Chapter 44
Qi Junmu had assumed that if Shen Nian ever came to him asking for a favor, it would surely be something that put him in a difficult spot. He never expected it to be this.
After a moment's thought, Qi Junmu's lips curled into a playful smile. "You mean that pavilion Imperial Father had built but never used?"
Shen Nian nodded. Qi Junmu didn't agree right away, but instead asked, "Why do you want to go there? I thought since you rarely ask for anything, it would be something grand. And this is it? You never thought to ask for something that would benefit yourself—like a promotion or more wealth?"
"This humble subject has no great desire for promotion or wealth," Shen Nian replied. "I am already Marquis Zhenbei—there is no higher office for me to rise to. As for money, I am alone in this world—what use would I have for so much silver? Right now, this humble subject simply wishes to stand somewhere high and look far into the distance."
"The tallest place in the capital with the widest view is that pavilion—that is why this humble subject had this thought. If it is inconvenient, then Your Majesty may regard my words as overstepping." There was a trace of loneliness in Shen Nian's voice.
Qi Junmu was silent for a moment, then said slowly, "That pavilion has never been used since it was finished. Though Imperial Father never ordered it sealed, the palace has an unspoken rule that no one may enter freely."
Shen Nian had only mentioned it on a whim. If he could go in, good; if not, he would not be too disappointed—only a little wistful.
Since he had not held out much hope, the Emperor's words did not dash his spirits too greatly.
Just as he was about to say something, Qi Junmu added lightly, "But even if Imperial Father had put seals on it and strictly forbidden anyone from entering, it wouldn't matter. I am the Emperor now, and since you rarely ask for anything, of course I will grant your wish."
Shen Nian looked up sharply at the Emperor. Qi Junmu's chin was raised slightly, his eyes holding a smile, and even through the steam, one could sense his proud bearing—the pride of a sovereign who answers to no one.
Shen Nian watched him for a moment, then smiled. "If so, this humble subject thanks Your Majesty for his kindness."
Qi Junmu waved a hand, adding that although he had agreed to this request, he still intended to enjoy this rare hot-spring bath to the fullest.
Everything would have to wait until Shen Nian had finished soaking.
At this point, Shen Nian naturally agreed.
The two of them soaked in the hot spring for nearly a full shichen (2 hours). In the middle of it, Qi Junmu summoned Ruan Jiqing to wash his hair.
He also called for attendants to attend to Shen Nian, but Shen Nian declined.
Qi Junmu did not press him. It was clear that Shen Nian was not someone who liked others close to him—he preferred to manage on his own rather than accept help.
Within the bounds of his tolerance, the Emperor enjoyed being waited on. If someone else could do something for him, he would not lift a finger. Because of this, Ruan Jiqing had more work than in his previous life.
Of course, when Ruan Jiqing was off duty, others had to take over—though the Emperor was somewhat resistant to that, and would do things himself if he could.
Once his hair was dried, Qi Junmu climbed out and changed behind a folding screen.
The fabric of the Emperor's robes was, naturally, the softest—cool and light against the skin.
This material was a tribute from the southern borderlands, woven from ice-silk—so thin and fine that the palace received only three to five bolts of it each year.
[Ice silk (冰絲, bīngsī): a lightweight, cool, smooth fabric — traditionally made of fine silk for summer wear.]
Fortunately, Qi Junmu had very few people in his rear palace, so the imperial tribute fabric was barely enough to go around.
In comparison, Shen Nian's clothes were far coarser.
The fabric was ordinary, and the colors were drab—either black or iron-grey. Dull and lifeless.
Qi Junmu thought to himself that he still had some ice-silk left over—perhaps he should give a bolt to Shen Nian.
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Shen Nian, of course, had no idea what the Emperor was thinking. He waited until the Emperor had dressed and stepped out before slowly rising from the hot spring.
After getting dressed and tying back his still-damp hair, Shen Nian walked out.
Qi Junmu stood not far away, gazing at the pavilion in the distance, his unbound hair lifting gently in the breeze. Ruan Jiqing stood bowed beside him, while the other palace attendants waited further back.
Seeing Shen Nian emerge, Qi Junmu beckoned him over.
Shen Nian took a deep breath and walked slowly toward him.
Thankfully, the sun had already set. The day was still stifling and hot, and even the breeze that blew was warm—but compared to the full blaze of noon, this hour was bearable.
Everything was relative—only through comparison could one know what had been gained and what had been lost.
His freshly bathed body was already beginning to feel clammy again. Shen Nian looked at the Emperor before him and thought: if not for my request, His Majesty would be lying in the ice-cooled Quanhua Hall right now, eating chilled watermelon, living in comfort.
Now, the Emperor stood with a calm expression, leading him toward the pavilion.
Shen Nian had wanted to say that he could go up alone — but the words stuck in his throat and he swallowed them back.
At this point, saying such things would only have sounded overly pretentious.
Some words need not have been spoken. Some things were best kept in the heart.
Qi Junmu personally pushed open the pavilion doors. Ruan Jiqing looked worried and said, "Your Majesty, this place has not been set foot in for many years. Who knows what dangers might be inside? This servant should go in first to have a look."
"What danger could there be?" Qi Junmu said calmly. "Imperial Father came here alone without fear—why should I be afraid? And besides, I have Marquis Zhenbei with me today."
Ruan Jiqing glanced at Shen Nian, then lowered his eyes and smiled. "Your Majesty is right. This servant spoke foolishly."
Qi Junmu said, "All of you wait here. I will go up with Marquis Zhenbei."
Ruan Jiqing was concerned, but dared not object.
As Qi Junmu and Shen Nian pushed the doors open and entered, Ruan Jiqing's eyes betrayed a flicker of worry. He felt that the Emperor was being far too lenient with Shen Nian—and in his view, that was not a good sign.
The Emperor appeared cold and detached, but when he treated someone well, he was exceedingly thoughtful, patient, and tolerant.
That was how he had been with Empress Wen Wan in the beginning. When she threw a small tantrum or asked for favors for her family, as long as her requests were not excessive, the Emperor would almost always agree.
Whatever she wanted, she got.
Even though the Emperor had since seen things clearly and no longer cared for the Empress, Ruan Jiqing believed that deep down, he was still a fairly gentle man.
Take Shen Nian, for example—while comparing him to the Empress might not be quite apt, the situation was similar.
Ruan Jiqing had served the Emperor for years and understood his mind better than anyone.
There was no doubt that the Emperor wanted the military power in Shen Nian's hands, and it made sense to favor him for that reason. But now the signs were clearly off—the favor was more than what was necessary.
Ruan Jiqing couldn't help but wonder: was the Emperor not planning to leave Shen Nian any way out at all?
If one day Shen Nian was no longer useful, would death be all that awaited him?
These thoughts sent a chill through Ruan Jiqing's heart. He actually had a decent impression of Shen Nian, and he only hoped that Marquis Zhenbei would see the truth sooner rather than later—and manage to keep his head.
---
While Ruan Jiqing was lost in thought, Qi Junmu had already stepped onto the wooden stairs. They creaked under his feet.
He looked up toward the top of the pavilion—layer upon layer of steps, as if they had no end, stretching far above him.
Now that he thought of it, he had never climbed this pavilion in either of his two lifetimes. If Shen Nian hadn't brought it up today, he would have completely forgotten it existed. In the eyes of many, this pavilion was one of the proofs of Emperor Jing's excesses—to go near it was to risk being seen as just as reckless and dissolute as he had been.
Qi Junmu had never avoided climbing it for that reason. In his previous life, he had been wholly consumed by the affairs of Da Qi—expanding its borders abroad to protect the people, and maintaining clean governance at home so that the common people could live in peace.
He had also hoped to earn a good reputation through these efforts, and spent so little time sleeping under the mountain of memorials that he had no time for such diversions.
Now, he felt that Shen Nian's suggestion was actually quite good. Climbing a pavilion, clearing one's mind, looking far into the distance—and if any poetic inspiration struck, one could give it voice.
That this pavilion had been built to such a scale was inseparable from Emperor Jing's forceful stance. It was said that when the Minister of Works remarked that building such a pavilion was highly impractical, Emperor Jing dismissed him on the spot without a second word, summoned all the officials of the Ministry of Works, and declared that whoever could build it would become the new Minister of Works.
Eventually, a junior clerk in the Ministry submitted a plan and, after great effort, succeeded in completing the pavilion—and naturally became Minister of Works.
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