Late winter, Inner Palace.

Above the lacquered red doors hung a plaque, but the Yan King’s sleeping quarters weren’t called a hall; instead, it bore three cursive characters: “Drunken Today.”

Shen Que walked through a long corridor with eaves and pavilions, then entered the Green Plum Garden, getting a whiff of plum blossom fragrance all over him. He then turned into a secluded courtyard. The courtyard had an underfloor heating system, so there was no snow on the ground. The melted snow water flowed along the paved channels into a pond.

In the pond swam a few golden koi. Perhaps because it was cold, the fish were lazy, barely moving their golden tails.

It was still early, so Shen Que squatted by the pond, using his fingers to stir the water, creating ripples, and stared blankly at the fish for a while before heading into the side hall.

Under the eaves of the side hall stood two beautiful Silla maids, as pretty as snow. Seeing him arrive, they slightly bowed their heads and greeted him, “Master Shen.”

Just as Shen Que was about to enter, one of the maids stopped him, “Please wait here, Master Shen. The Prince is currently meeting a guest.”

Shen Que paused, stopping in his tracks.

Xie Shiguan, considerate of his recent recovery from illness, didn’t have him accompany him to the morning court. He stayed in the palace for lunch, and by the time he returned to the residence, it was nearly dusk.

This wasn’t really a good time for a meeting. The guest might even stay for dinner at the Prince’s Mansion. Thinking of this, he asked the maid, “Has the kitchen prepared dinner?”

One of the slightly taller Silla maids, who had been with the Prince for a few years, had learned a good deal of sign language on her own. She shook her head, “His Highness won’t be dining in the mansion tonight, and since the guest is a resident of the mansion, the kitchen has naturally prepared food.”

Shen Que stood under the eaves outside the hall, waiting. Today was a rare sunny day, with clouds rolling and unrolling in the sky, revealing a hint of sunset glow.

The two little maids were whispering and giggling together. Shen Que looked at them with a bit of envy. If Shen Luo were here, he would have quickly become friends with them, but not him.

He was so ordinary and so clumsy.

Unexpectedly, the maid who had spoken to him earlier suddenly turned her head and whispered to him, “Master Shen, Yuan Hua just said your eyes are very beautiful.”

Shen Que didn’t expect her to suddenly talk to him, and he was startled, then flustered, not knowing where to put his hands.

The other maid blushed, nudging her shoulder, and shyly complained in a low voice, “I didn’t say that, you’re just making things up. If you keep this up… I won’t talk to you anymore!”

Yuan Hua paused, turned her face slightly, and began to reveal her companion’s secrets, “Last time, you said it would be nice if Master Shen wasn’t mute…”

The other maid quickly covered her mouth, “Master Shen, please don’t mind. We were just talking nonsense in private, don’t take it to heart.”

Shen Que shook his head, but he did take their words to heart. Ling Er… Ling Er had also praised his eyes like that. Although he had no romantic feelings for Ling Er, he had secretly been delighted for a long time because of that compliment.

He always thought of himself as mediocre and unremarkable, like a stone by the roadside or a grain of sand on the riverbank. Yet, someone could find something special about him.

Just then, there was a soft sound from the hall door, and a young man in a bright red robe came out. The red was so vivid that it made him look even paler.

He was a bit disheveled, still adjusting his belt as he walked out. Not paying attention, he bumped into Shen Que.

He quickly looked up, and his pale face was tinged with rouge. He hurriedly said, “Pardon me…”

But upon seeing Shen Que’s face, his expression immediately turned cold, and he looked at him with disdain, sneering, “It’s you?”

Shen Que had a grudge with him, or rather, this person held a one-sided grudge against Shen Que.

Three years ago, in autumn.

It was a day when the Prince was on leave, and Shen Que was attending to him early in the morning. Near dusk, Xie Shiguan sent him to fetch Yu Kongqing, the top scholar temporarily staying at the post house.

This top scholar undoubtedly had a good appearance and was a former student of the current Grand Tutor Man Changshan. Xie Shiguan had seen him at the Apricot Garden Banquet and invited him to the mansion, saying he wanted to discuss poetry and tea with him. But to put it nicely, it was an “invitation,” though it was no different from forcing him into the mansion.

Xie Shiguan left him waiting for a few hours before suddenly remembering he had invited someone. He leisurely went to see him and then bluntly asked him to be his bed companion.

But the young top scholar, full of youthful vigor, spat on the ground upon hearing this and pointed at the Prince’s nose, cursing him.

Xie Shiguan, sitting at the head, listened with his chin in his hand, not angry but amused. He sighed, “Your eloquence is good, but your writing is terrible. If not for being a student of Grand Tutor Man, it would tarnish the Sage’s reputation. With your level of literary and political insight, you’d still fail the exams at eighty.”

The top scholar’s face turned blue and white with anger. Before he could speak again, Shen Luo, standing behind him, kicked him in the back of the knee, causing him to lose balance and kneel heavily on the ground.

“Shen Que, your hands are the steadiest,” the Prince said nonchalantly from above, “Sew the top scholar’s mouth shut for me.”

Shen Que nodded.

The guards on either side immediately stepped forward to hold the top scholar’s shoulders, and Shen Que slightly bent down, threading the needle amidst the top scholar’s incredulous cries.

“How dare you?” the top scholar shouted, “I’m the newly appointed top scholar, personally chosen by the Emperor… Ah!”

Shen Que’s face was expressionless, not softening his hand despite the top scholar’s miserable state.

He had done this more than once. In the past, he would have been afraid and had nightmares, but now he was used to it.

He guessed that perhaps the heavens knew of his sins in this life, so they took away his ability to speak and gave him a flawed and dirty body.

“How ugly,” Xie Shiguan frowned, getting up and passing by him, his gaze falling on Shen Que, “Clean it up and come back early.”

Shen Que nodded again.

The top scholar in front of him now wore a brocade robe with jade ornaments. The youthful vigor on his face had faded, and the scars on his lips had healed. From Shen Que’s distance, they were almost invisible.

He had gained a certain inexplicable charm compared to three years ago.

Yu Kongqing looked him up and down, then smiled meaningfully, leaning close to his ear to mock, “You’ve been with the Yan Prince for so long, yet you’re still just a servant. If someone beats you to death, at most, they’ll pay a hundred taels of silver, and that’s already considered lucky for you.”

Shen Que didn’t even glance at him, brushing past him and stepping straight into the hall.

He didn’t even spare him a look, and behind him, Yu Kongqing gritted his teeth in hatred, staring at his back as if he wanted to tear him apart.

But unfortunately, Shen Que never looked back.

Inside the side hall, incense was burning, and a few pots of winter plums were placed by the window. The scent of the wood mingled with the incense, giving it a faint temple-like atmosphere.

Xie Shiguan was leaning on a soft couch by the window. Seeing him come in, he lazily asked, “Did you run into him?”

Shen Que nodded.

“After all, he’s a student of Grand Tutor Man. His knowledge and political views may not be great, but he does have some outstanding qualities. It’s just his temperament…” He paused here, then coldly commented, “It’s a bit petty.”

Shen Que didn’t know much about his affairs, but logically, Yu Kongqing, as a former student of the Emperor’s teacher Man Changshan and the Emperor’s personally appointed top scholar, should have a bright future. Why would he bow his head and become a resident guest at the Prince’s Mansion?

Xie Shiguan didn’t care about those bed companions, whether they succeeded or not. As long as they had a good appearance, he couldn’t be bothered to pursue it further.

Moreover, Xie Shiguan and Man Changshan were close friends. The punishment had been given, and there was no need to trouble Yu Kongqing further over this matter.

Xie Shiguan seemed to have noticed his confusion. He was in a good mood recently, so he patiently explained to Shen Que, “He offended the Emperor. If he doesn’t come to rely on me, no one else would dare take him in.”

The Prince was willing to talk to him, so he listened carefully, nodding after he finished. As for how he offended the Emperor, if Xie Shiguan didn’t tell him, he wouldn’t ask.

“It’s getting late,” Xie Shiguan suddenly said, “Come, I’ll take you to meet someone.”

Half an hour later, Shen Que followed the Prince on horseback, finally stopping outside a private residence in the southern part of Pingkang Lane.

Unlike other entertainment venues in the city, this residence had golden lacquered fences and the elegance of a scholarly family’s home. Inside, the halls were spacious and quiet, and the rock gardens and plants were all serene and elegant.

Shen Que was familiar with this place. It wasn’t the hidden residence of a scholarly family in the city but the home of a certain courtesan.

Although Xie Shiguan wasn’t fond of women, he often came here to entertain guests.

This female scholar had a proud nature and wasn’t someone easily invited. Choosing this place for a meeting was a way to show respect to the other party, making subsequent discussions smoother.

However, Shen Que usually waited outside the door and had never entered before.

Seeing him hesitate at the door, Xie Shiguan lightly tapped his back with a folded riding whip, “Aren’t you going in?”

“It’s not proper for me to walk ahead of Your Highness,” Shen Que signed slowly, feeling a bit troubled.

Xie Shiguan smiled faintly, then stepped past him, lifting his robe and entering first. Only then did Shen Que dare to follow half a step behind.

Inside, two guests had already arrived and stood up to greet Xie Shiguan as he entered.

“No need for formalities,” Xie Shiguan said, brushing aside the crystal bead curtain and slightly turning to smile at the two, “Please, have a seat.”

Even though he said this, no one dared to sit until Xie Shiguan took his seat. Only then did they dare to sit again.

There was still an empty seat beside Xie Shiguan, presumably reserved for the courtesan. But unexpectedly, Xie Shiguan turned to look behind him and asked the mute guard, “Why aren’t you sitting?”

Shen Que lowered his head, “I don’t dare.”

“Everyone here is familiar,” Xie Shiguan said, “No one cares about those formalities.”

After saying this, he turned back and smiled at the two guests, “Gentlemen, don’t you agree?”

Author’s Note:

Note:

Female Scholar: In Tang Dynasty poet Wang Jian’s “To the Female Scholar of Shu,” it says, “The female scholar by the Wanli Bridge, living behind closed doors among the loquat flowers.” Later generations used this to refer to talented women, metaphorically calling them female scholars.