Chapter 107
Inside the private room, the Heir of Prince Jing and the others were all leaning against the windows, staring in stunned fascination.
Judging by how the Empress had completely lost herself at the sight of the pleasure boat, it was obvious that she was the one who had wanted to come see the lantern race on the Wu-Yang River.
Who would have thought that the Emperor and Empress were like this when they were alone together? Whenever the Empress was happy, she would take the Emperor’s face in her hands and kiss him, acting even more lively and carefree than an unmarried young girl.
The Emperor, who ruled the court with absolute authority, became an entirely different person when he was with the Empress. He had even brought her onto a pleasure boat on the Wu-Yang River. What was there that he would refuse her?
Looking at the Empress, who was breathtakingly beautiful even from such a distance, anyone who possessed such a beauty would probably have trouble restraining himself.
The Emperor had maintained a pure and austere life for all those years, but once he finally broke his vows...
The Heir of Prince Jing murmured, “So this is what they mean by an old house catching fire!”
Having figured it out, he did not share his thoughts with anyone. The Emperor’s affairs were not something he should be discussing. It was enough that their own people knew what was going on.
Once Zhang Gui had people deliver two tables of wine and dishes, the pleasure boat slowly set off.
It was only after boarding that Cui Lanyin realized Qian He was there as well. This was the same boat that Jiutong Trading Company had rented the last time.
Qian He introduced it to her. “This is the Boat King of the Wu-Yang River. Since His Majesty and Her Highness are going to ride it, it naturally has to be the finest.”
Cui Lanyin was not the sort of woman who remained shut away at home. She asked, “Wouldn’t a pleasure boat like this have been booked long ago? Did we pay extra to take it over from someone else?”
Qian He smiled. “I asked someone to arrange it. There was no need to pay extra.”
With Qian He handling the matter, it seemed no one would dare refuse him.
Cui Lanyin was only worried about one thing. “They won’t guess that it’s us, will they?”
“Your Highness, please rest assured.”
Qian He was unfailingly reliable, so Cui Lanyin asked no more questions.
They entered the largest cabin. Aside from the jade platform for the winding-stream wine-cup game in the center, the chairs, tables, and furnishings had all been changed.
Cui Lanyin could now recognize the palace furnishings at a glance. She turned to Qian He. “The things inside are ours?”
Qian He nodded. “Who knows who used or sat on the old ones? How could His Majesty and Her Highness continue using them?”
He led Cui Lanyin around a folding screen woven with a four-seasons design. Behind it was a short passageway, with a door on either side. Qian He pushed open one of them, revealing a room arranged with a sitting area outside and a sleeping chamber within.
Qian He pointed to the door of the sleeping chamber. “I replaced the bed inside. The bedding is all brand-new as well. Your Highness can rest assured and use it.”
Cui Lanyin could not help asking, “The owner of the boat simply let us do all this?”
Qian He countered, “What else could he do if he didn’t?”
“I can imagine now just how formidable the ‘Little Tyrant of Yancheng’ must have been back then.”
Qian He waved his hand with a laugh. “That’s all ancient history. Your Highness mustn’t make fun of me.”
“You’ve gone to a great deal of trouble.” Cui Lanyin thanked him. “To be honest, I don’t mind sitting on things others have used, but when it comes to somewhere to sleep, I really do find it unpleasant.”
Qian He did not take credit for it. “It was His Majesty’s order. He said that whenever he returned to his private chambers, he would not tolerate even the slightest compromise. He would insist that Your Highness change your clothes and shoes at once. If you are particular even about things used by people outside, you would naturally be even more particular about a place like this.”
Cui Lanyin did not reply. After returning to the outer cabin, she pushed the Emperor down onto the raised couch.
“I’m very pleased with your arrangements tonight. This is enough. I’ll watch the lantern race from here. You can stay in this room—meditate or doze off, as you please. You don’t need to keep worrying about me.”
The Emperor glanced toward the window, then rose from the couch and said to Bailin, “Move the couch over to the window.”
There was no need for anyone else. Bailin came over alone and lifted and dragged the couch into place, setting its back against the wall beneath the window.
Though the couch had been specially arranged to be small and light, it was made of solid red sandalwood and was hardly light at all. An ordinary piece of furniture like this would require four men to move.
No wonder the Emperor only brought the Four Lins whenever he went out. They truly could be useful anywhere.
Each of the Four Lins was worth several ordinary servants, and what the Emperor gave them was something no one else could match.
All four of the Four Lins held third-rank positions and served as commanders of the Dark Lin Guards. In an emergency, they could mobilize a large number of imperial guards.
The Emperor took Cui Lanyin over with him and sat cross-legged with his back to the window.
“When you’ve seen enough, call me. Then we’ll go inside and sleep.”
With so many people moving about outside, all sorts of things would reach their ears. Cui Lanyin was no innocent who knew nothing of the world, and she naturally understood what would happen aboard the pleasure boats on the Wu-Yang River at night.
That was why, when Princess Yongjia had invited her, she had suggested that they simply watch from Yunlai Restaurant. She had never intended to board a pleasure boat.
But now that the Emperor was sitting beside her, Cui Lanyin felt completely secure. She could look at whatever she wanted without the slightest concern.
Inside the cabin, the Four Lins and Qian He arranged the wine and dishes Zhang Gui had sent up, then sat around a table and began eating and drinking in comfort.
Cui Lanyin urged the silent attendants to find places beneath the windows, telling them that there was no need to serve her. Then she turned eagerly toward the view outside.
Aiye and Sangzhi were experiencing this for the first time, and having come along only to find themselves confronted with something so bold, they initially had no idea what to do with their hands and feet.
It was Chiyun and Chiyue who pulled them over. Everyone was naturally curious, and seeing that no one else considered this particularly improper, the two gradually grew bolder and began looking out as well.
Based on Princess Yongjia’s description, Cui Lanyin had imagined that the young talents aboard the pleasure boats would be extraordinarily accomplished. Now, however, she felt they were nothing special.
The men who were holding forth one after another were exactly as the Emperor had described: merely putting on airs and showing off.
Instead, the coquettish courtesans drew more of her attention. Under the lantern light, the beauties displayed every kind of charm—some plump, some slender, each with her own allure. Whether smiling, pouting, or casting languid, seductive glances, every frown and smile was full of enchantment. Even those of only ordinary beauty could stir a man’s heart. If she, a woman, found them so captivating, there was no need to mention men.
Cui Lanyin had always looked down on men who lingered in places of pleasure. Whether they had wives or not, they all seemed repulsive to her.
Yet now that she was watching them consort with courtesans, it was not as disgraceful as she had imagined. It seemed that the celebrated men of pleasure still had to maintain a certain dignified air.
She was observing the people on the other boats without realizing that the people aboard those boats were also sneaking glances toward hers.
The occupants of the boat that drew nearest were especially obvious. The master who had rented it had clenched his hands together in nervous tension.
Only after the boat had passed and moved some distance away from the Boat King did Cheng Gui wipe his face and resume drinking and making merry with his friends.
One of his friends, already flushed with wine, complained, “I was having a fine time with Mei Niang just now. Why did you drag me back here? You really know how to spoil the fun.”
Cheng Gui did not explain. He simply raised his cup and apologized. “Go and enjoy yourself to your heart’s content later. I won’t interrupt you again.”
Courtesans were experts at reading people’s expressions. When no one else was paying attention, the one sitting beside Cheng Gui asked with a coquettish laugh, “Young Master, were you avoiding that Boat King just now? This is strange indeed. Every boat that passes it suddenly turns respectable. Is there someone important aboard?”
The courtesan on the other side added, “I heard that the younger brother-in-law of the Sichuan Regional Commander rented it before. Three days ago, he transferred it to someone else. The new owner must have an impressive background. I heard that he replaced everything inside with his own furnishings—even the bed.”
Cheng Gui hurriedly snapped, “Don’t pry into things you shouldn’t, and don’t say such nonsense.”
Seeing how nervous he had become, the two courtesans realized that the matter was serious. They quickly changed the subject and did not ask another question.
Even now, Cheng Gui still could not believe that the people aboard the Boat King were actually the Emperor and the Empress.
Three days prior, he had gotten word that the King of Boats had been booked by someone of such lofty rank that all those who had rented pleasure boats for the Lantern Festival night were told to keep their behavior in check when passing the King of Boats. They could still enjoy themselves in a carefree, romantic way, but must never act lewdly or indecently.
The most absurd rule of all was that none of them were allowed to steal too many glances at the King of Boats. Their every move and bearing had to look completely natural and unforced — they had to perform for the people aboard the King of Boats, yet never make it obvious that they were putting on an act.
Worse still, they were strictly warned that this matter must never be spread or gossiped about. Only the owners of the chartered boats were to be let in on the arrangement, because the price of running one's mouth was more than anyone could afford to pay.
Cheng Gui found the whole thing utterly ridiculous. He had been making his way around Yancheng and Yingcheng for years, and had never seen any household wield such overwhelming authority. Even the Lis, who had held such tremendous power in the past, never dared to act so high-handedly on the Wuyang River, dictating how people could enjoy themselves on their own pleasure boats.
He sent his men to make discreet inquiries, and the moment the reports came back, Cheng Gui could no longer find it funny.
It seemed the King of Boats had been taken over under Qian He's name. Right after the handover, palace eunuchs had been seen hauling in furnishings and ornaments to replace the old ones — every single piece was a fine, palace-made treasure.
There were only three people in the entire realm who could get Qian He to act on their behalf: the Emperor, the Empress, and Grand Empress Dowager Chen.
Cheng Gui wondered if perhaps it was the young masters of the two branches of the Cui family who wanted to go out and have some fun, and the Empress had asked Qian He to keep a close watch over them for fear they might stray from the right path and lose their senses.
But he quickly dismissed that thought. He had met Cui Su before. At banquets where courtesans were present, Cui Su never went out of his way to avoid them, though he never let any of them get close to him either. From what he had seen of his temperament, Cui Su did not seem like someone who had grown up under strict, suffocating family restraint.
Even though he could not figure out exactly who was staying on the King of Boats, Cheng Gui did not dare be careless. He went through the list of invited guests again, and politely made excuses to send away all those who were too wild and hard to rein in, telling them there were unexpected inconveniences this time, and that he would make it up to them with a grand gathering later. Half of his original guest list was gone just like that.
Even then, he still refused to slack off. The moment he stepped onto his pleasure boat, he tensed up, and had his servants keep a constant close watch on the King of Boats.
When he saw the Four Lins, the Emperor's personal elite guards, come out of the King of Boats to patrol the area, and caught a glimpse of what looked like Qian He through the wide open window, he knew there was only one person in the entire empire that the Four Lins and Qian He would appear together to serve: the Emperor.
Cheng Gui hurried to put out the light in one of his cabins, peered out through the darkness, and through the wide open window of the King of Boats, caught sight of a strikingly beautiful face. Everyone knew the Empress was peerlessly beautiful. Then he spotted a figure sitting cross-legged with their back to the window right next to the Empress — and everyone also knew the Emperor loved to meditate. It turned out both the Emperor and the Empress were there.
The Emperor had his back to the outside, but the Empress kept looking around nonstop. Cheng Gui could not afford to doubt it any longer: the Empress must have wanted to wander along the Wuyang River, and the Emperor, unable to talk her out of it, had sent Qian He out to spread those strict rules earlier.
The Emperor had gone to such great lengths, all to make sure the Empress never found out that the Lantern Festival parade she was enjoying was a carefully staged, specially decorated show just for her. The second that thought hit him, Cheng Gui quickly gathered all his servants together, ordering them to keep a sharp eye on everyone. The moment anyone acted out of line, they were to drag that person into a cabin without a single word of explanation.
Now that he was sitting down, Cheng Gui felt completely drained, body and soul. He never wanted to charter a pleasure boat for fun ever again. It was not fun at all.
Back on the King of Boats, Cui Lanyin let out a yawn. The novelty had worn off, and the grand Lantern Festival parade was nothing special after all.
The lanterns on display were no more splendid than the ones on Central Street or at the Confucius Temple. It was just the brothels and entertainment houses using the festival as a gimmick to draw crowds — their real intention was far from admiring lanterns, and everyone with a grain of sense knew that.
"Tired?" the Emperor asked.
"Mm," Cui Lanyin replied lazily.
"Want to go to sleep then?"
"Mm."
The Emperor chuckled softly. "You really must be worn out."
The pleasure boat was fully furnished with every comfort one could need. Hot water had been prepared long ago, and Cui Lanyin was attended to by Sangzhi and Aiye as she bathed in the well-appointed changing room.
Since the start of the first lunar month, the weather had been slowly warming up. A brazier sat by the bed, and a heated brass warming pot kept the quilts toasty. Even with the window slightly ajar, there was no chill in the air.
Moonlight poured down like water, wrapping the room in perfect stillness. The boat drifted slowly along the rippling river, rocking gently back and forth, giving one the strange, dreamlike feeling of not knowing exactly what year or day it was.
Cui Lanyin leaned half against the headboard, savoring the moment. This was the first time she had ever spent a night on a boat, and it was such a unique experience that she wanted to remember every bit of it.
The door creaked open softly. It was the Emperor, who had finished washing up in another cabin.
"I want to sleep on the outer side of the bed tonight," Cui Lanyin said to him. She lifted her eyes for a split second, then looked away quickly, adding, "Don't catch a cold."
The Emperor lifted the hem of his robe, pulling it open a little wider. "The water was too hot just now. I'm letting myself cool down a bit."
As he spoke, he pushed off the bed with one hand, gliding smoothly over to the inner side without making the bed shake even a little. The Emperor then wrapped his arms around her. "Not tired anymore?"
"Mm."
"Then turn around, let's talk for a while."
"Button your robe back up first," Cui Lanyin insisted.
The Emperor laughed and leaned closer to her. "Why are you being so shy all of a sudden?"
"I'm not shy at all," Cui Lanyin refused to admit it. "I just don't want to get eye sores from looking at something improper."
The Emperor took her hand and guided it to his body. "I'm letting you look. It's fine."
"Even if you let me, I still won't look." The moment her fingertips brushed against his firm, taut waist without a single ounce of excess flesh, Cui Lanyin flinched and pulled her hand back as if she had touched something hot. "Behave yourself. The walls on this boat are thin. Anyone could hear everything."
The Emperor was not about to let her go. He pressed closer, nuzzling against her. "What dirty thoughts are you having? Do you really think I am that kind of person?"
His words said one thing, but his lips were right next to her ear, brushing against her skin in light, teasing little puffs of breath, hovering just over her earlobe as if he was about to bite but never did. It was absolute, sweet torture.
Qiqi is just pretending to be bold [grinning emoji]
Wish all my dear readers a happy and healthy Dragon Boat Festival [kiss emoji]
