How Dare You?! 成何体统 (Cheng He Ti Tong)
By 七英俊 Qi Ying Jun
Translation by Spider
Precisely because they didn’t know how many years they could still be together, they cherished every moment of the present time even more.
Yu Wanyin: “Xiao Tiancai said he’ll come back next month to check your pulse.”
After the dust settled on the Crown Prince’s case, Yu Wanyin still told Xiao Tiancai about Xie Yong’er’s death.
Xiao Tiancai was distraught for several days. Yu Wanyin thought he might leave after this, but he continued to appear as usual, fulfilling his commitments and taking care of Cen Jintian until the very end.
Only after seeing off Cen Jintian did Xiao Tiancai come to bid farewell.
Feeling guilty in her heart and sensing she owed him a lot, Yu Wanyin was surprised when Xiao Tiancai comforted her, “I have faithfully fulfilled my duties for Your Highness, as Consort Xie wished. Now, I leave to see the mountains and rivers she had longed for.”
Yu Wanyin couldn’t help but ask, “What did she say in her letter?”
Xiao Tiancai blushed again, “She said once the capital’s matters were settled and she found a stable place, she would wait for me to find her.”
After a few seconds of silence, he smiled, “Your Highness, don’t be sad. As long as these mountains and rivers exist peacefully, her spirit will have somewhere to rely on, and one day, they will meet again.”
After that, he set off alone, occasionally sending back letters discussing the livelihoods of various places he had seen.
“He comes and goes like the wind.” Xiahou Dan said.
“I heard he became a travelling doctor, healing the sick and injured wherever he goes.” Yu Wanyin remembered their conversation, still feeling a bit down.
Xiahou Dan glanced at her and casually remarked, “By the way, A’Bai also sent a letter.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing much, just chatting about recent events and expressing concern for us.” Xiahou Dan snorted, “He even included a bitter poem.”
Yu Wanyin chuckled, “Let me see.”
“There’s nothing worth seeing.”
“Just let me see. “
Xiahou Dan pushed aside the tea cup and stood up, “It’s rare to have free time. How about a game of ping pong?”
Yu Wanyin’s attention was diverted, “Sure.”
The harem naturally dispersed. Most concubines left with a look of relief as if they had survived a disaster. But the ping pong table remained.
After winning two rounds, the Emperor lost interest when the Empress dropped the racket and insisted on swinging on the swing for Qingming. So, the Emperor sent someone to find coloured ribbons and a swing board.
Li Yunxi walked through the corridor with a memorial in hand and saw from afar under the tall willow tree in the imperial garden, a figure in splendid attire swinging back and forth, accompanied by the Emperor’s laughter.
Li Yunxi was immersed in the mood of a lonely man, unable to bear seeing this. He endured for a long time before adjusting his expression and requesting a palace servant to inform.
A moment later, after the Empress stopped swinging and came down, the Emperor walked over alone, “Is there something?”
Li Yunxi presented the memorial, “Please review it, Your Majesty.”
Although it was a day of rest, if an official volunteered for overtime, Xiahou Dan couldn’t ignore it.
He led the person into the study, listening to the report while perusing the memorial. Li Yunxi spoke earnestly, feeling that the Emperor seemed to listen and then stop doing so, occasionally smiling absentmindedly. Every time he paused, Xiahou Dan could effortlessly respond, leaving him unable to find a reason to persuade him to stop.
Half an hour later, a eunuch knocked on the door and handed over a note. Li Yunxi’s sharp eyes immediately recognized the crawling dog-like handwriting.
“Barbecue tonight?”
Xiahou Dan glanced at it, propped his chin, and replied with a ‘1’.
Li Yunxi: “?”
The eunuch, as if accustomed to such things, took the note and retired.
Xiahou Dan looked at Li Yunxi and asked in a tone that urged him to leave, “Any more questions?”
“…None.” Li Yunxi replied.
He bowed and took his leave. Just as he took a few steps, Xiahou Dan said, “Minister Li, please stay.”
Xiahou Dan pointed to his memorial, “Minister Li, you have remarkable literary talent. How about your poetry?”
“Poetry?”
“If you have time, you can also write a couple of bitter poems. Since no one can appreciate them, why not let me present them?”
“…”
Li Yunxi couldn’t hold back his words after enduring all day, “The way you two… What decorum is this!”
Translation by Spider
Next: Extra 1
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