Chapter 9: Has My Lord Grown Tired of Me?
Wei Zhi's private estate was specially designed by a master landscape architect from the south. It took a long time to build and caused quite a stir in the capital for a while. By the tenth month, it was finally completed. She had started preparing for this banquet early on, inviting all the young scions and literary scholars of the capital. However, not a single invitation was sent to the court officials. After all, she was of the imperial bloodline with rights of succession, so she had to avoid what ought to be avoided. Besides, she had no desire to see the faces of those fawning sycophants.
For this very reason, she boldly sent an invitation to the palace herself, begging Wei Qi to attend the banquet.
"Elder Sister, please come. The garden was specially designed in the southern style, the only one of its kind in the capital. I'm hosting a Thousand Lantern Banquet at night, and I've had people procure unique lanterns from all over. You've been tired for so long, wouldn't it be nice to rest?" Wei Zhi pestered Wei Qi.
Wei Qi, getting a headache from her pestering, said, "If anyone finds out, I'll be drowned in memorials from the censors again."
"Just go in disguise. I've only invited young men who haven't entered officialdom and scholars. It's a night banquet, so how many people would recognize you?"
"Let me think about it," Wei Qi said helplessly. Wei Zhi's antics had tempted her, but her duties were overwhelming, and it was uncertain if she would even be free that day.
As expected, on the day of the night banquet at the estate, Wei Qi was swamped with work. When she finally got a moment of respite, she was vexed by a memorial from the Censorate—several censors had jointly submitted a petition requesting that Her Majesty select daughters from good families to enter the palace and receive her favor. She was truly growing weary of this group of remonstrating officials, who meddled in everything and constantly said things that annoyed her.
"Head Eunuch, go to the Censorate and summon Lord Gao."
The new Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate was an old man who requested retirement every year. He was even older than his predecessor, Han Zhongsi, had served through three reigns, and even the chancellors had to show him some respect. Wei Qi had pulled him out of obscurity and placed him in the Censorate simply to occupy the position, allowing Gao Yunqu to operate freely, not expecting him to actually manage anything. He, too, understood the unspoken message. Every day, he would just show up at the Censorate to check in and then ignore everything.
Gao Yunqu received the summons and hurried to the palace. Wei Qi showed her the memorial from the Censorate, originally intending to have Gao Yunqu devise a way to manage the Censorate. But unexpectedly, Gao Yunqu's expression turned serious, and she said respectfully, "Does Your Majesty seem to hold some prejudice against the Censorate?"
"I am merely vexed."
"Your Majesty, the Great Ancestor established the Censorate to supervise the sovereign and inspect the officials, for the purpose of rectifying the hearts of both ruler and ministers. The Censorate is like a mirror that can illuminate gains and losses. If remonstrating officials merely cater to the sovereign's whims, they are nothing more than sycophantic lackeys. How could they be considered a clear mirror? Honest advice is jarring to the ear. It is precisely because remonstrating officials are loyal to the sovereign that they will speak frankly in their admonishments.
"I have said before that if Your Majesty wishes to wield great power, you should not cede the path of remonstrance to others. The reason is that remonstrating officials must first be loyal to the state and the sovereign, not be a tool for one person or one faction. A remonstrating official should be a loyal and upright minister, not a flatterer. Such a person will naturally act according to public principles, so how could they be expected to curry favor by reading your expression?
"The ancients said: A person of virtue does not promote someone based on their words alone, nor do they dismiss words because of the person who spoke them. I hope Your Majesty will see this clearly."
At first, Wei Qi was somewhat dismissive, but as she listened, her expression grew serious. "I got carried away. You are right, my dear minister."
She tapped the memorial with some vexation and said hesitantly, "Lord Gao, you know me. I do not wish to marry for the time being."
Gao Yunqu thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty is twenty-five, and the rear palaces are still empty. What the ministers are worried about must be the matter of an heir."
"That… that's still a bit early, isn't it?" Wei Qi said sheepishly.
"The position of the heir apparent concerns the foundation of the state. Your Majesty should just consider them to be preparing for a rainy day." Gao Yunqu paused, then added, "I, too, am unmarried. On a personal level, I understand Your Majesty's thoughts. But out of my loyalty as a subject, I must still remind Your Majesty that it is time to make plans."
"I know."
Seeing that they were about finished with their conversation, the Head Eunuch approached and gestured to Wei Qi.
"It's fine. Head Eunuch, just say what you need to," Wei Qi said, glancing at her.
"The Eldest Princess's messenger has come three times, urging Your Majesty to attend the banquet," the Head Eunuch replied.
Upon hearing this, Gao Yunqu quickly said, "Then I shall take my leave, so as not to disturb Your Majesty's pleasant engagement."
An idea struck Wei Qi, and she called out to her, "Wait. Lord Gao, why don't you come with me?"
"This… I have heard that the Eldest Princess never invites court officials to her banquets," Gao Yunqu said, looking troubled.
"That's no matter. You'll just go with me," Wei Qi said, a smile in her eyes, insistent on dragging her into this.
"Then it would be inappropriate for me to go in my official robes, wouldn't it?" Gao Yunqu said helplessly.
"Haha, Head Eunuch, prepare some everyday clothes for Lord Gao as well."
Gao Yunqu had no choice but to agree. When she arrived at a side hall to change, she discovered that the Head Eunuch had prepared a skirt and hairpins. Having entered officialdom at a young age, she often wore her hair bound up under a crown and dressed in a mature style to avoid being looked down upon, rarely wearing skirts. After changing her clothes and arranging her hair in a chignon, she emerged to find that Her Majesty was also dressed in a similar skirt and hairpin style. They looked at each other and both felt that the other looked much younger.
"Dressed like this, Lord Gao, you have the beauty of a celestial being, truly magnificent and peerless," Wei Qi said with a laugh.
"As does Your Majesty."
Fang Jian's talent was now widely known at the Imperial Academy, so naturally, Wei Zhi did not forget to prepare an invitation for her.
So, after classes ended that day, Fang Jian changed into a set of proper everyday clothes under Cui Miao's guidance and followed her to the Eldest Princess's estate. As the rumors said, the estate was not large, but its interior held a world of its own, with strange mountains and grotesque rocks, winding streams and elegant bamboo, all exquisitely tasteful. At night, a thousand lanterns were lit, casting a brilliant, dazzling glow. It was a scene the likes of which Fang Jian had never witnessed.
Fang Jian and Cui Miao were seated together, surrounded mostly by students from the Imperial Academy. Cui Miao was widely acquainted and had friends everywhere, introducing Fang Jian to people all the way in. The banquet had just begun when she disappeared. Fang Jian figured she had probably gone to drink with friends. Besides, she was surrounded by classmates, and they could compose poetry and admire paintings together, so she felt at ease and didn't go looking for her.
After three rounds of wine, the atmosphere of the banquet reached a climax with a poetry competition among the scholars. A classmate smilingly asked if she wanted to join in, but Fang Jian shook her head and declined. The classmate didn't insist and went on his own. Fang Jian sat alone at her seat, watching from a distance, not finding it boring at all.
Suddenly, she saw two women enter discreetly. She looked closely and her heart jolted—one of them was Gao Yunqu. She had rarely seen Gao Yunqu in a skirt. The light-colored dress, paired with perfectly applied makeup, made her shed her usual severe and unrestrained demeanor, revealing a gentle and captivating appearance.
Sensing someone's gaze, Gao Yunqu's sharp eyes shot over. Fang Jian, being most accustomed to her stern appearance, didn't look away. When Gao Yunqu saw it was her, her expression immediately relaxed, and a faint smile graced her lips, causing Fang Jian's heart to soften. They held each other's gaze from afar for a moment before simultaneously looking away. In those few short instants, Fang Jian's heart nearly stopped. She had never been so clearly aware that Gao Yunqu was also a graceful, stunningly beautiful woman.
"Lushuang1?" Wei Qi had taken two steps before noticing Gao Yunqu hadn't followed. She turned to look at her in confusion, calling her by her courtesy name.
"Coming," Gao Yunqu replied, returning to her senses and catching up.
"Who were you looking at?" Wei Qi asked curiously.
"A young student from my household."
"You've taken a student? Who could possibly have caught your eye?" Wei Qi voiced the same question Dai Yao had asked before.
"If all goes well, you will see her in three years," Gao Yunqu said with a smile.
"So confident? Then I shall wait and see."
When the banquet ended, Fang Jian couldn't find Cui Miao anywhere. She left a message with a servant, then left the hall to look for Gao Yunqu. Gao Yunqu was also waiting for her. From a distance, Fang Jian saw Gao Yunqu standing outside the hall. Perhaps she had had some wine, as her posture seemed a bit relaxed, not as ramrod straight as usual. The young lady who had come with her was not by her side; she had probably already gone back. Fang Jian quickened her pace and approached her.
"You're here? Let's go." Perhaps it was her gentle makeup, but Gao Yunqu's voice carried a hint of softness.
Fang Jian followed behind her, her mind wandering as she gazed at the few loose strands of hair on the nape of her long, slender neck.
Outside the estate, A'yuan was already waiting with the carriage. They boarded, and Gao Yunqu took the main seat while Fang Jian gathered the hem of her robes and knelt at her feet. Gao Yunqu casually stroked the back of her head and asked with a smile, "Why do you keep staring at me?"
"My Lord is beautiful," Fang Jian said, lowering her brows to hide the shyness in her eyes.
"Haha, is it only today that you've realized I'm beautiful?" Gao Yunqu was in a good mood and teased her.
Fang Jian smiled and changed the subject. "Who was the young lady with you just now, My Lord?"
"…A golden branch and jade leaf."
"Oh." Fang Jian responded and said no more. A silence fell over the carriage.
Gao Yunqu was a little puzzled. She thought for a moment and asked, "Did you come with Cui Miao? Why didn't I see her?"
"I haven't seen her since the banquet started, and I couldn't find her even when it ended. Does My Lord know Cui Miao?"
"We've met a few times. Her mother is quite formidable."
"How so?"
"Her family fell on hard times when she was young. To support her younger siblings, she married that fool Cui Yicheng, yet she managed to make their lives better and better. Do you know the taverns and entertainment houses on South Street?"
"I do."
"Half of them are her businesses, not the Cui family's."
"Mm…" Fang Jian grunted in acknowledgment and fell silent again.
Their silence lasted all the way home. Gao Yunqu entered the bedroom, and Fang Jian followed her in.
Gao Yunqu looked at her with a puzzled expression. Fang Jian said nothing, silently helping her undress and wash up.
Not until Gao Yunqu was in her inner clothes and sitting on the bed did Fang Jian kneel at her feet again, leaning against her knees, her entire being radiating dejection.
Gao Yunqu stroked her shoulder and back, asking, "What's wrong?"
Fang Jian buried her face in Gao Yunqu's lap and mumbled, "Has My Lord grown tired of me?"
Gao Yunqu's hand traced down her cheek to her jaw. "Why would you say that?" she asked softly.
"My Lord hasn't summoned me for a long time… and you have another young lady for company…"
Gao Yunqu grasped Fang Jian's jaw and lifted her face. Seeing the smile on Gao Yunqu's face, Fang Jian's heart wavered.
Gao Yunqu pressed her fingers to Fang Jian's lips, carelessly toying with the bead of her upper lip before probing into her mouth. Fang Jian obediently parted her lips to accept the intrusion. Gao Yunqu used two fingers to rub against her teeth, lingering for a moment on her canines.
Fang Jian carefully kept her teeth in check and took Gao Yunqu's fingertips into her mouth. Gao Yunqu left her canines and stirred inside her mouth, catching her tongue, teasing and provoking it, occasionally thrusting a little deeper, causing physiological tears to well up in the corners of her eyes. As the play grew rougher, Fang Jian could no longer contain it, her mouth hanging open as drool trickled out, a picture of utter dishevelment.
Gao Yunqu withdrew her fingers, patted her cheek, and said, "Take off your clothes and lie face down on the bed."
Fang Jian did as she was told. Her clothes fell to the floor, and she climbed onto the bed naked, assuming a kneeling, prostrate position and burying her face in the bedding.
Gao Yunqu also undressed, got on the bed behind her, and grabbed both her hands, tying them behind her back with a palace sash. Having lost her support, Fang Jian's entire upper body sank into the bedding.
"My Lord?"
"Be good."
Gao Yunqu's hand went straight to her flower gate, feeling a handful of slick wetness. The sensitive, fragile opening pulsed, as if in invitation.
"Soaked already?" Gao Yunqu withdrew her hand, then suddenly slapped her flower core.
"Ngh…" Fang Jian flinched from the pain, but Gao Yunqu held her waist down and slapped her a few more times. Fang Jian whimpered softly, not daring to beg for mercy. It hurt; Gao Yunqu never showed mercy. But why was more spring water flowing from her lower body, and why did her heart feel even emptier? It was as if an insatiable void had opened inside her, desperately waiting for someone to fill it.
"I intended to let you relax for a few days, yet you spend every day thinking about having me fuck you. A'jian, do you know no shame?" Gao Yunqu's voice was teasing, not harsh. Fang Jian knew she must be pleased, so she swayed her hips slightly, rubbing against her, begging for her mercy.
But Gao Yunqu did not grant her the overwhelming pleasure of being completely filled. Something cool, hard, and smooth pressed against her entrance. Fang Jian, alarmed, tried to pull away, but Gao Yunqu grabbed her bound hands and dragged her back. The object pushed its way deep inside without question, and Fang Jian let out a moan of both satisfaction and torment.
The object wasn't large, and her flower passage was wet enough that it didn't hurt. Seeing that she had adjusted somewhat, Gao Yunqu pushed two fingers in to find the object. Her fingers stirred inside, pushing and prodding the thing. Pleasure muddled Fang Jian's mind, her vision filled with white light as she made sounds of both crying and pleading.
Gao Yunqu's fingers were pushed by the surging spring water, but she firmly blocked the exit. She leaned close to her ear and asked with a laugh, "A'jian, care to guess what it is?"
Her flower path contracted hard, squeezing her fingers, trying to measure the size and shape of the invading object. Her knuckles were swallowed and released, the softness bringing Gao Yunqu a sense of pleasure. She waited patiently for Fang Jian's answer, prodding her mischievously from time to time, making Fang Jian spit out indistinct words.
"My Lord… ah…"
"Come on, guess."
"Ooh… is… is it… a seal?"
"Ah, you got it right. A'jian is so clever." Gao Yunqu laughed. She pinched the smoothly polished seal stone with two fingers, dragged it partway out, and then thrust it heavily back in.
"Aah…"
"It's a fine piece of raw Tianhuang stone, with its sharp edges removed to resemble a smooth, strange rock. It's been polished until it's smooth all over, yet it retains a rock-like roughness. And I personally handled it until it developed a patina. Do you like it?"
"Ooh, ooh…"
"It seems A'jian likes it, taking it so deep…"
"…My Lord… I beg you…"
"Good girl. Let go."
"Aaaah…" Fang Jian completely lost her senses. A torrential tide rushed down, washing over the seal stone and pushing against Gao Yunqu's fingers.
"Such a good girl. How could I ever grow tired of such an obedient A'jian?" Gao Yunqu withdrew her fingers, untied her bonds, and held her, feeling the light, uncontrollable convulsions wracking her body. She coaxed in her ear, "How about we take the seal stone out tomorrow and I'll have it carved into a leisure seal for A'jian?"
"My Lord?" Fang Jian seized on a word in her sentence—tomorrow. She panicked, grabbing Gao Yunqu's wrist and looking at her pleadingly.
Gao Yunqu kissed her cheek, rolled over on top of her, and ground her knee between her legs. The seal stone inside moved deep and shallow, causing Fang Jian immense torment.
"My Lord, My Lord, I beg you, please take it out for me…" she pleaded, her voice thick with tears.
"That will depend on whether A'jian can please me…"
The night was deep, the candlelight flickered without rest. Whose lewd words and wanton moans made even the bright moon retreat behind the clouds?
Author's Notes
1Lushuang: From "treading on frost, one knows solid ice is coming" (å±¥éœœå …å†°è‡³), a line from the I Ching. It means that when you step on frost, you should know that the days of ice are near. Yunqu means "path to the clouds" (a metaphor for a successful official career), while Lushuang is a warning, cautioning her that the smoother her path, the more she must be respectful and cautious. It has a similar meaning to Linshen.
Couple names【x】 But Gao Yunqu wasn't thinking that far ahead, haha. Her elders told her to be respectful and cautious, and she is cautioning Fang Jian in the same way.
Post a Comment