When the weather warmed up, the fishing platform on the rear lake officially started construction. Lu Lingcong dug out the construction blueprint drawn by the master on that day and specifically informed the Ministry of Works, invited skilled and experienced craftsmen by offering generous rewards, and meticulously crafted it. It took nearly two months of busy work to finally complete it.
Xie Jing had never seen a terrace pavilion built on flat ground in his life, and it was very new to him. Moreover, this was considered specially built for him, so naturally, whenever he had free time, he would personally go to the garden, curl up on a bamboo deck chair in the stone boat, and supervise the construction while enjoying the cool air.
After the pavilion is completed, couplets and plaques should be hung. The two characters “Qiyi” were given by Xie Jing because, sitting in the pavilion and facing the small door, one could see a weeping willow on the bank bending toward the lake, symbolizing “Willow leaning on the green water,” which inspired the name.
However, the gap between ideals and reality was huge. Xie Jing enthusiastically fished for three days and then quit because the koi raised in the lake were truly stupid and defenseless. They would bite when they saw the hook, and once they did, they wouldn’t struggle and just wait to be pulled from the water while staring at Xie Jing with wide eyes.
Even though the thrill of fishing was gone, Qiyi Terrace remained a tranquil spot. Unlike other waterside pavilions that faced the water on only one side, here, with the windows open, the warm breeze flowed from all directions across the platform. Lying on the sun-facing side, basking in the warmth, made for a very comfortable nap.
Xie Jing had not successfully shaken off his spring drowsiness, and this nap could last from noon until nightfall. Prince Zhao was not present, probably relaxing at some private residence or ballgame field. The servants naturally did not dare to disturb Xie Jing, letting him sleep. In the end, it always took Lu Lingcong returning after dark to carry him into the room, only then would he groggily half-open his eyes before uttering a grunt as a greeting and roll over to continue his deep sleep.
Xie Jun was brought by Lady Yao to the Prince’s Mansion several times, but perhaps due to the exhaustion from official documents in the Hanlin Academy, Xie Jing no longer had the energy to accompany the endlessly energetic boy to run wild everywhere like before. Instead, each time, Lu Lingcong would lead Xie Jun to play in the garden, and he and his sister-in-law would sit in the flower hall, chatting about everyday life.
The study was a suite of two rooms, an outer and an inner one. In the outer room, there were two tables, a writing desk, and a zither table. Xie Jing generally used the writing desk to handle serious matters, such as calculating the income and expenses of the Prince’s Mansion or unfinished official business brought home, all done here.
The Inner room, however, only had a daybed placed by the window, with a small table on the bed, and quite a few soft pillows and brocade cushions scattered around. Xie Jing would take off his shoes and lean there to read. When he got tired of reading, he’d cover his face with the book and slept again.
If it was a day off and both Lu Lingcong and he were at home, the former wouldn’t let him rest, wanting to pull him into whatever he was doing.
Xie Jing usually went into the palace daily to teach, which wore out his voice, and during rest, he was too lazy to speak much, something that worked to Lu Lingcong’s advantage. First, he pressed him to teach him chess. As they played, Lu Lingcong revealed his true nature, constantly using cunning and unusual tactics to block him, which made Xie Jing angrily overturn the table, grab the cushions, and chase him around the room to throw them at him, but ultimately he couldn’t outrun him, and finally, Lu Lingcong pinned him down on the daybed with a playful smile, leaving him breathless.
Alternatively, he would loudly insist on listening to the zither while sitting upright and solemnly, acting as if he were a great connoisseur. However, Xie Jing hadn’t even started feeling sleepy when Lu Lingcong dozed off, only to be jolted awake by a sweep of the strings from Xie Jing, making him suddenly straighten his back and jarringly clap his hands while shouting “Bravo!”
Feeling helpless, Xie Jing spread his hands: “Why exactly do you insist on tormenting me like this?”
Lu Lingcong looked very innocent and said, “I can see you don’t enjoy going out into the crowds for excitement. I just worried you’d be stuck at home alone, bored to death, and feeling dull.”
Xie Jing asked, “Did it ever occur to you that I simply like being alone?”
Hearing this, Lu Lingcong muttered a sheepish “Oh,” and started walking out of the study, looking as if cold water had been pouring over him. Xie Jing completely lost his temper, rolled his eyes, slipped into his shoes, grabbed Lu Lingcong’s wrist, and strode quickly toward the main house. After entering the bedroom, he first pushed him onto the bed, then sat diagonally beside him, looking down and asking if he was so bored. Why didn’t he just come and “torment” him on the bed?
Soon after, the lamp was extinguished and the bed curtains were drawn. The two bodies wrestled together, and boredom vanished entirely.
Of course, the aforementioned solution could only be implemented after sunset as Xie Jing had not yet cultivated the audacity to close the door and conduct business in front of the entire Prince’s Mansion. During the day, he simply had to swallow his frustration as he couldn’t exactly kick Lu Lingcong out.
A few days ago, Grand Tutor Zhang had asked him to transcribe a copy of [Poems of Dongshan], saying he was eager to read it for leisure. However, his family version had letters that were too small, and the elderly tutor found it dizzying to look at. Xie Jing agreed, seeing it as a way to calm his spirit, clear his mind, and pass the time, kneeling steadily at the small table and writing slowly.
Two “thud-thuds” came from outside the window, but he paid no attention.
The knocking on the window became more insistent, blending together and forming a rhythm, yet he still did not look away.
The person outside lost patience and spoke first: “Open the window for a moment.”
Xie Jing: “I don’t want to, it’s too sunny.”
Lu Lingcong was persistent: “Trust me, open it for a bit, you absolutely won’t regret it.”
Xie Jing: “You’re definitely going to throw bugs at me, don’t think I don’t know.”
Lu Lingcong was speechless: “What nonsense, how childish. This prince stopped caring about that ten years ago!”
Xie Jing quietly countered, “You just spout nonsense in broad daylight. Who was it that shoved snowballs down someone’s collar ten years ago?”
Lu Lingcong instantly knew he was in the wrong: “I swear, I’m genuinely not fooling you. I have something good to show you, and you’ll definitely like it.”
Not hearing Xie Jing’s reply, he started spouting provocative words full of irreverence: “Lord Xie, Young Master Xie, Sweetheart Xie, Darling Xie, Beloved Consort Xie…”
Xie Jing could no longer tolerate it. He leaned forward and, with a “crack,” pushed the window open with both hands; the scolding words were already on the tip of his tongue, but he suddenly swallowed them when he clearly saw the scene before him.
The first thing that met his eyes was the dense, cascading wisteria, white and purple intertwined, hanging softly like tassels by a young woman’s temples, forming clustered spikes and creating a crescent-shaped canopy outside the window. The background was a pool of green ripples stirred by the wind and the Qibi Terrace with the Magnolia grandiflora hidden among the deep shade of the sophora and willow trees.
It was as if the full splendor of spring in the garden had been thoughtfully and reverently displayed right outside Xie Jing’s window, while Lu Lingcong stood below with his sleeves rolled up, smiling up at him, his eyes saying, “I knew you’d like it.”
At that moment, Xie Jing was utterly speechless; he felt like Du Liniang, who, upon entering her own backyard for the first time at sixteen, thought, “How can one know the full beauty of spring without entering the garden?” and then plunged headlong into the mid-spring splendor Lu Lingcong had laid out, lost and suffocated amid the swirling petals.
He was silent for a long time, then pointed to the magnificent wisteria before opening his mouth with some difficulty: “It… wasn’t planted here before, right?”
Lu Lingcong stepped forward two paces, brushed aside the petals piled on the window ledge, rested his elbow there, and replied, “It was originally planted under the west wall. I saw it embroidered on one of your garments, so I thought you might like it, and I had the gardener move it over.”
Xie Jing knew which garment he was referring to; it was the snow-blue lining covered by an outer layer of cicada-wing gauze, and along the central seam on the back, a few wisteria branches were embroidered with white and purple threads. The overall look was subtle and unassuming, perfectly complementing his skin tone.
The tailor who made the garment said it looked good on him, and Xie Jing figured it wasn’t a lie; otherwise, Lu Lingcong wouldn’t have noticed it.
“See, it’s not too sunny now. It gets hotter every day, and it’s good for you to open the window and get some fresh air.”
Xie Jing’s earlier assertiveness completely vanished; he meekly agreed and then asked, “What are you doing outside?”
As Lu Lingcong turned sideways, Xie Jing saw him holding his sword upside down, his hair slightly tousled with sweat glistening on his forehead, and two buttons of his round-collared shirt undone to let out some heat.
“Good weather like this is hard to come by. I’m taking the chance to enjoy it before the rainy season starts, that’s why I came to call for you.”
Xie Jing thought to himself, who told him that Lu Lingcong usually practiced swordplay in the front yard? Faulty intelligence let’s deduct their pay.
He said timely, “Aren’t you thirsty?”
Lu Lingcong was startled, then smiled. “Thirsty? Of course, I’m thirsty. I was just about to ask you for a cup of water.”
Xie Jing then picked up the overturned teacup on the small table, filled it halfway, and handed it to Lu Lingcong, “This garden is full of blooming flowers and green willows when the season comes. Is it just going to sit idle like this? Don’t your brothers and friends gather at the Prince’s Mansion?”
“Things are different now.” Lu Lingcong drank it down in one gulp. “The house has you in it now. That bunch is even more annoying than me. Once they gather, don’t expect a moment of peace, and they’ll just ruin our garden.”
Xie Jing took out a handkerchief and gave it to him, telling him to wipe his sweat, and then asked, “This morning I saw Uncle Zhou frantically looking for you. What was the matter? Was it important?”
Lu Lingcong let out an “Oh,” and said, “I forgot. The Prime Minister’s Mansion sent an invitation. The Wang family’s second son has returned to the capital for a welcome banquet. The invitation is for Prince Zhao and the Princess Consort, but if you want to go, you may. It doesn’t matter if you choose not to.”
Xie Jing reacted slowly for a moment. He had only met Prime Minister Wang’s eldest son. As for the second son, he heard that he was an even more genuinely dissolute character than the native factions in the capital, having always been kept and raised freely amidst riches and comfort in the prosperous and tranquil Yangzhou.
He wondered, “Why did he suddenly return to the capital?”
Lu Lingcong said, “He’s getting married, so naturally he can’t continue sleeping in the brothels.”
Xie Jing frowned: “Which family’s girl is he marrying?”
The Prime Minister’s Mansion belonged to the Empress’s maternal clan, making them much more influential than his Xie family. The marriage arranged for a legitimate son couldn’t possibly be with an ordinary girl from a modest family, but which respectable noble daughter would be willing to marry such a dissolute man? Unless the parents were greedy for power, selling their daughter for a connection?
Lu Lingcong hesitated for a moment before answering, “Grand Commandant Cui’s eldest daughter.”
Xie Jing’s brow furrowed even deeper, and he nearly blurted out, “Wasn’t she keen on—”
He did not continue, only looking at Lu Lingcong. Since the other party had hesitated for a moment just now, he must have been quite clear about Miss Cui’s feelings.
Sure enough, Lu Lingcong covered his lips and coughed while avoiding eye contact: “But didn’t I already… marry you?”
Xie Jing pointed out coolly, “Even if you hadn’t married me, you wouldn’t have married her either.”
“I cannot marry her!” Lu Lingcong raised his voice slightly, “It’s not about whether I would or want to; I cannot marry her, but I can marry you. It’s that simple.”
Xie Jing paused, lowered his head, and felt a spasm in his stomach. He had mostly figured out why it was Miss Cui—since she no longer had the possibility of marrying the man she loved in this lifetime, anyone else didn’t matter. The Imperial family, wary of the Grand Commandant’s military power, would not allow Lu Lingcong to marry a daughter of the Cui family, but the Prime Minister’s Mansion was willing to form an alliance with them for coexistence.
What’s more, having made her deep affection known to everyone, Miss Cui would naturally find it difficult to choose another husband. Being hastily paired off with the Wang family’s useless second son could be considered a final outcome. Grand Commandant Cui had also pleaded with the emperor several times for his daughter, but how could that sway the machinations of an emperor? In the end, no one cared whether she was willing, and no one cared about what she wanted either.
After a long silence between the two, Xie Jing slowly said, “She just likes someone, what’s wrong with that?”
Lu Lingcong was silent for a while but then changed the subject: “Regarding the assassination attempt in the forest last time, the Xuanshi side has found some new clues. I must go to the Star-Plucking Tower tonight.”
Xie Jing treated it simply as a notice and nodded without lifting his eyes.
But Lu Lingcong immediately followed up: “Do you want to go with me?”
That night, at the Star-Plucking Tower by the Qinhuai River.
Afraid of being recognized, Lu Lingcong once again took the same shortcut he had used with Xie Jing last time. Xiao Yao personally came downstairs to greet them, joking with Xie Jing for a few moments while holding his hand before lowering his voice and speaking seriously, “The person is in a private room on the third floor. They’re currently drinking and playing finger-guessing games, so the main matter likely hasn’t been brought up yet.”
She asked Lu Lingcong, “Does Your Highness want to go and confirm it yourself?”
Lu Lingcong subconsciously turned back to look at Xie Jing, who pushed him: “You go take a look, I’ll wait for you here.”
Xiao Yao asked, “Should I call a girl to accompany you and relieve boredom? Have you had dinner yet? The wine and food in the tower are readily available.”
Xie Jing shook his head and politely refused each offer. Although he hadn’t eaten much at the dinner table, and although the rich, heavy flavors of the brothel’s dishes were to his liking, just hearing the words “wine and food” triggered an automatic reaction from his sense of smell, making him feel uncomfortable and eager to avoid it.
Lu Lingcong then said, “I’ll be down quickly.”
Xie Jing found a cushion in the brightly lit corridor and sat down. Three or four musicians were kneeling against the wall opposite him; upon seeing him, they all turned their faces, nodded slightly, and smiled gently at him.
After smiling, they quietly and compliantly resumed playing their respective instruments, including zithers, flutes, sheng, and vertical flutes.
Xie Jing listened intermittently for a while, just as instinct took over and he thought of going forward to loosen a string for the girl playing the zither, he suddenly heard the sound of porcelain smashing from a room behind him, followed by a sharp argument mixed with words he couldn’t understand but were likely insults.
Before he could turn around, a man and a woman rushed out while wrestling. The girls opposite hurried forward together; two restrained the woman while the other two pushed the man, smiling apologetically as they tried to coax him into leaving.
The woman behind was still spewing insults: “Look at your pathetic, broke self! You’re the emperor’s lapdog while I’m the madam’s lapdog. Even if servants swear about brotherhood, servants are still servants. Trying to step on this girl’s head? First see whether those two bow-legged sticks of yours can even reach!”
Xie Jing found it amusing. He only heard the girls urgently saying, “Sister Yin Chou, please say less!”
“Beating girls in a brothel and hitting your wife at home—you’re so bold. If you’ve got the guts, why don’t you march into the palace and try striking the Empress?”
Xie Jing couldn’t hold back and let out a chuckle. The woman named Yin Chou suddenly turned her head, her delicate brows drawing together in a frown as she glared at Xie Jing. “What are you laughing at?”
He shook his head, then clapped his hands, and said, “Well said.”
The man had already walked away during the scuffle. Yin Chou shook off the two young girls: “Go mind your own business, don’t worry about me!”
She strode over and sat down a few cushions away from Xie Jing, her chest still rising and falling with anger. Shaking her sleeve, a gold ring slipped out; she bit it, spat, and cursed, “Worthless trash, yet he treasures it so much!”
Feeling Xie Jing’s gaze fell on her, Yin Chou raised her head, narrowed her eyes, and scrutinized him impolitely, “Are you a newcomer? You look very unfamiliar.”
The Star-Plucking Tower had both female and male companions. Xie Jing was plainly dressed and sat there all alone. Whether he looked like a companion or not, he certainly didn’t look like a patron.
He gave a noncommittal answer, simply asking, “What did that person do?”
Yin Chou spat, “We agreed on the price beforehand, but he wanted to renege when leaving. I wouldn’t agree, and that bastard dared to strike me! I thought I at least managed to snatch a ring, but upon closer inspection, it turned out to be second-rate goods as well.”
Xie Jing thought for a moment and then asked, “If he just walked away like that, wouldn’t you lose the payment for this job? What will you say when the madam asks tomorrow?”
Yin Chou sneered, “Who cares about him! I might just gather my valuables and slip away tomorrow, why should I care about that old woman’s nagging?”
“That’s true; tomorrow’s worries will come tomorrow,” Xie Jing agreed. “Are you saving up to buy your freedom?”
“I saved enough for my freedom eight hundred lifetimes ago; what I’m earning now is the fund to settle down.” Yin Chou mysteriously beckoned Xie Jing to come closer and whispered, “Before my mother passed away, she entrusted our family medical hall to me. Although it’s closed for now, sooner or later, I have to reopen it.”
Thinking of the even more legendary Xiao Yao, Xie Jing sincerely asked, “Do all the girls also possess unique skills like you before entering the tower?”
Yin Chou, who was flattered, laughed: “Eight or nine out of ten, perhaps. Without some special skill, anyone would have been devoured without leaving a single bone fragment in this den of iniquity.”
Her eyes flicked toward Xie Jing. “Honestly, are you thinking about saving too? You don’t need to hide it; there’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Xie Jing also smiled politely: “Can Jiejie also teach me a trick or two?”
Yin Chou instructed, “With such good looks, just sitting here chatting idly with me won’t bring any customers running into you. Do you know which type of customer brings the biggest profit?”
Xie Jing feigned rapt attention.
Yin Chou: “’Pan, Lu, Deng, Xiao, and Xian[mfn]These refers to five qualities of an ideal man in traditional sayings.[/mfn]’, not one can be missing. Guess what five things they stand for?”
Xie Jing was stuck for a moment, then hesitated: “…Looks like Pan An, wealthy like Deng Tong, used to being humble and submissive, and has time to spare for one’s partner?”
“You’re quite perceptive,” Yin Chou nodded, then teased, “What’s the last one?”
Xie Jing bit his lip and remained silent. Yin Chou saw his embarrassment and giggled non-stop. Just as she was about to tease him again, she suddenly saw someone walking down the stairs from the opposite, and her eyes instantly lit up. She patted Xie Jing and said, “Don’t look back, listen to me!”
Xie Jing was startled by her abruptness and didn’t dare to move. He heard her continue: “Here comes a perfect opportunity for you to practice, be sure to seize it! Based on Jiejie’s keen eye from years of experience in the Star-Plucking Tower, this one meet at least four of the conditions you mentioned, and the last one you’ll have to verify yourself. In a moment, I’ll count; three, two, one. When I do, stand up and ignore everything else; just lean directly against him, understood?”
“No,” Xie Jing hadn’t expected to have to put the lesson into practice immediately and quietly asked, “What if he doesn’t like men at all?”
“There is no ‘what if’,” Yin Chou stated emphatically. “This person clearly likes men, and he’s definitely into your type.””
Xie Jing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. While thinking about how to refuse and how to explain later when Lu Lingcong saw it, in the blink of an eye, he heard Yin Chou count in a whispered breath, “Three, two, one, rise!”
His body reacted before his mind; he subconsciously stood up, turned around, and found Lu Lingcong walking straight toward him. As Xie Jing leaned slightly, Lu Lingcong naturally draped his arm over Xie Jing’s shoulder, half-embracing him as they continued walking.
Xie Jing walked a few steps in a daze, sensing that something was off, that everything was wrong, nearly stumbling as his arm and leg moved in unison. He turned back and looked at Yin Chou with a strange expression. The latter, however, only raised her eyebrow and smiled cunningly while secretly giving him a thumbs-up to encourage him.
Lu Lingcong: “Hmm? What are you looking at?”
Xie Jing maintained the awkward pose of looking back, muttering casually, “Nothing…”
