Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Martial Exhibition Begins!
Empress Dowager Chen languidly nestled in Xu Boqing’s arms. Perhaps the lingering afterglow had yet to fade, for her cheeks still burned with warmth. She looked up and noticed that the young rascal had one hand behind his head, as if pondering something. Gently, she bit the hand that was causing mischief upon her body and asked softly, “Little thief, is something troubling you?”
“Hm?”
Xu Boqing was momentarily taken aback. Gazing at the beautiful woman in his embrace, with her face so certain, he touched his own cheek and laughed, “Is it that obvious?”
“Not really, but I am the one who shares your pillow. How could I not notice when your mind wanders?”
“…”
“What matter is there that you cannot share with me?” Empress Dowager Chen, both coquettish and teasing, shot him a glance and feigned jealousy, her tone plaintive: “Are you thinking of Consort Liu’s charms upon my phoenix couch?”
“Never!” Xu Boqing shivered at the sour note, and realizing her suspicion, hurriedly tightened his hold around the lovely woman, murmuring intimately, “I was merely thinking of what Chief Huang entrusted to me before he passed…”
Her alluring eyes grew hazy under his caresses.
She knew that Chief Huang had transferred all his martial prowess to Xu Boqing before dying, and also that he had charged him with vengeance.
The beautiful woman seemed to recall something, clarity returning to her eyes. She cupped his face gently and said, “Boqing, let us not dwell on revenge anymore, shall we?”
Xu Boqing fell silent, uncertain how to respond.
“Chief Huang is gone now.” Rarely did a hint of plaintiveness appear on Empress Dowager Chen’s face, and her voice trembled slightly. “If anything happens to you, I would truly have nothing left to rely on.”
“It will not come to that…”
He offered comfort and, after a moment’s contemplation, asked, “Have you heard of His Majesty using the martial exhibition to choose the Chief of the Western Bureau?”
“I have heard mention of it.” Empress Dowager Chen frowned slightly, as if recalling something. “Do you seek that position?”
“I do.” Xu Boqing nodded, explaining, “The Western Bureau is filled with skilled martial artists, and their information channels are shared with the Embroidered Guards and the Eastern Bureau. I wish to use their manpower and intelligence network to fulfill Chief Huang’s last request.”
He paused, then continued, “Of course, there are personal motives as well…”
Empress Dowager Chen arched her brow, “What motives?”
“It’s a matter close to my heart.”
Xu Boqing sighed and explained, “You know my background, Your Majesty. My ancestral home is in Jianyang. Though my family was fairly well off, we were ravaged by bandits; all my relatives and servants, including my father, perished at their hands. At that time, I swore in secret that if I ever gained the strength, I would avenge them…”
“Now I have the ability, but I do not know where those bandits have gone. If I could use the Western Bureau’s intelligence to uncover their identities and resolve these old grievances, my journey through this world would not be in vain.”
Empress Dowager Chen bit her lip lightly, torn.
She understood the principle that vengeance for a father’s death was not to be shared under the same sky, yet she truly did not wish for her pillow-side thief to risk himself.
But if she refused… would it not be too selfish?
Xu Boqing seemed to sense her thoughts. Turning, he wrapped her in his arms and spoke gently, “My martial skills are at the innate stage now. Truly, Your Majesty need not worry for my safety…”
With words spoken so sincerely, how could she not discern his resolve?
The beautiful woman, filled with yearning, leaned on his shoulder and bit him, her voice aggrieved, “I was hoping to tell the Emperor soon and retreat to the summer palace in Zhendin for respite, but now it seems impossible…”
“There will be time for that…”
Xu Boqing kissed her cheek lightly and said, “When love is true and lasting, must it be bound by morning and evening?”
“You are always so eloquent…”
Empress Dowager Chen shot him a playful glare and huffed softly, “Tomorrow I will speak with the Emperor and have you appointed Chief of the Western Bureau.”
“That is unnecessary…”
Xu Boqing laughed and shook his head, “His Majesty’s purpose in hosting the martial exhibition is to select the Chief. The event has lasted two days already, and tomorrow will be the final day. If you intervene, it would put the Emperor in a difficult position.”
“Then…”
“Since His Majesty has set the rules for choosing the Chief, we should abide by them.” Xu Boqing smiled, leaning close to her ear and whispering, “Are you not concerned for my safety?”
He paused, then nipped her ruby-like earlobe and added, “Tomorrow I shall demonstrate my skills in the arena, so you may see for yourself and be at ease.”
His confidence colored his words, and feeling his breath upon her face, Empress Dowager Chen could not help but rub her legs against him, her eyes brimming with affection as she whispered into his ear, “I wish you would demonstrate for me right now…”
“…”
The next morning.
Outside Anding Gate, crowds had already gathered, and eunuchs were busy arranging the temporary venue.
Though there was no court session today, the ministers tacitly donned their official attire and took their seats in the ‘audience’ outside Anding Gate, even military officers not counted among the ministers were present.
With the call, “His Majesty arrives, Her Majesty the Empress arrives,” all civil and military officials, eunuchs large and small, and participants in the martial exhibition knelt to welcome the imperial presence.
Last time, Emperor Yonghe had been shaken by an assassination attempt; even now, his steps were weak, requiring eunuch support to ascend the steps…
Beside him, Empress Zhang remained beautiful, though her expression betrayed traces of fatigue and her temperament grew ever colder.
After the ceremonial proceedings…
Emperor Yonghe allowed the ministers to be seated and was about to declare the start of the martial exhibition when a eunuch hurried over and whispered in his ear, prompting him to frown and nod.
Soon after, a eunuch called out loudly, “Her Majesty the Empress Dowager arrives.”
Empress Dowager Chen was dressed in a Xiangfei-colored crimson palace robe, its hem adorned with glass beads softly trailing the ground, making a gentle sound as she walked. Fine silver threads traced an exquisite phoenix dance across the robe, radiating noble grandeur.
Behind her, Xu Boqing wore a golden python robe.
Emperor Yonghe rose with a smile, “What brings Mother here to watch the martial exhibition?”
“I was idle in the Palace of Benevolent Tranquility with nothing to do. I thought to clear my mind, and unexpectedly found such liveliness outside Anding Gate. With nothing pressing, I came to enjoy the spectacle.”
She paused, then added, “Will my presence disrupt the proceedings?”
“Mother, you overstate…”
Emperor Yonghe smiled, “The Palace of Benevolent Tranquility can be oppressive; it is good for Mother to come out and walk about.”
Though Empress Dowager Chen was not his birth mother and was of similar age, she had been personally appointed Empress by his father, the late Emperor Shengyuan, and was the Empress Dowager of the Yonghe era. Both sentiment and propriety demanded she be treated with respect.
Some eunuchs had already prepared her phoenix palanquin and royal canopy, and after arranging everything, respectfully invited her to be seated…
At this moment, Empress Zhang’s brows were slightly furrowed.
After more than ten years together, she understood her ‘sister’s’ temperament well: ordinarily she preferred to admire flowers and feed fish, disliking crowds. Why had she changed her ways and come to watch the spectacle today?
She glanced thoughtfully at Xu Boqing by the Empress Dowager’s side, uncertain what to make of it…
Meanwhile, Liu Yuan, Chief of the Eastern Bureau behind Emperor Yonghe, saw Xu Boqing and opened his mouth as if to speak, but could not find the words.
He now realized that the young eunuch he saw outside Anding yesterday was not a figment of his imagination, but truly existed…