FIMA Ch120: Only Take a Sip

This morning, Gu Siyuan sat on the dragon throne, flipping through the memorials presented over the past few days. They mainly concerned the disaster relief situation in the Wannan region and the Wu family in Jingchu, who were preparing to rebel.

If following past conventions, after these memorials were submitted, the original owner basically wouldn’t even glance at them. Wei Zhengping would draft the opinions on the attached slips, and then the emperor would issue them with the vermilion brush.

But this time, using the excuse of delivering the registry of drafted beauties, the Duke of Song frequently visited the Diligent Governance Hall. He took the opportunity to coax and monitor him, making him personally review and approve the memorials.

Naturally, Gu Siyuan could only go with the flow.

Wei Zhengping was, of course, greatly dissatisfied with this; this was a clear division of his power. However, the Duke of Song was keeping too close an eye on things right now. Even if he wanted to find an excuse to make this little emperor “fall ill” for a while and take a break, it wasn’t convenient.

Gu Siyuan finished reading the last memorial and reached out to the side to grope for something, but found nothing.

He furrowed his brow slightly and said, “Where is the tea?”

“The tea, the tea is here.” The grand eunuch, Wang Tan, immediately brought someone over with tea, pouring it properly and handing it to him.

Gu Siyuan took it, brought it to his lips, and drained it in one gulp.

This fellow Wang Tan was quite skilled at serving people. He was very attentive to everything involving food and daily necessities. Although his mind was sometimes unclear and he acted a bit neurotic.

Just as he was thinking this, while placing the teacup on the table, out of the corner of his eye he spotted the fellow standing to the side, once again wearing a sneaky, hesitant-to-speak expression.

Gu Siyuan: “…”

Truly, one shouldn’t praise people too soon.

He raised an eyebrow: “What is it? Speak directly.”

Wang Tan immediately smiled obsequiously: “Your Majesty, after lunch, you will need to go to the Chuxiu (Storing Elegance) Palace to select the drafted beauties.”

Gu Siyuan raised his eyes: “En. And then?”

Wang Tan said very considerately: “You see, shouldn’t you settle that mysterious Beauty Consort into one of the palaces, and then invite an imperial physician to take the Consort’s pulse for peace of mind?”

“…” Gu Siyuan fell silent, then asked in confusion: “Mysterious Beauty Consort?”

Wang Tan nodded, as if it were the most natural thing in the world: “That’s right, Your Majesty. You haven’t entered the inner palace for an entire month; hasn’t that Beauty Consort been serving you this whole time? Furthermore, you have never bestowed any tonic medicine. The Consort might very well have a dragon son or phoenix grandson in her belly by now.”

Gu Siyuan roughly understood his brain circuitry and continued: “So? Why must she be settled into the palace?”

Wang Tan shot him a disapproving look: “Your Majesty, these past few days, the Consort has been enjoying all three thousand of Your Majesty’s favors entirely upon herself. But now, a large batch of newcomers is about to enter the palace. The Consort will naturally feel somewhat unbalanced in her heart. In case she develops a melancholic heart, it could endanger the dragon fetus in her belly…”

“…” Gu Siyuan.

He lifted his eyes, looking at the man expressionlessly: “Three thousand favors entirely upon herself? And a dragon fetus?”

Wang Tan nodded: “That’s right. Your Majesty, this slave must advise you. Keeping things sneaky and secret like this… although it has a certain unique romantic appeal, if it endangers the dragon fetus, then that would be… it is best to invite an imperial physician to diagnose her.”

Gu Siyuan stared at him.

Smart Comrade Wang, for your brain not to be used to write serialized fiction novels is truly a waste.

He parted his thin lips, spitting out two words: “Get out!”

Wang Tan’s body shuddered: “Yes, this slave will leave right now…”

Saying that, he slipped out of the Diligent Governance Hall like a wisp of smoke, closing the door behind him on his way out.

Outside the hall, the young eunuch looked at him with great worry: “Master, is His Majesty angry?”

Wang Tan glanced at him: “What do you know?”

His Majesty isn’t angry this time.

His Majesty is what the common folk call ‘henpecked’ and ‘fearing the wife’…

His Majesty has been absurd for over a decade. Now that he’s finally found one to his liking, he naturally has to coax and coddle her. Sigh, it was also his own fault for being too hasty. His Majesty is currently in the thick of his excitement; why did he have to talk too much?

Wang Tan let out a sigh.

The Jinling temporary palace was originally converted from the imperial palace of the previous dynasty.

When the late emperor founded the Great Zhou dynasty, Jinling was initially established as the capital, and he resided here for a time. Later, due to military considerations, the capital was moved north, and Jinling became the Southern Metropolitan Area. Therefore, the scale of the Jinling temporary palace was actually no different from a true imperial palace; it possessed all the necessary regulations and structures.

After lunch, Gu Siyuan rode the imperial palanquin, heading toward the Chuxiu Palace in a grand procession.

After practicing martial arts, his hearing and eyesight had become quite sharp. Thus, just as the imperial palanquin approached the walls of the Chuxiu Palace, he heard several laughing voices coming from within.

“Sister, what a tall stature! I wonder which family’s precious daughter she is?”

“To think our Jiangnan region could also produce such a tall and slender daughter. She doesn’t fall short compared to men at all!”

“Although it’s heard that His Majesty has always loved delicate and soft Jiangnan daughters, sister has a unique grace. Perhaps she can forge a new path?”

…

As they spoke, the girls chuckled hehe.

Gu Siyuan: “…”

Seriously, did they select Kuafu (a giant from Chinese mythology) to enter the draft today?

Just as he was thinking this, the imperial palanquin turned the vermilion corner of the wall and proceeded onto the broad paved path leading to the main gates of the Chuxiu Palace.

“The Emperor arrives—”

The two palace eunuchs guarding the gates spotted the imperial carriage descending and immediately craned their necks to loudly announce his arrival.

The lilting laughter inside the walls vanished in an instant.

Under the direction of the palace momo (senior maids), all the drafted beauties stood in two perfectly straight rows flanking the central courtyard. They curtsied and lowered their heads, dignified and gentle: “May the Emperor be blessed with ten thousand fortunes and golden peace!”

After paying their respects, some couldn’t help but steal a glance upward.

Thus, they saw a tall figure striding past them, dressed in a luxurious black robe embroidered with gold thread and wearing a twelve-tasseled imperial crown on his head.

The midday breeze blew past, and the blazing sun peeked out from behind the clouds, casting its light squarely on the white jade beads hanging from the front of the crown. In that instant, they only felt as if His Majesty’s dragon visage was shrouded in a dazzling golden sun—as majestic as a heavenly deity, forbidding anyone from looking at him directly.

Yet, their hearts uncontrollably pounded thump-thump, and their faces flushed red.

Under the front corridor of the Chuxiu Palace’s main hall, three chairs had been arranged. The one in the center was the Nine-Dragon Golden Throne, which was Gu Siyuan’s seat.

Sitting in the chair on the right was Wei Zhengping, while the Duke of Song, dressed in armor, sat on the left.

For an emperor selecting his harem to have two courtiers supervising beside him could be considered an unprecedented event throughout history.

The two men stood up to pay their respects.

After Gu Siyuan waved his hand to excuse them from formality, he sat down on the dragon throne. With his eyelids half-closed, he casually looked out toward the courtyard not far away.

When he had walked past earlier, he kept his eyes straight ahead the entire time. Now that he raised his eyes, he indeed saw that among the slender backs curtsying and bowing on both sides, there was one figure that stood out like a crane among a flock of chickens.

Gu Siyuan narrowed his eyes.

When he was in the modern world, he had conducted some research in the field of anthropology. Therefore, even though this drafted beauty respectfully kept her head lowered, and her skeletal frame appeared relatively slender and elongated—even padded at the chest and buttocks—there was no doubt that this fellow was a man in disguise through and through.

Moreover, looking at his standing posture, he likely possessed a certain level of martial skill.

Hehe…

This is quite a coincidence.

Before coming here, he had been quite worried. A month ago, in order to smoothly hand the disaster relief silver over to the Duke of Song, he went with the flow and agreed to this baffling beauty draft.

But after the draft, what was he supposed to do with these beauties?

He naturally had no interest in possessing a harem of three thousand.

Yet, if he didn’t select a single person, it would inevitably arouse the suspicions of Wei Zhengping and the Duke of Song. But if he really did select them, wouldn’t that be ruining the prime years of these young girls’ lives?

Now, since there was a man here—no matter what his motives were, whether he was an assassin or a spy—as long as he could be used to get through this, it would suffice.

Seeing him staring outside, the Duke of Song hurriedly presented his report: “Your Majesty, after several rounds of selection, the total number of those entering the palace this time is over thirty. Your Majesty may choose those pleasing to the eye to remain…”

After he finished speaking, he saw that Gu Siyuan still had no reaction. His gaze remained fixated on the courtyard outside, and a trace of a smile even curled at the corner of his mouth.

Immediately, he couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his eye. His Majesty’s fundamental nature of lusting after pleasure and beauty truly cannot be changed after all.

He struggled for a long time before finally saying: “If Your Majesty likes them, kee… keeping all of them is also fine…”

However, anyone could hear the underlying tone of heartache in his voice.

“…” Gu Siyuan glanced at him.

I was just worrying about what to do with these drafted beauties. Good for you, you just pushed all of them onto me.

However, someone quickly shot back.

Sitting to the side, Wei Zhengping was greatly displeased upon hearing the Duke of Song’s words. Recently, he had been busy subduing factions in the martial underworld and searching for that peerless tome, the Innate Heaven and Earth Cultivation Arts. Assuming that this little emperor absolutely couldn’t escape his grasp, he hadn’t spent much energy on matters within the palace.

Who knew…

The Duke of Song—a major minister who had always been known for his thick eyebrows and big eyes (straightforwardness)—had actually completely changed his usual style. He had actually learned to use beauties to rope in this foolish ruler’s heart, coaxing the foolish ruler until he spun in circles. He listened to everything he said, and even started actively looking at memorials.

Now, if so many beauties were selected to enter the palace, wouldn’t everyone surrounding the little emperor be people belonging to this old fart, the Duke of Song?

Wei Zhengping hurriedly advised Gu Siyuan: “Your Majesty, as the saying goes, ‘preserve heavenly principles and extinguish human desires.’ As a monarch, how can you easily drown yourself in feminine charms? Your Majesty, you absolutely must not listen to the Duke of Song’s words.”

“…”

As soon as these words came out, everyone was dumbfounded.

They vaguely looked up at the sky, suddenly thinking the sun had risen from the west.

Wei Zhengping, the number one treacherous sycophant of the current dynasty, was actually telling the emperor not to indulge in feminine charms?

The Duke of Song was stunned for a good while before he couldn’t help but burst into loud laughter: “Eunuch Wei, this official truly admires you to the utmost. By that logic, the pools of wine and forests of meat in the capital were actually built for His Majesty by another person with the exact same name?”

Having weathered so many storms, Wei Zhengping naturally didn’t change his expression at these mere words.

He immediately retorted in his thin voice: “At that time, His Majesty was young, and it was inevitable for him to indulge in play. Now that he has come of age (reached twenty), he naturally must care for state affairs and can no longer drown himself like this.”

The Duke of Song sneered: “If this official hasn’t gone senile, those pools of wine and forests of meat were built just two years ago, right? Did His Majesty go from ‘young’ to ‘adult’ in the blink of an eye?”

Wei Zhengping continued to speak shamelessly: “His Majesty is the True Dragon Emperor. His so-called growth advancing a thousand li in a single day is not impossible. How could mediocre mortals like us presume to speculate?”

“…” The Duke of Song was shocked.

How could this man flatter someone so shamelessly without batting an eye?

Gu Siyuan also understood in his heart. No wonder this old eunuch had been able to rise to power through three dynasties. Just the thickness of his skin alone was beyond what an ordinary person could fathom.

Thinking this, he deliberately shouted coldly with impatience: “You two beloved ministers are certainly in high spirits. If you don’t speak clearly, Zhen will be confused—is Zhen the one selecting beauties today, or are you two beloved ministers selecting them?”

Wei Zhengping and the Duke of Song hurriedly lowered their heads to ask for forgiveness: “Your ministers have breached etiquette.”

Gu Siyuan couldn’t be bothered to look at them anymore. He waved a hand at Wang Tan, who was standing to the side: “Begin!”

“Obeying the decree.”

Wang Tan replied, then walked out under the corridor and announced loudly to the drafted beauties: “All of you, raise your heads.”

Thus, a split second later, only a faint rustling sound could be heard—the light clinking of pearls and jade and the friction of brocade garments.

It truly could be said, ‘Three thousand beauties stand arrayed, vying to smooth their moth-like brows before the phoenix mirror.’

And then, Gu Siyuan fell silent.

Gu Siyuan: “…”

Gu Siyuan stared at the most eye-catching figure among all the beauties, not shifting his gaze for a long time.

Wang Tan looked at his master, then glanced at the drafted beauties, thinking to himself: Doesn’t His Majesty usually only like delicate and soft beauties? Why is he staring at such a… such a sturdy, tall one without blinking?

A dead silence fell over the courtyard. Both the emperor and the drafted beauties seemed to have lost their voices.

However, Wang Tan was indeed Gu Siyuan’s most favored grand eunuch. In this situation, it was up to him to break the ice. He bowed slightly, leaning in close to Gu Siyuan’s ear: “Your Majesty, why not call this drafted beauty up to the front, so you can take a closer look?”

For a long while, Gu Siyuan gave no response.

In Wang Tan’s eyes, if the master didn’t speak, that naturally meant tacit consent.

He immediately grabbed the roster nearby, flipped through it until he found the portrait and name of the tall drafted beauty, and called out loudly: “Drafted Beauty of Chuzhou origin, Xie Yun, step forward.”

Hearing this, Xie Chenyun stepped forward, his heart filled with an incredibly complicated mix of emotions.

Sigh…

Just as I thought.

The moment this foolish ruler sat on the dragon throne, he stared straight at me. It’s probably because his love for me is so deep that he could recognize me at a single glance in a crowd.

And now, this foolish ruler is completely unable to wait, simply calling me straight to the front to look at me.

…It seems that my being dispatched by the Cult to infiltrate the temporary palace’s beauty draft is probably going to make this foolish ruler so happy he’ll lose his mind.

Countless thoughts swirled in Xie Chenyun’s mind, yet outwardly he maintained a stern and dignified expression. He walked up to the corridor, stopping a few paces away from the three seated men, and curtsied slightly: “This commoner daughter greets Your Majesty!”

Wang Tan hurriedly reminded Gu Siyuan, who was still in a daze: “Your Majesty…”

Looking at the familiar face standing before him, for a moment, Gu Siyuan’s mood could not be simply described with the word ‘complicated.’

Although he had already made up his mind to select this tall fellow into the palace, this “surprise” was truly…

Thinking this, he glared at Wang Tan beside him.

It must have been this guy. Constantly yammering on about some ‘beauty, beauty’ in front of him all day. Now look, he actually yammered the person right in!

To the side, Wei Zhengping watched Gu Siyuan’s reaction, then looked at Xie Chenyun, and let out a cold sneer: “Duke of Song, I thought after a month of drafting, you had selected some peerless beauty. With these qualifications, standing next to His Majesty, one would think it was two men…”

The Duke of Song said dismissively: “Eunuch Wei, how could you possibly know what a beautiful woman is? The so-called ‘plump Huan and slender Yan’ (referring to Yang Guifei and Zhao Feiyan) each have their own beauty. Gentle and agreeable is a beauty, but heroic and sturdy is also a beauty. As long as His Majesty likes her, that is enough.”

Gu Siyuan gave the Duke of Song a deep look and said apathically: “My beloved minister speaks reason. Zhen believes this woman is extremely beautiful, one in ten thousand.”

The Duke of Song nodded in satisfaction.

Wei Zhengping snorted unhappily.

Xie Chenyun kept his head slightly lowered, gently biting the corner of his mouth.

This foolish ruler is truly shameless enough. Right to my face, he deliberately says such sickeningly sweet words.

Truly… truly…

Gu Siyuan half-closed his eyelids, catching sight of Xie Chenyun’s fingers trembling slightly below.

Could he be angry because he heard himself described as a woman?

And at this very moment, that idiotic Wang Tan beside him was still excitedly urging: “Your Majesty, do you wish to ask this drafted beauty anything? For example, about the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting… or needlework and embroidery?”

Needlework and embroidery?

“…” Gu Siyuan fell silent.

If this Beauty Xie suddenly snaps and hacks a sword at your head, you’ll be satisfied.

However, considering that this coward Wang Tan had served him reasonably well these past few days…

Gu Siyuan temporarily decided to save his life. After pondering for a moment, he smoothed things over, slowly spitting out a few words to Xie Chenyun: “You… what talents do you possess? It can be anything.”

Xie Chenyun glanced at the emperor above him.

This foolish ruler is actually quite considerate.

It’s just… if he could spend even a fraction of the thought he uses to be considerate toward me on state affairs, that would be even better.

Having thought this through, Xie Chenyun answered very crisply: “This commoner daughter knows how to perform sword dances.”

Gu Siyuan raised an eyebrow.

Tch, what a stiff and hard tone. He’s definitely angry.

Wang Tan’s chubby face wrinkled up. This is a beauty draft, not selecting a military general. Isn’t this beauty a bit too sturdy?

He stole another glance at His Majesty. His expression hadn’t changed, and he didn’t seem to mind at all. In fact, he even looked quite interested.

Wang Tan asked hesitantly: “Your Majesty, shall we keep her name tag?”

Hearing this, Wei Zhengping next to them was the first to let out a disdainful sneer: “A drafted beauty of such caliber, how is she qualified to serve His Majesty’s dragon body? Your Majesty, from what this minister sees, the drafted beauties today are all of inferior quality. It would be better if, on another day, this minister presented a few…”

But right at this moment, Gu Siyuan suddenly let out a soft chuckle. He had already stood up from the dragon throne and walked over to where Xie Chenyun was standing. He grabbed that slender, white, cold jade-like hand and said: “Keep the name tag. Keeping only her alone will suffice. Bestow heavy rewards upon the rest and send them back to their native registries. Of the three thousand waters of the Ruo River, Zhen only needs to drink from this one ladle.”

After saying that, he directly led the person by the hand and strode out of the Chuxiu Palace.

“…” Everyone was dumbfounded.

Only one person?

Was this still the emperor who used to indulge boundlessly in wine and women?

Wei Zhengping even couldn’t help but smile. The little emperor was just acting out of novelty this time. Choosing someone of this caliber, he would probably get bored of her in a few days. When that time came, he would just present a bunch of heavenly beauties; was he really afraid the little emperor would continue to be won over by that old fart, the Duke of Song?

The Duke of Song was also quite happy in his heart. The little emperor wasn’t foolish to the absolute core after all. To actually show such restraint… not bad. Perhaps this bad habit of lusting after beauties could be cured in the future.

Meanwhile, Xie Chenyun, who was being led away, had a completely clear mind.

Heh… I knew long ago that my name tag would definitely be kept. After all, the way this foolish ruler looked at me was nothing short of naked desire.

From the very first time we met, he has racked his brains to covet me in every possible way.

I just never expected that this foolish ruler would go to such lengths for me, completely changing his usual lecherous nature, and even saying things like ‘Of the three thousand waters of the Ruo River, I only need this one ladle.’

…It truly makes one look at him in a new light, and it also inevitably makes one’s heart feel a little chaotic.

“Greeting Your Majesty!”

Outside the gates of the Chuxiu Palace, the imperial guards saluted in unison.

Gu Siyuan raised a hand: “Rise.”

After saying that, he turned his head to Xie Chenyun: “Beauty, ride in the same palanquin with Zhen.”

Xie Chenyun’s expression became even more complicated.

But meeting the expectant look of the person in front of him, he ultimately nodded lightly: “Alright.”

Wang Tan, who hurried over afterward, watched the two figures enter the imperial palanquin one after the other. His expression changed slightly, and he couldn’t help but sigh: His Majesty’s heart is truly so fickle. Just this morning, he was acting completely devoted and unwavering toward that mysterious Beauty Consort. And now, he’s treating this new favorite like a pearl in his palm.

It’s just a pity for that mysterious Beauty Consort. Having attended the bed night after night for over a month, yet still not even being granted an official identity…

If there’s a little prince or little princess, it would be even more pitiful.

Sigh…

Inside the carriage, Gu Siyuan and Xie Chenyun absolutely had no idea that the two of them had already been written into a massive, melodramatic romance story involving a deeply abused love and a discarded concubine in the cold palace running away while pregnant.

The two sat facing each other in the imperial palanquin. Gu Siyuan was just about to open his mouth to ask him why he had suddenly returned to Jinling?

When he looked up, however, he saw Xie Chenyun tilting his slender, pale neck slightly, staring intently at a certain spot.

He followed his gaze, only to see that it was their tightly clasped hands.

“…” Gu Siyuan.

He looked up, wanting to explain. He had been lost in thought just now and simply hadn’t noticed this at all.

Xie Chenyun sighed: “Your Majesty, let go.”

Although I understand your feelings and know you just wanted to take the opportunity to hold and touch me, you need to know when to stop.

“…” Gu Siyuan.

Why do his expression and tone feel so weird?

…Is he not going to be able to explain this clearly?

Support me on Ko-fi