Chapter Twenty-Six: Into the Water at Midnight

The palace teemed with all sorts of people, and after the banquet dispersed, each turned to their own pursuits. Bright candlelight flickered gently, while intermittent moans and gasps drifted from a chamber, draping this crisp autumn night in a veil of tender, languorous intimacy.

Within the Empress Dowager’s quarters, the ornate wooden bed was shrouded in billowing gauze. Two pale bodies writhed together in relentless entanglement, lost in the rapture of passion. After a time, as desire ebbed, Kimura Xinghen leaned against the headboard, cradling the Empress Dowager and gently dabbing the fine beads of sweat from her brow.

Her eyes were half-closed, the flush yet to fade from her cheeks. Though she kept many favored consorts, truth be told, not one had ever satisfied her as Kimura Xinghen did. She was, after all, merely a woman, but within these palace walls her radiant youth had been squandered. How could she swallow such bitterness? She was childless, withdrawn from her family and cloistered since entering the palace, now as distant from her kin as strangers.

No matter how splendid the world might be, she alone had struggled in solitude. So she resolved to ascend to the pinnacle of power, to make all bow before her, to become their object of worship.

“Tired?” Kimura Xinghen cupped her delicate face, studying her intently, his gaze finally resting on her tightly pressed red lips.

She did not answer, only leaned her head softly against his chest, letting her long dark hair spill over him like a silken cascade.

Thump, thump, thump—the hollow echo of her heart resounded in her chest, reminding her of the pulse of blood.

Her fair, slender arm wrapped gently around his waist, nuzzling against him like a docile kitten. In this moment, the Empress Dowager had shed all her usual majesty; on this bed, she was nothing but a gentle woman.

“Sleep now,” Kimura Xinghen murmured, holding her slim waist. In the beginning, he had approached her only to negotiate a business deal, but after a few encounters, he realized she was a pitiable woman in her own right. He couldn’t help but feel a measure of compassion for her.

“If you promise never to betray me, I will entrust this entire land to you.” Her lips moved slightly, uttering a phrase that startled even herself.

“What would it mean, never to betray you?” Kimura Xinghen smiled as he caressed her face, sensing that today she was different—no longer imperious, but as gentle as a well-tamed pet, nestled by his side.

The Empress Dowager opened her eyes, and as she met his smiling gaze, the pride returned to her eyes. “To be faithful to one another for life—that will suffice.”

Kimura Xinghen did not reply, only stroked his fingers indulgently through her soft hair.

“Everything on your end should be prepared. As soon as you return, you may deploy your troops. I will aid you from within.”

“Is this truly necessary?” Kimura Xinghen understood well: she was a woman, and she yearned for a pure love—a love she had never known.

At these words, the Empress Dowager’s eyes widened in confusion. “Do you refuse?”

“If you truly wish to be with me, I can take you as my consort,” Kimura Xinghen replied with a serene smile. He had seen many ambitious women, but never one like her. The Empress Dowager was not only ambitious but utterly inscrutable; her heart could not be fathomed, her fatal weakness never exposed.

She shook her head with a wry smile. She was the Empress Dowager of Ling, and he was a prince of Fusang. She had once been the consort of Ling’s late emperor, while he might one day become king. How could people such as they ever be together?

The night deepened.

Within the palace, everyone harbored their own secret plans. The human heart was the most unfathomable thing in the world. Sometimes, Kimura Xinghen could not guess the Empress Dowager’s true desires, just as she could never know what he truly thought. So the two remained mutually mistrustful, neither revealing nor clarifying their intentions.

Having hastily left the banquet, Feng Qiuji wandered outside for a while. Feeling weary, she decided to return to Chaoyun Palace to rest, but had only taken a few steps when someone called out to her.

“Your Majesty.”

Turning, she saw a man in a blue brocade robe, his gaze rising to reveal the handsome, smiling face of Kimura Xingye.

She nodded, acknowledging him with courtesy. “May I ask what urgent business brings Your Highness here?”

“I wished to thank Your Majesty for saving my life last time.”

Feng Qiuji glanced at him and instructed Xiao Hui to withdraw. In truth, she had assumed Kimura Xingye was a thief that night, only to discover today that he was a prince of Fusang. This suited her, for she had wanted to ask what business had brought him to Longshan Palace that day.

“Very well, you may express your gratitude now,” Feng Qiuji said, seeing no one else was present.

Kimura Xingye paused, then smiled. “I already thanked you just now.”

“Is saying ‘thank you’ all you meant by expressing your gratitude?” Feng Qiuji was speechless. She had dismissed Xiao Hui out of caution, worried he might have something more to say—yet all he had to offer was a mere thank you?

“Is Her Majesty reproaching me for not bringing a gift?” Kimura Xingye’s smile deepened. He could still recall Feng Qiuji tossing him out in the dead of night, clutching a small child and pleading desperately. He did not know why she was at the mercy of a child, but found the incident rather amusing.

“That won’t be necessary. It grows late; Your Highness should return to your quarters and not wander the palace at night. If seen, rumors might arise.” The thought that he and Kimura Xinghen were brothers irked her, and her manner grew cool. Ordinarily, men of his looks would not displease her, but his brother was utterly insufferable.

“So Her Majesty is concerned about rumors involving me?” Kimura Xingye glanced around, a helpless smile on his face.

“In fact, I have something to ask Your Highness, and hope you will answer truthfully.”

“Please, Your Majesty,” Kimura Xingye replied, all attentive deference.

Feng Qiuji was about to speak but swallowed her words. Though there was no one else around, this was not the place for such a conversation. The palace was riddled with eyes and ears; should someone overhear, it would only invite trouble. Best to be cautious.

Kimura Xingye seemed to sense her unease and smiled. “If Your Majesty would follow me.”

A special palace was set aside for foreign envoys and guests, though it was far from the inner chambers. Feng Qiuji hesitated—after all, it was the dead of night, and as empress she ought to avoid suspicion, especially since Xiao Hui kept urging her against it.

After a long walk, they finally arrived. Kimura Xingye had his attendant brew tea and cleared the room so all others waited outside.

“Your Highness is a straightforward man, so I’ll get to the point: What brought you to the palace that day?” Feng Qiuji decided to waste no time.

“I entered by accident,” Kimura Xingye replied, sipping his tea, his gaze meeting hers.

“Do I look that gullible to you? Or do you take me for a fool?”

“Not at all. I am merely telling the truth.” With that, he confessed the entire sequence of events.

Some days earlier, Kimura Xingye had arrived alone in Ling. He began to travel the hills and rivers, and by chance came to Longshan one day. Spotting a sea of pink blossoms in the distance, he went to admire it, unaware that Ling Zetian and his entourage were in the courtyard. Mistaking him for an assassin, they rallied the palace guards to hunt him down. He was soon wounded and forced to flee, stumbling upon Feng Qiuji while she was bathing.

“You go sightseeing in nightwear?”

“I always change into dark clothes at dusk; it makes getting about easier.”

“So it seems I really did misjudge you,” Feng Qiuji said with a hint of sarcasm. Clearly, Kimura Xingye would not tell her the truth, so there was no need to press further. “I’ll return to rest now. Your Highness should get some sleep as well.”

Without waiting for him to reply, she rose and left, calling Xiao Hui to accompany her back to Chaoyun Palace.

But she had barely gone a few steps when her arm was seized.

“I’ll escort you back.”

“That’s unnecessary. The palace is perfectly safe. I can find my own way. Your Highness, you should retire early.” She declined politely and walked out of the courtyard.

The night finally settled into silence. The long banquet was over, and peace returned to the palace.

Feng Qiuji guessed that Ling Zetian must have returned to Chaoyun Palace by now. Hastening her pace, she wished to get back quickly—she had left early and would have trouble explaining such a delay.

After a few steps, she noticed someone trailing behind. Turning, she saw Kimura Xingye’s figure.

Seeing he was determined to follow, she said nothing more and let him trail silently behind.

The night was cool and still, the lake shimmering with scattered moonlight.

“You shameless rogue, how dare you scheme against my mother?”

No sooner had the words fallen than a small figure whirled past like the wind. With a splash, something fell into the lake, sending water flying.

Feng Qiuji froze, then turned to see little Anuo. He glanced at the lake, brushed his hands together, and looked up at her. Kimura Xingye was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is His Highness?”

“In the lake,” Anuo replied, pointing at the floundering figure with a gleam of mischief and pride in his eyes.

Feng Qiuji had long noticed something peculiar: though Anuo was only four years old, his movements were elusive, especially at night. If she let her guard down, he would appear without warning. How he managed to evade the palace maids and eunuchs tasked with watching him, she could not imagine. He roamed the palace as freely as he pleased.

Could he truly be a genius?

--- Side note --- Oh, Anuo, why are you always causing trouble?