Wishing You Eternal Happiness WYEH - 69

 Chapter - 69

By Tea Time Translations

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“Open it,”

After a moment of silence, a voice finally spoke from behind the door, deep and calm.

Although Jiafu had already guessed who might be inside, hearing that familiar voice ring out here and now, at this very place, still startled her greatly.

It was the end of the year. Affairs within the court were already in turmoil, and external matters were even more complex. Beginning half a month earlier, just as the Pei household was plunged into mourning over the Grand Lady’s passing, a stream of foreign envoys, princes and chieftains from vassal states such as Goryeo, Annam, Champa, and Liuqiu, had been arriving in the capital to pay tribute. Even regions like Mengmu and U-Tsang had dispatched emissaries. The Ministry of Rites managed audiences and banquets daily, and the Grand Ceremonial Court received guests in an unending stream. One could imagine the emperor’s daily schedule was filled to the brim.

And yet, at this moment, the voice that came from behind the door, clear and unmistakable, was precisely that of the Emperor, Xiao Lie.

Pei You’an was even more shocked than Jiafu.

The instant he heard that voice, the hand gripping his sword abruptly froze.

As the voice finished speaking, the door creaked open with a soft groan. Standing behind the threshold was the eunuch Li Yuangui, who said in a low voice, “Lord Pei, His Majesty is present. Mind your manners.”

Pei You’an’s gaze passed over Li Yuangui’s head and landed on the figure standing in the middle of the snowy courtyard behind him.

That man was cloaked from head to toe in shadow, unmoving at first, like a statue. Slowly, he lifted his arms and pulled back the hood that had concealed his face, revealing the countenance of a middle-aged man.

His face was thin and pallid, tinged with a bluish hue under the snowlight. His brows were black as ink, and in the dim night, his eyes flickered faintly.

Pei You’an instantly sheathed his sword and dropped to his knees at the doorway. “Your servant pays respects to His Majesty. I did not know the Emperor was here, please punish me for this offense!”

Jiafu also knelt beside him in the snow.

Li Yuangui promptly stepped aside.

Xiao Lie said, “No blame for what is unknown. You may both rise.”

Pei You’an thanked him and rose, bringing Jiafu up with him. For a moment, the two outside and the two inside stood silently on either side of the threshold. The atmosphere grew suddenly tense. After a pause, Pei You’an said, “This morning I came to remove a dead tree from the Hall of Foundations, lest it fall and damage the ancestral lotus thrones enshrined within. As dusk fell, the path down the mountain became difficult, so my wife and I stayed the night here at the temple. Unable to sleep just now, I brought her to pay respects to my late aunt. I had no intention of disturbing Your Majesty, please forgive me. I am most fortunate if Your Majesty takes no offense.”

His tone was entirely respectful as he explained why he and his wife had come to this place at such a time. As he finished speaking, both his and Jiafu’s gazes shifted to the emperor.

This courtyard was where Pei Wenjing had spent her final days in illness. Since the reign of Prince Shunan, it had fallen into neglect and become essentially a private place for the Pei family. Aside from the occasional memorial service, few outsiders ever approached it.

Thus, for Pei You’an to come here with his wife to pay respects to his aunt on a snowy night was entirely proper.

But the fact that the current emperor would also be here, in the dead of night, and with such secrecy, was another matter altogether.

The implication of Pei You’an’s words was clear as day.

The emperor remained silent.

Once more, the atmosphere grew uneasy. For Jiafu, who was secretly aware of certain truths, she even thought she sensed a subtle trace of embarrassment from the emperor himself.

Jiafu glanced quietly at the figure standing just inside the door, hesitated slightly, then bowed and softly broke the silence: “This humble wife should not remain. I shall take my leave…”

The emperor gave a faint cough, and Li Yuangui stepped forward, saying, “The Grand Lady of the Pei family once cared greatly for His Majesty. Her passing grieved him deeply. His Majesty has long intended to come here in private to pay his respects. But court affairs are ceaseless and demanding, and not even a moment’s leisure could be found. Only tonight was he able to leave the palace. Upon arriving at the temple, he recalled his carefree bond in childhood with Lord Pei’s aunt and was moved by emotion, so he came here to offer tribute.”

Jiafu glanced quietly at Pei You’an.

His expression remained composed, betraying no clear reaction. He only lowered his eyes slightly and respectfully said, “Your servant has disturbed His Majesty. If there is nothing else, I shall now take my leave.”

He bowed to the emperor, then guided Jiafu away. They stepped back seven or eight paces before turning and walking off together.

Jiafu followed without daring to look back, though she could clearly feel Xiao Lie’s gaze lingering on their retreating backs.

“You’an, you remain. I have something else to say.”

They had gone dozens of steps and were just about to round the covered walkway when the emperor’s voice called out again from behind them.

Pei You’an stopped and slowly turned.

Li Yuangui had already stepped out quickly and approached them. He said to Jiafu, “His Majesty has something to say to Lord Pei. May Madam please wait here? I will keep you company.”

His tone was exceedingly courteous.

Jiafu quickly replied, “You are too kind, Eunuch Li. I shall wait right here.”

Although Li Yuangui was a eunuch, Pei You’an knew that in his youth, he had been skilled in archery and horseback. He glanced at the shadowy figure standing just inside the courtyard, then nodded slightly to Li Yuangui. “My thanks for the trouble.”

With that, he turned and stepped back inside.

The desolate garden lay under cold snow, the sky and earth sealed tight. The emperor stood in the middle of the snowy ground, hands behind his back, his expression stiff and solemn.

Pei You’an knelt once more before the man ahead, kowtowing deeply: “Your Majesty, what orders do you have?”

Xiao Lie seemed to come back to himself.

“Follow me,” he said, turning and stepping into the snow, pushing open the door to enter.

Pei You’an watched the figure in front of him, rose from the ground, and followed him inside, closing the door behind.

Inside, the doors and windows were tightly shut, the light dim, the air unusually cold and carrying a faint musty scent.

Pei You’an stood by the door, watching the emperor slowly walk to a narrow table, raise his hand, and run his fingers over several objects, as if lost in some deep thought.

He no longer spoke, only quietly watched.

“You, You’an, have been handling affairs for me outside for some time. Since your return to the capital, you have also suffered bereavement. There is one matter you probably do not yet know.”

The emperor finally spoke, his tone indifferent: “I have decided to take princesses from Goryeo and Annam into the palace, and as advised by the Ministry of Rites, in early spring to select more maidens to fill the harem.”

Goryeo and Annam had sent royal daughters along with their envoys, expressing their wish to marry into the great Wei Empire’s emperor. Other envoy groups also offered beauties in varying numbers. The Ministry of Rites submitted a petition stating that His Majesty’s harem currently only has the empress; the times have changed, and according to ritual, the harem should be filled to support the emperor.

“The Book of Rites says that the Son of Heaven should establish six palaces. This concerns the dignity of the state. Your Majesty is wise beyond measure,” Pei You’an said respectfully.

The emperor fell silent for a moment, then said, “Li Yuangui just now actually hid something for me. Since we met here by chance, it must be fate, and I might as well tell you. Tonight I came here only to pay respects to your aunt, but I did not expect to encounter you and your wife.”

He paced slowly to the window, turning his back to Pei You’an, standing there for a moment.

“I and your aunt were childhood sweethearts. Alas, fate was cruel. We were forced to marry others. She was of noble character but ill-fated, dying young here…”

“Youan, if I told you that your aunt’s tragic death years ago was entirely because of me, that it was my fault, would you hate me?”

The emperor’s emotion suddenly seemed difficult to control; his voice trembled slightly as he abruptly turned around.

Pei You’an froze for a moment but soon seemed to regain himself, hesitating before cautiously replying, “Your Majesty’s words are too heavy. Even if it is as you say, I believe it was unintentional. My aunt’s spirit is surely watching from heaven; if she can forgive past matters, how dare I speak of right or wrong?”

The emperor stared at Pei You’an for a long time. His emotions finally seemed to settle, and he nodded, speaking again with a much calmer voice.

“Tonight, at this moment, I regard you as kin, not merely as subject and sovereign, so I have spoken of these old matters. To be frank, because of your aunt’s death, these years I have felt a constant prick in my heart, one that even in death I cannot forgive myself for. Your kind words bring me some comfort. Regarding the Jing-Xiang matter, you ended the conflict and brought benevolence; your insight was extraordinary, and you handled everything excellently, stabilizing the realm for me. Now that the old madam has passed, I know your grief must be immense. These years you have rushed around for me without a moment’s rest. I will send the person you recommended from the court to serve as county magistrate to pacify the people in your stead. You should rest and take care of yourself well. After some time, depending on circumstances, I may call on you again- how does that sound?”

Pei You’an respectfully replied, “I will obey Your Majesty’s orders.”

The emperor continued, “Youan, remember this: no matter what troubles you face in the future, do not hide them from me. Speak freely. If I can help, I will without hesitation.”

Pei You’an thanked him again.

The emperor’s gaze lingered softly on him in the dim snowlight. After a moment of silence, he said, “Enough for tonight. The cold is biting. Take your wife back and rest early…”

At that moment, faintly from outside came a low shout: “Who’s there?” The voice seemed to be Li Yuangui’s.

“Your Majesty stays here; I will go check!”

Pei You’an opened the door and dashed outside, seeing under the moonlight a black shadow dashing through the snow like a night owl.

Li Yuangui had drawn the waist knife he carried, protecting Jiafu, and quickly gave a sharp whistle, urgently calling the guards left outside the mountain gate to come assist. Turning, he saw Pei You’an already running out, pointing to a large tree several dozen steps away: “Pei Lord! The assassin was just hiding in that tree!”

The guards quickly arrived. Pei You’an ordered them to escort Jiafu inside for safety, then drew his sword and followed the two tracks left in the snow, hastening in pursuit.