Chapter 28: The Imperial Gift of the Flying Fish Robe
Page 1
Dawn’s first light crept gently across the sky. The phoenix couch of the Empress Dowager lay in utter disarray. Xu Boqing, who had fought through the night, showed not the slightest sign of fatigue; instead, he held the beautiful woman in his arms with vigor and spirit.
He glanced at the Empress Dowager nestled against him and saw her lashes—delicate as a green silk fan—quiver ever so slightly. At once, he understood: she was awake, but perhaps embarrassed by last night’s loss of imperial dignity, uncertain how to face him now, she had chosen to feign sleep.
Xu Boqing smiled quietly and did not expose her pretense. He gently brushed aside the tousled strands of her hair, placed a soft kiss upon her cheek, and whispered by her ear, “There is still much time ahead…”
He released her, dressed himself, and silently pushed open the door of the bedchamber to leave.
The moment he stepped out, he froze.
Last night, the eunuchs and maids had not been present, but now, at dawn, they waited outside the chamber doors. Most striking of all was that figure clad in a robe embroidered with golden python—a garment reserved for the highest honor.
Chief Steward Huang was waiting at the door!
He hastily bowed, “Your humble servant greets the Chief Steward.”
Chief Steward Huang cast him a glance, part amusement, part intent, and said, “You can change how you address yourself from now on. Follow me.”
Without further explanation, he turned and strode away.
Xu Boqing pondered for a moment, then followed behind. When they reached the study, he closed the door behind them.
He saw Chief Steward Huang sitting at the desk, tea cup in hand. After a gentle swirl, Huang sipped, his gaze fixed on Xu Boqing, still with that ambiguous smile.
Xu Boqing was somewhat embarrassed and asked, “Your humble servant is dull by nature and does not understand the Chief Steward’s meaning. Please, punish me if I’ve erred.”
“I’ve seen many young men; you are not the cleverest, but you know how to seize opportunity,” Chief Steward Huang laughed softly. “If all goes as expected, your reward will arrive today. When it does, don't address yourself as ‘humble servant’ anymore.”
Xu Boqing’s heart stirred. Seeing Chief Steward Huang’s tea cup empty, he hurried forward, refilled it, and asked with implication, “How should I address myself then?”
He knew the palace rules well: unless facing royalty, eunuchs within their ranks had strict hierarchies. Those without background or status could only refer to themselves as ‘small’ or ‘humble.’ Only with an office or after receiving reward could one change their form of address.
So though he asked about what to call himself, he was truly seeking to gauge the extent of his reward.
“Just use your own name,” Chief Steward Huang replied indifferently. “A few days ago, when that thief broke into Cining Palace, you performed an outstanding service. But I kept the news suppressed until today. Now, with your connection to the Empress Dowager, His Majesty’s reward will be generous. You may soon exchange your blue robe for the flying fish attire.”
Page 2
In the Great Liang, officials’ robes were strictly regulated: ranks one to four wore crimson, five to seven wore blue, eight and nine wore green. Patterns of birds or beasts distinguished civil from military ranks; one could tell a man’s station at a glance.
Besides the official garb, there existed the ‘Royal Gift Attire,’ bestowed as a sign of imperial favor. The most esteemed was the python robe, followed in order by the flying fish robe, the bull-fighting robe, and the qilin robe. For example, the golden python robe Chief Steward Huang wore had been granted by the late emperor.
Nowadays, the buying and selling of offices was rampant—anyone with money could purchase a high rank. But the ‘Royal Gift Attire’ could only be earned through imperial reward. It was rare, indeed.
Even without any official position, donning the flying fish robe marked one as a recipient of the emperor’s grace, ensuring others would not dare slight him.
“Boqing thanks the Chief Steward for his favor,” Xu Boqing feigned surprise as he bowed.
He was certainly pleased, but not merely for the flying fish robe he might soon receive. What thrilled him was Chief Steward Huang’s mention of ‘the connection to the Empress Dowager.’
It meant he had cleared the hurdle with her; now, the promise of martial training made earlier could be fulfilled!
Official titles, flying fish robes—those were but empty honors, of little use. Strengthening himself was his true priority.
Chief Steward Huang seemed to sense his hesitation and smiled, “You still wish to learn martial arts?”
“Yes!” Xu Boqing answered without hesitation, bowing in disciple’s salute. “When I failed to protect the Empress Dowager, I deeply felt my own weakness… If I could study under the Chief Steward, then should such danger arise again, I could help shoulder your burdens.”
“That’s enough, no need for grand speeches,” Chief Steward Huang waved him off. “Today, rest well. Tonight you need not patrol; tomorrow, don’t bother sweeping the gardens. Come to me—I’ll select internal and external arts suited to you. Whether you succeed depends on your own ability.”
“Boqing thanks the Chief Steward for his guidance.”
“Go on, then.”
Xu Boqing bowed and withdrew.
Returning to his own room, he could not hide his joy. He calmed himself, then took out the diary that held his secret, prepared ink, picked up his brush…
He did not write a diary entry, nor thoughts of home, nor any detail from last night that required payment to view…
After some thought, he boldly scrawled a large character meaning ‘prosper.’
His mind cleared, his spirit soared.
Page 3
As evening fell, a middle-aged eunuch led a group of younger eunuchs, each carrying items, to Xu Boqing’s quarters and delivered the emperor Yonghe’s oral decree.
The preamble was filled with flattering words about his cleverness; the substance was a reward of one hundred taels of silver, a flying fish robe bestowed by the emperor, and the appointment as the Empress Dowager’s personal attendant.
The first two—one hundred taels and the imperial robe—were expected and easily understood. But the appointment as the Empress Dowager’s attendant was a surprise, likely due to the Empress Dowager’s own intervention.
Was she… addicted now?
Xu Boqing smiled faintly, made a show of thanking the ‘dog emperor’ for his grace, and after accepting the rewards, casually slipped two hefty gold ingots from the tray into the sleeve of the eunuch who conveyed the decree.
He knew well the rules of the eunuch corps.
The messenger eunuch, whose face had been tense, immediately became amiable upon feeling the weight in his sleeve, openly praised Xu Boqing’s youth and promise, and suggested they should visit each other more often in the future.
He even hinted that, with enough money, Xu Boqing could be transferred out of Cining Palace—the palace for retirees—to take up positions elsewhere.
Hearing this, Xu Boqing nearly regretted giving away the gold.
Transferred out of Cining Palace? But Cining Palace is my home now!
After sending off the messenger and his retinue, Xu Boqing considered for a moment, donned the imperial flying fish robe, and delivered the remaining eight gold ingots, along with the tray, to Chief Steward Huang’s study.
Upon arrival, he found the Chief Steward absent.
The elderly eunuch guarding the door explained that the Empress Dowager was unwell and the Chief Steward was attending to affairs in Cining Palace, but would return soon, inviting Xu Boqing to wait inside.
Xu Boqing gave a cold laugh inwardly. In the past, when visiting Chief Steward Huang, this old eunuch acted half-blind, half-muddled, barely responsive to questions. Now, wearing the flying fish robe, he suddenly became warm and welcoming.
He paid it no mind, entered the study with the tray, and while idly waiting, glanced at the desk—only to discover several martial arts manuals attributed to ‘Thousand-faced Saint of Thieves’ Cui Feng.
‘Star-absorbing Demon Art’...
‘Muscle-changing Bone-forging Technique’...
‘Art of Disguise’...
This…