The marquess of Nan’an soon asked for a private meeting with the emperor in which he mentioned Xiao Jie’s princedom. The emperor was a bit surprised, as the marquess had never favored any political faction. Years ago, when the fight for the title of crown prince was at its peak, he hadn’t spoken up for any of the princes. Why would he support the plain fourth prince now?
The marquess recited the words that Lin Qingyu had prepared to the emperor. “The crown prince used to be a capable ruler, but he’s now ignored court issues for some time due to his personal troubles. I believe that Your Majesty can use the fourth prince’s princedom as a warning to the crown prince. The fight for the throne is daunting, but it can also be useful.”
Having listened to this, the emperor kept his thoughts to himself. “Let me mull it over.”
✦ ✦ ✦
In the blink of an eye, New Year’s Eve arrived. At the palace feast, the concubines, princes, and princesses of the Inner Palace gathered to eat together. Music and dancing filled the room, and everyone laughed as they talked, joy overflowing from the palace.
Seeing that the emperor was happy, the empress said with a smile, “After New Year’s, the fourth prince will be nineteen years old. It’s about time to find him a wife.”
Xiao Jie had just taken a bite out of a cake. He quickly swallowed it. “Thank you for your concern, Mother, but I-I’m not a high priority.”
“What do you mean?” the empress scolded him gently. “Your uncles all married around your age, and some were even fathers already.”
The empress’s words reminded the emperor of the marquess of Nan’an’s request. He glanced at Xiao Cheng, who gripped his wine glass absentmindedly, looking defeated, no longer as glorious as he had once been. The emperor made his decision on the spot.
At the New Year’s Eve feast, Xiao Jie became Great Yu’s Prince of Ning.
✦ ✦ ✦
Compared to the festivities in the palace, the celebrations at the general’s estate were much calmer, since the general and his wife were the only people celebrating the new year besides the servants. Still, Yuan Yin decorated the entire residence. Paper cuttings were pasted to the windows, and lanterns hung from the rafters, looking bright and merry.
After food had been served, Lin Qingyu gave the servants their new year’s break. Gu Fuzhou moved their table to the hallway, and they sat beneath the red lanterns, drinking wine as they admired the snow.
Having successfully carried out his plan, Lin Qingyu drank a few more cups than usual, his pale skin reddening from the alcohol. Even the teardrop mole beneath his eye seemed to blush.
Gu Fuzhou had practiced drinking with the army, and he had a much higher tolerance for it than Lin Qingyu did. Seeing that Lin Qingyu was a bit drunk, he asked, “Should I carry you back to bed?”
Lin Qingyu propped his head on his hand, gazing at Gu Fuzhou with misted eyes, his entire body covered in a sheen of light. “Why do you love carrying me so much?”
“Because I want to look cool for you,” Gu Fuzhou said, only half joking.
Lin Qingyu burst out laughing, then lazily reached out. “Come on, then.”
Gu Fuzhou bent down, picking Lin Qingyu up princess-style. Their bodies were so different that now, in his arms, Lin Qingyu seemed that much smaller—when in reality, the physician was considered tall among his peers.
Gu Fuzhou walked back to their bedroom and sat down on the bed. He didn’t put Lin Qingyu down, letting him sit in his lap instead. “Do you want some hangover soup?”
Lin Qingyu wrapped his arms around Gu Fuzhou’s neck and whispered hoarsely in his ear, “Why…are you hard?”
Gu Fuzhou laughed quietly. “Ah, you caught me,” he said apologetically. “Sorry, I can’t help it.” His voice was low but certain as it made its way into Lin Qingyu’s ears. “I want to…so badly.”
The reddened flesh around Lin Qingyu’s eyes curved a bit. “Want to…?”
Gu Fuzhou swallowed. “You still only like girls. Right, Qingyu?”