly.
Xun Jianshan promptly had the servants take out the gifts. “Mother, though the time was short, don’t worry. I have faith in you, so I had these gifts prepared long ago. They’re certainly nothing shabby.”
With a wave of Xun Jianshan’s hand, the two servants immediately opened the chest and began handing out the gifts with great satisfaction.
Yan Tongshu received one too.
When she opened it, she found four kinds of pastries: jujube-paste crisps, Victory Cakes, ox-tongue pastries, and sachima.
They each had their own appeal compared with the fresh-flower pastries Yan Tongshu had prepared, which had been made with four different kinds of blossoms.
Yan Tongshu picked up an ox-tongue pastry and took a bite. It was delicious—the best one she had ever eaten, made entirely with the finest ingredients.
The Xun family truly deserved its reputation for having started out in the pastry business. Their craftsmanship was superb.
A promotion was a joyous occasion, and congratulations were naturally in order, but the Legal Office’s work could not be neglected. After delivering the flowers and distributing the gifts, Yan Tongshu left the Legal Office, still nibbling on her ox-tongue pastry.
The moment she stepped outside, she saw Deng Xuanying standing by the entrance.
With her hands clasped behind her back, chest lifted and head held high, Deng Xuanying was gazing at the Legal Office’s signboard.
After a moment’s thought, Yan Tongshu took a congratulatory gift from Pearl’s bag.
When it came to congratulatory gifts, it was always better to have too many than too few, just in case.
“Aunt Deng.” Yan Tongshu ran over to Deng Xuanying and handed her the gift with both hands. “Aunt Deng, do you also have a friend at the Law Office who came to congratulate her on her promotion?”
“I wish I did.” Deng Xuanying accepted the pastries with a smile. “Unfortunately, the younger generation in my family hasn’t lived up to expectations and failed the examinations.”
Yan Tongshu consoled her, “That’s all right. They can try again next time. With someone as clever as you as their elder, they certainly can’t be lacking in ability. As long as they study hard for a few years, they’re sure to pass.”
“You’re the only one who knows how to comfort people.” Deng Xuanying raised her head and looked once more at the plaque bearing the Law Office’s name. With a sigh, she said, “This place used to be the residence of some corrupt official whose property was confiscated. Who would have thought that, after being rebuilt, it would become the Law Office’s home? Oh, right…”
Deng Xuanying turned to look at Yan Tongshu. “I went to the palace yesterday to pay my respects to His Majesty. I happened to see the list of promotions, and casually asked about it. His Majesty told me that the Law Office was your idea?”
“No.” Yan Tongshu shook her head honestly. “At the time, I was just as lost. I merely suggested that His Majesty give women more ways to make a living. The Law Office’s birth was actually quite unexpected to me as well.”
It was also from that moment onward that her view of Qin Yi began to change.
“Wonderful.” Deng Xuanying’s gaze drifted toward the entrance of the Law Office. Inside, the young women hurried to and fro, their footsteps brisk and busy.
She smiled and said, “It’s good for them to be busy.”
After a pause, she suddenly asked Yan Tongshu, “Tongshu, do you know how eunuchs come to be?”
“Hm?” Yan Tongshu looked puzzled.
“When a poor family can no longer survive, they find a connection and send their young sons into the palace in exchange for a sum of money. After being castrated, those boys become eunuchs. They gain a chance to survive—and a chance to rise in the world. But even among eunuchs, very few are able to enter the palace through connections and back doors. Most people are shut out beyond the palace gates. If they had any other way to make a living, they would never choose to become eunuchs. Many of them were forcibly castrated. So…”
Deng Xuanying smiled at Yan Tongshu. “…I’m very glad the Law Office was established. After entering the Law Office through the examinations, these women can rely on their own strength to establish themselves in Bianjing. That makes me very happy too. Tongshu, thank you—and thank His Majesty as well.”
Yan Tongshu pressed her lips together, then smiled. “There will be more paths open to people in the future.”
Deng Xuanying opened the gift, took out a flower pastry, and bit into it. It was very sweet. She raised her brows and smiled as well. “Yes. There will be more and more.”
That afternoon, after work, the banquet began.
This time, since it was being held at home, Yan Tongshu had no scruples. She ate to her heart’s content and even drank an entire bottle of chrysanthemum wine.
The wine was low in alcohol, so even after finishing a bottle, she wasn’t drunk.
Once the revelry was over, the fireworks faded away.
Yan Tongshu returned to her courtyard. She had just finished washing up and was preparing for bed when Pearl knocked on the door.
“Young Master, he’s here again.”
Yan Tongshu’s face went blank. “Throw him out.”
Pearl said timidly, “But, Young Master… he’s the Emperor.”
“I’m not seeing him.” Yan Tongshu had just begun to close the door when Qin Yi stopped it with one hand. “Yan Tongshu, you’re such a scumbag.”
Qin Yi pushed the door open and walked inside.
Yan Tongshu let out a helpless sigh, shut the door, and looked at him. “What exactly are you trying to do?”
Qin Yi did not answer. He merely said, “You should be in a good mood today.”
He leaned down slightly and sniffed the scent about Yan Tongshu. “You even drank chrysanthemum wine.”
So what?
Yan Tongshu kept her face expressionless.
Qin Yi smiled faintly. “I thought that our little unpleasantness from the other day had already passed.”
Yan Tongshu gritted her teeth. “You think very highly of yourself.”
Qin Yi chuckled, lifted the hem of his robe, and sat on the bed. “That has always been one of my virtues.”
Aaargh!
Dog emperor, dog emperor, dog emperor.
“I’ve come to fulfill ‘number three.’” Qin Yi hooked a finger beneath his belt and loosened it.
His thin garments fell open, revealing everything beneath.
Yan Tongshu’s temples throbbed fiercely, and her eyes widened. “It’s freezing out. You’re dressed this lightly?”
Qin Yi smiled. “A trick needn’t be new. As long as it works.”
Yan Tongshu rushed over and pulled his clothes back together. “I chose ‘number one.’”
Qin Yi turned a deaf ear. “What I heard was ‘number three.’”
“You—”
Before Yan Tongshu could finish, Qin Yi cradled her head and rolled over, pinning her beneath him.
Yan Tongshu sank into the soft cotton mattress.
Qin Yi pressed one finger to her lips and laughed softly. “Don’t worry. I know the rules.”
As he spoke, his pale, slender fingers undid Yan Tongshu’s sash. He lowered his head, caught the sash between his teeth, and lifted his head gently. The plain-colored sash slid upward with it, and Yan Tongshu’s body could not help but tremble.
He straightened, then drew the sash over his eyes.
The dim yellow candlelight flickered, shadows dancing across his face and outlining his sharp, deep features.
With his eyes covered, that face somehow took on an obedient yet dangerously seductive look.
Their breaths and scents tangled together, impossible to tell whose was hotter.
Those honey-toned abdominal muscles were right before her eyes, shamelessly on display.
Yan Tongshu did not even know where to look.
The dog emperor had absolutely no sense of shame.
“Yan Tongshu.”
Qin Yi’s voice was low and deep, as though it had been ground from the depths of his throat, threaded with an indescribable emotion.
“Why are you calling me?” Yan Tongshu asked weakly, deliberately avoiding the sight of his muscles.
“Mm.” He answered lightly, the corner of his lips curling upward. “To confirm where you are.”
Then Qin Yi lowered his head and kissed her with unerring accuracy.
Yan Tongshu trembled even more violently.
His palm rested against her waist, scorching hot.
Dazed, Yan Tongshu felt as though she had been bewitched.
A moment later, the fierce kiss ended. Qin Yi raised a hand to remove his own clothes, and a sudden chill slipped between them. Yan Tongshu instantly came to her senses. She lifted a foot and kicked hard.
Bang!
Qin Yi went rolling off the bed.
He untied the sash covering his eyes and smiled helplessly.
There was only one chance.
Yan Tongshu was fully awake now.
Furious, she climbed out of bed and shoved him toward the door. “You’re this skilled, and you still dare claim you have no experience? Who do you think you’re fooling?”
“There are plenty of illustrated manuals like that in the palace,” Qin Yi defended himself. “I simply couldn’t be bothered to study them before.”
“You think I’d believe that? Liar!”
Bang!
The door was slammed hard into Qin Yi’s face.
Pearl saw Qin Yi standing there with his clothes in disarray, and her jaw dropped.
The emperor—the emperor—the emperor was molesting her young master!
Pearl was beside herself with rage. Clenching her fists, she glared at Qin Yi as though she wanted to kill him.
Afraid that Pearl might offend the imperial presence, Lu Xi hurriedly stepped in front of her and said softly, “Your Majesty, Lord Yan…”
“It’s fine.” Qin Yi brushed his lips with his fingers, Yan Tongshu’s sash still clutched in his hand.
He gave a soft laugh.
A kiss was a gain, no matter what.
Besides, he was already several steps ahead of everyone else.
There would be plenty of time in the future.
With that, Qin Yi turned and left.
…
For several days in a row, Yan Tongshu lay sprawled over her desk, feeling as though her head was about to explode.
Through a series of misunderstandings, she and Qin Yi had ended up spending a night together.
She had thought that, in his fury—and out of embarrassment at having to admit what had happened—the dog emperor would make things difficult for her, perhaps demoting her to some remote corner of the empire.
Or perhaps, because he liked her, the dog emperor would use his power to take her by force.
But what the dog emperor had in mind was seduction, seduction, and more seduction.
Yan Tongshu clawed at her hair.
Was that really what a proper emperor ought to be thinking about?
Were those palace manuals he read even respectable manuals?
Had he bought them from some pleasure house?
Yan Tongshu’s head was pounding.
If it were anything else, it would be manageable. She had a thousand ways to deal with it; at worst, she could die.
But the dog emperor simply refused to behave according to reason.
He was using sugar-coated bullets to corrode her resolve.
No. She was a steadfast red youth of socialism. She absolutely could not be led astray!
That afternoon, it was time to leave work.
For the first time, Yan Tongshu found herself dreading the end of the workday.
She was truly afraid to go home.
She feared that the moment she pushed open her door, she would find a half-naked man sprawled on her bed.
Or that the dog emperor would emerge from behind the screen, his clothes in disarray.
Or that, in an attempt to prove his innocence, he would bring over those embarrassing erotic illustrations—the kind so mortifying they made her toes curl—and demand that she study them with him.
Wasn’t he an emperor? Didn’t he have anything better to do?
Was there any way to impeach an emperor? She wanted to impeach the dog emperor for neglecting his duties and indulging in debauchery.
To delay going home and avoid Qin Yi, Yan Tongshu chose Qin Yunduan instead.
That was right—she took Pearl and Jinbao to Qin Yunduan’s shadow-puppet stall.
Seeing how troubled Yan Tongshu was, Pearl’s heart churned like a stormy sea.
It was all her fault for being useless. She had failed to protect her young master and allowed her young master to be taken advantage of.
Sob, sob, sob.
It was all because she was incompetent.
She hated the dog emperor. Hated him. Hated him terribly.
If only she knew martial arts. Even if she could not beat the dog emperor to death, she could at least protect her young master and keep that dog emperor away.
Sob, sob, sob.
She really was far too useless.
Pearl looked at Jinbao, her gaze resolute. “Jinbao, from now on, let’s learn martial arts so we can protect Young Master.”
Jinbao gave an “Ah?” Though he did not understand, he trusted Pearl, so he nodded vigorously.
When they arrived at the shadow-puppet stall, Yan Tongshu, Pearl, and Jinbao found a place to sit. The three of them cracked sunflower seeds as they watched the performance.
That day’s play was called “Ruan Lang Returns.” It told the story of a father and son whose ambitions differed, leading them down separate paths.
In “Ruan Langgui,” the father pursues a career in government while the son devotes himself to art. Their paths lead them in different directions, and the resulting rift remains unresolved for more than a decade. Only when the son finally achieves fame and success do father and son come to understand and reconcile with each other.
This time, Qin Yunduan took the stage himself to play the son in the story. By the end of the performance, his voice had grown choked with emotion and even cracked. Clearly, he had been reminded of his own circumstances and was genuinely moved.
After the performance, Qin Yunduan had no heart to put anything away. He merely instructed the others in the shadow-puppet troupe to clean up.
The man who was usually carefree and always fooling around had suddenly lost all cheer. His expression was listless, a gloomy crease gathering between his brows.
Yan Tongshu walked over to him and asked worriedly, “What’s wrong? Did you quarrel with Prince Wuyang?”
Qin Yunduan shook his head. He didn’t want to talk about it.
After all, ever since he was little, his father had looked down on him, always thinking he was less capable and less clever than other people.
He was stupid. He could never bring honor to his father. He simply wasn’t loved by him.
Since Qin Yunduan didn’t want to talk, Yan Tongshu didn’t press him. After thinking for a moment, she smiled and said, “You’ve been singing for so long. You must be tired. Come on, I’ll treat you to some barbecue. I know a particularly delicious barbecue stall. It should still be open at this hour. They make a kind of flatbread that’s especially chewy—you wrap the grilled meat in it, and the taste is incredible.”
Qin Yunduan nodded.
The thought of going home to face his father’s questions, scolding, and urging him to settle things with Princess Xing’an made his chest feel stifled.
Just imagining what awaited him at home was enough to make him resist going back.
Yan Tongshu brought Qin Yunduan to a barbecue restaurant and ordered a generous spread of skewers.
Qin Yunduan was in a bad mood, and Yan Tongshu wanted to keep him company and help him shake off his gloom. So she had Pearl and Jinbao sit at another table with Qin Yunduan’s personal attendant, leaving her alone with Qin Yunduan.
To ease his sorrows, Yan Tongshu ordered two bottles of liquor while they waited for the owner to grill the skewers.
Pearl and Jinbao were just about to stop her when she gave them a reassuring look.
She promised she would drink only one cup.
Before long, the grilled meat arrived, fragrant, spicy, and charred to perfection.
Yan Tongshu handed him a skewer of grilled pork belly. Qin Yunduan held it in his hand without much appetite. After taking two bites, he set it down and began downing cup after cup of sorghum liquor instead.
Some time later, Qin Yunduan was drunk. His chubby face had flushed red from the alcohol.
He collapsed facedown on the table and burst into loud sobs. Then he raised his head and looked at Yan Tongshu through tear-streaked cheeks, crying out, “I don’t understand!”
He grabbed Yan Tongshu’s hand. “Lord Yan, I really don’t understand. His Majesty himself said that no one was going to force me, and that it would be fine even if the marriage alliance didn’t happen. But my father insists on making me court Princess Xing’an. He makes me ask her out every single day. I really don’t understand—is the marriage alliance that important? Why does he have to force me? When I ask him, he says he isn’t forcing me, that he’s only asking. But he asks every time—several times a day. Whenever I tell him there’s been no progress, he sighs and looks at me as if I’m a hopeless disappointment. Why does he have to treat me like this? Waaaah…”
