Qi Yue naturally didn't wear her formal attire when returning from the palace; she had changed into a daily crimson blouse embroidered with gold clasps, and all the ornate hairpins and jewelry were removed. She was here to see a patient, not to wander gardens or attend a social call—such ostentation was unsuitable for this occasion...
"That will be all, no need to escort me further," she said with a smile to the steward.
Qi Yue hadn't paid mind to which gate she used, but A'ru and A'hao exchanged looks of utter shock.
"May the Madam have a safe journey," the steward bowed deeply.
Qi Yue nodded with a gentle smile and descended the steps. After only two paces, she sensed someone watching her from just outside the gate.
There were two men: one tall and thin, the other short and stout.
The tall, thin one was wrapped in a voluminous cloak that obscured half his face, whereas the short, plump one appeared surprisingly smooth-skinned, with two fake mustaches clinging precariously to his mouth...
Why fake mustaches?
Qi Yue let out a soft chuckle.
This sound snapped the two onlookers, who had been frozen in awe, back to reality.
They gazed at the beauty as she slowly descended the steps toward them.
The thin lips beneath the man's cloak curved upward slightly as well.
"Hey," Qi Yue raised a hand to lightly cover her mouth and murmured, "It's slipping."
The two men instinctively looked down. A gust of wind passed, and the woman had already walked by.
The tall, thin man looked at the short, stout one, who returned the bewildered gaze. Indeed, one of the mustaches was dangling loose, hanging by the corner of his mouth, wobbling with every breath—a truly comical sight.
The tall, thin man broke into a laugh as well.
"I told you not to clown around!" he said, pulling the mustache off and laughing.
The short, stout man looked quite aggrieved.
"Well, well, this was to avoid being recognized..." he mumbled.
The tall, thin man stopped looking at him, then suddenly remembered something and quickly turned back to look for the woman, but she was already boarding a carriage—a small, unremarkable vehicle that soon disappeared down the street.
That beauty...
The short, stout man cleared his throat, reminding the tall one of their purpose.
The tall man withdrew his gaze and turned, deciding that since the main gate was open, they should enter through it.
"Hey, hold on! Who are you?" the gatekeeper immediately barked.
"What are you shouting for!" The short, stout man was equally ill-tempered, especially since he was never accustomed to such harsh reprimands. He glared back.
The gatekeeper had already noted the strange attire of these two men, who had been staring at Madam Qi with undisguised intensity. He was already annoyed, and hearing this retort, he spun around and slammed the gate shut with a thwack.
The two outside were caught completely off guard, watching the main gate close before their eyes.
A moment later, a woman strode boldly out of the main gate, while they were locked outside.
"If you have business, speak at the side gate," a voice called from inside.
Unacceptable! The short, stout man made to rush forward, but the tall, thin one held him back.
"Why cause a scene with a mere gatekeeper?" he said, turning toward the side gate with a touch of curiosity. "Never been through the side gate before..."
But the side gate proved no easier.
"The invitation?" the guard asked flatly.
"Invitation?" The short, stout man faltered. "We are here to visit Elder Li. What invitation do we need! Move aside!"
The side gate slammed shut with another thwack.
"...What kind of insolent ruffians, not even knowing where they are..."
Mockery drifted from the servants inside.
"Great. Now nobody recognizes us," the short, stout man muttered.
"Quite entertaining," the tall, thin man laughed instead. After a moment's thought, he reached over and snatched a token from the short, stout man's waist. "Use this to get in."
"Don't bother looking. Let's just go back," the short, stout man said.
"No, we must see," the tall, thin man stated resolutely.
Honestly, they hadn't specifically come for this. They were merely planning to sneak out to the city gate for a bowl of wontons, mentioning Elder Li along the way. They heard from the hidden guards that Elder Li was recovering, which sparked their curiosity to see the spectacle. If it was optional, why not let them in to see their fill?
The short, stout man had no choice but to take the waist token and knock again.
Master Li had already retreated with his attendants from the room. Since the imperial physicians had prescribed new medicine which was currently brewing, Li Tong's father had insisted Li Tong remain to serve, much to the displeasure of his other brothers, who felt this set a precedent that they would be solely responsible for the future feeding of medicine. But they couldn't voice their objections.
The gatekeeper rushed over, clutching the token.
"Master, Master, someone has come to visit!" they called out.
Master Li was slightly displeased. Who was so tactless as to visit at dinnertime?
He took the token—an ivory plaque intricately carved on both sides with cloud motifs.
Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial...
Master Li's hand trembled slightly.
"It's someone from the palace," he announced.
Everyone paused, but quickly dismissed it. The Emperor cared about the Elder's recovery; it was normal for an eunuch to inquire.
"Prepare extra money," Master Li added.
The gratuity for these eunuchs could not be slighted.
He straightened his robes and went out to receive the visitor personally.
Cai Zhong watched the side gate open and couldn't help a curse under his breath. Why wouldn't they open the main gate!
In the past, he wouldn't have cared about such trifles, but compared to that woman just now, he felt deeply unsettled. Why! He was, after all, the head Bǐngbǐ Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial; surely he wasn't less significant than some woman!
While he was brooding, Master Li approached with his entourage.
"Oh my, Eunuch Cai, you came personally... Ah, Your Ma—" Master Li squinted, suddenly panicked, and before finishing his sentence, gasped sharply, his legs nearly buckling.
Cai Zhong was quick and stepped forward to support him.
"Don't make a sound," he murmured.
Steadying himself with Cai Zhong's support, Master Li stood straight, trembling slightly as he looked at the tall, thin man approaching step by step.
Under the dim light of the corner lamp, the gatekeeper saw that the man had slightly lifted his cloak, revealing half a face—a face instantly recognizable to those familiar with him.
Master Li felt breathless and his mind reeled.
"Come, come, let's go inside and take a look," Cai Zhong said cheerfully, subtly guiding Master Li aside.
The others noticed Master Li's distress but couldn't fathom why. They gathered around, ushering Cai Zhong inside with forced laughter.
Cai Zhong waited for the tall, thin man to enter first before he stepped in.
Those following noticed this and began whispering to each other.
"Who is that man?" one asked quietly.
"Eunuch Cai's guard, perhaps?" another guessed.
"A guard?" The first frowned, pointing. "What kind of guard walks with more presence than his master?"
Everyone looked over. They saw that while Cai Zhong held Master Li and appeared steady, they were all a step behind the tall, thin man.
Master Li felt his legs turn to water. He desperately wanted to kneel, but Cai Zhong held him up.
"I, I, I haven't prepared anything..." he stammered.
As he spoke, they reached the doorway of Elder Li's room.
"Prepared for what? Have everyone else withdraw," Cai Zhong said quietly.
Master Li obeyed, turning around.
"Everyone go back, go back," he said, his voice shaking.
The brothers and descendants who had followed were stunned but dared not speak. After all, he was the eldest son; in this household, apart from Elder Li, he held the final say. It was their fate for not having been born the eldest.
Once everyone dispersed, Master Li let out a small sigh of relief and watched the man in front step into the room.
"Wait, no!" He suddenly remembered—there was still someone inside...
"What is or isn't acceptable," Cai Zhong nudged him. "Come with me, and give me your best tea."
"I have to attend to..." Master Li rushed to protest.
"Attend to what! Just a glance. Aren't there servants in the room?" Cai Zhong countered.
Without waiting for a reply, he pulled Master Li into the side antechamber.
Li Tong gently wiped Elder Li’s mouth with a towel handed to him by a maid. He then meticulously tucked in the corner of the quilt before straightening up.
"Young Master, you should rest now," a maid said softly.
"It's fine. I'll manage," Li Tong replied. "We need to wake him for medicine later."
The maid smiled at him.
"Young Master is quite practiced at this," she remarked.
She instantly regretted it. Everyone knew that Young Master Tong was an unfavored concubine's son; being so proficient at servants' tasks felt like a mockery. Previously, such a comment might have passed, but now she had to reconsider. After a moment's deliberation, the maid decided to apologize.
"When my aunt was ill, I served by her side, so I am quite adept at looking after the sick," Li Tong explained, showing no sign of displeasure, and even smiled at the maid.
The maid relaxed.
Footsteps approached, and both turned to see a strange man entering.
"Is it so warm in this room?" the man asked, undoing his cloak to reveal a fair, composed face, his thick eyebrows slightly furrowed.
Who was this man?
Both were momentarily stunned, but realizing anyone who could enter must be someone important, and knowing that few people associated with Li Tong's low status would recognize him, they paid it no mind.
"The imperial physician said it needs to be warmer; he cannot take a chill, or he will cough," Li Tong replied.
The man glanced at him.
Seeing the cloak was off, Li Tong naturally reached out his hand.
The man smiled faintly and handed the cloak over.
"How is he? Is he... is he really well? I heard he awoke?" he inquired, casually walking toward the bedside.
Elder Li was asleep.
"Hasn't he woken up yet?" the man asked.
"He took his medicine and fell asleep," Li Tong answered, motioning for him to sit while having the maid bring tea.
"Really awake?" the man pressed, looking with curiosity at the tea Li Tong was holding. "What kind of tea is this?"
Li Tong was unsure and looked at the maid with slight embarrassment.
"Longjing," the maid quickly supplied.
The man finally accepted it but didn't drink, merely holding the cup while looking at Li Tong with a half-smile.
"You are Elder Li's grandson?" he asked.
"Yes, I am from the fourth branch," Li Tong quickly replied, feeling awkward. He rarely had the chance to enter his grandfather's room before, let alone know what tea was served here—no wonder the gentleman found it strange. "I only came to serve my grandfather today."
The man murmured an "Oh" and turned the teacup while looking back at Elder Li.
"He truly is awake," Li Tong preempted the question, then explained when Elder Li woke and what he had eaten.
The man nodded as he listened.
"The imperial physicians did well," he said with a smile.
Even his smile carried a certain aloofness. Li Tong quickly lowered his gaze and looked away.
"Actually, we invited another doctor as well..." he began.
Before he finished speaking, Elder Li was disturbed awake.
"Mmm..." he exhaled, his eyes still closed. "What time is it..."
Li Tong hadn't replied when the man spoke first.
"Nine thirty in the evening (Xū shí sān kè)," he stated.
Then Li Tong experienced the most shocking moment of his life—a moment he would recall years later as if it were a dream.
Elder Li, not yet fully awake, shot up from the bed like a taut bowstring and immediately rolled onto the floor.
"Your Majesty!" he cried out, staring with terror at the man sitting smilingly on the stool before him.
It's nine o'clock tonight, you absolutely must come~ Cough, and also pray that I arrive at the hotel and check in on time... No pop-up novel website www.RT